Greens ask Taoiseach to stop paying for US military overflights

by Graham Caswell - Green Party Wed Feb 12, 2003 23:16

Green Party Chairman and Foreign Affairs spokesperson, John Gormley T.D., has called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen to confirm if Ireland is still the only neutral country to allow landings of the recently mobilized U.S. Civilian Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF).

The Green Party call follows a report in the Irish Times (Tuesday 11 February 2003) that the US Defence Department has, for only the second time in 51 years, assembled the Civilian Reserve Air Fleet. CRAF was first used during Operation Desert Storm. The CRAF, which comprises 47 passenger and 31 cargo jets from 11 national airlines has been mobilized to ferry thousands more troops and military equipment to the Gulf. CRAF is described as a supplement to the US Air forces strategic airlift capability.

Mr. Gormley said today, " I know that Ireland used to be the only neutral country which was part of agreements for landings of the U.S. Civilian Reserve Air Fleet. Will Minister Cowen reveal now whether this is still the case? If this is the case, as I suspect it is, then will this mean that Shannon will be even busier over the next few weeks? Will the Government continue to maintain that this has nothing to do with participation in a war?"

Mr. Gormley said that the "US Department of Defence's press release on the assembling of CRAF has stated that 'the measure is necessary due to increased operations associated with the build-up of US forces in the Persian Gulf region'" "

by iosaf Wed Feb 12, 2003 23:18

to be held next Monday in Greece?
Because he has accepted the invitation, was that only to get a weekend away?

by Shelta Thu Feb 13, 2003 00:32

What a smarmy, gombeen/comprador bastard Ahern is. He has no principle whatever. Waiting to see what will happen before he moves. By allowing the U.S. war machine to use Shannon the gombeen leader, 'Bertie',(what a ridiculous name for a 'national' leader, is clearly a tool of the Anglo-American empire. Bush's imperial envoy, Haass, was here recently telling Ahern what to do. Ahern is collaborating with Bush's poodle, Blair, to consolidate British rule in the North. And yes, the so-called peace agreement in the North cannot be seen in isolation from the Anglo-American project of world hegemony. The GFA was brought about by such rightwing figures as Congressman Peter King, close friend of Gerry Adams, and a mad war hawk. Lets hope Sinn Fein has the decency to say silent on the Massacre in Iraq. By selling out Irish self-determination they have no moral standing as critics of imperialism

by Tommy Connors Thu Feb 13, 2003 01:00

Denis Halliday, former asst. sectretary of the U.N. today called the Irish Govt. 'gutless' for not opposing the Anglo-American war on Iraq. He said they had not the courage to oppose the U.S.

by Australian Thu Feb 13, 2003 10:37

"Taoiseach" what a strange name sounds like a cross between taoism and some internet search.

by Sam 7 Thu Feb 13, 2003 11:06

Perhaps a few SAM-7s could be decommissioned? This might put off future flights.