Madam, - Gerry Molloy (June 9th), replying to my letter of the previous day, refers to a petition by the majority of the deputies of Iraq's parliament asking the US to leave. Under Iraqi law the speaker must provide a binding resolution to be voted on by the parliament for it to become law. Until that happens the US is there at the request of the Iraqi government. It is is, therefore, perfectly legitimate for the US military to use Shannon as a transit point for troops being sent to Iraq.
Mr Molloy also wonders to whom I was referring when I used the phrase "thugs, criminals and religious fanatics". If he has the time and the stomach there are plenty of websites where those self-same people show off their grisly toll of beheadings, car bombings and torture. If he tunes into the media he'll hear the daily reports of bloodshed.
I might add that the overwhelming majority of the victims are ordinary Iraqis and the attacks are designed to kill as many people as possible.
Lest Mr Molloy consider me "Islamophobic" (a dishonest word, concocted to stifle legimate criticism of parts of Islam) he should heed the words of Abu Umar al-Bagdadi of the terrorist group Islamic Sate of Iraq, who declared: "Hundreds ask for death that they may live with God".
That some people expend time and energy protesting against the US and the small gesture of support offered at Shannon rather than against the thugs, criminals and religious fanatics who are primarily responsible for the carnage in Iraq is shameful evidence of their true motives. - Yours, etc,
PAUL WILLIAMS, Circular Road, Kilkee, Co Clare.