Upcoming Events

National | Miscellaneous

no events match your query!

New Events

National

no events posted in last week

Blog Feeds

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Human Rights in Ireland
A Blog About Human Rights

offsite link UN human rights chief calls for priority action ahead of climate summit Sat Oct 30, 2021 17:18 | Human Rights

offsite link 5 Year Anniversary Of Kem Ley?s Death Sun Jul 11, 2021 12:34 | Human Rights

offsite link Poor Living Conditions for Migrants in Southern Italy Mon Jan 18, 2021 10:14 | Human Rights

offsite link Right to Water Mon Aug 03, 2020 19:13 | Human Rights

offsite link Human Rights Fri Mar 20, 2020 16:33 | Human Rights

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link Women?s Team with Five Male Players Wins Football Competition After One Male Player ?Broke Opponent?... Thu Mar 28, 2024 19:30 | Will Jones
A women?s football competition has been branded misogynist after it was won by a team featuring five transgender players, amid accusations one had broken an opponent?s leg in two places.
The post Women’s Team with Five Male Players Wins Football Competition After One Male Player “Broke Opponent’s Leg” ? But Teams Who Refuse to Play Against Them Are Branded “Discriminatory” appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Further Evidence Gaza Casualty Numbers Are Fake Thu Mar 28, 2024 17:36 | Will Jones
The evidence that the Gaza casualty numbers from the Hamas-run Health Ministry (now over 32,000) are wildly inflated continues to mount. Mark Zlochin looks at what the proportions of male and female UNRWA workers tell us.
The post Further Evidence Gaza Casualty Numbers Are Fake appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Don?t Be Fooled by the ?Britain is Growing? Fairytales Thu Mar 28, 2024 15:22 | David Craig
Don't be fooled by the 'Britain is growing' fairytales, says David Craig. Any 'growth' is accounted for by the hike in the benefits bill and in civil servants' pay and a heap of other unproductive deficit spending.
The post Don’t Be Fooled by the ‘Britain is Growing’ Fairytales appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Climate: The Movie is a Perfect Cure for Climate Anxiety Thu Mar 28, 2024 13:00 | Toby Young
Climate Change: The Movie, the new film by Martin Durkin, should be shown at every school in the country to disabuse anxious young people of the idea that we're in the midst of a 'climate emergency'.
The post Climate: The Movie is a Perfect Cure for Climate Anxiety appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link The WHO?s Plot to Seize Power Over Nation States in Future Pandemics Must Be Stopped Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:12 | Will Jones
The World Health Organisation is gearing up to persuade the world's governments to sign a new pandemic treaty that would allow the unelected body to seize power over nation states in future pandemics, warns Matt Ridley.
The post The WHO’s Plot to Seize Power Over Nation States in Future Pandemics Must Be Stopped appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Voltaire Network
Voltaire, international edition

offsite link Moscow attack reminds us of the links between Islamists and Kiev's fundamentalis... Tue Mar 26, 2024 06:57 | en

offsite link Failure to assist a people in danger of genocide, by Hassan Hamadé Tue Mar 26, 2024 06:32 | en

offsite link Yugoslavia March 24, 1999 The Founding War of the New Nato, by Manlio Dinucci Sun Mar 24, 2024 05:15 | en

offsite link France opposes Russian Korean-style peace project in Ukraine Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:11 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N°79 Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:40 | en

Voltaire Network >>

Faith-based Disarmament Action at Shannon Airport This Morning!

category national | miscellaneous | news report author Monday February 03, 2003 05:31author by Media Support Report this post to the editors

An Siochain Naomh Brid - Pit Stop Ploughshares

Nonviolently Resisting U.S. Military Flights, Troop and Munition Deployments through Shannon Airport, Clare, Ireland. (SPREAD THE GREAT NEWS!! EMAIL THIS MESSAGE AROUND!!!)
26615_1.JPG

ACTION DESCRIPTION
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the early hours of Monday 03 February, five members of the pacifist Catholic Worker movement cut their way into Shannon Airport (see http://www.refuelingpeace.org/). The peace activists poured human blood on the runway that has been servicing U.S. military flights, troop and munition deployments to U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Qatar. They constructed a shrine on the runway to Iraqi children killed and threatened by U.S./British bombardment and sanctions. The shrine consisted of copies of the Bible and Quran, rosary and muslim prayer beads, flowers, photographs of Iraqi children and Brigid's crosses. They then began to take up the runway, working on its edge with a mallet.

