Bush visit - evidence of Government’s support for war
Green Party Chairman and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson John Gormley T.D said today:
The news that George W. Bush landed in Shannon this morning and addressed American troops is further evidence of Irish Government collusion in the Iraq war. Interestingly, the Garda security provided for President Bush at Shannon exceeded that provided for the protection of Irish citizens in Dublin at the weekend.
What sort of priorities does this Government have?
They seem more interested in protecting a man who has made the world a much more dangerous place by engaging in a counter-productive and destabilising war in Iraq, than in protecting our own Irish citizens. There can be no doubt also that the appearance of President Bush in Shannon along with American troops, who use the airport as if it is a military complex, increases the likelihood of an attack on this country from terrorists.
Previously, US Secretary of State Rumsfeld addressed troops at ShannonAirport. It would appear now from President Bush’s appearance that Ireland is seen as a de facto 51st state of the US.
This Irish Government still pays lip service to the idea of neutrality while at the same time giving free reign to the United States military in Shannon.
How can Bertie Ahern or Dermot Ahern reconcile this activity with Ireland’s stated policy of military neutrality?”