SNN WATCH

by Tim Sun Dec 12, 2004 23:13

Got to Shannon today the hard way.
Was hurrying to meet another activist, so rather than suffer the sunday timetable of Shannon buses, I took the galway bus as far as Bunratty, and waited in Durty Nelly's for my pick up. some guy went to the piano and said "dis next one is for Geroge Bush" and he started to play " I am the Sheik of Ara-bee... and at night into your tent I will creep" it was quite funny.

so here's a more detailed report (it's cheaper too... texting these in costs way too much!! but thanks very much to those who sent me credit for my phone!)

Anyway, when I got to the airport, I immediately spotted the ATA tristar at the military stand and the North American 767 next to it. The Evergreen jet was an unwelcome surprise.

If you haven't been to Shannon recently then you might be surprised at the extra security airside (none of which is protecting Aer Lingus, Ryanair or other civilian flights by the way) ...but more of that some other time...

At the centre parking area, (Park 11) was an 747 Freighter operated by Evergreen International. It is the same one that Ed and I phoned the cops about in Jan 2003 to request it be searched for explosives. (Evergreen have a contract with the Pentagon to carry MILITARY CARGO, not troops)

The ATA from yesterday was behind that, and in the next spot, (where the herc was yesterday,) was the army jeep, the portakabin with Gardai in it, and airport police vans. Interestingly the generators and light towers were still in place, which made me suspect that another bandit was due in.(and I was right)

At 17:10 we had some interesting bizjets that landed... N351TC (owned by Raytheon) and registered to Taylor Companies Inc. washington DC. For reason's I won't go into here, I will be looking into that plane...

At 17:12 another one landed. VP-CGC .. this one may also be worth looking at.

(if anyone has info, let me know)

Like N351TC it was attended to by (the recently sold off) handling company FBO.

North American airlines headed off at 17:40 and turned to head North-North West.

VP-CGC headed west, and N351TC headed to Stockholm's Arlanda airport.

At 17:45 Saudi royal family flight Saudi 'zero-one-one' landed and taxi'd to the terminal for fuel and food, for the lovely, democratic and upstanding members of the House of Saud...

The jet's registration was HZ-HMED (if you're asking) .

There was a lot of the usual fueling and loading of food, and lots of Garda vans and patrol cars, and airport police about, as well as the Irish army out by the portokabin.

None of home started to hassle me until it got dark... I was having a nice chat with local planespotters, and not bothering anyone.

When it got dark,then the yellow jacket brigade got really interested in me.

at 18:25 AP20 decides to drive by me, and after a few passes up and down, and a quick drive to the checkpoint to consult his boss, he ended up being parked next to me for ages. Then his boss came down in the APO patrol car (which they try to make look as similar to a Garda car as the law will allow... and have even taken up the habit of driving outside the aiport without seatbelts,,, an exemption which does not extend to glorified security guards)

The guy babysits me for ages... reporting the activity... "he's looking through the telescope... he's writing something... he's sitting down... he's eating a banana,... he's reading the clare champion... " (and you thought planespotting was boring? U should try TIM-SPOTTING!!!)

Anhow after a while some friends of mine arrived, but had trouble parking on a dead end road because there were two airport polcie vehicles and a garda car blocking the way as they all chatted.

My friends brougth me some much welcomed tea, gloves and cake... and after we watched the Saudis take off and head east the garda van left us to go up to the military stand... and a Garda car came off the airfield to keep an eye on us....

then another plane lands,,, a big white C-123 with what looks like a Luftwaffe cross ... and numbers 50 40 (with cross between the 50 and 40. )

it parked up next to the army jeep, and Garda portokabin.

I asked the Gardai next to us to investigate the plane.

"Hello tim" said the Garda who had never met me before....

"Hello Garda, what's your name? Have we met before?"

"No, we havent"

and yet you call me Tim...

what is your name...

ah, there's my number...

yes CL 151,,, but what's your name?

who are they?

they're with me Garda.

What are their names?

What's yours? you're not being very friendly Garda you must have a name?

Killeen..

Well Garda Killeen. I'd like to formally request that you investigate a couple of VEHHIKLES there.

