Aviation Authority Vigil - Demilitarise Shannon Airport

by mr jinks aka neither cop nor coward Thu Feb 02, 2006 03:51

In a flash of insight, I have realised how cowardly it was of me to make anonymous jibes at Ciaron, a man of enormous courage and spiritual strength who has made an invaluable contribution to the cause of world peace.

Please, in future, don't pay any attention to the comments of anonymous provocateurs like myself. If we had the courage of our convictions, we would post our real names and not hide behind pseudonyms.

by Ground Zero Fri Jan 20, 2006 20:27 Washington State, USA

Fr. Bill Bichsel SJ, who was present at Dublin's Four Courts at the October Ploughshares Trial, was one of 17 people arrested at the Trident Nuclear Submarine Base, Washington State.

85 people were present at the demonstration commemorating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks at the gates of Naval Submarine Base Bangor on January 15th. 16 demonstrators blocked the highway entrance into the base. One demonstrator was arrested on federal property.

At 1 PM on Sunday, demonstrators walked from the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action to the entrance of Naval Submarine Base Bangor. 10 demonstrators then took a replica of a bus in honor of Rosa Parks onto the highway, which stated, "Dare to Create a Nonviolent World." After the 10 were arrested, 6 more demonstrators blocked the highway with a long banner with statements by Dr. King, including one stating, "When scientific power outruns moral power, we end up with guided missiles and misguided men…" During this time, one demonstrator attempted to deliver a message to the base commander and was arrested on federal property. Incoming traffic was blocked for approximately 30 minutes.

The Trident submarine base at Bangor is located 20 miles west of Seattle. It is the last active nuclear weapons depot on the West Coast and is the place of deployment for approximately 1,760 nuclear warheads. The base has been recently rebuilt for the deployment of the larger and more accurate Trident D-5 missile system.

Each of the 24 D-5 missiles on a Trident submarine is capable of carrying eight of the larger 455 kiloton W-88 warheads (about 30 times the explosive force as the Hiroshima bomb.) Four older Trident submarines from the Bangor fleet are being refitted for the deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles. Each of the older submarines will be able to launch 154 cruise missiles within a six minute period.

Arrested by base security: Tom Krebsbach, 55 of Brier, Washington

Those arrested by Kitsap County Sheriffs: Joy Goldstein, 70, of Vashon; Alex Daye, 25, Katrina Olthof, 19, Jody Tiller, 39, Ray Kelleher, 53, Tim Russell, 40, and Jennifer Olson, 36, of Olympia; Larry Kerschner, 59, of Pe Ell; Roger Thorson, 60, of Carnation; Ellen Kohjima, 55, and Fr. Bill Bichsel, 77, of Tacoma; and Rev. Anne Hall, 60, David Hall, 59, Mary Hanson, 59, Dorli Rainey, 78, and Glen Milner, 54, of Seattle.

Tom Krebsbach, arrested on Navy base property, was given a letter barring him from entering Naval Submarine Base Bangor and released. In addition, Krebsbach was given a citation for trespass. If Krebsbach is prosecuted, it would be the first time a demonstrator would appear in federal court for a first offense on Navy property.

The 16 arrested by Kitsap County Sheriffs were booked and later released in Port Orchard.

Please see attached Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet

17 people arrested honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Trident submarine base at Bangor, WA

The Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action was founded in 1977. The center is on 3.8 acres and is next to the Trident submarine base at Bangor, Washington. The Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action offers the opportunity to explore the root of violence and injustice in our world and to experience the transforming power of love through nonviolent direct action. We resist all nuclear weapons, especially the Trident submarine system.

In December 2005, four Ground Zero activists were arraigned in Kitsap County Court for an August 8, 2005 demonstration in which 19 peace activists were arrested at the Trident submarine base. The Kitsap County prosecutor has charged only four of the nineteen demonstrators; all four are from Olympia, Washington. The charge is for the failure to disperse, RCW 9A.84.020, in which the failure to disperse when ordered creates a "substantial risk" of injury to persons or to property. The charge is a misdemeanor with a possible penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

It appears that the prosecutors have not yet made a decision as to whether to charge all or some of the remaining 15, and may be waiting to see how the community responds to the trial of the first four. A pretrial hearing for the four charged will be held at the Port Orchard District Court on January 20, 2006 at 10:30 am.