The activists approached the hanger housing the US Navy plane under repair. They painted "Pit stop of death" on the hanger's roller door, and began the dismantling of the hanger. Others entered the hanger to disarm the repaired US warplane.

The five activists were arrested by Gardai. They refuse to co-operate with bail conditions, have initiated a fast for peace and a call for mass nonviolent resistance to Irish complicity in the forthcoming war on Iraq. They are likely to be moved to Limerick Prison. The acts of witness will continue in and out of prison.

The Catholic Worker movement, founded by Dorothy Day in New York City in 1933, consists of small faith-based communities serving the homeless and nonviolently resisting war preparations (see http://www.catholicworker.org/).
Ploughshares acts of nonviolent disarmament were initiated by radical priests Fr. Philip and Daniel Berrigan in the U.S. in the 1980s. These nonviolent actions have addressed nuclear and conventional weapon systems by enfleshing the prophesy of Isaiah Ch. 2. Some activists have been acquitted of all charges, others have received prison sentences of up to 18 years. (See http://www.plowsharesactions.org/).

STATEMENT OF FAITH
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We come to Shannon Airport to carry out an act of life-affirming disarmament in a place of preparations for slaughter.

Like the railway tracks that ran to the town of Auschwitz, the runway at Shannon has been militarized for service on an assembly line of death. The train tracks at Auschwitz brought people to their deaths, the runway at Shannon brings death to the people. The Irish Government acts in contravention of the Irish Constitution, International Law and divine mandate to service U.S. military aircraft, troop and munition deployments.

The U.S./British war on the Iraqi people, and for Iraqi resources, has been long and varied.The U.S./U.K. military has claimed over 2 million Iraqi lives
* in their financial and military support for the Saddam Hussein regime in the '70's and '80's
* in their hi tech bombing campaign of 1991
* in the 12 years of crippling sanctions imposed on the Iraqi people
* and now their plans to conquer and occupy Iraq

US/UK weapons manufacturers also continue to fuel the daily grind of death and destruction inflicted on the Palestinian people.

SWORDS INTO PLOUGHSHARES
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We come to Shannon Airport around the Feast of St. Brigid, to disarm and disable the war machine. We hope to begin to take up the runway and ground military aircraft. We hope to be joined in this act of disarmament by those who encounter us. Citizens, police and soldiers wielding hammers brought down the Berlin Wall; we hope all will pitch in to take up this runway and ground planes servicing the war machine. We find this easier to envision than the further slaughter of Iraqi children that U.S. British and Irish governments wish us to consider.

We act inspired by Brigid and Irish traditions of healing and peacemaking. We carry out Christ's commandment to "love our enemies" by nonviolently resisting the slaughter of their children. We attempt to enflesh the prophesy of Isaiah Ch 2 and Micah Ch 4 "to beat swords into ploughshares".

We respond to the call of the prophets of Modern America. Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day, who encourages us "to fill the jails with nonviolent resistance to war"; Martin Luther King, who warns us that we are confronted by "a choice between nonviolence and nonexistence". Fr. Daniel Berrigan, who observes: "We have assumed the name of peacemakers, but we have been, by and large, unwilling to pay any significant price. And because we want peace with half a heart and half a life and will, the war, of course continues, because the waging of war, by its nature is total - but the waging of peace, by our cowardice is partial."


WHO WE ARE
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

* Deirdre Clancy (32) is an editor, writer and feminist activist with an interest in faith-based resistance to various structures of social control. She regards war as part of parcel of the system which demeans women; legalizes corruption of many different forms; discriminates against, locks up and labels the so-called "mentally ill", without questioning the sanity of the military-industrial system in which we are all complicit.

* Karen Fallon (30) is a Glaswegian-Irish peace activist. She is a scientist and a Trident Ploughshares pledger. She has lived at the Faslane Peace Camp for the past two years.

* Damien Moran (22) is from the Irish midlands. He spent three months in Haiti recently doing voluntary development work. A qualified geography and English teacher, he is currently studying theology and anthropology as a seminarian in Dublin.

