Madam, - I don't approve of the US invasion of Iraq and have reservations over American military planes refuelling in Shannon. However, I don't think this issue is as clear-cut as many of the letters to this page seem to suggest.
The influence of American investment on the Irish economy has been well documented. The leaders of big business in America favour "small government" and low taxation. They are very traditional, middle-aged, upper-middle-class whites. They are Republican voters in the main. Many of them still favour retaining American troops in Iraq.
Faced with these facts, Bertie Ahern has two choices. He can take the morally courageous step of checking all flights into Shannon for evidence of "extraordinary renditions". Conversely, he can take the politically pragmatic approach to the problem by claiming to believe the word of American politicians that no such renditions are taking place (I'm sure that privately he doesn't believe that to be the case).
Mr Ahern is the Taoiseach. His primary duty is to protect the welfare of the people of this country. Is there a chance of economic instability as a result of having a confrontational relationship with America? Well, yes; and jobs could be threatened as a result of making a largely irrelevant "stand" against a country that could find another refuelling point in the blink of an eye.
Would the critical writers to these pages be prepared to sacrifice a portion of their very comfortable lifestyles in order to allow those planes to be checked? Would they be happy in the knowledge that their children might struggle to find work in 10 years' time? Where is the line between being morally courageous and socially irresponsible? Sometimes ugly decisions have to be made to keep the champagne and caviar flowing. - Yours, etc,
SHANE BROPHY, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.
Madam, - It is when I read missives from contributors such as Brian Tolan (August 2nd) that I gasp inwardly at the degree of misinformation that is still being promulgated about Iraq, even leaving aside his pejorative language about those of us sensible and far-sighted enough to oppose the atrocity that is the US-led occupation, and the continued use of Shannon by US armed forces.
The US may be in Iraq under a UN mandate now, but Mr Tolan neglects to remind us that there was no such UN mandate for the original invasion. The US went its own way, and the current mandate is only a result of trying to find a solution to the mess caused by that very invasion.
The US, as a member of the UN, ignored that organisation's opposition to invasion in 2003 - but that was not unusual for an administration which has a long history of flouting UN resolutions which don't suit its ends.
Mr Tolan's point about Ireland, as a member of the UN, being obliged to support it (ergo, support the US in its endeavours in Iraq now) becomes laughable in the light of US contempt for the Security Council's original decision. - Is mise,
PETER ROYCROFT, St Brendan's Drive, Dublin 5.
A Chara, - I note that a number of Green Party members (July 30th) wrote to congratulate Archbishop John Neill on his criticism of the use of Shannon airport by American forces, hoping that "the archbishop's words will encourage others, particularly within the Catholic Church and the political establishment, to speak out".
Could I respectfully suggest that an internal party memo to Messrs Gormley, Ryan and Sargent might be a good start. - Is mise,
E.F. FANNING, Churchtown, Dublin 14.