MINISTER DENIES US
ILLEGALITIES AT
SHANNON AIRPORT:
In response to opposition questions in
Dáil
Éireann today, Defence and Justice Minister, Alan Shatter, denied any illegal activities by US Military using Shannon Airport and used his time to attack Michael Wallace TD who was asking the questions
and Finian McGrath TD and Clare Daly TD, who intervened from the opposition benches, in his usual pro-imperialist way evading all criticism of the misuse of the Airport by the US Military with the connivance and collaboration of Shatter and his government contrary to Irish and International law:
Shannon Airport Facilities
8. Deputy Mick
Wallace asked the Minister for Defence the cost to
the Defence Forces of providing security for US military planes at Shannon
airport. [46647/13]
30. Deputy Mick Wallace asked
the Minister for Defence the reason at least one Irish
soldier was on the ground at Shannon on 7 September when a US Air Force
Hercules C130 was present. [46646/13]
Deputy Mick Wallace: Section 317 of the Defence Act 1954 states: "No person shall, save
with the consent in writing of a Minister of State, enter or land in the State
while wearing any foreign uniform." Only a few years ago, our current
President, Mr. Michael D. Higgins, described statements by the then Government
in respect of Shannon as one untruth followed by another. What is the cost
relating to the provision at security at Shannon Airport and why is taxpayers'
money being used to protect US forces at Shannon, particularly when the latter
are in breach of Irish neutrality and are very often en route to countries
further afield in order to breach international law?
Deputy Alan Shatter: It is extraordinary that the Deputy's only international bête noire
is the United States. He obviously is not concerned that 100,000 people have
been killed in Syria or that there are difficulties in the other parts of the
world for which no one can hold the United States responsible.
Deputy Alan Shatter: In relation to
the Deputy's question, An Garda Síochána has primary responsibility for law and
order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among
the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil
power, ATCP, which in practice means assisting an Garda Síochána when requested
to do so. These ATCP security duties include the protection and guarding of
vital installations and the provision of armed security escorts. From time to
time, the Garda also requests support from the Defence Forces at Shannon
Airport. Such assistance has been provided by the Defence Forces since 5
February 2003. I can confirm that on the 7 September last, members of the
Defence Forces were requested by the Garda to assist with security duties at
Shannon Airport.
The following items are taken into consideration when calculating the costs involved in providing ATCP at Shannon Airport - security duty allowance, rations and fuel. The costs incurred for the period 2010 to 2012 inclusive were as follows:
The following items are taken into consideration when calculating the costs involved in providing ATCP at Shannon Airport - security duty allowance, rations and fuel. The costs incurred for the period 2010 to 2012 inclusive were as follows:
2010: €203,366
2011: €259,739
2012: €275,008
The costs for 2013 are expected to be broadly in line with
2012.
An Ceann Comhairle: Am I correct in stating that the Minister is dealing with questions
Nos. 8 and 30?
Deputy Alan Shatter: Apparently
so.
An Ceann Comhairle: Both
questions are in the name of Deputy Wallace.
Deputy Mick Wallace: I have as much respect for the likes of Vladimir Putin and what he
does to disturb world peace as I have for Barack Obama, Islamic militants,
Israel or whomever. I am opposed to all forms of terrorism, be they perpetrated
by an individual or a state.
In March 2011, the Labour Party - Fine Gael's
partner in government - stated that it would be enforcing The Hague convention
on neutrality. According to the convention, which defines the rights and duties
of international law, neutral countries are forbidden to move troops or convoys
of munitions of war or supplies across their territory. We have seen pictures
of soldiers with guns, and not just in uniforms, on the ground at Shannon. I do
not believe that this is appropriate if the country is to have any semblance of
neutrality. We like to think that we are neutral in some way.
Deputy Alan Shatter: As
the Deputy knows, US planes transporting members of that country's military
have landed at Shannon for many years. There is no reason, in the context of
the use of Shannon, that we should impede such transportation in any way.
Indeed, there is no suggestion of which I am aware of any difficulties arising
at Shannon Airport. I draw to the Deputy's attention that the business
generated as a result of this use of Shannon is very important in the context
of maintaining the viability of the airport, which plays a crucial role in the
context of facilitating access from the United States through to other
locations. I really do not understand what is the Deputy's difficulty. There is
no suggestion that American soldiers landing in Shannon have ever behaved
inappropriately or have done anything other than contribute to the local
economy.
Deputy Mick Wallace: A few years ago, the current Tánaiste wondered why the then Government
had not complied with a request from the Human Rights Commission to inspect
aircraft travelling through Shannon. The Minister states that this use of the
airport is good for business. I accept that it is good for business but at what
price? Let us not forget that plenty of civilians pass through Shannon. If we
are going to allow military personnel who are often armed to pass through our
airport in order that they can fly on to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq or Yemen
and destroy the lives of others, then I am of the view that the price for
facilitating business is too high.