The next planned nonviolent direct action at Bangor will be in commemoration of Mother's Day in May 2006.

by Ordinary Person Fri Jan 20, 2006 02:16

I have spent some time reading all the posts/comversations/arguments so far on this. Some on topic - some off topic...way off topic. So some well known simple facts need a restate:

1. Bush's war is wrong - no angles - no buts - no anything - it's a war over Oil. We all know that the data & justifications were concocted. We all know that nothing has been found (WMD's).

2. The infrastructure in Iraq was better under Hussein - this is a comment from an Iraqi citizen on Reuters. This illegal war for 'Black Gold' has destroyed the country.

3. Tens of thousands of innocent people have been killed at the hands of the U.S. millitary with no justification. Hundreds are still imprisioned in Cuba for no publiclly know reason with less than a dozen actual cases brought by the U.S. - and recently they inact legislation to prevent these victims from seeking legal assistance.

4. The Irish government are up to the neck in it, spouting comments like 'the U.S. has assured us that no renditions occur via shannon and we believe them'...If things were that simple then why not send in monitors to randomly check the planes?

5. Ireland is not neutral any more - only on some government paper somewhere. This government has as much innocent blood on their hands as others - through our inaction.

6. Ireland's MEP's are in the same boat - Did you know that Ireland is one of the biggest pushers of data retention legislation - under the guise of anti-terrorism laws. We pander to American wishes to prevent instability in out economy from corporate withdrawal (don't get me started on the British side of the coin).

7. Ireland is a multi-cultural society and should assume the posture of such - I do not want my homeland assisting the murder of any 'non-christian' populations in any way (let's face it, GWB purports to be on a mission from god). Faith is about belief and the freedom to believe - Christianity touts forgivness to our fellow man.

8. Electrical wire on somone's testicles is torture in any book (remember it was an American act that the world witnessed) - U.S. DOJ document freely availble on the web and obtained under the F.O.I.A. recommend this as a possible method of information extraction.

9. "Rendition is a time honoured tradition in cases where extra-judical measures are required" - C. Powell speaking on BBC news.

I am ashamed of our supposed free country - this is not the country that I was brought up in anymore. As a free country we should never jail our citizens for speaking out against the practices of out government.

Bertie - are you stoned or something?

by Ciaron Tue Jan 17, 2006 09:55

Yeah dude, i do have a great job working with homeless people. I don't, however, confuse my work with my job and my life with my work. Part of my work is taking on anonymous cowards/cynics like you. I'd prefer to do it face to face but your kind rarely surfaces.

I didn't take the photos and I didn't put up the posting. When photos do go up of an event I feel obliged to write a report to add to the posting.

This medium does lend itself to voiers like yourself Mr Jinx who useindymedia therapeutically. But if you would like a confrontation in real time, I'm sure you know where to find me. Or come along to the anti-war vigil 4pm-6pm on Monday and we can explore your concepts of work, relevance and beauty.

by mr jinks Tue Jan 17, 2006 09:30

u obviously have a great job if you can reply to all these guys every time some one says something?
or do you know what work is.? and why ,in all the pictures, are they only of the same few ugly faces all the time. surely ye have more numbers ?

by Ciaron Tue Jan 17, 2006 00:24

DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO IS ANTI-WAR
AND LOOKING FOR A ROOM TO RENT IN DUBLIN?

*Please Forward to Anyone You Think May be Interested

There is a room available in the house set up by the Ploughshares activists awaiting trial in July. Both Damien and Ciaron are leaving Ireland and will return for trial. Other folks in the house hope to share an anti-war orientation and host an Open House on Sunday nights for those opposed to the war.

The room is large
The house is located in Rialto (close to Bus 19 & Luas)
Rent for the room €333 a month. Bond €300.
Bills shared.
Room available from Friday January 27th

If intererested phone Ciaron 087 918 4552 or Asha 087 237 9739

by Ciaron Sun Jan 15, 2006 20:48

obituaries for Jeanie Wylie-Kellermann:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060106/NEWS11/60106022

by Update Sat Jan 14, 2006 16:22

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060114/ap_on_re_as/pakistan_al_qaida_attack

by Update Sat Jan 14, 2006 13:06

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060114/ap_on_re_as/pakistan_al_qaida_attack

by Coilín Sat Jan 14, 2006 02:05

Lest anybody should misunderstand, let me say that I agree with your statement:
"Petty resentment, resignation, begrudgery, collective mediocrity, cowardice, self censorship are all deeply routed in the colonised culture here."

