Pitstop Plougshares acquittee Damien Moran deported from the U.S.

by DM Sun Apr 06, 2008 21:05

I really need to go to bed. That last sentence should read:

'No Pasaran (New motto of U.S. Homeland Security against dissenters)

by David Murphy Sun Apr 06, 2008 22:12

I attended your trials, the main thing you all seemed happy about in the end was the simple fact that you could get on with your lives.You shouldn't have to deal with this stuff

by Justin Morahan Sun Apr 06, 2008 22:35

Roll on the day when this petty philosophy of "My world is not your world" will vanish from the earth.

Welcome back to Europe.

by Cormac - WSM Mon Apr 07, 2008 00:55

Sorry to hear about your troubles at the gateway to the land of the free(!)
Hope you get some well deserved sleep after your ordeal.
The mighty war machine trembles so easily.

by Fintan Lane Mon Apr 07, 2008 01:04

I'm not surprised. The US administration under Bush is utterly paranoid. I suppose at least they didn't attempt to snatch Damien and transport him to their torture camp in Cuba - too much to fear in terms of bad media coverage for grabbing a white European, I suspect. My guess is that if Damien was from the Middle East or Africa he would now be wearing an orange jump suit.

Solidarity, Damien. Unfortunately, dissent is 'rewarded' as negatively in the so-called 'free world' as it is in openly totalitarian countries.

We move forward slowly, but we do move forward.

by Damien Moranj Mon Apr 07, 2008 05:20

We do indeed move forward Fintan and thank you all for the kind words. Experiences I've had as a subject of interrogations whilst travelling in the Middle East and observer of the utterly humiliating and downright dehumanising behaviour of immigration officers, from Ireland to Israel, Lebanon to the U.S., sickens me. The only way to beat the assholes is by being calm, truthful, assertive while subtly letting them know their abuse of authority is not going unnoticed and will go reported.

I am happy to be back in Poland safe and sound as the more I reflect on the brutally bullish attitude of Officer Bock the more grateful I am that I ignored him and asked for his superior officer. An African-American woman, his superior, was rational and sympathetic, and at least listened to me when I told her that I had come to the U.S. to speak about military divestment and the need for money spent on weapons and war-waging to be redirected towards health, education and social needs. It resonated. She assigned a very nice Latino officer to my case who treated me respectfully. Others did not get such a easy deal. Other assholes like Officer Bock could be heard interrogating people in 'interview' rooms about how they would be sent to jail if they didnt stop lying.

Most of the detainees in the immigration room, from what I observed (and from interactions), were Mexican, Chinese, Arab and Muslim(various nationalities). One funny incident was when Officer Kramer came out and called for Mr. Mohammed - 3 people stood up. It's like going to a packed dance club in Portlaoise in 1940 and asking if 'Mary' or 'John' is present. A lot can deduced from such small incidents - it says: for us, you are all the same, a threat to national security.

I heard one officer shout at one of the Muslim detainees, who had mentioned God willing somewhere in his response to the officer, that my God and your God are not the same Gods. I don't care about your God. Neither common sense, human rights nor theological understanding is at the heart or fringes of O'Hare airport's Homeland Security branch.

I am certain that if Officer Bock wasn't such a thick and ignorant gombeen and had made it to a more superior position than chief humiliator of the Homeland Security office in Chicago O'Hare airport then I would still be there, and his threat that deportation was the least of my problems could have transpired to be true.

I have noted down everything from the experience and will write more as time allows.

Can someone please send me an Irish media email/phone list as I would like to press release about this situation.
My address is dbamoran[at]yahoo[dot]com

by paul o toole Mon Apr 07, 2008 08:30

We can have our 'peaceful protest' while they carry on their bloody war. Even after being acquitted they still dont get it.....I wonder if theyll let Kissinger in?? Much love Damo.

by Contrarian Mon Apr 07, 2008 08:57

Damien,

You smashed up their airplane - they don't want you in their country. Why does this come as a surprise to you?

by Seán Ryan Mon Apr 07, 2008 09:00

Fair play Damien, especially for keeping up your spirits.

I think I'll pen an email of protest to the US ambassador. How dare the US treat an Irish citizen, with no criminal record, in such a shoddy fashion. I mean his own record, should spell deportation, all things considered. I'll publish the email and any reply I get here.

Well done.

by Fintan Lane - ISN (and AWI) Mon Apr 07, 2008 09:58

The sad irony, of course, is that Damien gets booted out of the US for engaging in a peaceful protest against war and mass murder, while every day hundreds of US gunmen are allowed through Ireland on their way to kill people in the Middle East.

What say the Greens to this? The PDs and Fianna Fail were always pro-war, but the Greens stood with the rest of us against the misuse of Shannon airport. Now they are in government and facilitating mass murder.

We live in an upside down world.

by DM Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:16

Contrary,

Ploughshares activists from Europe who have been booted out of the USA have since being allowed back in. Peace activists with hundreds of arrrests under their belt are allowed into the US to speak at conferences. I have no criminal record. In one sense I think I am surprised at how ill-efficient they were, nothing having info. that we were acquitted - but as the Homeland Security agent said, whether a court of law acquitted us or not was irrelevant.

The mistake is to think that these people are consistent. It is possible that if I had entered another airport and hadn't met the asshole who turned out to be Officer Bock I would be let in. If we were found guilty and did time in Ireland would I have got in? In such a vengeful State as the U.S. maybe all they wanted was for me/our group to have done some hard time. Whether I have a right to enter the U.S. or not is of course entirely up to the State apparatus.

Whether citizens of the U.S. have a right to hear me talk and meet me should their basic right given I have no conviction. I had a return ticket to Poland in 10 days time but evidently post-acquittal the decision was made that they could not afford to let people in who had proved one can have a lawful excuse to intervene when war crimes are being/are about to be perpetrated.

I was told that even if I had applied for a visa in Dublin or Warsaw that basically it was only a knock on the door and that Homeland Security would still, of course, have the final say. And they don't seem like an entirely lawful or peaceful bunch of folks from what I observed. They get off on trying to humiliate people.

by Tim Hourigan Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:38

Where the authorities dare not let a voice of peace inform the public about succesful resistance to the war machine.

by Damien Moran Mon Apr 07, 2008 16:28

My press release
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87066

2FM had the news as last item on their lunch time broadcast. The Irish Indo have called to do an interview. I'll keep shaking the bushes and see what pops out.

Harr Browne's Article:
http://www.counterpunch.org/

by Mairtin Mon Apr 07, 2008 16:47

I was sorry to hear about your experiences at the hands of men who serve other men who ultimately serve "Mammon"!! I suppose that the belly of the beast doesn't like trying to digest those with peace and justice on their mind along with the brave few that are in there already!! Anyway, it is always a good day when you are persecuted for the cause of righteousness...the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to you and these people!!

by DM Mon Apr 07, 2008 18:37

.

by noddy Mon Apr 07, 2008 22:45

these cowards are right to be bothered about you ,because you showed them up to be what they were
hypocritical violent murderers

Don't forget what the man said!

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.

gandhi

by Viola Wilkins - Industrial Workers of the World Tue Apr 08, 2008 00:29

Did you know before the First World War that you did not need a passport to travel.
What a "nice little earner" as old Arthur Dayley the dodgy business man used to say...

The contradiction in all that is eg they want & use 6 million "undocumented" workers to exploit as "Braceros" field labourers etc. but at the same time want Homeland Security to document everyone... So you should have come in the back door and not through the front and you would be used and abused not locked out.

Some choice eh !?

The borders racket is ginormous or humungous too remember when the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 or the Great Wall of China was a theme park style feature ? Now we have the great firewall of China so that locals cannot see the Paris protests against Olympics, cannot look up on Google Tienanemen Square, Falun Gong, etc. The Morrocan desert wall to exclude the Polasario, the US-Mexico border wall, the Israel- Palestine border wall, the Saudi-Arabia-Iraq Wall and then there are "gated communities" where the paranoid can live in a vault...some progress ?