Deputy Alan Shatter: The Deputy has obviously failed to notice that there is a group in
Afghanistan called the Taliban-----
Deputy Alan Shatter: -----which generally believes that it should enforce the most extreme
form-----
Deputy Alan Shatter: -----of
Islamic law whereby no woman should be educated or appear in public without
being completely covered-----
Deputy Finian McGrath: What
has this got to do with Shannon? So the Minister supports the American war.
Deputy Alan Shatter: ----- and that girls going to school are seen as reasonable targets
and can be shot. Also operating out of Afghanistan is al-Qaeda, which planned
and carried out the destruction of the twin towers in New York. The Deputy
seems to be of the view that the sole focus of evil in the world is the United
States and that there are no other trouble spots on the face of the planet-----
Deputy Alan Shatter: -----where individuals violate fundamental rights, seek to prevent
normal communal activities and discriminate against women in a very foul way,
treat them as second-class citizens and attempt to prevent them from accessing
any form of education.
Deputy Mick Wallace: The Minister might be interested to discover that 19 of the 20 people
who were involved in the 9/11 attacks in America came from autocratic states
protected by America.
Deputy Finian McGrath: Will the Minister stop coming before the House and acting as the USA's
poodle in respect of international issues? The reality is that many people who
operate in the human rights arena are genuinely concerned about the use of
Shannon Airport by people on their way to bomb and kill others. Those of us on
the Opposition benches have always opposed all forms of violence but the
Minister is blatantly supporting US policy, end of story.
Deputy Alan Shatter: I would not describe myself as a poodle or any other type of dog. I
like dogs and am of the view that we should encourage people to keep pets
because the latter brighten their lives and give them other interests.
The only country Deputy Finian McGrath and some of his colleagues ever pillory for its conduct is the United States.
The only country Deputy Finian McGrath and some of his colleagues ever pillory for its conduct is the United States.
Deputy Alan Shatter: I would love to
see him, Deputy Mick Wallace and perhaps Deputy Clare Daly jumping up in a
similar manner to address issues involving the violation of fundamental rights
by Russia or in Iran, Iraq and a whole range of other countries.
Deputy Alan Shatter: The United States does not get everything right or do everything right.
We are, however, dealing with a simple issue, namely, the transport of troops
and the use of Shannon Airport. The airport has been used for many years in
that context and there is no reason it should not continue to be so used. It is
of particular benefit to the airport and the local economy that it is so used".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52Fn-09lb4w&feature=youtu.be
What we are actually dealing with is the use of a civilian Airport by one belligerent in several areas of conflict in the Middle East and Asia and no other parties in such conflicts. The only country using our territory to tranship its military and their equipment to these conflicts is the United States. So, the Minister's attempts to drag in other parties to these conflicts or extraneous matters is typical of his evasion tactics which he employs on every occasion when these questions are raised in our parliament, Dáil Éireann. The Minister wants to excise from the discussion any comments on the ultimate purpose of these military transports which is to bomb, maim and kill human beings in other countries so that Shannon airport can show a profit at the end of the year. So, we ought, according to this immorality, move out of the recession by assisting the US to wade through the blood of innocent people in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia,Yemen, and latterly Syria and wherever else the US Military wants to trample its jackboots on?
If he wants a debate on human rights issues in other countries, he can put it on the order paper himself anytime he wants and no doubt the Opposition will facilitate him; Israel, for example?
In December, 2008 and January 2009, Israel launched a large-scale assault on the Gaza Strip using white phosphorous as a weapon against civilian areas which is a violation of International Law. Some of this deadly material was shipped from the US to Israel through Shannon Airport, as there were no stocks of this material available in Europe. Hundreds of men,women and children in the close-packed populated areas of Gaza suffered horrendous injuries from the illegal use of this substance by the Israeli forces.
In December, 2008 and January 2009, Israel launched a large-scale assault on the Gaza Strip using white phosphorous as a weapon against civilian areas which is a violation of International Law. Some of this deadly material was shipped from the US to Israel through Shannon Airport, as there were no stocks of this material available in Europe. Hundreds of men,women and children in the close-packed populated areas of Gaza suffered horrendous injuries from the illegal use of this substance by the Israeli forces.
White phosphorous bombs rain down on GAZA during Israel's vengeance attack in 2008/9
Israeli military handling White Phosphorous shells at the Gaza border, 2008/9
The London "Times" newspaper reported:
Photographic
evidence has emerged that proves that Israel has been using controversial white
phosphorus shells during its offensive in Gaza, despite official denials by the
Israel Defence Forces.
