Councilors defend us use of shannon
national |
miscellaneous |
news report 
Monday November 18, 2002 16:45
by joe o muircheartaigh - the clare champion
barrack street ennis co clare
0656828105
clare champion friday,november15th 2002
Shannon could be exposed as a terrorist target because of the antics of an individual who put details of a protest march against US aircraft refueling at the airport on the internet.
Shannon could be exposed as a terrorist target because of the antics of an individual who put details of a protest march against US aircraft refueling at the airport on the internet.
thia terrorist claim was levelled at the monthly meeting of Clare County Council this monday which say the use of U.S. military planes defended by councilors.
Support for what could yet be part of a U.S. war effort against Iraq came as some of those who have taken part in protest marches in Shannon were described as anarchists,
"I defend the right of people to demonstrate but a small minority of them are anarchists,"Fianna Fail repesentative Pat McMahon told the the County Council meeting.
Meanwhile,according to Fine Geals Tony Mulcahy"Shannon has been exposed as a terrorist target" because of the protestor who puts his airport"exploits on the website".
"this was grosslyirressponsible and there is a serious probability that it will create a danger to familes in the town,"added councilor Mulcahy.
Councilor Pat McMahondefened the right of the continued use of Shannon by the U.S. aircraft going through Shannon Airport."There is a long tradition of military aircraft going through Shannon Airport.During the Cold War military aircraft were going to and from Cuba.Somepeople can even remember American aircraft goingthrough as far back as 1949."
"Aircraft stopping at Shannon is a long-standing tradition.A vast majority of the demonstrators come from outside the midwest region and i repeat that a minority of them are anachists," added councilor McMahon.
"It is a well know fact that Shannon has been use in the past.Every side has used Shannon and the decision to allow the airpot to be used ultimately rests with the Department of Foreign affairs",said indepentant councilor Patrica McCarthy.
Comments (9 of 9)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9Anarchists are at least a large minority of the protestors!
Oh not not more Anarchists;-) I think we should all issue a counter press release stating many of the idiots making unresearched quotes on the use of Shannon are bumbling FF/FG politricksians
yes, a large minority of the protestors at shannon may have been anarchists, but what does the description 'anarchist' mean to a FF county councillor? crazed black-clad bomb carrying good for nothings, and to joe average, about the same. I used to call myself an anarchist, but by doing so I think I may have misrepresented myself due to peoples conception of the word anarchist, to most people the idea of anarchy is apocalyptic, not the sort of syndicalism or communism most anarchists have in mind. So I suppose we need a new name for ourselves eh?
council tony mulcahy,do u not think?do u not that its the use of warplanes that make shanno airport a target for terrorists?
councilor patricia macarthy,what "sides" have used shannon airport in the past? has Afganastan or Iraq used the airport in the past or do u think they will use it in to prepare for war against the U.S. do you?
On Saturday, 16 novembre 2002, protests were carried out all
over Italy following the arrests of over 20 anti-globalization
and union activists in southern Italy on charges of "subversive
association" and similar.
The demo in Rome set off with already well over 5,000 marchers,
to be joined by thousands more along the route which led to the
central square, Piazza Venezia, and on up Via del Corso as far
as the Parliament buildings.
There were banners and flags everywhere, as the "movement"
showed its ability to mobilize, even so shortly after the
long-planned demo in Florence, last week.
The theme of the demo in Rome centred on the magistracy's
attempts (clearly under orders from the policitians) to
criminalize the movement, treating its adherents as
"subversives". As a result, a popular slogan for banners and
ploacards was "we are all subversive!". Clearly many placards
contained calls for the release of the prisoners and in fact the
banner which led the march read " You can't hold the movement.
Free them all!"
Interestingly, the reaction of people not involved in the march
was to get on with their ordinary lives - shops remained open,
people walked along and crossed the streets without fear of the
thousands of "subversives" swarming around them!
By the time the march arrived at Piazza Venezia there were, at a
conservative estimate, approximately 20,000 participants,
probably more. Some estimates go as high as 50,000, but the
figure of 20/25,000 is more credible.
Access to Via del Corso (which leads to the parliament) was
closed off by ranks of police and their vehicles, as the march
was due to finish off in a small square around the corner. This
proved impossible as this square can hold only about 3-4,000.
Meanwhile Piazza Venezia was rapidly filled to bursting point,
but suddenly the police cordon dispersed, leaving Via del Corso
open for the throng. With the police backing off in front of
them, the marchers swept up Via del Corso, to the bemusement of
the Saturday-afternoon shoppers.
When the crowd finally reached the square in front of the
Government Buildings at Palazzo Chigi the cry "We are all
subversives!" rang out.
Not even here, on Via del Corso and surroundings, did the shops
shut up business - it would have been ridiculous - there was no
tension, there were no rioters, the government's attempt to
criminalize us just does not hold water, and people are starting
to realize that now. The devastating hordes ... oh yeah? Where?
Remember, this was all in the name of freedom. And freedom
brings joy, not pain; dancing, not crying; music, not police
sirens; sociability, not division.
I gave up with the word "anarchist". It seems to guarantee irrationality when you use it. I generally say "libertarian socialist", because it reduces the extent of the sort of antics shown above.
Those of you who are interested in couteracting Cllr McMahon's impressive ability to skew language should perhaps write to him or phone him. Be polite, kids.
Cllr. Pat McMahon
Address: Ennis Rd., Newmarket on Fergus, Co. Clare
Telephone: 061 – 368193 / 061 - 368683
Political Party: Fianna Fail
I think its some cheek of the cllr to try an push the blame of shannon as being a possible target on to the shoulders of the protesters...If he actually thought about it he would see that its the Irish gov's fault seein that they have the audacity to let planes land at shannon(an possibly others)without the consent of the public...Im not an anarchist jus someone who doesn't agree with whats goin on, ive put stuff on the net about it, does dat mean its my fault aswell...i think not... feicin politicians!
Silo!!! How irresponsible can you be??
Making Cllr. Pat McMahon's home address on
a website is 'grossly irresponsible and there
is a serious possibility that it will create
danger' to the said servant of the people (sic).
BANG!
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