Organised crime has profited from this eg Corporate sociopaths like Raytheon have built the fences around Pine Gap here in Australia and the fence between Saudis and Iraqis etc.

But I digress Damien and friends you have "graduated" to that Academy Award level of protest that the rest of us are all aspiring to become some day the Governments of the world in this case the US regime reckons you are an Enemy of the State.

You have joined a community with a long pedigree of dissent and humanity that shines on into the future while the likes of Bush, Cheney have approval ratings in single figures.

So do not be alarmed or ashamed, though being interrogated and awaiting deportation can be a drag of course, celebrate your civil liberties and human rights wherever you are and cherish your gold star award !

You could always try to come out here to Oz but we also have deported good folks like Scott Parkin for exposing Halliburton's crimes ... so try out the new Rudd lead ALP regime to see if there is any change here. Most of us suspect not really - though the Peace crew who inspected the Pine Gap base were released from jail they intend to do so again here on ANZAC Day the war-buffs wrap yourself in a flag military spectacle annual ritual.

Whatever you do keep up the good work agitating, organising and struggling on.

One day we shall laugh at these bygone tyrants, their passports and borders, their wars and environmental crimes. But until then have some fun also - keep a smile on your lips and a song in your heart.

Viola
Melboring
Ozfailure

by Damien Moran Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:24

There goes the nyc shopping trip plan!

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/71319/

by Homer Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:24

Contrarian is right, it was foolish in the extreme to expect that you would be let in with no problems. Did you attempt to go to the US Embassy or Consulate to inquire about whether you would need a visa waiver or not to enter the US, given your background? It is not just whether you have a criminal record or not that bars people from entering the US. The fact that you damaged US military aircraft is enough under US immigration law to keep you out; whether you were acquitted or not under Irish law is irrelevant, it is US law that matters in regards to who can and cannot freely enter the US. Had you raised it with US officials prior to landing at the airport you may well have had a different experience. Had you even googled about the criteria for entry to the US you would have known that you would have been red-flagged.

As well you are either momumentally naive or momumentally foolish to think that after the Shannon action you would just sail right through US immigration control, no matter who is in office.

by Au Contraire Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:26

What you should have told them is that you were merely passing through, on your way to 'liberate' a small pacific island, to prevent this island from launching WMD, and that you would refuse to confirm or deny that you were carrying DU, instead stating that you were complying with all local and international laws.

Well,,, if that type of bull$hit works on the Irish government...

by Damien Moran Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:35

Homer dude, you've skulled back too much duff beer and your senses just ain't right!

I am not naive, nor am I a fool.

I am, however, not willing to lick U.S. political ass to get into a country where I had been invited to speak on issues of peace, where I have family and where their citizens do not ask permission to enter anybod's country (the U.S. have a military presence in about 100 countries worldwide with bases, etc.).

Going to the U.S. embassy in Ireland or Poland would make no difference, as admitted by Homeland Security in Chicago. Irish people have traditionally only ever used the visa waiver green card to gain entrance for trips up to 3 months. One must admit to whether they have been arrested or convicted for an act of moral turpitude, drug offences, terrorism, blah, blah, blah.

2 reasons why one would tick 'No'.

a) when they are arrested for committing a legal and moral act (like we were, as confirmed by a unanimous acquittal 3 1/2 years post-action at Shannon)

b) for obvious reasons, if per chance they didn't have the info. on their database then what the hell would be the point of making it an issue.

Was the Icelandic shopper who went to New york recently also naive to think she wouldn't be chained up and treated like shit by HS for a minor overstay issue from a previous visit? People I met at immigration office in O'Hare were allowed go through despite similar minor overstay problems.

Previous ploughshares activists who have been convicted and deported from the US have been allowed back in.

Peace activists from Europe with multiple arrests for civil disobedience against U.S. military property in Europe have been permitted through.

That said Code Pink activists have been barred from internally flying in the US.

A US citizen whose dad is terminally and resident in Canada (because of shit healthcare system in US) was recently barred from entering Canada due to a minor civil disobedience action and conviction 20 years ago.

The HS and US authorities are as vengeful as they are inconsistent. Canada under Harper is changing for the worse also.

Now Homer, go back to the Nuke plant and take your daily dose of radioactivity, eat a batch of doughnuts and chew on my comments!

This is some brief media feedback on who has covered the issues connected to this deportation (militarism, freedom of speech and movement, Iraq war, Shannon complicity):

- Regional news done by INN (covers 1.7 million adults)
- Clare FM interview
- Midlands Radio interview
- Irish Indo interview
- Belfast Telegraph article
- yahoo news article
- Counterpunch article by Harry Browne (over a million readers online)
- Democracy Now in the U.S.
- Wide variety of alt. media sites

It's good to turn an adverse situation on it's head!

by Homer Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:58

Homer dude, you've skulled back too much duff beer and your senses just ain't right!

When you are wrong, call the other person a drunk.

I am not naive, nor am I a fool.

Then you are arrogant in the extreme.

I am, however, not willing to lick U.S. political ass to get into a country where I had been invited to speak on issues of peace, where I have family and where their citizens do not ask permission to enter anybod's country (the U.S. have a military presence in about 100 countries worldwide with bases, etc.).

Ordinary citizens, which you are one, must have proper visas to enter other countries. This includes US citizens who wish to travel into other countries. If a US citizen wants to enter another country to work or to visit, they must abide by the laws governing such entry, whether there is an agreement between the countries such as exists between the US, UK and Ireland, or not. If for some reason their personal circumstances, such as yours, falls beyond the remit of said agreement between Ireland and the US, the onus is on them to secure the proper visas in order to be able to enter. This is de facto for all countries, not just the US.

Going to the U.S. embassy in Ireland or Poland would make no difference, as admitted by Homeland Security in Chicago. Irish people have traditionally only ever used the visa waiver green card to gain entrance for trips up to 3 months. One must admit to whether they have been arrested or convicted for an act of moral turpitude, drug offences, terrorism, blah, blah, blah.

Exactly so. What you did to the plane at Shannon has meant that the US will not allow you entry into their country, as the action would be considered a crime under US law, and the act of sabotage against military equipment is considered terrorism. At first glance, you get refused entry for those two sections of the relevant immigration law alone. So you are now admitting that you know, or knew before you attempted to enter the states, that you would not have been granted entry based upon your known history. So you tried to sneak in under the radar, abusing the existing agreement that allows free travel between the US and Ireland (way to go, you are making it harder for the rest of us!), and have attempted to publicity seek on the back of it. Well done, you!

2 reasons why one would tick 'No'.

a) when they are arrested for committing a legal and moral act (like we were, as confirmed by a unanimous acquittal 3 1/2 years post-action at Shannon)

b) for obvious reasons, if per chance they didn't have the info. on their database then what the hell would be the point of making it an issue.

So you lied on the paperwork. 1 reason for you to get pulled by Immigration upon landing. Stupid on your part. As well under US immigration law, while you were acquitted in Ireland, the act you committed would be viewed as a crime in the US which also goes against your being granted entry.

You chanced your arm and you lost, boo hoo. And instead of owning it you are blaming Big Bad Uncle Sam, boo hoo hoo.

Was the Icelandic shopper who went to New york recently also naive to think she wouldn't be chained up and treated like shit by HS for a minor overstay issue from a previous visit? People I met at immigration office in O'Hare were allowed go through despite similar minor overstay problems.

I agree there is a problem with how people detained at immigration are treated. That problem also exists here, too. But yes, the Icelandic woman was naive to think she could get away with an overstay. The US has been pretty clear on the changes in its immigration law and the penalties for abuse of it, which are much harsher now.

Previous ploughshares activists who have been convicted and deported from the US have been allowed back in.

Either they submitted the proper paperwork and obtained the needed visas to be allowed in, or they chanced their arm and got lucky. The problem with that is when they run out of luck, they may not just be put on the next plane back to Ireland, but detained for months or years and fined as well. Lying on your entry paperwork is now treated as a serious crime and it is not advisable to attempt as the penalty is stiff.

