Anti-war rally targets Shannon

A SERIES of anti-war protests are planned around the country in the coming weeks against the use of Shannon Airport by US military aircraft for the possible war on Iraq.

The Irish Anti-War movement will gather outside the Department of Foreign Affairs on New Year’s Eve to mark the ending of Ireland’s one-year tenure on the UN Security Council.

Richard Boyd Barrett, chairman of the Irish Anti-War Movement, said the country has not lived up to the mandate on which we won the seat: “Ireland said it would be a voice for peace and neutrality at the council table, but we should honour that by not supporting this war.”

“It would be a logistic problem for the United States if they didn’t have Shannon as a stop-over for aircraft on the way to the mid-East,” said Mr Boyd Barrett.

A protest was held in Galway on Saturday to highlight anger at Shannon’s use as a refuelling point for the US military.

The airport itself will be the venue for a major national protest on January 18, followed by an anti-war rally in Dublin on February 15. Organisers expect 10,000 people to throng the capital on that day, chosen by the global anti-war movement to stage protests in all the major cities of the western world.

Mr Boyd Barrett said it is unclear, but quite possible, that the expected invasions on Iraq could well have begun by that date.

“It’s very difficult to interpret the signals from the Pentagon and the White House, but it could be sooner than we think.

“We’re certain there’s going to be a war,” said the anti-war campaigner, “the Americans are just looking for an excuse.”