Sir, - Dr Tom Clonan's article Opinion, October 12th) on the impact of the attacks on Afghanistan made compelling arguments. His analysis that there will inevitably be increased civilian casualties is of critical importance, and I think his piece required a stronger conclusion than to say that this "gives pause for thought over the coming days".
The US is entitled, under Article 51 of the UN Charter, to the right to self-defence, in light of the deliberate and heinous crime inflicted on it. The Security Council has recognised and supported this right, and the Irish Government has sought to play a very responsible role in ensuring that resolutions 1368 and 1373 would be bound by the framework of the UN Charter. This requires three elements if the use of force in exercise of the right to self-defence is to be lawfully exercised: it must be necessary and proportionate; and it is for the international community - the UN, in particular the Security Council - to assess whether the criteria of necessity and proportionality are met.
The people responsible for the slaughter of so many civilians in the attacks on the US must be brought to justice, but this must be done within international law.
The use of force against another state for revenge, to punish, or to reassure public opinion, is unlawful. Civilian lives must be protected to the maximum extent possible, and the Geneva Conventions prohibit any direct attacks on civilians or civilian objects, as well as any attacks likely to have an indiscriminate or disproportionate impact on civilians.
The acid test now for the Irish Government, in its role as chair of the Security Council, is to ensure that the provisions it has successfully negotiated on paper are actually met. It is the responsibility of the Security Council to ensure the US, UK and other combatants abide by international law, and for the next three weeks Ireland is in the key position.
Dr Clonan's piece referred also to the sanitised version of war as portrayed by the media, and in our own media's case the regular use of the term "strike" to refer to the dropping of a bomb or missile on human beings is particularly disturbing. What is happening in Afghanistan right now is not a video game. Dr Clonan gives examples of civilian human beings blown to pieces in former Yugoslavia and Vietnam, all part of the "war effort" and "deeply regrettable collateral damage".
Our own experience of bombs, and what they do to innocent people, as in Dublin, Enniskillen, Omagh and many other places, should give us more than pause for thought.
Criminal acts need to be clearly identified, no matter who the perpetrator is. UN principles and standards have to be observed if the distinction between those who committed the original attacks and those who would fight them is to be maintained. - Yours, etc.,
Seβn Love, Director, Amnesty International (Ireland), Fleet Street, Dublin 2.