Madam, - I wish to express my appreciation to the Irish people for their reception of George W. Bush. I respect you all very much for expressing the truth about our national disgrace.
When I heard about it, I was prouder than ever that my father grew up in Sligo and that I have six Irish first cousins. - Yours, etc.,
ELIZABETH CAFFREY,
Northampton,
Massachusetts,
USA.
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Madam, - Deirdre Ni Chuanacháin's letter (June 29th), where she used the phrase "a sombre visual testimony" in reference to the Defence Force presence in the Shannon area on June 25th/26th, is arrant nonsense.
The convoy of armoured vehicles, ships and aircraft, with Irish soldiers, sailors and airmen on duty, were about their constitutional responsibilities, i.e., carrying out the express wishes of the democratically elected and sovereign Government of Ireland. The Defence Forces were, of course, implementing the wishes of the Irish people.
This was no "cortège" of paramilitaries acting without a democratic mandate. Every leader in the world who visits our country is entitled to the full protection of the State by An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL SHANNON,
Castletroy,
Co Limerick.
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Madam, - Bible-bashin' George Bush quotes the part of the "good book" which says you mustn't look for the splinter in the other man's eye while at the same time ignoring the plank in your own.
He appears to have forgotten the other commandment that states: "Thou shalt not kill". - Yours, etc.,
DAVID MARLBOROUGH,
Kenilworth Park,
Dublin 6.
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Madam, - I feel the money spent by the State to protect us from President Bush was more than justified. - Yours, etc.,
DANIEL DOWDALL,
Grange,
Cooley,
Co Louth.