Political ripples build into global tidal waves

IN an increasingly interdependent world, political ripples anywhere can build into global tidal waves.

Polarisation is now more intense that at any time since the height of the Cold War.

The 9/11 attacks on the US caused about 3,000 deaths.

The consequential war against Afghanistan has already caused up to 10,000 deaths in ‘collateral damage’.

Iraq had no connection with the 9/11 attacks in New York, yet the US-led war and occupation has caused over 100,000 deaths there.

Ireland has no enemies in either Afghanistan or Iraq, yet we joined ‘our friends’ in the US in their attack on both countries.

Almost one million armed US troops have passed through Shannon airport since 2001.

On May 19, 2006, mishandling of the Afghan hunger strike in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin almost led to multiple suicides of Afghan asylum seekers suffering despair at the prospect of deportation back home.

The Council of Europe issued a report on June 8 pinpointing Shannon airport as one of the key refuelling airports for the unlawful CIA rendition of prisoners for torture.

At Guantanamo on June 10, three prisoners committed suicide. The US military commander of the prison — its very existence defies international (and probably US) law — described their suicides as “an act of war waged against the United States”.

In Palestine, Israeli missile strikes and shelling compete with suicide bombers in bloody counter-retaliation for wrongs in the past incapable of being rectified by wrongs in the present.

There must be a better way. Creating peace by peaceful means makes far more sense than waging wars to end all wars.

Why not transform the EU battle groups into UN peace groups, and Shannon airport from a war port to an international peace centre?

Such a move could restore some of the honour that Ireland has lost participating in crimes against humanity.

Edward Horgan

Newtown

Castletroy

Co Limerick