Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

Countdown to slaughter

Shannon still available for illegal campaign

By the time you read this, the US/British war on Iraq has begun, with troops on the move and air strikes under way. Of course, when we say war, we use the term loosely. The disparity in terms of weaponry and technology means that the imminent conflict will be more akin to a turkey shoot.

The build-up to this war has been tortuous, but in the early hours of Monday morning, George Bush finally ended the attempt to use the UN as a diplomatic cloak behind which to launch his war for oil. He gave Saddam Hussein and his sons a 48-hour ultimatum to leave Iraq. Later that day, Saddam retorted in predictable fashion, insisting he was born in Iraq and will die in Iraq. That will very likely be sooner rather than later.

As US and British troops cross the border from Kuwait, they are in violation of a UN resolution. After Iraq was expelled from Kuwait in 1991, the UN declared the border a demilitarised zone. No troops of any nation are allowed to enter or cross it.

Ironically, the British and American camps situated at the border are filled with weapons of mass destruction. Assembled is the most capable killing machine the world has ever seen.

The Dublin government has played its part in getting them there. Over 30,000 US military personnel have passed through Shannon Airport this year so far, and the government has refused to say how many miilitary aircraft have used the airport to refuel en route to the Gulf.

Speaking on RTE's Wednesday evening news, Bertie Ahern used weasel words, assuring the continued use of Shannon while regretting that agreement could not be secured at the United Nations. The Dáil has been recalled for an emergency debate on Iraq today.

No solace here for the 100,000-plus who marched last month in defence of Irish neutrality and against this illegal war. Defence Minister Michael Smith admitted in a reply to a Dáil question he posed that as well as the Shannon stopover, there have also been 22 landings of US military Aircraft at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel since September 2001.

The Dublin government has acted in direct contravention of the duties of a neutral state.

Because of Ahern's disregard for the views of the people and the absolute arrogance of his government, Ireland will be partially responsible for the untold suffering that will be visited upon the civilian population of Iraq over the coming weeks.

Indeed, opposition has grown, not declined, as the US and British governments have in recent weeks tried to make their case for war. Last Saturday, in cities and towns around the US, over a quarter of a million people demonstrated against the war. The scale of international opposition far outweighs that to any other war in history, including the war in Vietnam.

The United Nations' already sullied reputation has taken another severe beating this week, one from which it will struggle to recover any credibility, as the state that hosts its headquarters openly flouts its resolutions.

The Iraqi people, who have been living in fear of this war since last September, have become resolved to their fate. For 12 years, they have endured a repressive internal regime and punitive international sanctions.

Once considered the best fed people in the Middle East, over 24 million people have been reliant on 45,000 UN food distribution centres since 1992, put in place as a result of the 'Oil for Food' programme. Thousands of Iraqis have died because of a shortage of medical supplies caused by the blockade.

The food programme has now been suspended and the distribution centres closed, as UN officials beat a hasty and embarrassing retreat. It is estimated that within three weeks, the Iraqis will have run out of food. Human rights organisations have said that up to a quarter of a million children will face death from starvation, that is, if they survive the bombing blitz.

Showing a Blair-like talent for spin, British defence officials are morbidly claiming that any 'accidental' bombings will be admitted this time. During the last war, an air raid shelter was hit, killing 400 innocent Iraqi civilians.

PROTEST WAR ON IRAQ

Sinn Féin will continue to play its part in the anti-war effort.

Actions planned against the war include a ten-minute work stoppage at noon on the day of the attack, followed by a protest at 6pm in major cities and towns (Dublin, 6pm US Embassy in Ballsbridge).

ti-War rallies will be held on the Saturday following the attack. In Dublin, the rally will begin at 2pm, outside the Central Bank on Dame Street.