Madam, - Paul Williams (June 8th) argues that the continued US military use of Shannon is legitimate, even if the justification for the original invasion is in doubt. When referring to "thugs, criminals, and religious fanatics" whom he believes would take over Iraq if US forces exited, is he simply reiterating the current Islamophobic view of the "neo-con" faction, or could he really be referring to the Iraqi people themselves?
The majority of the members of the Iraqi parliament signed a legislative petition on May 8th asking the US to leave Iraq. President Bush said on May 25th that US forces were in Iraq "at the invitation of the Iraqi government", and that they would leave if asked. There is no justification for the continued military occupation of Iraq. - Yours, etc,
GERRY MOLLOY, Collins Avenue, Dublin 9.