Posted on 06/25/2004 2:23:18 PM PDT by The Bandit
ENNIS, Ireland President George W. Bush was set to arrive at the heavily guarded Dromoland Castle in County Clare on Friday night as the authorities braced for what were expected to be large demonstrations across Ireland against the U.S. occupation of Iraq.In contrast to the jubilant welcomes accorded to Presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy, Bush's reception was already developing as frosty, if not outright hostile. Widespread opposition to the Iraq war and revulsion at the Abu Ghraib prison scandal have turned a large portion of Irish popular opinion against him.
Big protests were expected in Dublin and in Shannon, where Air Force One was to land before Bush headed to the EU-U.S. summit at Dromoland Castle. Smaller protests were expected for the cities of Galway, Sligo, Waterford and Tralee in County Kerry.
"Fury and fear as town is turned into a fortress," said the headline in the Irish Examiner. The newspaper quoted the mayor of Shannon as saying that the town's residents were being made into potential targets for a terrorist attack.
Mary O'Rourke, leader of the Irish Senate, refused to attend a recent dinner in celebration of Bush's impending visit at the home of the American ambassador, James Kenny, out of objections to American prison policy at Guantánamo Bay and Abu Ghraib, and for going to war with Iraq, she said. . "Nobody denies we have an affinity with the United States, but that is a different matter from having an affinity with the president," O'Rourke said in the Irish Parliament this week.
But the centrist Irish Independent said in an editorial Friday that while Bush's trip would be the equivalent for the protesters of "a visit from the Devil Incarnate," the demonstrations "seem a bit out of touch."
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
The "Troubles" are the result of King Billy (Protestant) kicking King James' (Catholic) a___ in 1690 and still it goes on...and on....and on....
Oh how I would love to be in Belfast on July 12th!!!
"Who are you to be ashamed of a family that might had to escape that country for their very sole existence?"
Not that I'm ashamed or anything, but my German ancestors came to America to avoid conscription.
I suppose that it the true meaning of "sole existence".
Excuse me????
Over here we call it the "blue states" and the "red states", and my cat.
The Irish - at least those who must define themselves as 'the irish' - might want to get a communal cat as role model.
Sad though, to think of how many of the NYPD and NYPD who died a hero's death on 9/11 were Irish.
Just goes to show that all you need to be to show up on the media, is to hate America.
Er....
1804.....
Who whold have fought the "civil" war?
What would a bunch of colonial yahoos have been able to do to rescue erin for the erinish?
Ireland tried at being saved by germany when the world went to war(s) over (relative) freedom versus dominance by a central government ..... germany ignored them.
Stick with the nail bombs and horse killings, go with what you're good at.
Oh, yeah, try as you might you failed to tell me what you owe to Jessie Jackson et al......I need a hard number so I can take out a loan for my share....and whiz it away on a Harley.
I rest your case.
Trust is something one earns; what is it that you think you have not earned?
You are full of ___p. Must be the cat thing. What does America/Bush have to do with the English?
BTW norton, this is one GWB supporter that don't like being called an Neanderthal - save the insults for those that deserve them.
Not only that .. she was rude, continually interrupted him, and that's just disrespectful to the President of the United States; regardless of whether you agree with his politics.
Maybe bush should stay home and tend to business here?
eff the EU
Ever heard of a little society called Bohemian Grove, Illuminati, Skull & Bones, or The Masons?
ouch
that was a good piece of pie for the crows to eat!
Sorry norton, this comment should have been directed to datura ;)
"Is it really all about terrorism, or is about owning a piece of land that surrounds one side of Israel. And a major supply of oil!?"
Now I've got it, the Irish are pissed because it's about oil! DU-city!
We shall remember.
Should've added check a map, Iraq doesn't border Israel.
"Ever heard of a little society called Bohemian Grove, Illuminati, Skull & Bones, or The Masons?"
Yes...so? Sheesh.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.