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A Letter Asking President Barack Obama to Respect Irish Neutrality
 international |
crime and justice |
feature
 Thursday January 22, 2009 18:18 by Edward Horgan - Peace and Neutrality Alliance edward_horgan at hotmail dot com
End transit of US troops, munitions and CIA rendition planes through Shannon airport
A New Strategy for the
Irish Anti-War Movement?
(upper and lower case.)
The Irish Peace and Neutrality Alliance has called on the newly inaugurated 44th President of the United States to respect international law with regard to Irish neutrality by taking steps to terminate the transit through Shannon airport of US troops, military material and CIA associated aircraft engaged in extraordinary rendition with immediate effect.
I was invited to Washington by the Cape Cod support group for Barack Obama, and through the good offices of Congressman William Delahunt of Massachusetts, to attend the celebrations surrounding the inauguration of Barack Obama as 44th President of the United States. Given the historic change of direction that this President is likely to initiate in many policy areas especially in the area of international peace, I decided to accept this invitation. However, my initial attempts to enter the US were frustrated by the US Homeland Security Department, who refused me permission to enter the US under the electronic system now being enforced since 12 Jan 2009.
While I received no explanation for this refusal, it became clear later that I am on a special list in Homeland Security due to my peace activist activities, particularly the fact that I played a role in exposing the CIA torture rendition programme that includes the use of Shannon airport by CIA rendition planes. I then had to apply for a visa, which is an expensive process, involving a visa application fee of €104, which in non-returnable even if the a visa is refused, and also requires a visit to the US embassy in Dublin for an interview. Even this visa application was initially unsuccessful as the US embassy in Dublin could not issue the visa on their own authority and had to refer the matter to the US State Department in Washington.....
Related Links:
• Irish Peace and Neutrality Alliance - PANA.ie
• Damian Moran Deported from the USA, April 2008 - here, here, and here.
• ShannonWatch.org planespotter website
shutdown by DDoS Attack
• Amnesty International, Ireland and Dublin's Catholic Worker marked GTMO's 7th Anniversary.
• Amnesty International 'welcomes' Obama executive order to shutdown the Guantánamo Gulag.
I had already purchased my tickets with Aer Lingus as prices would have been prohibitive if I left it too late.
I was due to travel on Sunday 18th Jan, and no progress was made in spite of representations by Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator John Kerry, and Congressman William Delahunt. The added weight of Minister John Gormley then led to representations to the US embassy by the Department of Foreign Affairs, and eventually I got word that my visa was approved on Friday 16th Jan. This required further logistical juggling to get my passport from the US Embassy in Dublin to Limerick, but I eventually made my flight and got to Washington late on Sunday night.
The inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States was indeed the most historical and most moving event I have ever attended. Let's hope he lives up the very necessary expectations of real change that Americans and billions of others expect of him. Given the damage his predecessor President George W Bush has done to the reputation of the United States, and the rear physical damage and trauma, including war crimes and crimes against humanity the Bush Administration has presided over, the tasks facing President Barack Obama are huge.
From an Irish context, the Irish Government has been complicit in the crimes of the Bush regime, especially those committed in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the abuses of the UN Convention against torture.
I have written the following letter to President Barack Obama urging him to end the abuse of international law and Irish neutrality by US military use of Shannon airport .
To: Senator Barack Obama, President-Elect of the United States of America
Date: 18th January 2009
Subject: Irish neutrality and compliance with international law
Dear Mr President-Elect
Congratulations on your historic achievements so far, and best wishes on your inauguration as President of the United States. I write to you as a friend of the United States and a supporter of your ideals concerning the changes that are needed in national and international affairs. The deep friendship and solidarity that has existed for many generations between the people of the United States and the people of Ireland is based not just on kinship, but is also to a very significant degree based on values. Republican democracy, respect for the rule of law and genuine humanitarian priorities are at the core of these shared values.
For reasons of history as well as relative size and resources the Republic of Ireland has taken a different course to the United States towards the achievement of these core values. Active support for international organisations, including the League of Nations and the United Nations, and promoting sustainable peace and development have been cornerstones of Irish foreign policy. Positive neutrality has been an essential part of this successful strategy that has enabled such a small country to play a substantial role in international peace and development.
Since 20th March 2003, this policy and practice has been critically damaged due to the transit through Shannon airport in Ireland of over one million armed US troops, large amounts of military material, and aircraft engaged in the extraordinary rendition programme whereby prisoners were transported to Guantanamo and elsewhere, where many of them were tortured. Your decision to close Guantanamo Bay prison and to take steps to ensure that the outlawed practice of torture is no longer authorised by the US Government is very welcome, and demonstrates your respect for international law. However, it is essential also that steps are taken to ensure that torture is not carried out elsewhere in secret foreign prisons and prison ships, at the behest of officials or agencies of the United States.
In April 2003 the Irish High Court ruled that the transit of armed US troops through Shannon airport was in breach of international laws on neutrality (Judge Kearns in Horgan v Ireland). In the spirit of hope and “change we can believe in” that you have inspired throughout the world, I request that as soon as you become President of the United States you will take steps to terminate the transit through Shannon airport of US troops, military material and CIA-associated aircraft engaged in extraordinary rendition with immediate effect.
As a former military logistics officer and United Nations peacekeeper, I can confirm that there are no valid logistical reasons for the US military to use Shannon airport given the multitude of NATO airbases in the UK and elsewhere. If the abuse of Irish neutrality at Shannon airport continues, then the friendship and good relationships between the peoples of Ireland and the United States could be irreparably damaged. Humanity waits in anticipation in the hope that you will restore the leading role that the United States has held in respecting and enhancing international jurisprudence.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Edward Horgan,
International Secretary, Irish Peace and Neutrality Alliance,
Newtown, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland.
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Comments (17 of 17)
Jump To Comment: 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1Clive 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?"
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/
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 edward_horgan@hotmail.com
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:
'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!
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
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....
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:
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.
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...
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
Sadly, Wolfhound was right. Boy oh boy.
Thanks for the "freedom of speech " and all that leftwing
principled stuff.
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.
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
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
'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.
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.
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!
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
'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.
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
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.