Dubya to touch down in Éire June 24th and 25th

by Indymedia Ireland Editorial Group - Indymedia Ireland Wed Feb 25, 2004 20:00

Otherwise this is just rumour. What's the source please.

by Lone gunman Wed Feb 25, 2004 20:15

Confirmed by the intrepid Charlie["I Really was in Bagdad,during the invasion"]Bird
Better move down to Shannon like now!
You wont get within two miles of the airport within two weeks of Dubya arriving.
At least that is the way old fogies like me remember the security when the other arch war monger Regan arrived here 20 years ago,and when I was young in college and deluded that I and my generation would change the world by hollering at Ronnie.

by Paddy Wed Feb 25, 2004 21:20

I was a young protester when Ronnie came to town and I'll be there protesting and pulling at fences if we get close enough when Dubya lands. Fair dues to all the young activists who have done so much to highlight the use of Shannon by the US War machine. Remember that people power has brought about much more change than establishment politics or sideline snipping.

Lone Gunman, your perfectly entitled to your cynicism but do you really have to knock the efforts and enthusiasm of the younger generation. If you don't think the world can be changed or can't be bothered doing anything, try to keep the 'burnt out' comments for the college reunions. The struggle continues!

by redjade Wed Feb 25, 2004 21:37

Date for EU – US Summit Confirmed

The Irish Presidency can confirm that the EU-US Summit will take place in Ireland on 25th and 26th June 2004. President Bush will arrive in Ireland en route to the NATO Summit in Turkey, which the Taoiseach as President of the European Council will also attend.

The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, The EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen will attend the Summit in Ireland.  

The transatlantic relationship is a core strategic partnership for the European Union and is a central focus of the Irish Presidency.  We will work with the US, and with Canada, on practical cooperation across the broad range of issues of common interest and concern.  On the political side, there will be close, ongoing cooperation between the EU and the US on critical international issues, particularly the Middle East Peace Process and Iraq.  Co-operation in the fight against terrorism will be taken forward.  EU-US trade issues will also be advanced and renewed impetus will be given to the positive economic agenda.  The Irish Presidency will seek common ground with the US and other partners on the world trade agenda post Cancun.

by Desmond Fennell Thu Feb 26, 2004 02:42

Let's face it, people don't take college students seriously - or the long-haired freaks who turn up at every protest, especially the Muslim ones.

It's only when the moms and pops go out on the streets that any real change happens.

Don't waste your time protesting about Bush. Anyway, there's nothing to protest about, he's done an absolutely fine job.

by Badman Thu Feb 26, 2004 03:14

You can organise a demo in support of Bush. You can even rope in your buddies in the business community. Let the big man know that the people of Ireland think that he's doing an "absolutely fine job"

We'll organise our own little protest letting Bush know that we think he is murdering scum. Since we are all 'freaks' and students, you shouldn't have a problem dwarfing our silly little protest.

by kruane Thu Feb 26, 2004 08:28

Have you been to America lately? Have you witnessed its transformation into a police state, the consequences of the Orwellian "Patriot Act", watched the U.S. economy flushed, with great gusto, down the toilet, read "The Project for the New American Century"? Bushco has taken a wrecking ball to the New Deal and the notion of the Great Society and rendered America into a third-world country. Soon, U.S. dollars will be worth half a Euro. Dollars as pesos--ah, yes, a fine job. And then there's Bush's over-the-top all-war-all-the-time foreign policy.

A fine job? Hit the streets, Ireland!

by guinevere Thu Feb 26, 2004 09:24

as an american living across the world in hawaii, i would give anything to be a part of this protest.
guinevere
veteran of many anti-war-Vietnam era-marches

by Joe Thu Feb 26, 2004 12:24

The anti-Reagan marches in 1984 were the first protests I took part in of my own voliation (my mother dragged me on a couple when I was a kid).

