Christmas Presents from Bertie, Blair & Bush Delivered by the Pit Stop Ploughshares

by redjade Fri Dec 19, 2003 18:07

Pit Stop Ploughshares / Catholice Worker
http://PloughsharesIreland.org

Irish Aviation Authority
http://www.iaa.ie

US NORAD Command
http://www.noradsanta.org/english/radar/index.html

US Weapons of Mass Distruction Delivered

The smell of American 'victory' in the morning...

and Hunger too...

Don't forget the Depleted Uranium...

by redjade Fri Dec 19, 2003 18:08

Pit Stop Ploughshares / Catholice Worker
http://PloughsharesIreland.org

Irish Aviation Authority
http://www.iaa.ie

US NORAD Command
http://www.noradsanta.org/english/radar/index.html

on the way to the Four Courts

Waiting for Justice.

by Anthony Sat Dec 20, 2003 00:48

I just popped into the court room for a short while after lunch. Some of the discussion was hard to follow with mention of legal rights set by precedences I hadn't heard of but the judge was basically ruling in favour of further disclosure of US military involvement in Shannon such as the number and nature of US military flights using Shannon.

The prosecution was trying to prevent this discovery / disclosure of evidence. The DPP was making a twofold case by stating that firstly the State (meaning the gardaí) wouldn't have such information and secondly that it was irrelevant to the case. The judge pointed out that though the gardaí on duty might not know how many flights the US military were landing in Shannon and what they might be carrying, some departments or organisations of the state which was represented by the DPP should have that information.

The prosecutor also wanted to discount the context of the CW action. He wanted to turn it into an abstract concept and warned the judge that he may be turning logic on its head and giving a licence to anyone to cause damage to something which they think MAY cause damage in the future. (Completely neglecting to consider that a US military cargo is just one component of a machine which has the explicit purpose of causing destruction of life and property).

by Eoin Dubsky Sat Dec 20, 2003 01:57

Congratulations to the CW5 and their legal team especially for winning this today in court. Great to see the judge turn the DPPs perverse logic onto its head. Damned right people should try to stop the US military, whether they are likely to attack today, tomorrow or some other day. And when is a US Navy plane no longer a threat? When its no longer a usable US Navy plane, that's when. Swords into ploughshares...

by Pit Stop Ploughshares Sun Dec 21, 2003 14:25

REPORT FROM DAMIEN

Hi friends. Our community that decommisioned a US Navy warplane at Shannon
Airport on February 3rd last were back in court today for pre-trial
arguments about discovery.

www.ploughsharesireland.org

Judge Matthews granted our request to seek more discovery from the DPP. They
have 6 weeks to comply - January 27th.

Judge Matthews agreed that discovery requested by the SC was significant
for the defendants case and motivations.
During the 6 weeks the DPP will be trying to scrape together/make an effort
in seeking that which we require to have a reasonable defence, - in relation to the US
Navy C-40A plane, it's military capability; alongside information on the US
Naval airbase at Sigonella, Sicliy, and it's role in supporting the Sixth
Fleet, aswell as supporting 'Operation Enduring Freedom' in Iraq.

Issues pertaining to the nature of the plane in question, it's destination,
legal status on Irish soil at the time of our action, purpose of the plane,
etc. were raised by Senior Counsel Hugh Hartnett on behalf of the
defendants. Gilliosa O'Lidhea JC and Joe Noonan (Solicitor) prepared
competently in their roles assisting the SC. Unfortunately the morning
hearing was adjourned before noon, to be recommenced at 1pm. At this stage I
had to leave proceedings in order to go to work.

Other defendants were very happy with the performance of our Senior Counsel
and with the rulings by the judge. There's a long way to go
yet, but indications are that if we do not receive more disclosure on
neccessary documents for our defence, the judge will have to rule on whether
the trial can go ahead or not.

Peace and love to you all for your suipport over the last 8 months. It is
cherished in each of our hearts.
God Bless for now,
Damien Moran

by Charles Boylan - Wake Up With Co-Op, Co-Op Radio Vancouver Sun Dec 21, 2003 21:32 charles_boylan at telus dot net 110 - 360 Columbia Street, Vancouver, BC, V6A 4J1 1-778-772-8550

Dear Friends:

Congratulations to all of you for keeping alive and well the social conscience of the heroic Irish people. Not even the euphoria of the Euro and its glitter of supposed prosperity based on the sell-out of everything precious and dear to the Irish nation can repress the deep social conscience of the Irish people whom you so ably represent. As a grandson of this nation, you make me proud to be able to broadcast on Co-Op Radio (www.wakeupwithco-op.org) your achievements far away from us who live on the edge of this clear-cut rain forest called Vancouver.

