Now we've pissed off the Irish?

[JackLuis]

The US Threatens Irish Neutrality

by Conn Hallinan

Email

“We declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible.”

–Proclamation of Easter Week 1916

The flashpoint for this is Shannon Airport, located in County Clare on Ireland’s west coast. Since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on Washington and New York, some 2.5 million U.S. troops have passed through the airport on their way to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. The Shannon hub has become so important to the U.S. that it hosts a permanent U.S. staff officer to direct traffic. It is, in the words of the peace organization Shannonwatch, “a US forward operating base.”

The airport has also been tied to dozens of CIA “rendition” flights, where prisoners seized in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan were shipped to various “black sites” in Europe, Asia, and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Irish peace activists and members of the Irish parliament, or Oireachtas Elreann, charge that an agreement between the Irish government and Washington to allow the transiting of troops and aircraft through Shannon not only violates Irish neutrality it violates international law.

The UN Security Council did not endorse the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq, making both conflicts technically illegal. Then UN General Secretary Kofi Annan said that the invasions “were not in conformity with the UN Charter. From our point of view, from the Charter’s point of view,” the invasions were “illegal.”

Ooopsie!

 

[Porkwarrior]

And how couldn't O'Hare in Chicago be any different? (except bumping up the numbers exponentially)

Oh shit, O'Hare, Irish name, YOU CAN BREAK THE STORY!
Yeah we're all ignoring you for a reason, I don't even care for Irish whiskey (too peaty). But I was looking for an excuse to post my fetish tonight.

Irish motorcycle road racing. So thank YOU!


https://youtu.be/19hveBpALmI

 

[Boxlicker101]

The US Threatens Irish Neutrality

by Conn Hallinan

Email

“We declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible.”

–Proclamation of Easter Week 1916




Quote:

The flashpoint for this is Shannon Airport, located in County Clare on Ireland’s west coast. Since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on Washington and New York, some 2.5 million U.S. troops have passed through the airport on their way to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. The Shannon hub has become so important to the U.S. that it hosts a permanent U.S. staff officer to direct traffic. It is, in the words of the peace organization Shannonwatch, “a US forward operating base.”

The airport has also been tied to dozens of CIA “rendition” flights, where prisoners seized in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan were shipped to various “black sites” in Europe, Asia, and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Irish peace activists and members of the Irish parliament, or Oireachtas Elreann, charge that an agreement between the Irish government and Washington to allow the transiting of troops and aircraft through Shannon not only violates Irish neutrality it violates international law.

Quote:

The UN Security Council did not endorse the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq, making both conflicts technically illegal. Then UN General Secretary Kofi Annan said that the invasions “were not in conformity with the UN Charter. From our point of view, from the Charter’s point of view,” the invasions were “illegal.”


Ooopsie!

Apparently, this is just a few peaceniks disagreeing with a treaty signed by the democratically elected gov. or the Republic of Ireland. It has nothing to do with the 1916 Easter Rebellion.

 

[1sickbastard]

There are more Irish in the US than there are in Ireland.

 

[JackLuis]

Apparently, this is just a few peaceniks disagreeing with a treaty signed by the democratically elected gov. or the Republic of Ireland. It has nothing to do with the 1916 Easter Rebellion.

Just a few peaceniks who have read the fucking law can be a real problem for the Establishment.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Just a few peaceniks who have read the fucking law can be a real problem for the Establishment.

What law is that? The UN cannot control how a sovereign nation controls its airports.

 

[Real_American21]

...

Tell those pussies to swallow a potato!

 

[oggbashan]

Just a few peaceniks who have read the fucking law can be a real problem for the Establishment.

The UK Court's decision on Brexit is an example. The ruling means that the UK Prime Minister and Cabinet cannot invoke Article 50 without it being voted on in Parliament.

It is a technical issue about the limitations of Executive versus Legislative Powers, not about Brexit itself.

The Irish situation is less obvious. Some people don't like some of the US's actions so they are protesting. Their protests are meaningless unless the Irish Government renegotiates its agreements with the US. It would take far more concern expressed by the Irish electorate for anything to happen.

