Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Feachtas um Dí-armáil Eithneach
P.O. Box 6327, Dublin 6, Ireland
Fón: +353 -1-454 0194
Email: irishcnd@ireland.com
Website http://indigo.ie/~goodwill/icnd.html
The Threatened War on Iraq
In a well-known Co Longford village stands a memorial, one side
of which
is inscribed with the simple legend, "Vive la France!"
The people of
Ballinamuck, who placed this memorial, are more aware than most
of us
that the involvement of the French in 1798 had more to do with
French
than with Irish interests. One suspects, however, that being assisted,
however temporarily, against the all-powerful force of the time
was
enough to earn their affection and lasting acknowledgement.
In the current stand off between on the world's first hyper-power
and
seemingly most of the world's citizens, perhaps insufficient credit
is
being accorded to the French for bearing the brunt of the pressure
right
from the very outset. The constant reiteration by the US/UK that
they
will attack Iraq regardless of UN makes it very clear that the
latter's
use of its veto could jeopardise France's legitimate interests
in the
Middle East when they attack anyway before proceeding to control
and
administer the oil interests to their own ends. France could be
cut out
of such oil deals or its interests seriously reduced, a result
which
would be disastrous for the French economy.
It is unfair and illogical to claim, as have some commentators
that
France is acting in just as selfish and unprincipled a way as
US/UK. The
French are saying the inspectors should be given enough time to
fulfil
their UN mandate, that war must be a last resort. What's wrong
with
that? In addition, France has legitimate interests and closer
historic
relations with the Middle East than any other big or medium power
today,
relations that go back centuries and long before the colonial
era.
Scared to inaction by the fear of reprisal from the USA, the Russians
and Chinese came aboard only after the French had threatened to
veto.
France and France alone has forced the mighty USA back to the
UN, if
only temporarily, and for that all democrats must be grateful.
Had it
not been for the threat of a French veto, the first phase of this
war
would probably be well underway by now with tens of thousands
dead and
dying from the direct and indirect effects of the bombardment.
The saddest thing from Irish citizen's point of view is that
the Irish
government hasn't offered them any support. The Taoiseach statement
of
having "no problem" with the Tony Blair's clumsy and
unprincipled
attempt to isolate the French and Germans and thereby break their
opposition to immediate war speaks for itself. Horrific as it
may seem
one is forced towards the conclusion that our government is hoping
the
French will finally crack at the Security Council and the USA
will have
its war. Could Nelson Mandela's description of Mr. Blair as "America's
foreign minister" also apply to our own prime minister?
CND worldwide has major differences with France, which in common
with
the other nuclear powers, possesses its own weapons of mass destruction.
On this issue, however, and for the moment, we too say "Vive
la France!"
It is past time now for the Irish government to stand up like
the French
and represent the views of its own people.
Billy Fitzpatrick is Chairperson
of Irish CND