Daily Ireland Draws Link Between Iraq War and Salthill War Show

galway | anti-war / imperialism | press release

Thursday June 01, 2006 11:28

by Niall Farrell - Galway Alliance Against War

Brit War Vets To "Perform" at War Show

Today’s Daily Ireland (Thursday 1st June 2006) has produced evidence that there is a direct link between the war in Iraq and the Salthill Air Show. According to the new national daily 4 pilots involved in the British RAF helicopter Merlin display team served in Iraq. At this year's Air Show the Merlin Team will be one of the "highlights".

Today’s Daily Ireland (Thursday 1st June 2006) has produced evidence that there is a direct link between the war in Iraq and the Salthill Air Show. According to the new national daily 4 pilots involved in the British RAF helicopter Merlin display team served in Iraq. At this year's Air Show the Merlin Team will be one of the "highlights".

The article written by Daily Ireland’s Dublin correspondent, David Lynch, states: “The official 'Team Merlin' website and RAF press release outlines the military biographies of the team members. The display pilot has been deployed in Iraq. The display co-pilot "has recently completed operational tours in Iraq". Another display co-pilot has "just completed his third tour in Iraq". And finally the Team Merlin display lead crewman has recently been "on Op Telic in Iraq". Operation Telic is the British military codename for its role in the US led 2003 invasion and ongoing occupation of Iraq. According to RAF information four of the five members of Team Merlin, have served in Iraq. The fifth, the display manager, spent ‘4 years on the Puma helicopter with the 230 Squadron in Northern Ireland’.”

The Galway Alliance Against War has called on both Galway City Council and Ireland West Tourism to withdraw funding to the air show. The peace group’s PRO, Niall Farrell, told us: “The organisers of this war show try to pass it off as harmless entertainment. But now we not only have the killing machines but the original pilots, not circus artistes, flying them. Galway City Council and Ireland West Tourism must distance themselves from this obscenity by withdrawing funding. These pilots have been involved in the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq; they have been involved in an unnecessary war that has taken the lives of over 200,000 people. By their very involvement in this illegal war they are British war criminals and they should be banned from our skies and our land.”