Join the People's Inspection Team

by TD - Free Palestine Campaign Mon Jun 30, 2008 16:19

"B747" : At the Tokyo War Crimes trial, it was affirmed that: "Anyone with knowledge of illegal activity and an opportunity to do something about it is a potential criminal under international law unless the person takes affirmative measures to prevent commission of the crimes."

I put it to you also that we are all bound by what the U.S. Chief Prosecutor Robert K. Jackson at the Nuremberg Trials declared in 1948: "The very essence of the Nuremberg Charter is that individuals have intentional duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience imposed by the individual state." and in the light of the criminal dereliction and abjuring of the Irish government of International Law and things decent, these "affirmative measures" and "intentional duties " means the civilian inspection of suspected Torture Taxis - the planes of an outlaw State that has rubbished the Geneva Conventions through one of its apparatchiks, White House legal counsel, Alberto Gonzales as ‘quaint’ and ‘obsolete.’

Noam Chomsky believes that every US president since WW II could be impeached because "they've all been either outright war criminals or involved in serious war crimes." and up to its oxters this government is aiding and abetting US war crimes and we are not prepared to stand idly by and allow egregious criminality to go unchallenged and uninspected.

by Edward Horgan Mon Jun 30, 2008 13:48

It is interesting to see that former Justice Minister Michael McDowell, has had a Damascus Road Pauline conversion (McDowell fell off his Ass on the road to the Dail).

See Today's Irish Independent
It is also important to see that Supreme Court Judge Hardiman acknowledges that rendition is unlawful.
Perhaps Mr McDowell should have added
"I was that fig leaf for Emporer Bush with no clothes "

McDowell alarmed by 'illegal' US war on terror
Irish Independent Monday June 30 2008

FORMER Justice Minister Michael McDowell has criticised aspects of the US-led invasion of Iraq, claiming the Bush administration carefully selected Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to circumvent legal procedures and deny human rights to detainees.

The former PD leader, who warned governments not to confuse the fight against terror with counter-terrorism and described State terrorism by proxy as "pernicious", made his observations during an address at the World Bar Conference in Dublin at the weekend.

Mr McDowell, who said he was alarmed by how poorly international legal instruments had defined terror during his time as justice minister, described Guantanamo Bay as an "horrific Alice in Wonderland world".

Justification

The former tanaiste insisted there was no moral or ethical justification for the 9/11 attacks, but said he had huge problems with the term "War on Terror", a phrase coined in America in the aftermath of the destruction of the Twin Towers.

"The war on terror is at best counter-productive and at worst a fig leaf for using counter terrorism," Mr McDowell told delegates at the World Bar Conference, being held for the first time in Ireland and jointly hosted by the Bar Councils of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

"Where is that war happening now?" he asked the delegates, who included Robert Fisk, Middle East Correspondent for Independent Newspapers, Sir Brian Kerr, the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, and Justice Kate O'Regan from the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

Mr McDowell said the war on terror was a political rallying call that could not be deployed to defend torture practices such as waterboarding or the rendition of prisoners as young as 16, who were transported to countries where torture practices were legal, to obtain their confessions. He added that if lawyers and judges were to have any role in the fight against terror, it should be to fight to maintain the rule of law.

During the conference, which was opened by President Mary McAleese and addressed by Dr Diarmuid Martin, the Archbishop of Dublin, Supreme Court judge Adrian Hardiman said he was "gravely concerned" about the climate in which the debate on criminal justice reform was taking place.

Judge Hardiman said encroachments on the traditional rule of law came not from concerns about terror but from over-reaction to perceived threats. "In times of terror, the law is shown at its best and worst," the judge said.

by Jim Mon Jun 30, 2008 13:08

Are you actually going to sneak up to the perimeter fence and rush onto to airport apron with the copy of the irish constitution in your hand?
Even if it is true that sinister US agents accompanying hogtied prisoners are actually aboard these planes and they are abusing human rights as you claim then wouldn't they simply shoot you down?
If the government is complicity well then wouldn't they turn a blind eye to dumping a body in the Shannon estuary?

by Mark C Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:24

B747 This inspection team effort is not an anti-American effort. The inspection team would be happy to inspect any aircraft in Shannon that is being used for a military purpose.

