US War-Planes take over Shannon airport

by . Mon Aug 08, 2005 22:23

What are being termed the "errors of the past" by a few contributors to this thread happened last year for Christ's sake! This isn't ancient history.

I don't know where you were Michael but people like me who were around then - and are still active in the wider anti-war movement - have very real and heartfelt reasons for distrusting the IAWM and its SWP bosses.

And suggesting that we just put it all behind us and move on for the sake of the cause is just glib. I remain active in the peace movement. I don't need the IAWM. At the same time, it still rankles when I hear that tiny group (and it is a tiny Dublin-based group) treated like it's representative of the peace movement in this country. At least change the name to reflect the reality.

Otherwise, best of luck with your work.

by Michael Mon Aug 08, 2005 19:15

Hi,

Delighted to see this discussion is actually taking place. First of all, I never said anything about 'being happy' in the IAWM. Secondly, I must object to the statement that 'as long as there are people like me (us?), the errors of the past will be repeated' If there were errors and if (some) people fucked up - that's life, and show me the movement or the organisation that did not commit errors and people did not fuck up. At the moment, what is important for us is that specific work around Shannon gets done...it's of a much lesser importance if the Gen Secretary or the Chairperson is from SWP, SP, SF, LP, FG or whatever....lets stop Shannon becoming a US base, as we did stop the nuclear power station at Carnsore ...now you know my age. We can then discuss the merits of a specific ideology or method of organisation.

Solidarity

by Pat Mon Aug 08, 2005 14:52

I'm glad, Michael, that you're happy with the IAWM but, for the sake of my sanity, please try to learn something from the past. As long as there are people like you, the errors of the past will be repeated over and over again.

Where to begin? Try reading the threads on indymedia that deal with the split that sundered the IAWM back in early 2004. Half the committee resigned including well respected activists like Harry Browne, Fintan Lane and Tim Hourigan. They denounced the IAWM as an SWP front and Finton, in particular, explained in exquisite detail why this was so. The SWP acted in a manipulative, undemocratic and f**ked up way. Do they have to do this again so that you get the point made above by our friend John?

It is a group that has never had a chairman or secretary who were not SWP members.

Are we doomed to repeat the same cycle with every batch of new recruits sucked into the IAWM by its SWP masters?

by Michael - an IAWM member Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:26

Hi JohnP,

As a (recent) member of the IAWM, along with many others who are not affiliated to the SWP, let me just point out to you in the friendliest way possible, that we don't feel like fodder nor appreciate being labelled as such.
But then perhaps we are not as intelligent, experienced or perceptive as you

Warmest regards

Michael

PS Ed, continue the good work

by Edward Horgan Mon Aug 08, 2005 01:06

John,
Neither the Irish Government not IAWM owns Shannon airport, the Irish people do. Come along on 24th Sept and do your own thing at Shannon,
1000 demonstrators can be 1000 separate demonstrations
Ed

by . Sun Aug 07, 2005 20:23

I respect the effort you've put into the Shannon issue, Cmdt Horgan, but I've had enough of S.W.P. (I.A.W.M.) protests and am not putting up with any more of their policing of the peace movement for their own purposes.

I've attended almost every Shannon demo up to now but I won't be attending this one. I'll find some other way of making my voice heard - I'm not going to be fodder for the S.W.P. any longer. Gave that up sometime back.

Pax, and good luck.

John P.

by Edward Horgan - PANA, and Mid West Alliance against War Sun Aug 07, 2005 19:58 edward_horgan at hotmail dot com 061-330567

