Posted on 03/20/2003 10:11:23 PM PST by Incorrigible
By Pat Brosnan
[Dublin, Ireland] -- DESPITE the charade witnessed in the Dáil yesterday, Ireland officially supports the US-contrived war against Iraq, which was launched 24 hours ago.
Against the wishes of the overwhelming majority in this country, the “willing coalition” of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats decided that Ireland would aid and abet a unilateral war campaign which is totally illegal.
Because our Government is comprised largely of spineless, unscrupulous and unprincipled people, parliamentary democracy in Ireland died an inglorious death yesterday.
But ever since they were re-elected, we know that this Government is totally out of touch with the people.
It’s even gone beyond that. In the months since FF and the PDs conned their way back to power, their attitude has been one of sheer contempt towards every single issue that has arisen.
Whether it was the lies told about there being no plans for cuts, either secret or otherwise, to increased education costs and, more recently, the move to water down the Freedom of Information Act, what we have seen is a display of breathtaking arrogance from a Government that’s out of touch and out of control.
And what we saw yesterday in the Dáil was the ultimate in transparency, a word much abused by the current administration. The hypocrisy was utterly transparent.
The motion the Government put before the Dáil ran to numerous clauses, but the main controversy focused on the long-standing arrangements for overflight and landing of US aircraft in Ireland.
The Taoiseach claimed there is clear legal support for the view that their provision does not amount to active participation in a war.
That advice probably came from Britain’s Lord Chancellor who reassured the gullible Tony Blair with much the same answer about the legality of invading Iraq.
The simple truth is that it is illegal, once the invasion happened without the authority of the United Nations.
While the Opposition groups challenged that stance during the hours of Dáil debate, and put down their own amendments to the motion, they need not have bothered.
I doubt if there’s any person in the country who was not convinced that when Bertie Ahern met with George Bush in Washington for the St Patrick’s Day ceremony, a commitment was given about the continuing use of Shannon by the US military. Prior to the debate, anti-war campaigners had called for a free vote in the Dáil on the use of Shannon Airport by the US military.
So, too, did the chairman of the Catholic aid agency Trócaire Bishop John Kirby, who urged TDs to follow their consciences on this issue.
Acknowledging deeply held views on both sides of the debate, the bishop said the proceedings should reflect the moral and humanitarian principles which apply to a just war.
He also said that Trócaire would not accept money for its emergency work from either the US or British governments.
On ‘Morning Ireland’ yesterday, Foreign Minister Brian Cowen said that a free vote on the motion was not necessary. In one respect, he was right. Given that all Opposition groups were against the motion, a free vote would have given the Government TDs an embarrassing opportunity to vote according to their conscience.
First of all, that is not a state of mind they are used to.
Theirs is an ovine, or sheep-like, mentality, preferring to be rounded up and directed how to vote on any given issue.
When it became obvious that the Taoiseach would have to go through the motions of calling a Dáil debate, there were reports that some FF backbenchers might have problems supporting the use of Shannon to facilitate a war.
If that gave any hope to those who genuinely opposed US military use of Shannon, they were either very naive or have very short memories.
Not so long ago, when Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy announced he was doing away with the grants for first-time house purchasers, there was an outcry throughout the country.
So outraged were people that a group of FF backbenchers at a parliamentary party meeting threatened the Government with all kinds repercussions if it were not withdrawn.
It wasn’t, and all the conscience-stricken backbenchers marched into the Dáil and voted for it.
“Where are the Robin Cooks of this Government?,” asked John Gormley, chairman of the Green Party, in a reference to the resignation of the Leader of the House of Commons over the British government’s war stance.
“Is there anyone of principle in this Government who would stand up and be counted?”
I presume that was a rhetorical question.
The Taoiseach said that withdrawal of rights which had existed since 1955 would be a “hostile act” against the United States.
Apparently, he conveniently forgets the “hostile acts” carried out by his regime against his own people since being returned to power.
It is only his twisted logic which could facilitate the conclusion that the Cabinet’s decision was not a sign of support for the American-led war of aggression against Iraq.
It’s in rather the same vein of thinking which avers, before a general election, that there will be no cutbacks, either in secret or otherwise. Because Fianna Fáil say it’s right it has to be so and therefore almost four million people in the country have to be wrong.
Apart from Shannon, there is also the question of the use of Baldonnel.
In a reply to a Dáil question last Wednesday, the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, said there had been 22 landings of US air force military aircraft at Casement Aerodrome since September, 2001.
There is a mistaken impression abroad that if a person is against the US invasion of Iraq, he or she is automatically anti-American.
In the case of most people this is grossly untrue and I certainly believe that under normal circumstances the world is usually a safer place because of America’s power and influence.
However, by launching an attack against Iraq without the support of the UN, George Dubya Bush is elevating himself to a position where he is neither morally nor legally entitled to be.
Likewise, it is utter nonsense for the Irish Government on the one hand to purport to support the position of the UN, and then to allow Shannon be used to facilitate America’s pursuit of an unjust war.
By allowing the US military to use Shannon our Government is collaborating in plans to flout the legality of the UN whose aims and procedures it claims to uphold.
If, as Bertie Ahern maintains, it would be a “hostile act” towards America to withdraw the Shannon facilities, surely it is a hostile act towards Iraq to permit it.
All Opposition parties believe landing, refuelling and overflight rights should be withdrawn from the US, in the absence of a UN resolution authorising military action in Iraq. And so do the vast majority of the Irish people.
George Bush and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on St. Patrick's Day in the White House.
Well, I agree with one thing he says: "Because our Government [Ireland] is comprised largely of spineless, unscrupulous and unprincipled people"
The simple truth is that it is illegal, once the invasion happened without the authority of the United Nations.
Ha! Ha! Ha! Sucker.
Until this very moment, I have always been proud of my Irish heritage.
...Now I know why my grandfather totally cut off all ties to the land of his birth when he emigrated to the United States.
-Jay
What's left to boycott? Nothing's actually owned by the Irish anymore.
Jameson and Bushmills are already owned by the French. Murphy's is owned by the Dutch. And Guinness is part of Diageo, an English conglomerate.
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