Taoiseach should condemn US military posturing and human rights abuses during Saudi visit
Green Party Foreign Affairs spokesperson John Gormley TD today called on the Taoiseach to use his visit to the Middle East to condemn human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia and the build-up of US military assets in the Gulf area which, it is feared, could be a precursor to a new American war against Iran.
Deputy Gormley said: “While the Taoiseach is in the Middle East he will be hosted by Saudi leaders who are as out of touch with their own people as President Bush. I would question why the Taoiseach has failed to publicly raise human rights issues while leading a trade mission to Saudi Arabia. This country is a ruthless monarchy steeped in human rights abuses. All political parties, elections and trade unions are banned, working conditions are exploitative, and women and migrant workers are heavily discriminated against. Nearly 90 people were executed in 2005 and torture and floggings are part of the ‘judicial’ process. However, ethical considerations apparently are less important than business interests for this Government.”
“Also, while in the Middle East, the Taoiseach should strongly voice Irish objections to any further war escalation in the region while offering Ireland’s diplomatic assistance to easing conflict. Many analysts have suggested that US military deployments in the Gulf are part of a build-up to a war against Iran. These forces include Patriot anti-missile missiles, two aircraft carriers and cruise-missile-capable ships. None of these weapons are relevant to the fight against insurgents in Iraq. These developments are extremely worrying.
“It is imperative that the Irish Government – both the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, – make immediate and clear statements condemning an attack on Iran. Any escalation or expansion of the Middle East war zone would greatly endanger international security and stability and bring the so-called ‘War on Terror’ to new levels of horror and stupidity.
“We know from UN figures released today that over 34,000 Iraqi civilians were killed in violence during the last year alone. Studies published in the Lancet Journal speak of over 600,000 civilians killed up to July 2006. This bloodletting must be put at the door of the Bush Administration. We now have a US President, unsupported by his own people and the US Congress, but under the dangerous sway of unaccountable NeoCons.
“From an Irish perspective we must not facilitate any more US troops flying through Shannon on their way to create mayhem not only in Iraq but possibly in Iran as well,” concluded Deputy Gormley.