Madam, - Bertie Ahern's article on EU-US ties (Opinion, June 23rd) would make Gradgrind himself blush, not to mention any half-competent grammarian. "At political level \ we must actively work constructively together \ and manage differences where they exist," he writes, evincing by the use of such pleonastic vapidities at least one affinity with the tongue-tied American president.
He blinds us with a barrage of fiscal facts and figures before drawing the jubilant conclusion that "Ireland and Europe clearly have a critically important interest in maintaining good relations with the US". One hardly needed the Taoiseach to tell one this.
"It is in the mutual interest of Europe and the United States," he goes on, "to ensure that our deepening economic relationship is not negatively affected by differing viewpoints on fundamental domestic issues such as taxation, regulation, governance or geopolitical concerns." Geopolitical concerns such as human rights, for example, or respect for the rule of international law?
In other words, whatever actions Bush's America takes, no matter how heinous, Ahern's Ireland cannot afford to criticise it. Even Tony Blair had the decency to dress up his support for George Bush in moral terms, but one searches through Ahern's piece in vain for a single word from the lexicon of ethics. It is all about security, prosperity and self-interest; the contemptible idols of homo economicus. Perhaps he should be congratulated for the frankness of his naked appeal to our intemperate greed, but there are other virtues which one might wish for in a political leader than a candour born of cynical pragmatism. As a well-behaved agnostic I am disinclined to quote the Gospel, yet is it not true even in post-Catholic Ireland that "Man shall not live by bread alone"? - Yours, etc.,
CONOR RODDY, O'Rourke Park, Sallynoggin, Co Dublin.
Madam, - It will be wonderful to see so many people this weekend exercising their democratic right to protest against the visit of George Bush to Ireland.
However, in the anti-American hysteria that often accompanies such protests, the protesters might bear in mind that in a world that contains many anti-democratic elements their cherished freedom to protest rests, to a large extent, on the defence of democratic liberties provided by the Americans. - Yours, etc.,
CIARAN McGLYNN, Swords Road, Santry, Dublin 9.
Madam, - I was interested to note in Bertie Ahern's article on EU-US ties, in that over the past 18 months "US investment flow to France rose by more than 10 per cent and US affiliates in France more than doubled their profits".
Well, blow me! I seem to remember being told that if Ireland opposed the war in Iraq, and didn't allow the US to use Shannon to transport troops, the US would withdraw investment from Ireland. Now it seems, according to Mr Ahern's logic, that if we had followed France's example and opposed the war, investment to Ireland from the US might actually have increased. - Yours, etc.,
BARRY CANNON, Middle Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7.
Madam, - There has been much furore over the security arrangements surrounding George W. Bush's impending visit. Many have complained about "draconian" measures being taken by the Garda and Defence Forces.
I would like to point out that precautions were taken during the Clinton visits, yet I don't recall any objections then. It occurs to me that there wouldn't be any objections now if Mr Bush was as popular as Clinton with certain sections of society. - Yours, etc.,
FIACHRA MOLLOY, Orwell Park Glen, Dublin 6W.