Sabina Higgins Letter to Irish Times calling for ceasefire on Ukraine

Russia have stated only last week that they fully intend to take more of Ukraine beyond the two republics. They have no intention of negotiating. The timing of this letter was absolutely atrocious. Even Macron is keeping his mouth shut at this point in time.

There may be a time when Russia are genuinely interested in negotiating but they are showing absolutely no sign of it right now. Higgins should have been aware of that before writing that dumb letter. That letter would have been perfectly fine before the 24th feb even in the first few weeks of the war it would have been in tune with many. But we are gone way beyond that now. The true criminal face of Russia has been revealed. They need to do some serious rehabilitation before they can be a bona fide negotiator of peace terms again. To be blind to that is wilful ignorance.

It is amazing to see journalists beginning to act like journalists rather than churnalists. There was a time when MDH and Sabina Higgins were treated like Lord and Lady Miggledy by the media. Not any longer. It must have been a terrible shock for them to have the media become so hostile. Don't know if the calls for MDH's resignation will gain momentum. There needed to be an apology and Sabina Higgins missed that opportunity.

Regards...jmcc

Yes, she really needs to explain that the wording of her letter was inadequate to the current situation and just simply apologise for misrepresenting many Irish citizens. That would clear it up for most. A bit of humble pie.

Look, Russia is a warmongering corrupt fascist kleptocracy, and you don't have to listen from a word from the USA to realise that. The real problem is with people who refuse to see the bleeding obvious.

Right so you're linking me with climate change deniers and calling my post populist, whatever that means.

Are you actually able to reply to the content of what I wrote? Are you able to express your own view?

I don’t know this is not really the thread for that. Ukraine are carefully calibrating their offensive to avoid triggering a full Russian mobilisation as that would probably mean the end of Ukraine as they are already fully mobilised. That’s why you don’t see any major strikes against Russian territory by Ukraine. Russia are also are calibrating their offensive to avoid having to fully mobilise for that would mean the end of Putin. It’s the nature and cause of the full mobilisation that will make the difference. Ukraine have to cause as much pain as possible within those constraints on their own territory and they are starting to make some serious headway at the moment in that regard. An unprovoked full Russian mobilisation will end this from within Russia. Russians don’t want this war.

What's tedious is you putting words in my mouth..

I didn't suggest the US run the world they tried that post 9/11 and it failed dismally which is a large part of the reason the global geopolitical situation is in a mess - imperial powers, a declining one in the US and rising ones in China, (Russia pre-war) and to a lesser degree, India, sparring off each other for reach and control.

Putin miscalculated big time on the likely response to his invasion within Ukraine and indeed the likelihood of victory however Biden and the west have miscalculated too - remember his hubris about Putin's overthrow in March, we don't hear much about that now do we? He and some within the US military establishment thought that Putin would be decisively defeated in Ukraine and he would be driven out of Ukraine - it hasn't happened and it won't happen. Now the economics of the war are seriously beginning to bite and we haven't reached winter yet, the foreboding of what's to come is real and there is clearly divisions among the Western 'Allies'. The US will put Zelensky under enormous pressure to cede territory probably the Donbas region....Zelensky will strongly resist that pressure but he may be left with no option...time will tell.

The letter itself seems to be in the president's diary section.

Regards...jmcc

Which made it appear that the letter had a presidential endorsement. Not only did the letter conflict with government foreign policy, it appeared to have a presidential endorsement and it was picked up by the Russian ambassador. Wouldn't an apology have been better?

Regards...jmcc

The whole "First Lady" thing seems to have disappeared from coverage and Sabina Higgins is now "the president's wife".

Regards...jmcc

I've not posted on this thread but have to comment on the Remarkably brilliant Clarification from Sabina Higgins, not that one was needed.

Tonights Drive time worth listening too, Two FG making absolute fools of themselves, it was Radio Gold.

