No Tonic For Our Troops
The recent visit of Brigadier General Frank Leidenberger to Dublin as head of the German-led EU Battlegroup has raised questions over Ireland’s commitment to the force. Jackie Hayden talks to Roger Cole, Chair of PANA (Peace & Neutrality Alliance).
Jackie Hayden, 15 Jun 2012
Cole raises another issue of more immediate concern given the current discontent over household charges, and cutbacks in the health service, social welfare and elsewhere. How can Ireland afford such military commitments? “We’re constantly told we have no money and yet the Government,” he argues, “has allocated over €10.7 million to cover the first 120 days of the costs of sending our troops into battle, but so far nothing to cover engagements after that.
“If there is one thing that is certain, going on observation of conflicts in the past, it is that once our troops are sent into a war situation, it will be a hell of a lot longer than 120 days before they are withdrawn. Here we are coming up to the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising and we’re doing exactly what we did when we were part of the British union, sending Irish soldiers into war zones in other countries.”
Keohane points out to me that before Irish troops go to war, there must be a UN resolution to that effect. Then it must be passed by the Dáil. Cole contends that the Lisbon Treaty made it clear that there is no absolute need for a UN mandate before these Battlegroups are sent somewhere. Besides, the EU is now imposing sanctions on Iran without a UN mandate. Will the next step be to go to war without a UN mandate, just like the US and the UK went to war in Iraq with such a mandate?”
I ask Cole to explain why, if there’s a major problem somewhere in the world, we Irish should feel that we have no obligation to help sort it out. His reply is unequivocal.
“We should not get involved in imperial wars. When we first joined the EU, the Irish government produced a White Paper saying it would not affect our neutrality. But this Battlegroup situation changes all that. We’ve had hundreds of years of European nations taking over other people’s countries all over the world while pretending they were there to help. There is a deeply-rooted tradition of Imperialism in Europe. Do we want to help continue that and even be a part of it? You don’t have a tradition of China invading Europe.”
Page 2/3 <Previous 1 2 3 Next>
©Hot Press 2012. Why be a member? | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | About Us Jobs @ Hot Press