Limerick Leader slanders all activists

by Seán Ryan Sat Apr 29, 2006 14:56

But it's still very watered down.

http://www.limerickleader.ie/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionI...72570

by Elaine Sat Apr 29, 2006 23:17

Not the lenient tax laws in this country that favour multinational investment as a way of avoiding corporate tax in the states?
Goodwill you say ... hummm.
Found a few bits on the net that might put a bit of a strain on that 'goodwill'. They could make like Santa with a hangover - we might just be left with a bag of ashes no matter how 'good' we've been this year.

From the Limerick Leader article ...

"Ireland already has numerous strengths that have made the country an ideal base for multinational firms looking to expand their global operations. These strengths include pro-business government policies, strong rule of law, industrial peace, corporate tax incentives and an educated, English-speaking, mobile, young workforce." - Ambassador Kenny

"The inference is clear. As players in the hotly-contested premier division of the global economy-whether in the field of aviation, advanced technology or whatever-we are performing well but must up our game. The best way to begin would be to make the most of our extra-special relationship with the United States."

http://www.limericktoday.com/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionI...72594

Doesn't matter what we do, they will leave when it becomes unprofitable for them to stay. That day might come sooner than some people realise. Already the US government is planning to close loopholes in its tax laws which will make it less attractive for multinationals to invest here. Some Swiss cantons are offering corporate tax rates at almost half what they pay here.

"Swiss cantons offer corporate taxes as low as 6.6% compared with Ireland's 12.5%; US plans to reduce Ireland's attraction as tax haven"
By Finfacts Team
Feb 14, 2006, 16:34

"Senate Finance Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, referred to a November 2005 article in The Wall Street Journal that described how Microsoft had saved at least $500 million from its annual tax bill.
The article detailed how Microsoft's Round Island One Ltd. in Ireland, operated from a lawyers' offices and controls more than $16 billion in Microsoft assets. The Irish company receives licensing fees from copyrighted software code that originates in the US but pays no taxes on the income as patent royalty income is tax exempt in Ireland. In addition profits routed through Ireland from other overseas subsidiaries, are only liable for tax in Ireland at the low 12.5 per cent.
Secretary Snow said the pending rules aim to remove " some of the incentives to engage in the sorts of behaviors that deny revenues to the United States Treasury."
Snow said Treasury officials share Grassley's concern about the migration of intellectual and intangible property offshore. The Treasury issued proposed rules last August, and the rules should be finalised some time in 2006."

http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/art...shtml

As they say ... the gig is up.

"US companies such as Symantec, use the zero Irish tax on royalty income and low corporate tax regime, to reduce their tax bill by boosting transfer pricing to other foreign subsidiaries coupled with royalty income transfers into Ireland."

Ireland's low corporate tax rate of 12.5% on trading profits has been a magnet for multinational companies who are responsible for 90% of Irish exports and a significant contributor to the success of the modern Irish economy, commonly known as the Celtic Tiger.

In addition, an Irish tax exemption on patent income, has promoted the parking of US multinational company overseas profits in Ireland, through transfer pricing and other accounting measures. Ireland is the most profitable location of US multinationals and in the period 1998-2002, the profits of US companies with Irish facilities doubled.

"The US Treasury Department is working on rules to halt a tax abuse involving US companies transferring intellectual property and patents to overseas tax havens, Treasury Secretary John Snow said in February.

"We feel the existing rules have not been effective at getting at this problem," Snow told the Senate Finance Committee."

http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/art...shtml

Already Intel is in trouble, how long before they 'downsize' out of here?

"Top global chipmaker Intel reported Wednesday a 38% drop in first-quarter profit and predicted continued weak demand for its computer chips. The company has run into a series of problems, including stiffer competition from rival Advanced Micro Devices."

http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/art...shtml

The American economy is already starting to feel the pressure of trying to support their governments military misadventures abroad, while dealing with pension shortfalls etc. It's not an "extra-special relationship with the United States" as the Limerick Leader would have it. It's an economic arrangement that suits multinationals trying to evade corporate tax in the US. As the article below from the New York Times points out "the companies make the tax havens seem more legitimate". But for how much longer?

American Ingenuity, Irish Residence

The New York Times

"..That means, in a particularly hard-to-swallow twist, that the tax havens encourage companies to send increasingly large chunks of their businesses offshore as well. By pushing more of their jobs and investments overseas, the companies make the tax havens seem more legitimate."

