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An American in Ireland by The Yank

Neutrality doesn't allow for blockade running

Posted on Friday, June 04, 2010 at 11:00 AM

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During the two decades I've lived here I've grown used to hearing from the same protest groups as they have railed against every small bit of assistance that the Irish government has afforded the United States in matters military. For the most part that assistance has consisted of allowing American planes on their way to Iraq or Afghanistan to refuel at Shannon.

Generally the protest groups would say something like 'Allowing the Americans to use Shannon makes a mockery of our neutrality.' You know what? I'd agree with them, but I didn't think much of "Ireland's tradition of neutrality" anyway.

These protesters rarely represent a majority opinion, but always they manage to get a lot of publicity for their various causes because, well, they seem to have little else to do. They're professional objectors who seem to spend their days bombarding media outlets with press releases and organizing regular demonstrations.

Lately those protesters have turned their attention to Israel and Gaza. Not for the first time, it has to be said. While most of the protesters have stayed here in Ireland organizing marches and 'blockades' of the Israeli embassy, etc. a few of them have actually been part of the flotilla that's been all over the news here recently.

Now if that's what they want to do, if they feel that strongly about the plight of the people of Gaza, that's fine. I don't share their perspective, but part of me applauds their determination.

But, they should be forced to admit that the things they've been doing are not 'neutral' acts. Will they now stop pretending that Irish neutrality is the sacred cow they often make it out to be?

They don't agree with Israel's blockade of Gaza. Organizing protest rallies, etc. is fine. But, fitting out a ship, loading it up with items that Israel has banned and declaring that the ship is going through Israel's blockade is NOT a 'neutral' act. {By the way, have a read of this if legal stuff on conflicts at sea is your thing.}

And whatever about the protest groups, the Irish government's more than tacit support for those involved in the Gaza aid project is not the act of a neutral state. A truly neutral state would have detained the Rachel Corrie {photo} and not allowed it to leave Dundalk port on its well-publicized mission to run the Israeli blockade.

The Irish government did not do anything to stop the Rachel Corrie, other than force it to paint over the Irish flag with which the ship was initially adorned. MV Rachel Corrie is registered in Cambodia.

However, the Taoiseach Brian Cowen and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin have been pretty strident in demanding that the Israelis allow the Rachel Corrie to pass through to Gaza. The Taoiseach (Prime Minister) also warned the Israelis that they would face "the most serious consequences" (whatever that means) if any Irish citizens were harmed.

A neutral state would not be asserting itself so forcefully on one side of a conflict. A neutral state would be seeking ways to avoid confrontation with a belligerent party. So let's just ditch this 'neutrality' charade once and for all.

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IrishAndProud | Jun 21, 2010, 11:02 PM EDT

Unfortunately, some folks such as shuvonn would NEVER side with Israel, no matter how compelling the evidence otherwise -- and I do mean no matter how. You either like Israel and the Jews, or you do not. It's one or the other. Talk about 'neutrality' -- there IS no neutrality when it comes to the Jews, and there never has been. But for all the persecution and murder they've suffered all through the centuries, they've survived, nonetheless -- showing they are indeed G-d's chosen people. Those who wish them ill are rarely ever remembered, at all...let alone remembered well.

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shuvonn | Jun 12, 2010, 03:25 AM EDT

The footage that was used to back up Israels version of the events was stolen from journalists on that flotilla, that action has been condemned by the AP. All video, camera, memory sticks, computer and cell phones were seized by Israel. Israel also admitted to editing the audio between the vessels in order to make it more understandable I(not credible). There were no weapons on the flotilla, the use of force was disproportionate, the incident occurred in International waters. And Israel sure did recover fast when they stumbled into the supposed trap on a vessel that was being operated by their only ally in the ME, resulting in the death of 8 Turkish citizens and 1 American. I for one ain't buying it, and Israel will be hard pressed to justify the actions they have taken.

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TheYank | Jun 11, 2010, 10:06 AM EDT

GeorgeDillon,

No matter how much you beg me to come back - you're clearly missing me - I'll be staying a while longer.

I guess I'll have to remind myself what the Embargo Act was all about because all I recall is that (a) Pres Jefferson barred any trade with the warring parties in Europe and (b) it was a failure.

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DennisQ | Jun 11, 2010, 04:01 AM EDT

No, I don't support calling for the dissolution of the state of Israel. However, our interests and their interests are not identical. Gen. Petraeus worries about what it looks like when Israel gets a pass no other nation would get. The real questions are what are our interests, and why do we have so little influence over a nation that's supposedly our ally.