Your stand against the U.S. empire and its military machine in Ireland inspires us to ever more actively oppose it here, right on the border of the "homeland" of empire.

I'm convinced the Irish people will someday put the EU illusion makers and profiteers in their place, and with full honour bar Ireland to the warmakers forever. Keep up the good work, and more successes to you in the New Year.

Charles Boylan
Vancouver Co-Op Radio
Vancouver, Canada

by Deirdre Byrne Sun Dec 21, 2003 22:27

Did you look at the turnout for this pathetic, hypocritical protest??

These loons represent nobody. It was an evil thing to seek to continue the brutal repression of the Iraqi people. Where's the solidarity with them??

All the while, wars rage all over Africa yet you people don't give a damn about them because there's no political payback involved.

You're all evil hypocrites.

by Starstruck - Leftie Mon Dec 22, 2003 03:38

Deirdre,you should be ashamed of yourself.these people dedicate immense amounts of time to these issues and maybe if there were more people like them and less cynical apathetic people we could tackle all the injustices in this world.
So if you want to be so judgemental judge the people who dont give a fuck about anyone except themselves and their career,possesions etc.
of course these people are political,if you want to fight the power get the power to fight-in other words paticipate in this "democracy" and its political structures.
You want to stop the injustices around the world you speak of,then you can start by standing side by side to those of like mind and conscience.

by conor (wsm personal capacity) Mon Dec 22, 2003 11:05

Deirdre: It was an evil thing to seek to continue the brutal repression of the Iraqi people. Where's the solidarity with them??

Excellent question lets see what “we’ve” done for the people of Iraq for the past twelve years

Iraq up to 1991 was a reasonably prosperous reasonably secular country growing at a fast rate.

According to one report

"In the 1980s, Iraq had one of the Arab world's most advanced economies. Though buffeted by the strains of the Iran-Iraq war, it had - besides petroleum -- a considerable industrial sector, a relatively well-developed transport system, and comparatively good infrastructure. Iraq had a relatively large middle class, per capita income levels comparable to Venezuela, Trinidad or Korea, one of the best educational systems in the Arab world, a well educated population and generally good standards of medical care."

http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/96bf686fe9704cd7c1256dba0036a96e?OpenDocument

OK it had a brutal dictator put there by the CIA and fully backed and armed by the West. Since 1991 Iraq has been returned to stone age conditions Sustained bombing followed by sustained boycott followed by more massive bombing and invasion have DESTROYED the country COMPLETELY and you wonder why people are pissed off !

"U.N. sanctions against Iraq, an oil-rich country that was rapidly developing when the Gulf War began in 1990, have claimed over a million civilian lives, more than half of them those of children"

(http://www.mediamonitors.net/mosaddeq17.html contains a very detailed analysis of the use of sanctions as a weapon of war)

The sanctions were just another form of war sustained over 12 years. The purpose was always to demonstrate to the Third World what happens when a country acts independently: Its entire population is ruthlessly punished, its infrastructure is devastated, and its government is eventually overthrown.

When the country with the largest supply of oil in the world has to import it you know you’ve got major problems. With 70% unemployment it isn’t too much of a wonder that no one in Iraq is sharing Deirdre’s joy at their liberation and are beginning to hate the “liberators” even more

http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/122103D.shtml

Well done to catholic worker for keeping the focus on the IAA, Fianna Fail and everyone else in Ireland who has assisted in the annihilation of Iraq

Conor

by Ruairi - Donegal Peace Group Mon Dec 22, 2003 11:45

To the Pitstop Ploughshares:

You DO represent my views and thank you for doing so. I hope to someday find the same courage and energy as you all have shown.

Much respect and thanks to you all.

by Irish Citizen Mon Dec 22, 2003 14:39

I wasn't there for the protest. I'm neither a Catholic or a member of the Catholic Worker movement, but as far as their protest is concerned, they DO represent me.

Each of us can only represent ourselves as individuals, but the 130,000 who marched in Dublin on February 15th spoke for many thousands more.

by James D. - none Mon Dec 22, 2003 17:24 none none

Nice one, Deirdre. They're just a bunch of a anti-american bigots. The type that would man the ovens but you'd never find in the front line.

by Deirdre Clancy - Pitstop Ploughshares Mon Dec 22, 2003 18:12

Thanks for all the support last Friday, everyone. We were delighted that Judge Matthews was resistant to efforts by the DPP to decontextualise our action. He seems like a fair minded character.