"American companies' successful hunt for low-tax opportunities overseas has been used as an argument for slashing corporate taxes at home. Maybe we should close the loopholes first, and provide the Treasury Department with the resources it needs to enforce existing law. After that, it's clear that meaningful corporate tax reform is needed. For an economy increasingly based on products with little physical substance - drug recipes, images, sounds, strings of ones and zeroes - it wouldn't take long to lose it all."

http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/art...shtml

by Seán Ryan Sun Apr 30, 2006 05:19

Not much point in bombing other countries back into the stoneage if one does not capitalise on it afterwards. All that cheap labour coupled with desperation would go to waste.

The real trick to success in all this is that we must be left feeling like it's all our fault when the jobs go eastwards. That way we'll eagerly take the jobs back with no questions asked when recession forces the worth of our labour downwards and these parasites arive back to capitalise on it.

Employment and the results of slave training - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/74011

We'd at least be left with some pride if we expelled Ambassador Jimmy and the War Machine.

by cynic - cynicism incorporated Mon May 01, 2006 13:21

Of course ... as James Connolly might have told ye, the continued existence of the slave is always dependent on the goodwill of his master ......

"The serf who licks the tyrant’s rod
May bend forgiving knee;
The slave who breaks his slavery's chain
A wrathful man must be."

http://www.marxists.org/archive/connolly/1903/05/rebels...g.htm

But of course as we know from Bertie, that self-affirmed socialist in the Connollyite tradition, 1916 seen in retrospect was all just a dress rehersal for the Celtic Tiger (which is a shorthand for "our continued existence being dependent on the goodwill of "de multi-nationals").

by antifan Tue May 02, 2006 02:56

The loud and arrogant Sean Ryan is at it again.

The ambassador did not threaten anyone at any point in the Limerick Leaders excellent and exclusive interview.

But you already knew this. You say you hate spin doctors yet you try to be one. I've been following your rants and I cant believe some of what you get away with. Your doctored picture of the minister for justice portrayed as a kkk member is one of your lowest acts from a very long list of low acts.

It is obvious you are anti-american. I'd say you are anti-Irish too.

Wake up and smell the coffee and learn to be thankful for what you have. Thank God for America.

Erin go bragh

by Caobhin Tue May 02, 2006 11:56

From reaction above looks like you pissed off one of the 5-10 god-thanking, thankful for what they've have, coffee smelling, septic worshipping muppets in the country. Well Done!

by Seán Ryan Wed May 03, 2006 01:28

This might annoy the '5 to 10' a bit more.

Here's a picture of the full article, tis 659k so if you use a 56k modem like me be aware.

I did not spin the threat that is implicit in this piece.

Let it speak for itself.

by Mr. T. Wed May 03, 2006 13:42

Mr. Ryan:

I've reflected on Pat C's advice and have read the particle you so generously scanned and contributed to this forum. After reading it, while I have problems with the American position on rendition, troops through Shannon, I fail to find the slighted support for the "implicit threat" you keep yammering on about.

Look - we as Irish have a right to cancel or reject the American military use of Shannon as a way-station at any time. As a result the Americans may amend or cancel certain commercial agreements that may no longer be in their interest - certainly within their rights, even if it's completely retaliatory. We don't have any rights guaranteed employment by expatriate American industries!

I certainly hope the yanks don't pull all their business out of Ireland, and I doubt that they in fact will- at least not as retaliation for banning military flights from Shannon. We should, however, do as much to grow Irish based business as possible - meaning tax cuts and grants to native start-ups, administrative support, training, etc... the best defense against American economic coersion is a strong native business and industrial infrastructure (especially small business enterprises) - which we are presently sorely lacking. So lets take Mr. US Ambassador's message as fact and make it so the Yanks have very little economic leverage.

By the way, being the level headed type that I know you are, I assume you favour banning Russian and all other military flight-overs and refueling as well.

One aside, however: I was very pleased to hear about the "Open Skies" treaty leading to fewer (or hopefully no more) Shannon stop-overs. This is certainly cause for celebration for any Leinster folk who travel often to the USA. Perhaps now you Munster lads will get a taste of waking up groggy in an Irish airport still hours away from yer home....

by Seán Ryan Fri May 05, 2006 01:06

I see that you've asked yourself another rhetorical question. The answer to the question posed in the title and in the first paragraph (after the hello bit) of your comment is answered by your second paragraph (after the hello bit). Which makes the question you asked irrelevant and makes the question a dishonest one - seeing that you already knew the answer. I wont comment further on the subject of the question itself as I've already made myself clear.