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GeorgeDillon | Jun 10, 2010, 01:01 PM EDT

More baloney from America's worst export to Ireland. Mr Yank wants to tell us that breaking a blockade in not a neutral act. Has it ever occurred to this guy that respecting a blockade is not a neutral act either? Respecting a blockade is an explicit acknowledgment of the right of the blockader, and a denial of the right of the blockaded. Only a total fool would think that's a neutral act. Look up your US history, Yank,--did you never hear of the Embargo Act?

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TheYank | Jun 09, 2010, 06:59 AM EDT

WoundedKnee

I wouldn't say PHPearse's reasoning was "complex" only faulty. Above I pointed out that the constant references to Ireland's neutrality whenever the Irish government does something to assist the US - such as the refueling at Shannon - is demonstrably hollow when the same people demand that the government take a non-neutral stance on the conflict in the Middle East.

I don't believe that the Turkish ship was carrying people of the same non-violent demeanor as the Rachel Corrie. There were people on that ship quite happy to use violence and the Israelis stupidly stumbled into their trap. That the people on the Turkish ship had a different mindset than those on the Rachel Corrie was confirmed by Denis Halliday, who was on the board the Rachel Corrie and who said that the Turkish activists "broke the rules."

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TheYank | Jun 09, 2010, 06:53 AM EDT

DennisQ,

I wouldn't argue with Petraeus. The question is does this mean we should call for the dissolution of the state of Israel? I think if the United States backed such a move it would end much anti-Americanism, but it wouldn't be right.

I believe Israel has a right to exist. I'd like to see it exist in harmony with its neighbors, in Gaza, the West Bank and all around (Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon). I'd love to see them come in off the ledge and try something new with regards to Gaza.

I'd like to believe that Hamas could be killed off by kindness from the Israelis. I'm just not certain it would or that Israel wouldn't be faced with an endless set of demands that will eventually lead to its elimination anyway.

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DennisQ | Jun 09, 2010, 05:54 AM EDT

General Petraeus testified before the Senate on March 16th that our one-sided support for Israel breeds anti-Americanism and impedes our own policy goals in the Middle East. Is General Petraeus an anti-Semite? We should back away from Israel. America's policies should be for our benefit, not that of the apartheid state of Israel.

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WoundedKnee | Jun 08, 2010, 08:04 PM EDT

I think s/he meant that you are a supporter of violence and terror because you seemed to justify the violence and terror of those who attacked the boat last week. Doesn't seem very complex reasoning to me. I agree with him/her. Or maybe you think attacking an unarmed ship and killing many of those traveling on it isn't violence? Get Real!

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Monsoonman | Jun 08, 2010, 09:52 AM EDT

See what I mean?

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TheYank | Jun 08, 2010, 09:18 AM EDT

PHPEARSE

Actually, I do love living here. It's not perfect, but no place is. I've lived here 20 years and I feel no reason I shouldn't express my views on the news of the day any more than anyone here does.

That's twice you've called me a racist and you have the nerve to call me a supporter of violence and terror or claim I come out with drivel.

I may have drivel coming out of my mouth, but it's the white foam coming out of yours that should worry you.

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PHPEARSE | Jun 08, 2010, 07:50 AM EDT

Yank: If you're not happy in Ireland why don't you leave the country? You use your column to demean and denigrate it. Maybe it's a question of "Yank, Go Home!"

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PHPEARSE | Jun 08, 2010, 07:46 AM EDT

Yank: I am American, not Irish. You appear to be a racist and a supporter of violence and terror. And I'm not a "big guy". What drivel you come out with.

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TheYank | Jun 07, 2010, 03:28 PM EDT

What unmitigated drivel. This guy wants the kind of neutrality that 70 years ago would have said "What the Germans are doing to jews, catholics, socialists, homosexuals, gypsies etc.is not our business".

Uh, hold on there big guy. That is EXACTLY the neutrality that Ireland celebrates. Remember? WWII was the one with the Nazis. Yes? And Ireland was ...? Yup. Neutral. That's the source of Ireland's "tradition of neutrality."

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PHPEARSE | Jun 07, 2010, 02:29 PM EDT

ritomonte: "Well if you were a paramedic sent to a scene and you were getting shot at, would you still administer care" Are you trying to tell us that the armed gang that landed on that ship were paramedics? Maybe you need to read the newspaper once in a while.

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