I am sorry but I find it extremely hard to work up any sympathy for your arrogant publicity grab.

Peace activists from Europe with multiple arrests for civil disobedience against U.S. military property in Europe have been permitted through.

Again, either they learned their lesson and got the proper visas sorted or they are hoping they get lucky and no one notices them.

That said Code Pink activists have been barred from internally flying in the US.

Yes, since 911 security has gotten more draconian. But that is the price of activism.

A US citizen whose dad is terminally and resident in Canada (because of shit healthcare system in US) was recently barred from entering Canada due to a minor civil disobedience action and conviction 20 years ago.

So now you are arguing for the right of US citizens to enter other countries to avail of their health care (despite not paying for said system), and you are saying that Canada also doesn't have the right to bar people who were convicted from entering or at least requiring them to obtain a visa that allows them to enter?

Yeah, you aren't foolish, you are arrogant.

The HS and US authorities are as vengeful as they are inconsistent. Canada under Harper is changing for the worse also.

What does US Homeland Security have to do with Canada's entry requirements?

Now Homer, go back to the Nuke plant and take your daily dose of radioactivity, eat a batch of doughnuts and chew on my comments!

Your comments have as much substance as sawdust and just as much taste.

This is some brief media feedback on who has covered the issues connected to this deportation (militarism, freedom of speech and movement, Iraq war, Shannon complicity):

- Regional news done by INN (covers 1.7 million adults)
- Clare FM interview
- Midlands Radio interview
- Irish Indo interview
- Belfast Telegraph article
- yahoo news article
- Counterpunch article by Harry Browne (over a million readers online)
- Democracy Now in the U.S.
- Wide variety of alt. media sites

It's good to turn an adverse situation on it's head!

Publicity stunt, how are ya! Now all the world knows you for an idiot.

Congratulations!

by Jimbob Tue Apr 08, 2008 13:14

He'll just drag the debate down to his level. Deliberately twisting statements etc.

Let's just face facts, OUR poor excuse for a government will let Bush transport ANYTHING through Shannon, be it troops with guns, explosives or the CIA on a torture mission. We'll even subsidise it by getting the Irish taxpayer pay for the security and air traffic fees. Oh, and on the off chance that Bush MIGHT land at Shannon, we spend quarter of a million for a stand-by security operation last weekend.

If today is an average day, over a thousand US troops will pass through Shannon, as well as 4 planes carrying weapons/munitions, and 2 US soliders will die, and an unknown, but larger number of Iraqis.

Compare and contrast that to a young man from Offaly, who hasn't shot at or bombed anyone, and isn't asking the taxpayer to subsidise him gets confronted by some hot -head thug who thinks he's Gunnery Sgt. Hartman.

It shows just how boot-licking our government is.
The Icelandic woman can at least say that in her country, the government formally requested the US Ambassador to explain this incident.
Can you imagine Fianna Fail picking up the phone about this (except to apologise to the "Great President Bush")?

by Homer Tue Apr 08, 2008 13:23

And the US Ambassador would look into this case, see that your man had lied on his landing card, did not secure the right visa, had sabotaged a US military plane, and would say to the Irish government, "I am sorry your citizen was an arrogant idiot, what do you expect us to do about it?" And the Irish government would take a reddener for bringing up such a spurious case in the first place that is all on the head of the arrogant idiot who thought he was above the law. And if the Irish government takes up this case, it puts the very real US immigration issue that it is currently fighting regards the thousands of Irish who are in the states wanting to stay in jeopardy as it weakens the Irish's credibility. If they are going to the wall over a case that is so obviously due to willful negligence on the part of the petitioner, then what does it say about everyone else they are fighting for?

No, this is the publicity stunt of a selfish, arrogant git.

And I am not a troll, I am legitimately taking issue with this. Call me all the names you want but that doesn't change the facts of this non-story. Known saboteur attempts to sneak into the US under false pretenses. Next!

by Jimbob Tue Apr 08, 2008 13:35

"see that your man had lied on his landing card"

No he was not arrested for a crime. He was arrested and found not guilty. Therefore the correct answer was to tick "NO".
He quite obviously did not lie. Repeating it doesn't make it true. You are therefore a troll.
You call Damien arrogant, claiming he didn't fill out his card, but then defend the Irish who are in the US without valid visas or green cards.
Therefore you are a troll.

You can keep repeating the same argument, and keep avoiding the obvious. These folks are killing Iraqis and occupying their country and using our airport as part of their logistics system, and we don't put any pressure on the US government about this, due to complete cowardice.

by Homer Tue Apr 08, 2008 13:57

Damian wrote: 2 reasons why one would tick 'No'.

a) when they are arrested for committing a legal and moral act (like we were, as confirmed by a unanimous acquittal 3 1/2 years post-action at Shannon)

b) for obvious reasons, if per chance they didn't have the info. on their database then what the hell would be the point of making it an issue.

Jimbob wrote: No he was not arrested for a crime. He was arrested and found not guilty. Therefore the correct answer was to tick "NO".
He quite obviously did not lie. Repeating it doesn't make it true. You are therefore a troll.
You call Damien arrogant, claiming he didn't fill out his card, but then defend the Irish who are in the US without valid visas or green cards.
Therefore you are a troll.

1. He was arrested. To tick no to the question of whether he was arrested or not is to lie, regardless of his acquittal.
2. He is also advocating that people lie as well. Not a good idea.

Lying on your landing card now is stupid, lying about lying on your card is stupider, and expecting sympathy for doing either is the stupidest. Those Irish in the states now have made their lives there; part of negotiating their ability to stay means that people won't continue to abuse the system as Damian is suggesting they do. Damian's actions make it worse for those people and for the case being made, not better.

You can keep repeating the same argument, and keep avoiding the obvious. These folks are killing Iraqis and occupying their country and using our airport as part of their logistics system, and we don't put any pressure on the US government about this, due to complete cowardice.

Two distinct issues, and this publicity stunt detracts from the legitimate issue of the war. If anyone is a troll it is the likes of those who undermine the anti-war movement with stupid actions such as this.

by redjade Tue Apr 08, 2008 14:48

Irish Peace Activist Blocked from Entering US
The Department of Homeland Security has blocked an Irish peace activist from entering the United States. Damien Moran was scheduled to speak today in Colorado Springs about US plans to build a missile defense system in Poland. After he landed at O’Hare Airport in Chicago, Damien was reportedly interrogated about his role in a 2003 action when Irish peace activists sabotaged US military property at Shannon Airport in Ireland.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/4/7/headlines#18

or, download the MP3
http://media.switchpod.com/users/democracynow/ftp/dn200...1.mp3
news about Damien starts at about 11:00mins

by Ciaron - Pitstop Ploughshares Tue Apr 08, 2008 16:01

Many thanks Damien for moving quickly from personal disappointment to reflecting on the broader issues surrounding what happened to you at O'Hare. You have been defined as "undesireable" by a government pursuing war on the poor of Iraq.

Many Americans, and others, are outraged at what happened at O'Hare, what is happening at Shannon and in Iraq. As has been pointed out, Americans who have killed and are returning to kill again in Iraq pass through Ireland on a daily basis. Nonviolent peace activists are harassed at airports and at home. It is only those who have internalised the sychophancy of empire who accept this state of affairs. (Are you listening Homer?)

Until the U.S. minimally accepts the call of Vidal and rejects its empire and returns to being a republic as founded....mass murderers and mercenaries will be welcome and those who seek peace get the kind of reception you received at O'Hare.

