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anti-war / imperialism |
news report
Tuesday May 22, 2007 16:14
by Kieran O'Sullivan - IAWM
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Comments (20 of 20)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20thanks fior this kieran. Good work.
If a candidate does not sign a clear pledge of 100% opposition to Shannon then that candidate should not be backed. I'd even go as far as to say unless ALL in party sign pledge then don't back rest of 'anti-war' candidates in that party. For example, why vote for Michael D. Higgins when his vote will be used to elect Kenny as Taoiseach and Rabbitte as tánaiste? It would be interesting to get a list of all the indidividual candidates nonetheless so that we know more about who support what.
Is the full list of signers available anywhere online?
If these individual politicians adhere to their pledge and they get elected, they promiste not to go into government, that would be interesting enough, but if they stay out of govermment they wont be voting for their taoiseach and taniste.
If they hold their ground things should get interesting over th next few days.
Either way, the Irish constitution was violated, International law was violated and the UN was sidestepped.
Bertie said ......'I did all I could throughout to hold and uphold the UN position'.....
Blix said...we need more time, weeks not months.
Someday these people will be held accountable for their genocide.
did cowley refuse to sign or what?
A very useful exercise. I had thought that only Brid Smith, Joan Collins and Andrew McGuiness would sign in my constituency. However, it's great to see Aengus O'Snodaigh's name on the list as well.
There does however appear to be a typo on your spreadsheet under Dublin South Central. The WP candidate Andrew McGuiness is mentioned as having signed and not having signed the pledge. Perhaps the person who didn't sign is Green Party councillor Tony McDermott whose name is not on the list?
Very disappointing to note the lack of political conviction displayed by Labour's Mary Upton and Eric Byrne. I have never given SF a higher preference than either Labour or the Greens but will certainly do so this time around. Needless to say I shall not be voting for FF/FG/PD or the independent doctor who claims to care for children yet does not seem too bothered about children in Iraq.
Well done IAWM.
The list is available at http://irishantiwar.org just look at the center of the page and you will see links to the spreadsheet.
Or just click this http://irishantiwar.org/home2/election_2007_signatories...5.xls
The PANA/NGO Alliance/Anti- Bush Campaign/IAWM pledge, for that's what it is, has generated quite a lot of heat. All parties that have a notional anti-war/anti-use of Shannon position, both at the leadership but also membership level, had to grapple with the issue and a set of very interesting positions emerged - these will continue to set the tone in the days after Thursday when the jockeying for power will unfold:
In turn:
The discussion within the Green Party is very intense...during the IAWM Press Conference on Tuesday morning, over and above Patricia McKenna's unequivocal statement of an anti-war position, we were presented with a statement by John Gormley TD, who reiterated his party's straight anti-war position anf referred people to the Green Party Manifesto and Conference decisions. As far as the IAWM is concerned, this is a step forward, a slight differentiation from Trevor's position and something that will inevitably come up in the post-election discussions if the Greens are anywhere near governmental power. While we share most sentiments echoing a certain cynicism about politicians and their pre-election promises [see the parallel Indymedia thread on the Greens] , I believe that the situation in the Greens must be followed with utmost care and the 5 candidates who signed the pledge supported.
Within Sinn Fein, while the situation is much clearer, at least in apperance, the Party leadership and all its TDs and prospective candidates are professing an unambiguous anti-war/anti use of Shannon position. This, as some have argued, it may very well be an easy option for SF as they're unlikely to be involved in any power negotiations - at least not in the beginning. However, as SF is arguing consistently, as for example Mary Lou in Q&A last Monday night, that whatever Government emerges in the 26 Counties, would have to deal with SF IN GOVERNMENT in the 6 Counties, it was brought to our attention last night, in a packed meeting in DunLaoghaire, by one of the Raytheon 9 defendents (ex-member of Sinn Fein) that the party in Derry is refusing to take a stand against the Raytheon factory!! Another instance of saying one thing and doing another?
The Labour Party is in a big mess on this one -it was comical if not tragic watching Alex White, one of its most 'intellectual' proponents, pressed by Vincent Browne, trying to wiggle out of a clear statement of intent in the case of Rabbitte pulling the plug on the Shannon issue. MichaelD, Joe Costello and Broughan have signed the pledge - Gilmore and Upton refused - the situation is unclear from there on.