So, if, for example, an Iraqi military aircraft left from New York on its way to Saudi Arabia via Iran and Syria (again, for example) and had to land at Shannon to 'rest' or 'refuel' or tie some unfortunate down again then the inspection team would like to have an opportunity to inspect it, just like the Department of Homeland Security are going to inspect planes going to America (from Shannon).

I hope this clears up the issue a little for you.

Mark.
PS Count me in too.

by jim Mon Jun 30, 2008 09:35

Are you going to try to get into the airport and get on board the plane?
If you find a trussed up Taliban or Al-Qaeda member are you going to spring him and take him home for tea and frosted scones?

by B747 - none Mon Jun 30, 2008 06:42

We the people...i dont care to know what your name is..the niall i answer in my piece was the one who refered to "eyes and ears"

As for your assertion of it being difficult for a secure zone being able to prevent birdstrikes......you clearly know little about aviation....every airfield has bird scareing measures in place such as keeping the grass at a certain length to prevent nesting,gas cannon and scare guns being fired manually by qualified persons ie airport police,,,what i refer to is FOD or Foreign Object Debris..google it and learn....

If you can point out where exactly i promote a violation of the Constitution i would be grateful....what i wish you to do is respect the articles of Irish law ie the air navigation act pretaining to the safe operation of aerodromes....

As for "the people over-ruleing the likes of" me and i better not forget about it.....what are you on about???Are you in a roundabout way threratening me with reprecussions when the people rise up???Thats slightly undemocratic of you dont you think...seeing as how free speech is a cornerstone of a democarcy that you SAY you value....or is it a pix and mix Constitution you defend and you will be getting rid of the few laws you dont like when the people rise up

by We the People Mon Jun 30, 2008 00:30

Firstly,my name is not Niall as you refer. You may have qualifications to search Planes properly where myself and others do not. I've only flown small Planes myself which never warrented doing a course of any kind to search them. I'm sure it's not the case with 747's.

It would be difficult for a security zone to prevent a 'birdstrike' from being injested into a jet engine, one of the dangers posed at Airports that can and do cause air crashes.

I'm a bit vague on the Private Airports being used for Public transport and have no intention of endangering the travelling Public.
On the contrary , the object of this proposed People's inspection is to prevent further Human rights violation by certain People involved in American Planes at Shannon Airport which is in clear violation of our Constitution , which IS the Law of the Land.

In relation to American bias. I love Americans and the strong Patriotisim and love they have for their Country and the principles of that Republic which is protected by their Constitution that is under attack from hidden forces from within.

It's no different here. Our Nation is under attack from within, our Constitution is being eroded and violated at every angle ,Shannon being the typical example and Persons like yourself who promate such violations are the ones who ARE ruled out according to Law.

The People overrule the likes of you and never ever forget that.

by B747 - none Sun Jun 29, 2008 22:58

In responce to "we the peoples assertion " that qualifications are irrelevant and so is security zones..

Firstly those with out the nessecary technical aviation knowledge would nt have the first dickybird idea where and what to look for on an aircraft...there are upteen holds,pasage ways crew quarters etc etc on board aircraft where someone or something could be concealed.It would take more than your "eyes and your ears" im afraid Niall....

Secondly the "SO CALLED SECURITY ZONES" are there for the travelling publics safety......airfields are secured so as to limit the amount of foreign objects that make their way into an airfield.Such foreign objects are a hazard to aircrafts engines as they can be injested into the engines...net result could be a plane crash.....

Finally if you care so much about the laws of this land perhaps you could see your way to obeying one or two of em..ie not tresspass onto private property ie an airfield and endangering the travelling public...