Keep the faith
Speak out
Act Up

by Diogenes Tue Apr 08, 2008 16:13

Does the USA or any other country for that matter have automatic access to potential visitors' arrest / criminal records?

by Jacqueline Fallon Wed Apr 09, 2008 00:15

I have no doubt at all Damien knew he would be denied access to the USA on account of his action at Shannon - if I damaged a US military jet, I would not expect entry into the US. Having said that, if the US is stupid enough to park their military jets at a small Irish civilian airport which is ill-equipped to deal with military jets safely and securely, then that's their own fault and they have no one to blame but themselves for their bad decision - and more, importantly, for starting a war in Iraq that has killed over a million in the first place.

There are many Irish people today in Ireland who are members of US 'unapproved' Irish organisations and others on their suspect list, none of whom are guilty of anything at all, but who are all denied entry into the United States. Many others with middle eastern looks fair a lot worse.

Sure, look what happened to the singer Cat Stevens, instead of being on a US music charts list - he found out he was on a US terrorist list!

by Statin the Obvious Wed Apr 09, 2008 07:35

Damien's presence in the U.S. was requested by a group of U.S. citizen's having a conference on an issue they thought he could contribute to. It was a group of U.S. citizen's who requested Damien's attendance and paid for his travel.

What this thread fails to acknowledge is that the actions of the Homeland Security was against the wishes and democratic rights of these U.S. citizens - not just an act against Damien.

by Homer Wed Apr 09, 2008 08:40

Then the people who invited him should have made efforts to help secure him a visa to be able to gain entry to the states, especially since they were well aware of his background and the challenges he would have to entry. They should not have encouraged him to try his luck on a visitor's visa, which is fundamentally stupid, especially so when if they are a global activist group they should be more than familiar with visas for international guest speakers.They should know from experience that an invitation to a person from outside the US to speak would require more than a visitor's visa, as the purpose of the trip requires a different classification of visa. So he was doubly stupid to try to come in with his record on a visitor's visa, and to try and come in to speak at a professional event (seeing that his expenses were being paid for) on a visitor's visa. And we should applaud him for this?

I just wish that people would use their heads and do things smartly instead of expecting us to get excited over every publicity stunt that is created out of someone's stupidity. Ok, yes, this has got people talking, but is it about the issues you wanted the focus on, and is it more valuable than what would have come out of being allowed entry to the states to participate in the events planned? Is playing the "victim" really more valuable, and if it is, are we fucked or what?

by Homer Wed Apr 09, 2008 08:45

What this thread fails to acknowledge is that the actions of the Homeland Security was against the wishes and democratic rights of these U.S. citizens - not just an act against Damien.

Actually, no, wrong. The actions were in accordance with current US immigration law which is decided democratically by the citizens of the US. A small minority of people can't unilaterally decide that those laws don't apply to them and then complain when they are caught up by them. Damian and his mates seem to think he is above the law, which is selfish and arrogant in the extreme.

Nice try though.

by Damien Moran Wed Apr 09, 2008 09:37

The Irish Indo just never learns (nor does Homer). Ian O'Doherty continues his hatchet jobs on peace activists (former victims Caoimhe Butterly , Mary Kelly and Pitstop Ploughshares have had to swallow his untruths before) in his column today by calling me a 'self-confessed vandal' and saying I claimed that Martin Luther King Jr. and I were like peas in pod. The former may be libelous, the latter an attempt to make me look arrogant and a deliberate attempt at skewing what I actually wrote.

In my press release (above) the context of the statement makes it clear that I was writing of the lip service US politicians pay co-opting the legacy of nonviolence and civil disobedience of Martin Luther King Jr. while at the same time repressing people's freedom of movement, speech, anti-war opinions.
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/87066

Relevant paragraph from my statement:

The juxtaposition of my refusal to enter the U.S. to speak on the grave need for military divestment and social investment as the U.S. officially celebrates the life of Martin Luther King Jr. should not go amiss. I was barred from entering due to my act of dissent at Shannon 5 years ago against their disastrous militaristic policies at home and abroad. There is no room for dissenters' perspectives in America today "

I would be grateful if people wrote letters to the Independent to complain about Doherty's remarks. Please write to:

independent.letters@unison.independent.ie

Please also consider writing something brief to O'Doherty himself at iodoherty@unison.independent.ie

Fell free to use the above and below arguments and you may also agree that the best way to make them quake in their boots there is to tell them you will no longer buy their paper until they retract their libelous comments in the nearest edition of their newspaper.

Consider reminding him we were unanimously acquitted, a rarity in Irish court cases, and that he never even came to listen to our and expert military and legal testimony in public court during three trials, and is therefore ill-qualified to comment on the jury's informed decision. Please let him know that his comments are above all an offence to the conscience of the Dublin people who served on the jury that acquitted us.

Very Important: They will not even consider publishing unless you leave full name, postal address and phone number.

You can phone your Letters to the Editor on freephone 1-800-733-733

Feel free to send me a copy also or let me know if you've sent one so I can track the numbers:
dbamoran{at}yahoo{dot}com

It is also possible to write a comment under his article:
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/ian-odoher....html
so that would also be great. Short and sweet but straight to the jugular is best re. letters to editor and comments;))

Since our acquittal we have had to put up with establishment journos. calling us criminals who got away with an act of vandalism. The Irish Independent has been most guilty of this. We have decided for various reasons not to pursue these case in a court of law (mainly cause 4 of us live outside Ireland now).

One suspects they would rather the Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo forms of justice to be meted out upon people who tried to stop the war.

Anyhow, it would be good to let them know that we bite back when unjustly kicked.

Best regards,
Damo

Ian O'Doherty's 'Ispy' column:

AW, THOSE MEAN AMERICANS
You'd need a heart of tungsten not to laugh at the case of self-confessed vandal Damien Moran, who was refused entry to the US the other day.
'Peace activist' Moran was one of those brave figures who decided that taking a hammer to a US plane and playing a game of smashy-smashy with its engines, causing e2.5m worth of damages in the process, would send a powerful message that violence never solves anything.
And despite being acquitted in one of the most disgraceful decisions in recent legal history, the man who is proud of causing the damage is upset at being refused entry, particularly as he was going over there to talk to an anti-war group.
He also complains, bizarrely, about the "juxtaposition of me being refused entry to the US ... and the official celebrations of the life of Martin Luther King Junior should not go amiss."
So now he mentions MLK in connection to himself? Wow. As the old phrase goes, sure doesn't he have a great welcome for himself?
Interestingly, journalist Harry Browne puts this refusal of entry down to the "skewed sense of justice that plagues America".
So, presumably the next time someone steals and trashes Browne's car, causing him a fortune in damages, he'll be the first to invite the guilty party into his house?

Homer, I've already clarified the visa issue - HS said it didn't matter if I had procured a visa before I travelled as it is only a knock on the door. I still would have ticked 'No' because that was the truth (something Homer finds it hard to face).

Homer is deliberately distorting things I have written. Re. the green card waiver the relevant section that I answered 'No' was have you ever been arrested for 'an act of moral turpitude' not 'have you ever been arrested'. They are completely different statements. I wrote the truth.

Finally, Homer, makes it out that it was all a publicity stunt - yawwwwwwwn!
I clearly stated above that given the reality which transpired it was best not to do what they expect deportees to do (slip quietly away) but rather to highlight the issues of freedom of movement, speech, anti-militarism amongst the public.
This was a response to the circumstances of my deportation. Goodbye Homer! I'm not going to repeat myself again for you.

by Ciaron - Pit Stop Ploughshares/Catholic Worker Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:34 Dublin...got in last night

In reference to the quality of journalism served up by Ian O'Doherty of the Indo .......the old Irish saying ......"What do you expect from a pig...but a grunt!" suffices and O'Doherty has his face buried deep in the trough.

He's doing what he gets paid to do to cover (up) the war and mock serious resistance to it. We'll be looking at these issues on the RTE panel discussing the media and the war tonight...it goes out live on the web. Check the indymedia events section.

In reference to Homer's trolling confusing plutocracy with democracy in the U.S. , the old Australian saying form the movie The Castle suffices "You must be dreeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaming!"

