A chara, - I commend Archbishop John Neill's comments on allowing the US military use of Shannon Airport, as reported in your edition of July 26th. It is refreshing to read such forthright comments from someone in his position. Again I call on the Irish Government to desist from this immoral practice. Is mise,
PAUL DORAN,
Monastery Walk,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.
Madam, - Alan Barwise (July 24th) accuses Charles Krauthammer (Opinion, July 23rd) of "skirting the key issues, as usual" with regard to the United States and Iraq. Mr Barwise identifies these "key issues" as follows: "Why are the Americans in Iraq and what will happen when they leave?"
May I suggest the following answers?
1. The Americans are in Iraq because the democratically elected government of Iraq has requested that they remain there.
2. What happens when the Americans leave Iraq is down to whether or not the Iraqi people are prepared to live peaceably and refrain from killing each other over perceived religious differences without the need for a peacekeeping force.
I think you will therefore see that the reason for the answer to the first question is to be found in the problem identified in the second answer. - Yours, etc,
EAMONN GAVIN,
Terenure,
Dublin 6w.