Shannon Warport - 'A great Moneyspinner'

national | anti-war / imperialism | opinion/analysis Friday July 15, 2005 20:13 by Damien Moran - Dublin Catholic Worker (Personal Capacity)

And an even better bloodspiller

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Please take time to read Tuesday's Irish Times article by Gordon Deegan and send to your relevant contacts.

Immoral Quote of the week:

"It is a great money-spinner for Shannon and should be welcomed."
Pat Breen, Clare Fine Gael TD, supporting the increased US military use of Shannon

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'Increase in US Troops Traffic at Shannon'
Gordon Deegan - Irish Times

Almost as many US troops have passed through Shannon airport during the first six months of this year as in the whole of 2004.

Figures released by the Shannon Airport Authority yesterday show that from January to June, 153,381 troops stopped over at Shannon en route to US bases in Europe, the Middle East and the US.

This compares to the 158,549 troops that passed through Shannon last year in what was a record year for US troop movements through Shannon.

The troop traffic continues to be a major revenue generator for the airport authority, with the authority believed to have received Â18 million in income from the US government to date this year.

In spite of the massive rise in passenger numbers on commercial airlines this year, revenues from the military traffic continue to play an important role, as losses incurred by Shannon last year would have been much higher but for the revenues generated by the military traffic.

Shannon recorded a loss of €2.5 million on a turnover of €95 million in 2004 and the loss could increase in future years.

The figures released yesterday show that 23,461 troops passed through on 169 flights last month, compared with 21,991 during the second quarter of 2004.

However, figures for the second quarter in 2005 are down on the numbers that passed through the airport in the first quarter of this year. The figures released by Shannon show that 95,984 passed through on 690 flights in the first quarter. The 34,647 that passed through in January are just short of the 35,405 troops that used the airport in the first quarter of last year.

The airport has received an estimated €63 million in revenues from the US government over the past four years arising from its campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Some 453,388 US troops have stopped off at the airport since the start of 2002.

It is estimated that there are currently 150,000 US troops in Iraq. An unknown number of troops that flew to Iraq via Shannon have not made the return journey, as about 1,700 soldiers have been killed in action since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

Clare Fine Gael deputy Pat Breen yesterday endorsed the troops using the airport. He said: "It is a great money-spinner for Shannon and should be welcomed. It is commercial business and the facilities at Shannon are not just on offer to the United States, but to any country."

Mr Breen went on: "I don't believe that Shannon is playing a role in US military operations. Ireland is a neutral country and it is a commercial decision to accept the troop business."

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2005/0713/2304554520HM2USTROOPS.html

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Gordon Deegan's article above made page 2 of the Irish Times and page 8 of the Irish Examiner yesterday. This piece comes shortly after Dr. Tom Cloonan reported in the Irish Times that the Irish taxpayer is subsidising the Iraq war occupation and plunder to the sum of €10,000 per day by paying the Irish Aviation Authority overflight fees which have been waived by the Irish gvt. as a part of the Eurocontrol agreement (Mutual waiving of military flight fees between US & European States, even though the only Irish military plane to enter US airspace is the gvt. jet - a rare occasion apart from a St. Patrick's Day visit) (See Link below for more info.)

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/opinion/2005/0625/905285319OP25CLONAN.html

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Response by Damien Moran (Dublin Catholic Worker/Pitstop Ploughshares - Personal Capacity)


Unfortunately Gordon did not look for (or the editors omitted)a response from any sector of the peace movement.

I am not sure whether the other main newspapers covered the new figures released. Once upon a time RTE would report the quarterly figures but they seem to agree with Bertie: it's a 'dead issue'.

The unfortunate reality is that the campaign to end the US military use of Shannon is now an very difficult feat, more so now than it has ever been in the past. Shannon revenues from military flights are increasing (helping minimise the overall losses last year), dutyfree/local hotel business is profitting, Ted Castle (TOP Oil)is smiling all the way to the bank with his refuelling warplanes portfolio bulging with dollars

Please refresh my memory but I do not think any sector of the Peace Movement have been to Shannon in 2005 (I hear rumours of a concert coming up in Sept.?). I vaguely remember members of MAMA laying a wreath on March 20th, the 2nd anniversary of the official outbreak of war in the Iraq. Even if our presence is small, we should have a presence at Shannon at least once a month for a few hours if not on a weekly basis. Reminding the authorities that business cannot go as usual while thay facilitate warmongers is an important responsibility for the peace movement to assume and help organise/sustain.

There is little or no presence on the streets of Dublin or anywhere in Ireland informing/engaging the public about what is happening and what they can do to resist it, e.g. Boycott TOP Oil, invite speakers to their local community groups/churches/schools/uni.'s, hold a weekly public vigil/demo. at a relevant site, e.g. Gvt. buildings, IAA on Burgh Quay, US/British/Coalition gvt. Embassies, Shannon Airport/Town, or Ennis town centre for a bigger audience, taking names for a petition.

I understand the political context is extremely difficult and I do not believe I'm caught up in February 15th mass mobilisation euphoria (which I looked at on TV from Limerick prison post-ploughshares action). However, I do believe 'small is beautiful' and neccessary (and inevitable when the peace movement in most countries has collapsed, despite the ongoing bloodshed in Iraq).

Remaining vigilant and steadfast, communicating the truth we now know about the Iraq shock/awe/massacre/occupation whenever we can is going to be the source of this campaign's resurrection.

Through dedicated affinity groups doing small acts of nonviolent resistance (like the brave Rossport 5) the Shannon issue can also be put back on the political/public agenda.

All that is required is solidarity (Court, Prison, Financial, Musical, etc.) from the Irish public and especially anti-war activist folks from different groups/political creeds, etc.

The response we have received while vigilling on the streets of Dublin are largely against Irish participation in the war.

A Peace Festival is been planned by the IAWM for the end of September, but unless this concert/party engages nonviolent direct action politics and tactics it will be just another free gig, Live 8 style. It is only worthwhile holding and investing energy in if it becomes a basis for ceasing business as usual at the mid-west's great money spinner - Shannon Airport.

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Our Catholic Worker/Pitstop Ploughshares community are currently awaiting a re-trial (October 24th) for the disarmament of a US Navy plane at Shannon on Feb. 3rd 2003. Our initial trial in early March resulted in the jury been discharged by the judge after our defence team successfully argued we could not (on that particular occasion) have a fair trial.

We have just produced a 35 minute dvd/video entitled 'PEACE ON TRIAL', charting the events surrounding our last March. It features Dennis Halliday (Former UN Asst. Sec. Gen.), Bishop Thomas J Gumbleton, Kathy Kelly (Voices in the Wilderness), Kelly Dougherty (Veterans Against Iraq War/Former National Guard), and Mairead Corrigan Maguire (Former Nobel Peace Laureate).

If you would like a vid/dvd send an email to ploughsharesireland@yahoo.ie

www.peaceontrial.com