The mainstream and state media are not a social service they are profit driven and state sanctioned. Ireland is a state that would not dream of having an independent foreign policy (like Australia but given the Irish state's creation myth of anti-colonialism it's more ridiculious).

O'Doherty gets paid to ridicule those who resist the (immoral, illegal, unwinnable) war that the Irish state services at Shannon. Homer does it for free. And like the Special Branch boyz who tried to intimidate us on the why to the Brigid's festival....these lads took the Pitstop acquittal pretty personal....that's the trouble when you identify so close with omnipotent empire you're going to take it all personal.

Homer and O'Doherty know the war is not over how can they as baghdad and basra burn......but they have long declared the anti-war movement over. That's why Damien's continued anti-war activism pisses them off so

by Contrarian Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:57

O'Doherty's take is pretty reasonable. And Damien did make the somewhat overblown comparison with MLK which was quoted accurately by O'Doherty. Even if it was in the context of their shared status as dissenters suppressed by the American system. Hmmmm. My own reaction (and I suspect many others) was pretty similar to O'Doherty's. You do $2m damage to an US Airforce plane and you're surprised when they go "No Mr. Moran, we'd rather NOT have you visit our country!" In actual fact, he was treated pretty leniently by the US. I'm sure they could have come up with a legal basis to try him under US law for the Shannon action. But then again, perhaps they didn't want to feed the voracious pitstop publicity machine any further. On balance, a right call.

So, he was acquitted by an Irish jury. As was Padraig Nally. Does that mean its morally acceptable to shoot travellers found on your land? Nope. A jury acquittal means no more than that in the facts of the specific case the jury were not convinced, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the defendants were guilty. In this case, the jury were not convinced, beyond reasonable doubt, that the defendants did not genuinely believe that they had a lawful excuse for their actions. (Sorry for the double negative but that's the only way to accurately describe it.) In other words, the acquittal was grounded in (and argued for by the defendants lawyers) the honestly held nature of the defendants beliefs rather than the reasonableness of those beliefs. The acquittal is not a licence to go out and repeat the same behaviour nor does it confer any moral approval on the behaviour in question.

Ciaron's comments on Homer are unworthy. Not everyone who disagrees with your world view is a troll. Please consider the possibility that others can hold genuine well founded beliefs that differ radically from your own. There are many ways to make the world a better place. Liberal capitalism is not all bad and is better than most alternatives that have been tried. War is sometimes necessary. Pacifists opposed the fight against Nazism.

by Ciaron Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:30

O'Doherty's take is pretty reasonable.

It's hardly a "take" or a fresh insight, it's his rote response to anyone who steps out of line.
He's paid to push the cultural buttons...cyncism etc that will turn off the reader to the realities of Irish complicity in a war, where most of the American dead have departed from Shannon.

"And Damien did make the somewhat overblown comparison with MLK "

It was the anniversary of Martin Luther King's assasination...that was the comparison. King who was derided as a criminal and commie (and possibly shot) later to have his memory and politics trimmed by the same institutions that were dealing with Damien. You use the cultural terms of reference of those powers that be who are screwing with you....one exposes that they don't believe in MLK (who they now celebrate with a public holiday, they don't believe in the U.S. Consitution or the legal necessity for a U.N. Security resolution to wage a war and they don't believe in the laws they create.

"My own reaction (and I suspect many others) was pretty similar to O'Doherty's. You do $2m damage to an US Airforce plane and you're surprised when they go "No Mr. Moran, we'd rather NOT have you visit our country!" "

It was 2.5 and it looked like a disarming improvement to me!
How can you damage contraband, child porn, machines that kill kids etc.?
Rather indeed, officer Bock implied more than take your leave.
Whose country? He was invited by American citizens, arrived and was rejected by a temporary American government that has continually attacked the U.S. constitution and stolen an election.

"In actual fact, he was treated pretty leniently by the US."
Compared to the torture and sexual abuse meted out at Abu Ghraib and Gitmo you might have your only point there!

" I'm sure they could have come up with a legal basis to try him under US law for the Shannon action."
When has the law ever held them back?

"But then again, perhaps they didn't want to feed the voracious pitstop publicity machine any further."
What machine? you are comparing the Indo empire to indymedia and sporadic soapboxes in Temple Bar ..time to reality check your prejudices mate.

"Ciaron's comments on Homer are unworthy. Not everyone who disagrees with your world view is a troll. "

No sometimes they are first world white boys that have learnt to live with killing the poor on a daily basis, confusing cynicism with wisdom, being contrary with being rebellious and that O'Doherty and Damien Moran have a level playing field in this debate.

" Pacifists opposed the fight against Nazism."
Pacifists resisted Nazism....check out Franz Jaggersater recently beatifed by a German pope who accepted the draft in his teens. Also Sophie Scholl...check out the Nazis who were recruitd into theU.S. weapons program and re-mployed in the running of West Germany. Th U.S. went on to sponsor every fascist dictator that offered there services in south east asia, central & south america and africa following WW2....hardly a war against Nazism and facism

by Contrarian Wed Apr 09, 2008 13:13

Do you have a problem with white folks? You seem to be using "white" as an adjective to deride either the person or the viewpoint. Is this racist? Do you find all white peoples viewpoints objectionable? Or do you just label the objectionable (to you) viewpoints as "white?" Either way an illuminating choice of words.

Whose country? He was invited by American citizens, arrived and was rejected by a temporary American government that has continually attacked the U.S. constitution and stolen an election.

Of course, Damien's entry was refused by a "temporary" US government. That's the beauty of liberal representative democracy with separation of powers - all Governments are temporary and will be replaced by another Government duly elected. [With either a black man, a white woman or a partially disabled old man at the helm - there's multiculturalism for you! ] But I digress. He was invited by a small group of US citizens. A Government elected by all US citizens who choose to vote is entitled to refuse him entry. According to the Constitution which I assume you must approve of since you decry the US Government for (in your view) continually attacking it.

by countercontrarian Wed Apr 09, 2008 13:51

I think if you read carefully it is "first world white boys" which is slang in some quarters to denote one's perspective springing from a privileged background.

by Contrarian Wed Apr 09, 2008 14:30

I see. Slang usage based on ones racial/ethnic identity, especially when used to diminish the validity of a person's viewpoint is ok then, is it?

Well, I suppose it gets Condoleeza Rice off the hook, anyway!

by Deirdre Clancy Wed Apr 09, 2008 19:22

'Homer and O'Doherty know the war is not over how can they as baghdad and basra burn....'

Look, I have to be honest and say that I don't think it's fair to draw a parallel between Homer and O'Doherty - not fair on Homer, I mean. Homer, as a contributor, was merely expressing an opinion on the act of going to the US and on the act of filling out the paperwork. As a contributor s/he made it clear that this was a separate issue from the war and never expressed an opinon on that issue one way or the other. Whereas, O'Doherty has another agenda entirely, and has made Islamophobic comments in the past; he tries to perpetuate the idea there are no sensible, sane and good-living Muslims in the world and that this justifies all the actions of the US. This is highly problematic and black and white, but it's hardly surprising that he would attack Damien in the way in which he has. He's a contrarian along the lines of Kevin Myers (or at least going that way) -- perhaps for career reasons, perhaps not.

So let's be fair here. Homer is not a troll, but is just giving the contrary argument (a robust one, admittedly). Whether one agrees or disagrees, that is all that's happening. From what I've read s/he never made a comment on the invasion of Iraq itself. I'm well aware of the Indymedia phenomenon of a contributor expressing disagreement with someone and then all sorts of things that contributor didn't say being extrapolated from that disagreement (about their political views, etc.). I've been subjected to it myself - mentalities of the 2+2=5 variety abound sometimes on threads.

