Unusual US military activity at Shannon and in Irish Airspace

by Fred Johnston Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:44 sylfredcar at iolfree dot ie

More than ever it is vital that Brian Cowen is persuaded to inspect US Military and other suspect aircraft at Shannon, and the veil of double-talk and silence be lifted. It is eminently clear that the CIA uses Shannon as a way-station through which the more effectively to conduct rendition flights; if we can make such media noise about the arrest of war criminals elsewhere, our record on taking the US to task is both cowardly and abysmal. As a writer, I am calling upon Aosdana and the Irish Writers Union to issue a statement immediately condemning the US military use of Shannon and the CIA use of Shannon and asking Brian Cowen at once to make a similar public statement.

by timmy Sun Aug 03, 2008 23:14

The anti-fascist covenants such as the Nuremburg Trials and the Geneva Conventions of war, ought to be examined here on these questions. U.S. Judge Jackson who chaired the Nuremburg Trials stated that the planning and carrying out of Aggressive War is the supreme international crime on planet earth, as it sets in motion all other crimes high and low, big and small. He further stipulated that it is a crime if Germany does it or the United States. This aggreement as covenant is signed on to by the United States and the Republic of Ireland and constitues international law for the majority countries of the planet. Seeing that this is the case and that the Blair-Bush lies and deceptions that pushed for aggressive war which up to now has on an on-going bases killed more than two million people, there is indeed a need to press international anti-fascist law and put U.S. Imperialism on trial internationally in the International war crimes tribunal, and International criminal court , and the international court of justice. (Hague) The U.S. constitution says that treaties signed on to by the U.S. A.) are the supreme laws of the land relating to America. Impeachment talks are now being allowed in congress and it would be wise of Ireland to put its case against the criminal infringement of Irish neutrality before the Congress of the United States. In light of these national and international laws, Mary Kelly is not guilty of any crime whatsoever, and should be compensated for the abuse and criminal procedings that have harrassed her over the last few years, but not only is she and her comrades in ploushares not guilty, they are in fact Irelands new heros and the worlds new heros. The crimes of rendition to torture carried on by the Criminal U.S. Imperialist military are soon to be dealt with on all levels and from each and every country on the planet. No passaran. Torture is a fascist method of medieval times and shall be abolished. The world is even now deciding how to dish out the just and deserved punishments to the Bushco. There is even a leading U.S. prosecutor who has authored true criminal books and reached the best seller list. His new book published by Vanguard books is titled , ' The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder'. He uses the U.S. constitution and swears that he will see Bush tried for murder of the four thousand U.S. troops killed by him, and that done in an American Court. Indeed there needs to be more Mary Kellys in the world and more and more activity to stop these illegal aggressive wars that are destroying our air, land, water, plants, animals, and peoples. Time is on the anti-fascist side and not on the side of the Aggressive Imperialist war mongers committing crimes against humanity using the right to cover their unjust moves.

by Edward Horgan Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:00

These are just some of the recent books in the US available through Amazon.com on the topic of impeachment of George W Bush.

1. The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder by Vincent Bugliosi (Hardcover - May 26, 2008)

2. United States v. George W. Bush et al. by Elizabeth de la Vega (Paperback - Nov 1, 2006)

3. The Impeachment of George W. Bush: A Practical Guide for Concerned Citizens by Elizabeth Holtzman and Cynthia L. Cooper (Paperback - Sep 11, 2006)

4. The Case for Impeachment: The Legal Argument for Removing President George W. Bush from Office by Dave Lindorff and Barbara Olshansky (Paperback - May 29, 2007)

We urgently need to undertake legal proceedings against Irish politicians complicit in the crimes against humanity in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the torture rendition programme.

by A passing observer Tue Aug 05, 2008 11:39

These photos of US troops in a specially constructed smoking area for US troops at Shannon airport indicate the lack of safety priorities at Shannon. First this smoking area is far too close to aircraft being refuelled, and secondly, it presents a large area of glass close to parked aircraft some of which are known to be carrying munitions and explosives.

Smoking guns at Shannon 0.16 Mb These soldiers should not be in "Neutral" Ireland 0.15 Mb

by Sean Tue Aug 05, 2008 16:56

I don't know about that photo the laster person posted - it has certain possibilities!

Could it ever happen?

by Soldier passing through Wed Aug 06, 2008 11:31

US soldiers travelling from the US to Iraq are entitled to make applications for asylum and apply for Refugee Status under the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and enabling Irish legislation. Such Refugee status would be based on their unwillingness to participate in an unlawful war, and fear of persecution in the US for refusal to obey unlawful orders.

Additionally, US soldiers going from the US to Iraq, through Shannon airport, in Ireland, a declared neutral state, are entitled to claim beligerent prisoner of war status in Ireland under the Hague Convention V on Neutrality 1907. The Irish Government has an obligation under Article 2 of the Hague Convention to intern all US troops entering Irish territory for the duration of that war.

US troops returning from Iraq are in a different and more invideous position. Some may have been involved in or complicit in crimes against humanity or torture in Iraq or Afghanistan.
In such cases the Irish Government has obligations to arrest such US troops under the UN Convention against torture and under the various Geneva Conventions relating to war and the treatment of non-combatants in war.

US troops seeking asylum should go through the immigration control area rather than to the duty free lounge of the smoking area. They should seek to pass through the immigration control checkpoint and make their application from beyond the "airside" area. If necesasry contact should be made with the Irish Refugee Council at
Contact Irish Refugee Council
88 Capel Street, Dublin 1
Phone: +353-1-8730042
Fax: +353-1-8730088
E-mail: refugee@iol.ie

by Contrarian Wed Aug 06, 2008 19:20

These photos of US troops in a specially constructed smoking area for US troops at Shannon airport indicate the lack of safety priorities at Shannon. First this smoking area is far too close to aircraft being refuelled, and secondly, it presents a large area of glass close to parked aircraft some of which are known to be carrying munitions and explosives.

Can you substantiate that? How far is the area from refuelling aircraft? What regulations or standards apply? How far would be safe?

As regards the munitions and explosives, this is a very regulated area. There are International Air transport Association guidelines and the Irish regulations set out in the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War and Dangerous Goods) Order,1973 Can you confirm that any specific breaches of the Regulations have occurred? Or are you just reaching for any old stick to beat America with?

by A10 Wed Aug 06, 2008 21:48

Absolute Bullshit picture for a start.
The smoking area is out in a forecourt of the terminal building on the apron.It is beyond any area accesible by vechicles,especially fuel,service or baggage trucks.Nearest aircraft to it are appx 100 meters to the right[Ryanair stands]. To the left it is appx 60 meters to the first aircraft ramp on the terminal complex. The US troop aircraft usually use the last two stands on the extreme left of the terminal wing.NOWHERE near the smoking area.This is quite close to the long term car park and therefore more at risk from stupidity than smoking by terrorists of any kind.
Plus for those who obviously know fuck all about Shannon,but act like they do the transport aircraft park on a dead piece of taxiway a good 300 meters away from the terminal.Which is under army and garda surveillance and fenced off. So it is hardly likely that a discarded cig butt is going to do any damage to Irelands precious neutrality,or cause any mayhem in the airport.Must be pretty desperate in the anti American leauge ,if ye are all clutching at straws like this and have to muck up photos like this.