As for your other question. Quite right. I condemn any action perpetrated by my government, that includes: picking sides and participating in illegal wars, picking sides and participating in 'legal' wars, participating in torture and/or enslavement, selling or helping to sell arms, and the domestication and enslavement of the Irish people.

Who the other players are does not colour my thinking when applied to the above.

by Seán Ryan Fri May 05, 2006 05:45

This week has been lots of fun, and Friday's only just begun.

The Limerick Leader this week has a new boss.

`:oO

Seems Joe Gleeson's had enough and has 'retired' after 48 years of servitude.

Brian Deegan is the new managing director.

"Brian is an experienced international MD with a track record of integrating acquisitions to the corporate envoirnment and growing sales through product and market development.

He has joined the Limerick Leader from Essilor International Group, where his latest role was as Managing Director of BBGR (a member of the Essilor Group) in the UK."

Well good luck Brian. Specially with meatheads like editor Brendan Halligan.

They haven't updated their web site with this news yet. (still featuring last weeks stuff with a nice picture of the American Ambassador) I'll link to the story when they catch up and catch on.

I spose all that remains to be done here is the introductions.

Brian meet Brendan - Brendan eat Brian.

by Mr. T. Fri May 05, 2006 13:14

Mr. .Ryan:

I'm not trying to trick you or to lampoon you and that was not a rhetorical question.

I was asking a serious question - where in that article was there a threat mentioned? Would you please just provide the column / paragraph number and/or snippet of text? I truly found nothing in that article that was threatening anyone.

by Seán Ryan Fri May 05, 2006 15:01

Well fair enough Mr.T.

I'll take you at your word. But I'd like you to do something in return just to show yourself that you're not trying to trick or lampoon me.

Anyway here's an example and I'll provide and discuss many more if you follow my request.

Second column from the left starts third paragraph:

" Shannon Airport is a commercial arrangement that has been in place for decades. Our soldiers enjoy passing over Ireland and stopping into Shannon as the food is good, the pub is nice, the souvenirs are great to take home to their kides, and everyone speaks English. Service to our planes is also excellent and the fuel is clean. It's a business arrangement that suits everyone.

But it is not by any means a political deal. There are dozens of airports in Europe that could do the job just as well, and we could easily use them if we have to. If we were denied access to Shannon it would have absolutely no impact on our military activities in Iraq in support of the democratically-elected government there or any other military activities anywhere in the world. What it would impact is hundreds of jobs in the Limerick area, but it will have zero impact on military operations in Iraq."

Please note Mr. T that the ambassador softens this threat by suggesting it will be only hundreds of jobs that will be 'impacted.'

Now check out the two photographs at the bottom of the page.

Military flight beside a picture of Dell.

Note the ambassador threatened Limerick, not Clare (Shannon is in Clare). And please note this article is a product of the Limerick Leader who is situated in Limerick and knows well the geographical surroundings. What's the picture of Dell doing here? (note also that Dell employs thousands not hundreds and note also that Dell has turned nearly every other business of note in Limerick into a service industry. Bye bye Dell hello economic collapse in Limerick.) So much for the implicit threat being about hundreds of jobs.

Here's where you come in. You've no problem handing out work to others to satisfy your whims. If you want to contribute to this piece, I've got a job for you for a change.

Get in contact with Dell and ask them did they give permission for their picture to appear in this piece.

When they answer 'no.' (betcha) ask them do they support the use of their picture in this fashion by the Limerick Leader and the American ambassador.

Quid pro quo. Add to this story or subtract yourself from it please.

by Mr. T. Fri May 05, 2006 16:34

Your reply has helped me understand what you objected to. However, I never suggested I was signing up to be your errand boy. I'll think about the further involvement...

But one question you could clarify for me is - isn't the Shannon airport considered the regional airport for Limerick? But I do see your point with respect to the Dell photo - it doesn't belong in the peace and the fact that it's there is rather curious. But I'm not sure I'd jump on your conspiracy bandwagon just yet.