Lone Gunman a lot has changed since 1984. Not least the nature of protest. Time wil tell but I think Bertie may find that Bush's visit is a provocation too far.

by Kommandante Thu Feb 26, 2004 12:28

Our master and Emperor will be landing in Shannon and from there moving on to Adare where the European Viceroys will pay homage and tribute to the Great One.

His highestness would have liked to have played golf in Parknasilla but the damned Kerry mountains provided too much cover for the Kappie Verts and their Irish scumbag lakkies (Gardai and Rangers) to secure. A coastal trip was considered but the approach to the Shannon estuary was also too insecure for the Great One to pass.

Hard to find a same place for a murdering criminal terrorist theses days. Enjoy your visit George........and don't forget your bodybag!!!

by Jimbo - Cork Thu Feb 26, 2004 12:48

and crash lands with a heavy and fatal thud...

by Ant Thu Feb 26, 2004 14:31

On our recent plane-spotting trip with the hardest working man in the movement, we observed our western overlords' wishes being complied with. A roadway is being built just inside the perimeter fence of the airport.

The surface was being laid down over by the more remote south-western end of the main runway (not far from the radar tower). Presumably, it will - at the least - cover the other sections of the fence which aren't easily accessible without driving across either rough ground or - more dangerously - the runway itself.

I imagine that the US military want this as a permanent fixture but if Bush is coming over, now would be an appropriate time to start the job. Such a "feature" at Shannon would leave it much easier for regular motorised patrols around the perimeter fence and a much shorter response time for vehicles to get to a section of the perimeter in a hurry.

Perimeter Track under construction

by oh really Thu Feb 26, 2004 14:36

hmmm....

I don't think so.

The cops are really nervous about this visit. The Supt in Ennis is taking pills for his blood pressure.
The construction crews have been working day and night on new security roads and stuff.
I wouldn't be too sure.
They're really good at keeping out marches and stuff, but there have been quite a few successful breaches of airport security. Nobody has been caught exiting the airport.
Everyone was arrested after they had done what they went in to do. the Yanks are not impressed with the Airport Police.

a lot has changed since Reagan came, and it's no longer just about standing by the flats with a banner.

and didn't some folks get close to Bush in London when 14,000 British cops were protecting him?

by Michael Thu Feb 26, 2004 17:51

Bush's impending visit has also appeared on the "official" Chinese website (the same one which has a link entitled "State organs").

And according to this report:

' Ireland, which currently holds the six-month rotating EU presidency, has said it would use its historical ties with the United States to mediate transatlantic relations that have been soured last year by the Iraq war. '

Interesting ...

by Lone gunman Thu Feb 26, 2004 20:29

If you think you are going to protest anywhere near Dubya this is what you will face roughly;

Incresed surveillance on all anti war groups and especially the well known obivous names who have made themselves into household names.Proably they will be served with banning orders from coming within ten miles of Shannon or any area wher Dubya will be.Break it ,they will be arrest on site and detain under Sect30 offences against the State act.
Shannon
A five mile exclusion zone of all non known residents or workers of the Shannon town area.This will be enforced by roadblocks,of gardai and army.
Dont bother trying to move down there and claim you are a "resident or busisnessperson" You will be visited by the revelant LEO types.Anyone going out to the airport that day had better have a good reason and the correct IDs and reasons .Flites will NOT be coming in that day.
Three miles in, roving army patrols and armed garda.Permimiter fence of Shannon rent a cop,garda army and US secret service,coverd by US secret service snipers on ALL of the high buildings on Shannon and the high rise flats.
Perimiter in to the terminal buildings. A freefire zone for all armed personel.
They will not give a fuck wether you are innocent unarmed or whatever.They will kill your ass!!
You will be able to bellow and rant and rave five miles away ,where noone will hear you.
Where will Dubya stay??
Ashford castle,Adare,Dromonald ,US ambassador residence Phoenix park.[All US owned and been previsouly used and tried and tested] Forget it you wont get near any of the places and the decision as to where he will be is a last minute decision.
FACT is folks you are going up against a professional organisation whose whole function is to gaurd the POTUS.Has an unlimited budjet and is damn good at its job,and this time will be "recommending" to the Gaurds as to how to do the job properly.
you are not going up against a bunch of hick rent acops and provincial cops.This will be a different story.
But I suppose somone will be idiotic enough to try.Oh well every cause needs a bunch of fallen heros.I'm sure we will pass around the hat for a collection for a nice monemunt to your memory.