The Shannon peace rally scheduled for 24th September is an important one. We hope all peace activists and anti war campaigners will support this demonstration. Recent Irish Government spokespersons have been emphasising that the Issue of the use of Shannon airport by US military forces and war planes is now a dead issue. It sure is. Over 100,000 Iraqi dead, or a recent Iraqi dead count suggests, 25,000 dead but over 80,000 missing.
Let the September peace demonstration put the Irish government on notice that the issue of the US military use of Shannon airport is just begining, and it will continue until we get US forces out of Shannon.
I have been asked to coordinate arrangements for the demonstration on behalf of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance. I also wish to work to ensure that all groups and individuals who wish to mark this important international day of protest, can feel free to do so at Shannon. We must come together as individuals and as groups and let our voices be heard speaking out or shouting out the truth.
It is not for me to invite you to Shannon. It is your right and your duty to come to Shannon at any time you wish and speak or demonstrate your protest against the unlawful killing of innocent people. The time for action is now. Speaking out the truth is just one form of action. Being at Shannon on 24 th September is another.
All individuals and groups who plan to be at Shannon may contact me, or if you wish, just turn up at Shannon on that day or any day. It is your airport, your country and your neutrality that is being violated daily.
Edward Horgan

by Mary Kelly Sat Aug 06, 2005 17:35

" A powerful member of the US senate warned against any change of policy by then Irish Government on the use of Shannon by the US military.
Senator Mary Landrieu said the American people would not take kindly to US troops being turned away from Shannon."

Why are we tolerating these thugs threatening us at Limerick conferences?

by Michael - IAWM Sat Aug 06, 2005 14:17

The Irish Anti War Movement (IAWM) has called a major Peace Rally & Festival on Saturday September 24th - the same day as major protests in the US and Britain calling for the withdrawal of American and British troops from Iraq.
The event is also supported by the Peace & Neutrality Alliance, NGO Peace Alliance, Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the Federation of Islamic Students. Most political parties have been contacted and they are considering offering their support.
The central slogans for the Shannon protest on Sept 24th will be TAKE IRELAND OUT OF WAR - US MILITARY OUT OF SHANNON - END THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN & PALESTINE.
The rally will assemble at Shannon Town Centre at 1pm marching to Shannon Airport where the rally & music will begin at 2pm. It will feature music from The Revs, The Chapters, Cypher, Pete Courtney, Jimi Cullen, 22, Dermot Byrne & Mark O' Conor who have committed their support at the time of writing.
We are appealing to anti-war groups and activists across the country to make this mobilisation an absolute priority over the next seven weeks. Tens of thousands of full colour leaflets and posters advertising the event are ready. A group of IAWM activists are leafleting Shannon as these lines are being written. We hope that every major town, city or district will attempt to fill at least one bus. If we start now with regular stalls and begin to take bookings we should easily be able to achieve this.

Saturday Stalls

A stall in Dublin’s Grafton Street on the weekend of July 30th saw hundreds of people queuing to sign petitions and over 40 people left their names to be contacted about future activities and protests. A stall will now take place every Saturday between 2pm and 4pm at the lower end of Grafton St. We will be distributing leaflets for Sept 24th and collecting petitions calling for the removal of US troops from Shannon. Please come along and help if you can.

Buses to Shannon

In Dublin Buses will run from the Bray/Dun Laoghaire area, the South Dublin and Inner City area, West Dublin and North Dublin. Bookings are already being taken for those buses. For more info/bus bookings/ leaflets & posters Phone 01 8727912 /087
8289243 or e-mail info@irishantiwar.org

Rocking out the Warplanes - Friday August 12th, Whelans

The Chapters, The Rags & Tadgh Cooke are kicking off IAWM's build up for Septembers Shannon Peace Festival with a gig in Whelans on Friday August 12th.... The proceeds from the gig will go to help finance the cost of running the Shannon Festival.
.Public Meeting Fri Aug 19th at 7.30pm, ATGWU Hall, Middle Abbey St, Dublin 1.
Speakers include: Raeid Al Wazzam (Eye witness from Mosul) & Speaker from Federation of Islamic Students.This meeting will hear an eye-witness account from an Iraqi just returned from Mosul, a city that has experienced some of the worst effects of the US led occupation. We will also have speakers from the Muslim Community and civil liberties groups to discuss Islamaphobia and planned new attacks on civil liberties following the London bombings on July 7th.

mailto:info@irishantiwar.org

by michael - citizen Fri Aug 05, 2005 23:23

Sorry to interrupt the cosy consensus but the islamists hate all of us. Whether we like it or not Ireland is a western country and socialism is a western conceit and they hate it

by Ali H. Fri Aug 05, 2005 09:20

It is one thing to protest outside the security cordon at Shannon.

