Substantial increase in US military use of Shannon

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report Wednesday June 07, 2006 22:56 by abihanuse

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The following outline paraphrases today's RTE report:

Substantial increase in US military use of Shannon

According to figures obtained and broadcast today by RTE there has been a substantial increase in the U.S. military use of Shannon over the first five months of this year, despite the growing international controversy over the U.S. 'extraordinary rendition' flights.

Shannon Airport's profits from U.S. military business are estimated at between €27-37 million. Last year over 330,000 U.S. soldiers transited through Shannon. Figures released today reveal that 177,741 U.S. troops passed through the airport on 1,128 'civilian' aircraft in the period January-May of this year. That amounts to a daily average of 1,177 per day. If this rate of traffic continues the total for 2006 is expected to be 426,578 - an increase of 96,578 on last year.

Human Rights Commisioner Maurice Manning called for a fundamental rethink on the government's policy, whereas Ed Horgan was less euphemistic in his call for the Irish gvt. and the people of Ireland to completely withdraw it's consent and facilities vis-a-vis the U.S. military use of Shannon.

The Irish government authorities reasserted that 'it cannot search the planes of a friendly nation' while Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern stressed that there was still no evidence that such planes have travelled through Ireland.

'When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.'
- Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) American Musician, Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter

Full report here:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0607/cia.html