And I am inclined to share your affinity for Nipponzon Myohoji, "who are out there against the war."

Best,
Coilín.

by Ciaron Sat Jan 14, 2006 00:15

Colin,

There has been minimal direct nonviolent resistance to Irish complicity in this war in comparison to the risk taking of the 900 young Americans who pass through Shannon Airport daily to risk life, limb and mind to prosecute this war.

A major reason there isn't much resistance to the war is that there isn't much solidarity in these times and culture of atomised privatised individualism.

The role of the cop/coward guy on this stream is to undermine solidarity & resisters with pathetic attempts at cynicism he confuses with wisdom. He needed to be dealt with and he has been dealt with. Unfortunately dealing with him was the only debate that developed on this stream.

We return to trial July 5th 2006 Dublin's Four Courts.

You should not confuse radical Christian ethics with some kind of bourgeois politeness.

Whether this guy is working for the state or is another resentful stalker is neither here nor there. His role is the same. He tried and failed Sounds like this stream has run its course. Other Shannon postings have been put up in the meantime.

by neither cop nor coward Fri Jan 13, 2006 23:12

what i said was:
"you appear as an arrogant and dogmatic person who feels compelled to insult people at will."

You asked :
Anonymous contributor calling Ciaron "an arrogant and dogmatic person who feels compelled to insult people at will"? What's your motivation? Trying to outdo him at the same game? Neck and neck! :)

He replied to you:
...Petty resentment, resignation, begrudgery, collective mediocrity, cowardice, self censorship are all deeply routed in the colonised culture here...

and

...
Thanx for the link but I think I'll get my Buddhism from the Nipponzon Myohoji who are out there against the war. Spirituality (chritstian or buddhist) as the basis of resistance rather than escapism.

and

...If you've interpreted sefl-confidence as arrogance, self defence as illegitimate that's your problem. If you have nothing to contribute to the issues or debate you have the choice to skip the stream and find some constructive work for yourself.


I think the point is made Coilin. By the way I speak as a fool who sometimes recognises these characteristics in others only because I recognise them in my self. It is judgement, but then Christ did call the hypocrites by name. This man is a spiritual charlatan.

by Coilín Fri Jan 13, 2006 22:31

Thanks for your reply, Ciaron.

> "Admonishing the sinner/cynic" is rated as work of
> mercy in the radical christian tradition.

I'm right with you on that. I see this as being closely related to the fundamental Buddhist practice of acting with compassion to relieve suffering.

My point was that you seemed to be getting distracted from the focus on the valuable and constructive work of the protest at the Aviation Building. (BTW, I was sorry I couldn't be there with you that evening, not to mention thankful that you were there.)

I thought it would have been a sin to let you waste your considerable intellectual talents with the petty resentment I saw in that other exchange. I don't like the sound of the word "admonition", but I would invite you to let it go.


> Thanx for the link but I think I'll get my Buddhism from
> the Nipponzon Myohoji who are out there against the
> war. Spirituality (chritstian or buddhist) as the basis of
> resistance rather than escapism.

I agree that Buddhism is wasted if it is used as a form of escapism, and one of the reasons the Shambhala lineage attracts me is precisely the fact that the current bearer of the lineage encourages social action. So maybe you will keep an open mind?

As for the concept of resistance, I have my reservations. It depends what you mean by "resistance". If you mean leading the world towards peace and acting courageously to do so, I'm with you. But if you mean wrestling and cultivating struggle within the spirit ... ? No, thanks.


> If you have nothing to contribute to the issues or
> debate you have the choice to skip the stream and
> find some constructive work for yourself.

Well, apart from my recent submission to the Department of Justice, where I argue that the expulsion of the population of Fallujah in October/November 2004 and the use of white phosphorus against those who remained behind were cruel, degrading and inhuman acts calculated to punish, coerce and intimidate, and thus acts of torture as defined in Ireland's Criminal Justice (United Nations Convention Against Torture) Act, 2000 - accessible here: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZA11Y2000.html -
and that "peace activists must be permitted – nay, encouraged – to prevent acts of torture by applying all non-violent means to obstruct the transit of troop transports through Irish airports", I humbly submit that the above is my constructive contribution to the discussion.

