Galway Getting Ready For Shannon

by Shane Thu Nov 14, 2002 08:27

See below for ridiculous editorial in the Limerick Leader of 2 weeks ago criticising Shannon protests, and a letter in response which, amazingly, the Leader printed.

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Limerick Leader, October 26th 2002
Brendan Halligan

Shame at Shannon

HOW quickly we forget. In the immediate aftermath of September 11 we wept with the United States. We vowed to defend our shared democratic values.
We pledged to co-operate with America in her determination to punish the terrorists whoever they are, wherever they are and whatever the material cost. And we insisted that precious notions of neutrality which equate rogue states with legitimate democracies would not get in the way.
We lied.
Or so it may seem. We may have meant what we said at the time but once the communal sense of shock had subsided we reverted to type. Apathy resumed its reign.
And so we said nothing when commentators on this side of the Atlantic began to hint that America was somehow to some extent responsible for her own suffering. It is true that America has made mistakes in its conduct of world affairs. But nothing she has done or failed to do could ever excuse September 11.
And we said nothing when the poison of anti-Americanism was reintroduced to the mix that is Irish politics. Anti-Americanism isn't the questioning of particular aspects of American foreign policy. It is the presumption that American intentions are malign.
The truth is the exact opposite. America might be hamfisted, even reckless, in some of her actions. But basically America--and Americans--mean well.
How do we know this? Because America is our best friend. And America is our best friend because we know her so well.
But if no other nation is emotionally closer to America than Ireland, no other region in Ireland is emotionally closer than the Mid-West. Our historical relationship has been intensified in our time by the ascent of Shannon and all the American blessings, social and economic, that have thus been showered on our community.
How obscene, then, that Shannon should become the focal point of Irish anti-Americanism. The airport is assaulted by demonstrators on the pretext that troop-carrying US planes touching down there are breaching Irish neutrality.
In fact, of course, they are doing no such thing, They are violating neither our Constitution nor our laws. Their refuelling is merely a continuation of time-honoured custom and routine practice under successive governments.
Besides, military neutrality should not mean moral neutrality. The day may yet dawn when designating Shannon as an active staging post in the war against international terrorism is not only permissible but essential in defence of humanity.
Meanwhile, the vast majority of the Irish people ought not allow themselves to be misrepresented by a tiny minority of unrepresentative zealots. And the vast majority of our politicians, who wish America well, should refrain from giving a different impression. They have the right to independently scrutinise any proposed operation by democratic America but they have a duty not to allow such scrutiny to be seen as support, however tacit, for any rogue state.
In short, across the country but especially in the Shannon region, in the war against international terrorism we should never forget which side we're on.

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Sir,

Re. ‘Shame on Shannon’, October 26th 2002.

I find this article to be deeply offensive and many of the observations therein to be plain wrong. Firstly, the assertion that military neutrality equates rogue states with legitimate democracies is absurd. A position of neutrality means not taking part in a war between other states. Of course, we can draw judgments on the legitimacy or otherwise of certain states; this has nothing to do with neutrality though.
As to the dismissal of the assertion that America may have contributed to some extent by its own actions to the September 11th attack; clearly no country or its people deserve having such horrors rained down upon them. However, outright dismissal of any liability will in no way contribute to preventing future attacks. The recent actions taken by Chechen separatists were clearly fuelled by Russia's brutal military assault on Chechnya and its refusal to grant independence. The killing of innocent people cannot be condoned, but if we are to be rid of such acts of political violence we need to comprehend why people resort to them in the first place.
You also mention the right of politicians to scrutinise the United States’ proposed actions; I really cannot see how such scrutiny, however intense, can be equated with the giving of support to ‘rogue states’. To draw such a conclusion, as Mr. Halliday does, is sensationalist and downright insulting to those politicians who exercise that right.
As for the protest at Shannon, this would seem to contradict Mr Halligan’s assertion that apathy has resumed its reign. People have a democratic right to protest. And all this talk of morality, of military neutrality not meaning moral neutrality, surely the protesters have a moral right to voice their concern over the breaching of our neutrality. Far from apathetic, Sir. Ireland has frequenly exercised its moral duty by particpating in various United Nations peacekeeping missions over the past decades. We do not have a moral duty to support a war against Iraq; this war in not about terrorism, although undoubtedly some 'links' will be found soon and it is not a war about nuclear weapons. North Korea have admitted to having a nuclear weapons programme and there has been no mention of a war there. The Iraqi Government is quite reprehensible, but then again so too are many others around the world. Many would say that the real reason is that Iraq does not act favourably towards the United States within the global oil industry.
Yes, America is a good friend of Ireland - and like any good friend we would prefer if it didn't go down any wrong path. Like any good friend, we would point out mistakes and express our discontent at any actions which we might disagree with. As a good friend, and an old friend, the United States should respect our values. One of this country's proud traditions is military neutrality. And contrary to what Mr. Halligan believes and what those in Government buildings think, this means that United States military aircraft should not be landing and refuelling in Shannon.
I wonder if our neutrality would be so easily dispensed with if Saddam needed a few gallons and a bit of duty free on his way Stateside?

Yours,

Shane Darcy