B52s over Cork

by Andrew Fri Jan 10, 2003 11:54

From the Guardian

Train drivers yesterday refused to move a freight
train carrying ammunition believed to be destined for
British forces being deployed in the Gulf. Railway
managers cancelled the Ministry of Defence service
after the crewmen, described as "conscientious
objectors" by a supporter, said they opposed Tony
Blair's threat to attack Iraq.

The anti-war revolt is the first such industrial
action by workers for decades. The two
Motherwell-based drivers declined to operate the train
between the Glasgow area and the Glen Douglas base on
Scotland's west coast, Europe's largest Nato weapons
store. English Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS), which
transports munitions for the MoD as well as commercial
goods, yesterday attempted to persuade the drivers to
move the disputed load by tomorrow. Leaders of the
Aslef rail union were pressed at a meeting with EWS
executives to ask the drivers to relent. But the
officials of a union opposed to any attack on Iraq are
unlikely to comply!

The two drivers are understood to be the only pair at
the Motherwell freight depot trained on the route of
the West Highland Line. An EWS spokesman declined to
confirm the train had been halted, although he
insisted no drivers had refused to take out the
trains. "We don't discuss commercial issues," he said.
"The point about the two drivers is untrue and we
don't discuss issues about meetings we have." Yet his
claim was flatly contradicted by a well-placed rail
industry source who supplied the Guardian with the
train's reference number. The MoD later said it had
been informed by EWS that mechanical problems, caused
by the cold winter weather, had resulted in the
train's cancellation. One solution under discussion
yesterday between the MoD and EWS was to transport the
shipment by road to avoid what rail managers hoped
would be an isolated confrontation. Dockers went on
strike rather than load British-made arms on to ships
destined for Chile after the assassination of leftwing
leader Salvador Allende in 1973.

In 1920 stevedores on London's East India Docks
refused to move guns on to the Jolly George, a ship
chartered to take weapons to anti-Bolsheviks after the
Russian revolution. Trade unions supporting workers
who refuse to handle weapons could risk legal action
and possible fines for contempt of court.

Lindsey German, convener of the Stop the War
Coalition, said: "We fully support the action that has
been taken to impede an unjust and aggressive war. We
hope that other people around the country will be able
to do likewise." The anti-war group is organising a
second national demonstration in central London on
Saturday February 15.

Organisers claimed more than 400,000 people attended a
protest in September

by gaillimhed Fri Jan 10, 2003 13:11

Nice to see that some people know what direct action really is.
Its a pity we couldnt persuade our own countrymen to engage in similar acts at shannon.
would it be possible?. Are Irish personnel actually involved in the refeulling?
surely this would achieve more than tearing down a fence. Its the kind direct action that cant be twisted by the propaganda machine into bad publicity, unlike our crusty fence breakers who just dont seem to grasp the whole media game.

by Joe Sheehan - Shannon Peace Camp Fri Jan 10, 2003 13:20 jsheehan at subdimension dot com

Are there any contact details for the spotters that saw the plane?

Confirmed info on this would be a great help.

by galway spotter Fri Jan 10, 2003 15:26

Yesterday lunchtime I was out for a stroll, and when I looked up I could count 10 planes in the skies overhead at the same time, which I'd never seen before. I thought it was weird at time, I wonder if they were miltary. I've also been noticing a lot more than usual in the skies in the mornings on my walk to work.

by PeteME Fri Jan 10, 2003 17:58

Was talkin to a mate of mine yesterday who told me she saw five planes in formation flyin above her in sligo/mayo border area, appeared to be military an they were pretty silent.....whats goin on or is it obvious......

by Irish American Fri Jan 10, 2003 19:01

B52s fly at 50,000 feet in transit.

by K. Rusty Fri Jan 10, 2003 23:57

If you point a tv remote at them and press channel 7 it fucks up their sub-sonic differential propagation radar locator. This was how the Sudanese resistance got one last month, but it was hushed up.

by Margaret Mac Sat Jan 11, 2003 02:25

Hooray to the brave in Ireland and Scotland who stand up to my yankee imperialist leader!
Keep up the courageous protests, people on this side of the Atlantic are so badly uninformed and ignorant of everything happening outside of "America"

by Robby - RN Sat Jan 11, 2003 22:26 rob_s57 at hotmail dot com

Have to admit I had a good laugh while reading the comments made by the eeejits here, B52's flying at 30000ft plus arent going to make any noise, its not because there in stealth mode its because there so far away.