Irish Poll shows increased Anti-War sentiment:

NEW IRISH POLL SHOWS
NEAR 80% SUPPORT FOR
NEUTRALITY OF THE STATE
AND SIMILAR OPPOSITION
TO WAR AGAINST SYRIA:

ALMOST EIGHTY PER CENT of Irish people say the Government should not support military intervention in Syria without a UN mandate according to a new poll.

The poll carried out by Red C polling organisation was commissioned by the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) and also showed that an almost identical number of Irish adults believe that Ireland should have a policy of neutrality.

The 1,000 respondents were given a number of different options as to what extent they agreed with a variety of statements with Red C using the information to gauge sentiment.

SEPTEMBER 2013:

Irish people support a policy of neutrality and not sending military supplies to anti-government groups in Syria according to a poll:

The Red C poll commissioned by the Peace & Neutrality Alliance shows:

1.        78%  of the Irish people support a policy of Irish Neutrality

2.        67% of the Irish people are opposed to Ireland & the EU sending arms and military

supplies to anti-government groups in Syria. 

3.        61% of the Irish people are opposed to sending Irish troops to Syria

4.        79% of the Irish people do not support a war on Syria without a UN mandate

Neutrality

When asked whether ‘Ireland should have a policy of neutrality’ there was 78 per cent agreement. 61 per cent said that Irish troops should not now be sent to Syria.

Support for Neutrality was strongest in the 18-34 age group = 85%. General support for neutrality has increased since a previous poll which registered 69%.

PANA Chairman Roger Cole said that the poll results show that support for neutrality is now “deepening rather than weakening.” "Irish people fought in the national war of independence against an empire. And one of the consequences of that was that we don't want to become part of a military alliance - we don't want to get involved in other people's wars," he said.

"We're a small country - we should get a grip on what the real world is, and in the real world small countries shouldn't get involved in other people's wars." “Approximately 8 in 10 Irish people are now in favour of neutrality which is roughly the same number of people who believe Ireland should not support a war on Syria without a UN mandate. This Syrian conflict has displaced millions with the UN describing it as the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly twenty years,” he said.

"PANA has campaigned for the right of the Irish people to have a foreign policy with a commitment to Irish neutrality at its core. This poll shows that we have the support of the massive majority of the Irish people. It shows that like the people of the USA and the UK they are tired and fed up with the doctrine of perpetual war on offer from the political leaders of the UK, the USA and France" Mr Cole stated.

The poll result so shocked the warmongers and pro-US, pro-NATO forces in Ireland, including the rabid anti-neutrality bloc in the government Fine Gael party that they arranged with corporate media to suppress the information last week when it was announced at a press conference organised by Peace and Neutrality Alliance, Ireland's leading Peace Group. Only one newspaper group, based in Cork, carried the story with the main Dublin papers and the public broadcaster RTE failing to carry any reports.

This shows both the contempt and fear of the warmongers against democracy and the people's right to say no to their vicious schemes of permanent warfare. The defeat of the US/UK war plans against Syria last month by massive popular opposition was a hugely significant event contrasting with the way they got away with imposing the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

The Irish poll of rejection of war and imperialism was manifested in spite of the billion-dollar propaganda campaign against Syria and Iran by the US and its boot-lickers in Europe. A great victory for democracy, peace and mutual security based on international law and the UN Charter.

 The full poll details may be downloaded from the PANA website here, or from the link in the sidebar:

http://www.pana.ie

US MILITARY BUILD-UP AT SHANNON:

UPSURGE IN US MILITARY
TRAFFIC AT SHANNON AIRPORT:

A significant increase of US Military traffic at Shannon Airport, Co Clare, Ireland, close to Limerick City in the West, Atlantic  coast,  was reported by local observers this week. On Saturday alone, at midday, four US military aircraft plus an air refuelling tanker aircraft and one Omni AIR (Contracted by the US military) troop carrier were landed on the tarmac. In addition, a fuel tanker vessel was observed at the marine fuel delivery point in the estuary on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Local Peace group, Shannonwatch, issued the following statement:

"Number of U.S. Military Aircraft at Shannon Raises Concerns

Shannonwatch, 8 Sept 2013

Shannonwatch have called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore, to clarify the significance of several U.S. troop carriers and other military aircraft at Shannon Airport in the run-up to what might well be a U.S. led attack on Syria. As U.S. President Barack Obama continues to look for support for an attack that would have serious repercussions for the Syrian people and the region as a whole, the organisation calls on the Irish government to make its opposition clear by immediately ending the U.S. military use of the airport.