I have to admit that I personally have refused or postponed invitations to go to the States, both from members of the Catholic Worker there and from personal friends I'd love to visit, because it seemed to me that there was no way I would get in. I was also aware that one of the questions on the landing card asked whether you had been arrested, with no reference to whether you were convicted (at least, it did the last time I went, I think), so I couldn't truthfully answer that question and expect to get in, at least not in the near future. I have been well aware of this for some time. So it's a Catch-22 - the terrorists scuppered my visit to NY the last time (where I had booked into the Chelsea Hotel for 13/9/01 to fulfil a lifelong dream of staying there), and Homeland Security would undoubtedly stymie any further attempts. I have little time for either, but it seems to me realistic to expect to be deported in the current climate. While I would love to visit, say, my dear friend Danielle who has a child I've never met, I just take it for granted that this may not happen for a long time.

Nevertheless, I have solidarity with Damien and wish him well. As Newman said, 'It is often said that second thoughts are best. So they are in matters of judgment but not in matters of conscience. '

by redjade Thu Apr 10, 2008 08:37

Irish Anti-War Activist Refused Entry Into The United States
read at http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/09/8180/

Some amusing inaccuracies in the article and the comments after it on Commondreams.org: the guy in the centre is Damien (Limerick Leader) - when it is really Ken Loach! and Damien has dred locks (commondreams.org comments).

What's interesting in reading some of the international coverage of Damien experience is the absense of comment from antiwar organisations. Finton Lane is quotes but the Limerick Leader just calls him a 'leading Cork based anti-war activist.' No mention of quotes from AWI or IAWM or others. And no official statement and presently nothing posted on http://irishantiwar.org

Is this the Irish media drowning out antiwar voices again or did these organisations not respond to the situation? Harry Browne's excellent article (http://www.counterpunch.org/browne04072008.html) focuses close up on Damien's experience and doesn't quote anyone else - Would any Irish group be available to offer a quote if asked?

also, the Limerick Leader should also be taken to task for simply saying the source of the photo was 'Indymedia' when they should say 'Indymedia.ie'! But I will rant about that on another more appropriate day

Damien Moran = Famous Film Director

by more Thu Apr 10, 2008 09:36

"Finton Lane is quotes but the Limerick Leader just calls him a 'leading Cork based anti-war activist.' "

That's even wrong. He's been dublin-based for the past few years.

The thing with the photo is biggest blopper though. How could they confuse Ken Loach and Damian Moran? A clue would have been that Damian is 27 and the guy in the middle, well, isn't.

by Damien Moran Thu Apr 10, 2008 09:46

As someone said to me regards this photo, I've aged terribly:)

Here are published rebuttals to Ian O'Doherty's Ispy article:
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/letters/smashing-us-n....html

Smashing US Navy plane wasn't illegal
Thursday April 10 2008

- May I comment on Ian O'Doherty's views in his column concerning Damien Moran's recent deportation from the USA (Irish Independent, April 9).

Mr Moran's actions at Shannon Airport were legal, as confirmed by his court acquittal by a jury after due process under Irish law.

The actions were also in the tradition of non-violent civil disobedience -- a central principle of our Western political culture.

There has been no major change in world values without a small number of courageous individuals willing to sacrifice their own freedom in order to awaken the conscience of the community -- in the struggle for labour rights, racial discrimination, or women's votes.

In India, non-violent civil disobedience played a key role in the struggle for freedom from colonial rule, changing the focus of the community and presenting new possibilities for the human family.

This tradition has been well described by Mahatma Gandhi, Dorothy Day, and Martin Luther King jnr, who, in their own time, were able to challenge us to a new vision which put human law at the service of human dignity and life.

What indeed did the USA have to fear from the presence of Mr Moran in the country?

Is the intellectual defence of the Iraq war so fragile that US citizens need to be protected from Mr Moran's voice for peace?

It's a sad day for the USA when it feels so vulnerable that free speech is prevented and a sadder day for the Irish Independent when it is unable to value people of conscience who are striving for a more peaceful and just world.

DR RAYMOND TOWEY

ST MARY’S HOSPITAL, LACOR, GULU, UGANDA

- Ian O'Doherty should be reminded that Damien Moran was invited to speak in the US.

He does not travel the world imposing his views on others. He is a thoughtful, modest and thoroughly decent human being whose anti-war, anti-aggression views are, I believe, largely determined by his strong Catholic faith.

Further, he has no criminal record. I was in the Four Courts and heard him (and the other four young people) pronounced not guilty on all charges.

I am proud to call him a friend.

SYLVIA WALL

MARCH, CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Thanks to everyone who called the Irish Indo and sent in letters. Some great responses which I hope to post here in the coming hours.

by Homer Thu Apr 10, 2008 09:48

Thank you Deirdre, for your comments. They are very sensible and appreciated.

Vis a vis your situation, have you considered contacting the Embassy in Dublin to inquire about the procedure to get a visa waiver? You obviously, as you note, couldn't get in on the tourist visa, as like you said, that would mean you would either have to lie on the landing card, risking a fine, detention and being barred from the states for 10 years, or you would be turned back as you would be told you did not have the proper entry clearance due to your arrest. However, if you contact the Embassy, and make an appointment to explain your situation, you may have a chance of getting in. It is a crap shoot, admittedly, and depends a lot on your background, and the mood of the day, and who looks at your application, and it's a pain in the backside the hoops you have to jump through. However, it is a lot better than chancing your arm and getting turned back (worst case, waste of time and money), or getting detained, fined and barred for sure (meaning that if you did want to apply the correct way in the future, you'd automatically be turned down for whatever amount of years). Anyway if going to the states is something you'd want to do, do look into your options because while it's not guaranteed, there's always an outside chance.

What annoys me about this (Damain's) instance and others like it, is that by and large it is the result of the person in question having not followed proper procedure and getting caught out over, then blaming the big bad US for their own ineptitude. I would have total sympathy if he had gone to the US Embassy or Consulate in Poland, made his application, did his interview, and still got barred, but I have no sympathy for someone who thinks we should applaud his arrogance and stupidity. That sort of nonsense only weakens the anti-war movement (at least for sensible people like me), and the response to me, namecalling, false assumptions, and totally ignoring my point, only reinforces my impression of arrogrance and ego ruling the roost rather than intelligence and principle.

In this day and age, with the access to information via the internet, it is extremely dumb to think you can just up and go to another country without proper papers. Google. It's your friend, use it. Most governments have all the information you need about traveling to their countries at your fingertips.

It is vital for activists of any stripes to educate themselves on this, and it is foolish and harmful for actions like this to be lauded as an example -- unless it is an example how not to do things. All it does, when it is not challenged, is perpetuate ignorance, leading other people to think that all they have to, depsite an arrest or conviction or being red-flagged in some way, is show up at the airport, and boo hoo hoo when they get knocked back. That's not how it works.

Be smart would ya.

Thanks

by Damien Moran Thu Apr 10, 2008 09:51

Dear Editor,

I am increasingly concerned that your 'Ispy' columnist Ian O'Doherty is afflicted with 'Alien Hand Syndrome', better known as 'Dr. Strangelove Syndrome.' Those who have had to endure this strange condition speak of their hands having a mind of their own, best embodied by Peter Seller's relentless throttling of himself in the famous 1964 Stanley Kubrick film, 'Dr. Strangelove.'

In his Wednesday column (April 9th), Mr. O'Doherty claimed that I am a 'self-confessed vandal'. One can only presume Ian's uncontrollable hand and unfortunate inability to write factually actually intended for him to write that our disarmament action at Shannon, in February 2003, was an accountable act that we were found innocent of, by unanimous decision of a jury trial in Dublin, almost 2 years ago.

Why? Because we had a lawful excuse in Irish law. Criminal law allows one to disable somebody's property 'only' (Harry's car does not apply) in order to save someone's life and property. In our case, we acted to save life and property in Iraq. International military and legal experts testified in court that it was reasonable to believe we had achieved our goal.

I was deported from the U.S. last weekend despite having been invited to lecture at conferences and university classes by US citizens. This merely proves the fear U.S. security services and the government have of allowing law-abiding citizens to promote the rich tradition of nonviolence and civil disobedience against war.

