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Ireland should support France and Germany

category national | miscellaneous | news report author Tuesday February 11, 2003 20:30author by Graham Caswell - Green Party

Green Party Pres Release

The Green Party today in the Dáil called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, and the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, to 'get off the fence' and fully support the Franco-German proposal to the UN on Iraq.

"Next Monday the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs travel to an EU meeting to discuss the current crisis in Iraq. The French and German Governments need our backing, we must come down on the side of peace and insist that more time be given to diplomacy. This current rush to war on the part of the United States and Britain must be halted. At EU level, our Government must take a much stronger stand on this issue."

Party Chairman, John Gormley T.D., said the Franco-German proposal was now the only option that could avert a full-scale war. "Now is the time for Ireland to show its commitment to the UN and to our own Constitution by displaying our European credentials in whole-hearted support for old Europe. It is time for Brian Cowen to cease the bellicose rhetoric and to seek more creative solutions to the Iraq crisis."

"We are now behaving more like members of NATO than some of the existing members of NATO", concluded Deputy Gormley.

Comments (11 of 11)

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author by embarrased to say.publication date Tue Feb 11, 2003 21:10author address author phone

author by couldnt really resist.publication date Tue Feb 11, 2003 21:11author address author phone

every penny.

author by iosafpublication date Tue Feb 11, 2003 21:18author address author phone

All parties voted for.
Aznar´s PP against.
governing majority is held by Catalúnyas deputies.
motion is passed.

author by Akirapublication date Tue Feb 11, 2003 21:57author address author phone

ireland (not only our government (pah!)) should support the franco german initiative that is of course in the best interest of iraqi's, or wait no take off my blind! isnt france one of the only countries in europe who can drill for oil in iraq? yes that's right! so the green's support a franco german initiative to hold on to their oil drilling operations in iraq, hmmm very interesting!

author by Eoin Dubsky - Refueling Peacepublication date Tue Feb 11, 2003 23:14author email info at refuelingpeace dot orgauthor address author phone

Not that I'm a fan of Eamon De Valera myself, but just to make the point that the current elite in Ireland are not only far from the people's values, but even their supposed forefather's...

At the time of Italy's invasion of Abyssinia in 1935 Ireland tried to sway the giants. When he was president of the League's council – the forerunner of our present-day Security Council –
Eamon de Valera proposed a League multinational force to stop Italy's 1935 aggression. He was prepared to commit his own new and tiny Irish army to such a project. The major powers were not interested. "We have been unable to bend our wills to sacrifice selfish advantage when it conflicts with justice to others," de Valera later complained.

author by k moran - SWSSpublication date Tue Feb 11, 2003 23:30author address author phone


Backing the war if the U.N is involved is a pure sell out. A U.N backed bomb is no different from any other. U.N's sanctions have killed over 1 million iraqis (not armed forces but ordinary people)doing the great job of neutralising those dangerous under five year olds (50% of the million where children simply because they are the most vulunerable to malnourishment and poor or non-existent medical facilities). That is very simple. It is estimated that 50,000 iraqis minimum will die in the war, is that acceptable if the U.N sanctions it? Who permanently sits on the U.N security council: China, Russia, the US. the UK and france all with brilliant track records in human rights and the last 3 ALL backed Saddam for years even when he gassed his own people with the weapons they supplied. U.N a force for peace? You must be joking

Related Link: http://www.swp.ie
author by martin - nonepublication date Tue Feb 11, 2003 23:36author address author phone

Ireland was neutral against Nazi Aggression and Against Soviet Aggression

author by Nan Irwinpublication date Wed Feb 12, 2003 01:03author address author phone

Ireland never got Marshall Aid

author by King Mobpublication date Wed Feb 12, 2003 15:23author address author phone

I hate this one line reponses.

Martin what is your fucking point?

That Ireland should now remain neutral in the face of American Aggression?

That it is acceptable to continue on our current path because of the actions of our forefathers?

Really what is your fucking point?

author by young Fine Gealpublication date Wed Feb 12, 2003 18:51author address author phone

Ireland should support The Eastern European EU applicant Countries and Turkey and Fully back the US and tell France and Germany that they are finished and will be outvoted in the new EU once Turkey and the Eastern European countries have full voting rights and majority voting with no undemocratic veto's to hold up wars and other issues.

author by Despublication date Wed Feb 12, 2003 20:19author address author phone

Graham, the so-called Franco-German axis is one element of the imperialist led resource war drive. Their only argument with Bush and Blair is over a share of the spoils. The “proposal” could at best be described as a delaying tactic, involves the continuation of sanctions, (over a million lives have been lost already) and the occupation of Iraq by foreign troops aka “peacekeepers” and even more “inspectors”, in the past at least, some of them were CIA agents. I am amazed that John Gormley seems to take it seriously. Berlin and Paris have no concern whatsoever for the welfare of the Iraqi people, their interests are in obtaining their share of the Iraqi natural resource. Both countries have supported the Saddam Hussein regime in the past, including sales of military equipment. As have previous Washington administrations,
Bush/Blair don’t want to “liberate” the Iraqi people from Saddam Hussein (a former “friend”), they want to “liberate” the oil resource of Iraq (a natural resource which should to used to rebuild the country) and fill the coffers of Multi-national Oil companies. I would suggest Graham, that the next time you bump into Trevor, you should suggest a policy change, your current one (for a party that is anti war) is somewhat flawed.



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