by David Thu Feb 26, 2004 20:43

But the second global superpower is on our side. We might not be facing good odds but there is a chance, if people can keep their heads held high that we might manage to put something really memorable together in june this year

by Desmnd Fennell Fri Feb 27, 2004 02:58

The Irish govt is welcoming him on behalf of the Irish people as an honoured guest, that's why people voted for FF and the PDs as opposed to the SWP or whoever.

I did my talking at the ballot box, as did the rest of us.

Put up and shut up, is my advice to you all.

Peace,

Desmond.

by David Lyons Fri Feb 27, 2004 13:16

I also had my voice at the ballot box. Voted for my government, and I'm more than happy to take responsibility for that action.

Enjoy your day in the sun in June looking through binoculars and calling gardai 'pigs'.

The summit itself will be at the top of a mountain in the west, inaccessible except by air. Four locations have been scouted and one will be chosen ON THE DAY.

by kokomero Fri Feb 27, 2004 13:28

but not for FF/PDs. They have no mandate from me to welcome Bush and I suspect there are at least several hundred thousand more to go by the anti-war protests who share my view. This number is surely superior to whatever mandate the PDs might have and is no less worthy in any respect. Where the government (in this case) does not respect its own laws, the political process, the constitution or common sense it is the citizens right to protest, whatever their political colour, and indeed they will respond in kind at the ballot box by giving the FF/PDs a sound thrashing at the polls in the local and European elections. We'll see if you're so smug after that!?

by Peadar O Deordhain - Green Party Fri Feb 27, 2004 13:31 pfdoran at hotmail dot com http://www.greens-in.org 048 90 87 42 56

Greens challenge Adams –
Stand With the Irish Anti-War Movement or Stand Aside From Radical Politics

With confirmation that President George Bush is to visit Ireland in June to secure television footage for his Presidential Election Campaign, the Green Party challenges the Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams, to boycott the visit and stand shoulder to shoulder with the Irish peace movement – protesting on the streets.

The leader of the Greens in Northern Ireland, Dr John Barry, said: ‘The memory of Sinn Fein politicians providing political cover for the war mongers, George Bush and Tony Blair, at Hillsborough on the eve of the Iraq adventure will go down in the annals of infamy. Undoubtedly, the Sinn Fein leadership will seek once again in June seek to play it both ways: with Gerry glad handing on the inside while Martin and Mitchel keep the ‘lumpen republicans’ onside down on the streets. It will be truly sickening if Adams and other members of the Sinn Fein leadership choose once again to provide film fodder for Bush’s election campaign effort to capture conservative Irish American votes.

The challenge for Sinn Fein on the occasion of George Bush’s visit is this: stand with the anti-war movement on the streets or stand aside from radical politics and the pretence that you are anything more than a re-heated, re-spun version of the SDLP.

“In the words of Anthony McIntyre, a courageous and prophetic voice of 21st century republicanism in Belfast, commenting on events before the Iraq war, ‘the Sinn Fein leaders seriously undermined the anti-war movement but will no doubt plead tactics and demand to be understood. A bit like the child who kills both parents and them asks for compassion on the grounds that he is orphaned. These leaders have killed the radicalism which spawned them. They have orphaned themselves and latched on to reactionary step parents.’”

by Fiona McCann Sat Feb 28, 2004 00:17

I am an American living in Ireland who graduated from college in the US in 2001, not long after Bush took office. Five months after I graduated from college, I still wasn't able to find a job, even as a petrol station attendant. My ancestors came to America a hundred years ago to escape the poverty of Ireland, and now the tables have turned and I came back to Ireland to get a job!

by Desmond Fennell Sat Feb 28, 2004 02:22

It's incorrect to say "in Éire".

