WMD questions - Fresh doubts demand Iraq war rethink

WITH fresh doubts cast on weapons of mass destruction by former Iraq Survey Group director David Kay, it is reasonable to ask if the Irish Government will re-assess its stance on the war.

Despite lacking UN sanction, America had permission to use Shannon airport for thousands of flights carrying troops and weapons, including patriot missiles, as revealed by the Irish Examiner.

It would be interesting to learn if Taoiseach Bertie Ahern still shares the blind certitude of British Prime Minister Tony Blair who “has absolutely no doubt” the intelligence about weapons of mass destruction in the run-up to war was genuine.

Facing the most difficult week of his premiership, Mr Blair has a back-bench revolt over university fees on his hands and could also be fatally wounded by the Hutton report Dr David Kelly’s suicide following claims that Downing Street “sexed up” the Iraq weapons dossier.

Asking the Irish Government to admit the war was a sham is absolutely valid considering the subterfuge of the Bush-Blair axis of aggression. The key question is whether Ireland’s foreign policy should be sacrificed on the altar of US-British expediency.