Sir, – It is to be deplored that there is a proposal to include an Irish Army component in a so-called EU training mission in Mali.
The Irish Army has had a long and honourable tradition of taking part in UN peacekeeping operations in many countries. It has earned a proud reputation as one of the most professionally effective elements of many missions, earning the friendship and admiration of local populations in operations.
The present situation in Mali is unquestionably a direct consequence of the operation which wrecked the infrastructure of Libya and in which France and other Nato countries played an enthusiastic part. The blanket of silence which descended on the post-Gadafy situation in Libya has enabled the cover-up of the fragmentation of power in that country. This has seen the emergence of heavily armed radical Islamist and jihadist groups in Libya, which have since launched operations in Algeria and Mali.
France, as the ex-colonial power in most of Saharan Africa,has now seen fit to intervene militarily in that region primarily to protect its sources of uranium in Mali. It has also dispatched a military contingent to protect a major source of uranium in the neighbouring country of Niger. The pretence that any European-led mission in West Africa,whether under the umbrella of the EU or Nato, is motivated by concern for the peoples of these countries is false.
Ex-imperial powers look after their own interests. The use of forces from neutral countries such as Ireland to lend authenticity to such adventures is shameful and should not be countenanced. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Yet again Pana’s Roger Cole (February 14th) distorts the reality of an Irish Defence Forces contribution to an international mission under United Nations auspices. His assertion that the eight Irish personnel are being sent to fight in Mali is clearly baseless.
The mission in question, under the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 2071, will have the task of providing training and advice to the Mali armed forces in maintaining security in the country. It will provide specific training in humanitarian and human rights law.
This mission is in the best traditions of Ireland’s contribution to the work of the UN in crisis management. Pana’s attitude is difficult to understand. – Yours, etc,