US use of Shannon grows

[two gun sid]

From Republican News:
New figures have shown that more than 300,000 US troops had
passed through Shannon airport in the west of Ireland last year.

The figures show the use of the airport as a war base had doubled
in the past twelve months.

Meanwhile, the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights
has insisted CIA planes landing at the airport are searched for
abducted prisoners.

Labour Party president Michael D Higgins said the Irish public
were outraged at the figures.

http://republican-news.org/

If you do not have a sub to RN please use this link from the póg mo thóin blog.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/poguemahone7/5062.html

[mcscajun]

1. I noticed this last February when I passed through Shannon

on my way in and out of Ireland.

It was disconcerting, to say the least, to see all those US Troops in desert camouflage in the airport. They outnumbered the civilians, easily. And all so young...so very young. :(

Between the US troops all over and the US Immigration outpost inside the airport, it gave the impression of Ireland being an occupied territory. Ugh.

I expect to see the same, only more so, when I return next month.

[CountAllVotes]

2. check out this website (discusses Shannon etc.)

http://www.irishantiwar.org/index.adp

Kinda says it all on this site. It makes me personally ashamed as an Irish American to think that the USA is taking advantage of a neutral country in this way. They aren't liking this at all which in turn makes them not like us a whole lot either. A very sad situation on more than one level at the very least. :(

:kick:

[CountAllVotes]

3. I see their site has been updated

The above link I posted some time ago no longer works. However, www.irishantiwar.org does work. Now it shows this:

Wear a black shamrock to mourn the death of Irish neutrality
The Black Shamrock symbolises our mourning for all those who died as a result of Irish collaboration in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, for which the airports at Shannon, Aldergrove and Baldonnel have become pit-stops. It also symbolises our mourning for the loss of Irish Neutrality

and has a link here to: http://www.blackshamrock.org/

It seems with every day that passes, the hatred towards the USA is growing. I suppose that Ireland cannot be considered a "neutral" county given what is presented. I cannot say I disagree.

It saddens me greatly that it has come to this not only for Ireland but also for the USA. Are we still friends? I don't know what to think anymore after reading this. :(

:kick: