Sir, – As we witness the chaotic US departure from Afghanistan, and we reflect on the legacy of another US intervention in the Middle East, it’s worth noting that it has not been bad for everybody.
The total US defence budget for 2020 was $718 billion dollars, of which $370 billion was paid out to private contractors. The ill-fated 2003 invasion of Iraq opened the floodgates for the privatisation of war and a taxpayer-funded spending spree for the military-industrial complex.
Like the privatisation of the prison system, the involvement of private corporations in the US military has meant the ongoing lobbying of members of Congress for contracts, thus corrupting the political decisions framing US foreign policy.
As the US has, in recent years, started to reduce its active engagement overseas, private military contractors and suppliers have turned their attention to more domestic opportunities as can be seen by the massive militarisation of police forces and prisons in the US.
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The recent legacy of failure of US interventions in the Middle East has been significantly coloured by the malign influence of money and leaves a trail of disorder, broken societies and radicalism behind it. Despite this it’s not obvious any lessons have been learned or acknowledged by the US political establishment. – Yours, etc,
BARRY WALSH,
Blackrock,
Cork.
A chara, – The US decision to pull out of Afghanistan was not surprising. Why should American lives be lost in a distant country, taking on the role of world policemen? That is the job of a properly functioning UN organisation. As a member of the Security Council, Ireland should be working to secure that essential and urgent reform of the UN. – Is mise, SEÁN Ó CUINN,
An Charraig Dhubh,
Co Átha Cliath.
Sir, – All those deaths, military and civilian alike, and for what? Giving people hope of a brighter future, even with an imperfect system of democracy, only for it to be ripped away in such a swift and dramatic fashion. Allowing an extremist Islamic group of a male-dominated sect that had been, some hoped, virtually eradicated, only for its to rear its head once again and suppress the hard-won freedoms and human rights of women and girls.
Can anyone imagine being enslaved under the rule of the Taliban? Could you imagine or place yourself in the shoes of the Afghan people right now where all rights and freedoms are suddenly removed? Imagine the outright fear and terror of those people who acted as interpreters or assisted in any way the different allied forces. They can expect no mercy from the Taliban.
Shame on the western allies and the UN Security Council that are standing idly by at this takeover. – Yours, etc,
CHRISTY GALLIGAN,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – “A war begun for no wise purpose, carried on with a strange mixture of rashness and timidity, brought to a close after suffering and disaster, without much glory attached either to the government which directed, or the great body of troops which waged it. Not one benefit, political or military, has been acquired. Our eventual evacuation of the country resembled the retreat of an army defeated.” Rev GR Gleig writing in 1843 on the first Anglo-Afghan war of 1839-42. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN LYONS,
Shankill,
Dublin 18.
A chara, – Now might be a good time for Ireland to appoint a UN special envoy on freedom of opinion and expression. – Is mise,
LOMAN Ó LOINGSIGH,
Dublin 24.