The Socialist Party and most of the progressive indepdendent are with us on this one......
To continue - watch this space
No, Cowardly Cowley-ff, hasnt signed his name to the list, even though he said he is against the war, in case you were interested MAYO MAN.
In Dublin N/central there is Finian McGrath-ind, and Bronwen Owens-gp. Who have Signed it
Did anyone ask Bartholomew Aherne for his name???, Does anyone remember his statement when the death toll only stood at 27,000.......eh....ahem.......eeer......I, I, I, I,......a, a, a, mm, ...aaaamm,...am d, d, dead , dead, dead against de, de, de, de, wo , wo, wo, wor...
Hi Paul
Re: your query - Both Finian McGrath (Ind) and Bronwen Maher (Green Party) in Dublin North Central signed the pledge. As you state, Mr Cowley did not!.
We asked the Taoiseach, we pestered him, and his office, finally, they asked us to talk to Dermot Ahern....in early April we got a letter from Ciaran Madden, Dermot Ahern's Private Secretary who wrote and I'm quoting verbatim and with no commentary:
".....The current situation in Iraq is indeed very difficult. Ireland is working with the international community, via the United Nations, to improve the situation. The presence of the Multinational Force in Iraq was authorised by UN SC Resolution 1511 of 16 October 2003 (and then a series of resolutions till Nov 28 2006).
With respect to the use by the US military of Shannon Airport, Ireland has been making overflight and landing facilities available to the US over a period of fifty years. Ireland has never withdrawn or suspended those facilities at any stage during that perioid."
And the letter concludes by stating that "Minister Ahern has supplied the European Parliamentary Committee with a detailed and thorough statement on the issue of extraordinary rendion".
Note the date of the UN resolution 1511 - 6 months after the invasion started. Note the 'multinationality' of the invading force. And most importantly please note that we facilitated the Empire during the Vietnam war too!! So, apparently, what excuse would we have not to facilitate them now!! As for rendition, the position is that Bush and Rice tolds us there were no prisoners transported and right do we have not to believe them?
At least they're not hiding the truth....
Did Gilmore definitely refuse outright, or just ignore the pledge? It's not clear from the spreadsheet...
Ah well, since I don't trust the Shinners one bit with this (or with anything else), I'll only be voting for Boyd Barrett in DL.
Gilmore referred us to the Labour manifesto - and ignored the pledge.
I support the pledge and if I was a candidate I would sign it, in the abscence of an AWI pledge. But you cant imply that people are pro-war because they wont sign the IAWM pledge.
Some people have serious issues with the IAWM. Its not the Anti War Movement in Ireland. Its just the SWP and a handful of others. Some are independent, some are puppets of the SWP.
Given the way the iAWM have behaved in Dun Laoire, organising an election rally for RBB, I'm not suprised that Gilmore refused to sign.
Dear Groucho,
72 prospective candidates, including members and standing TDs of the Labour Party signed the pledge, which, I repeat, was not just an IAWM but a PANA/NGO Alliance/Workers Party/anti-Bush Campaign pledge - of which Labour Youth is an affiliated organisation among others..
Secondly, in my message I said absolutely nothing about Gilmore's personal stance on the war and Shannon - pls read my statement above carefully. Only Eamonn himself, and perhaps his leader, know where they stand on these issues. Assumptions here are pointless. Political reality will tell us soon.
As to our 'behaviour' in organising a meeting with Cindy Sheehan and Ruhel Ahmed in Dunlaoghaire, over 180 people turned up and packed the hall. We started on time at 19.30 and at 22.00 the discussion was still continuing. Eleven people told us they had never been to an anti-war meeting before - who knows how many more did not own up - a whole number put their names down for further info, we distributed 300 (free) copies of our new Factfile and the collection was massive.
Had comrade Gilmore, or you, bothered to turn up you would have learnt a couple of things from Cindy and Ruhel and the meeting would have benefitted....you were obviously carrying out more important work last night. Pity.