Keep well,
Coilín.

by Update Fri Jan 13, 2006 14:47

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060113/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_helicopter_down

by anarchist against the war. Fri Jan 13, 2006 13:29

Here's a copy of that lovely stencil decorating the newsire for those who wish to try it at home, cut out the black parts, hold flat against surface (wear latex gloves), spray paint from about 10-12inches back.

Print it out - cut it up

by Update Thu Jan 12, 2006 14:18

http://www.dmcityview.com/cover.shtml

by Ciaron Wed Jan 11, 2006 00:52

"Admonishing the sinner/cynic" is rated as work of mercy in the radical christian tradition. The stream started with constructive work at the Aviation Building, so don't get your point here.

Some of the debate has raised and addressed important themes that keeps the Irish community in a state of complicit silence in the face of day to day grind of the U.S. war machine touching down and taking off from this isle.

Petty resentment, resignation, begrudgery, collective mediocrity, cowardice, self censorship are all deeply routed in the colonised culture here.
Deconstruction is essential and constructive work.

Thanx for the link but I think I'll get my Buddhism from the Nipponzon Myohoji who are out there against the war. Spirituality (chritstian or buddhist) as the basis of resistance rather than escapism.

If you've interpreted sefl-confidence as arrogance, self defence as illegitimate that's your problem. If you have nothing to contribute to the issues or debate you have the choice to skip the stream and find some constructive work for yourself.

by Coilín ÓhAiseadha Tue Jan 10, 2006 22:06

Anonymous contributor calling Ciaron "an arrogant and dogmatic person who feels compelled to insult people at will"? What's your motivation? Trying to outdo him at the same game? Neck and neck! :)

Please, gents, go and either do some constructive work or take a rest.

Sounds like both of you could do with some quality relaxation time, and for the purpose - here comes a shameless plug! - I recommend the open night at the Dublin Shambhala Centre (19 Herbert Street, Dublin 2) every Wednesday at 8 pm. Free admission. Catholics and atheists welcome!

More info here: http://dublin.shambhala.ie/

Note: This contributor has no financial interest in the Dublin Shambhala Centre. In fact, from what I hear, it would be a very poor investment! :)

Peace.
Coilín.

by Ciaron Mon Jan 09, 2006 16:51

Ok dude. I'm saying what you "sound like", you introduced the "sounds like" discourse. That you post personal attacks anonymously testifies to your cowardice if not your copice. Hey maybe you're not a cop and are servicing the state for free here, who knows?

Yes I have a long experience with cops in several countries FBI, OZ/Brit/Irish Special Branch, public order squads et. al. My resistance community was infiltrated for a number of years by intelligence operatives in Britain.

I also have a lot of experience with Trade Union bureaucrats selling out their membership and third world people about to be bombed. And too much experence of whingers like you who do little but attempt to undemine resisters in chains and before the courts for whatever twisted inadequacies you are projecting rather dealing with.

Dude, save your solidarity. If we haven't heard from you in the last three years. I'm sure we can get by with out it...how long this trial/possible jail process & war should last. And save your piss poor analysis of what you and the irish trade unions coulda shoulda woulda done at Shannon when the moral question was put to them to facilitate the U.S. military in the slaying of more Iraqi children. "And getta outta the way if you can't lend a hand"

by neither cop nor coward Mon Jan 09, 2006 16:20

however activist and dictator are mutually exclusive!

i'm not the first who has disagreed with you within the activist community that you have called a cop. Seems you have a preoccupation with cops, i wonder if it is some sort of psycholgical thing, a deliberate insult. maybe you are unaware of the intensity of reaction such an allegation arouses?or maybe you intend that level of insult.

I have no difficulty with standing in solidarity, and a mass occupation of the runway would have been an ideal solution.

An even better solution (instead of slaggin off the unions, which you have done) would have been to call on treade unionists to refuse to handle the planes ala dunnes workers in the 80's with apartheid south african apples!. Of course that would not have given you the media attention you appear to desire.

as for standing in solidarity with you personally, why would anyone? your responses on this site and in public over the past couple of years would put anyone off having anything to do with you. you appear as an arrogant and dogmatic person who feels compelled to insult people at will.

rbb with dreadlocks and an aus accent.

by Ciaron Mon Jan 09, 2006 16:04

Being a cop or a coward is not mutually exclusive. You sound like both...so much for the "sounds like" discourse you opened there.