The UK government has also expressed concern about Extraordinary Rendition but in a less confrontational manner. The UK government doesn't like it and would prefer that the US didn't do it, and certainly NOT on UK soil - but it will pretend it doesn't know because it supports the US as an ally. The Irish government behaves similarly - they don't want to know. The protestors are trying to get the Irish government to object formally. It won't happen.

Allies don't always agree but if they are allies, they support each other.

 

[JackLuis]

Expressing concern does not stop the violation of Irish and international law. If America expresses concern about Palestinian rights but still backs Israel what help do they give Palestine? IF Obama says he supports Native Rights, but still allows the DAPL to continue, is he for Native Rights or Corporate Greed?

If the Irish want to be neutral shouldn't they act on their principles?

 

[Hard_Rom]

If the Irish want to be neutral shouldn't they act on their principles?

And jeopardize trade and profits! What politician in the world will do that? Get literally hundreds of thousands marching through the streets and make international headlines, maybe!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland–NATO_relations

Ireland works with NATO. Read the bit about their air force.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

its better to piss on the Irish

 

[Boxlicker101]

And jeopardize trade and profits! What politician in the world will do that? Get literally hundreds of thousands marching through the streets and make international headlines, maybe!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland–NATO_relations

Ireland works with NATO. Read the bit about their air force.

What makes you think they want to be neutral in this matter? Some of them do, but is it a majority or just few dissidents?

 

[Hard_Rom]

What makes you think they want to be neutral in this matter? Some of them do, but is it a majority or just few dissidents?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_neutrality

I would suspect that due to Ireland's neutrality shown many times over it's history that it has the support of the people.

Ireland has virtually no arms industry and a tiny 10,000 man armed forces.

Sounds like a neutral and pacifist nation to me.

Considering history of long occupation by foreign power, long history of struggle for independence and history of terrorism, can't say I blame them.

 

[oggbashan]

Ireland may be neutral and wants to stay that way but it is not averse to providing minimal assistance to NATO forces such as allowing military aircraft to transit Irish airspace and to use Irish airfields for emergencies.

As neutral but a member of the EU they have some difficulty with the concept of an EU battle group.

They are not part of the non-aligned group but tend to be sympathetic to NATO. The Peace Agreement in Northern Ireland has made it easier for the Irish Government to be a "friendly" neutral.

Will Brexit make a difference? Who knows.

 

[DeYaKen]

Ireland may be neutral and wants to stay that way but it is not averse to providing minimal assistance to NATO forces such as allowing military aircraft to transit Irish airspace and to use Irish airfields for emergencies.

As neutral but a member of the EU they have some difficulty with the concept of an EU battle group.

They are not part of the non-aligned group but tend to be sympathetic to NATO. The Peace Agreement in Northern Ireland has made it easier for the Irish Government to be a "friendly" neutral.

Will Brexit make a difference? Who knows.

Therein lies the problem Ireland cannot maintain it's neutral stance and be a member of the EU since EU law takes precedence over Irish law.

As for NATO, does that still exist after yesterday's election?
If America will not necessarily come to the aid of other NATO countries, as the commander in chief (Elect) has stated, then what value does the treaty hold?
Will Brexit make a difference? Not a snowball's chance in hell. Britain will continue to pretend that it doesn't know what is happening and the US will continue to pretend that it has a cosy relationship with Britain.
Ireland will still be bound by EU law.

 

[colddiesel]

Ireland is small, unimportant, and broke. They will do as they are told. Law - International or otherwise has fuck all to do with it, the big boys push the tiddlers around.

 

[oggbashan]

Therein lies the problem Ireland cannot maintain it's neutral stance and be a member of the EU since EU law takes precedence over Irish law.

As for NATO, does that still exist after yesterday's election?
If America will not necessarily come to the aid of other NATO countries, as the commander in chief (Elect) has stated, then what value does the treaty hold?
Will Brexit make a difference? Not a snowball's chance in hell. Britain will continue to pretend that it doesn't know what is happening and the US will continue to pretend that it has a cosy relationship with Britain.
Ireland will still be bound by EU law.

Ireland has a provision in EU law that recognises its neutrality. They opted out of any military cooperation.