ALERT: Bush & Blair Summit in Ireland

by Daithi Fri Apr 04, 2003 18:59

Yes - CBC TV news confirmed just now that there will be a summit "in Northern Ireland, next week". Will look for more details

by Daithi Fri Apr 04, 2003 19:00

e.g. as copied from Guardian breaking news section

Friday April 4, 2003 5:50 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) - With their troops overtaking Iraq, President Bush and wartime ally Tony Blair plan to meet in Northern Ireland next week to discuss the battle against Saddam Hussein's forces, White House officials said Friday.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the meeting near Belfast on Monday and Tuesday also will focus on efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland and the Middle East.

It will be their third face-to-face talk in just over three weeks. The leaders met in the Azores on March 16, along with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, to announce the end of their diplomatic campaign. Bush and Blair held private talks at the Camp David, Md., presidential retreat March 27, more than a week after the war began.

by Daithi Fri Apr 04, 2003 19:05

Our noble Taoiseach will also be in attendance. Nice three-way summit it's turning into.

From the BBC:

"Tony Blair is to meet US President George W Bush in Northern Ireland for talks on the Iraq war.

"The meeting, announced by the White House, will take place next week.

T"he summit will also include discussions on the peace processes in the Middle East and Northern Ireland. Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern will also attend.

"News of the meeting came as Mr Blair pledged to the Iraqi people that coalition forces will hand over control of Iraq to the country's people as soon as possible after the conflict".

Bush is to meet UUP / SDLP / SF as well, according to RTE, but I don't know if they're also part of the cozy summit. No word on location yet.

by vvvvvvvvvvvvv Fri Apr 04, 2003 19:10

how fucking dumb can you get? we need to organise NOW to protest Bush and Blair and i agree that the shinners are total hypocrites about the war but if your first comment isn't 'what will we do to stop bush' but 'rah rah rah sinn fein traitors' i can see how there's not going to be much of a protest.

who is the biggest threat to the people of iraq, george bush or gerry adams?

by js Fri Apr 04, 2003 19:11

Ahh so now it all fits into place. Mmmmm I wonder what hand Bertie had in this??? Bertie your countrymen are ashamed of your wife beating attitude towards the general public.

** Please note I do not infer that Mr. Ahren is a wife beater only that his attitude is that of a wife beater and to say that he is a wife beater MAY be libelous.

by Daithi Fri Apr 04, 2003 19:14

Fri April 4, 2003 11:58 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush will meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair next Tuesday in Northern Ireland to discuss Iraq and the Middle East, U.S. officials said on Friday.

The two leaders last met at Camp David a week ago. U.S. officials said the talks would be on the Iraq war as well as efforts to launch a Middle East peace initiative.

by Jason Fri Apr 04, 2003 19:25 jasongrehan at yahoo dot com

With news that Bush is coming to Ireland in a matter of days, I assume that in keeping with your utterly predictable nature, you'll all be booking north for a huuuugggge 'street party' to protest his arrival. Like all your Christmasses coming together right?

Wrong again. If any of you treehuggers thought Kildare Street the other night was a big thing, it was a bunfight compared to the mother and father of a beating you will all take should you try to get within a mile of George W next week. My advice is to stay at home under your beds til he's gone back home again. Otherwise, invest in the hardest toughtest helmets you can acquire. The Guards play nice, the RUC will not.

by IMC Fri Apr 04, 2003 19:28

Bush Blair ALERT meet monday N.Ireland
by fred - derry anti war coalition Fri, Apr 4 2003, 5:20pm

BBC reports Bush and Blair to meet N Ireland monday 7th this month

BBC reports Bush and Blair summit
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2918761.stm
BBC text follows

US President George Bush is to visit Northern Ireland next week to hold talks over the political process and the war in Iraq.

The White House confirmed on Friday that the American leader would be in the province to hold talks with UK prime minister Tony Blair.

The two leaders will also discuss the unrest in the Middle East, said a spokesman.

This will be President Bush's first visit to Northern Ireland.

Reports from the US said it would be a two-day visit.

It is understood President Bush will arrive in Northern Ireland on Monday.

The talks will be held near Belfast.

by js Fri Apr 04, 2003 19:35

A chairde,

I belong to no party, no organisation, my room is in a mess. However I do not think this war in Iraq is justified. Therefore I am embarking on a protest in order to show this government what I think.

I am calling for every man, every woman who believes that this war is wrong, to show up wherever the Taoiseach, His Ministers and Any Member of the Finna Fail and PD party may be and voice your opinion. A council of war in our own country. How disrespectful is this by the British to the people of this NEUTRAL country to hold a council of war so close to us. How disrespecful is it of this Government to allow this to happen. It shows you they have no respect for you or I, male or female. So much for unifying the people of this country.

Follwo them wherever they go, be peaceful but loud, very loud.

The only reason this summit is not in Dublin is because the PSNI have better traing and equipment in dealing with crowds of demonstrators.

by IMC Fri Apr 04, 2003 19:40

Bush Blair ALERT update
by fred - derry anti war coalition Fri, Apr 4 2003, 5:35pm

more text from bbc http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2918761.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2918761.stm

Bush to visit NI for talks
The leaders will hold talks at a venue near Belfast
The leaders will hold talks at a venue near Belfast
US President George Bush is to visit Northern Ireland next week to hold talks over the political process and the war in Iraq.

