1 May 1997 Edition
De Rossa ditches neutrality
BY MICHEAL MacDONNCHA
The handful of delegates to the Democratic Left conference in Dún Laoghaire last weekend heard their leader Proinsias de Rossa ditch yet another of their once cherished principles - defence of neutrality. As well as approving re-entry into Coalition with Fine Gael and Labour, the DL members applauded the leader's address which supported the placing of Dublin government troops under NATO command in Bosnia.
As Mary Maguire reports elsewhere (see pages 10 and 11) Bosnia is currently being used by NATO as a training ground for troops. More than that it is a political bridgehead for two movements - the drive to integration of the armies of the EU countries under NATO and the Western European Union, and the expansion of NATO into Eastern Europe. The plan to send a small number of Irish troops to former Yugoslavia is not about peacekeeping or humanitarian aid as claimed by de Rossa, but is a political manouevre. On 23 January this year a senior NATO official said that even if an Irish contingent was very small ``we would be delighted to have an Irish presence because of the political importance of being able to co-operate with Ireland''.
De Rossa claimed that sending troops to Bosnia was compatible with opposition to membership of NATO, the Western European Union (the European arm of NATO) and the so-called Partnership for Peace (waiting room for NATO). He was wrong. Earlier this year Fine Gael Defence Minister Seán Barrett told a meeting of army officers that the possibility of affiliating to NATO through the PfP was being ``fully examined'' by the government. It was reported at the same time that a decision was imminent on whether to send troops to Bosnia.
That decision never came, nor was there anything more said in public about joining PfP but De Rossa's aproval for the Bosnia mission will send the right signals to those in Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats who want to bury neutrality for good.
In the topsy-turvy world of political opportunism black is white and cowardice is bravery. De Rossa told his conference that in government DL had shown itself capable of ``courageous decisions''. Thus agreeing at Cabinet that this state should bow to the wishes of military superpowers and sell its sovereignty becomes an act of bravery in de Rossa's world.
The DL leader tried to balance this by saying they were still opposed to membership of NATO, the WEU or the PfP. But if troops go to Bosnia they will be under direct NATO command for the first time. Their new boss will be US General Bill Crouch, Commander of NATO Allied Land Forces in Central Europe.
All this is taking place in the context of developing ``common security and defence policy'' in the European Union, with the Coalition having actually helped during its EU presidency to continue the drive to a military superstate.
De Rossa came under fire from the President of the Irish Camapign for Nuclear Disarmament, John De Courcy Ireland, a man who would once have been politically close to Democratic Left. One of the reasons for the declining membership of DL is their sell-out on this issue. There was virtually no comment in the media about the pathetically small turnout for their conference. But with more Cabinet seats in prospect who needs a party?
The handful of delegates to the Democratic Left conference in Dún Laoghaire last weekend heard their leader Proinsias de Rossa ditch yet another of their once cherished principles - defence of neutrality. As well as approving re-entry into Coalition with Fine Gael and Labour, the DL members applauded the leader's address which supported the placing of Dublin government troops under NATO command in Bosnia.
As Mary Maguire reports elsewhere (see pages 10 and 11) Bosnia is currently being used by NATO as a training ground for troops. More than that it is a political bridgehead for two movements - the drive to integration of the armies of the EU countries under NATO and the Western European Union, and the expansion of NATO into Eastern Europe. The plan to send a small number of Irish troops to former Yugoslavia is not about peacekeeping or humanitarian aid as claimed by de Rossa, but is a political manouevre. On 23 January this year a senior NATO official said that even if an Irish contingent was very small ``we would be delighted to have an Irish presence because of the political importance of being able to co-operate with Ireland''.
De Rossa claimed that sending troops to Bosnia was compatible with opposition to membership of NATO, the Western European Union (the European arm of NATO) and the so-called Partnership for Peace (waiting room for NATO). He was wrong. Earlier this year Fine Gael Defence Minister Seán Barrett told a meeting of army officers that the possibility of affiliating to NATO through the PfP was being ``fully examined'' by the government. It was reported at the same time that a decision was imminent on whether to send troops to Bosnia.
That decision never came, nor was there anything more said in public about joining PfP but De Rossa's aproval for the Bosnia mission will send the right signals to those in Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats who want to bury neutrality for good.
In the topsy-turvy world of political opportunism black is white and cowardice is bravery. De Rossa told his conference that in government DL had shown itself capable of ``courageous decisions''. Thus agreeing at Cabinet that this state should bow to the wishes of military superpowers and sell its sovereignty becomes an act of bravery in de Rossa's world.
The DL leader tried to balance this by saying they were still opposed to membership of NATO, the WEU or the PfP. But if troops go to Bosnia they will be under direct NATO command for the first time. Their new boss will be US General Bill Crouch, Commander of NATO Allied Land Forces in Central Europe.
All this is taking place in the context of developing ``common security and defence policy'' in the European Union, with the Coalition having actually helped during its EU presidency to continue the drive to a military superstate.
De Rossa came under fire from the President of the Irish Camapign for Nuclear Disarmament, John De Courcy Ireland, a man who would once have been politically close to Democratic Left. One of the reasons for the declining membership of DL is their sell-out on this issue. There was virtually no comment in the media about the pathetically small turnout for their conference. But with more Cabinet seats in prospect who needs a party?