Actors protest ‘plunder of Iraq’

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern was yesterday portrayed as the dormouse from Alice in Wonderland in criticism of the Government’s willingness to provide assistance for the US war on Iraq.

A group of actors staged an unusual, satirical rendition of the Lewis Carroll novel outside the Dáil, entitled Alice in Plunderland to highlight how US and British companies stand to benefit economically from the war.

The demonstration was organised by the justice and peace group, Action from Ireland otherwise known as Afri in protest at what it claims is the plunder of Iraq following the onslaught of death and deconstruction of its people.

Afri, whose patron is Archbishop Desmond Tutu, is particularly angered at the awarding of multi-billion dollar reconstruction contracts to US companies with strong links to the Bush administration.

One firm, Bechtel, has won an initial contract worth up to €620m to rebuild important infrastructure in Iraq without an open competition being held.

Bechtel has strong links with senior Republican Party figures including George Schultz and Casper Weinberger.

"The new phase sees oil companies and construction companies rub their hands at the prospect of making millions of dollars in profit from the task of rebuilding all that was destroyed by cluster-bombs, MOAB bombs and other weapons of mass destruction," said Afri co-ordinator Joe Murray.

He also described the Irish Government's position as "shameful", which was why Afri included the Taoiseach in the mock sketch.

"Bertie's contribution of Shannon Airport to the prosecution of the war merits him a shameful place at the Mad Hatter's tea party in Plunderland," said Mr Murray.

"Bertie Dormouse sits in slumber, waking only to agree with everyone," he said.

Other characters included a Mad Hatter which resembled Uncle Sam and a March Hare in the guise of Tony Blair.