The Evergreen Int'l 747F reg Novermber 485 Echo Victor, the C-123 Provide reg 50-40 out therenext to your colleagues. and your colleague is witness to my request.

I ask Garda CL 272 her name, which seems an easier task for her. Her name is McMahon.

Garda Killeen has gone off to interrogate my companions, and check out their car.

I ask Gda McMhaon if she was up at the military stand at gate 42. she says that she was, but denies all knwoledge of military activity so i filled her in.

when he gets back I ask him if he will pass on my request.

He says he will pass it to the Sgt on the airfield

Sgt McMahon?

No... not McMahon.

Ah, Sgt O'Sullivan then?

Yes.

Tell John I said hello. Doesn't he look younger without the moustache? Or do ye not know him that long (these guys are both new)

The drive off, and we drive off. they follow us closley for quite a distance and then... for no apparent reason pull us over on the dual carriageway.

I just want to check all your details are in order (i.e. I want to see if there's something I can hang you for)

Are you wearing no seatbelt.?

No. But I was before you stopped me... etc.

Even though he got the names and addresses earlier he asks them all again.
He asks three times about insurance even though the disk is displayed...

Joe, who is driving gets out and gives his details repeatedly. but the delay goes on.

I ring Inspector Kennedy's mobile... I have had the number for ages.

"Hello, Inspector Tom Kennedy?"

"Yes, speaking"

"Hello Inspector, sorry to trouble you. Tim Hourigan here. Look Inspector, Garda Tim Killeen and Garda McMahon have pulled us over here for no reason and are harrassing us. would you like to Speak to them"

"Yes, put me on"

I hold the phone out to Garda Killeen.
"It's Inspector Kennedy, he wants to talk to you"

Killen's voice wobbles...
"No. if he wants to talk to me, tell him to contact me"

"But he's on THIS phone NOW.... okay... Hello, Inspector? He says he doens't want to talk to you."

At that, Garda Killeen and Garda McMahon decide to go away.

Joe says "We're heading to Limerick if you're thinking of following us" (which happens a lot)

I told them that they'd be better off arresting the dangerous men with the guins and bombs.

by Michael Sun Dec 12, 2004 23:51

Thanks for the update man! It must be freeeezing out there. It's around 1'C here in Paris. Re airside security at SNN: There was *none* the last time I landed there with Ryanair in November. In fact the crew all stayed in the aircraft or went off for a smoke, and the only thing to guide people into the terminal building was a yellow line on the ground. Surely someone with enough wit might find a way to crack this security system and stray from the path somehow (who knows what might happen?)

Keep up the good work and season's greetings!!

by aquamarine - Shannonwatch Mon Dec 13, 2004 00:05

100,000 people have been killed in Iraq by over 300,000 troops that have passed through Shannon, and are still using Shannon on a daily basis. We the people of Ireland are doing nothing about it. There is an urgent need to re-establish the peace camp at Shannon, and for individuals from all over Ireland to come to Shannon to protest and take appropriate actions to ensure that what is happening in Iraq in not being done with our connivance. ~We are complicit by our silence and our inaction.
Ask yourself, If not I, Who? if not now, When?

by duty free for free oil Mon Dec 13, 2004 00:24

.

Royals in the Republic

by Ciaron - Pit Stop Ploughshares Mon Dec 13, 2004 01:18

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=67900

by rooster Mon Dec 13, 2004 14:17

I think you would struggle with all those planes, civilian and military, all those registration numbers and people walking round with guns.
A conspiracy theorists dreamland!

by John O'Driscoll - Private Person Mon Dec 13, 2004 14:52 jodrisco at iol dot ie Shanghai People's Republic

Heathrow is situated in the United Kingdom, the government of which is at least being honest in its role as a combatant ally of the wrongheaded and lying US administration of George Bush (despite the demonstrated opposition of the majority of its population to this unjust and illegal war on the people of Iraq and misappropriate of their assets by the squandering of the American people's assets).

Heathrow, because of the UK government's position, is therefore at material risk from a major terrorist attack, and the UK government rightly recognises this and has taken steps of late to increase security. That is entirely commendable.