But why if you are looking to block the US military flights would you entirely understandable civilian reaction by Americans? Sometimes you can't have your cake and eat it too. That was my point- sure we can chuck the yanks out, but we shouldn't be surprised if it leads to economic repercussions.

Ireland is presently too dependent economically on American, Canadian, British, French, German, even Russian multinational corporations. If we don't develop policies and programmes to rigorously support Irish start-ups through formative phases through to successfully entering world markets, we will forever have to make choices between foreign policy and economic well being.

by Mr. T. Sat May 06, 2006 01:04

the image of the Dell manufacturing plant that's published in the article comes from Dell's stock image library : http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/co...=corp

The terms of use for the images are as follows:

Dell Inc. grants accredited media full permission to reproduce these photographs according to the following guidelines. Images cannot be used to promote or sell any product or technology, nor can they be used in advertising or inclusion in brochures or other sales materials. We understand that you will give our company a credit line as follows: "Courtesy of Dell Inc."

Seems to me that Limerick Leader didn't correctly attribute those photos - they have "(LL)" as the image source... which would appear to violate the user aggrement, which states that the image must be credited to Dell. Other that the attribution, it would appear that any accredited media outlet can publish these images without explicit prior approval by Dell. Which makes me think the LL is a pretty sloppy newspaper for having screwed up this one very reasonable requirement...

I still don't see any grand conspiracy, Mr. Ryan. I will as I said send and email to Dell, but there's no media relations address so at best I'll be sending it into the ether...

by Seán Ryan Sat May 06, 2006 01:58

A fair piece of work Mr. T.

It's even fair that you consider the publication of this picture in this fashion to be sloppy. It's fair that I consider it to be other than sloppy, I consider it to be deliberate.

But that's opinions isn't it.

It's not about proving my opinion in an absolute sense. It's about reasonable doubt. I look at this piece from the Limerick Leader and I look at the ammount of coincidences that need to occur in order that the piece they printed not be a deliberate threat to my country.

I keep in mind my opinion on sovereignty whilst I consider these coincidents. I believe sovereignty to be the right and ability to rules one's self or indeed a country to rule itself. To me self-sufficiency is a necessary condition that must exist in order for the possibility for sovereignty to exist. Ireland must be capable of fending for itself and looking after itself irregardless as to foreign aid or threat. Otherwise we do not look after ourselves, somebody else does.

Coincidents:

a. Mistake about Shannon being in Limerick (the jobs reference)

b. The fact that the Limerick Leader didn't comment or fix this mistake. They after all made the piece look like they were asking some hard questions.

c. The coincidence that the Limerick Leader didn't challenge the Ambassador's usage of the terms, 'we' or 'us.' Thus blurring the nationality and loyalties of the Ambassador. Don't forget that this man is a good personal friend of Mr. Bush and has donated to him big time whilst he sought to insinuate himself into office.

d. The fact that the Ambassador didn't get asked any real questions, and Mr. T, I think that you'll agree irregardless as to our opinions on the general topic, that there exist some questions that would have proven much more difficult for the ambassador to answer. Ie "if rendition is so moral and legal - name the airports in Europe that prisoners actually went through," etc.

e. The picture of Dell. Clumsy maybe, a very large stick definitely. I wonder does the Limerick Leader do this often. I cannot remember them ever apologising for having done so. Imagine if they messed with Disney.

f. The Limerick Leader has consistantly berated and belittled activists, without ever offering the right to reply. Marginalisation, despite recent polls putting it that the opinions of the Irish population do not support the American wars or our facilitation of them.

g. Here's an interesting coincidence that you might like to explore. The new MD of the Limerick Leader is or was a big honcho for Essilor as I've said already. Check out connections between Essilor and Bush and more importantly his staff. I've only just started looking at this angle and already the resluts are very interesting. I'll put my findings on this here when I'm finished looking.

Ok we have a, b, c, d, e, f and g. All coincidents? Mistakes? And as you can see I've left lots out.

In fairness as I said reasonable doubt. I have very reasonable doubt and I believe the burden of proof of innocence should now be shifted to the Limerick Leader. I believe I have presented enough to show to the general readership that the Limerick Leader does have some tough questions it needs to ask itself. And it needs to answer some tough questions we the Irish people have to ask it.

