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American war veterans protest use of Shannon Airport by U.S. military

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, November 21, 2011, 7:51 AM

Updated Monday, November 21, 2011, 9:37 AM

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Protest at Shannon - American war veterans have protested at Shannon Airport

American war veterans from the group Veterans for Peace, along with several Irish campaigners, petitioned for peace at a protest held in Shannon on Sunday.

The monthly event was organized by Shannonwatch, which opposes the military use of Shannon airport by U.S. forces. About 20 people attended this month's meeting, which was closely monitored by police, reports the Clare Herald.

Hundreds of U.S. military planes travel through Shannon every year and as many as 600 troops pass through the airport every day on the their way to and from conflict areas in the Middle East.

Veterans for Peace spokesman Gerry Condon said: "I was in the US Army during the Vietnam war but I refused orders to Vietnam because I felt it was an illegal and immoral war. I am a proud member of Veterans for Peace and we have about 5,000 members across the US, many of whom are Vietnam combat veterans, and our mission is to abolish war as an implement of US foreign policy."

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“Not only are we opposed to any troops going to war but we are really angry that the neutrality of Ireland is being undermined and trampled upon by the US military. We don't understand why the Irish government has just gone along with this especially when the majority of Irish people we have met are opposed to it and the more people in the US that hear about this, they will be opposed to it too," he added.

"We want to make sure that the Irish-American community and other people in the US know that we have a problem here at Shannon and we should continue to press to have Shannon returned to solely being a civilian airport,"said Condon.

Shannonwatch says it will continue to hold the vigils until Irish neutrality is restored.

John Lannon, a Shannonwatch member, said: "Ireland is no longer a neutral country because of the military presence at Shannon. Our neutrality has been abandoned, and we have become complicit in endless cycles of suffering and death. The ongoing US military use of Shannon is a feature of Ireland's failure to take a stand against the destructive policies of the US in Iraq and Afghanistan."

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jmccarten | Nov 24, 2011, 10:26 AM EST

Seagreen thanks for your comment. As an historian I view America and it's role in the world from a very macro perspective, what is the big picture over a long period of time. Sure errors are made along the way, but in the long run over time America has been a great force for good in the world. I will give you just one example: of this macro approach to American geopolitical history. Beginning in 1945 and until the fall of Communism in Europe in 1990. America, for 45 years kept up to 300,000 troops in Europe to defend it from a Russian invasion. Millions of Americans served in Europe, untold billions were spent on NATO. The result is the fall of communism and freedom for people throughout Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Republics. Sure we have made some mistakes along the way but helping win WWII and the Cold War in Europe makes up for a few fobiles here and there. Let's face the simple fact if anyone ever laid a hand on Ireland the 42 million members of the Irish diaspora in America would demand immediate intervention. So Ireland does exist under the American security umbrella. It a very nice umbrella you know, America has the capability to land a force of over 100,000 men, over 240 tanks and 100 advanced aircraft in most countries of the world in two weeks. Ireland is a lot closer so maybe five days tops. All America asks in return is a little loyalty and not so much criticism.

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seagreen | Nov 24, 2011, 08:48 AM EST

Without doubt the US has contributed largely to Ireland over the years, but these contributions are not to be confused with some of Americas action around the world. In Vietnam, I heard we were there to stop the "Domino Theory" and keep communism from consuming SE Asia. This was supposed to be a threat to some guy driving a backhoe in Wisconsin? really ! When the US jumped into bed with the Diem regime during the Vietnamese civil war, one of the reasons was to procure oil drilling rights off the coast of Vung Tau and Nha Trang. Oil is being produced there now, but not by those that were designated to do so if all went went well. (no pun intended) My brainwashing against socialisn began in the second grade. A communist or a socialist was supposedly worse than a murderer or rapist, but a capitalist was all that is good and wholesome. We have given ourselves a pat on the back in America whenever it is beneficial to do so. Have we done lots of good in this world. You bet we have, but we have also extorted and used other countries solely for the benefit of a few (proportunstely) We have no right to compromise Ireland's soverignty at Shannon, because we gave grain to Bangladesh. Because you or I have spent time in The US military, it does not entitle us to a season's pass to other nations policy's and agenda. Two men were in Vietnam. One is called a hippie, that other is good and patriotic. My feeling is that the former learned a few things, and would not like to see history repeart itself, at least in the world that he lives in.

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gobdawpaddy | Nov 24, 2011, 07:03 AM EST

Agree with Mr McCartan regarding the lack of gratitude and joycean, who makes observations regarding anti-American sentiment in Ireland (not sure it is rampant, but there is a lot of it). In the very unlikely event that Ireland is attacked at some point, or a more plausible scenario involving a catastrophic natural or man made disaster, the first country in with assistance would be the British, followed quickly by the United States. Would such assistance be rejected? The United States has contributed a lot to Ireland over the years and not withstanding it's 'neutrality', use of the airport is the least it can offer in return. Shannon is of course being remunerated handsomely for landing rights. To read a jibe from Ireland regarding the World Trade Center tragedy on Thanksgiving morning is hurtful, especially considering the number of Irish Americans who lost their lives, many of their loved ones visitors to Irish Central.