Éire is the nominative case e.g. "Éire is my country" or "the only country to abstain was Éire.

However, for phrases like "to Ireland" or "in Ireland" you use the dative case - Éirinn.

in Éirinn, go hÉirinn.

The other form of Éire is the genitive case. Use this for constructions like "X of Ireland" or "Ireland's X".

Mná na hÉireann (women of Ireland).

by Freeworld Sat Feb 28, 2004 11:05

So, the "Leader of the Free World" won't be coming to Camden Street for a pint and to meet the locals? Instead he will be hiding up a remote mountain in the west of Ireland from a few pacifists. Seems to me that "Dubya" is a coward. But then we already knew that - remember Vietnam.

by Desmond Fennell Sun Feb 29, 2004 01:57

And neither do you, so quit snivelling. I wouldn't want to be relying on the likes of you to protect my freedom.

It's a great honour to have that man paying a visit to our country. It looks as if a visit to Ireland is de riguer for any POTUS these days, it's a testament to the Irish people who went to America and worked their way up, bearing slights and prejudice with dignity and good humour.

by Freeworld Sun Feb 29, 2004 05:05

Yes, I remember Vietnam. I remember seeing the fall of Saigon, and watching on TV as the Americans ditched their helicopters into the sea after abandoning their embassy. And that is the same way that Dubya saw the war - through a television screen, the yellow little draft dodger, while working class Americans had to put their lives on the line.
Desmond, your hero is a snivelling coward.

by Desmond Fennell Sun Feb 29, 2004 19:47

It's typical Marxist bullshit. Is John Kerry working-class enough for you.

I know your sort, alright. You're from a nice uppermiddleclass background and playing at being a workingclasshero for a while.

On the other hand, I'm the real deal. That's why I and millions of Americans support a brave courageous leader like Dubya.

by Dr. Strangeglove Sun Feb 29, 2004 22:13

Desmond whassup ? Suffering from amnesia ... ?

I seem to remember you lecturing us on another thread about how dreadfully awful it was during the cold war down in South County Dublin ...... starting with the Cuban missile crisis .....

Now correct me if I am wrong, but the Cuban missile crisis was before Vietnam ...

So if you can remember the Cuban missile crisis how come you can't remember Vietnam ?

Starting to suffer from selective memory syndrome ? Or maybe just starting to go senile ?

by Desmond Fennell Sun Feb 29, 2004 23:14

Hit the books, kiddies.

The crucial difference between the Cold War and the Vietnam action is that the Cold War directly threatened my comfortable existence.

Understand?

by Dr. Strangelove Sun Feb 29, 2004 23:22

No, Desmond I'm afraid that I really don't understand ....

As far as my understanding of history goes, the Vietnam War was a part of the Cold War ...

EVEN CNN SAYS SO:
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/11/

You really do seem to be going senile .....

by Desmond Fennell Mon Mar 01, 2004 02:00

That's why I specifically wrote "Vietnam action" in my message.

Now when some young smart aleck here writes "remember Vietnam" do you take that to read: "remember the Cold War"??

The phrase "remember Vietnam" applies to a particular skirmish during the Cold War - one which I do not recall as I was not there at the time. However I have personal direct experience of living in fear of Russian bombs ever since the early 1950's.

Have I made that clear to you?

by :-) Mon Mar 01, 2004 17:03

kids hit the history books please.
grey blockers hit the google more.

