Irish atonement for Iraq

international | crime and justice | news report

Saturday March 20, 2004 19:11

by Edward Horgan - PANA, and Shannon Peace Camp

edward_horgan at hotmail dot com

Flowers and wreath - blowing in the wind

Flowers and wreath were laid at Shannon airport by peace activists as an act of atonement for the innocent people killed in Iraq over the past year. We, the Irish people helped to kill up to 10,000 civilians and up to 20,000 Iraqi conscripts by allowing the United States to use Shannon airport as its main forward airbase. We did this for money.

Shannon, one year on, 20 March 2004.

It was cold wet and windy at Shannon. On the tarmac were at least two disguised US warplanes. One was a Boing Jumbo, 757 at the cargo terminal, with no marking of any sort, painted white all over. This was probably carrying munitions to either Iraq or Afghanistan. In the passenger area was an ATA Airlines, Tristar 1011, probably carrying about 200 armed US troops to war, somewhere. Colin Powel also probably will pass through Shannon this weekend. I arrived at the airport at about 0930, unhindered, with a cargo of 1000 daffodils. I proceeded to the terminal building and scattered the daffodils at both entrance doorways and in few locations within the terminal building. I placed one bunch of daffodils at the ATM cash point in the check-in area, and asked one of the check-in security personnel to take my photo, and he obliged. Since Ireland’s participation in the Iraq war was exclusively for economic reasons, I considered it appropriate to mark this symbolically with daffodils at the ATM. Having distributed about 500 daffodils inside and outside the terminal building, I was then belatedly challenged by airport security staff who ordered me to leave. I refused, telling them that I was in a public place on lawful business, to buy newspapers and commemorate the killing of innocent people in Iraq as an act of atonement. I purchased some newspapers and left terminal building and them walked to the roundabout with a tailfin monument surrounded by a water pond. I placed a further 500 daffodils in this water pond. It was sad to see the daffodils being blown about by winds gusting up to 60 mph. It brought to mind so many innocent people being blown away by soldiers and bombs that passed through Shannon airport just one year ago. I was the sole protester at Shannon airport at this time. My colleague Tim Hourigan was back in Limerick preparing for the wreath-laying ceremony at 2 pm. I then went to the bus stop near the terminal building and placed a small bunch of daffodils there. As I was attempting to take a photograph, I was accosted by a person claiming to be the Senior Airport Police Duty Officer. He ordered me to leave the airport and placed his hand on my shoulder, which I took to be an act of arrest. I told him who I was and that my purpose at the airport was for a symbolic act of atonement on behalf of those unlawfully killed in Iraq. I asked him his name and to requested to see his warrant card. He refused both requests, so I told him I would not agree to leave the airport until he identified himself. He was accompanied by two other persons in uniform who also refused to identify themselves. These three individuals then withdrew about 50 meters away and after some consultations, they disbanded and returned to the terminal building. I then left the airport of my own volition.
I then returned to Limerick, collected Tim Hourigan and materials for the wreath laying ceremony. We returned to Shannon airport to perform a further symbolic act of laying a wreath in memory of innocent Iraqi dead. We were prevented from going to the airport terminal building for this purpose by a large force of Gardai, including armed Gardai, so we placed the wreath instead at the centre of the roundabout before the Aer Rianta checkpoint. Apart from the Guarda Guard of Honour, there were two peace activists present at this ceremony, Hourigan and Horgan. On my return trip to Limerick I was followed by special branch car NO. 01-D-71476. It remained with me during several stops in Limerick city. Perhaps, that only two could be found to attend this act of atonement is appropriate, given, how easily Ireland abandoned its neutrality, how easily we allowed our government to participate in the killing of up to 30,000 people, and given the financial benefit so many Irish appear to believe will accrue from our participation in this war. $14 million has been paid in US military landing and service fees at Shannon. For us two, it was a sad but meaningful day. How about you???

