Madam, - Will the Government heed the outspoken advice of American actor Martin Sheen that it should not believe anything the US says about its use of Shannon airport, because the White House is controlled by "a bunch of gangsters"?
I doubt if there are many people who really believe otherwise, as day after day more and more damning evidence emerges to further taint a sordid and disreputable US administration. Mr Sheen is to be commended for his courage and integrity in calling a spade a spade.
Another distinguished visitor to Ireland, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, speaking in Dublin, said in relation to CIA flights that could be involved in "extraordinary renditions"; "I would welcome initiatives that go beyond legal requirements, like seeking authorisation for random searches. . .It would be a very good signal for governments to see for themselves what is happening rather than rely on assurances".
Will Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern, both staunch supporters of the UN, follow the advice of Ms Arbour, rather than continue to rely on that outworn mantra about "absolute assurances" received from a discredited Bush regime?
Surely it would be prudent and politic for them to do so, especially now in the light of revelations that Apache attack helicopters were flown through Shannon in February en route to Israel. - Yours, etc,
GEARÓID KILGALLEN, Crosthwaite Park South, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.