Paying The Blood Price

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday October 05, 2002 19:03 by Rebel - Anarchist Federation (Ireland) contact at afireland dot cjb dot net http://www.afireland.cjb.net

Paying the Blood Price BETWEEN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR and June of this, an average of 6 American war planes a day have re-fuelled in Shannon airport. This is because they can carry more weapons, troops, and supplies if they stop in Ireland, than in Britain, as that way, being a shorter journey, they need less fuel. Protest On August 17th a 70 strong group of protesters defied police orders to stay outside the airport, and by mere fact of entering caused a warplane to leave without refuelling. On August 31st there was a 24 hour women’s peace camp outside the airport, with an information stall in Shannon town itself which got a good reception. On September 1st there was a small picket outside the main terminal building.On the night of September 3rd activists got onto the runway and spray painted a warplane. A national demonstration at Shannon airport has been

called for October 12th. See local posters or www.indymedia.ie for further details. In August two American warships carrying ammunition to the Middle East were due to stop over in Cork Harbour, but this visit was cancelled because of planned protests.

Arms Trade

At least 14 companies with operations based in the Republic of Ireland are involved in the international arms trade. Each one has to get export licenses from the government. Furthermore some them get IDA subsidies. Moog, a U.S. arms corporation with a plant in Cork, got a IR£4.4 million grant from the government. In Ireland this company makes parts for tanks and anti-aircraft guns (including ones which have been sold to the genocidal Indonesian military). It’s main business worldwide is in the production of parts for bombers and missile systems.

PFP

In it’s previous term in office Fianna Fail brought the Irish state into the NATO led Partnership for Peace (P.F.P.). The P.F.P. is described in U.S. military documents as part of an “engagement strategy” which “serves to enhance both sides capability for successfully making the transition to war and participating in initial stages of combat in any future conflicts.Through the P.F.P. the Irish army participated in NATO military exercises in Poland in the spring of this year.

Nice

In the Nice Treaty it is planned that the E.U. will take over the functions of the W.E.U., which is the European based arm of NATO. It will be in command of the Rapid Reaction Force, a European Army with 65,000 troops (plus 200,000 in reserve), and aircraft carriers, combat jets and submarines.Through the E.U.’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, a common front on international affairs from all E.U. governments, the Irish Government lent diplomatic and practical support to the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia (3,000 dead), to the Anglo- American bombing of Afghanistan (9,000 dead) and to the government side in Columbia’s civil war -3,500 dead per year.

From Resistance#16, now available in text and PDF format at our website.