Rachel Corrie crews to be deported as aid is delivered to Gaza

Watchman I am aware of the difference between NATO and EU, however I should have clarified Ireland's actual relationship with NATO. In 1999 Ireland signed up to the PfP AND the EAPC. Partnership for Peace and Euro Atlantic Partnership Council. And Ireland IS a member of an EU Military alliance. Ireland has participated in NATO led peace operations in Bosnia and Kosovo. So it's a NATO Partner. WX: If you want to nit pick about calling the planes that land in Shannon as not being military yet carrying troops, then knock yourself out, but they ARE refueled there :-)

Shuvonn: Ireland is a member of the European Union (EU). It is NOT a member of Nato, which is a quite separate organisation.

P.S. No I'm not. :-) I have been through Shannon multiple time both as a civilian visiting my family and as a soldier. None of those times was I on board nor were there any military aircraft. You know not what you speak of. Sorry.

Sure didn't we all love Bertie, there is no one here speaking badly of him :-) Did ya not know we even pay him more than the US President gets paid? Not anti-Ireland at all at all :-) Not anti-American, not even anti-Israeli, like I told ya they grow GORGEOUS tomatoes.... P.S. you are wrong about the re-fueling :-)

you know it is anti-Ireland to bad mouth Bertie. You are so anti-Ireland it's not even funny. Like totally anti-Ireland.

Yes I have been to Shannon lately. I was there 3 months ago. And your point is what exactly?? I went through Shannon before I entered into theater as well. They were very friendly to us. But the planes that are being refueled are NOT military aircraft. they are military contract commercial airlines. They are not C-130's or C-17's. So once again you prove your ignorance. You really don't have a clue do you?

WX: Have YOU been to Shannon lately? EVERY TIME I am there, it is FULL of American troops on their way to and from Iraq, while the planes are being REFUELED. I KNOW someone who works there :-) It's a DAILY occurrence. You are incorrect in your assertion that the planes have stopped re-fueling there. Bertie is gone ages and writing books and drinking at his local in Dublin :-) and making LOTSA money making speeches. DO check your facts, Ireland is NOT neutral, it is FULL member of the EU and as such a member of NATO, and fully signed up to the Maastricht and Lisbon Treaty both of which make joint decisions about Foreign Policy and Military matters for EU states. So Ireland is aiding the US in their war in Iraq :-) and not neutral, FACT. I find it amusing that people accuse Obama of shoving healthcare down the throats of the US, it was a campaign promise like Mairead said AND that IS democracy in action. Once the majority votes for something, it goes through, don't count Obama out as a one term president, he ain't done yet and it is rather anti-American to be speaking so disrespectfully of the US president, the one the MAJORITY voted in...

young people are still dying? have you been to Iraq? I have. twice. I didn't see any young people dying. I don't know where you get your stories. And Palin in WW3? huh? When you get your nose out of Obama's ass long enough to breath your own oxygen, maybe you will see how poorly he is handling it. And how poorly he is handling the country's debt.

Bit hard to get over Iraq when young people are still dying. Palin in the white house and we would be WWIII! What other option does he Obama have re BP?? WHat could he do they are a private company and it is their equipment at the moment number one priority is to clean up the mess and deal wiht BP later. Further Health care was an election promise!! it was not forced down your throat! if Americans did not want all they had to do was get out and vote for the other guy! God help us all if Palin is ever in the white house!!

maireadinmelb get over the Iraq BS. We're there, its over, end of story. Perhaps you wanted Saddam Hussein to still be in control there. And I never said Obama is the reason for the spill...I'm saying he is handling it like the inexperienced man-child baby that he is. He has no clue what he is doing, ans he is already losing support from his base over it. Face it, he's outta there in 2 more years. Palin would have been a much better president than Obama. I can guarantee she wouldn't have shoved healthcare down our throats or spent taxpayer money like a drunken sailor the way Obama has.

If Ireland should mind its own business why shouldnt the yanks mind there own business in Iraq! Neutral or not - allowing soldiers in is not neutral - nearly as comical as de Valera's attempt at neutrality in WWII. Once Again how is it Obama's fault that BP did not maintain its equipment!! And if Americans did not want health reform you would McCain & Palin in the White house! and that my friends is a very very scary thought!!

Shuvonn once again you are talking out of your ass. The US is the biggest ally Ireland has. And Shannon is not refueling US military planes. They are commercial planes, so there is no support for "our" Iraq war. Ahern stopped refueling military aircraft in order to stay neutral. So once again you are talking about subjects in which you have no clue. While Ireland has every right to remain neutral, they will still support the US and allow their soldiers to lay over in Shannon before deployment into theater.

You dare suggest and you be wrong. Obama created this mess, and the DEMocrat controlled congress since 06. They have had the reigns for over 4 years. Its time to take responsibility and get off of the "blame Bush" bandwagon. You cannot place blame anymore. This is Obama's problem. Bush didn't cause that oil spill int the gulf. Bush didn't force healthcare through against the will of the people. Bush didn't oppose an AZ immigration law that is strongly supported by the American public. This is all Obama and the democrats...and they will be gone this November.

willieBOY: Ireland should mind their own business? Should we do so when we are ALLOWING US planes to land daily in Shannon to re-fuel for YOUR war in Iraq?

I dare suggest the economic distress USA is currently experiencing was from years of REpublican governments hands off attitude to big business that made and squandered millions at the cost of the everyday hard working americans. Further BP stuffing up in the gulf probably has a lot to do with Bush reversing all hte environmental progress Clinton made, and again letting big business do whatever it wants in teh pursuit of money!! Hardly Obama's fault that BP have not maintained its equipment!!