It is quite another thing if people inside the airport refure to handle the planes carrying US military.

A few union members at Dunnes stores in the 1980s refusing to handle South African produce had a dramatic impact on the apartheid regieme.

Surely a place to protest is at the next AGM of the union the ground staff belong to.

In the meantime steady pressure could be brought to bear on the unions in question in advance of their AGM at least forcing this item onto the agenda so it is at least debated and the workers are confronted with a moral dilemma.

If people refuse to handle these planes they will soon go elsewhere to refuel and restock on the way to the killing fields of Iraq and if such a protest works here you could expect a repeat in Germany etc. as unions in other countries get the message and use their power to end this cruel occupation.

by Phuq Hedd Fri Aug 05, 2005 01:46

Irish Independent Aug 4th 2005 - Eugene Hogan

Shannon policy change 'would damage relationship with US'

A CHANGE in policy by the Government over the use of Shannon Airport by the US airforce could be detrimental to Irish/US relations, a leading US senator has indicated.

Speaking to the media yesterday during a major international security forum at the University of Limerick, Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu said that the US Government was very grateful to its Irish counterpart for making Shannon Airport available but intimated that it would not be good for relations if the Government here were to do a policy U-turn on the issue.

"I generally think that people in the United States would not take kindly to that (withdrawal of Shannon for use by air force), but that's not to say that they would be forever angry," she said.

"Our relations go far back and will continue but people in the United States are very grateful for any help that Ireland could provide, particularly to our troops.

"Ireland provided friendship to the United States at a difficult time. We are very good friends and we want to keep it that way and I realise you have decided not to be any more than neutral but Shannon Airport is a great help."

A former member of the Arms Services Committee in the United States Congress and Senate and now a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Committee, Senator Landrieu conceded that the US had made mistakes in Iraq but said the commitment to seeing out its role in the Gulf remained.

"We want Iraq and this area to be stabilised for the good of the whole world and we think that when that happens it will be to everyone's benefit and not just Americans," she said.

Also at yesterday's forum, which was attended by government and defence force representatives, and public safety experts from Europe, the US and Canada, the deputy director of Europol, Kevin O'Connell, said he did not believe Ireland would be viewed as a strategic location for terrorist cells intent on attacking the UK.

He said that he would not consider Ireland a particular risk due to its proximity to the UK.

