Sir, – The US-Israel attack upon Iran demonstrates intellectual clarity and moral courage. Iran is not Russia or North Korea or even Pakistan. When its theocratic government obtains nuclear weapons, it will not be deterred from using them by the possibility of mutually assured destruction.
On the contrary, many of its leaders will welcome the chance for martyrdom. The risk is too great, and indulging in forever negotiations while hoping for the best is not a viable option.
US president Donald Trump and Israel’s Binyamin Netanyahu deserve our eternal gratitude for efforts which, at worst, will merely delay this nuclear conflict, but may actually prevent it altogether.
Furthermore, the people of Iran deserve to be provided with some small opportunity to free themselves from this terrible regime, even if this is not the prime factor driving the US and Israel in their heroic efforts to avert nuclear war. – Yours, etc,
RM Block
Dr DAVID WOODS
Department of Classics,
University College Cork.
Sir, – A letter writer wonders why a “gullible” US continues to always act in Israeli interests, even if it means war in the Middle East, but fails to confront Russia (Letters, March 2nd). There are two reasons.
First of all, Trump has no emotional attachment whatsoever to Europe, regards European democracies as alien to his view of the world and aspires to undermine the EU and European economies. The reality is that Trump does not really care what happens to Ukraine.
Secondly, Israeli lobby groups in the US are more powerful than ever, in particular the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). This organisation engages directly with lawmakers and the US administration. It invests millions of dollars in election campaigns in support of pro-Israel candidates and it opposes those candidates who are critical of Israeli policies.
All of this begs the question as to why our own Government and EU leaders continue to lack the moral courage to utter a single criticism of US policy and its damaging effect on the world democratic order. – Yours, etc,
MARTIN McDONALD
Terenure,
Dublin 12.
Sir, – Donald Trump has opened Pandora’s box and he has no idea how to close it. – Yours, etc,
CLARE STOREY
Glencar,
Sligo.