In the last week Shannonwatch recorded14 U.S. military aircraft as well as four troop carriers at Shannon Airport. The military aircraft included Hercules C-130s operated by the U.S. Air Force and Navy,and two KC-10s. The KC-10 is a military version of the DC-10 and is used by the U.S. Air Force for transport and aerial refuelling. The presence of the KC-10s at Shannon could indicate that other US military aircraft are being refuelled in or near Irish airspace. 
Shannonwatch are particularly concerned at the fact that on Saturday Sept 7^than armed man in army clothing was seen beside one of the U.S. Air Forces’ Hercules at the airport. “This man was either part of a support service being provided by the Irish army to the U.S. military, or the unauthorised presence of an armed U.S. soldier on Irish soil” said Shannonwatch spokesperson Edward Horgan. “If it was an Irish soldier providing support for the U.S. military,it calls our neutrality into serious question. If it was a U.S. soldier, it is a violation of Irish law as well as our neutrality, since the U.S. does not have permission to have weapons on its military aircraft at Shannon”.

The situation regarding the presence of weapons on U.S. military flights at Shannon was outlined by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamonn Gilmore in June of this year. In answer to a written parliamentary question he stated that permission for foreign military aircraft, including U.S. aircraft, to land at Irish airports is given only on condition that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and do not engage in intelligence gathering and that the flights in question do not form any part of military exercises or operations.

“It is inconceivable that U.S. military aircraft transiting Shannon airport would not be carrying armed personnel” said Edward Horgan. “The only way to be sure that they are not is to inspect them. But despite being asked repeatedly to do so, the authorities refuse”.

On 7^th September Shannonwatch also recorded a U.S. Army C-12 twin-engine turboprop aircraft at Shannon Airport. C-12’s are used for various duties, including embassy support, medical evacuation, as well as passenger and light cargo transport. Some C-12’s are modified with surveillance systems for various missions.

“It is not clear if the C-12 seen at Shannon on Saturday was carrying military cargo or not” noted Edward Horgan. “Given the risks associated with a U.S. military attack on Syria, it is more important than ever to inspect these aircraft now”.

On Sunday 8^th September two Omni Air International troop carriers departed from Shannon. “This means hundreds of troops passing through a civilian airport. Shannon is not equipped to deal with potential attacks on an army that may be now be preparing to attack Syria, having already invaded Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya over the last decade” said the Shannonwatch spokesperson. In addition to the U.S. military planes at Shannon this week, Shannonwatch also identified a Gulfstream Aerospace G-1159A Gulfstream III that is reportedly leased by the Italian Air Force. It is not the first time it has visited Shannon but its presence in a supposedly neutral country is worrying. While Shannonwatch welcomes the Italian government’s statement that they will not take part in any US-led attack on Syria without full UN authorisation, there are nonetheless questions to be answered about the Italian Air Force presence in Shannon at the same time as the US Air Force according to their spokesperson Mr. Horgan.

“Because of the unusually high level of military activity at Shannon over the weekend, we are asking the Minister to immediately clarify whether or not the airport is being used to assist in the build-up to an attack on Syria, and to make a statement on the matter. As the Minister for Foreign Affairs it is his duty to ensure Ireland is not complicit in another illegal attack on a Middle Eastern country by the U.S. And the only sure way to do that is to end their use of Shannon Airport now.”

