Madam, - If Lt Paddy Bury, who is described as an Irish soldier despite the little matter of him being a member of a British army regiment stationed in Afghanistan, feels such a desire to be an Irish soldier, why then did he not join the Irish Army?
Lt Bury, who, it is stated, hails from Co Wicklow, choose to join a foreign army, thereby forgoing the right and honour of being called an Irish soldier.
It appears that the revisionists have succeeded in convincing The Irish Timesthan an Irishman in British army uniform is in fact entitled to refer to himself as an Irish soldier. It is the duty of all Irish citizens to uphold the separatist ethos upon which this State was built, and uphold the value and dignity of Irish citizenship and not allow it to be peddled around the globe by British soldiers masquerading as members of the Irish defence forces.
In this matter The Irish Timeshas a responsibility also.
- Yours, etc,
TONY CORRIGAN, Templeville Road, Templeogue, Dublin 6w.
Madam, - It is unfortunate that questions of revisionism versus republicanism, however relevant in themselves, have been allowed to disguise the real issue raised by Lt Bury's articles.
Lt Bury's "diary" concerns the day-to-day life of Afghanistan's present Western occupiers, who, in the prevailing climate of neo-imperialism, are taking another crack at controlling a country that has defeated successive waves of conquerors over the centuries.
In the nature of things - Lt Bury is himself an occupier - his diary is uncritical of the present occupation. Its publication by The Irish Timesimplies approval of a Nato campaign that was undertaken without UN approval and hence in violation of international law.
- Yours, etc,
RAYMOND DEANE, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Tom Cooper (August 7th) finds "offensive" a reference to Lt Paddy Bury as "an Irish soldier". In fact Lt Bury and his Rangers are part of the internationally recognised Irish military tradition, shared by the Irish brigades in the service of France, Spain and Austria, as well as the Fighting 69th of the US.
This is a proud title used, for example, by Michael MacDonagh in The Irish at the Front, Richard Doherty in Irish Generalsand General Godley in The Life of an Irish Soldier. This is one country, regardless of current political arrangements, and the Irish military tradition is the shared inheritance of all the people of this island, North and South, Catholic, Protestant, nationalist, unionist.
The Irish Catholic nationalist soldiers who answered their political leaders' call in the first World War, and have been honoured by President McAleese, as well as by the leaders of our political parties, including Sinn Féin, are now performing one more service by providing a bridge between the two politico-religious traditions, accepting the "common name of Irishman".
Lt Bury's diary is entertaining and informative, as well as being a reminder that he, like his forebears who fought against Nazi tyranny, is on our side against Islamo-fascism.
Mr Cooper seems to convey the idea that the only real Irish soldiers are those who have been attempting to undermine our democracy since the foundation of the State.
- Yours, etc,
PATRICK D. GOGGIN, (Capt, rtd) Glenageary Woods, Co Dublin.