Ireland declares itself to be neutral. Yet it allows armed warplanes to transit through its "neutral" airspace and land and refuel upon its "neutral" soil and use its "neutral" airport facilities to handle and tranship munitions, prisoners and personnel as a key part of the so-called War On Terror which has been conflated with the Invasion of Iraq, and has thus diminished rather than increased the security of the world and its peoples.

If Shannon Watch had no other justification for their existence and activities it would be to oppose the hypocrisy of a country which so abuses the proud badge of "Neutrality" as we do.

Shannon Watch, and other anti-war groups, may yet be even further justified in their existence. If their clear and present opposition to this prostitution of our neutrality in this illegal war yet still proves a sufficient sign of our country's overall hatred of the murder in the Middle East to a terrorist contemplating an attack on a very very soft target is dissuaded.

That hope is faint indeed, and possibly the more dangerous for the having.

It is as likely to be Shannon as Heathrow, and more so given our leaders' self-deceiving refusal to acknowledge the reality of their stance.

We are thus caught between two opposing forces, and at grave risk from both to all that we and our nation, and the IDEA of our Nation, has meant to so many.

Taking refuge behind the national hypocrisy of "See No Evil" or "Ask No Questions" means that we have nothing like the security that such a vital link in the supplychain of the aggressors would merit to defeat such an attack; yet we are an entirely legitimate target in the eyes of those who wish to destroy all that is good as well as bad about America, God's curse be upon them and all breeders of hate and war.

It's not America that's the problem. It's their lying, thieving administration.

I commend you to the first paragraph of our 1916 Proclamation, and the fourth one also. Relevant as ever.

by John O'Driscoll - Private Person Mon Dec 13, 2004 15:03 jodrisco at ireland dot com Shanghai People's Republic

You observed that Tim might find Heathrow a challenge, given the levels of security there. I don't think the comparison is valid is all rooster. Have a good one.

by rooster Mon Dec 13, 2004 15:39

I suggested that a larger airport might provide him with more material!

by Joe Mon Dec 13, 2004 15:54

Heathrow probably isn't getting anything like as much Iraq bound traffic. The only 'official' figures I'm aware of are the ones for the buildup at the start of the war which showed around 40% of US soldiers bound for Iraq passed through Shannon. Many of the rest went via Frankfurt.

If anything its likely that percentage has increased.

The reasons for Shannon being the major refueling base for the US air transport stream is probably
1. Location, location, location for planes enroute to Iraq via Sicily
2. Cheap and not that busy

It's all a bit like if in WWII Germany had not needed to invade Belgiom because Belgium had just opened its borders and not only allowed the panzers to pass through but refueled them as well. A very odd definition of neutrality but then neutrality has always been a bit of political spin rather than a reality.

by JOD Mon Dec 13, 2004 16:20 jodrisco at ireland dot com Shanghai Peoples' Republic

My memories're shot to bits at the best of times. Bit like Iraq at this worst of times.

by John O'Driscoll - People's Republic of Cyberspace Mon Dec 13, 2004 16:43 jodrisco at ireland dot com

I disagree Joe. Neutrality is a very real concept with places like Switzerland, which admittedly has the advantages of a mountain terrain, a superb national defence system, a whole lot of moolah that it DOESN'T need to rely on America for (nasty and all as the provenance of much of the wealth of the gnomes of Zurich may be, they can still afford to give Uncle Sam two fingers).

Neutrality was a very real concept in Ireland back in the "Emergency" and ever since as well.

We used morality as its bulwark, rather more than our mountains or our three saighdiuri armed with pitchforks and a couple of ancient Thompson guns. Oh it may have been partly to spite the auld enemy, but it kept us from all but accidental attack, it meant that we could err on the side of righteousness when it came to returning downed or washed up combatants of either side (we kept the Germans and sent the Allies up North to be sped back into the fray).

It also, IMHO, prevented Churchill from exploiting in any real way (there was some provisioning of warships) our Southern and Western ports.

On a personal note, if he had been so allowed to use said Western Defences, a subchaser might have got the U-boat that torpedoed my grandfather's ship in 1942. And which torpedoing, coupled with the newly adopted Laconia Orders which prevented the sub commander from rescuing survivors or assisting them, and the order to bomb another U-boat three months earlier, when it lay on the surface covered in a Red Cross flag and the survivors of another torpedoed vessel, the Laconia herself, that order which was obeyed by the bomber commander who received it, and the storm that actually smashed his lifeboat, all consipired to kill my grandfather and his fellow passengers and crew.

