celty wrote: » Xflyer, So you think it's fine that US troops refuel in Shannon and buy the little green leprechauns on their way to and from Afghanistan and Iraq? Given that we're a former colony, I actually used to think 'neutrality' stood for something. I'm no apologist for Niall Farrell but the British and Americans seem to think they are fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which are imperialist crusades, in our name. Those wars nothing to do with 9/11 and everything to do with the US Government's buddies in the arms trade during the Bush regime. It makes me sick that silly little Ireland stands for nothing, and God knows what kind of secret 'renditions' have gone through Shannon. I'm sure the wonderful Gardai of Co Clare do a thorough job of inspecting the war machines, seeing as how there aren't enough of them to patrol the coastal towns. As for Israel and Palestine, well of course Irish people would have no concept of what it's like to be invaded and have their land stolen as happened to the Palestinians in 1948 and again in 1967. How quickly we forget our own history of colonsiation and brutality. And that doesn't meen I support the IRA or GAAW.
apoeiguq3094y wrote: » Letting american personnel flights refuel in shannon means that we are seen to be friendly towards the US in general. It means that they let us have border preclearance here. It means that US companies are more likely to do business here. It benefits our economy. If we stopped them refueling here they would just refuel somewhere else. We are a small country of 4 million or so. NATO or the US don't really give a flying funk what our opinion is on their plans. The air shows only benefit us, we get to see some shiny planes and a few people make some money around galway. If you really wanted to go all out in your protesting against US imperialism, you'd stop using US oil companies products... which includes all plastics as well as petrol/diesel, and all other big US companies for that matter: Apple, Google, Intel, etc. The air show was fun. The planes were class. And now its gone.
It makes me sick that silly little Ireland stands for nothing
I'm no apologist for Niall Farrell but the British and Americans seem to think they are fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which are imperialist crusades, in our name.
samdeman wrote: » thats not 100% true. from what i have seen the GAAW do boycott certain american and uk products ie. shower gel, shampoo, soap etc.
We Need Community wrote: » Why does everyone compare Libya with the Iraq and Afganistan situation, they are not in any way the same. Afganistan - invaded by America due to the links with the taliban, basically a revenge mission to a poor country with oil production in mind. Iraq - Opression and tyranny used as an excuse to invade for oil, over a million people killed due to the war whilst saddam is responsible for 10% of this figure during his entire reign. Libya - An uprising by the people of Libya to get a reigning autocratic leader out. The rebels begin to take control and strongly look like winning so NATO decide to jump onboardas they know Gaddafis reign is about to end. When the new government is formed relations with NATO will be good so oil can be made available to the western world. If it looked like Gaddafi was going to win NATO would not have intervined. Why is it that they have not removed leaders such as Mugabe, Mahmoud Ahmadinehad and Kim Jong-II if the so concerned about humanitarian issues. Why have NATO failed to give the people of Syria the same back up? Talk of boycotting USA products is ridiculous too, products made in the USA and planes that represent war are not like for like. I'm not saying that NATO, America and the UK are always wrong, but from where I am standing they are looking out for their own interests.
We Need Community wrote: » You havn't answered anything, all you have done is pick things wrong with my post which is quite childish, it doesn't change anything Afganistan - America invaded them Libya - NATO aided an uprising They are still very different situations
PomBear wrote: » Bit too much attacking one man, Niall Farrell personally in this thread, no?
ben.schlomo wrote: » No, he and his ilk clearly get up peoples noses. We are exercising our right to protest against him in this thread.;)
ben.schlomo wrote: » I was clearing up the mistakes in what you posted, you were using those points to back what you are saying, i simply corrected you on those points. Its in no way childish, no need to be so defensive about it. You have also failed to mention the reason America went into Afghanistan. Nobody can say it wasn't warranted.
Discodog wrote: » Do you think that allowing Iraq to build a nuclear weapon reduces the likelihood of war ?
