A Letter Asking President Barack Obama to Respect Irish Neutrality

by I Love Barack Obama Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:37

At this time America faces an economic in crisis and two major wars.
Obama has ordered Guantanamo to be closed and for tribunals to be immediately stopped.
In the future terrorist suspects are going to be tried in court.
Obama is committed to defeat Al-Qaeda and other Islamist movements who target the innocent in their quest to destroy civilisation.
He is also committed to the two state solution of Israel and Palestine living in peace.
He believes that the Iraq invasion was a mistake, that diplomacy should have been used instead of force, but the success of the surge by the heroic General Petraeus, the Islamist insurgents have been defeated and now the onus is on the United States and the international community to support the democratic Iraqi government recognised by the UN. The US can now withdraw its troops, without compromising the security of the strenghtening Iraqi democracy so that Iraqis can take charge of their new society and new dawn of freedom.
Meanwhile Al-Qaeda and the Taliban threaten the security of the world from their havens in Afghanistan and Pakistan and Obama is committed to their defeat as the international community is too.
The spread of nuclear arms is a crucial challenge to world peace and Obama is do everything he can to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons which would spark a regional arms race in the Middle East.
Obama is committed to the success of the Irish peace process, the close cultural, political and economic relationship between the United States and the Republic of Ireland is of great importance and indeed Obama's Irish heritage may mean a visit by the President in his first term.
Irish neutrality will be recognised and respected by the Obama administration just as it was respected and held in high regard by his predecessor.

by Rational Ecologist Thu Jan 22, 2009 13:20

The US is the only country to have dropped the bomb so is hardly in a position to dictate non-proliferation.
Shannon/Ireland has become a de facto US base.
Taliban was US sponsored during the Cold War.
911 was an ' inside job ' or at very least the accepted story is akin to a fairy tale.
Obama will not withdraw all the troops from Iraq. 30, 000 will be left there but not called troops.
Petraeus is a war criminal and a sociopath. Cannot take credit for Iraq. Should be arrested along with Blair, Bush et al.
America is a continent. You refer to the US, no doubt

by Obama's Skeptical Supporter Thu Jan 22, 2009 13:32

'Obama will not withdraw all the troops from Iraq. 30, 000 will be left there but not called troops.'

Obama always said there would be a 'residual force' - but combat troops will be withdrawn in 18 months or so. And, they will always be called troops - just not involved in combat operations.

by Edward Horgan - PANA Thu Jan 22, 2009 14:06

Change Has Come To America

Obama is indeed a symbol of hope and change not only for the United States, but for billions of people across the world.

the comments by "I love Obama" above are mainly accurate, except when it comes to the last sentence "Irish neutrality will be recognised and respected by the Obama administration just as it was respected and held in high regard by his predecessor."
I believe there is virtually no one in Ireland who genuinely believes that Barack Obama's predecessor, George W Bush respected Irish neutrality and held it in high esteem.
Pressure must be brought to bear now to ensure the abuse of Irish neutrality perpetrated by the Irish and US governments does not become a fait accomplii. Now is the time for change, not only in the United States but in Ireland also.
In the Irish times recently Timmy Dooley TD said he welcomed the revenue that US troops transiting Shannon airport brought to the region. This sort of comment has also been made by most mid West politicians over the past 6 years, including Willie O'Dea. What it means is that they don't care about the one million dead in Iraq and about the tens of thousands of dead in Afghanistan, as long as it means a few bucks for the workers and others at Shannon. This is blood money, 30 pieces of silver. Judas hanged himself over similar issues.
Do none of these individuals and politicians have any regard or regrets for any of the over 250,000 innocent children that have been killed in these wars, with Irish complicity?

