Support for war 'makes us terror target'

The Irish Government’s support for the war in Iraq is putting Dublin at risk of a terrorist attack, an Oireachtas Committee heard today.

Peace activists protesting at the use of Shannon Airport by US military planes said the capital could be a retaliation target by victims of the conflict.

The Mid West Alliance against the War today called on the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee to carry out a full investigation into the stop-over of CIA planes carrying terror suspects en route to alleged torture camps.

Spokesman Edward Horgan said: “The decision by the Irish Government to support the war being waged by the US puts the Irish people as a whole, and the people of Dublin city in particular, at risk of retaliation by those who perceive themselves to be the victims of the US-led war.

“The transit of very dangerous military cargoes and munitions through Shannon is also putting members of the public and Shannon airport employees at grave risk.”

Mr Horgan said that by assisting the US-led war in Iraq, Ireland was currently in breach of the UN Charter, the Hague Convention on Neutrality and the Geneva Conventions on War.

“The Irish Government has allowed 650,000 US armed troops in uniform to pass through Shannon Airport for the purposes of the Iraq War, and this has resulted in the unlawful killing of up to 100,000 Iraqi people.”

Senator Paschal Mooney said he found the Alliance’s arguments were one-sided and said the removal of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was a good thing.

He pointed out the 80% voter turnout in the recent democratic elections.

He disagreed with Labour Committee member Michael D Higgins who claimed there may have been political interference in decisions by the DPP in relation to complaints about activity at Shannon.

Mr Money added: “The people in America, particularly Irish Americans, would not understand if a troupe of gardaí was to go onto a plane at Shannon Airport without any specific evidence.”

He said he accepted assurances from the Irish and US governments that Shannon was not being used for rendition flights until there was evidence to the contrary.

He also said he would support a parliamentary investigation into rendition flights, similar to other European countries.

Seanad leader Mary O’Rourke said a Seanad Select Committee had been set up to inquire into the matter and report to the European Council.

“There have been incidents of which we would not be proud as a country. The democratic process benefits from people questioning things. We’re not all cloned dolly sheep bobbing our heads up and down.”

The US Ambassador has been invited to appear before the Committee, but Senator O’Rourke said she didn’t expect him to attend.

“I’ll give any money that he shan’t come because he won’t get permission from Washington. He’s an employee of the State Department and he takes his orders and does his job,” she said.

Greens chairman John Gormley said George Bush was a puppet of a neo-conservative troupe in the White House.

He added that the opposition of Irish people to US foreign policy didn’t make them anti-American.

“The war was based on a massive lie. The war is continuing with horrendous casualties, mostly the citizens of that country,” he said.

He claimed gardaí were infringing the civil liberties of peace activists at Shannon airport.

“In order to cow-tow to the US, the Garda Siochana is simply making up the law as they go along,” he said.

The Dublin TD added: “No US war plane should be landing in Shannon because of our tradition of neutrality. They should not be using Shannon as a military airport ... and treating the country like it is any other state of the US.”

Earlier Independent Senator David Norris claimed at the Oireachtas Committee that CIA planes were also landing at Baldonnel airport in West Dublin and the Defence Department was even sending fuel bills to CIA shadow companies in central Africa.

Mr Norris also branded US president George Bush and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice ’liars’ on the issue.

Mr Norris told the Committee: “There is now speculation that the CIA is using Baldonnel or these rendition flights and that the Department of Defence is sending bills for the fuel to CIA shadow companies at post office box numbers in Central Africa.

“This is the extent to which our involvement is mired further in this appalling filth.”

Mr Norris said Mr Bush and Ms Rice has misled the public on the rendition flights issue.

“George Bush and Condoleeza Rice are confirmed, consistent and deliberate liars. They have lied and we know this perfectly well.”