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sirpeter | Nov 23, 2011, 10:41 PM EST

jmccarten.Yeah that was a real good unbrella of American strength when the twin towers came tumbling down.Ye haven't a clue.Let me educate you."Patriot Act"Read it!!America is just the USSR at the other side of the Atlantic.Ye are all potential terrorists to the American government.Uncle Sam says It could be YOU!!

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jmccarten | Nov 23, 2011, 01:07 PM EST

Since 1941 America has defended democracy all over the world, defeated communism,maintained world peace through a policy of "peace through strength" and has spent untold billions of dollars and thousands of lives making the world a better and safer place. And Ireland benefits from this in untold ways. All America asks for is some landing rights at an airport and these people protest. Such ingratitude. It appears Gerry Condon a former hippie from the Vietnam era did not get the memo that 9/11 occurred and we are engaged in a worldwide war on terrorism. The least Ireland can do is let American troops use it's airport. I served in Vietnam with the likes of Mr. Condon, they were a small vocal minority then and they are even smaller now (20 people). Irish Neutrality exists under an unbrella of American strength just like the rest of Europe and most of the world does. The least you can do is not insult our troops as they travel to distant lands to protect your country and freedom.

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joycean | Nov 23, 2011, 09:51 AM EST

Irish neutrality? For people like Shannonwatch, neutrality seems to mean spewing Anti=American hatred, which seems rampant in Ireland. My husband is a retired US Army officer and Vietnam veteran. I have flown on many transAtlantic US mitilary flights. None ever stopped in Shannon or carried prisoners. In addition to solders,the planes carry soldiers' families - wives, children, babies. Soldiers are young and so are their families. These families may be living in Europe or they may be visiting their loved ones in the service. The planes also carry elderly retirees and sometimes severely wounded soldiers who are returning to the US for hospitalization, and they carry the remains of our war dead.

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IrelandNorth | Nov 23, 2011, 08:33 AM EST

I'm glad to see that American Veterans for Peace have more moral fibre in their little fingers than successive craven Irish governments have in their respective bodies. Their defence was that non co-operation with Republican Party war mongering would spook American multinational corps. "Sovereignty For Sale - Bargain Basement Prices."

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gobdawpaddy | Nov 22, 2011, 07:53 PM EST

Can you imagine if Adolf and Goebells had toured Ireland in the 40's, coming across peters ancestors? Goebells, fire up ze ovens, deez pepil R too stupid to be part of master race.

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gobdawpaddy | Nov 22, 2011, 03:54 PM EST

No Peter, Ireland's neutrality is a joke because Paddy is neutral until they can make a few USD out of it. In other jurisdictions people who sell themselves for cash have a name. Now go back to the corner you silly little inbred.

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sirpeter | Nov 22, 2011, 01:06 PM EST

That's right Gobshite giving troops a few trays of sandwiches and a few cups of tea makes Irelands neutrality invalid.It's so easy to say no to Uncle Sam when his boys are just passing through.If I remember rightly it was the veiled threat " You are either with us or against us" might of had a little something to do with allowing US troops land in the first place.It's not easy defying Uncle Sam when he's in a bad mood is it?Personally I would have told Uncle Sam to get stuffed.But then you would have given your why bother going to visit Ireland crap.They don't love us.Are you Georgies Boys brother?

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gobdawpaddy | Nov 21, 2011, 10:59 PM EST

Allentown, I heard the same story. I believe it was at the West County Hotel. I witnessed something similar in I think July at a different location when the troops were offered trays of sandwiches during 'the afters'. Ireland's neutrality is a joke as it was ignored as soon as there was a few USD involved. Actually 'a few' is an understatement.

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peterson | Nov 21, 2011, 08:54 PM EST

These complainers should find another cause -- They don't really make sense !!

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allentown | Nov 21, 2011, 06:40 PM EST

Is the glass half full or half empty? I heard a very nice story of American troops stopping at Shannon when their flight was delayed a day. Some were billeted in a local hotel that was having a wedding reception. Upon learning that American troops were staying at the hotel, the bridal couple invited the troops to join them in their celebration.

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joycean | Nov 21, 2011, 06:19 PM EST

Rendition simply means transporting prisoners to a country that has juridiction over them, usually thiers. In 2009, the Obama adminstration annouced it would continue the practice, but monitor to see that the prisoner is not tortured. There is no reason to believe that aircraft carrying soldiers or military aircraft are being used for that purpose. In fact, a C172 is so large it would be a waste of money to use for that purpose. A C17 is larger than a commercial plane carrying a full load of hundreds of passengers. Today, we have a much better intel system then we had originally in the current wars, and drones are being used more frquently with few prisoners being taken. In addition, all US forces will be out of Iraq by January. As someone who lived through Vietnam and the current wars, I remember the general unpopularity of the Vietnam was in the US, while the current wars are views with approval. Ireland is free to choose its friends and enemies, but the US needs to be careful not to confuse its relationship with Ireland. I think the planes going through Shannon are a goodwill gesture, much like refueling the Cole was in Yemen which cost a number of US casualties and serious damage to the war ship. If it were up to me, I would end all flights through Ireland. I don't believe a "neutral" country is a friendly country, but the fact is that both governments have agreed to continue the practice. This was one of Obama and Kenney's talking points.

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CaptainCon | Nov 21, 2011, 05:46 PM EST

No argument left then except an ad hominem attack on another poster. In other words, no argument at all.

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