The White House confirmed on Friday that the American leader would be in the province to hold talks with UK prime minister Tony Blair.

The two leaders will also discuss the unrest in the Middle East, said a spokesman.

This will be President Bush's first visit to Northern Ireland.

Reports from the US said it would be a two-day visit.

It is understood President Bush will arrive in Northern Ireland on Monday.

The president's going to get a first-hand insight and update on the incredible progress being made on the Northern Ireland peace process as well as discuss other efforts in the world to bring peace and security to the Middle East
White House spokesman

The talks will be held near Belfast.

A Downing Street spokesman said the two leaders would join Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern for talks with the pro-Agreement parties.

They will have meetings with the Ulster Unionist Party, SDLP and Sinn Fein.

The Downing Street spokesman said: "It is an important week in the Northern Ireland peace process.

"It will be useful to get the US President's support for our efforts to encourage the leaders to the acts of completion the prime minister has outlined."

A White House spokesman said: "The president's going to get a first-hand insight and update on the incredible progress being made on the Northern Ireland peace process as well as discuss other efforts in the world to bring peace and security to the Middle East."

by baker Fri Apr 04, 2003 19:57

Loud as you like, you daft clod. They won't hear you, and even if they do, they won't be interested. But by all means, please do go up to protest! I wanna be able to watch your heads being cracked on the news.

by SF watcher Fri Apr 04, 2003 20:05

SF have always posed themselves as being against this imperialist war. Well will they now mobilse theri considerable membership and support base in the North to protestt at this summit? The leadership should also protest against this war by refusing to deal with Bush.

by Hilda Robinson Fri Apr 04, 2003 20:50

Sinn Féin are now caught in a tough position. They are anti-war, and they have a large membership in the North. Will they mobilise that membership? If they are really anti-war they will mobilise that membership to cause serious trouble for the US-UK war summit.

Sinn Fein will be in serious trouble in the South if they go to Bush's war summit and greet the President and Prime Minister with open arms.

SF: Mobilise your Northern Membership! Refuse to meet Bush and BLair!

by anon Fri Apr 04, 2003 20:52

..., it is a test of everybody's anti-war credentials. Every media eye on the plantet will be on this meeting. The size and strength of the opposition to it will send a loud and clear message to the world.

by i wanna keep my kneecaps Fri Apr 04, 2003 20:54

I think that "No War in Iraq" will go down the same road as SF's previous slogans, remember "No Internal Settlement" and the classic "No Return to Stormont"

by . Fri Apr 04, 2003 22:25

http://ireland.indymedia.org/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=29868&start=1400

by . Fri Apr 04, 2003 22:25

http://ireland.indymedia.org/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=29816

by $ Fri Apr 04, 2003 22:26

http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=40673

by not an irish slave Sat Apr 05, 2003 12:47

Emperor Bush, on the phone: Pontius Blair, this is your Emperor speaking.

Pontius Blair: Heil Bush! The all-great!

Emperor Bush: Pontius Blair, we need to stage a peace meeting so I can give you your new war orders. Any idea where we can meet for maximum feel-good publicity and minimum fuss from the slaves?

Pontius Blair: All-great Bush, my kingdom still holds in captivity a colony of slaves, willing to declare obedience to your empire, it’s called Ireland, we can meet there, near the slave city of Belfast.

Emperor Bush: Ireland? Didn’t they try to prevent my death planes from using my airport at Shannon?

Pontius Blair: Only a few hundred ever showed up Emperor, but their great slave-leader Ahern has always bowed before your image, of majesty. He promises to kiss your nuclear ring, and more, if you allow him the privilege.

Emperor Bush: But aren’t there other slave leaders in Ireland who oppose me?

Pontius Blair: Only to gain blind support from their followers. The slave leader Adams will come like a dog when we beckon, and explain to his followers it is a noble action, and they, being Irish and used to slavery, will believe him and obey. Believe me Emperor, we have governed them directly and indirectly for hundreds of years. They have a slave mentality which extends deep into their subconscious. A few will carry signs and demonstrate publicly against your majesty, but the rest of them will praise you as slaves always praise their masters. They’ve felt the whip enough to know that resistance is futile.

Emperor Bush: Ok Pontius, see you next week. I have pockets full of cluster bombs and depleted uranium to give you to use against the brown slaves in the east who claim our oil. I’m sure you will not hesitate to use these marvellous weapons.

Pontius Blair: Of course not Emperor, we do as we are told. Heil Bush!

by - Sat Apr 05, 2003 17:18

http://ireland.indymedia.org/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=40789&start=0

by Ted Franks - member, Neighbors for Peace & Justice Sun Apr 06, 2003 09:43 tedthebear at earthlink dot net Los Angeles, California, USA

I hope and pray that you guys can do a number on Emperor Busch when he dares to stomp across your green hills.
I hope you draw a big enough of a turn out that you'll get on CNN!

God bless you, fellow war protesters! If your cops are anything like ours, please be careful.

by Ruairi Sun Apr 06, 2003 18:45

Never mind CNN - Forget pandering to them - they're part of the aparatus - let's roll with Indymedia and the like! Roll on Indymedia Ireland and all Indymedia collectives!!!!

also: http://www.alternet.org is great!

by Damien Mon Apr 07, 2003 14:08

Sinn Fein against the killing of innocent civilians?! Thats like junkies against dope.