An astonishing and disgraceful witch hunt motivated by political revenge has fallen on its Aras.

Dispicable and very personalised comments made by one colourful FG senator trying for a Political rehabilitation were disgraceful, he's now blocking some from seeing his Tweets such is the backlash.

Game, Set and Match Sabina Higgins on the most elegant, Delightfully worded slaps I've ever read 😉

Because you've been in it several times. Free for her friends who said they wanted it see the letter. I read it free myself. Her excuse was hogwash.

Seems that one FF senator quoted in the Indo is not giving up so easily.

"This evening Ms McGreehan said she would still like to see an apology from the President for the publication of the letter on his official website.

"I would like to see an apology given. The fact that the letter was removed in the first place highlights the acknowledgment of a wrong done," she said.

"The fact remains that it was placed on the official website, and by doing that implies that it has been endorsed by the Office of the President.

"There is no Constitutional position of partner or spouse of the President. So to excuse it as her own section on the official website is a stretch.”

"It hasn’t been an issue before, because as far as I know there hasn’t been any controversial statements contradicting government policy before," she added."

At least it takes some of the attention off FFers wanting to get rid of Martin. Perhaps they might want to run him as a presidential candidate if MDH resigns.

Regards...jmcc

She hasn't retracted anything from the original statement.

It's inevitable that this will influence public thinking.

A lot of this stems from the fact that Irish people no longer want any more refugees arriving here.

Completely agree, as the old adage goes when you're explaining you're losing, and this is bottom of the barrel stuff.

As for the statement she released this evening, i am honestly astounded at the audacity of it, instead of acknowledging the public disquiet and backing down from the false equivalence she attached to both sides in the conflict, she has decided to double down and express 'dismay' at her subsequent treatment.

Right now i don't see how the President's position is tenable and expect a resignation in the coming days.

You still haven't stated how she is out of touch, you made vague references to timing..

Wouldn't you think Michael D. would put a bit of 'smacht' on Sabina? It is bad enough when an tUachtarán Ó hUigínn, oversteps the bounds of the Presidency and veers into the political. As the office of the President is supposed to be above that.

But it is even more farcical when a spouse of an elected representative (who herself is unelected) starts making political statements. And not only that, posting them on the Official Presidential Website.

I realise she is calling for peace but it was done in a really awkward manner. Sabina is not the Pope and cannot go around making pronouncements asking for peace.

In the manner she called for Peace it definitely had political undertones. Which would ripple both east and west of Ireland in particular. And it could place Ireland in an awkward position politically as some could erroneously associate Sabina's statements not only with Michael D. But with Ireland itself. Regardless of the issue itself, it appears to me that Sabina should get back in her box. Talk about vague apolitical stuff by all means, but she should not drag the Presidency of Ireland along with her.

Jayus, years ago you would hardly even have known there was a President. It was handy number, they would rarely be seen or heard. Now we have reached the level where spouses can go spouting opinions under the associated banner of 'President of Ireland', without actually being the President of Ireland.

Gone International now 😟

Wife of Irish president stirs furore with call for Ukraine-Russia talks

Behind a paywall…will see if I can find one that isn’t.

‘The letter from Sabrina Higgins, who has campaigned against wars, was slammed as a “propaganda victory” for Russia by Cormac Smith, a former adviser to Kyiv’s foreign ministry.’

Not sure that there will be a resignation. No cabinet member has commented on this mess yet. However, a presidential election would distract people from a lot of other things so it has its upside for FFG.

Regards...jmcc

It'll be 'the president's beard' next...

The FT covering it is International coverage.

That other link (businesslend) is just a fake news website that mangles content from real websites. Best to delete the link.

Regards...jmcc

I just read her letter. Absolutely sickening stuff. Not one word of condemnation for the Russian invasion. Disgraceful and shameful to see this coming out of the president of Ireland’s office (attempts to distance herself as a mere citizen are not tenable in this instance).