Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I think we are all glad to see some signs of de-escalation over the Ukraine, with Russia withdrawing some troops from the Ukrainian border. Our Government and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, are very quick to be critical of a possible attack by the Russians on Ukraine, or the massing of troops on the Ukrainian border, both of which are totally unacceptable. Yet there is not a single word of criticism of NATO and of the United States for its role in cranking up and in escalating this situation, particularly through its eastward expansion of NATO. It was promised after the Cold War that this would not happen. Indeed, they never criticise the United States for its other support for authoritarian or brutal regimes. Yes, if the Government wants to criticise Putin for sideling up to Ukraine, that is good. However, will it criticise the United States for arming Saudi Arabia to the teeth, so that it can bomb the hell out of Yemen? There is no criticism. The Government criticises the Russians for planning to do military exercises in our exclusive economic zone. Will it now say it is unacceptable for the Americans or the British to do the same thing in our exclusive economic zone? Indeed, would it go even further and say United States military is not welcome in Shannon Airport when it is en route to conduct military operations elsewhere in the world?

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