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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Glenn Beck attacks U.S.govt. funds for Irish peace process

Posted on Friday, April 16, 2010 at 11:20 PM

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Commentator Glenn Beck has attacked the International Fund for Ireland funding for the Irish peace process as a boondoggle and a waste of time.

The Fox host stated that "In 1986 an earmark for Ireland was created for something called the International Fund for Ireland, created by the Irish and British to promote peace in Northern Ireland."

"Since 1996, U.S. taxpayers have contributed $280 million to the fund. It was raised to $17 million in 2010 — that's up $ 2 million from 2009. The original concerns of violence and poverty have long been gone, yet the money still flows in."

Beck's focus on the fund comes at a very bad time for the British and Irish governments who are seeking to prolong the funding for the fund which they believe plays a key role in helping reconciliation projects in Ireland at this critical time. Funding has run out after 2010.

On March 17th the Irish government sought to preserve the funding, which is due to expire, in meetings with White House officials and President Obama.

The European Union, Australia and New Zealand have also put funding into the International Fund believing that the Irish peace process is an example to the world how ethnic hatreds can be overcome and international funding can help.

Beck's call to defund however, is a setback for the continuation of the International Fund. He carries huge weight with a congress that is increasingly under pressure to end all earmarks.

The International Fund is separate from the American Ireland Fund which is an American based charity that also raises funds privately for worthy projects in Ireland.

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41 Comments

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seanomelbourne | Apr 23, 2010, 12:16 AM EDT

The only weight Beck deserves to carry is an anvil as he jumps overboard.

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seanomelbourne | Apr 22, 2010, 10:32 PM EDT

It would be interesting to breakdown military and non-military aid,One should also remember cash aid(military)is not given to any country it's given in military hardware, a reverse method of propping up arms manufacturers with government subsidies.

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CullenAbroad | Apr 22, 2010, 07:52 PM EDT

Waw, I've been 'promoting' this peace all me life, and haven't seen a penny for it, much less understand ethnic hatred - which I believe is a personal mental state really.... sin é.

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IrishAndProud | Apr 21, 2010, 03:37 PM EDT

odonnell, when you say 'anti-immigrant' crowd...I'm not sure who you're referring to. There's a lopsided majority of Americans who oppose the presence of ILLEGAL ALIENS (who of course are different from legal immigrants)...and many of whom oppose giving such large financial assistance to Israel...but I wasn't aware of any such 'anti-immigrant' crowd. Could you be more specific?

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Derrylass627 | Apr 21, 2010, 03:00 PM EDT

Glen Beck carries huge weight in congress? What are you smoking, Naill? At a time when the economy is slack, it makes some sense to cut back on hand-outs to other nations, but at what cost to our way of life?

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odonnell521 | Apr 21, 2010, 06:25 AM EDT

"70% of U.S. foreign aid goes to Mexico" - you better check your "Fox facts" - the bulk of our aid has historically gone to Israel ($3 billion per year) with Mexico getting chump change (about $600 million per year) and most of that to fight drugs - another inconvenient fact for the anti-immigrant crowd.

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FastEddy | Apr 19, 2010, 01:31 PM EDT

Mr. O'Dowd, you have a narrow mind re: the Beck/Hannady/O'Reilly Triumvirate Complex. ... Considering that 70% of all US "foreign aid" goes to Mexico, and only about 3% goes to Ireland, as one taxpayer to another ... where should we make the first cuts foreign aid? Do you want the Irish people to become another enslaved nation to US handouts? One would hope that Ireland could clean up your own messes without welfare from the states.

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jdi2269 | Apr 19, 2010, 01:18 PM EDT

HEY NIALL, WE KNOW YOU ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY! CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT OUR TAX SITUATION WOULD BE IF THE US CANCELLED ALL OUTSIDE AID WORLD-WIDE? (MOST OF IT IS SWALLOWED UP AND UNAPPRECIATED)!

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beachline | Apr 19, 2010, 10:42 AM EDT

How does Glenn Beck carry ""huge weight"" with Congress??? The only connection I can see is that he is a mouthpiece for ultra conservative politicians who need a public figure to air their beliefs. Ask yourself-Why is Beck suddenly picking out the International Fund now??? The Fund has been in existance for many years but nary a word from Beck et-al about the fund.

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bronxjames | Apr 19, 2010, 10:37 AM EDT

Well if that african in the 'white' house gets involved then its all over. If it was muslim nation there would be no question. DUMP THE DEMS IN 2012!

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ripley838 | Apr 19, 2010, 08:56 AM EDT

Beck has little or no influence in a Congress with Congress people who can walk and chew gum at the same time.

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miltonedunn | Apr 19, 2010, 08:45 AM EDT

I feel that with the conditions in the U,S.A. we should finaly let other countries who most could care less about us take care of their own problems for a change.This country has carried the world to long now. Get off your butts and help yourself.

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seanomelbourne | Apr 19, 2010, 06:34 AM EDT

Monsoonman I have tried shortening my responses to no avail. It would appear Mr. O Dowd will not allow a contra view on IS[[RAEL, SO MUCH FOR THE LAND OF FREE AND THE HOME OF THE MUZZLE.

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pacmanisback | Apr 19, 2010, 12:47 AM EDT

free speech is not possible on the site. So sad considering how Niall came up in the business...If you dont agree you are out... did you forget where you came from NO...you should know better.

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pacmanisback | Apr 19, 2010, 12:43 AM EDT

peace is free-stop the fund.

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