Pictures to follow later

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Comments (28 of 28)

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Atonement

by Travis Bickle

Sat Mar 20, 2004 21:59

You hairy unwashed fraggles should be atoning for the fact that you tried to keep 20m Iraqi people living in a terror state.

Thanks to the courage of our American allies these people can now look forward to a future, rather tham decades more of murder and rape.

two better than none

by ec

Sat Mar 20, 2004 23:40

good on yiz - 4000ish on streets in dublin

white 757 bomber

by 757 man

Sun Mar 21, 2004 09:28

the white 757 has been is shannon now for nearly 3 months, it didn't have an engine for about 1 month, must have been making important deliveries of the "ammunitions". please sate the facts you know for sure and not make things up as you go along to make your self look good.

travisty

by Sam O'Connor

Sun Mar 21, 2004 10:14

'our American allies'?

since when? (not even Bertie would try that one-on, well, not without the ould nod and a wink)

'nuff s'nuff

Thank you Mr Horgan and Thank you Mr Hourigan

by iosaf

Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:11

I've just read a comment on another thread on yesterday from someone over in California saying "you are appreciated"..."don't fight amongst yourselves", I think that means that just one person "on the street" crying for peace, is one more not in front of the TV. And it's important. And no-one is offering a utopia, and no-one has magic solutions, but every person on the street helps us to say "Peace is worth remembering, our Constitutions are worth protecting, Neutrality has a place in Ireland's history of the 21st century".

I'm never going to write "you two equal a thousand day trippers", but I reckon a lot of people feel that way.

Thank you Ed & Thank you Tim.

Where are the armed anti-imperialist fighters?

by Thinking out loud.

Mon Mar 22, 2004 03:57

Presumably, there are hundreds of anti-imperialists in Ireland who have had training in and/or experience with the use of arms against imperialist targets.

Whatever doubts one may have had regarding the use of arms in the Irish liberation struggle since 1969, where non-military* mass struggle might possibly have been a better strategy, it seems to me that the same constraints would not apply to the use of arms against the imperialists -- wherever they can be hit -- while these same imperialists are using arms to slaughter and oppress peoples in other parts of the world.

* Not to rule out armed self-defense, of course!

A personal act of atonement

by Margaret

Mon Mar 22, 2004 13:03

Although I couldn't make the wreath laying ceremony I did visit Shannon airport later in the day. I laid bunches of white flowers in the viewing gallery and at the arrivals and departures entrances. I hoped the flowers at the doors would remind others of the sad anniversary. The viewing gallery overlooking the runways seemed a significant place to express my own sadness for the events of the past year. Trips to the airport used to be happy, excited occasions - going on holidays, picking up returning friends and relatives. It saddens me greatly to think of the guns, bombs and soldiers that have left Shannon on their way to Iraq and other locations through the years.
As an Irish person I feel the weight of responsibility for the destruction of lives, families and communities in Iraq. After all it is the government, the leaders who represent me that have facilitated these attacks.
Whether you agree with this war or the use of Shannon airport or not, the appalling suffering and devastation that we have witnessed in Iraq and our nation's part in it should be acknowledged. For or against the war - as a nation we have blood on our hands! Saturday was a very sad day.

Fasinating....Tim

by Lone gunman

Mon Mar 22, 2004 13:09

A 757 "BOMBER"??Amazing concept in this day and age about as useful as a matchlock.
So tell us ,is it a strategic,tactical orclose support bomber.?Couldnt find ANY reference to it on any military websites.
If it was a bomber,why arent the hammer weilders out denting it somwhere?Scared off by the imperialist,facist,etc,etc Gaurds and rent a cops?

"Lone Gunman" stop smoking the hate crack and take reading lessons.

by R Isible

Mon Mar 22, 2004 19:35

1. The post is by Ed Horgan (PANA), not Tim Hourigan, so don't address "Tim".

2. The reference to a "bomber" was made by some weirdo called "757 man". Do you have any family members by that name? I ask because of the "man" ending and the fact that s/he can't read either. This person chose to ignore the fact that Ed Horgan's post clearly stated that:

" This was probably carrying munitions to either Iraq or Afghanistan."