The Cold War is known to us now as WW3.
not just us dingbats and lefties and anarcho types, it was the term used by Clinton's CIA chief, to describe the cold war.
Kissinger consistently justified the Vietnam war under the cold war or "WW3" analysis.
Thus the same geo-political forces that caused millions of Europeans and North Americans and Australians (and many more) to fear a Soviet and/or Chinese attack were seen by the Americans at least to be the same which caused the Vietnam war.

All of this is now history. But that doesn't mean it's not relevant or open to re-intepretation. At the link Clinton's CIA chief predicts (in 2003) a WW4. We however in "the movement" term the conflict between the 1st world and 3rd as "WW4".

Now Desmond is very sensitive and cross at what he percieves to be upper middle class children, perhaps he doesn't realise they are probably _formerly_ upper middle class children, their socio-economic status change being as easily understandable as that which happens to a _former peasant_ who migrates to the USA and becomes either a _blue collar worker_ or a _white collar worker_.
You should talk to Sofia, Desmond.
Anyway, Desmond supports Dubya, fair play to him, just read the link and answer this question:
¿Do the CIA support Dubya?

by Desmond Fennell Tue Mar 02, 2004 04:13

It's not on the scale of a World war.
A long standoff punctuated by a few skirmishes does not a conflagration make.
I can't wait until President Bush arrives. He's one of the greatest American Presidents ever, up there with Lincoln (R) and Reagan(R).
Lincoln freed the slaves, George W Bush freed the Iraqis.

by Dr. Strangelove Tue Mar 02, 2004 13:26

By the way Dessie old chap I've just been reading your complains about the title of the Article being wrong:
"It's incorrect to say "in Éire".
Éire is the nominative case e.g. "Éire is my country" or "the only country to abstain was Éire.
However, for phrases like "to Ireland" or "in Ireland" you use the dative case - Éirinn."

While I will admit that some incongruities are bound to arise in using the Irish name Eire to designate the state when writing in English (Just as if one were to refer to "Wales" as "Cymru", I question the propriety of insisting on the use of the Gaelic dative and genitive forms in English ..........

And lo and behold when I turm to the preamble of that august document Bunreacht na hEireann (Constitution of Ireland) I find the following:

"We, the people of Éire,
[...]
Do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution."

Ahem .... got that ?
"WE THE PEOPLE OF EIRE" not "the people of Eireann" or "the people of na hEireann" ...

Yep Desmond ... in the preamble to the constitution ......
Not even DeValera's eagle eye spotted that one .....

It's one thing to have Indymedia semi-literates mauling the name of the state, but we're talking here about the constitution and its preamble .....

BETTER GET ON TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY ...........

by Dr. Strangelove Wed Mar 03, 2004 13:14

Well Desmond who asked YOU ?

If it's good enough for former CIA head honcho Jim Woolsey then by God it's good enough for me ... and it should be good enough for YOU too ....

Sometimes I really have to question your loyalty to the US of A.

In fact your downright disparaging remarks about "the Vietnam action" as some kind of irrelevant sideshow in the Cold War raise some serious questions in this regard.

DON'T YOU REALISE THAT BRAVE YOUNG AMERICAN BOYS WERE GOING OUT THERE AND DYING SO THAT PINK-A***ED
P***IES LIKE YOU COULD ENJOY YOUR COSY LITTLE SOUTH COUNTY DUBLIN SUBURBAN EXISTENCE FRETTING AND PISSING IN YOUR PANTS ABOUT ALL THOSE ICBMs POINTED AT THE HEART OF KINGSTOWN SOUTH COUNTY DUBLIN ........

