Madam, - Kevin Myers (An Irishman's Diary, October 12th) explores the possibility that the Irish Government could have been asked to close Shannon Airport to American military planes in return for the release of the late Ken Bigley with his new Irish passport.
This did not happen, but I do wonder why the US Government insists that the two women microbiologists Dr Huda Ammash and Dr Rihab Taha remain in custody when terrorists have already tried to use their release as a bargaining tool. Certainly they were very important in the development of biological weapons in Iraq, but even President Bush's hand-picked investigators found no evidence of the recent manufacture of such microbes, so if released they could not go back to work. Dr Blix said years ago all laboratories were destroyed.
These two women have been in custody now for 18 months and have not been charged with any crime despite their known involvement in the biological weapons programme. Dr Ammash has breast cancer and one does not know if this is being treated.
The Minister for Justice of the interim government in Baghdad is reported to have said recently their release was being considered, but this was denied by Dr Allawi, the prime minister of that government, who was in New York at the time. This was confirmed by President Bush and Mr Donald Rumsfeld.
For years I have campaigned against the manufacture and stockpiling for possible use of biological weapons by any country.
It is important to note that these two women trained for their wicked work in the West. Dr Ammash obtained a master's degree from the Texas Women's University in 1979 and a doctorate in microbiology from the University of Missouri in 1983. At that time the US closely supported Saddam Hussein in his efforts against Iran.
Dr Taha is British-educated, having carried out postgraduate training at the University of East Anglia in the 1980s. She has admitted producing germ warfare agents in the past, including anthrax and botulin.
Could the reluctance to release the women stem from fear of what they might say if they were released? It is reported that they brought anthrax from American sources and equipment and supplies from Europe and America for many years.
Continuing to detain them would just appear to give terrorists another excuse for their murderous campaign. - Yours, etc.,
Senator MARY HENRY MD,
Seanad Éireann,
Baile Átha Cliath, 2.