Now, I used to think that you were deluded and of low IQ, but I _know_ that you've been educated by nice people many times before on this site about what munitions are and how the logistical support to US troops and US murders around the world is direct involvement with those murders. So don't pretend to be a thick anymore. Disagree if you must, but stop the disingenuity: it just makes you look very naive.

It is clear that Shannon is of great use to the US in carrying out this war that has destabilised the world and seen the deaths of both innocent Iraqi civilians and US citizens who have few options but enlistment. Ed Horgan's report is useful in reminding us of this: whether it's actual bombs or Brendan O'Connor's "coke an' chips" it's part of the war. It may be that "757 man" is correct that the plane Ed mentions has been sitting there for a while, I don't know, but I notice a deafening silence on the _other_ reported plane: the one which may be shuttling about 200 more US cannon-fodder off to somewhere or other that isn't the USA.

By the way, you were very vocal about the defence of jobs in Shannon not too long ago. What have you been doing to help out the people that are going to lose their jobs there? Anything _practical_? Or are you just one of those blowhard bigmouths?

Gordon Deegan, The Irish Independent Mon March 24th 2004

by R Isible - Indymedia Ireland

Tue Mar 23, 2004 00:14

US TROOPS PASSING THROUGH SHANNON AIRPORT ON THE RISE FIGURES released by Aer Rianta yesterday showed that the numbers of US troops travelling through Shannon are on the increase once more. The figures come as two peace activists in Shannon on Saturday commemorated the first anniversary of the Iraq war by erecting a five-foot tombstone and a floral wreath at the airport to those died in the war. Member of Refuelling Peace, Tim Hourigan, said: "We thought it appropriate to go to the scene of the crime and express solidarity with the people of Iraq and atone for Ireland's involvement in the war." The figures from Aer Rianta show that there was a 43pc increase in the number of troops passing through Shannon last month when compared to January. The figures show that in February 11,337 passed through on 117 flights, while 7,922 soldiers passed through on 100 flights in January. The February figure is just below the monthly average number of troops that passed through Shannon in the first four months of last year, when 50,914 troops stopped over at Shannon. This was during the build-up to the war and subsequent overthrow of the Iraqi regime. Last year, a total of 125,855 troops from the United States armed forces passed through Shannon airport. Gordon Deegan

Shannon, one year on.

by LIz Shinners

Tue Mar 23, 2004 14:52

shinners at iolfree dot ie

25 Tradaree Court Shannon Co. Clare

087-2191512

I wish i'd known about laying daffodils at the airport, had i known, id have gladly helped. Well Done!

Travis

by Mosheen

Tue Mar 23, 2004 22:38

Go home and join up then.

God damn that Bush

by berties biggest fan

Thu Mar 25, 2004 16:50

Getting rid of a nice friendly socialist dictator. Damn him to hell I say. Bringing democracy to a country, - pah! They were perfectly happy as they were, with their rape rooms and torture chambers, and their nice secular, godless, SOCIALIST government.

That's what it's all about lads, isn't it?

I mean since when are socialists opposed to liberating people from oppressive regimes?
Didn't Marx support the overthrow of the Romanovs? Oh yeah, -they were replaced by a nice SOCIALIST government.

tut tut, how silly of me. The only kind of freedom thats ok is OURS.

I'm just off now to sign up to my local SWP branch. Oh, wait, they don't have one in Monaghan........ :-)

Airport security

by T F Dunne

Thu Mar 25, 2004 20:47

The gentleman who threw flowers around Shannon Airport concourse should have more sense. In a time of extreme security risk at all international airports he wasted the time of, and diverted the attention of the secuirty personnel on duty. They were right not to identify themselves in such circumstances. A man behaving like that cannot be trusted. I suppose if they did give their names he would have platered them onto Indymedia.ie.

Its such a shame that proper normal peaceful protest is often hijacked by nutters and agressors. That is why many others stay well away from them, even though they would like to protest also.

