Sunday Papers on Shannon

Monday January 13, 2003 20:27

by S. Aerobics

The public are advised to turn a blind eye and keep the head down.

The Sunday Business Post gave a dramatic headline with 'Fury Grows Over U.S. in Shannon' but the article fizzles out with 'reliable numbers that are hard to come by' and 'assurances' from nameless spokespeople.
Quoting a Dublin U.S. Embassy spokeswoman - "The U.S. appreciates the use of Shannon as a transit point. All flights are cleared with authorities".
In reply a Dept. of Foreign Affairs spokesman nods in agreement accepting 'assurances' from the U.S.
Comment -Does Shannon airport have it's own Weapons Inspectors checking each military aircraft and each commercial charter aircraft carrying U.S. troops ? Is there an Irish Hans Blix leading an Assurance Verification team overseeing U.S. troops as they walk through a metal detector ?
The article lays out the Dept. Foreign Affairs policy for foreign military aircraft (FMA)- special permission must be obtained before FMA can land or fly through Irish airspace. This is normally dependent on the 'assurance' that the aircraft does not carry arms, ammunition or explosives and does not form part of any military operation or exercise.
The Sunday Tribune goes on to explain 'a decesion was taken to allow military overflights and landings following the passing of the 'War on Terror' U.N. Resolution 1368 drafted after the Sept 11 attacks'.
Comment -'But the military currently passing through Shannon is part of the build up to war against Iraq, which has no links to the Sept 11 attacks and therefore no links to U.N. Resolution 1368 and therefore there's no excuses to allow these military overflights and landings' is one opinion from a report from the Shannon peacecamp.
The Sunday Tribune leads with the scaremongering headline 'Shannon Airport Target for al-Qaeda' a claim coming from the Irish Governments - National Emergency Commitee (set up after Sept 11) and the Aviation Security Commitee. 'Both commitee's include garda and military chiefs who are in regular contact with ...agencies, such as the F.B.I. on terrorist activity and potential targets'. With a massive rise in foreign military aircraft activity ... at the airport, concern has been mounting that the airport would be a relatively easy target for a terrorist attack'.
'Serious weaknesses in security at the airport were highlighted last year when peace activists managed to spray graffiti on a U.S. military jet'.
Now 'a major operation is underway at the airport ...it is understood that plainclothes and uniformed gardai and military personnel have been beefed up at the airport'.
Coincidently, security has 'gone into overdrive' at the same time of the establishment of a peace camp at the entrance to the airport.
'The huge publicity generated by this peace camp suggests the beginnings of a sustained anti-war movement, more harnassed and more widely supported'
Comment -This sounds like the beefed up security is been put in place under the guise of protecting Shannon airport from al-Qaeda but in reality is there to protect the U.S. military from Irish opposition to war.
Ireland on Sunday reports 'Senior airport workers defied a strict information blackout to confirm that weapons were on board U.S. aircraft, evidence to refute the Governments assurances that the aircraft are unarmed troop carriers'.
'Workers said C130 Hercules tansport aircraft regularly practised 'touchdowns' - where planes land and immediately take off again'.
'The viewing gallery at the airport, from where the public can view the area where U.S. planes are loaded and refueled has been closed. Airport authorities will not say when it will reopen'.
Elsewhere in the article 'Officials of Dept. Foreign Affairs have confirmed that civilian planes that have been leased by the US military to transport troops are not considered and not recorded as military aircraft landings and overflights'
However Ireland on Sunday's editorial/comment advises. 'We in Ireland should also remember our own very special relationship with the US. America was Ireland's de facto protector during the Cold War.In times of trouble - from the moment when US pressure forced Britain to the negotiating table after the War of Independence and right the way through the recent peace process- we have always found a friend across the Atlantic. If there was a time to turn a blind eye, at least for now, then this is it'.
Elsewhere in the paper there is the opinion that people should not make too much a protest as 'enlightened,self interest, the classic definition of a 'sound' foreign policy, suggests we keep our heads down'.