Regards, Ivan
Posted on 02/04/2003 3:43:46 PM PST by MadIvan
It has been confirmed that one of the largest carriers of US troops through Shannon airport is to cut back its flights severely.
World Airways is to cut back on its flights following the latest security breaches.
It is known that the civilian carriers used by the US military have been dismayed by the spotlight recent events have thrown on their operations.
World Airways is the second largest US charter carrier using Shannon for military transports flights.
The company has a $175 million contract with the Pentagon to move troops and equipment.
Shannon peace camp to be dismantled
Meanwhile a spokesperson for the Shannon peace camp has confirmed to RTE News that they are to dismantle the camp. The spokesperson said it will take them a day or two to dismantle all of the tents and caravans on the site.
She said that the decision had been taken because the camp had become a media circus and that they now wanted to focus attention on the other issues arising from the use of Shannon Airport by the US military.
She added that they would continue their opposition to the flights in different ways.
Aer Rianta is to seek an injunction in the High Court tomorrow restricting those at the Shannon peace camp from trespassing on airport property.
However this morning camp organisers said they would be resisting the bid to move them.
Spokesman Ed Horgan said they would be challenging Aer Rianta's claim that it owns the land on which they are camped.
Haass describes attacks as 'outrageous'
President Bush's Special envoy to the North, Richard Haass, has described the attacks on a US aircraft at Shannon as outrageous.
Following a meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, Mr Haass said he was satisfied that measures were now being taken which would allow US troops to continue using Shannon.
He said the United States valued the use of Shannon as one of the most effective ways of moving personnel and equipment around the globe.
Mr Haass stressed the importance of the use of Shannon for the build up of troops in the Gulf, and said he was satisfied that this could continue in safety thanks to measures being taken by the Irish Government.
The Ambassador also praised the Taoiseach and Minister Cowen for their diplomatic support in recent months.
Troops to be deployed at airport
The Minister for Defence, Michael Smith, has confirmed that 120 armed troops are to be deployed at Shannon Airport to support Gardaí in maintaining security.
However, Mr Smith denied that soldiers would be empowered to shoot at protesters causing damage to property.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr Smith said troops were entitled to protect themselves if their lives were at stake, but this did not extend to firing on people attacking property.
He said their task was to ensure that no-one breaks through the security lines to attack US planes.
The move follows the Garda Commissioner's request for Army back-up to protect the airport. The issue is likely to be raised in the Dáil this afternoon.
The US authorities, for their part, are not concealing their annoyance at two recent incidents, during which a US Navy plane was damaged.
Two incidents at Shannon
The Garda Commissioner, Pat Byrne, requested military assistance after two security breaches in less than a week by people protesting against the use of the airport by American forces.
In both incidents, damage was caused to the same US Navy aircraft.
In Dublin, the High Court will hear an application by Aer Rianta for an injunction to restrain protestors camping near the airport from going into it.
Last night five people were brought before Tulla District Court in County Clare, in connection with an incident earlier in the day in which a US Navy plane was damaged.
The five, Damian Moran (22), Ciaron O'Reilly (42), Nuin Dunlop (31), Karen Fallon (30), all with addresses at Rialto Cottages in Dublin, and 32-year-old Deirdre Clancy with an address at Castle Avenue in Clontarf, were remanded in custody.
Southampton protest by Greenpeace
Anti-war protesters broke into a military base in Southampton this morning and chained themselves to tanks and trucks awaiting transport to the Gulf.
Fourteen volunteers entered Marchwood Military Ports, Southampton, at 7.45am.
Regards, Ivan
What a load of claptrap. I imagine these wasters are moving on because the Irish army is being dispatched to Shannon with orders to shoot anyone attempting to breach security. The decision to pull the US military planes out of Shannon is regrettable. There is not a huge amount of support in the Shannon area for these lunatic peaceniks. And Aer Rianta will now be at the loss of €9m. I think Mary Kelly and her crew should be obliged to reimburse the airport authorities for their wanton vandalism too.
$500,000 worked off at $1 per hour is 500,000 hours of community service or 250 years of ditch digging and trash pickup. Sounds fair.
Did they attack a plane with hammers? I thought I heard that said today on the news.
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