US military veterans speak out against use of Shannon airport by US war machine

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report Sunday November 14, 2004 22:55 by Anti-War Ireland

Veterans of the US military now at the forefront of the American anti-war movement have issued an appeal to the people of Ireland to resist the misuse of Shannon airport by the US killing machine. The statement follow:

Citizens of Ireland,

The use of Shannon Airport as a refueling stop for US planes involved
in the occupation of Iraq is a threat to the independence and
neutrality of your nation which should not be tolerated by free Irish
men and women.

We have seen the reasons given for this war by GW Bush and Tony Blair
all proven to be misarepresentations and lies to justify what can
only be called imperial agression.

While the men and women of our military and unknown thousands of
Iraqi citizens lives are sacrificed for corporations seeking control
of natural resources and plundering the wealth of that ancient
civilization, we have a sacred duty to stand up for wehat is honest
and right.

Real security for the US, Ireland or any other country will not be
gained by foreign aggression. It will only be insured by following
policies based on justice, both economic and social, and on the quest
for peace.

As veterans who have fought in Vietnam and other wars, we are
outraged and saddened by the actions of our government and will
continue to do what we can to reverse the course our beloved nation
has been set upon by the neo-con chickenhawks in Washington.

We salute you today and are encouraged to know that throughout the
world people are saying NO to this ill conceived and unjustified war.
Together we will win.

David Cline
coordinator of Vietnam Veterans Against the War
and national president of Veterans For Peace




To the people of Ireland:

As many of you know, the U.S. military has used Shannon airport
for some time now as a refuelling stop to transport troops to Iraq.
The situation there continues to deteriorate on a daily basis as U.S.
troops move into Fallujah and Black Watch troops move closer to
Baghdad. I urge you to continue speaking out againt the use of this
airport by the U.S. military for the purposes of continuing an
illegal and immoral war.

According to the Irish Constitution, a UN Resolution would have been
needed to declare war against Iraq to allow use of any Irish airport
such as Shannon, or Irish airspace for the purposes of military
action or war. Together we can help bring an end to this terrible
war, and bring all of the troops home.

- Alex Ryabov
Iraq Veterans Against the War