Sir, - In his opinion piece (July 16th), Jim Cusack writes that senior Irish military figures are anxious about the implications of the rejection of the Nice Treaty for future development of the Defence Forces. He goes on to say, however, that they plan to continue spending £250 million on purchasing more armoured personnel carriers as well as medium lift helicopters and jet training aircraft. This seems like a classic case of "spend your way out of anxiety" which is not a good personal policy and certainly not a good military one.
On the week following the Nice Treaty referendum, Joe Duffy devoted his Liveline programme on RT╔ radio to trying to discern why people voted No to the Treaty of Nice. The number one reason for voting No given by people who phoned the programme was "militarisation". While this cannot be described as a scientific analysis of the No vote, it gives a good indication of the unease felt among a large section of the population concerning issues such as the proposed membership of the NATO-linked European Rapid Reaction Force and the current membership of NATO's PfP.
In the days following the referendum, the dismissive and apologetic attitude of the Taoiseach and Minister for Foreign Affairs, especially in Gothenberg, was interpreted by many as a slap in the face for democracy and a display of contempt for the will of the people. The indication from Jim Cusack's article that the Defence Forces seem set to ignore the people's will and carry on regardless is an even greater cause for concern and raises real questions as to whether or not we live in a democracy.
One doesn't need to be a great military strategist to conclude that the spending of £250 million in preparing for a venture that you will most likely never be part of, is not a good strategy. In fact, it is bordering on a criminal waste of resources.
As the health service teethers on the brink of collapse, I think even military figures would agree that it would be preferable to spend £250 million on tackling this crisis rather than throwing it at a military mirage. Somebody needs to say stop now. - Yours, etc.,
Joe Murray, Afri, Grand Canal House, Lr. Rathmines Road, Dublin 6.