US cannot dictate our moral code

AS leaders around the world condemn the escalating war of “shock and awe” in Iraq, it defies credulity that Tánaiste Mary Harney should seek to deny Ireland’s entitlement to question the legality and motives of the United States and Britain in declaring hostilities.

Are we now to accept that the priorities and necessities of America and Britain should dictate Ireland’s moral code and that people’s deeply-held principles should count for nought?

Ms Harney claims that to deny US access to Shannon would be counter to Irish interests and weaken Ireland’s close ties with “our closest friends”. Be that as it may, such friendship should not mean abrogating the right to stand up and be counted when the occasion demands.