Sir, - After reading Joe Murray's letters about re-equipping the Defence Forces (October 24th and November 2nd),I wondered if he knew anything about the subject. Let's get one thing straight before we go any further. The principal task of any defence force is to resist armed attack. This is something we are unable to do. Our geographical position means that we can let others do it for us.
Our many successes in peacekeeping over the years are always mentioned; the Lebanon style of peacekeeping that we currently undertake is regarded as old-fashioned and in future individual countries or agencies will undertake peacekeeping/peace-enforcing operations. The Australian intervention in East Timor is an example.
Under this type of arrangement Ireland will be unable to place a fully equipped battalion-sized unit into a peacekeeping/peace-enforcing situation until at least 2003, never mind take part in the European Rapid Reaction force or anything else.
The Defence Forces need modern aircraft, ships, armoured fighting vehicles and much more to enable them to fulfil the role mandated to them. So please, Mr Murray and others: heads out of the sand and face reality. - Yours, etc.,
N. O'Donohoe, Shantalla Avenue, Santry, Dublin 9.