IAWM Bulletin: 10 December 2003

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report Saturday December 13, 2003 14:19 by Cork Anti-War

Bulletin issued by IAWM

Afghanistan – American forces admit that fighter jets have bombed six more children

The US military has admitted that it has killed six more children at the weekend in an attack on ‘a compound used by a militant to store arms’ near Gardez in Paktia province. This is addition to the nine children killed by its fighter jets on Saturday. Children obviously continue to be a legitimate target for the US war machine.

Iraq – A new Vietnam for the USA?

As opposition grows in Iraq, more and more people are asking is Iraq the new Vietnam? Some of the facts point very strongly towards that viewpoint. The attrition rate among US forces (the percentage of soldiers killed or wounded) is 9.25%, already higher than in Vietnam. There were, of course, many more US troops in Vietnam at the peak than are in Iraq. However, it took three years (1962-1965) in Vietnam for the death toll to reach the level it has already reached in Iraq. Remembering that only 30,000 soldiers are ‘in the front line’, it its clear that these troops face a very high risk of becoming a casualty. No wonder then that 14 soldiers have committed suicide and dozens have maimed or injured themselves to avoid active service.



The Pentagon’s tactics and its use of the term ‘Iraqification’ is reminiscent of the Vietnamization that was a clear sign of weakness and desire in the late 1960s to withdraw as soon as possible. One tactic that strikes terror into the population is the bombing of villages where suspected ‘terrorists’ live regardless of the danger to innocent men, women and as is clear in Afghanistan, children. A frightening article has been posted on the IAWM website on the Israeli-style tactics now being used in Iraq. http://irishantiwar.org/news/item.tcl?news_item_id=100551



Shannon – 300 protesters blockade the main dual-carriageway leading to Airport
Gardai use overwhelming force and intimidation

The Shannon blockade was characterised by the non-violent, peaceful approach by all the protesters. Unfortunately, before we even got near the airport the Gardai upped the ante by ‘searching’ the buses from Dublin, Cork and Galway, ostensibly looking for ‘weapons’. They confiscated all placard-sticks, flag poles and even 1,000 ‘Free Fintan Lane’ posters. It seems that ideas are deemed to be weapons by the Gardai. Despite this provocation the protesters behaved in a very restrained manner through out the day.



The plan agreed at the steering committee was that if we had a critical number (>400) of protesters we would attempt to blockade both the main entrance and the route through the Industrial Estate. Given that the number on the day was about 300 we marched in one block to the main entrance, which the Gardai had closed with barricade. We then returned to the roundabouts leading to the industrial estates and the protesters split into two groups, one at each roundabout. At both there were sit-down protests. However, the overwhelming force of Gardai (Tim Hourican estimated about 700 in the airport and vicinity) managed to keep the various roads leading through the Industrial Estate open.



A letter of protest from the IAWM calling for the return of Shannon to purely civilian use was handed in to the Aer Rianta Director of Operations by protesters who had evaded the Gardai ‘guarding’ the airport.



After the blockade, the buses from Dublin and Cork stopped outside Limerick Prison for noisy ‘Free Fintan Lane’ protests.




Up-coming IAWM events


Thurs. 11 December Public Meeting
IRAQ - The Reality of the Occupation



Organised by Drumcondra and Phibsborough Anti-War groups



Speakers:

Ibrahim Al Kaddo and Kieran Allen (IAWM)



Ibrahim will give a report from his contacts who are now in Baghdad. http://irishantiwar.org/calendar/item.tcl?calendar_id=599



8 pm The Snug Pub, Dorset Street, Dublin 1


Other up-coming events


Sat. 13 December iBby Ireland Conference
Fighting for Writing – Children’s Book in Areas of Conflict



International Board for Books for Young People Ireland (iBby) is holding a conference on bringing books and stories to children in conflict situations. Speakers include Mary Robinson, Jehan Helou (Ramallah, Palestine), Tom Hyland (East Timor SC). Location Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. More details from Máire at maire@irelandliterature.com or IBBY, c/o ILE, Irish Writers’ Centre, 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1





10 Dec - 08 Feb. 04 The House of Osama Bin Laden at IMMA



An exhibition featuring an interactive digital model allowing a virtual exploration of the former home of Osama bin Laden opens to the public at the Irish Museum of Modern Art on Wednesday 10 December 2003. Further information on http://www.modernart.ie/News/WhatsOn.asp?id=1095



Open daily at Irish Museum of Modern Art, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin 8



The bulletin would like to hear people’s reaction to this exhibition. Please send your comments to info@irishantiwar.org.