US ambassador at NUI Galway: Call to Protest

by cassandra Wed Nov 14, 2007 23:35

Ambassador Foley spoke to a full lecture hall in NUIG on 14 November.. He annoyed his audience by talking at some length about how the US continues to defend Europe, which (he said) is unable and unwilling to defend itself. The audience listened to first half of speech politely but I felt tension simmering. Eventually people's tolerance began to slip as he talked of WMD being the reason for the invasion of Iraq---snorts and mutterings from many parts of the room. He also praised US aid to many countries, especially to Africa.
He voiced concern about the 5 challenges the US sees : Africa, Middle East (Iran-Iraq), Israel-Palestine, supporting the UN, globalisation challenges including access to water. The US wants to be the leader in a new global agenda, but is worries what to do about Russia.
He stated that Ireland is neutral though not pacifist.
The audience couldn't contain its frustration at that and there were a number of protests voiced---Shannon being a very sore point with most of audience.
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When questions were taken from the floor, all were hostile. The US was criticised on Guantanamo, the invasion of Iraq, his repetition of the old lie about WMD which the entire hall rejected, the apparent determination to attack Iran, the use of torture, the denial of the Geneva Conventions, its unjust trade policies, its policy of assassinating leaders it dislikes including Castro, its selfish dominance of the IMF, W Bank and WTO, what would be the fate of Guantanamo prisoners now in Limbo, etc.
He replied well but not convincingly. He claimed not to know much about trade---hardly believable from a businessman who was in charge of privatising everything in sight in Iraq. An African speaker was not pleased about US interference in Africa.
At the height of the debate, feelings were high and interruptions were coming thick and fast---people were angry at his repeating the old lines on Iraq which have long since been discredited.
One young fellow was getting a bit offensive and the hall wanted him quiet or out.
For me a sadly symbolic end to the evening was that my placard was torn by some right-winger before I could exit the hall, and the UN Declaration of Human Rights was dropped in a bin.

by Maura Harrington - S2S; Davitt League Wed Nov 14, 2007 19:21

Sorry can't be there with you other than in spirit.

Give it bhascaí!

Maura

by Eoghan Fox - LY Wed Nov 14, 2007 18:13

Labour Youth will be there also

by TD - Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign Wed Nov 14, 2007 13:30

Galway branch of the IPSC will be there, in strength, to voice our outrage.