Depleted Uranium in Shannon

by Bora Bora Fri Apr 11, 2003 18:20

All kinds of wicked things go over our heads at 35,000 feet all day every day.

by shannon employee Fri Apr 11, 2003 18:33

As someone who works in shannon airport with U.S. planes i can safely say that i have not even heard of or seen any evidence of U.S. planes carrying depleted uranium through shannon.

by Sparks Fri Apr 11, 2003 18:52

So you have inspected every hold then? Or know those that have? And what of the overflights? Please remember, in the event of an accident and resulting fire, the DU would be distributed over a large area - and it's a seriously hazardous material that we have no capability to clean up, and no ability to treat.

by Deirdre - Catholic Worker Fri Apr 11, 2003 19:26

At Eoin Dubsky's trial, which I attended, both the Airport Police and Gardai admitted that they never inspected the contents of the planes belonging to the U.S. military which passed through Shannon, even though they had joint responsibility for security there. Witnesses from both the Airport Police and Gardai admitted they had no idea of the contents of the plane which Dubsky spray painted. When asked what he thought the purpose of the plane's presence in Shannon was by the defence, the guard who arrested Dubsky replied that it "could have been for an air show". So, if that's how little the people responsible for security in the airport know, my guess would be that regular employees know even less, if that's possible. I am not casting aspersions on people who work at Shannon; I am just saying that there has been a conspiracy of silence over the contents of these planes for so long now on the part of the government that it's quite possible that there is DU on board many that pass through. Airport Security admitted at the trial that they were discouraged from inspecting these planes' contents, and told that their presence and contents were okayed by the government, and that was enough. Also, I know from personal experience that security at Shannon was practically non-existent up until they decided to call in the army, which was soon after our ploughshares action. One newspaper states that we (the five from the CW) had evaded dozens of security personnel, which gave me a good laugh. It's somewhat chilling that these planes were sitting there with weapons aboard when security was so lax, not to mention the ethical question of Ireland's role in this war to liberate the oppressed oil fields of Iraq.

by Shannon Employee Fri Apr 11, 2003 20:04

First of all sparks yes i have seen 90percent of the holds on U.S. planes in shannon and no there has been no depleted uranium in them and secondly i presume u can guarantee me that the author of the article in phoenix magazine has inspected the holds of all U.S. planes in shannon so his story must be true? I seriously doubt it!!
And to u Deirdre,I agree with u the security was lax in shannon before the incident with Mary kelly but now it is not!!In your above comment u sayu that the planes were sitting there with WEAPONS on board with no security.I was on the plane that was damaged by Mary Kelly and the CW5 the night it arrived in Shannon and i can guarantee u that there were NO WEAPONS of any kind on board that aircraft when it arrived in Shannon.

by Cormac Fri Apr 11, 2003 20:28

This discussion is moot.
The point is not whether the US planes are carrying weaponry, the point is that the Irish Government cannot proclaim to be a neutral country when they let an invading power use their airports as a stop off point for an invasion.

by Phuq Hedd Fri Apr 11, 2003 22:00

about the discussion being moot.

However, a question for "Shannon Employee": what does Depleted Uranium look like?

After all, if you can assure me that there is none in the 90% of the planes [*] then you must be able to identify it, right? Right?

[*] How many planes is 90% ?

by Conor - Sahannon peace house. Fri Apr 11, 2003 22:40

Anyone claims to have seen 90% of the holds on the planes is talking horse shit.This guy works for F.B.O. in Shannon Airport who profit from the warplanes coming through Shannon and had to apologise to Tim Hourigan and myself for trying to kick us out of Shannon Airport the day we talked to the special forces and will have to apologise to the Irish people when this all comes out in the wash.Serious overtime would need to be worked to deal with 90% of the warplanes at the Airport and i am just talking the cargo planes(eg World airways Cargo,Evergreen international 747s.....).these planes land and the F.B.O. employee comes out in their transit minibus and Kiss the pilots ass,brings them to the hotel across the road.not at anystage to the F.B.O. try to get inside the planes.They wouldnt be so rude. Did you for get we are watching you?

by Another Shannon Employee Fri Apr 11, 2003 23:18

I can tell ye that I had a look at the other 10% and bejaysus weren't they packed to the hilt with the stuff .... but don't be tellin' anybody now ... just between ourselves ye understand .... we don't want to cause a panic now do we ......

by Eoin Dubsky Fri Apr 11, 2003 23:45

Cargo aircraft gunrunning for the United States Air Mobility Command which pass through Shannon Airport have been "authorised" to carry "weapons of war" and "explosives" by the Minister for Transport. This information is in the public domain, and you can get further details with an FoI request or following Ed Horgan's or my case in the High Court.

A bomb threat is threatening, not just when you're *sure* that there is a bomb, but when you have reason to believe there is.

In reply to the hardest working person in Shannon (who inspected 90% of the aircraft!!), who asserts that s/he saw no weapons aboard the US Navy aircraft which Mary Kelly, and later the Catholic Workers, disarmed: How come then the cargo from that aircraft was so very swiftly offloaded onto another US military plane? Why, if it was harmless, didn't they just leave it on board for airport autorities to investigate? Why did a "Hercules" C-130 rush to Shannon Airport only hours after Mary Kelly had disarmed the plane?

by Lone gunman Sat Apr 12, 2003 00:05

It is usually mounted in 25 mm brass cases for the A10 "Warthog" tank destroyer. It is black in color and extremly heavy for it's size.Usually supplied in "chains"of 300 rounds,with one green tipped tracer shell per seven normal rounds.Comes in green metal or plastic cases.marked DU 25mm 1/7 trcr Lot no and date of manufacture.It is NOT marked radioactive
Sooo if anyone had had the gumption to get inside the plane [Hint Owen DUMBSKI!!]and aquire a box or a few shells instead of smearing graffitti or ineffuctually hitting it with a hammer[hint morons of trident plowshares!!!]The case of the peace mongers would have been a LOT stronger.HINT Maybe the peace mongers should consider hiring Professionals to do their black Ops in shannon.

by Another Shannon Employee Sat Apr 12, 2003 00:12

That's the very stuff. I swear I saw it with me own eyes. But only in the other 10% of the planes that yer man didn't inspect. The other 90% were as clean as a whistle. I swear to God.

by . Mon Apr 14, 2003 00:09

Lone gunman,

For an ineffectual action, it's got you pretty worked up -- even two months after the event you're still going on about it.

I'd hate to see you after an effectual action.