Shannon Warport update.

clare | anti-war / imperialism | news report Monday February 23, 2004 21:01 by Tim Hourigan

Still watching the war machine on Irish soil

Cargo,
Tankers
Troops
Rumsfeld
vigilant and secretive APOs
security works.

It doesn't make the mainstream news as much, but the US military continues to pour people and weapons through Shannon airport.
the Irish lackeys arrange the fuel the food, and try to ban, harrass and otherwise subdue members of the public who object to, record details of, or protest against Ireland's involvement in mass murder and asset stripping.

Recently spotted at Shannon we have the cargo charters, such as Evergreen International, which continues to carry large quantities of military hardware to the killing zones in Iraq.

Also spotted were some refuelling tankers.
These are the KC-130s which the Marines use to refuel their fighter and bomber jets in mid air. Allowing them to get through Irish airspace and over their Iraqi targets with the minimum of delay or intrusion.

Every day more troops come through Shannon, some in military aircraft and some on charter jets like ATA's L-1011 tristars and 757s.

Shannon also gets to roll out the red carpet for their commanders, like Donald Rumsfeld.
Who came through Shannon en route to Baghdad. Rummy's refuel stop con-incided with that of some US troops heading for Iraq.
Rumsfeld sported a broad smile and an army jacket as he hammed it up for the troops and the press photographers.

At 11:20 a small white and blue VIP transport jet left the airport.
At 12:05 the much larger ATA plane left carrying the troops.
Both headed to Iraq.

Rumsfeld would be making a flying visit, would not be exposed to danger or asked to take the life of innocent Iraqis. He would be pampered and well fed and be back home safe without little concern.
The troops he posed with in the transit lounge didn't know what they were heading into, how long they will be there and whether they will come back in a seat or the cargo hold.
Will they be killed or injured?
Will they be ordered to open fire on Iraqis,- killing total strangers just to make George, Donald and their friends richer?

The whole thing is sickening, and our government lets them use the airport for both the drive to war and the photo-ops to cheer for it.

The airport is also undergoing a few changes.
A new section of road is being built near the runway to allow Airport police to patrol the perimiter fence. There was a construction crew in Shannon today.
This is all being done in advance of George Bush's visit later this summer, towards the end of Ireland's EU presidency.
Will Bush swagger all over Shannon airport like Rumsfeld did? Will Bertie shake his hand as he disembarks Air Force One? Will Bertie tell him how opposed he was to the war, and will Bush laugh at Bertie's sarcastic joke?

Today at Shannon I went planespotting with a few peace-activists. We went to the back of the airport, and checked out the old back road, now closed to traffic.
As we walked along the section of road, the Airport Police van apporached the fence to keep an eye on us. We paid them little heed and continued to observe the airport through our binoculars.
We walked down to the North East end of the runway as the sound of approaching aircraft got louder.
At 14:55 a big ol' 757 flew directly over our heads and landed on runway 24 (heading southwest 240')
We watched and noted as it landed, slowed and turned. It was an ATA plane, used to carry troops for the US military.
It taxied to the enclosed area at the end of the terminal where it was guarded by Garda Siochana, and airport police while the TOP OIL trucks loaded fuel and the Shannon Catering trucks loaded the food.
Having seen all we needed, we decided to head back to the car.
As we walked back up towards Shannon aerospace (and the car) we saw three uniformed men approach.
Two wore Garda uniforms, while the other wore the uniform of the airport police.
The first Garda addressed us "do ye know ye're in a restricted area now?"
"We're not actually, but in any case we're leaving"
After asking our names the Gardai identified themselves. I noted their names and numbers.
The APO did not identify himself, but then he never does (although he's obliged to) . He just continued to smirk.
I asked him when Aer Rianta had bought the road from the council. he didn't reply.
I asked the Garda how long he had been in Shannon.
"about a year" he replied.
I knew that he might now be familiar with the story of the back road, and aer rianta's dishonesty, so I informed him "just so somepeople don't mislead you in future, this road is not part of the airport. There may be a sign on the gate but it's not airport property.
This road is a county council road. It's not Aer Rianta property. the field on the right is owned by the airport, and the airport is on our left, but this road is not theirs. they closed the road to traffic, officially to stop travellers parking here. Did you hear about the accident with the gates on the road?"

I told him how the council had closed the road, without putting proper notice or signs, and a man had crashed through the gate, not expecting it to be there.
"I believe he settled out of court with the council