I am a friend of the American people and cherish American democracy when it works, as it has recently with the election of Barack Obama. I am part American, son of an American citizen. However, I do not condone and will not remain silent on crimes against humanity committed by United States forces and their CIA agents, not on Irish complicity with these crimes against humanity.
Lets all make a final push to get US troops out of Shannon, and restore Irish neutrality, and also, lets hold those Irish politicians who made us all complicit in these crimes against so many children.
Please write to the papers on this issue and take part in protest at Shannon airport until we get US troops out of Shannon
Edward Horgan writing from
Capitol Hill in Washington DC

by barra Thu Jan 22, 2009 15:02

The US admin. needs war and repression to keeps "the sheep" in jobs. Its logical that in the short time (4 years ?) each administration's "puppet handlers" will be a lot more pragmatic in its approach (represses the masses....etc...), to sustain "power", while idealistic in its rhetoric rantings, that will never to put to reality.

The whole PR thing of a "black" "powerful" "liberal" saving the world (look how progressive we are ! ) is only a view point of us in the privileged part of the world, as we are bombarded in the media to form this opinion. While in the so called third world the sweat shops, and" repressive governments" will continue to serve their northern masters.

Its Empowering people to take more responsibility, and to manage their own lifes that will "change the world" in a meaningful ways, its a tough and hard slog, rather than looking for instant gravitation by "electing leaders, on the basis of how they portray and manufacture and image in the media.

Is was excellent to see a grassroots movements coming out to get obama elected!

by Seán Ryan Fri Jan 23, 2009 04:39

Mr. Obama has ordered the closure of the secret black sites, where kidnap victims are interrogated and tortured.

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/22/obama-to-cl...ites/

"President Obama on Thursday will order the closure of so-called black sites, where CIA and European security services have interrogated terrorist suspects, under executive orders dismantling much of the Bush administration's architecture for the war on terror, according to four individuals familiar with a draft executive order."

European security services? Now there's something that's not been put into the public domain before. All European countries have denied being party to the so-called "extraordinary rendition" project and have denied any knowledge regarding the existence of these secret black sites.

We need answers now, more than ever.

by redjade Fri Jan 23, 2009 09:19

'On your PANA website the are links to a Holocaust denier.
Larouche, to be exact. If you pander to that kind of muck...'

Sadly, after some googling I discovered that wolfhound is correct.

There is only one page (that I could find) that links to a LaRouche political group in the USA and refers to LaRouche publications that quotes Helga Zepp-LaRouche http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helga_Zepp-LaRouche (Lyndon LaRouche's german wife).

The excerpt quote on the PANA website refers to the militarisation of the EU and its integration with NATO - but contrary to what wolfhound would lead us to believe, PANA doesn't mention anything about denying Holocaust nor has PANA endorsed Lyndon LaRouche.

The LaRouchies are well known for duping individuals and groups into their own agenda. That's how Lyndon LaRouche stole all those credit cards from American retirees - which he eventually went to jail for.

by dunk Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:20

How do we change things?

“Now here we are in 2008. America finds itself looking to its blues people again to provide vision to a nation with the blues.That is a source of hope. Yet hope is no guarantee. Real hope is grounded in a particularly messy struggle and it can be betrayed by naïve projections of a better future that ignore the necessity of doing the real work. So what we are talking about is hope on a tightrope”.

So stated the dancing dude, Cornel West, on Democracy Now, about how he sees Obama´s taking office affects things
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/11/19/cornel_west_on_t...on_of
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xToBodULz8M
views on this side of things were previouslly voiced on imc-ie her
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/90696?comment_limit=0&c...44973

Perhaps the crux is:

AMY GOODMAN: Now that he is the state, how do people organize?

CORNEL WEST: Well, we use, in many ways, his own words. He says that he wants the bottoms up. That’s fine. We organize, we mobilize. We don’t look simply for a top down. The Clintonites have often been top down. It’s the bottom up. We organize, we mobilize. We consolidate our organizations. And in the end, of course, we may have to take to the streets. That’s how people’s power is expressed, but it’s expressed in a critical and, for me, in a loving way.

