Madam, - Having read Aengus Ó Snodaigh's view of Irish foreign policy (Opinion, March 6th) I am deeply confused by his reference to the "as-yet-untapped potential of positive neutrality".
What does he mean by "positive neutrality"? What does it actually involve? Big, neon "We Are Neutral" signs at the borders of the EU? Is he trying to suggest that the EU will never face another problem that can be solved only by the use of force? Will a future Milosevic be attacked with inert Eurobombs with "You're lucky we're neutral" stencilled on them?
How many neutral countries can be in an alliance before it ceases to be neutral? Or is it that each country will be absolutely neutral and will promise not to come to the aid of other European countries regardless of the circumstances?
What is clear is that militant Irish nationalists have never hesitated to put their own narrowly defined interests above the preservation of Irish neutrality. Where was neutrality when they were trying to do deals with Germany in the last world war? Or when they accepted boatloads of Russian arms from the Libyans at the height of the Cold War? How can "positive neutrality" be reconciled with recent events in Columbia?
It is hard to believe that a hypothetical Sinn Féin government would take neutrality any more seriously than the current Government. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID ROLFE, Rathmines,Dublin 6.