I sincerely hope Ian contacts me before writing next time. At least then we could have a heart to heart chat (tungsten-free) about why 12 Dublin jurors deemed our peace group innocent 2 years ago, thus making one of the braver and more just legal decisions in recent legal history.

Yours,
Damien Moran
Warsaw
Poland

by Jimmy Massey Thu Apr 10, 2008 09:54

Mr. Ian O' Doherty,
I hope you are having a wonderful afternoon and I am writing you from my home state in the Mountains of the Cherokee, North Carolina, USA, on behalf of and the defense of MR. Moran, for action taken at Shannon Airport. I have to say that I am appalled by your recent smear tactics against MR. Moran, his action, as well as the actions of the other Plow Share members, that took part in the disabling of the illegal use of Irelands air space, as a taxi service for N. American Imperialism, has saved the lives of innocent Iraq women and children who are caught in the cross fire of a illegal war, I was in Iraq during the initial invasion in 2003 'Sir' and have seen first hand the power of Carpet Bombings and so on.
Mr. Ian O' Doherty, Humanity and the protection of Humanity is the highest selfless, sacrifice any human being can make. I can honestly say, without a shadow of doubt, that MR. Moran displays the courage and tenacity of the late, REV. Martin Luther King. I live in the rural South and the name of MR. King is spoken, with the love of Humanity, so Mr. O' Doherty, I feel your comments are unfounded and as far as the way, we, Son and Daughters of the South, feel about you and your most recent libel. You, Sir and 'I use the word Sir, loosely', are a Cat Fish in the bottom of the Mississippi River, digging your hard nose into the red, Mississippi mud!.

Truth and Justice,
Jimmy JR. Massey
SSGT.USMC,RET

by Ian O'D Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:11

Thanks for sending me letters and telling me where to shove it:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87066

by Ciaron - Pit Stop Ploughshares/Catholic Worker Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:35

Homer stop your drivel..the accusations and lies you are throwing at us were thrown at us for years before we went to court...vandal, eco-terrorist, assaulting a garda, costing the taxpayer $2.5million.

You are merely reheating character assassinations that were exposed and disabled at three trials
It's interesting the mention of Ken Loach...whose fine film "Carlas Song" on the U.S. sponsored Contra war on the people of Nicaragua was never distributed in the U.S.A. that really needed to see it. So censorship at the centre of empire occurs in various ways....banning nonviolent anti-war activists entering the country, blacklisting critical films etc etc

Cops or trolls or frustrated first world white boys or whatever/whoever Homer is run interference for empire that keeps on killing in Iraq, and Afghanistan.

A read of the acts of the apostles will see similar hassles on dissidents traveling in earlier empires. It is the nature of empire not the nature of America that sees nonviolent dissidents banned, a military presence in over 100 countries and an unpopular, illegal, immoral war escalating and expanding.

U.S. helicopter gunships killed two children in Sadre City today, American killers landed at Shannon today and Homer did his bit for the war effort. Sleep tight.

by Chris McC via DM Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:40

I note with displeasure that the Independent again maligns Irish peace protestors, without taking time to even consider their understanding of the US & UK wars in Afghanistan & Iraq, Irish involvement, & the devastation & loss of life that have occurred in the more than five years of fighting. The Independent consistently takes the corporate, Mammonite view on dissent & fails to show independence of opinion; for this reason, I'll walk a little further to buy the Irish Times.

Yrs sincerely,
Chris McC

by Raymond Deane Thu Apr 10, 2008 14:01

Dear Editor,

I don't know if Ian O'Doherty agrees that a defendant is innocent until
proven guilty, but he clearly believes that Irish peace activist Damien
Moran is guilty despite having been proven innocent - unanimously - by an
Irish jury in what he, O'Doherty, calls "one of the most disgraceful
decisions in recent legal history" (8th April).

That decision was Moran's acquittal (along with four other activists) on a
charge of criminal damage for having taken a hammer to a US war-plane at
Shannon in 2003.

In 2006 the jury accepted that the defendants' actions were intended to save
Iraqi lives, and that the "disarmament" of the plane was done with "lawful
excuse" - relevant details omitted by Mr O'Doherty, who wasn't present at
the trial or either of those that preceded it.

I have little doubt that Damien Moran is used to the jibes of right-wing
journalists, but on this occasion Mr O'Doherty has stooped to insulting the
legal process and the twelve jurors who scrupulously implemented it.

I was once present at a media debate at which Mr O'Doherty, unable to defend
himself against the criticism that he had no factual basis for certain
comments on Palestine in his column, burst out with the admission that "I'm
a contrarian - my role is to present a perspective opposed to political
correctness!"

The implication was that this role necessitated no respect for truth or
accuracy. His snide abuse of Damien Moran should be read in this light.

Sincerely -

Raymond Deane

by Sceptic Thu Apr 10, 2008 15:06

“Peace activism” does not or should not include a right to vigilantism and gross vandalism against the mobile assets of a friendly State which has to be and was paid for dearly by the Irish taxpayers. The US is a relatively tolerant country that only denied this individual entry and did not prosecute and penalize him heavily for his antics.

by Ray - AWI supporter Thu Apr 10, 2008 15:45

FYI Sceptic, Damien and his four colleagues were acquitted by a jury of Irish citizens after a trial process that was restarted twice after defence counsel's successful exposure of attempted railroading of the defendants and evident pro-Empire bias on the part of the assigned judges. There are trolls out there that are unhappy that the Empire (aka 'the Anglosphere') didn't get its pound (note not kilo!) of activist flesh from the Irish (in)Justice system. Verdicts that trolls disagree with can be either ignored or rubbished, which is highly ironic since all right-wing trolls seem to believe that the sun shines out from between the cheeks of the System’s arse. Infallibility becomes a feast most movable.
The behaviour of US Homeland Insecurity personnel and their State Dept. doesn’t surprise me – they are and have always been among the real criminals when it comes to the Empire’s permanent war policy towards the rest of the world. In comparison, trying to smear the reputation of a peace activist like Damien with lies and slurs is behaviour that would tax the honour of the worst of toadies, but there are some trolls out there who would indeed stoop that low.

by Ulla Fri Apr 11, 2008 01:08

hI Damien

Sorry to hear that you have been prevented from being at the GN Conference and joining your family i the US. This shows how desperate the US is to turn down any protest against their evil plans.

You shall know that many, many people support all efforts your are doing in the GN and we work on the issue as much as we can every day.

Your deportations only show what people can expect in future from the US. We shall therefore not give the US any opportunities to gain the global power it want so desperately to keep their cooperate system running on the account of the poor people of this world.

Keep up your good work, and hope to meet you some day outside a constructions site for missile defence, a weapon factory or where else protest against global suppression goes on.

Much love to all protesters in Ireland and to you.

Ulla

by Update Fri Apr 11, 2008 13:02

O'Doherty Ties Himself in Ironic Knots

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/ian-odoher....html

U.S. Blog Debate on Damo Deportation
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/8/63831/64045/174/...92072

by Indo-Watch Fri Apr 11, 2008 17:22

Moran's letter in the Indo. today - 'Ispy' resembles Dr Strangelove

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/letters/ispy-resemble....html

by Jukes, Fri Apr 11, 2008 23:28

"Peace activism” does not or should not include a right to vigilantism and gross vandalism against the mobile assets of a friendly State which has to be and was paid for dearly by the Irish taxpayers."

Factually incorrect, if one is to believe what was stated by the US authorites, including statements given under oath in court during the trial.
But, enlighten us skeptic, where do you get your info from?

by Deirdre Clancy Sat Apr 12, 2008 23:45

Homer said:
>Vis a vis your situation, have you considered contacting the Embassy in Dublin to inquire about the >procedure to get a visa waiver?

No, it hadn't crossed my mind, and probably won't for a long time. I wouldn't be optimistic about the outcome in the current climate.

