A chara, - A number of letter writers in recent times have questioned whether or not the Government's decision to allow refuelling to American airforce planes at Shannon breaches our "neutrality".
Ireland has never been neutral. We have been and continue to be non-aligned and adopted clear and independent foreign policy stances over the decades.
If we were a truly neutral state, Switzerland being possibly the best example, we would never have joined the League of Nations or the United Nations, never taken part in peacekeeping missions, never argued for human rights for the peoples of places such as Palestine or East Timor.
The first mention of "neutrality" in Irish history is the Irish Neutrality League during the first World War which argued that "We fight for neither King nor Kaiser" and was rather an anti-conscription movement that was asserting our demands for independence.
We were actively involved in the League of Nations in the 1930's, in particular condemning Italy's invasion of Abbisinia. Our second World War neutrality was for practical reasons - a case of a young state battening down the hatches - even though tens of thousands of Irish people fought for the Allied cause.
Seβn Lemass as Taoiseach acknowledged that "sometimes to prevent war, it is necessary to wage war".
We have always taken a principled stance on issues of world affairs and should continue to do so. Simply because this time we are on the same side as the Americans does not make it wrong. If we believe in the values of freedom and democracy, then we should do all necessary to ensure that such opportunities are provided to others and that those who seek to deny them are brought to justice.
That applies to the Balkans as much as to Central America or to the Middle East. It is not about writing a blank cheque but rather about standing up for what we believe to be right. - Is mise le meas,
Malcolm Byrne, Ramsfort Avenue, Gorey, Co Wexford.