Sir, - All the recent missives in these pages on the subject of the investment in Army equipment, and the potential alternative uses for these funds, has certainly raised the hackles of many correspondents. To me a simple alternative solution exists. Scrap the Army.
What, after all, is the reason for it? One of your writers states the role of our Army is to defend us from internal or external aggression. Who in all honesty is going to invade Ireland? The Welsh? Iceland? We are no longer the back door to Britain, so surely we can take a new millennium view of these so-called "threats". As for internal threats, it seems to me that the Garda∅ and a small corps of highly trained SAS-type personnel, say 50 at most, would be enough to protect us from terrorists or organised crime.
This would also have the welcome spin-off of making the arguments about our participation in a rapid reaction force immediately redundant. How can we participate if we have no one to send? Our neutrality would be assured, and we could also raise considerable funds for hospital beds, dialysis machines etc., by selling off all those lands, added to the other savings. We could also use the money to invest in proper air-sea rescue equipment, and for our Navy, which does serve a purpose.
An army for a country like Ireland is nothing but a historical anachronism, allowing us to puff up our chests at the UN while serving no real purpose on our behalf. Let us be real world leaders, and set a positive example by disbanding our "defence" forces, and leaving the wars to those still childish enough to believe they accomplish anything. - Yours, etc.,
Kevin Prendergast, Templeogue, Dublin 6W.