Madam, - As one of the Taoiseach's constituents I received an Easter message from him with a picture of a dove bearing an olive branch, the emblem of peace. It began by referring to "war in Iraq and an economic slowdown". At the end was a paragraph covering "the peace process" in Northern Ireland and Iraq. It said:
"Our thoughts must also be with the Iraqi people. Their suffering under a cruel dictator and through successive wars must now be brought to an end. The Government, working through the UN will do all it can to assist economic recovery and resolution in Iraq".
I have returned this message. I consider it inappropriate that the Taoiseach should issue a peace greeting following his facilitation of an immoral and illegal war on Iraq.
The Taoiseach hastened to make our airports available in September 2001 before the US Government even requested them, let alone made a threat of retaliation in the event of their being withheld. He is aware that the sufferings of the ordinary citizens of Iraq were brought about not only by the wars waged by their own leader but by the war waged by the West against them and the sanctions approved by the UN for over a decade in the hope of averting another such war waged by the US.
On April 2nd peaceful protesters against the war on Iraq were, at the Taoiseach's behest, forcibly removed from outside the gate of the Dáil by gardaí in riot gear. On April 12th a peaceful protest of 600 or 700 people at Shannon Airport was kept under surveillance by a force of 430 gardaí, including many in riot gear or equipped with horses and dogs, and not wearing their ID numbers. Gardaí positioned on a rooftop photographed individual protesters.
I am sure any funds the Irish State contributes to UN recovery programmes will compare poorly with those already spent on protecting the death planes and diverting a Garda force which, as an article in your edition of April 24th shows, is desperately under-resourced when it comes to the enforcement of road safety measures and other vital activities. - Yours, etc.,
ANNE NOLAN, Gresham House, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1.
Madam, - With reference to the report "France to face consequences" in your edition of April 24th, I, as an Irish citizen, voted in favour of joining the European Union. I respect and applaud France for upholding its principles, as it has every right to do.
I will not stand idly by and allow the American government to target a fellow member of the European Union. I, as a member of Europe will, from today, apply economic sanctions against the United States.
I will not buy any American products unless the blatant threat to France is withdrawn. - Yours, etc.,
SEAN LAMBDEN, Cregg, Mayglass, Co Wexford.