There is also evidence that the rounds have injured Palestinian civilians, causing severe burns. The use of white phosphorus against civilians is prohibited under international law.
There is also evidence that the rounds have injured Palestinian civilians, causing severe burns. The use of white phosphorus against civilians is prohibited under international law.
The Times
has identified stockpiles of white phosphorus (WP) shells from high-resolution
images taken of Israel Defence Forces (IDF) artillery units on the Israeli-Gaza
border this week. The pale blue 155mm rounds are clearly marked with the
designation M825A1, an American-made WP munition. The shell is an
improved version with a more limited dispersion of the phosphorus, which
ignites on contact with oxygen, and is being used by the Israeli gunners to
create a smoke screen on the ground.
The rounds,
which explode into a shower of burning white streaks, were first identified by
The Times at the weekend when they were fired over Gaza at the start of
Israel's ground offensive. Artillery experts said that the Israeli troops would
be in trouble if they were banned from using WP because it is the simplest way
of creating smoke to protect them from enemy fire.
Confronted
with the latest evidence, an IDF spokeswoman insisted that the M825A1 shell was
not a WP type. “This is what we call a quiet shell - it is empty, it has no
explosives and no white phosphorus. There is nothing inside it,” she said.
Human Rights Watch reported:
“Human Rights Watch’s investigation into the fighting in Gaza concluded that Israeli forces were responsible for serious violations of the laws of war, including the use of heavy artillery and white phosphorus munitions in densely populated areas, the apparent targeting of people trying to convey their civilian status, and the destruction of civilian objects in excess of military need. Some of the cases of white-phosphorus use demonstrate evidence of war crimes, Human Rights Watch said last month in a 71-page report.
“The military’s finding that ‘no phosphorus munitions were used on built-up areas’ is blatantly wrong, Human Rights Watch said. Immediately after major fighting stopped, Human Rights Watch researchers in Gaza found spent white phosphorous artillery shells, canister liners, and dozens of burnt felt wedges containing white phosphorus on city streets and apartment roofs, in residential courtyards, and at a United Nations school. Artillery shells containing white phosphorus also struck a hospital and the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), both in central Gaza City”.
Human Rights Watch reported:
“Human Rights Watch’s investigation into the fighting in Gaza concluded that Israeli forces were responsible for serious violations of the laws of war, including the use of heavy artillery and white phosphorus munitions in densely populated areas, the apparent targeting of people trying to convey their civilian status, and the destruction of civilian objects in excess of military need. Some of the cases of white-phosphorus use demonstrate evidence of war crimes, Human Rights Watch said last month in a 71-page report.
“The military’s finding that ‘no phosphorus munitions were used on built-up areas’ is blatantly wrong, Human Rights Watch said. Immediately after major fighting stopped, Human Rights Watch researchers in Gaza found spent white phosphorous artillery shells, canister liners, and dozens of burnt felt wedges containing white phosphorus on city streets and apartment roofs, in residential courtyards, and at a United Nations school. Artillery shells containing white phosphorus also struck a hospital and the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), both in central Gaza City”.
"All of the white phosphorus shells Human Rights Watch found in Gaza are from the same lot, manufactured in the United States and marked: THS89D112-003 155MM M825E1. THS89D is the manufacturer identification code denoting that the shells and contents were produced in April 1989 by Thiokol Aerospace, which operated the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant at the time; 112-003 are the interfix and sequence numbers, which denote that several lots of the same ammunition were being produced simultaneously; 155mm stands for the caliber of the artillery shell. M825E1 is the US military designation for an older remanufactured M825 white phosphorus shell that has been brought up to the current M825A1 standard".
“Additionally, Reuters news agency photographed an IDF artillery unit in Israel near Gaza handling M825A1 projectiles on January 4, 2009 with the lot number PB-91J011-002A, indicating that these shells were produced in the United States at the Pine Bluff Arsenal in September 1991”.
Mr Shatter, then an opposition TD, made no complaints about this outrageous war crime. No surprise though, as he is a proclaimed Zionist and supporter of Israel.
He sheds crocodile tears for Syria, but, choses to ignore the financing and training of Syrian jihadis by the US at its Camp Bondsteel base in NATO-Occupied Kosovo, under the noses of Irish Army "peacekeepers" stationed there, as extensively reported by Zagreb newspapers earlier this year.. Never mind that this a blatant breach of the UN Security Council Mandate for NATO and Irish troops in Kosovo which he and his government are complicit in. Some hypocrite.
He ought to be careful, though, in provoking the current Opposition to his government as he might get his wish and questions might be submitted on human rights in other countries, including Israel, although this would likely be unpalatable to such an ardent Zionist like himself.
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