* Nuin Dunlop (31) is an American of Irish-Scots-East Band Cherokee-Dutch descent. She has been working for several years in community service; in the Catholic Worker, hospital chaplaincy, and with the marginalised. She is a Catholic anarchist. Her activism stems from the belief that the Creator breaths life through everyone: War is the most serious violation of life. Born in the nation with the more weapons of mass destruction than any other, she is moved to respond to the current US-led assaults on life.

* Ciaron O'Reilly (42) is an Irish Australian. He is presently working at a homeless shelter in Dublin and is long time Catholic Worker and nonviolent resister. He was a member of the "ANZUS Ploughshares" which disarmed a B-52 Bomber in upstate New York during the 1991 Gulf War. He was also a member of the "Jabiluka Ploughshares" that disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.

* (Co-conspirator) Caoimhe Butterly (24) was born in Ireland but spent most of her childhood in Canada and Africa. After finishing school, she moved to the New York Catholic Worker to work with the homeless. She has since spent three years working in refugee communities in Chiapas and Guatemala. For the past year, she has lived and worked as a solidarity activist in Palestine. In November she was shot by the Israeli military.

THINGS TO DO
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

* Write to the above prisoners c/- Shannon Peace House - 19 Inis Ealga, Shannon, County Clare, Ireland.
* Donate to the Ploughshares Defense Fund by making cheques payable to "Peace and Reconciliation" c/o Ploughshares, 134 Phibsborough Rd. Dublin 7 Ireland.
* Join the Catholic Worker activists in their prison fast and prayers for peace.
* Vigil publicly at Shannon Airport, U.S./British Embassies, Aer Rianta, Irish Government offices involved in war preparations.
* Gather with friends in communities of nonviolent resistance … sit in, speak out, blockade.
* Offer solidarity to those travelling into the war zones of Iraq and Palestine to bear nonviolent witness.
* Offer solidarity to those in front of the courts and in jail for bearing nonviolent resistance to the war machine at home. See www.nonviolence.org/nukeresister/ and www.gn.apc.org/peacenews

MEDIA CONTACTS
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Petria Malone - 0509 51321 (immediate)
Email - pitstop_ploughshares@hotmail.com

Photos available from Press 22 - 061 204 222

MEDIA REFERENCES
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

RTE 1, Would You Believe, documentary on Ciaron O'Reilly and the Catholic Worker, October 24th, 2002.

RTE 1, Leargas, on Caoimhe Butterly in Palestine, December 2002.

RTE 1, News footage of December 8th on Catholic Worker direct action on the tail fin monument at Shannon.


author by Phuq Heddpublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 05:36author address author phone Report this post to the editors

You rock! Living testament to your beliefs. A profound inspiration to me (a non-theist).

author by Eamonn cruddenpublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 10:09author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Not on 9am RTE Radio 1 news

author by Eamonn Cruddenpublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 11:07author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Richard Boyd Barrett of the IAWM stated this morning that :'I would support what they did - anyone who takes direct action against the present buildup to a war in the gulf is justified.'

author by Anonymouspublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 11:22author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Please read my comment at the end of the below indymedia page and add your comments in there is you wish.

Information of what the people if Iraq want is really needed.

Especially for anti-war campaigners who are going on broadcasted debate shows. The pro war people will use this as a strong tool if we do not have a full, comprehensive answer for
them.

http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=26082&start=80&sid=28034

author by Ecruddenpublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 12:06author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I wonder were they checking out what Willie's Doktors had to say about it all?

author by Dannnypublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 12:10author address author phone Report this post to the editors

http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0203/shannon.html

Rte news are featuring it.

author by LordFlash - Citizenpublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 12:51author email Lord_Flash_ie at Yahoo dot co dot ukauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

I keep hearing about how wrong it is to bomb and kill children,... now not many will disagree with that (I hope), but is one allowed to kill men and women? They are not so frequently mentioned... or perhaps the constant mentioning of children is just to emotionally charge readers?!?!?

Could someone also explain what the "Divine Mandate" is and how it is legally binding? (please make it an explanation to non Christians also please)

author by St Peterpublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 13:04author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I must say well done. Even though I am a non practicing catholic, I believe
this is what religion should be all about. Every religion that I am aware of,
at it's heart talks about peace. And yet many believers do the exact opposite,
by either engaging or supporting wars or being silent at those very times when
they should speak out against war and promote peace.

