Sir, - There is much routine bleating about our lost neutrality. Once it was said that we could afford to be neutral with 45,000 British troops on the Rhine.
Sean Lemass, who was closely in touch with reality, made it clear many times that we would have to accept military duties in the EEC, and the same has to be said of the European Union.
There was a feeling here when discussing foreign policy that we should not talk too much about NATO, as a strong NATO might encourage the US to leave Europe and bring the boys home.
Now George W. Bush seems to be encouraging notions that the US might retreat behind the Potomac.
That would soften our cough. We had better get into the EU Rapid Reaction Force quickly so that we do not become a paper boat in the Atlantic. - Yours, etc.,
Brian Quinn, Kincora Grove, Dublin.