A Newyear's Resolution

national | anti-war / imperialism | opinion/analysis Monday January 02, 2006 09:19 by Seán Ryan

Assure, sign of deceit.

To understand Irish politics, one must wade through a mire. It becomes a gigantic "where's Wally," puzzle. But it is not deceit, that is hidden, it is the truth.

“….. Partnership politics requires all parties to play their part. But if trust and confidence is to be established, tangible evidence of commitment to a democratic peace is essential.”

Sounds like something that needs to be said to Bertie Ahern, with reference to his insistence that only an assurance is required, to prove that we do not facilitate torture by proxy.

I’m not being cute, I think he’d understand it.

He should, he said it, and he said it to Bush, of all people.

He wasn’t lecturing Bush of course, he was referring to de-commissioning or the lack of it, in March of 2005, as he was presenting Mr. Bush with his yearly bowl of “shamrocks.”

It brings a smile to my face, when I imagine Gerry Adams offering Bertie an assurance that the weapons have been de-commissioned.

So it’s my guess that an assurance would not be considered “tangible” evidence.

This article is not going to be about politics in the North, it’s going to be an examination of how our politicians and supposed representatives, never ever say anything with intent or substance that cannot be denied at the drop of a hat, with a song and a dance.

Recently, I’ve been scouring the rantings and ravings of our politicians. I’ve been looking for the “holy grail,” that one quote or picture that captures and proves our government’s complete lack of ethics and their disregard for what is ultimately fictitious; international law (It is fictitious because of this general disregard).

It’s one of the most frustrating things I’ve ever tried to do.

Everything or just about everything, that they say, reeks of hypocrisy or deceit. Picking through this or that, looking at countless quotes, and nearly everything tells you to follow it up. It’s like a fractal, its complexity increases without limit the more one explores. History will only be able to capture the complete picture.

To make things even more complex, a politician will say many things, most of it contradictory. Thus when something that they’ve commented on, is examined publicly, they may pick which ever option pleases the crowd more and say that anything else quoted, is done so out of context.

I’m beginning to sound like I see defeat on the horizon.

This is true.

You see irregardless as to how much mud is thrown in the water, simple logic will be their undoing.

Let’s look back to my “assurance,” bit from the start.

This is very simple logic and I apologies for this, but it is in my opinion irrefutable proof that our Government’s assurances are of no more value that an assurance from Bush.

Here it is.

If it is stated, that an assurance from the Americans, will constitute a proof in relation as to whether innocents are relayed through Shannon or elsewhere to be tortured, or not, then asking for another assurance, places the value of the first assurance very nicely, and sets the value of the next assurance too, and any further assurances.

Basically speaking, the first assurance is now equated with “bullshit,” with the pile enlarging for each addition.

I suppose those who disagree, will suggest, “hey, those further assurances were sought to assure you.”

Of course they were.

Let’s look at more bullshit, from the same day, but this time it’s from Bush himself, as he strokes Bertie, for his Irish - American audience.

“….. In a great Irish tradition, marines preparing to retake the city of Fallujah prepared for battle to the strains of Lt. Colonel Paul Sweeny’s bagpipes echoing across the Iraqi plains.”

It’s obvious, that Bush wasn’t really stroking Bertie here, or at least that it wasn’t done for Bertie’s gain. Christ only knows how he’d answer what he thought about this, if he were asked back home. It’s obvious that Bush is pushing his love of the Irish in order to ingratiate himself with Irish-American voters.

Anyway it seems to me that Bush is painting a picture of the Irish fighting along beside the American war machine. Despite our politicians constantly claiming otherwise.

I cannot but think back to March in 2003, and Bertie’s famous statement to the Dáil on the situation in Iraq.

One of the first things that Bertie points out, is that we are not members of a military alliance and that we look to the UN as the guarantor of our collective peace and security.

This not true.

We look to our government as guarantors of our collective peace and security, and we expect them to deliver this to us in a fashion that is derived from the Constitution. If I am wrong in this, then we are not a sovereign nation, period.

Fair enough, Bertie may have been speaking whimsically. If so, then such a tone was very improper for what was being discussed. It seemed to me to be an act of washing ones hands like Pontius Pilate.

To further illustrate his lack of ethics, Bertie suggested that, intolerance, poverty and the denial of rights and freedoms are the root causes of conflict.

This shows his lack of ethics in many ways. For me the most striking way is when I think of his use of the word “tangible,” from earlier. One must remember Bertie has recently told Bush that we the Irish we not happy about the maltreatment of prisoners, when Bush was in Dromoland. Bertie sees what causes conflict, he sees that tangible proof is a requirement of a trusting relationship. Yet what did he do to follow up this watered down condemnation of the American war machine?

Assurances. He valiantly sought them out.

The same day, Brian Cowen informs everyone that facilities at Shannon, in this case, overflight and transit through the airport, will again be offered to the Americans. He suggests that there are conditions associated with this offer.

I can only discover one “condition,” that is of course that an assurance negates all laws and responsibilities.

Here’s another part of Cowen’s masterplan from the same day:

“ I know that other European neutrals – Sweden, Finland and Austria – are not allowing additional facilities. But none of them is in the same situation. Ireland, with its very extensive airspace lies on the direct flight path between North America and Europe and the Middle East. That is why the current arrangements have evolved. Sweden and Finland are remote from such flight paths, And Austria is easily circumnavigated.”

I’m tempted here to bring in a plethora of quotes from Bertie and Brian and a whole multitude of others, that downplayed the importance of Irish airspace for the Yanks, suggesting at times even, that the yanks probably wouldn’t even be taking us up on our offer of airspace and airport(s). But I’ll not use a quote here.

This is proof of a number of lies that our government have promoted.

This proves that we aid in the subhuman and subhumane actions of America. We make the war machine more efficient. Plain and simple.

This is also tangible evidence from Mr. Cowen, that if extraordinary renditions are occurring, Ireland is a very logical hub of activity. Much more logical than Sweden for example. If it does not, in and of itself constitute tangible proof, it begs that some be offered and that it does not consist of insulting assurances.

Another gem from this quote exposes a very major lie that has been promoted constantly and consistently.

The lie?

The facilitation that we offer the Americans is unchanging, that it has been unchanged and uncompromised for more than 50 years.

Something, that has “evolved,” is not something that mirrors what it evolves from.

I’ll leave with a snippet I gleaned from the Irish Times, I believe it was dated Tue Mar 02 – 04. But, I’d not swear on it, my computer is acting up and it chewed most of the start of the article.

Anyway, it refers to an upcoming visit from Bush to Ireland, where amongst other things he will demand that European countries require their airlines to provide personal details of passengers flying to the USA.

Bush is famous for not settling for assurances.

Bootlickers, on the other hand can expect no more.

Sláinte,

Seán Ryan.