Shannon Flights Compromise Neutrality

by Republican Sat Jan 25, 2003 16:03

Shannon Protest by Munster RSF
Timmy King, Munster Republican Sinn Féin

The continued use of Shannon Airport by American military aircraft must be opposed because it undermines Irish neutrality, the Munster Executive of Republican Sinn Féin said today.

Munster Executive chairman Timmy King from Limerick said that neutrality is continually being eroded by successive 26 County administrations.

"The fact is that by allowing American and NATO warplanes to land and refuel on Irish soil we have helped bomb the people of Iraq and Afghanistan," said Mr. King.

"The point of being neutral is not to take sides but if possible to assist in negotiations so that both sides may resolve their differences in an environment where none is threatened. The fact is we are now assisting one side by allowing American military air craft use Shannon Airport.

"There is a glaring contradiction in current policy because the American and British way of thinking is accepted here without question. It is our view that if the price of keeping multi-national companies in this country is our traditional neutrality, then the price is too high.

"Just because we oppose American and British foreign policy we are condemned and treated like enemies - but we shall continue to voice our concern for the erosion of our neutrality.

"Instead of just meekly accepting American and British policy we should look to the UN and other neutral countries for guidance."

by Dave D Sat Jan 25, 2003 16:31

Republican Sinn Fein giving out about breaches of Irish neutrality. What a complete fucking joke. Since when did you give a shit about the country's laws. Hand over your guns dickheads.

by Planxty Sat Jan 25, 2003 16:36

The fact is that a huge amount of people are against this war and are against Irish participation under the form of Irish civilian airports being used for military purposes, or in deed under any form.

The only thing I can see is that you can protest until your balls drop off, and nobody is going to take a blind bit of notice.

As Bunracht na hÉireann states that "War shall not be declared and the State shall not participate in any war save with the assent of Dáil Éireann", could it not be possible for a group of citizens to bring a claim against the government for participating in a war without the consent of Dáil Éireann? How does that work?

by Planxty Sat Jan 25, 2003 16:43

see about 'neutral' here

http://www.avrildoyle.ie/speeches_neutrality.htm

by d Sat Jan 25, 2003 18:03

firstly, although i agree that allowing american warplanes to land in shannon is against the 'spirit' of the constitutuion i don't think it would hold up 'legally'... this is because war has not been officially declared... so by allowing warplanes to land in shannon ireland is not technically participating in a war...

secondly, i completely disagree with your statement about protesting... protesting can defintely achieve something... take for example that tcd postgrad who was in falun gong... a major reason he was freed is because of all the protests which took place...

d

by i psi phi Sat Jan 25, 2003 19:55

when did the USAF start using Shannon?
when did they start bombing Iraq?
when did they start bombing Afghanistan?
when did they stop bombing Afghanistan?
when did they stop bombing Iraq?
eh hello?
you want a "declaration" of war?
would "we are at war" be enough?
Mr Bush September 2001.
would "we shall prosecute this war till finish"
Mr Bush October 2001.
international diplomacy of course requires declaration of war to be deliver by diplomatic mission with a copy in the French language.

how about you leave your address and I´ll get my morning suit out of the mothballs and put on my tophat and catch a plane back to Ireland knock on your door and say
"Nous sommes a guerre Monsieur!"
or "Mademoiselle"
whichever you prefer.
as soon as I get the envelopes printed up I´ll be able to notify everyone of the "declaration of war". IF I get it together.
trance music is wickedly cool.
this is going to be a most wonderful weekend.

by Eoin Dubsky - Refueling Peace Sun Jan 26, 2003 12:26

See link below, read Donald Rumsfeld's own admission last Sunday.

Re "neutrality", look up any book on international humanitarian law for a definition, or search Google.com for "Hague Convention V".

by iosaf Sun Jan 26, 2003 14:01

if so I´ll shall gladly appoint you as my
pleni potentiary.
oh and how´s your french?

by Phuq Hedd Sun Jan 26, 2003 20:15

The "no fly" zones are in breach of international law and have involved US and UK aircraft bombing Iraq on a daily basis since 1991. Do we know that none of these planes or munitions for them have passed through Shannon? No, because our cowardly "inspectors" don't inspect anything and our cowardly "leaders" don't ask for formal statements from their US masters.

Ireland has an duty to itself and to the world to make sure that we participate in upholding the rules of conduct by which we wish nation states to interact. If we don't do this then we'll end up with a world which is the corruption of Ireland writ large. Hello Enron, Hello massacres in Indonesia, Hello illegal and secret carpet bombing of Laos/Cambodia, Hello more than 500,000 dead Iraqi children.

by local Sun Jan 26, 2003 20:49

there is no war

Just because a few planes land in Shannon for fuel and fresh food means we are taking part in a war. Guys please come out of the fog.

by Tim Sun Jan 26, 2003 21:36

a few planes?

Now, if you were local you'd know better than a "few planes"

You'd also know that its not just fuel and food that's going on.
You'd know foreign military agents are STATIONED in Shannon.

You'd know about the refuelling tankers which operate out of Shannon and which facilitate fighter bombers transiting our airspace.

You'd know about the cargo planes.

So come on you COWARD, admit you're not local, use your real name, and that you know sod all about what's really going on.

I bet you couldn't find Drumgeely on a clear day.