And the German submarine commander who came back, having sought permission to do so, and granted it too late to arrive before a hurricane did, was himself subsequently captured, taken to a "phantom" prisoner of war camp (Fort George in Maryland), and psychologically tortured to the point that he killed himself.

So you can understand I hope that my point about Neutrality being precious AND real is somewhat of a conviction with me. Neutrality could be said, amongst many other things, have kill ed my grandfather. He wasn't even a fighter. He was a medic. But the price in my opinion came something close to being worth the overall victory against terror back then. It remains so today. Any price at all that is.

by Joe Mon Dec 13, 2004 17:19

In my mind the myth of neutrality is quite damaging to the anti-war movement and to the need for a campaign against militarism per se.

Shannon has been used for decades to ferry US troops on their wars to wars all over the place. It was also used during the Vietnam wa If we provided the same services for Saddam I can't see either the Brits of the US accepting our neutrality.

Even in 'the emergancy' out neutrality was a political fiction rather than a military reality. Only a handful to the allied airmen who crash landed here were interned. Most had to been told to claim they were on a training flight and were automatically returned, others were simply returned anyway. Even their crashed planes (when servicable) were ferried by the Irish army to the border and handed over. Germans on the other hand were interned for the duration. Neutrality in that case seemed to consist of De Valeras weird and embarrassing signing of the book of condolences after Hitler topped himself!

Neutrality is in the fact that slogan that has allowed Bertie off the hook over Shannon. He can defend our de facto support for an actual ongoing war by waffling on about protecting a theorietical and meaningless neutrality. Us waffling on about neutrality justs aids him in doing so.

by Michael Hennigan Mon Dec 13, 2004 18:07

There was little honourable about the principal European neutral powers - Switzerland and Sweden during World War II.

Neutrality has been a good economic propisition for the Swiss who have enjoyed a high standard of living on loot from elsewhere salted in their banks. As to the way Swiss banks in effect stole the assets of holocaust victims, it speaks for itself.

Sweden was key supplier of iron ore, steel and ball bearings to the Nazi machine. The Swedes had invented a a method for processing steel in the early years of the 20th century, that made it a prized product.
In return Sweden got coal mined in occupied Poland. As the tide turned against the Germans, the Swedes began to cover their bets but continued to supply Hitler clandestinely.

Raul Wallenberg, a member of the wealthy Swedish business family, who issued thousands of passports to Jews in Budapest, brought some redemption to Sweden's name but the reality is that neutrality merely was a cloak for self-interest.

As for Ireland, in the period 1947-1050, we received assistance from the the European Recovery Program (Marshall Plan) to fund our dollar import requirements. US administrations could always count on us during the Cold War - being a Catholic country, who believed that we wouldn't take an anti-commie stance when the chips were down?

by Paddy Green Tue Dec 14, 2004 04:22

Tim,

You're doing a great job! Take heart from the situation Pinochet finds himself in today. Who would have thought 30 years ago that would ever happen?! Please God George W, Tony, Bertie, John from down under and all the other leaders of the coalition of the willing will one day be called to account for their crimes against humanity, their bombings, torturing, imprisonment and all the other stuff. Your accounts might be used as evidence! Not impossible! So keep it up.

Green Paddy

by John O'Driscoll - None I care to mention (except Customs) Tue Dec 14, 2004 15:19 Shanghai People's Republic

Or in fact organise my thoughts enough to write it. Thanks. John

by rooster Wed Dec 15, 2004 20:48

Due to the army cutbacks in the north Aldergroves runways are lying empty.
Ian Pasley junior has suggested Aldergroves use to the US embassy, that was about a month ago but no firm decision has been made.

by Michael Wed Dec 15, 2004 23:06

I don't think that we should give up on the word "neutrality" just because it is abused by the government, same as I don't want to give up on "justice" or "freedom" (favs of Bush & Co.).

Most of the rights and duties of neutral powers during a time of war are very clear. The Irish High Court acknowledged even them. (Though for political reasons J Kearns decided that Ireland was under no obligation to obey customary international law.)