Surely that's only reasonable.

by Seán Ryan Sun May 07, 2006 16:34

Here's the link to the story about the appointment of Brian Deegan as MD.
http://www.limerickleader.ie/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionI...86061

The limerick Leader is owned by Johnston Press plc. who buys up local newspaers by the bucketfull, (they own at least six in Ireland). I've updated the Wiki page with this information and have asked a question on the wiki discussion page about Brendan Halligan's belief and investigations into UFOs.

Wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerick_Leader

UFO question: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Limerick_Leader

No need for the folks at the Limerick Leader to thank me for all this effort. Tis an ongoing pleasure.

by anon Tue May 09, 2006 12:30

U.N. Convention Against Torture Observations

Gabor Rona, International Legal Director for Human Rights First, is in Geneva observing the United States’ presentations to the Committee and will also brief the Committee on several issues of concern. He is reporting daily on the events in Geneva as they unfold.

http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/us_law/etn/cat/blog/pos...a.asp

US is before U.N. Committee Against Torture a report will be issued on May 19th.

Bellinger Legal spokesman at the committee on Morning Ireland RTE http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0509/morningireland.html - denies everything, says nothing, boarding planes would be 'inappropiate'

by anon Sat May 13, 2006 22:12

Via http://thelimerick.blogspot.com/ + ICR typos :P was waiting for Mr Horgan to detail any other events from the last week?

The US ambassador James C Kenny and the Limerick Leader issued a thinly-veilled but toothless threat to the people of the Mid-West by suggesting that Dell Computers and other US multinational investments would dissappear if US military and the CIA were prevented from using Shannon Airport as one of their main refuelling stops for the Iraq war and for the torture rendition programme.

I wonder did Michael Dell give permission for the photo of the Dell factory in Raheen to be published as part of US war propeganda? Peace activists were described as "a small unelected group of ideologues who claim to speak for the people of Ireland" and as being guilty of Anti-Americanism and Anti-"anything that has to do with Israel."

I have never heard any peace activist claiming to speak for the people of Ireland. We speak for ourselves and work for peace and go to great lengths to seek and expose the truth. To claim that peace activists are Anti-American and Anti-Semetic is little more than a cheap shot. and imwprtju of a senior diplomat. I speak primarily as a private citizen, but I reject the suggestion that private citizens have no right to speak out on political matters, or to hold our elected political representatives to account for their actions.

The Limerick Leader's eulogy on the US and its ambassador ignored the pertinent facts that the unlawful US-led war in Iraq, lead to the deaths of over 100,000 people and up to one million war related injuries and diseases including cancers caused by US and UK military use of depleted uranium, and in the abuse and killing of prisoners on a scale never before practised by democratic states.

Mr. Kenny describes US military use of Shannon as "a business arrangement that suits everyone." Well, not quite-It did not suit little Ali Abbas when a US bomb hit his home, killing both his parents and all his siblings, and blowing away his hands, and leaving him with horrific burns. This cozy "business arrangement" did not suit the tens of thousands of Iraqi dead nor their relatives, who mourn their dead just as we do in Ireland grieve when we lose loved ones.

Kenny says that US military use of Shannon "It is not by any means a political deal. There are dozens of airports in Europe that could do the job just as well." In certain respects, he is correct.

This war is more criminal than political. The heroin drug trade is also very profitable, but surely not one the Irish Government should promote. The Irish Government is indeed supporting the US war in Iraq for the worst of all reasons, money, with no account taken of the moral and legal implications arising from the killing of innocent people.

Particularly insulting is Kenny's comment that denial of Shannon to the US military would "impact on hundreds of jobs in Limerick," as if the location of multinational companies in the Mid-west depends on the US military use of Shannon. It is insulting to the thousands of Dell workers in Limerick that their jobs depend on the killing of innocent people in Iraq and Afghanistan.

There is no word of regret, and no mention of the deaths of all those innocent people, especially over 40,000 children whose deaths are attributable to the Iraq war according to the Medtact and Lancet reports. Nor is there any mention of the rendition for torture investigation in the European Parliment and the Council of Europe.

The banner headline and the uncritical interviewing of the US ambassador by the Limerick Leader appear to be designed to counter the negative publicity arising from these investigations and from the likelihood that evidence will be forthcoming over the coming months that prisoners were indeed taken through Shannon for the purpose of torture. The subliminal arguement is that this does not really matter as long as there is profit in this murky business. This intervention seems almost an attempt to blackmail, "a big loser if military flights denied access to Shannon would be Limerick" says Mr. kenny.

