It cuts both ways - Shannon concerns

THERE was something of a sting in the tail of the jovial celebrations at the White House on St Patrick’s Day when President Obama indicated to the Taoiseach his concern that Islamic extremists may be using Ireland as a staging post to enter the United States in order to launch terrorist attacks there.

In particular, he appeared to have in mind members of Isis, the most brutal and feared of the radical jihadi.

His concerns are not without cause. Gardaí have said that up to 30 Islamic terrorists have left Ireland to join comrades in Syria and Iraq, while US military commanders have warned recently about friendly nations being unwilling or unable to monitor international terrorists.

However, while every effort should be made to prevent Ireland being used in this way, perhaps Enda Kenny should remind the president that Irish troops guard American warplanes while parked at Shannon Airport, providing a staging post for US military operations in the Middle East.