03.16.06
TDs in Shannon
From today’s IT:
A cross-party Oireachtas delegation was yesterday forced to cut short its protest against the use of Shannon by the US military after airport police intervened to eject the group from the airport’s terminal building.
The TDs, including Labour’s Joe Costello, Joe Higgins (Socialist Party), Tony Gregory (Ind), John Gormley (Greens), Finian McGrath (Ind) and Tommy Broughan (Lab) flew from Dublin yesterday to protest also at alleged “rendition” flights going through Shannon.However, after a short time in the arrivals hall, where they posed for photographers behind a banner with the words “US army out of Shannon”, the group was asked to leave by a senior airport police officer. Mr Gormley said: “We find it strange that we have been asked to leave and president George Bush was welcomed here with open arms only a week ago.”
Also joined by Jan O’Sullivan (Lab), Aengus Ô Snodaigh (SF) and Senator David Norris (Ind), Deputy Gormley went on: “We have been given five minutes to leave to building and the airport police officer didn’t say what would happen if we failed to comply with his request.”
Figures released yesterday by the Shannon Airport Authority show that the record number of US troops who passed through Shannon last year will likely be even higher this year. In January and February, 75,315 troops used the airport, with 41,413 going through in January. In the corresponding two-month period last year, 68,448 troops passed through. The year’s total was 330,000.
….Airport police declined to comment on their request that the Oireachtas members vacate the building. The Oireachtas group remained outside for 15 minutes before leaving for Limerick to get a train back to Dublin.”
Eejits. I TOTALLY approve of them making the protest but they should have gone the whole way. Why leave? They should have sat down. Then let the airport police carry them out. THAT would have been a better protest than meekly heading off for the train. Are airport police real police anyway or just glorified security guards? I’d have stayed and DARED them to throw me out. Good photo too.
However, after a short time in the arrivals hall, where they posed for photographers behind a banner with the words “US army out of Shannon”, the group was asked to leave by a senior airport police officer. Mr Gormley said: “We find it strange that we have been asked to leave and president George Bush was welcomed here with open arms only a week ago.”
Also joined by Jan O’Sullivan (Lab), Aengus Ô Snodaigh (SF) and Senator David Norris (Ind), Deputy Gormley went on: “We have been given five minutes to leave to building and the airport police officer didn’t say what would happen if we failed to comply with his request.”
Figures released yesterday by the Shannon Airport Authority show that the record number of US troops who passed through Shannon last year will likely be even higher this year.
In January and February, 75,315 troops used the airport, with 41,413 going through in January. In the corresponding two-month period last year, 68,448 troops passed through. The year’s total was 330,000.
….Airport police declined to comment on their request that the Oireachtas members vacate the building. The Oireachtas group remained outside for 15 minutes before leaving for Limerick to get a train back to Dublin.”
Eejits. I TOTALLY approve of them making the protest but they should have gone the whole way. Why leave? They should have sat down. Then let the airport police carry them out. THAT would have been a better protest than meekly heading off for the train. Are airport police real police anyway or just glorified security guards? I’d have stayed and DARED them to throw me out. Good photo too.
P O'Neill said,
March 17, 2006 at 4:12 am
And here’s the next row, from Fri’s IT:
Cullen welcomes back US troops from Iraq
Seán O’Driscoll in New York
17/03/2006
New York: Minister for Transport Martin Cullen has welcomed back US troops from Iraq at a wreath-laying ceremony in New York.
At a ceremony that included both US and Irish troops, Mr Cullen said it was an honour to represent the Government in commemorating members of the US 69th Infantry, which lost 19 members during combat in Iraq.
Flanked by US soldiers wearing desert camouflage, the Minister said Ireland was especially proud of the contribution made by many Irish men and women to the uniformed services of New York and the US.
The ceremony took place at the Fr Duffy statue in Times Square, a memorial to an Irish priest who worked in Manhattan. It featured bagpipers from the Irish Army’s 28th Infantry.
Members of New York’s 69th Infantry who recently returned from Iraq will lead today’s St Patrick’s Day parade in the city. Four bronze star medals and three purple hearts will be awarded to 69th Iraq veterans at a ceremony immediately after the parade.
Daniel K. said,
March 17, 2006 at 2:56 pm
I was surprised they didn’t throw a complete fit over being asked to leave, however perhaps they had been hanging around for hours waiting to asked to leave and when it finally came they didn’t have time to sit around.
P O'Neill said,
March 17, 2006 at 3:19 pm
Why is there not more of a row over this from the IT today
New York: Minister for Transport Martin Cullen has welcomed back US troops from Iraq at a wreath-laying ceremony in New York.
At a ceremony that included both US and Irish troops, Mr Cullen said it was an honour to represent the Government in commemorating members of the US 69th Infantry, which lost 19 members during combat in Iraq.
Flanked by US soldiers wearing desert camouflage, the Minister said Ireland was especially proud of the contribution made by many Irish men and women to the uniformed services of New York and the US.
The ceremony took place at the Fr Duffy statue in Times Square, a memorial to an Irish priest who worked in Manhattan. It featured bagpipers from the Irish Army’s 28th Infantry.
Members of New York’s 69th Infantry who recently returned from Iraq will lead today’s St Patrick’s Day parade in the city. Four bronze star medals and three purple hearts will be awarded to 69th Iraq veterans at a ceremony immediately after the parade.
simon said,
March 18, 2006 at 2:32 am
what P O’ Neill should he have spat at them are something? Do you think that Irish government should not say anything to british army people who lost comards to the IRA.
Why would there be a row over it. ?
P O'Neill said,
March 18, 2006 at 3:32 am
Sarah — tech note. I posted the comment once on Thursday night and it disappeared. I reposted on Friday morning and it posted OK, and then the previous comment showed up. So I look like a troll.
But anyway Simon, I find it bizarre that an Irish minister, and not even the minister for defence, delivers remarks in regards to the dead soldiers from a war in which Ireland is not officially participating, despite the Shannon use. Put another way, will Cullen be appearing at ceremonies to honour dead British soldiers (some of whom may actually be Irish) returning from Iraq? If I was a mischievous Royal Irish Regiment officer, I’d be getting the invitations printed up right now. (they’re the one with the pet mascot named Brian Boru VIII).
Sarah said,
March 18, 2006 at 5:32 pm
Sorry PO’Neill. I haven’t been focusing too much this week…My akismet spam catcher has been a little over zealous and some comments are getting caught up in it. I have to check it every now and then and release comments from it…..And anyway, you are right. I don’t know how FF manages to get away with appearing to support neutrality while firmly putting us on the pro-US side of an illegal war. It’s not so much right or wrong of either position which strikes me but how they succeed in pulling it off BOTH positions without the slightest comment…
simon said,
March 19, 2006 at 10:43 pm
Well actually we are not a neutral country we are a non-aligned country always have been . There is a major difference.
Anyway P O Neil would you condemn a minister talking to the parachute regement who did kill people of Irish citizenship.? Or is it only a bad thing if it is Americans?
at IrishElection.com said,
March 22, 2006 at 12:38 am
[...] But how will all this reflect on the next general election. Will Iraq become an issue will the Greens Socialists and Labour that demonstrated in Shannon last week get a bump in the polls. I think not the level of demonstrations over the Iraq war have dropped dramatically from what they once were. A mere 500 turned up at the last one. True it was after Paddies day and some people might have sore heads but if people were passionate about it they would be out. But they are not they are passionate about crime, health and education. In a few weeks no one here will remember Martin Cullen’s speech but some solider who risked his/her life for the Iraqi people (whether you believe in the war or not that is what the solider personal believed) but one of them might remember and that is all that matters. [...]