I remember Patrick Mc Nulty (who I think is the chair of Labour Youth) saying at a debate at the Socialist Youth Summer Festival that the Labour Party would stop flights by the US military in Shannon Airport and it was a democratic organisation (unlike the evil Leninists in the Socialist Party!). I think the above quote from PR on Pat Kenny and the motion which I got from the Labour Youth website (which has now being completely ignored by the LP leadership) shows how he was hopelessly wrong on both counts.
I would be very interested to hear the response of LY members to this u-turn and how they plan to decisively challenge the LP leadership on it.
(http://www.labour.ie/youth/campaigns/index/200608241321....html)
''Making Shannon a priority issue for LabourLabour Youth proposed and got passed unanimously the following motion at Labour Party conference in 2005:
Shannon Airport
Conference notes the ongoing use of Shannon Airport as a U.S. military refueling base thus facilitating the continued maiming and murder of innocent human beings, particularly in Iraq.
Conference mandates the Labour Party negotiators and the National Executive after the next General Election to demand an immediate withdrawal of the U.S. military from Shannon Airport as an essential part of any Programme for Government that they would negotiate.
Proposing Branch : Labour Youth -
Addendum :
Conference further mandates the Labour Party when in government to safeguard the employment conditions of workers at Shannon Airport and ensure the future viability of the Airport.
Proposing Branch : Ennis, Clare (Clare)''
Just for clarification the Socialist Party has ruled out supporting either of the main coalition blocks due to the fact that they all represent the interests of big business and property developers. The fact that they will continue to allow the use of Shannon Airport is simply an expression of this fact.
I think its been obvious for some time that there is a difference between LY and the the LP on a few issues. Its been pointed out before re Shannon, I wouldn't be so keen to keep repeating the same thing, LY members have a good record in a whole list of campaigns. People have to find things out for themselves to some extent.
Anyway, what chance of Mick Murphy being elected?
Also are there any circumstances in which the SP would vote for Enda Kenny as Taoiseach?
This was a waste of energy. All the people you'd expect to sign, signed; those that were never going to sign, didn't. A tremendous waste of energy, all designed to focus anti-war activists on the election and RBB's campaign in particular. MichaelY thinks this pledge caused waves - spare us! The media never noticed it and the politicians ignored it. Lobbying politicians is a complete waste of time.
but this documentary on thursday night (21:00 bbc2) may be of interest regarding rendition flights. Might be more interesting than watching election bollocks too!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/this_world/668198...3.stm
Hardly a waste of energy, I'd say. It's there now in writing, so if the Greens or Labour TDs who signed the pledge do end up a Govt that will almost certainly continue the current policy, they'll have some explaining to do.
Who knows? Maybe the likes of Michael D. will have to walk out of the coalition and the party? Breaking the new coalition before it even has a chance to start, as almost happened in Italy over the NATO base a few months ago....
Alright, maybe I'm getting a bit carried away with that...
Dear m.
You're right on the bullseye stating that lots of energy has been spent.....you're slightly off centre when you only mention RBB (as usual - if only Richard had as much brand recognition in the larger public as he has within 'certain' circles) and you omit Joan Collins', Rory Hearn's, Patricia McKenna's, Finian McGrath's, Claire Daly's, Browyn Maher's, Catherine Connolly's campaigns.....further, you're completely off the point when you disregard the effect of that energy being spent on the thousands upon thousands of good people who had an opportunity to meet face-to-face, discuss, argue with, read leaflets from, shake hands with ordinary anti-war activists working door-to-door, canvassing, leafletting, postering....yes, masses of energy spent but with a clear objective: trying to (re) build a mass movement....to use SP language 'working on the ground'. Because it's only such a movement that would have enough energy to topple the criminal cabal that's been running this gig for the last 10 years. As it happened in Italy, and Spain.....and destroyed Blair! That mass movement that is pushing Bush to the ropes in the heart of the Empire itself.
Finally, I wouldn't mind being enlightened by you dear friend of where exactly you, and your mates, spent your energy during the last few weeks. Please tell. In plain language so that all of us energy wasters could understand and learn from.
PS In case you're wondering we will all be cheering for Milan and Kaka and Nesta tonight. What about you?