Posted on 03/18/2006 9:03:01 AM PST by WatchingInAmazement
WASHINGTON — Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern gave President Bush a bowl of shamrocks Friday and then asked the president for more "transparency" about CIA flights over Europe.
Ahern said he asked Bush if there was a way to bring more "transparency" to the issue of rendition. The European Union is investigating allegations that CIA agents interrogated al-Qaida suspects at secret prisons in Europe and transported some on secret flights that passed through Europe.
Ahern said that while Ireland facilitates U.S. troop movements and is "happy to do it," there is public concern over the CIA flights.
The prime minister gave the president a glass bowl of shamrocks, a symbol of warm U.S. relations.
"The Census Bureau tells us there are more than 34 million Americans that claim Irish ancestry," Bush said. "On St. Patrick's Day, I suspect that number jumps a little bit."
Ahern said he expressed support for immigration legislation that would benefit the 25,000 to 70,000 illegal Irish immigrants in the United States.
Ahern said he backed a proposal that would let illegal immigrants apply for legal status after paying back taxes and working in the United States for six years.
In New York, meanwhile, protesters joined bagpipers, marching bands and thousands of spectators at the St. Patrick's Day parade after the parade's chairman compared gay Irish-American activists to neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan and prostitutes.
The chairman, John Dunleavy, sidestepped questions about his remarks to The Irish Times. "Today is St. Patrick's Day. We celebrate our faith and heritage, everything else is secondary."
Dunleavy triggered controversy this week when he told the newspaper: "If an Israeli group wants to march in New York, do you allow Neo-Nazis into their parade? If African Americans are marching in Harlem, do they have to let the Ku Klux Klan into their parade?"
Referring to the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization, Dunleavy said, "If we let the ILGO in, is it the Irish Prostitute Association next?"
On Thursday, Christine Quinn, the City Council's first openly gay leader, blasted Dunleavy for the comments. Quinn, who is Irish, declined to participate in the parade after organizers barred an Irish gay and lesbian group from marching under its own banner for a 16th straight year.
Ahern said he backed a proposal that would let illegal immigrants apply for legal status after paying back taxes and working in the United States for six years."
When we let Mexico decide our immigration policies it has allowed every country to make demands and expect us to open our doors for all illegals.
Dear Irish brethern, GO HOME.
More on this from CNN.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/17/ldt.01.html
aired 3/17/06
DOBBS: Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern is in Washington this St. Patrick's Day urging amnesty for Irish illegal aliens. The Irish government, like the Mexican government, now believes it has the right to influence U.S. immigration policy and apparently believes Irish illegal aliens in this country deserve special treatment.
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: St. Patrick's Day is a day for parades, and this year protests demanding amnesty for Irish illegal aliens in the United States.
BRIAN MCKENNA, IRISH ILLEGAL ALIEN: I am one of them, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How long have you been here?
MCKENNA: I've been here nine years now as a plumber. I'm working in the city, down in Manhattan here. So I feel it's very, very important that all of these people at this table here and myself, that we get a chance, the same as our grandfathers, our uncles and forefathers before us.
WIAN: Many are supporting a bill by two Irish heritage senators, John McCain and Ted Kennedy, that would grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens from all over the world.
CAROLINE LYNCH, IRISH ILLEGAL ALIEN: I am here. I'm a good person. I work very hard. And I contribute to this country. And that's why that I would not be here if this bill's not passed.
WIAN (on camera): There are about 50,000 to 70,000 Irish illegal aliens in the United States. That's a tiny fraction of the number who are here from Latin America and Asia. But the political influence of the Irish illegal alien lobby is much greater than their numbers.
NIALL O'DOWD, IRISH LOBBY FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM: And obviously, because we're Irish, we have a lot of Irish-American politicians, we have a lot of legislators. Before (INAUDIBLE) we were very pleasantly surprised.
WIAN (voice-over): Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern met with President Bush on St. Patrick's Day.
BERTIE AHERN, IRISH PRIME MINISTER: I would like to express the hope that a pact may be found to enable current Irish immigrants to legalize their status in the United States on a permanent basis.
WIAN: He's also met with congressional leaders. While the Irish lobbying effort might play well on Capitol Hill, critics don't expect widespread support.
IRA MEHLMAN, FED. FOR AMER. IMMIGRATION REFORM: I suspect that they are trying to flex their muscles in states where there are large numbers of Irish voters, but I don't think even Irish-American voters in those states are going to be swayed by amnesty for millions of illegal aliens, even if some of the beneficiaries happen to come from Ireland. (END VIDEOTAPE)
WIAN: Irish politicians say they're not asking for special privileges for Irish illegal aliens, only consideration for their long history in this country. The problem is, other ethnic groups can make the same claim -- Lou.
DOBBS: It's actually quite a problem, the idea that any group of people would ask for amnesty here. They violated the law, and straightforwardly, they have to be responsible for their actions.
Why would there be even on St. Patrick's Day, yet another ethnic holiday in which we seem to want to celebrate our differences more than our similarities and commonalties, why in the world should there even be an ear for this sort of thing?
WIAN: There shouldn't, Lou, but the desire and the strategy appears to be contagious. We've seen it happen over and over again with Vicente Fox's government in Mexico, and now we're seeing it from Ireland -- Lou.
DOBBS: And now, instead of using the language of choice for this broadcast, which is "illegal alien," rather than "undocumented worker," which is the language of choice for open border illegal alien activist support groups, the Irish prime minister comes up with "current immigrants."
They are all going to pick up this line.
Pretty soon Bush will make this speech.
| We are now one of the largest Just go to For years our nation has debated this change -- some have praised it and others have resented it. By nominating me, my party has made a choice to welcome the new America. As I speak, we are celebrating the success of democracy in George Bush from a campaign speech in Miami, August 2000. |
Here is an excerpt of a good critique of that speech:
In equating our intimate historic bonds to our mother country and to Canada with our ties to Mexico, W. shows a staggering ignorance of the civilizational facts of life. The reason we are so close to Britain and Canada is that we share with them a common historical culture, language, literature, and legal system, as well as similar standards of behavior, expectations of public officials, and so on. My Bush Epiphany By Lawrence Auster
Oooh boy - WAY too much information!
Gal With Green Baby Says She Was Raped By A Leprechaun:"He had his way with me, he did," says the attractive barmaid. "He got me drunk and slipped me his little green shamrock."
Round them up and send them back. Just a bunch of thugs who think they have the right to jump right in ahead of those who obey our law.
My Irish ancestors taught us it was rude to push into the front of the line. I agree, they need to go back to Ireland and come in the right way. These are not "refugees" needing asylum.
A ping to Bertie going to the White House.
Is that Jerry Adams?
Yes, it's a creepy pic, ain't it?
evil.
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