Very many Irish people are deeply ashamed of what Ireland has helped to do to so many innocent people in Iraq. Kenny states "the international community is helping the soverign government of Iraq to establish security and bring peace and stability ... A tiny self-appointed section of the international community lead by the US and UK and some other complicit states including Ireland, representing less than 6 percent of the world's population, have brought untold suffering to the people of Iraq and created unprecidented instability in the Middle East.

Kenny claims that alledged rendition landings are "simply not an issue." Then can Mr. Kenny please explain why CIA planes N313P, N379p, and N85VM landed at Shannon 85 times, and landed at Guantameno 141 times?

"We would never bring detainees through Irish airports or Irish airspace in violation of Ireland's sovereignty." This statement is likely to be proved false in the near future. I presented substantial prima facta evidence to the EU Parliment TDIP comittee in Brussels that Shannon Airport was being used as a crucial part of the rendition for torture process.

Kenny described US military use of Shannon as "in keeping with US policy and Irish neutrality." The iraq war was in direct controversion of the UN Charter and international law.

"Finally there is no issue here of neutrality either." In this statement, Kenny is innappropriately interfiering in internal political and judicial matters in ireland. In April 2003 Mr. Justice Kearns ruled in the High Court that Ireland was in clear breach of the Hague convention on Neutrality. The ambassador misinterprets Article 7 of the Hague Convention and ignores Article 2 which states, "Belidgerants are forbidden to move troops or convoys of either munitions of war or supplies accross the territory of a neutral power." And Article 11, "A neutral Power which receives on its territory troops belonging to the beligerant armies shall intern them ..."

However, the protests by individual peace activists are not about legal nicities, but about the unlawful killing and torturing of very many people, and Irish complicity in that killing.

by ham Sun May 14, 2006 21:56

http://www.limerickpost.ie/dailynews.elive?id=7325&cate...y-Fri

Whats the significance of this

"We are looking for a site where we can fly continuously without a layover. We would hope to be able to make a trip from one European station to the Middle East and back again in a single crew day as it would save a lot of expense.�

Don't most troops fly back from Kuwait to Shannon to Fort Benning Florida

That e14 million comes up again, Does the state not subsidies Shannon by more the e14
See also http://www.indymedia.ie/article/75953

by Seán Ryan Sat May 20, 2006 02:12

This is the second of the letters that the Limerick Leader published in response to the article in question. It was posted by a Mr. Fred Johnston (Excellent Letter Fred).

No doubt our Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will be making an official statement of complaint with regard to US Ambassador James C. Kenny’s not-so-veiled threats to the working people of the Shannon and Limerick region, as reported vividly in your paper.

The Ambassador with all due respect has suggested that too much noise about US military flights into Shannon will result in job losses; thus managing to insult and bully Irish citizens in one go. Is this a threat of small-scale sanctions, a nod that bread will be taken out of the mouths of Noisy Paddies, if they don’t behave?

The Ambassador has shrewdly cast the blame for any future job losses on “activists with a political agenda”, whatever the meaningless phrase implies. Any politician in this world merits the same title.

Perhaps this simply translates as “We are your friends. The Long-haired weirdos who sit out in all weathers protesting about our take-over of your airport and our threat to the sovereignty of your country are the enemy”. Nice one.

He goes on to state that there is no evidence that US have ferried shackled prisoners through Shannon. There is, but the Irish Government has been terrorised into not inspecting the aircraft.

As for the use of Shannon, if the Ambassador’s “warns’ that there are “dozens of airports in Europe that could do the job just as well”, why is it necessary to “warn’ at all just to keep the local Paddies in their place? The fact is that Shannon is a first-base strategic Atlantic stop-over and is convenient and vital to the US military operation, and if it wasn’t they wouldn’t use it.

In any case let our nation currently comemorationg her historic liberation from imperialism relax: the Ambassador’s intemperate language and Rumsfeldesque message will be met with Bertie Ahern’s scathing and proud rebuke in the name of the people of Ireland and the dead generations etc. etc., and day now.

So meanwhile we’ll crawl back into our cabins of clay and wattles made and keep our mouths shut or we won’t eat.
Fred Johnston

by Lone Wolf Tue Jun 20, 2006 01:44

Suggest that the title of US Ambassador is redundant. Henceforth should be more accurately styled "US Gauleiter".