Madam, – In his parting thoughts, US ambassador Thomas Foley (January 19th) takes the opportunity to attack the Irish people’s commitment to neutrality.
Since the Irish political/media elite supported the termination of the policy of Irish neutrality by allowing over a million US troops use Shannon Airport on their way to US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan I fail to see what his problem is. For while the Irish people support Irish neutrality, the Irish political/media elite do not, and as we can see from their reaction to the sovereign will of the Irish people when they rejected the Lisbon Treaty they simply intend to use their power and wealth to force them to vote again and again and again until they vote the “right” way.
Nevertheless when he returns in a few years he might discover that his advice to the political elite to “keep doing what you are doing” will mean that like their Redmondite predecessors, the elite will have been swept from power by the people whose values he despises. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Perhaps Thomas Foley’s colleagues in the American diplomatic corps will take note of his advice that “institutions and leaders perform better and can deliver more when they are believed in and held in high esteem” (January 19th).
Here in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the American ambassador has frequently denounced the elected officials in this supposedly sovereign country, labelling them as irresponsible and inept.
It seems that Mr Foley’s recommendation not to criticise governing institutions and leaders applies only to those authorities that have supported the economic and political goals of the United States.
Those that do not comply are, apparently, fair game for criticism. – Yours, etc,