GPO 4pm-6pm Vigil - U.S. Military Out of Shannon!

by Fred Johnston Mon Jul 14, 2008 14:38 sylfredcar at iolfree dot ie

I went to Shannon yesterday, arriving too early for the vigil there. As a writer, I am bewlidered that there are not more Irish writers and other artists joining in the protests at Shannon, or joining the protest by writing letters to newspapers. This never ceases to amaze me, especially as some of them would make great noise about maintaining a Leftist philosophy. It would appear that tackling any topic which is anti the American administration must be given serious thought, in case they need to visit the United States in the near future to read or exhibit! Will invitations be withdrawn etc etc? This may be an unfair speculation, but it is not without certain elements of truth. There has arisen a creeping and rather vile tendency to criticise those members on the Left who demonstrate in the street, either against the hell-hole of Guantanamo or events at Shannon; this has arisen amongst those for whom the active participation in protest could prove socially or small-beer politically 'embarrassing.' I would ask that our writers and artists - and I am not a member of the group posting the above comments - participate more fully in protesting against the US Military's and the CIA's use of Shannon, by letters to newspapers, for instance. Can we have a comment from Aosdána? Or the Irish Writers' Union which, as an affiliate of SIPTU, should have something to say?

by Ciaron Mon Jul 07, 2008 21:32

Kathy Kelly, a Catholic Worker from Chicago, she gave evidence at the Pitstop Ploughshares trials in Dublin.
She reflects today from her work with Iraqi refugees in Jordan.....
http://www.counterpunch.org/

by Ciaron Mon Jul 07, 2008 21:21

Vigil went well with 6 folks.

As we were setting up Brendan O'Connor went strolling by and Con was able to give him some much needed consumer feedback for his pro-war cheerleading in the Indo.
Colim doned the Guantanamo jumpsuit and with our large "U.S Military Ot o Shannon" and "Stop Irish Participation in the War" it was all very visual.
It was also great to have some Spanish speakers wit Mairtin and Con addressing passing droves of Spanish kids on school trips.
Also a very moving interaction with an American woman tourist who had ben jailed for anti-war resistance during the Vienam War. She was very grateful for our presence and very angry with her government

by free speech whaaa? aren't theybeing dragged away? Mon Jul 07, 2008 13:04

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDQv5CbhipI&eurl=http://....html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jRj-pWbWJo&eurl=http://....org/

by Ciaron - Catholic Worker/Plowshares Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:37

Yep your right it is the Sunday Tribrune alrighty!

I'm not a big fan of Amnesty Corp (never heard from them during 2 years as Prisoner of Conscience or 3 years being jerked around by the Irish legal system) but there are some good grassroots membership.

And yes I trusted the Sunday Tribune for that factoid (silly me!)

You would have more credibility in your first comment if you admitted that misinformation was out there (as you seem to be aware of the Sunday Tribune mistake already). But don't hold your breath for any support from NGO careerists (to well paid chuggers posing as volunteers on the street) even minimal clarification of their mistake in this instance to the voluntary radical grassroots movement. They view us as competitors in limited market. Even though the radical (voluntary) movement continually creates the space for NGO's to occupy, colonise and sellout - see the movement around the G8

It disturbs me that what activism is left around the militarisation of Shannon seems to be running with the rendition flights rather than the massive daily troop movements. Why is this so? Is it because the mainstream media defines what is significant for oppositional politics in Ireland and the lefties go running to where the mainstream cast their spotlight, the NGO's of course are there to promote their brand and secure their economic base.

The censorship around U.S. troop movements through Shannon is outstanding coverage (cover up) of ongoing Irish complicity in the war.

The Catholic Worker of course is involved in confronting U.S. rendition and torture with nonviolent direct action see www.witnesstorture.org and will continue to engage after Gitmo is close with whoever becomes U.S.President in the new year.

Oh well back to the streets for free this afternoon!

by Amnesty 1 - Amnesty International Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:57

Firstly, that appeared on page three of the Sunday Tribune, not the Irish Times.

Secondly, it is still incorrect. Amnesty International has not identified three cases where detainees on their way to Guantánamo were routed through Shannon. We identified three cases where Shannon was used as a staging area for renditions operations in the cases of three specific detainees. There is a difference.

I absolutely accept by the way that this was a genuine mistake and not your fault or responsibility.

by Ciaron - Catholic Worker/Plowshares Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:33

Page 3 Saturday July 6th. Irish Times

"Guantanamo detainees to be settle in Ireland"
.........
"Amnesty International has identified three cases where they say detainess on their way to Guantanamo Bay passed through Shannon Airport".......

It surprised me as well. When I (shackled but clothed, undrugged and unhooded) was transported on Con Air internally in the U.S. I didn't know where the fuck I was or where I was going.

by Amnesty 1 - Amnesty International Mon Jul 07, 2008 09:38

"-kidnapped prisoners have passed through Shannon on the way to be tortured at Guantanamo and in other secret C.I.A. dungeons (Amnesty International)"

Amnesty International has made no such claim. We have stated that there is hard evidence showing that planes came through Shannon to carry out specific renditions of named individuals, using the airport as a staging area for the operation but there is no evidence, nor has Amnesty International claimed that there is, of renditioned prisoners being transferred through Shannon. We believe inspections should be carried out on planes used in renditions to prevent this from happening.

by Juan Cole Sun Jul 06, 2008 15:03

This website is a good one for updates on the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
http://www.juancole.com/