PomBear wrote: » How has he got up your nose personally?
tfitzgerald wrote: » A lot of the U S army flights in Shannon took on fuel and food and also the money spent in the duty free so they actually helped in the area I worked in the airport and the money they spent in the duty free kept more than a few people in employment
Discodog wrote: » Invading Afghanistan was wrong but 9/11 took terrorism to a whole new level. America was bound to react.Where were the anti war groups when Saddam was gassing thousands of Kurds ?Maybe NATO have failed to intervene in other Countries because it is impossible to do so without encountering massive criticism. It is so easy for any despot to ensure that civilians are killed knowing that this will bring condemnation. Do you think that allowing Iraq to build a nuclear weapon reduces the likelihood of war ?
ben.schlomo wrote: » I find him to be an incredibly irritating person to listen to, they bandwagon onto the latest Western regime to be hated and ignore the rest. Im easily annoyed by people so im not a great case study for why hes not liked.
We Need Community wrote: » Haha I assume you are referring to me, I have nothing to do with GAAW, I just don't understand why so many people can have so much against them, they are a small group of people who gain a lot of attention because (From my own understanding) they don't agree with imperialism. Why would anyone agree with imperialism? What has anyone here have to gain by supporting it? I understand people miss the airshow, it was a good day out, but as soon as the planes that came here represented unjust wars we should have stopped watching it.
We Need Community wrote: » Weapons of mass destruction was always a cover up which was proven by the fact that none were found, if they were the reasons why have they not entered Iran or the North Korea..
We Need Community wrote: » That makes it all ok so, sure who cares if a million people were killed, a few Irish people were kept in work
I just don't understand why so many people can have so much against them, they are a small group of people who gain a lot of attention because (From my own understanding) they don't agree with imperialism. Why would anyone agree with imperialism? What has anyone here have to gain by supporting it?
PomBear wrote: » I've an idea, if you don't want to listen to him, don't. For a man who has little to no media coverage, it's not hard, it's even easier to not read an article/letter of the Advertiser, Independent and so on
xflyer wrote: » Really though they are quite irrelevant to most of us. The only rags that publish their nonsense are the freesheets. They are best ignored.
xflyer wrote: » Same here, whether you agree with me or not. It's sickening that Ireland's stands for nothing. When someone uses the words Imperialist crusades' alarm bells go off. Apparently you would prefer that the Afghans and Iraqis would live under violently oppressiver regimes than for anyone to do anything about it? Perhaps you are in favour or Assad and Gaddafi and all the other repressive regimes that of late have become unpopular with their own people. Have you been watching the news today? Is NATO being imperialist in helping the Lybian rebels? Make your mind up! In any case the great thing about being Irish is that we have zero influence on world affairs and quite frankly no one gives a damm about what we think. Even the Americans were happy enough to pull out of Shannon if we wanted it. But FF could't allow that as it would puncture the delusion we have some relevance and that Shannon is important. That is the conceit that both the GAAW and the Irish government believe. We think we're relevant. But we're not and the GAAW is merely a bunch of trendy lefties living in Galway, which is a cosy little place where nothing much happens and it's easy to be pseudo radical with no consequences. Farrell and his little friends are irrelevant, even in Galway which is a small town in a small country that has a history of absenting itself from any relevant contribution to European politics and defence. We don't live in the real world here.
ben.schlomo wrote: » Wouldn't life be very boring if we followed your theories.
mikemac wrote: » The Russian navy were off the west coast of Ireland a number of years ago and not a word from GAAW.
xflyer wrote: » They're oddly silent on the behaviour of Syria for example not to mention any of the other oppressive regimes out there.
Amhran Nua wrote: » The GAAW are one of the tentacles of the United Left Alliance/People before Profit/Socialist Workers Party/Militant Labour/Socialist party or whatever they are calling themselves these days. They are silent on matters to do with Russia because they're the last dregs of the cells put in place by Russian intelligence during the cold war, which the Russians did in every European country, I've no idea whether any connection still persists though. These are communist trotskyists, who were expelled with Joe Higgins at their head from the Labour party in 1989 for entryism, and they've gotten a reputation for protesting wars where the US is involved because like a severed frog's leg, they are still trying to fulfill their purpose. Hopefully there aren't many kicks left in it. Until then however we'll have to put up with their buffoonery. The theory goes that a true Marxist must support any revolutionary movement for the good of the people, so it was entertaining watching their heads asplode with regards to the Arab uprisings, which went against Russian interests. Sounds like the plot of a bad novel? Life can be stranger than fiction my friends.
