No to Bush
national |
anti-war / imperialism |
opinion/analysis 
Friday May 28, 2004 13:26
by 1 of DGN - Dublin Grassroots Network
For an Iraq free of occupation and corporate domination
We want to see an Iraq where the Iraqi people themselves control their own lives and work together as equals. Neither the war nor occupation offer them this.
We have seen what the occupation has brought, the torture and murder of prisoners in US run prisons in Iraq.
At least 10,000 Iraqi civilians have been reported killed in the international media, many more deaths may not have been reported.
Billions of dollars have been given to US corporations in Iraq. Some like Bechtel are the same corporations named by Iraq before the war as having supplied Saddams regimes with military supplies and infrastructure. Bechtel was also a major contributor to the last US election campaign and some of Bush's advisors are former Bechtel employees.
Ireland is aiding the occupation. 10,000 US troops move through Shannon airport every month enroute to Iraq. Top Oil refuels the war planes. Analog (Limerick) makes targetting and firing systems for the Apache Attack helicopters. raytheon (Derry) produce software used to guide weapons like the US Tomahawk Cruise missile.
We are going to protest in Dublin at the role of the Irish state and companies in Ireland in the war the Saturday before Bush comes. Join us in a tour of some of these sites of shame, assemble at 2.30pm at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell square in saying No to Bush, No to Irish involvement in the war (Sat 19 June, 2.30).
When George Bush is here make sure you are at Shannon. Whether you cycle, drive with friends or take a bus. This will be a protest to remember.
Bush and Blair warn of chaos if they leave Iraq. One Iraqi women blogger responds "Chaos? Civil war? Bloodshed? We'll take our chances- just take your puppets, your tanks, your smart weapons, your dumb politicians, your lies, your empty promises, your rapists, your sadistic torturers and go."
http://www.riverbendblog.blogspot.com/
Protest details:
Dublin; Saturday 19th June at Parnell square at 2.30pm
Critical mass to Shannon; leaves from end of Dublin march, ring 0872820906 to join
Buses to Shannon (going Friday 25th return Sat 26th) Ring 086 1767936 to book ticket
Dublin Grassroots Network - More info at http://struggle.ws/dgn
Comments (18 of 18)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18Was this designed to usurp the SWP's campaign title?
It's a cool poster BTW
If you look at the site you will see there are already a good few posters making use of various variations of 'stop' 'no' ;bush' 'stay home' etc. I think the SWP's thing is called the 'Stop Bush Campaign' and I'd be surprised/alarmed if they claimed ownership of the phrase 'Stop Bush'.
wink wink
Not caring one way or the other. It's their look out if they want to give their fronts such generic titles but honestly I don't expect a problem. Its a bit like the whole Irish anti-war movement thing.
No one has copyrighted the "Stop Bush" title. My only concern is that a peaceful demonstration is held. In particular I hope that journalists and photographers covering the eveny will be free from attacks by the Black Bloc. The organisers could help facilitate this by arranging for an afinity group whose function is to protect media workers from such attacks.
Declare your interest VB, are you a journo or a cop? Don't tell me that you are doing this for the benefit of sky or the star. I won't believe you.
your posting this anti-black bloc noise on all the treads, i suggest if you want to set up an anti black bloc militia do it yourself. and dont expect any help.
Hey VB, why do you care so much about the journos? If you are worried that the event wont get the coverage it deserves, go and get yourself a camera and a minidisc and cover the event yourself and put it all up on Indymedia.
I wonder if its Vincent Browne. If it is, I am sure any people doing a black bloc tactic will give you whatever protection you need. Good on ya for keeping up with the Morris and Barr tribunals. Fuck the pigs!
I am doing this because I wish to see peaceful protests taking place. The problem is that you lot will not take responsibility for what happens at your demos. You refuse to appoint stewards therefore any fool or provocateur can disrupt the event. The reasom why I am on so many threads is due to your disorganised style you have to announce the same thing ten times over. But so what, are you saying that I dont have the right to disagree with you?
You know that a certain group of troublemakers are going to use your events as cover to attack media workers and the Gardai. These Black Bloc members dont share your ethos, why do you want them on your march? They are answerable to know one and will not adhere to your march guidelines.
this is ridiculous. You are suggesting that the meia are some sort of innocent objective by stander. they aren't
are you going to ensure the media dont provoke people. are you going to ensure that the media will not pester people who clearly don't want to be filmed/ interviewed
on mayday a journalist I know encouraged me to go up and "give it loads " at the Navan road incident as I was walking away from the police lines
hi lads
helping out
used your poster
hope ye dont mind, in rush, as always
dunk
trying to put call out for "solidarity actions" with our stuff.
his mask is slipping so to speak.
On Mayday the crowd policed itself as best it could. Whenever somebody did something against the Guidelines there were immediatly people to talk to them and calm them down.
At the "riots" some people went around taking rocks and cans off misguided drunks who were putting everybody at risk.
People wearing yellow bibs would have had no effect except perhaps disempowering people from acting themselves
Grassroots action puts the responsibility on all protestors to protect themselves and their ideals from those who would do damage.
You have told us that you were one of the Black Bloc. Your Bloc disregarded the guidelines they attacked media workers long before the march halted. The Black Bloc did not police itself. No member of the Bloc has disagreed with the assaults on the photographers.
This shows there is a need for stewards, to control the drunks and the minority of masked headcases who put everyone else at risk.
Cause we're all under strict orders from general Bakunin to attack each and every corporate hack who gets in our way
is often spoken in jest. Your authoritarian clique has a leadership. I wonder who pays them.
VB from the statements you have made on this website i can only presume that you have the mental capacity of a squashed apricot........your ideas that all protesters need stewards in very KA.
keep your little mind in your pocket where it belongs
The Black Bloc are of course welcome on this protest as is anyone else VB.
Non-violent direct action is everyones right whether or not you are a member of the Bloc or not.
The media may not physically attack anyone but their scare stories,hype,lies and sensationalism are an attack in themselves and do more damage than anyone shouting abuse at an interfering vulturous cameraman.
Maybe if the media spent more time focusing on the issues rather than criticising those who are,we would see a better relationship.
I take it that you support attacks on the media. What about the vast majority of protesters who had no objection to being photographed and wanted a peaceful demonstration. Why do you defend the right of the BB to ignore any guidelines and just do their own thing.
What if the Black Bloc decide to attack bus drivers and ticket checkers who insist that passengers pay their fare, will you defend this? How about shopworkers who report/stop shoplifters should they have paint sprayed in their face? Some supposed left wingers are on a very slippery slope here taking the side of masked middle clas brats and lumpen thugs against workers.
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