Eugene Hogan

by Edward Horgan - Peace and Neutrality Alliance Fri Aug 05, 2005 00:59

At about 7.20 pm on Thursday 4th August I went to Shannon to observe whether there were any US military aircraft at the airport. I parked in the designated parking area provided for plane watching purposes at the rear of the airport, near the Shannon Aerospace facility. I noticed that an airport security patrol car, marked AP 12, Reg. no. 03CE1783, had stopped inside airport perimeter fence and that he paid particular attention to my car, and appeared to be in communication with his base. Because of heavy rain and mist, I was unable to establish which type of aircraft were at the airport so I left this area after some time and drove to the Shannon Development industrial estate at the south side of the airport perimeter fence. I noticed that a US airforce Globemaster C 17 was parked in the centre of the airport. As I was observing this aircraft, a Garda Squad car with its blue light flashing came up behind me at about 7.40 pm. Both Gardai in the car approached my car. A garda who identified himself as Garda Mark O’Shea asked me for my driving licence which I produced. He was accompanied by Garda Michael Golden. He queried as to whether the address on the licence was the correct one, so we some discussion on this matter. He then asked me, was I the subject to a High Court order prohibiting me from being in the vicinity of Shannon airport? I asked him to specify what order he was talking about, and he was unable to do so. He insisted that I was subject to a High Court order prohibiting me from being in the vicinity of Shannon airport and then ordered me to leave the area immediately, and indicated by his words and actions that I might be arrested if I refused to obey his instructions. I informed him that I was not subject to a High Court order prohibiting me from being in the vicinity of Shannon airport, and that his information was incorrect, and that I wished to remain in the area for lawful purposes. I then informed Garda O’Shea and Garda Golden that there was a US airforce Globmaster C 17 aircraft within the airport and I requested both of them to have this aircraft searched in order to ensure that there were no dangerous explosives or munitions on this aircraft, or that there were no prisoners being unlawfully transported on this plane. Garda O’Shea informed me that there were other gardai within the airport looking after this aircraft, and that it was not his function to search this aircraft. I asked the gardai to pass my request on the Shannon Garda Station.
At about 8.10 pm I drove to Shannon garda station, followed by these two gardai in the squad car. I asked to see the Garda Sergeant in charge, and was informed that he would be with me in a few minutes. Five minutes later I was told he would not be available until after 10 pm. I then made a formal complaint to the garda in charge, Garda Stephen Elvins. My complaint was that I believed I had been unduly harassed by Garda Mark O’Shea, and had been ordered by him to leave the area of Shannon Development industrial estate because there was a High Court order prohibiting me from being in the vicinity of Shannon airport. I also formally requested Garda Stephen Elvins in his capacity as the member in charge of the garda station to ensure that C 17 US airforce aircraft was searched for dangerous weapons and munitions, and for the unlawful transport of prisoners. He told me that he would pass this matter on to his superiors. I informed him that this matter was urgent because it was important to search the aircraft before it departed, and he said he would inform his superiors as soon as possible. He wrote down the details of my complaints and I signed under the entry in his notebook. He then informed me that I would be contacted in due course on this matter.
I then left the Garda Station, and travelled back to the industrial estate, and established that the C 17 US airforce aircraft was still at the airport. I then returned to Limerick.

I was at Shannon to witness the Irish Government's participation in the killing of innocent people in the Middle East, yet I was threatened with arrest and attempted intimidation. I have already been arrested or detained, three times at Shannon, once for shaking hands in solidarity with an Iraqi person during a demonstration in 2002, the second time, June 24th 2004 for protesting in a boat against the Bush visit, and I was arrested again on 4th march 2005 for taking a photo of a US Hercules warplane from outside the airport perimeter fence. I was found not guilty of charges of breaches of the public in the Bush protest case, and was not prosecuted in either of the other two cases of arrest/detention. My only crimes are that I try to witness wrongdoing and to speak to the truth.
We need support from all peace lovers at Shannon airport. Its time to speak out and protest now. Every other day of silence is a day of complicity.

by The Bush Tribunal Fri Aug 05, 2005 00:51

Bush: "Sorry to Oil the Airport but Oil comes first."

by action now Fri Aug 05, 2005 00:42

forget about signing petitions over US military use of Shannon airport. Do something about it. Go to Shannon and see what is going on, and protest, join in a peace camp at Shannon or whatever. Whatever you do dont do nothing, while innocent people are being killed.

by Indy_newbie Thu Aug 04, 2005 16:10 spyrojyros_tail at yahoo dot co dot uk

I agree with this piece, we cannot be neutral whilst allowing the u.s. military free pass when it comes to shannon. But we were never neutral! Even most of the computer components that we build here in Ireland go to making up the innards of the americans apache helicopters. Id love nothing more than for Ireland to be neutral, where do i sign so i can get the u.s. military out of shannon? Who do I e-mail?

P.S. Just found this "indy media" site thanks to a good documentary I watched (www.thecorporation.tv) Im so glad that there are other people out there that are sick of the current media.

by Shannon Watch Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:14

Actions always have consequences. Wrong actions usually have evil consequences. As children we learned to connect up the dotted lines to form pictures.
The actions of the Irish Government at Shannon have consequences - 100,000 dead so far and growing, or as some reports put it, 25,000 dead and over 80,000 missing because we dont do body counts.
New York .... Washington ... Madrid ... London ....