These Catholic Workers today should be an inspiration to all those religious people
who claim they are for peace. They are truly standing up for what they believe in,
and I therefore have great admiration and respect for them.

The only regret I have is that there were only 6 people who felt brave enough,
perhaps next time we will hopefully hear the news that it is 100 or better still 200
that have had the courage of their convictions to demonstrate via mass direct action.

author by John Beecher - IWMpublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 13:13author email cav_man53 at hotmail dot comauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

More mindless vandleism, that we are going to have to pay for all because you want to grab more and more headlines. The perfect punishment for the vandles would be a couple of years hard labour.
If you suceed in Shannon whats next: protesting against the Irish Aer Corps buying New Medium Lift helicopter for search and rescue saying it vialates our Neutrality. Nothing will surprise.
As we say in the IWM. War is coming get used to it. Saddem has flouted every UN resolution that has been passed. It is time for action to diarm Iraq by force. He is not helping the UN inspectors in their work so it is time for the UN so show some balls and move on Iraq.

author by WHAT IS IWM?publication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 13:59author address author phone Report this post to the editors

author by Eoin Dubskypublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 14:49author address author phone Report this post to the editors

As clarification of the first press release today, the five people arrested today at Shannon Airport were: Deirdre Clancy, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran, Nuin Dunlop, and Ciaron O'Reilly.
Caoimhe Butterly listed as co-conspirator was present in spirit, not body.
She will be fasting in solidarity with the five presently in custody, continueing to "conspire" to be a witness of nonviolent opposition to the refuelings and war against the people of Iraq.

author by Black Frankpublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 15:14author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Judging from the gung-ho tone of the comments I'd hazard a guess at Ignorant War Mongers.

author by Colmpublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 15:36author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I'm concerned that these actions are causing the spotlight to move from the use of Shannon Airport by the US military to the damage caused by protestors.

Its important that we keep the focus on the aircraft going thru the airport and the part they are playing in killing people in Iraq.

While such actions on the planes at Shannon may be morally and legally justified, we won't get the time or opportunity in the mass media to explain these points. The risk then is that the support thats been slowly built could be quickly lost.

Related Link: http://www.shannonpeacecamp.org
author by Andrewpublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 16:03author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The question though must be what is the use of public support unless it results in something that damages the war effort? Having 99.9% of the population opposing the war is meaningless unless the 0.1% making the decision to allow refueling are swayed by it.

On the other hand the public opposition to the war has a meaning if people can be convinced that active rather then passive opposition can make a difference. And smashing up a war machine at Shannon is obviously making a difference.

I'm strongly of the opinion that anyone who opposes the war can be convinced that the disarming of war machines is a legtimate action. I think its signicficant that those opposing the war in these threads fall into two camps
1. Those who support the war
2. Those who oppose the war and are opposed to this action on the grounds of 'public opinion'.

Frankly 'public opinion' is quite capable of deciding there is a need for property destruction and even violence in certain circumstances. Generally of course people are more inclined to make these judgements about events that are safely in the past.

The task of those involved in the anti-war movements is to explain the context of these actions - its quite clear that the media are refusing to do this (no surprize). If we make that argument we can win it and in doing so create the mechanism for ending refueling - because making that argument will mean lots more people becoming willing to engage in Direct Action.

Or, as politicians like Sergent have been doing, we can indeed distract people from the issue by trying to seperate oursleves from those carrying out the action. A war is coming, it should be very easy to justify actions against the war machine.

Related Link: http://struggle.ws/wsm/shannon.html
author by Joss - Trident Ploughsharespublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 18:06author email allthingssmall at snail dot co dot ukauthor address author phone 07815 004 578Report this post to the editors

Karen I love u to bits. I love u all to bits. You're all great, but please, anyone visiting Karen give her a big hug from me. You'll be pleased to hear 3 of us (me, sylvia and olivia)got knicked at menwith attempting to disarm parts of the base which is being used to find targets in Iraq. Double good w/e.

joss x

Related Link: http://www.tridentploughshares.org
author by DJ Shirlawpublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 18:48author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Was the group also planning a shrine to the Kurdish children tied to the sides of Iraqi tanks so that they wouldn't be shot at while slaughtering villages?

Is the same group to erect a shrine to Iranian soldiers who are spending the rest of their lives in hospital due to Iraqi nerve gas?

author by Phuq Heddpublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 20:23author address author phone Report this post to the editors

A reference from a reputable source would be nice.

That said, I'm sure that many of the Catholic Workers sould have supported or been involved in Amnesty International campaigns which have protested actions of these types in the past. I know that I certainly was busy writing to the US-supported Colombian government when I heard about children being drowned by the government in order to make their parents talk about the FARC. I was also very active in writing to another US-supported regime: the Suharto government in Indonesia due to very similar atrocities.

At the time, I wasn't aware that the US was supplying nerve-gas precursors to the the Iraqis for use in their war against the Iranians or I would certainly have protested that (Rumsfeld was aware of it though and it didn't disturb him much in 1986). I was aware however of the use of US-supplied aircraft to the Turks who were using them to murder the Kurds on the other side of the border and I did protest that.

So, I think we can say, that an absence of protest on that issue doesn't reflect an agreement with it. In fact, you'd want to be a bit of a moron to draw that conclusion? Are you a moron? You don't sound like one. Fair play to you anyway, you're doing a good job stacking up atrocities against each other. Good man.

author by anonamouspublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 20:33author email anonymous at yahoo dot comauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

The Personal History of Saddam Hussein

The current leader of Iraq is was born on April 28, 1937, in a small village of al-Auja near the town of Takrit. His early child hood was spent in a mud hut in a mostly Sunni Muslim part of Iraq, which is approximately (100) one-hundred miles north of Baghdad. Hussein's father, Hussein al-Majid, died or abandoned the family (according to who is reporting the story), within a short time of his birth. Accurate records are difficult to obtain in a country where Hussein's birthday is celebrated as a national holiday.

He was reared alone by his mother Subha, until she took a second husband, Ibrahim Hassan. Hassan, often said to have been brutal and a thief, was a sheepherder by profession and enlisted Saddam in his ventures. According to a former personal secretary of Hussein, his step father abused Saddam and sent him to steal chicken and sheep to be sold. This pattern continued until 1947 when, at the age of ten, he was allowed to move in with his mother's brother, Khayrallah Tulfah, in Baghdad.

In Baghdad, Hussein began to learn more than reading and writing. His tutor, Khayrallah had been "cashiered" from the Iraqi army for supporting a "Pro-Nazi" coup attempt that failed. Khayrallah's bitterness towards the British and imperialism, soon was transferred to Saddam. In fact, some confidants of Hussein point to his relationship with Tulfah as a turning point in his political awareness. To demonstrate Tulfah's importance to Hussein, he was later made Mayor of Baghdad under the Hussein regime. Saddam finished intermediate school (roughly the equivalent of 9th Grade) at the age of sixteen, and attempted to be admitted to the prestigious Baghdad Military Academy.

Unfortunately, his poor grades prevented him from doing so, and he became more deeply involved in political matters. In 1956, he participated in a non-successful coup attempt against the monarchy of King Faisal II. In 1957, he joined the Baath party, a radical nationalist movement. In 1958, a non-Baathist group of army officers succeeded in overthrowing the King. The group was led by General Abdul Qassim. In 1959, Saddam and a group of Baathist supporters attempted to assassinate Gen. Qassim by a day-light machine-gun attack. The attack was unsuccessful, but it helped to place Hussein in a leadership position in the Baathist movement and furthered the process of nationalist political indoctrination. After the attack, in which Hussein is slightly wounded, he fled to Syria. From Syria, he went to Cairo, Egypt where he would spend the next four (4) years.

While receiving aid from Egypt, he finished high school at the age of twenty-four and continued his political education. While in Egypt, he was arrested on at least two occasions for threatening a fellow student and chasing another down the street with a knife, both for political differences. In 1961, he entered Cairo University School of Law, but did not finish his studies there. In 1963, a group of Baathist army officers tortured and assassinated General Qassim. This was done on Iraqi television. They also mutilated many of Qassim's devotees and showed their bodies (in close up) on the nightly news for more than one night. Saddam, hearing the news, quickly rushed back to Iraq to become involved in the revolution. And involved, he was, as both an interrogator and torturer at the infamous "Palace of the End", in the basement of the former palace of King Faisal.

According to reports by Hanna Batatu (a government reporter), Hussein rose quickly through the ranks, due to his extreme efficiency as a torturer. The Baathist party split in 1963 and Saddam had supported the "winner" in the latest party struggle. He was appointed by Michel Aflaq to be a member of the Baath Regional Command. In 1964, Hussein was jailed by some "rightist" military officers who opposed the Baathist takeover. Through other political influence provided by his older cousin, General Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr, Hussein became deputy Secretary-General of the Baathists in 1966.

In 1966, Hussein escaped from prison and set up a Baathist internal party security system known as the Jihaz Haneen. It was to serve as the continuation of his political and real rise to power in Iraq. In 1968, another major upheaval in Iraq gave Hussein the greatest opportunity for further advancement; his mentor, Gen. Bakr and the Baathist seized the government. Hussein was made Deputy Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council, in charge of internal security.

At the age of thirty-one (31) he had acquired what could have been deemed the number two spot in the Baathist party. He would continue in the position for approximately the next ten years. During that time, he would continue to consolidate his power by appointing numerous family members to positions of authority in the Iraqi government. In his position of Deputy in Charge of Internal Security, he built an enormous security apparatus and had spies and informers everywhere in the circles of power in Iraq.

During this time, Hussein also began to accumulate the wealth and position that he so relished as a poor sheep-herder in the desert of al-Auja. He and his family, now firmly entrenched in the infrastructure of the country , began to control the country's oil and other industrial enterprises. With the help of his security network and several personal assassins, Hussein took control of many of the nation's leading businesses.

In 1978, Saddam had been working with othe r Arab nations to ostracize Egypt for it's diplomatic initiative in resolving Israel/Arab questions. An ally, President Hafez al-Assad of Syria, almost became the undoing of Hussein's ascension. If a Syrian/Iraqi federation were formed against Egypt, Assad, not Hussein, would rise to a position of greater power in the relationship. President Bakr would lead the federation with Assad as second in command. Hussein could not allow that to happen and began to urge the President to step down. Again with the help of his family and security apparatus, Hussein was able to accomplish his task.

On July 16, 1979, President Bakr resigned, officially due to health problems, but in reality a victim of Hussein's political in-fighting. Moving quickly to consolidate his power, he called a major Baathist meeting on July 22, 1979. During the meeting, various family members and other Hussein devotees urged that the party be "cleansed". Hussein then read a list of names and asked that they step outside. Once there, they are taken into custody.

A high-ranking member of the Revolutionary Command, the head of the labor unions, the leading Shiite member of the Command, and twenty (20) others are then systematically and personally killed by Hussein and his top party officials. During the next few days, reports indicate that as many as 450 other military officers, deputy prime ministers, and "non-party faithful" were rounded up and killed. This purge insured Hussein's consolidation of power in Iraq.

In 1980, Iraq invaded Iran and conducted an eight year war against one of his nearest neighbors and the home of Shiite fundamentalist Muslims. Again, because it appeared that the Shiites could be a threat to his continued dictatorship, the Kurds (Iraqi minority) were sprayed with poison gas for participating with the Iranians in an attempted overthrow of his country. The war continued for eight years of brutality and even repression of Hussein's own countrymen (especially the Kurds).

In 1988, after millions being killed, Iraq and Iran conduct a cease-fire and ended the bloodshed. By 1984, as many as 1.5 million Iraqis were supporters of Hussein and the Baathists. He continued to enlarge his security apparatus and army. In insidious ways, the party apparatus formed numerous government agencies to control and manipulate the citizens of Iraq. A statistical analysis of the population indicated that as many as fifty per cent of the Iraqis or a member of their family were employed by the government or military. The party and the people have become one. Hussein's domination of the country is complete.

Even the war against Iran didn't end the peoples support for Hussein, although some small protests did dampen the population's support for the conflict with Iran. Ultimately however, the war with Iran only strengthened Hussein's resolve and, in some eyes, causes him to become a "hero" of Arab nationalism. This brings us to the chapter of Hussein's life that has not been thoroughly researched and written. It involves the 1990, summer invasion of Kuwait over a dispute about oil prices and political control of the Persian Gulf. The subsequent United Nation Resolutions and United States intervention in the defense of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other nearby countries will undoubtedly impact on the history of Saddam Hussein.

Hussein has managed to survive the loss of a large portion of his army, a major psychological defeat, and control of the Northern and Southern part of Iraq, yet he continues in power in Iraq. His resilience is extraordinary, and so far he has managed to elude the allied powers, who would like to see him replaced as the leader of a major Middle-Eastern country. One thing is sure, Hussein is a man who is filled with pride. He is firmly entrenched in the history and culture of Iraq.

Related Link: http://www.emergency.com/hussein1.htm
author by Phuq Heddpublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 20:42author address author phone Report this post to the editors

It's innocent ordinary Iraqis who didn't deserve to have this US-sponsored terrorist placed in charge of them as a dictator. Hussein doesn't need protection, he's already been offered it by the USA and the other US-supported cheap-oil dictatorships in the region. They want him to go into exile while they install a new government which will do their bidding. This follows a long history of the US looking after their pet dictators. I've posted an URL to this story below. You should do the same the next time. If you are incapable of summarising the piece that you're linking to or presenting context then just tell us to see the link. Don't cut and paste the whole thing, any monkey could do that.

The USA is proposing to illegally and without proof of anything launch an assault which will murder innocent men, women and children. After it's over they'll install another puppet regime (they did this in Afghanistan where they've allowed the semi-fascist Northern Alliance Muslim zealots to rule the country and continue abusing women and implementing barbaric sharia laws). The US is a vicious, dangerous country and must be opposed.

Related Link: http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0124/p11s01-cods.html
author by Tired Of Nonsencepublication date Mon Feb 03, 2003 22:08author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Could someone please stop these headline grabbers in Shannon before they kill someone.

P.S Phuq Hedd you are lucky to live in a world where there are some grownups who protect you from the likes of Saddam. You continue on your ego trip let other people deal with the complex issues. At least your name gives a hint that you have some level of self awarness.

author by Markpublication date Tue Feb 04, 2003 02:26author address Aotearoaauthor phone Report this post to the editors

well done Ciaron and the others who disarmed the warplane. Here in NZ we attempted a citizens weapons inspection at the US Embassy In Wellington. We thouhgt the US Embassy would be quite keen to prove they had no weapons of mass destruction, but they called the local police instead and 23 "weapons inspectors" were arrested and charged with "disorderly behaviour" and "inciting violence" ! ! !
more at www.indymedia.org.nz

author by Dpublication date Tue Feb 04, 2003 04:10author address author phone Report this post to the editors

This sort of action is to be supported. These five people have taken practical action to try to stop war. I can't say that I have the same courage to do this sort of thing but definitely support what they are trying to do.

author by John Beecher - IWMpublication date Tue Feb 04, 2003 13:12author email cav_man53 at hotmail dot comauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

I`m not going to say who we in the IWM are. Ill just say we are a growing group of forward think people who support the actions of the UN is disarming Iraq and other counteries by force if necessary.
If disarmament can be brought around by peaceful means so be it, but this is unlikely to happen.
What was done in SNN by those people who got in is criminal damage and should be subjected to the full force of the law of the state.
I would love to see what happens when the army is deployed. Then the fun begins

author by Gregory Lassesonpublication date Tue Feb 04, 2003 17:35author email gregory_p at yahoo dot comauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

The protest of killing innocent people is a good thing. I'm always curious why none of the protestors are willing to go live in the countries they so dearly want to defend? Where were all of the protestors when Saddam gassed his own people? Where were you when the Taliban tortured and killed its own citizens? Where was the outcry when Iraq invaded the innocent citizens of Kuwait? The biggest difference between the US and the countries I've mentioned is that the US will deliberately do everything it can to avoid civilian casualties, where as the enemy will do everything it can to incur them. There is a huge difference between a missile silo and a high rise office building. Instead of protesting the war, you should be spending your effort figuring out a way to bring peace, democracy and prosperity to the people of Iraq AFTER Saddam is done.

author by Patriotic Protestor - United States of Americapublication date Tue Feb 04, 2003 17:48author address author phone Report this post to the editors

We gave him weapons and encouragement when he came to power in a coup. We gave him weapons and encouragement when he was gassing the Iranians and possibly the Kurds.

Who suffered during all of this?: the Iraqi civilians.

Who benefitted from all of this?: rich Americans.

Who has a duty to stop all of this?: Patriotic American Citizens.

A big Thank You! to the People of Ireland. We are working on this at our end defending our democracy and taking it back from the corrupt rich men that run it. Thank you for doing the same in your democracy.

author by Donnacha - nonepublication date Thu Feb 06, 2003 01:53author email donnacha at sortedmagazine dot comauthor address Londonauthor phone Report this post to the editors

"The biggest difference between the US and the countries I've mentioned is that the US will deliberately do everything it can to avoid civilian casualties, where as the enemy will do everything it can to incur them."

Lesley Stahl on U.S. sanctions against Iraq: We have heard that a half million children have died. I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: I think this is a very hard choice, but the price--we think the price is worth it.

--60 Minutes (5/12/96)

And she was a frigging moderate compared to the current cabal.

D.

author by Tim Carter - AAIpublication date Thu Feb 06, 2003 08:37author email timcartr at ihug dot com dot auauthor address Brisbaneauthor phone 07 38575325Report this post to the editors

We are proud of you, Ciaron, and your fellow activists. Our best wishes are with you.

author by BrooklynBoy - err, nopepublication date Mon Feb 10, 2003 18:48author address author phone Report this post to the editors

As a patriotic American citizen I thank the Catholic Worker activists for helping to disarm the sick, unelected cabal of TERRORISTS like Bush who have taken over our land. This is absolutely beautiful and there are plenty of us over here cheering this one! though you willl not find any mention of it in our heavily censored and corporate owned media.

Related Link: http://www.whatreallyhappened.com
author by Grace Devittpublication date Mon Feb 10, 2003 22:37author email grace at krispykremes dot comauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

What a blessing you all are to this troubled world! I am humbled by your dedication and committment to peace and living the word of the gospel. God bless you, you are all in my prayers!

author by peter murnane - catholic worker - dominican friarspublication date Tue Feb 11, 2003 04:15author email pmopnz at yahoo dot com dot auauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

Thanks for having the courage to do that thing at Shannon. A prophetic action, in the face of massive force against people, against life.

We hope it will start a lot of people thinking; and that the laws of Ireland will aquit the protestors, for the logical statement they made.

Peter Murnane op for the Te Whiti house of the Auckland Catholic Worker
[For those who don't know, Te Whiti was a Maori Prophet of the 1880's, advocate of non-violence agaist the British imperialist land-grab; had an influence on Gandhi himself.]

author by mark whitepublication date Wed Feb 12, 2003 22:26author email ausyankee at hotmail dot comauthor address Australiaauthor phone Report this post to the editors

to Ciaron and his co-conspirators in disarmament: thank you for your witness against this war for oil. May your deeds inspire other faith-based groups to action during the coming darkness...

author by David O Reillypublication date Thu Feb 13, 2003 15:59author email astoria41 at yahoo dot comauthor address Dublinauthor phone 087 28 98 199Report this post to the editors

All I can say is well done! if I had known about that at Shannon I would have went!!! I didn't know about this site until someone at work told me. I've passed it around to everyone.

I will attend all the other events now - and as for those 5 people, all I can say is you are a friend of mine and all the other innocent people Bush is hoping to murder. It makes me angry when you get this attitude from the Dublin (not Irish) government, I say not Irish because what government could represent us who supports this war... is this government forgetting all the people who died in this land and who continue to die because of an 800 year old conflict? As long as they support war they don't represent me -

I wonder if it would ever be possible to set up an event where we refuse to pay taxes or something? as I hate the fact that my money is going to the government to pay for Shannon Airport to fuel murder-ships.

author by .publication date Wed Feb 19, 2003 11:40author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Ciaron has issued two statements from prison so far:

"The Action was Beautiful"
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=28489

"From Protest to Resistance"
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=29551

More info at:
http://www.geocities.com/londoncatholicworker


author by pwdysonpublication date Wed Mar 19, 2003 22:15author address author phone Report this post to the editors

More info about the Pitstop Ploughshares at:

Related Link: http://www.geocities.com/pwdyson/pitstop.html
Number of comments per page
  
 
© 2001-2024 Independent Media Centre Ireland. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by Independent Media Centre Ireland. Disclaimer | Privacy