Politicians condemn military strikes

The bombing campaign against Afghanistan will drive civilians into the arms of Islamic fundamentalists and could even lead to a third world war, members of the Dáil said today.

Deputies joined the newly formed Irish Anti-War Movement to condemn the military offensive against Osama bin Laden and the Taliban leadership.

And the politicians criticised Ireland’s offer of airspace to US forces on bombing missions.

The campaign has won support from the Green Party, the Socialist Party and Independent deputy Seamus Healy.

Green party deputy John Gormley tried unsuccessfully to raise the issue in the Dáil this morning.

After a news conference held later in Dublin he said: ‘‘It is not going to solve the problem. It is going to make the problem much worse and the whole region could become destabilised and that could possibly mean a third world war.

"We believe it is entirely counter-productive. It will act merely as a recruiting agency for Islamic fundamentalism.

"There is a lot wrong with the position of the government. First of all it hasn’t the assent of the Dáil, which is required under the Irish Constitution. Also this military action does not have a United Nations mandate."

Joe Higgins, Socialist Party deputy, described the government’s backing of the campaign as "folly and shameful".

"It is clear that the bombing campaign will not solve any of the problems in the Middle East region.

"It will mean huge numbers of innocent Afghanis being killed and will further destabilise the region, pushing millions into the arms of fundamentalists," he said.

Meanwhile the soldiers’ organisation PDFORRA (Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association) said the public has a right to be concerned about Irish homeland defence due to "continued cutbacks" in the armed forces.

John Lucey, secretary general of the organisation which represents enlisted troops, said: "We have no real air capability. We have a very small navy of eight ships to patrol about 132,000 square miles.

"We should reconsider the policy of the past number of years of reductions, reductions, reductions."