Sir, - After reading Mr John de Courcy Ireland's strongly worded and voluminous anti-NATO partnership letter (June 7th) I realised it contained not one specific reference to the organisation known as Partnership for Peace. If I were totally naive, Mr de Courcy Ireland's ramblings would have me believe Ireland is on the brink of full NATO membership and would become yet another accomplice to NATO's nefarious plot to obliterate innocent and defenceless nations. Joining PfP is not synonymous with NATO membership and to imply so is misleading. Ask Russia!
Mr de Courcy Ireland should realise that Ireland's defiance of NATO by not joining the PfP will not change its motives one iota.
In his letter he refers to "a clique of self-important, self-righteous, over-paid and over-spoilt megalomaniacs in London and Washington". Perhaps those who do nothing but natter and complain about the so-called "unholy alliance" should consider the possibility that, by joining PfP, Ireland could effectively work from within to alter the strategies of NATO and dethrone the clique of megalomaniacs whose bellicose actions are so repugnant. - Yours, etc.,
Edward D. Rafferty, Grogans Road, Wexford Town, Co Wexford.