A chara, - Was the "payback" for the economic dividend for peace in Northern Ireland our failure to condemn those powerful NATO leaders, Blair and Clinton, for their appalling act of terror in Iraq this past week?
At least they have shown their brutal hand to the Irish people, as well as the shallow talk of vain men desperately in pursuit of the last neutral voice in Europe that has not yet joined their military club - Partnership for Peace/ NATO. In the context of your supplement of December 17th on the Irish Defence Forces, and details of their cosying up to NATO "in the field", it is essential that those who govern are made aware that neither they nor the Irish Army have the mandate of the people in these moves.
We must be clear that every military step in this direction moves us closer to the nuclear arms industry, building blocks of the US and UK economies.
Ireland must keep out of this brutal club and demand that our Government have the courage of the conviction laid down in our Constitution which seeks "the pacific settlement of international disputes by international arbitration or judicial determination". This is the least we can do for the innocent people of Iraq. - Is mise, Clare O'Grady Walshe,
Idrone Terrace, Blackrock, Co Dublin.