Finally, the 757 is not a 'Jumbo' as he stated, its a twin engined narrow body aircraft. This particular one was being serviced after spending several weeks ferrying muslims to the hajh in Saudi Arabia. So there!

has it not "sunk in"

by ?

Thu Mar 25, 2004 23:28

that those who attoned for the invasion of babylon were not responsible?

Now where did the Library contents go?
And are you sure we didn't send you fakes?

What's all this "we" business?

by righteous pragmatist

Fri Mar 26, 2004 11:25

I'm an Irish man. I didn't elect you to "atone" on my behalf.
Iraq is a free nation now and building its first democracy after the end of Saddam's regime.
Bush is a hero for standing up to the cowardly so-called security council and liberating an oppressed people from a heinous dictatorship.

bilous fragmatist, you are right

by seosamh

Fri Mar 26, 2004 15:08

should do away with that goddam motherlovin 'so called' security council. better still, line 'em up and shoot the cruds, crazy low-down vamint sonsabitches, a-hootin' an' a-hollerin' and votin' agin America, (the brave and the free), usin' joined-up reasonin' and speakin' in tongues, downright unamerican if you ask me....

waddabout all the good guys anymore? wy dont they give the good guys who are killin' the bad guys a break? huh?

an waddabout showin' a liddle respect for the big guy who's stannin-up for the puny liddle punk who's feeble, ok, but ya kinda like him that way.....?

an wy dont they make any more good movies anymore, like that....?

oh shitgoddam, now I forgot what I wuz talkin' about...

aznar is a wookie

by yussef

Fri Mar 26, 2004 16:58

wookie wookie wookie
the children,
our children
sang as they walked the streets.
wookie wookie wookie
the children's voices said quite clearly
you are a monkeys.
and they were ignored.
did you count how many days you ignored
them?

fredom

by assahm

Sat Mar 27, 2004 03:22

i am iraqi man living in iraq my englis not good . how say yo bad thing foramerika to make us free. sadam just kil kil kil all peopel all the time. now we have the fredom to liv agin thank yu amerika for making us fre.

a sham?

by Reelting

Sat Mar 27, 2004 05:41

"assahm", or do you mean 'a sham'? That is a pathetic attempt to impersonate an Iraqi.
All the Iraqis I know here are opposed to what the Bush administration are doing there. You really are pathetic.

Didn't no about Shannon

by May

Sun Mar 28, 2004 03:51

Ennis

Had no idea anything was to happen in Shannon to mark the anniversary, as it happens I couldn't have made it. Ed and Tim you (among others) you should be imensely proud of yourselves for your dedication, if all you have is a clean conscience then thats worth all the overtime in the world.

For the rest of us it seems now it is extremely important to begin to refocus on the use of Shannon. Heard from a friend a new premises may have been acquired in the area. Is planespotting still going on,can anyone still come down. Perhaps a protest soon minus the stewards/shepards. We should all start talking about Shannon again..Trying to build up a momentum before bush's visit by begining to protest there again. It may just be a way to mobilise greater numbers and put anti-bush, anti-war, anti-refuelling back on the public agenda.

Boeing 757, Boeing 757 not wide body you mutt

by A.J.C

Mon Mar 29, 2004 14:42

I agree, these idots actually support the terrorists by adding extra burden on already overburdened security forces.Security forces all over the world are stretched to the limit trying to keep us safe.Not because the US invaded Iraq but because of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 or did you forget about that.
I just flew from Shannon Airport and did not observe any US military or their aircraft hiding in the bushes. The writer is paranoid. Besides the US could refuel their aircraft in flight and avoid Ireland all together, they are doing you a favor (US Spelling) So don,t bite the hand that feeds you!