The presence of an Italian Air Force aircraft is an unusual occurrence, particularly as the Italian Government has publicly stated that Italy would not participate in any US-led attack on Syria. The arrival of two marine tankers signifies that other US aircraft are being re-fuelled in Irish airspace contrary to Irish and International law on military air traffic. The citizens of nearby Limerick City are particularly concerned at this increase in military traffic at what is a civil airport and the consequent danger of accidents with aircraft carrying large quantities of fuel and high-explosive weaponry.

The Irish Government must immediately answer these serious public concerns.

 

 

 

 

 

DON'T LAND HERE!

TIME FOR IRISH
GOVERNMENT TO
HALT U.S. ABUSE OF
SHANNON AIRPORT:

Two years ago, Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs,

Eamon Gilmore, made a public statement at a conference of the Labour Party in Dublin on the presentation for the formation of a coalition government with the Fine Gael party that, as part of that government's programme, international law would be enforced at Shannon Airport. It's long overdue now that Mr Gilmore should honour that promise and halt the abuse of Shannon Airport by the US Military which has been carried on since the start of the Iraq War in 2003.

Mr Gilmore stated this week that the Syrian crisis should be resolved only by procedures

provided by the UN. With US President Obama declaring publicly that he intends to launch aggressive military strikes against the sovereign state of Syria contrary to article 2.4 of the UN Charter in the near future, the Irish Government must immediately carry out its obligations under the Charter and refuse any facilities either preparatory or active on Irish territory for what has been declared illegal acts of aggression by UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon.

There is also a Constitutional obligation on any Irish Government to comply with provisions of International Law in the case of any conflict between member states of the UN. There should be no more delay now on this issue and the US should be served notice forthwith that their aircraft will no longer be allowed land or transit Irish territory in pursuit of illegal war aims. A similar declaration was made by the government of neutral Austria this week.

In blatant disregard of international conventions on human rights, arms control, respect for neutral states, the US has shamelessly misused the facilities at Shannon for "rendition" flights, transport of illegal chemical weapons - White Phosphorous- to Israel in 2008-9 for its criminal attacks on the civilian population of Gaza, then vetoed UN resolutions condemning Israeli war crimes against the Palestinian people; supported Israeli piracy in attacking Irish ships travelling to Gaza with humanitarian aid; the kidnapping, assault and illegal detention of Irish citizens attempting to aid the people of Gaza.

Time for the Irish Government to stand up against US Imperialist bullying, support the UN and international law, implement an independent foreign policy consistent with our sovereign democratic Republic and defend the interests of the Irish people as its first and most important duty.

 

Business as usual in Shannon Airport for US military

Part of the monthly peace protest at Shannon Airport mounted since 2003 by

Shannonwatch, PANA, Galway Peace Alliance, Limerick Christian

Peace Group and individual peace supporters from other counties.

GILMORE REFUSES

INSPECTION OF US

MILITARY AIRCRAFT

AT SHANNON:

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore TD, has said that the government will
continue to rely on assurances from the US government that no rendition
flights are passing through Shannon Airport.
 

In a parliamentary response to Patrick Nulty TD, Eamon Gilmore said that
"Immediately following the first reports several years ago that the US was practicing
extraordinary rendition to transit prisoners, the then Government demanded and received
specific assurances from the US authorities that such prisoners had not been transferred
through Irish territory, nor would they be, without our permission. These assurances
were confirmed at the highest political level. They were of a clear and categoric nature,
relating to facts and circumstances within the full control of the US authorities. I am
satisfied, as previous Ministers have been, that it is appropriate for the Government
to rely fully on these assurances."
 

In opposition,Gilmore had repeatedly pressed for inspections of aircraft.In February 2008 he said "It is difficult to dispute the assessment of Amnesty that Ireland is clearly
contravening international law by allowing its territory to be used to facilitate extraordinary
rendition. Indeed, I would go further and say that the failure to assert our right to check
these planes, leaves Ireland potentially complicit in the kidnap, detention and torture of
people against whom no charges have been proven and who, in many cases, are totally
innocent."
 
