Let us take the lead against war

IN rejecting the latest agreement on weapons inspections in Iraq, the US and Britain are on a collision course with the UN.

This follows a concerted campaign hellbent on conquest in the Middle East. If the US and Britain continue to snub the rest of the world, the UN must be ready to respond.

As Mr Blair said of Iraq’s alleged defiance of the UN: “Not to act would be to completely undermine the strength of the UN.” This is true, despite Britain and the USA’s undermining of UN resolutions 242 and 338, resulting in the virtual eradication of an entire nation’s homeland, Palestine.

This time the UN must not let itself be undermined and Ireland, as a neutral country sitting on the security council, is ideally positioned to lead the way.

If the USA and Britain go to war in defiance of the UN, plans should be made to retaliate with economic sanctions. This is the only course whereby nations can make a meaningful stand against the most powerful military force in history. For economic sanctions to have any real effect, the UN must not be sidelined once again in the face of war.

Dearbhla O’Leary,

Old School,

Knockraha,

Co Cork.