There is no way I could say on a landing card that what I did wasn't an act of sabotage. It absolutely WAS an act of sabotage against an extremely unjust invasion, and I have no problem saying that I am proud of that. However, if I go around saying that I spoke truth to power, I can hardly feel justified in playing with semantics on my landing card. That's my take on it, and I've thought about this on several occasions in the last year and a half, as I turned down invitations from friends to go to the States. I may try at some stage to get in, but that's down the line.

Ciaron said:
>Homer stop your drivel..the accusations and lies you are throwing at us were thrown at us for years >before we went to court...vandal, eco-terrorist, assaulting a garda, costing the taxpayer $2.5million.

Look, I don't really care who Homer is. S/he could be from the US Embassy or the CIA for all I care, though I doubt it. But if you read through his/her postings there is no mention of vandalism, no mention of assault, and no mention of eco-terrorism. There is also nothing specifically critical of our action or of the anti-war movement per se. Where is this coming from? I am mystified. I disassociate myself from it.

The anti-war movement has its own chorus of conformity. There's no room for constructive criticism or debate, and it's inevitable that it will lose a lot of good people that way, and attract the more problematic elements. Well, I officially declare myself a recusant. Any form of discourse where there's so much groupthink that any contrary view has words put in its mouth to this extent is tired and jaded, and can't see the wood for the trees.

Anti-war activism complains bitterly about the lack of freedom of expression accorded to it, but any criticism from within, even if genuinely meant, is either misquoted or accused of membership of some nefarious group. I doubt the CIA or whoever else would bother trying to stifle the anti-war community - it does a good enough job from within its own ranks, especially in relation to its attitude to women activists (which is consistently appalling, in my experience).

Freedom of discourse/speech has been regarded as a fundamental right for a long time now, folks - it's one of those things we all take for granted. It rightfully has its limits, particularly where incitement to hatred is concerned, but Homer's comments can't reasonably be seen as anything close to that. Argue with the comments, to be sure, disagree with them, but do so on fair terms. 'To speak his thoughts is every freeman's right, in peace and war, in council and in fight.' - That's from the real Homer.

by Ciaron - Pit Stop Ploughshares/Catholic Worker Sun Apr 13, 2008 08:08

It is unwise to plead guilty to a charge you don't understand or enter any kind of plea when you don't understand the charge or plead guilty when you haven't been charged with it.

Sabotage is a very serious accusation. It got Helen Woodson and Fr. Carl Kabat 18 years in prison when they didn't put up a robust legal defense but decided to indict the legal system with complicity of nuclear war preparations.

See link
http://www.plowsharesactions.org/webpages/SILOPRUNINGHO...S.htm

No plowshares community has been charged by the Feds with "sabotage" since the unsuccessful prosecution of the Griffis Plowshares in the late '80's who had been charged thus as a result of the nonviolent disarmament of a nuclear equipped B52 Bomber.

See link
http://www.plowsharesactions.org/webpages/GRIFFISSPLOWS...S.htm

Sabotage is a crime against the national DEFENSE, the Griffis Plowshares successfully argued in court that the intercontinental B52 Bomber disarmed is an innately OFFENSIVE weapon and has nothing to do with DEFENDIING the borders of the U.S.A. and a lot to do to with flying to other continents and bombing the crap out of the people who reside there.

The U.S. Navy War Plane disarmed by the Pitstop Ploughshares was servicing the U.S. navy permanently and OFFENSIVLY deployed in the Persian Gulf for decades. In no way can the Pitstop Plougshares action be seen as an act of sabotage against the national DEFENSE of the U.S.A.. It was nonviolent disarmament in a prophetic tradition that is some 3,000 years old.

The harassment of anti-war activists at borders during a time of war seems to be an occupational hazard. Yesterday, I was recognised by Garda who bordered the Belfast to Dublin bus I was on and questioned me (lightly) about my recent political activities.

As I said during Thursday's debate on the Media and the War.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0409/newsspecial.html
there is no anti-war MOVEMENT. There exists are remnant of activists still going since 2003 in the midst of massive passive opinion against this war that fails to translate into sustained activism.

Damien and I are part of that remnant and will have to take the consequences of the shrinking of the movement and the absence of other targets for the spooks, the trolls and the miffed cynics.

by Update Mon Apr 14, 2008 07:39 Omaha, USA

Over 200 activists are here in Omaha from over a dozen countries and
over half the 50 US States and over a half dozen Native American
tribes.

Here's an AP story.
http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp?S=8152959

Bruce Gagnon of http://www.space4peace.org (where you can learn about
the conference) opened this first evening's session and introduced Tim
Rinne of Nebraskans for Peace, who introduced Frank LaMere of the
Winnebago tribe, who introduced a group of Native American singers and
drummers who sang and drummed in the front of the room below banners
reading "No Weapons in Space" and "Bush's Illegal Attack on Iran Will
Start at Stratcom." Remarkable juxtaposition. LaMere is now speaking
of the traditions of the Omaha people who first lived here, people
responsible for neither the destructive modern sprawl outside this
building nor the pit outside of town from which Stratcom will
coordinate the mass slaughter that, if we do not change course, will
eventually take all of us out.

LaMere's remarks were moving and focused on empathy for others. Better
to get the video than for me to summarize.

We were to have a speaker here from Poland, an Irishman now living
there. But "Homeland Security" sent him back to Poland when he got to
Chicago. He had been charged with symbolically disarming US weapons in
Ireland, but an Irish jury had found him innocent. Here is his
storyhttp://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/32544 .

We have a speaker here from the Czech Republic. Poland and the Czech
Republic are opposing US plans for "missile defense" bases. Jan Tamas,
a young man from the Czech Republic, is speaking now, representing one
of 60 Czech organizations opposing a US base in their country. He says
they opposed the Nazi occupation and the Soviet occupation and do not
want any more foreign troops. Polls find the 70 percent of the
citizens do not want the base. Over 50 mayors oppose the proposed
"missile defense" radar base. Yet Condi and the Czech minister of
foreign affairs recently announced that they would announce the deal
to build the base on May 5th. But, says Tamas, the base WILL NOT be
built.

Sign this petition: http://www.nonviolence.cz

Mary Beth Sullivan, Outreach Coordinator for
http://www.space4peace.org , is speaking now about homelessness and
poverty in "the richest nation on earth." The #1 industrial export
from the United States is weapons. She recommends "The Permanent War
Economy: American Capitalism in Decline," by Seymour Melman. She wants
to convert from a war-economy to a peace economy. It'll take work,
since our non-military industrial economy is nearly gone. It can be
reborn with new industries, including green energy and mass transit.
Very moving speech. Get the video!

Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
PO Box 652
Brunswick, ME 04011
(207) 443-9502
http://www.space4peace.org
globalnet@mindspring.com
http://space4peace.blogspot.com (Blog)

by Conference Rport Mon Apr 21, 2008 23:09

2008 - 24th Space Foundation Symposium Protest complete coverage here:
http://csaction.org/040708/040708.html

by redjade Tue Jul 15, 2008 18:22

The nation's terrorist watch list has hit one million names, according to a tally maintained by the American Civil Liberties Union based upon the government's own reported numbers for the size of the list.

[....]

"America's new million record watch list is a perfect symbol for what's wrong with this administration's approach to security: it's unfair, out-of-control, a waste of resources, treats the rights of the innocent as an afterthought, and is a very real impediment in the lives of millions of travelers in this country," said Barry Steinhardt, director of the ACLU Technology and Liberty Program. "It must be fixed without delay."

"Putting a million names on a watch list is a guarantee that the list will do more harm than good by interfering with the travel of innocent people and wasting huge amounts of our limited security resources on bureaucratic wheel-spinning," said Steinhardt. "I doubt this thing would even be effective at catching a real terrorist."

Controls on the watch lists called for by the ACLU included:

• due process
• a right to access and challenge data upon which listing is based
• tight criteria for adding names to the lists
• rigorous procedures for updating and cleansing names from the lists.

more at
http://www.aclu.org/privacy/35968prs20080714.html