Wikileaks - Leaked report on Shannon

Nodin wrote: »

Nope. Ye wouldn't think a relatively inexperienced young fella would be allowed near the like of it in such a way.

Inexperience has very little to do with it. It doesn't take much experience to know that downloading and distributing classified materials is going to land you in jail. He obviously knew it, hence the Lady GaGa CD subterfuge.

It's the old problem of security vs usefulness. Information is useless unless it gets to the people who need to know it., which means it needs to be accessible. The problem is that the more people who have access, the less secure it's going to be. The 'opening up' of the information from the various departments was a result of 9/11, when it was determined after the fact that the US had all the information, just the people who needed to know it to put the facts together didn't have access due to security policies.

The only thing that surprises me is how little money we've been getting for it. I thought there would have been a substantial payment somewhere. From what this says, the only money coming to us normal revenue from services.

I guess you could get some relative good-will from the US in future dealings, but ultimately, Shannon's running a business, and the charter airlines are using it for the business benefits. Note that two of the carriers moved to Leipzig for cost reasons, you want to add more cost on top of what Shannon already charge?

it looks like there was 'Don't tell, don't ask' going on with regards to that same issue

Would the phrasing 'transitioning renditioned prisoners' meet with your approval

You're misreading it. The "Failure" (Ref was of a normal military prisoner transfer, not an 'extraordinary rendition'. The reason it's in quotes is that there was a perception of it having been a civil prisoner which should have been notified. What had happened, if you don't recall, was a cleaning crew went onto the airplane, saw a man in shackles, went breathlessly to the media it was reported nationally as a case of extraordinary rendition passing through Shannon. It was actually a serviceman who was being sent to the US after breaking military law.

Planes involved in rendition undeniably did.

If there was nobody and nothing undeclared and unlawful at the time the aircraft was in Shannon, there's not much to complain about.
If I might make an analogy, a known bank robber drives up to a Garda checkpoint. The Garda knows who he is, but he's got a good driver's license, the car has its tax, insurance and NCT disks, and there's no shotgun in the back seat. The Garda must let him on his way.

there is no chance in hell that the US would shut down Amazon, even for a temporary period, because the ****storm they'd have to endure because of that alone would likely dwarf anything caused by WikiLeaks so far.

Oh, they'd do it, even if only pour encourager les autres.

- Seems to hint at weapons from Russia to Venezuela sent via Ireland? (doesn't say what)

Could be most anything. The Venezuelans have gone on a massive arms shopping spree from the Russians in the last couple of years, if it'll fit in an airplane, it may have gone through Shannon. Ever since the Cold War kicked off, Shannon has been 'transit central' for military shipments going from North America to Europe, and Russia to Latin America, the current situation is simply a continuation of very long-standing policy. Some things may not be transitted through Shannon, some may with notification and approval, and some don't need notification. As long as Ireland continues to apply the same rules for everyone, it's business as usual. The US mention of Venezuela is a concern that Ireland may not be acting in a neutral/even-handed manner, and may be stricter on the US than Russia.

NTM