US troops transit through Shannon airport
Civilian passenger numbers are still falling at Shannon airport which is now downgraded to Ireland's third airport after Dublin and Cork. Yet, there were four US troop carrying aircraft at Shannon at 9.30 am today Sept 15, and probably several more during this 24 hour period. These four planes carry at least a total of 1,000 armed troops and perhaps up to 1,200. Today’s total of US troops through Shannon airport may even exceed 2,000 troops.
Does anyone care anymore that Ireland is breaching international law by claiming to be a neutral state, yet allowing and profiting from the transit of US troops through Shannon, on their way to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? It is just a few days after the commemoration ceremonies for the 3,000 people killed in the USA on 9/11, when our Irish president said "we stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States". She made no mention then, or on any other occasion that I know of, about the hundreds of thousands killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001, as if 3,000 US citizens are so much more important than all those killed and maimed in the wars of revenge and wars of resources waged by the United States.
The aircraft at Shannon this morning were all OMNI Air International chartered flights carrying US troops. Two were old DC 10 aircraft and the other two were Boeing 767.
Ireland has given up much of its economic sovereignty to Europe and IMF, and we have abandoned our military and foreign policy sovereignty to the United States and NATO.
Its long past time to call a halt to Ireland's participation in torture and crimes against humanity.