I do still support Brother Barack Obama gaining access to the White House, because he was the best that America could do at this particular moment in the midst of imperial occupation in Iraq, war in Afghanistan, financial Katrina, legacy of Katrina in New Orleans, wealth inequality, dilapidated housing in chocolate cities, disgraceful school systems, unacceptable levels of unemployment and underemployment, not enough access to healthcare for fellow citizens across race and region, not enough access to childcare. At this moment, the best America could do was Brother Barack Obama, liberal, centrist.

Will he govern like a progressive Lincoln? Will he triangulate like Clinton? Will he be an experimentalist like FDR? Those are the challenges. I hope he’s a progressive Lincoln. I plan to be—aspire to be the Frederick Douglasses against, to put pressure on him.

Related tune, played on DN! during the Obama election etc:

"Democracy is coming to the USA"

Leonard Cohen - Democracy [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OETwbVBPI1U
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Cohen

In "Democracy," Cohen, criticizes America but says he loves it: "I love the country but I can't stand the scene." Further, he criticizes the American public's lack of interest in politics and addiction to television: "I'm neither left or right/I'm just staying home tonight/getting lost in that hopeless little screen."

Related;
Obama and Martin Luther King, RTE´s related posts
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0119/uspolitics.html

It’s the bottom up. We organize, we mobilize. We consolidate our organizations. And in the end, of course, we may have to take to the streets.

Caption: Video Id: xToBodULz8M Type: Youtube Video
Embedded video Youtube Video

Caption: Video Id: OETwbVBPI1U Type: Youtube Video
Embedded video Youtube Video

by FSM believer Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:40

I think the people on this website have their priorities all wrong.

Where is your critisim of states like China , Russia , Cuba , Syria etc etc

by actlocal Fri Jan 23, 2009 13:31

Where is your critisim of states like China , Russia , Cuba , Syria etc etc

The story is about Irish Neutrality and the war on Terror.
It doesn't require any criticism of China, Russia, Cuba or Syria to be a balanced piece.
There is only one country bringing its troops and weapons through Shannon for war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
We are most definitely in the US sphere of interest, and that's the one we can have most effect on.
Go check an indymedia site closer to Georgia or Chechnya and you will find plenty of criticism of Russia.

by wolfhound Fri Jan 23, 2009 15:03

Sadly, Wolfhound was right. Boy oh boy.
Thanks for the "freedom of speech " and all that leftwing
principled stuff.

by Dunk Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:02 fuspey at yahoo dot co dot uk

It is clear that a momentous change of feeling, hope, belief has been unleashed in the US, and further beyond, but it takes far more work to realise dreams...BUT, they can be realised!

I have my doubts about how much is possible, BUT, I do think that huge change is possible. A common criticism of the Irish, is that we are too cynical, dont try things enough, dont believe that a dream is possible. This is part of own of my own reasons for leaving, but not only that. The criticism of Obama is perhaps unfair, maybe he might not achieve his goals, his dreams. This will surely be the reality if he is to do it alone. But it might not be the reality if the swell of human empowerment, positivity, boldness of thinking, keeps on growing and all together take action to realise change. From listening and reading much of the US activists and supporters of Obama, both long term, famous, new, young... It is clear that many many people, perhaps the most in a long long time in the US, are buzzed and really do feel that it is possible.

For a few years one of the main faults I found lacking from the Irish, and somewhat beyond, movements were that there was a lack of belief that things could change. Micheal Albert, founder of Z mag and long term activist since vietnam days in US, talked about "fighting the good fight", which was the idea that people go out to "do political stuff" like F15 march pre war in Iraq, but without the critical belief they can win, or without the ideas of organising to take action to realise that dream... Imagination is key to this, and the idea of HOPE. I think thats what Obama has opened and unleashed, and before continuing to click, click, click and criticise. I think it might be better to explore these themes and from that take necessary action.

As Cornel West pointed out:
It’s the bottom up. We organize, we mobilize. We consolidate our organizations. And in the end, of course, we may have to take to the streets. That’s how people’s power is expressed, but it’s expressed in a critical and, for me, in a loving way.