So what have actual Iraqis to say about 'liberation'?

by Joe

Mon Mar 29, 2004 14:47

"Karrada [Baghdad shopping district] was quite crowded with people coming and going. Women, of course, were a startling minority. Karrada used to be full of women- mothers, daughters and wives sometimes alone and sometimes dragging along a weary male. As we got out of the car, my confidence and enthusiasm began to wane. I was one of the few women on the street not wearing a hijab, or head-cover. One, two, three women passed by with the hijab covering their hair… the fourth one had gone a step further and was wearing an abbaya or black cloak… I tugged gently at the sleeves of my shirt which were cuffed almost to my elbows. They slid down once more to my wrists and I was suddenly grateful that I had decided to wear a long denim skirt. "

While your in atonement mode

by AJC

Sun Apr 04, 2004 17:04

How about placing some flowers for the three thousand innocent people killed in the world trade center, including the Irish Grandmother and her grandson who were forced to sit in an aircraft which was flown into a building by a fanatical follower of Islam. Or the 190 or so innocents who were killed in Spain. Or is your attonement so focused that you disregard all others.
Do me a favor, don't attone on my behalf, the Special Branch Officers who allegedly followed you showed great restraint, you should have been arrested for disrupting public transport.
As far as prople in Ireland making money out of the Iraq war, how about you? I'm quite sure you didn't pay for all those flowers out of your own pocket, perhaps a little fundraiser here and there? Or maybe the free press you try to get will help with your book sales in the future.
Go find a job, I'm sure your employer didn't let you have the day off to place flowers in the middle of the road or are you a full time attonement specialist, you make me sick!

Yes R isible

by Lone Gunman

Sun Apr 04, 2004 20:19

I am going to do somthing with the possibly soon unemployed workers in Shannon.I will point them at the people who proably caused enough unwelcome attention at Shannon and proably put it on the world map as a target for bomb weilding nutters of the Islamic type,IE you DUB type peaceniks and encourage them to kick the living crap out of any "peace protestor"that ever sets foot in Clare again! you people are getting to be as welcome in the Shannon area as Bush would be in Bin Ladins cave! Ever wonder WHY there was no prosecution for that person who drove into the demo in Shannon last year?C'mon you are all intelluctally educated college types.All educated above your ability.
No dont know anyone called 757man.Anyone I know in my family has boring ,normal names.Proably somone on dope of the hippie genere.Inmy day you called yourself ,dawnlight,or morning glory or somthing of that ilk,man.
BTW I dont need alecture on munitions from a crustie like you.Who wouldnt know a butt from a bullet.
the disingenusoity was to point out the ignorance of the original poster ,be it Tim or Tom or the tooth fairy.

the town clown

by Northern Eye

Sun Apr 04, 2004 21:26

Lone Drbinoche: was it you that said one time there that you had served in the Irish army? This I find to be hillarious as the Irish army are one of the funniest things about this country, a total fuckin joke altogether but you fancy yourself as a battle-hardened weapons expert sorting the world to rights from your bunker and constantly referring to the so called War on Terror as if you were actually participating in it! Nutter, but theres one of you in every Irish town and every movie about American suburbia.

Interesting read 10 years on

by Justin Morahan

Tue Feb 11, 2014 02:33

2014. -
10 hideous years of war, bombings, carnage and destruction in Iraq.
Ironic to read some of the above trolls thanking Bush for bringing "freedom" to that ill-fated country..
But we never learn. Today Margaretta is in prison for sitting on the runway tostop similar carnage in Afghanistan.
We will not forget

Well we've (finally) learned something here at indymedia...

by wageslave - (moderator)

Tue Feb 11, 2014 12:28

From a historical viewpoint it's certainly interesting to look back on these kind of comments. However the price of leaving them up is just too high. Activists are discouraged and harassed and it has damaged the site.

Up to now we have been far too lenient on such destructive commenters in the interests of free speech. This was seriously abused by anonymous trolls. Possibly state actors in some cases.

Well as of recently, we have a new moderation policy and we're not putting up with trolling like this on activist threads and articles any more. Indy will now be a better place to post your news events and articles.

rgds
Wageslave

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Irish atonement for Iraq

Comments (28 of 28)