Greengate

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Wednesday October 24, 2007 15:35

by Seán Ryan

With regard to searching planes at Shannon - Trevor Sargent says "The program for goverment doesn't actually mention search specifically..."

CIA in Shannon: - "The program for goverment doesn't actually mention search specifically..."

I caught up with Trevor Sargent today as he was about to head into the Dáil. We had a very polite chat.

It turns out that when Eamonn Ryan TD told me that planes were going to be searched in Shannon, I misunderstood what was being said to me. On the day the Greens voted to join FF in government, Eamonn Ryan told me “… the rendition flights in Shannon will be checked.” http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/jun2007/eamonn_ryan.mp3 Taken from the Indymedia Feature:- A corrupting environment - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83003

No wonder Eamonn’s so pissed at me!

I assumed that ‘checked’ meant ‘checked.’

Trevor cleared up my confusion by telling me that ‘checked’ means “The program for government doesn't actually mention search specifically, it mentions compliance with United Nations laws.” when I asked him why no planes had been searched since the Greens went into government despite Eamonn’s promise to the contrary.

I feel so embarrassed. There’s me going around bad-mouthing the poor Greens for the last four months or so, when all the time it was my fault (an example:- Flip Flopping With the Greens - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84664). Being the decent chap that he is, Trevor didn’t tell me off or shout at me. This makes me feel worse if truth be told.

Okay, so who’s not telling the truth. Trevor or Eamonn?

If the concession won by the greens was that Ireland would comply with United Nations laws with regard to CIA planes in Shannon it’s an admission by FF that they were breaking United Nations laws prior to their melding with the Greens. Is it time for a Court case I wonder?

When I put it to Trevor that the Gardaí had the power to search planes without being prompted by the Government to do so, he replied “I hear a different legal interpretation of that to be honest…” Trevor didn’t specify what this other interpretation was, but I assume he meant that they didn’t have the power to search suspect planes. He should sack his legal advice. In fairness to Trevor he did say that the Airport authorities have the duty to ensure that Irish and international law is upheld.

Early this morning I commented on Tim Hourigan’s excellent article:- Shannon - a tale of two routes - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84749

I wondered what had happened to ‘grave concern’ expressed by the Government with regard to the US transporting a prisoner through Shannon some 16 months back. The Government were supposed to have demanded a written report from the US government to explain this breach of protocol (even though no such protocol exists). http://www.indymedia.ie/index.php?obj_id=53&story_id=84...10385 I decided to broach this concern with Mr. Sargent. He never saw or heard of any such report. No surprise there.

As I said it was a polite exchange. It’s worth listening to, just to hear Trevor recount his experience with regard to a CIA golfing trip that passed through Shannon.

I was so sure that ‘check’ in the context that Eamonn had used it in had meant ‘searched.’ Damn it, when the New York Times on the 24th of June this year reported that in reference to the CIA transiting through Shannon and renditions that "Green Party leaders said they had been told Wednesday that there would be “specialized training” for the Irish police to monitor possible instances of stopovers in connection with the seizures." I was full sure this training would be used to pinpoint suspect planes and to search them. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/world/europe/14irish....login

Now I’m worried. Who was supposed to teach the Gardaí - the CIA?

Is the continued practice of doing nothing the lesson that was taught?

If so the CIA or whoever must be very happy with their students.

Related Link:- Flip Flopping With the Greens - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84664