Airport terror threat highlights need to change Shannon policy
The Green Party Chairman and Foreign Affairs spokesperson, John Gormley TD, today called for a debate in the Dáil about a threat to bomb Dublin airport.
Deputy Gormley said that the threat from Omar Bakri Mohammed, that was revealed in the BBC’s File On 4/Newsnight programme last night, emphasised the urgent need for a change of Government policy on the use of Shannon Airport as a stopover for the US military in the so-called war on terror.
Deputy Gormley said: “Security experts agree that this latest terror threat is ominous and should be taken very seriously. Stepping up security to the required level could prove to be extremely expensive and, as we know from the London bombings, does not always work. It would be far wiser if the Irish government addressed the root causes of this threat: we are a high value target for terrorists because of our support for the US in Iraq. Over half a million American troops have travelled through Ireland on their way to Iraq.
“This war has been disastrous for the US. Those of us who predicted that the war would be counterproductive and destabilise the region have been proved right. It’s time now for the Irish Government to reassess its position. The policy of allowing US forces to use Shannon must be stopped and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, should urge the US to set a timetable for the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq,” Deputy Gormley concluded.