Madam, - Tom Ward (June 13th) states that "Condoleezza Rice has categorically denied that detainees are being transported through Shannon". Presumably, all of us who are deeply concerned by Senator Dick Marty's damning report can now breathe a heavy sigh of relief. Regrettably, there may yet be cause for concern.
The US government once assured us that weapons of mass destruction would be found in Iraq. President Bush proudly announced to the world (in 2003) that the war in Iraq was over. And we were also lied to about the US use of cluster bombs in this war. It seems to me that US assurances should be taken with a large pinch of salt. As the old adage goes, fool me once shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
The British government has admitted it does not know the purpose of CIA flights that have landed in Britain. Presumably, the same is true of the Irish Government. Would it really be a "hostile act" to inspect planes landing in Shannon? Are the Irish people expected to blithely take as gospel the numerous assurances on this issue that we have received from various members of the US government, considering the marked unreliability of previous statements on a broad range of highly important issues? If the US is within its rights to hold over 450 people in indefinite detention in Guantánamo Bay, surely the Irish State has the right to prove to its alarmed citizens that we are not colluding in the deplorable act of extraordinary rendition. - Yours, etc,
COLETTE BROWNE, Lios Na Gréine, South Douglas Road, Cork.
Madam, - Now that the Americans seem to be exposed once more as untrustworthy, surely it is time for our Government to reflect what appears to be the opinion of a large percentage of the population.
I refer to withdrawing our support to the US war machine through the use of Shannon Airport. The legal hair-splitting which goes on as to whether those in authority did or did not know about prisoners being transported through our sovereign territory seems rather unnecessary since the world at large knows the US is contravening human rights in Guantánamo, Iraq and Afghanistan.
It is time we took a stand irrespective of what sanctions, financial or otherwise, the US may impose. Once upon a time we had consciences. Let's see if we can rediscover them, whatever the cost. - Yours, etc,
DAVID PRENDERGAST, Tivoli Estate, Cork.