On February 15th, 2003, 100,000 people marched through Dublin city centre to demonstrate against the impending US and British invasion of Iraq. It was an impressive illustration of the depth of feeling among Irish people in opposing the war. It was also the biggest demonstration held in the capital since the protest following Bloody Sunday in 1972.

The preceding months had involved endless debates on the international stage about weapons inspections. This moved toward suggestions of an alleged cache in Iraq of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). An infamous dossier produced by the Tony Blair-led British government claimed Iraq could launch WMDs within 45 minutes. As this played out, there was background squabbling over whether or not a UN resolution – 1441 – gave a mandate for the invasion.

Clearly, a large swathe of the Irish population did not buy the arguments of the dossier, or the claimed casus belli. Many saw it, instead, as a US power move to remove a hostile player in an oil-rich region that was vital to its geopolitical interests.

The speeches at the Dublin protest were directed more against the Irish government than against the US and UK. That seems surprising now. But many of the protest leaders were indignant over the government’s equivocation on the matter, as well as the long-standing policy that allowed US military aircraft to refuel at Shannon Airport.

Six Nations permutations: Here’s how Ireland can win the title on the final day

Middle East live updates: One dead in Dubai amid ongoing Iranian missile and drone attack; fresh strikes in Iran

Alan Shatter to........

© The Irish Times