Failure of US surge poses questions for Irish left

national | anti-war / imperialism | other press Tuesday June 05, 2007 10:40 by Cedar

Over the weekend, 14 US troops died in Iraq. Since the start of the year, US troops numbers through Shannon have increased. Yet despite efforts from elements in the broad anti-war movement, the recent general election saw little or not reference to Ireland's role in a conflict that has cost the lives of over 70,000 Iraqi civilians according to Iraq Body Count.

Over the weekend, 14 US troops died in Iraq. Since the start of the year, US troops numbers through Shannon have increased. Yet despite efforts from elements in the broad anti-war movement, the recent general election saw little or not reference to Ireland's role in a conflict that has cost the lives of over 70,000 Iraqi civilians according to Iraq Body Count.

"Irish complicity continues and, by facilitating the surge, arguably has increased. The election has made no impact on the ruling party's determination to continue to support US forces in Iraq and the broad anti-war movement in Ireland is, as one might expect, split with the SWP's Irish Anti War Movement on one side, Anti-War Ireland with more of an Anarchist flavouring on the other, and groups like PANA and the NGO Peace Alliance trying to keep in with everyone. Anti-war candidates and parties in the election either lost seats or made no gains.

So, what's the next step?"

Frank Little, on the left-wing blogger website, the Cedar Lounge Revolution, looks at the failure of the US surge and the implications for the Irish left.