The Labour Party produced legislation, in the form of a private members bill from Michael
D Higgins titled Air Navigation and Transport (Prevention of Extraordinary Rendition) Bill 2008, to ensure that Irish airports are not used to facilitate extraordinary rendition.
On December 2010, Michael D Higgins said "The disclosure that the then Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, was 'quite convinced' that Shannon Airport had been
used on at least three occasions by aircraft involved in extraordinary rendition of prisoners
strongly reinforces the case for a change in the law to ensure that Irish airports are not used in this way and that any such aircraft are subject to proper inspection by the Irish
authorities." Higgins was referring to the Wikileaks release of Ahern's comments.
 
Asked by Patrick Nulty TD to comment on the 250,000 troops passing yearly through Shannon, Gilmore said: "My department has primary responsibility under Irish legislation for foreign military aircraft seeking to overfly or land in Ireland, the vast majority of the US troops to which you refer pass through Shannon Airport on commercial flights. The regulation of civil aviation is primarily a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. There are no plans to make any changes to the existing arrangements. In the event that permission is sought, my Department requires an undertaking from the relevant embassy that the aircraft in question will be unarmed; will not be carrying arms, ammunition or explosives; will not engage in intelligence gathering; and is not participating in military exercises or operations."
 
Ed Horgan of Shannonwatch has blasted the response saying "Mr Gilmore appears to have misled the Dail." "The US Embassy has been in gross breach of these provisions from 2001 to the present time. Well over 2 million US troops have passed through Shannon since 2001 mainly in civilian chartered aircraft. Each of these
soldiers carries with him/her on the aircraft at least one automatic rifle and in many cases also one additional pistol, and the appropriate ammunition for these weapons. In some cases the weapons may be carried in the cargo part of the aircraft, but in many cases they are carried in the passenger cabin of the aircraft. The carriage of these weapons on these aircraft was confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs when Brian Cowen, TD, was Minister".

  A US Hercules aircraft at Shannon Airport, a type which is a regular visitor

to the airport.

Gilmore in opposition: What he said:

"Not knowing is not good enough"

March 1, 2006
 

Commenting on the publication of today’s Council of the Europe report Labour Party
representative to the Council, Eamon Gilmore TD, has said the Irish Government is heavily
criticised along with a number of other Member States for its role into alleged
detentions of prisoners and rendition flights through its airports and airspace by the US
military and intelligence services.

"Extraordinary Rendition is an attack on human rights"

December 12, 2007

"Why has the Govt not compiled with the request from the Human Rights Commission to
inspect the aircraft through Shannon?"
 

"An effective inspection regime will ensure that no prisoners are transited through the State
en route to a situation of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."

"Govt can't feign ignorance on extraordinary rendition following Council of Europe report"

Wednesday 7 June, 2006

"Labour Party representative to the Council of Europe, Eamon Gilmore, has said the
Government cannot maintain the pretence that it is blameless regarding extraordinary
rendition flights through Shannon Airport after the Council named Ireland as one of 14
countries that colluded with the CIA on these illegal flights."
 

"Following Amnesty report, gov must act on rendition flights"

Friday 14 March, 2008

"The government must now insist on the right to inspect aircraft suspected of being involved
in rendition. If, as the United States insists, there are no suspects on these planes, why
should they object to this being independently verified by the Irish authorities? Serious
consideration should also be given to banning from Irish airports any aircraft established to
have been involved in extraordinary rendition."  

*Shannon - the facts:
2.2 million-The number of U.S troops who have passed through Shannon in 10 years.
 

250,000-The number of troops who passed through Shannon in 2011.
 

1,307-Number of planes granted permission by the Irish government to bring arms through
Shannon in 2011.
 

650-Number of armed troops passing through Shannon every day.
 

25-Number of US air force and miliray aircrafy passing through Shannon every month.
 

0-Numbers of inspections of aircraft carried out to investigate rendition.
 

*Source: Shannon airport, War and Renditions: Shannonwatch/PANA 2012.

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