Quite frankly your insolent refusal to pay homage to their sacrifice is an insult to the honour of the cause which you claim to support .....

by George - MY HERO Wed Mar 03, 2004 16:02

I personally cant wait till George W. Bush - President of the United States of America touches down in this humble isle! A fitting end to our European Presidency to engage in talks with the leader of the Free World. Fianna Fail along with the PD's have hosted Europe to a Presidency so well planned and articulated that just 2 months into it, it is already being haled a success! Pro or Anti War - when President Bush arrives in Ireland - the eyes of the world will be on us! What an awsome experience for this country! Democracy has reigned supreme in this country since our independance from the UK. A Government of the People, for the People and by the People now rightly sits in power in Dail Eireann - and presides over the great future of this country! Whether we like it or not - and I know that the lefty scum reading the rest of this message arent going to like it - America provides Ireland with a huge amount of jobs and a huge amount of wealth! America has welcomed Eireanns children ( I hope thats the correct use of Eire) to their shores and we have prospered over there! It is fitting that we welcome the most powerful man in the world to our country and we do so with open arms! I for one will not be out "protesting" - for I believe in democracy - a democracy that our forefathers lay down their lives so that we may enjoy! The people have spoken two years ago - and so although I may not support Fianna Fail - I DO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND and the decision they made at election time was their decision! Now we look forward to President Bush and I tell you I have my preperations on the way - Im gona get me the biggest US flag I can get and write on it - DONT MIND THE LEFT WING SCUM GEORGE - CEAD MILE FAILTE FROM THE TRUE MEN AND WOMEN OF IRELAND!!!!!!!

by Me too Wed Mar 03, 2004 18:09

I personally can't wait till George W. Bush - supreme POTUS of Imperial America touches down in this humble isle! A fitting end to our European Presidency to engage in talks with the Führer of the American World Empire. Fianna Fail along with the PD's have hosted Europe to a Presidency so well planned and articulated according to the wishes of their paymasters in Brussels and lubricated by servile post-colonial Irish forelock tugging that just 2 months into it, it is already being hailed a success (at least by their paymasters in Brussels) !

Pro or Anti War - when President Bush arrives in Ireland - the eyes of the world will be on us! What an awsome experience for this country - I am almost wetting myself with excitement ! Democracy has reigned supreme in this country since the so-called independance of the 26 county statelet from the UK. A Government in power in Dail Eireann now rightly shits on the people - and presides over the great scam-ridden future of this country ! Whether we like it or not - and I know that the lefty scum reading the rest of this message arent going to like it - America provides Ireland with a huge amount of crumbs from the master's table and many a patronising pat on the back as well ! America has welcomed Erin's children to their shores as an unending source of cheap labour and we have prospered over there - especially bootleggers like the Kennedys ! It is fitting that we welcome the most powerful man in the world to our country and we do so with open arms - (preferably Kalashnikovs) !
I for one will not be out "protesting" - for I believe in democracy - a democracy that our forefathers lay down their lives so that we may enjoy being ridden within an inch of our lives by gombeens and land speculators and assorted other crooks ! The people have spoken two years ago - and so although I may not support Fianna Fail - I DO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND and the decision they made at election time was their decision - at least the decision of those who could be bothered to vote - whatever percentage that might have been !
Now we look forward to President Bush and I tell you I have my preperations on the way - Im gona get me the biggest US flag I can get and write on it - DONT MIND THE LEFT WING SCUM GEORGE - CEAD MILE FAILTE FROM ALL THE TRUE FORELOCK TUGGING SERFS OF THIS SERVILE VASSAL STATE !!!!!!!

by Desmond Fennell Thu Mar 04, 2004 01:53

Nice to see that some people around here are finally getting some sense, although I don't like the phrase "servile, vassal state". I wouldn't characterise our relationship with the US in that way, although we are indeed heavily dependent on that nation for our security and employment.

by NKVD Thu Mar 18, 2004 21:52

We Irish people recognise the valuable work he and the brave American troops - many of them Irish-Americans - are doing for thw future security of our civilsation.

God bless President Bush and God Bless America.

by Terry Thu Mar 18, 2004 23:36

Hmm, I actually agree with the likely reality outlined above by LG on this one.

by Dilly Tanta Fri Mar 19, 2004 01:39

Everything they say is right. There is no way but the SWP way, all other parties are corrupt decadent imperialist puppets (and Bu$h Hitler).