"Deirdre Byrne", I would like to know who exactly *you* are representing? The brutal respression of the Iraqi people was aided all along by the weapons provided by the US and Britain, and by the UN sanctions against the ordinary people of Iraq. We all know who the real hypocrites are, and we all know that without the aid of superpowers in the West, Saddam would not have maintained his violent dictatorship for as long as he did.

You are right; there are wars all over Africa, which we all know about, and which we in the Catholic Worker are highly concerned about. Ever wonder why the US has not gone to war against a brutal dictator in an African country of late? Why it has not only ignored but also propped up and even created dictatorships in Latin American countries? Because of the "political payback". It's time you started doing your homework, Deirdre. This war was a resource-based war, and using the word "evil" to describe people who protest against it is surely a sign not of our lunacy, but your desperate need to hide from political reality.

by Small is Beautiful - The World Will be Saved by Beauty..Dos Mon Dec 22, 2003 23:36

Deirdre B,

Did you see what these people did with 5 folks last February.....sent one U.S.navy war plane packing back to Amerikkka and 3 US corporations transporting U.S. cannon fodder to the killing fields pulled out of Ireland, 3 weeks after their disaramemtn action!.

Imagine if the CW's ever hit double figures....you'd have to hang on to your hat/red Deirdre.

Meanwhile 11,000 U.S. casualtiesd have been sent back stateside and your glorious ledaer has not been to one funeral or visited one veterans hospital.

by Deirdre Byrne Tue Dec 23, 2003 16:57

You are clearly a brainwashed individual who has been taught to spell America with a k.

It's hilarious to read your account of the UN administered sanctions on Iraq. Big bad Amerika vetoed the lifting of sanctions.

Damn right that the sanctions should not be lifted. If they were, what then?? Every 2-bit dictator in the world could start stocking up on WMDs while ignoring the UN.

We're already seeing a spinoff from the capture of Saddam wirh Libya handing in it's nasty weapons.

At least GeorgeW Bush has some solutions to the world's problems, all you people can do is wave silly signs and make fools of yourselves with silly gimmicks on the streets.

You people are just students who never grew up. It's about time you assumed some responsibility for what happens in the world, you're not in college any more, this is not a simulation.

by Ciaron Tue Dec 23, 2003 19:06

Deirdre Byrne,

Where would you start? You parade your ignorance and prejudice with such pomp and pride.

There is not one student depicted in these photographs (bless their hearts, hope fully they'll join in as we approach trial). Two of us photographed work with Dublin's homeless another two have 30 years solidarity work in Africa behind them!

It's racist kkk attitudes that sees some qualatative difference between Arab nations possessing WMD's and Israel/USA possession of them.

Ok we'll take this slow, let's start with some animation...it's animation so you may have to give it some time to load.....

http://www.bushflash.com/ma.html

As you gothrough the motions of what Capitalism has reduced the birth of Christ to...think of the slaughter of the innocents initiated by Herod and Caeser in the days that followed. See how it is continued today with Bush and Sharon. Pray about some kind ogf human repsponse to it rather than dumbing yourself down and lobbing such medoiocre cynicism at folks gathering to resist this war.

Our friends, small in number/ big in heart will be witnessing at the Pentagon, Offut AFB in Omaha, Rumsfield House, Nevdas Nuclear Test Site in the days to some. Rejoice!
Merry Christmas
Ciaron

by Tim Tue Dec 23, 2003 21:28

I'm glad the judge ordered some disclosure on this. Anyone with an ounce of sense knows that we still haven't been told the full truth about what part we played in Bush's wars.

What has me 'confused' is why the DPP should object to disclosure.

I mean, my favourite local politician, and fellow Limerickman - Willie O'Dea TD, said that there was "nothing secretive or furtive going on at Shannon"

Now, if good old Willie O'Dea reckon's there's no secrets to be kept, (and he IS junior minister for justice) why would the DPP be so reluctant.

------------------------------------------------------------

Now Tony Blair's nowt but a lackey
to Bush-but he's not quite as whacky
"Oh we mean no harm"
says the PM with charm
and yet he helps kill the Iraqis

Now, Dubya his voice was so stern
as he spoke to young Bertie Ahern
"if our troops use your soil
when they go get my oil
in my good books, a place you will earn."

©2004. Tim Hourigan

by iosaf Tue Dec 23, 2003 21:37

i suppose that "©2004. Tim Hourigan" declaration means we only have a week to make poet laureate on your sweaty effort!

christmas muzak collection.

by Another Deirdre Byrne - ncadsu Fri Mar 26, 2004 18:34

Just read these comments now and I'm horrified we share the same name "Deirdre Byrne" , that is if this is a coincidence.
Fair play Pitstop Ploughshares.