I´ll finish with adding a reminder that was celebrated for what it was, the reality that boldness of dreaming and the neccessary work needed to realise the dream, can get results...

Last night in Barcelona, on canal 3, they showed the film Ali, followed by an excellent documentary about the peaceful revolutionary Martin Luther King Jr, his dream has been realised...

Last Sunday, on the spot where Dr King gave his famous "I have a dream" speech, the world witnessed the "We are one" free event, to celebrate King and to celebrate 2 days later Barack Obama becoming the 44th president of the USA: The Obama Inaugural Celebration Concert. 4 of the invited guests were, as they stated, 4 irish boys from the northside of dublin, who in their own way took and have carried on Kings powerful and simple message...

This event needs to be celebrated and built on, for without that, Change wont come. But many do feel change is coming....

"On this spot where we are standing, 46 years ago, Dr King had a dream, on tuesday that dream comes to pass..

Let freedom ring, Let freedom ring, Let freedom ring...

One man came in the name of love...

Pride in the name of love...

Not just an American dream, also an Irish dream, a European dream, an African dream, an Israeli dream, BUT also...
a Palestinian dream

Let freedom ring, Let freedom ring, Let freedom ring...

U2 - "Pride (In the Name of Love)" to Dr. King - The Obama Inaugural Celebration Concert
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ1t06Ytp1E

Pride (In the Name of Love)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_(In_the_Name_of_Love)

After singing their anthem to Martin Luther King, Bono, of U2 stated:

What a thrill, for 4 irish boys, from the northside of dublin, to honour you sir, the next president of the united states, barak obama, for choosing this song to being part of a soundtrack for your campaign, and more besides....

And from that, the 46 year old origins of that dream:

Martin Luther King "I have a dream"
Delivered 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

...And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Martin Luther King "I have a dream"
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
Martin Luther King "I have a dream"
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk
Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King

Democracy Now feature:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929-1968

Today is Martin Luther King Day. He was born 80 years ago, on January 15th, 1929. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was just thirty-nine years old.
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/1/19/dr_martin_luther_..._1929

Related infos and vids about the "We are one" concert...

Denzel Washington Kicks Off "We Are One"
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=qUu377fdqp0

Samuel L Jackson speech, Obama We Are One Inaugural Celebration (Watch in high quality)
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=E0nPhbz3Mh8

Obama's "We Are One" Speech
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv1khqkR8Vo

We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_One:_The_Obama_Inau...orial

President (then elect) Barack Obamas address at Lincoln Memorial, critical sections...

What gives me that hope is what I see when I look out across this mall. For in these monuments are chiseled those unlikely stories that affirm our unyielding faith -- a faith that anything is possible in America. Rising before us stands a memorial to a man who led a small band of farmers and shopkeepers in revolution against the army of an empire, all for the sake of an idea.

Directly in front of us is a pool that still reflects the dream of a King, and the glory of a people who marched and bled so that their children might be judged by their character's content. And behind me, watching over the Union he saved, sits the man who in so many ways made this day possible.

It is you -- Americans of every race and region and station who came here because you believe in what this country can be and because you want to help us get there.

We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial was a public celebration of the then forth-coming inauguration of President Barack Obama at the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on January 18, 2009.

By some estimates the attendance was over 400,000.
Performers included Bruce Springsteen, U2, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder, Shakira, Beyoncé, Garth Brooks, Pete Seeger, and late entry Jon Bon Jovi. Speakers included Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, and Jamie Foxx.

The concert was free and HBO broadcast it on an open feed, meaning anyone in the US with cable television could watch it. The Associated Press called it a “near-flawless production with multiple camera angles and a majestic backdrop in the giant statue of Abraham Lincoln.” The concert was broadcast around the world.

Obama’s Lincoln Memorial Speech
http://www.rollingstone.com/nationalaffairs/index.php/2...eech/

We shall overcome,
We shall overcome,
someday...

Martin Luther King : I have a dream...

