Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The troops were moved because al-Qaeda had moved into a certain area. I do not see where the positive is in the whole Middle East region. The Minister has said that Syria and Israel are not fighting across the border at present, but they would fight if they wanted to. We would not be able to stop them if they did. The UN could play a massive role in the Middle East, but we are a long way from that. The whole area is in turmoil. It is militarised. It is an exercise in promoting the arms industry. Lockheed's share value has increased by 10% in the past six months. The escalation of activity in the area has been a massive boost to the arms industry and a huge blow for the people of the region. It is just too difficult for the UN now. Given the dynamics of it, I honestly think we should be putting our forces somewhere else. They are not serving any reasonable purpose there. I do not know how the Minister can argue that they are.

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