4pm-6pm *GPO Anti War Vigil U.S.Military Outta Shannon & Iraq

by Report-Ciaron - Catholic Worker/Plowshares Wed Jul 16, 2008 08:26

A good crew gathered outside the GPO - Colm, Con, Sean, Paul down from Monaghan, Alban from my workplace, Marie from Pax Christi and Elaine from the Viking Museum. The weather was good and passersby were very interactive.

I did my my best to break the embargo on Cuba by puffing on a stokie that Alban had brought back from a recent trip to Cuba. A couple from New York City were happy to see us as they do a similar weekly anti-war vigil on Manhatten. A high school student told us he had argued against the U.S. military use of Shannon at a school debate. A former iirish Republican POW gave us much affirmation as she passed by. It's amazing who you meet when you vigil. Reminds one of Jesuit Dan Berrigans advice during the frantic '60's "Don't just do something, stand there!"

Meanwhile Obama, the "anti-war" presidential candidate, announces 10,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan if elected http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/15/barackobama....usa1

The vibrant anti-war movement in the U.S. of 2003 was largely diverted when a large amount of activists got off the streets and contemplating nonviolent direct intervention "to get clean for Gene" and support the John Kerry presidential bid of 04. This was duplicated at many an anti-war rallies in Ireland that marginalised the possibilities for nonviolent direct action against Irish participation in the war and became merely platforms for politicians and aspiring politicians. Some, like the Irish
Green Party, who are now in government facilitating Shannon Airport as the
most significant hub for U.S. troops to get from North America to the killing fields of
Iraq. Most U.S. troops in Iraq have come through a very small departure lounge at Shannon
Airport. Some of the Irish anti-war candidates of yesteryear are now government politicians
facilitating this crime. How many presently in opposition would have taken the same deal offered by FF that the Irish Greens took is anybody's guess. It's no guess that an Obama presidency will be enough to end this war.

Some photos and a report on this week's vigil from Sean
http://thepit.forumakers.com/news-reports-f1/monday-s-v...htm#4

by London Calling Tue Jul 15, 2008 21:36

PHOTOLINK-Demonstration Outside Military Recruitment Centre in London
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/403717.html

by Ciaron - Catholic Worker/Plowshares Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:34

The loss of 9 U.S. soldiers in one combat incident over the weekend is one of the biggest since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. The killings took place close to the Pakistan border. The U.S. military see the northern regions of Pakistan as the problem and want to expand the U.S. war over the border.

Admiral Mike Mullen chairman of the U.S. joint chief staffs has made a surprise visit to Pakistan to explore possibilities of direct U.S. military intervention http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2008/0714/121....html This would be a major escalation that could take place in the months ahead, unmanned U.S. drone attacks have already taken place in northern Pakistan. Such intervention is unpopular with the Pakistan government, military and people who view it as a direct attack on their national sovereignty.

Meanwhile Paul Colm and I (and hopefully others- why not drop by for however long if you're downtown) will be outside the GPO saying no to Irish involvement in these U.S. wars. Colm attended the vigil at Shannon yesterday and has become well known in Ireland for his solo vigils in his orange jumpsuit. Recently some sympathetic building workers noticed him kneeling on the side of road near the Dail and gave him some knee pads. So there you go you never know where solidarity will spring from.

This image form the recent Catholic Worker occupation of the Supreme Court sees

One, two, three....many Colim Roddy's
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5858350707743499899

by 9 U.S. soldiers killed Sun Jul 13, 2008 22:08

9 U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080713/tpl-uk-afghan-vi....html

Anti-War Resistance in the U.S Military
http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/

U.S. Military Veterans Against the War
www.ivaw.org