Caption: Video Id: uZ1t06Ytp1E Type: Youtube Video
Embedded video Youtube Video

Caption: Video Id: PbUtL_0vAJk Type: Youtube Video
Embedded video Youtube Video

by Dunk Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:18

It was a bit hard to find details about that documentary film screened last night in BCN, but here they are now:

KING- Leader Preacher Dreamer Revolutionary Man
2 hour doc made by the history channel, presented by Tom Brokaw
http://www.history.com/minisites/king

review: http://www.chud.com/articles/articles/15296/1/DVD-REVIE....html

KING- Leader Preacher Dreamer Revolutionary Man,Trailer
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=anz0kPf_OEQ

KING- Leader Preacher Dreamer Revolutionary Man

Caption: Video Id: anz0kPf_OEQ Type: Youtube Video
Embedded video Youtube Video

by redjade Sun Jan 25, 2009 20:38

If you read Ed's letter (all the way to the top of this mess!) he talks about his connections to American politicians in the Senate and House of Representatives that were trying to help him come to the US of A.

Recently, a new American Jewish Political Action Committee/Lobbying group has been formed in the USA to counter AIPAC called J-Street - see: http://www.jstreet.org/

And even more recently there is an effort to reward American politicians with donations that have stood up to AIPAC....

from Juan Cole:

''For Democratic congressional representatives, at least, there is now a web site where American voters can give campaign support to those who declined to jump through AIPAC's hoops and did not assent to a resolution, the purpose of which was to garner support for this dirty war.''

• more at http://www.juancole.com/2009/01/gaza-war-hunh-what-was-....html

'All of the people of the Holy Land need to live in peace and security. We need to support and elect candidates that are willing to stand up for the rights of the citizens of Israel and Palestine. These candidates support measures to stop violence, increase economic and humanitarian aid, actively engage in negotiation, and promote co-existence among these two Peoples.'
• €uros not accepted, sorry.... http://www.actblue.com/page/adreamofpeace

So, why not organise a transatlantic PAC/Lobbying group to educate the US Congress and the new Obama Administration about the issue of Irish Neutrality and so on?

I am not naive to think this alone will solve the issue - but these are new times and new possibilities are now possible!

by Edward Mon Jan 26, 2009 20:23

The ideas expressed above by Redjade are well worth pursuing.

The limited issue of Irish neutrality however should not be the main focus. Irish neutrality is only of value if it achieves genuine progress towards international peace, and this must be positive neutrality rather than just the sort of neutrality that entails standing idly by.
I suggest that we should call this committee, the Irish/US International Peace Committee. Respecting and restoring Irish neutrality should be included among the objectives of this committee, but transformation of the United Nations and reinforcing of international law should be the main objectives.
Anyone, on either side of the Atlantic who is interested in pursuing these issues should contact me at [email protected]

by Mackenzie Tue Jan 27, 2009 09:26

How can United States President Barack Obama hope to make any significant progress regarding human rights issues (including unlawful wars) if he continues to walk hand-in-hand with the Fed down the road of the Federal Reserve System?

Invisible Enemy, Federal Reserve, Global War:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Invisible+Enemy%2C...earch

Related Link: http://www.humanrightsireland.com/

by MK Sun Apr 26, 2009 20:49

Clive Stafford Smith http://www.reprieve.org.uk/Looking_backwards.htm

"Obama tells the world that we should “look forward, not backwards.” It is not the fault of the CIA agents, the argument goes, that they followed the law as the White House lawyers described it they were just doing as they were told, and we should not hound them now. First, we learned about the torture memos. This week we discovered that waterboarding was not used in the very limited way that had previously been suggested; it was used at least 266 times, including 183 times in just one month on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed alone. Can you imagine? Pushing him ever closer to drowning, 183 times in 30 days! Obama’s slogan is bizarre. How should the victim of torture feel when we tell him that we are going to look only forwards? We won’t admit what we did to him, and we won’t even say we’re sorry?"