Given your bias against all things american IF inspections were ever to be carried out then they should be done by Responsible Qualified and Independant persons with neither a pro or anti us agenda....

So that rules out you lot....

by We the People Sun Jun 29, 2008 20:02

The People's inspection Team is supreme to any man made qualifications. It is an excellent idea and the People should march right through any so called security zone to inspect these Planes on Irish Soil, armed with ( real) Constitution in hand.

Article 6.1 in the original text draft , which , informed People should arm themselves with , reads as follows...

.....' It is from the People, under God, that every power of rule , both Legislation and fulfilment and judgment, comes and it is the People who have the right to appoint the rulers of the State, and it is up to / rests with the People finally to settle every question regarding the policies of the Nation in accordance with what is necessary for the welfare of THE PEOPLE.'

This is profoundly more powerful than the watered down version in the €2.52 Blue covered Bunreacht that most People think is the real version of the Irish Constitution.

Arm yourselves with a copy of Bunreacht na hEireann, a study of the Irish text, available at Govt. Publicaytion's office for €19.05 and march into Shannon. If arrested , take a case in the High /Supreme Court on a Constitutional imperative.

Count me on the list.

by A10 Sun Jun 29, 2008 15:36

That reading on the constitutionl article 6.2.
If you convince the Supreme Court in Ireland that this is a correct interpertation of the law.
Then you are free to set up whatever you want.Which also then opens a precedent for other groups to do likewise which might be detrimental to groups like yours health and well being.
It is a very shakey point of Law you are arguing,and better off you than anyone else to waste their monies on arguing it in a court.
However I would strongly suggest that you or anyone makes sure that is correct,interpertation otherwise you could be checking into the ol Mountjoy Govt hotel for awhile as a guest of the nation.

by Edward Horgan Sun Jun 29, 2008 14:33

In response to B 747 above,
Every citizen of Ireland has duties and responsiblities to uphold the Constitution of Ireland and the laws of Ireland, as well as wider international laws.

Bunreacht na h'Eireann states as follows:
Article 6
1. All powers of government, legislative, executive and judicial, derive, under God, from the people, whose right it is to designate the rulers of the State and, in final appeal, to decide all questions of national policy, according to the requirements of the common good.
2. These powers of government are exercisable only by or on the authority of the organs of State established by this Constitution.

Article 6.2 above "These powers of government are exercisable only by or on the authority of the organs of State established by this Constitution" seems to imply that only government agencies are entitled to enforce and uphold the law. However a closer reading of this subsection reveals that Article 6.2 refers only to the 'powers of government' and not to the powers and duties of citizens, which are separate from and arguably superior to the powers of Government given that Article 6.1. above states these powers of Government "derive, under God, from the people, whose right it is to designate the rulers of the State and, in final appeal, to decide all questions of national policy"
This issue of "in final appeal" also comes into play here. Where the Government or its agents fail to enforce or uphold the law and the constitution, then "in final appeal" it falls on the citizens of Ireland to do so. It is under these provisions of Bunreacht na h-Eireann that we propose to act, supported by Article 29, subsections 1,2 and 3.

Article 29
1. Ireland affirms its devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international
justice and morality.
2. Ireland affirms its adherence to the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes by international
arbitration or judicial determination.
3. Ireland accepts the generally recognised principles of international law as its rule of conduct in its relations with
other States.

Our "qualifications" to take these appropriate actions arise primarily from our qualification to be citizens of Ireland.

by Niall Sun Jun 29, 2008 14:32

Eh ... don't eyes and ears 'qualify'?! Of course they do.

And citizenship attached to fundamental, constitutional and political duty would be a pretty good start in relation to 'entitlement'.

Lovely initiative from Galway Alliance Against War.

by B747 - B747 Sun Jun 29, 2008 13:46

Qualified to carry out such inspections??