Madam, - I would like to congratulate Kevin Myers on his fine and entertaining writing (An Irishman's Diary, September 22nd), and The Irish Times's steadfastness in publishing him. The sensitivities of some of your readers are rather amusing. Mr Myers's articles are robust and jocular and, as part of An Irishman's Diary, are intended in a certain spirit.
Kofi Annan is indeed a gentleman of the utmost integrity, but he represents an organisation that is strongly compromised by the conflicting and sometimes devious motives of its members. This has been seen in relation to the Sudan, where the US is taking the more aggressive stance (rightly) and the UN's is muddled to say the least, giving encouragement to the Sudanese regime, I'm sure.
There is also the "gravy train" aspect of the UN which has been well documented down the years (and for which the US is required to foot most of the bill). This is rightly highlighted by Mr Myers, yet in Ireland "UN-speak" is somehow regarded as beyond questioning, and of course strong criticism of the organisation is regarded as "siding with US imperialism" and other such nonsense.
The point about Annan's comments on elections in Iraq is that, regardless of one's own position on whether the invasion of Iraq was morally right, all decent governments and institutions should now rally behind the US and its coalition (in word and in deed if possible) to establish a respectful yet secular democracy in a sovereign Iraq.
As for not buying The Irish Times (Brendan O'Brien, September 24th), I will continue to buy it as long as it publishes good writers with varying and stimulating opinions. If one was so easily offended by the vitriol that is written on Bush & Co, I would have stopped buying Irish newspapers long ago. - Yours, etc.,
RORY MAC GOWAN,
O'Donovan Road,
Blackpits,
Dublin 8.