Your arguments are illogical. The companies were absent for several months until Cowens constant reassurance to the U.S. embassy during the period were fulfilled "that anti-war sentiment in Ireland would blow over".

A mass occupation of the runway following the 2 disarmament actions -undermined by the moderate and authoritarian left- may have done the trick. (The withdrawl of the 3 US companies was down to security concerns according to the U.S. Ambassador, Ahern responded by deploying the Irish Army against a nonviolent Irish peace movement in defense of the largest kiling machine in human history) We may never know. To get back to that point is a long way off.

The Catholic Worker were never part of the authroritarian/moderate left run IAWM. The Catholic Worker was never a member of the peace camp. We are an autonomous anti-war group with 70 years of history willing to relate dmocratically and mutually with other autonomus groups like peace camps but not to be used as fodder by aspiring politicicians milking the initial reaction to war.

I agree it is a waste of taxpayers money (mine included) to put the Catholic Workers on trial a third time in 2006 and in all probability a fourth time in 2007. These elites have no concern with wasting tax payers money as they hand it out freely to the arms manufacturers and Halliburton. You are an apologist for these elites. We don't ask you to take the risks we have taken, we ask you to stand in solidarity with those who do...both military & civilian. Just do something against this war would be a start and a worthy legacy for your children.

The accusation of arrogance is typical of a confusion between democracy and collective mediocrity. You cynicism is an expression of cowardice and resentment it is a product of centuries of colonisation and sevices the establishment

by neither cop nor coward Mon Jan 09, 2006 16:00

I dont condemn o'reilly et al, i state that those five trials have achieved nothing and cost the taxpayer, therefore taxpayers are paying for the promotion of individuals and their media profiles.

What has been changed by attacking this plane?Twice!

nothing.

not one damn thing has changed in fact their are more troops passing through shannon since then not less.

Were it not for the egos of a few people, rbb and oreilly included,(who insist on being the "bosses") the irish anti war movement would possibly be a coherent and effective voice against irish complicity in the illegal war. The simple fact is that most people dont want to be associated with either the swp or the catholic worker because the public face of both (rbb and oreilly) are arrogant and dogmatic contol freaks.

by Update Sun Jan 08, 2006 23:09

12 more U.S. killed in Iraq today. These fatalaities won't be counted in the war dead as they did not die in combat. The 11 killed during the past week will be counted.Most of these mother's sons would have been shuttled through Shannon
http://news.yahoo.com/fc/US/US_Armed_Forces

by Ciaron Sun Jan 08, 2006 22:49

Do your own homework on the ambassador quote.
Do your own homework on how many companies that pulled out in 2003 have returned.
Do your homework on why the Irish state can't give us a fair trial and they keep collapsing.
Sounds like you;re a cynic (nice word for coward) or a cop, meanwhile we continue to resist this war that you service.

by Ciaron Sun Jan 08, 2006 15:37

Well before this stream devolves into a character trial of lil' ol' me, let's revisit the central issues.

Yes we all have different journeys and we all come from somewhere. Yes I am an Irish citizen part of the Irish diaspora from Australia. I have been here on bail for the last 3 years, I return to trial for the third time on July 5th 2006. This is where I'm living and the context I am addressing. My earlier formation has a lot to do with being awakened/evangelised by aboriginal people...who weren't citizens when I was 8, who it still was illegal to cohabitat with (in my state) when I was 13 and whose systematic invasion and oppression is reflected in high imprisonement rates and death in police custody, early mortality etc. I am eternally grateful for their frinedship and teachings over the years.

The reality of Shannon Airport is that it is a significant and growing part of the U.S. war machine. The public hunch that the present situation at Shannon is temporary and will soon blow over and things will return to normal is misguided. The Irish state are willing to risk a payback bombing campaign inIreland and I believe have like Blair already prepared their political repsonse once it happens. Given the oppositions penchants for soft targets it will probably be public transport in Dublin rather than Shannon or government agencies or bureaucrats.

The reality of Shannon is that it was the site of the most significant nonviolent disruption by the international civilian peace movement to the U.S. war mobilisation. This factoid maybe a sad reflection of the lack of competition from a moderate protest movement that was milked and then run into the ground by the authoritarian & moderate left. But I'm afraid that's it - and the disarmament actions at Shannon had short term effects and are now significant in the collective dissident memory.

Whenever peace folks go to Shannon they go with that legacy and that's why the Irish state are freaked. Not only by the short term effect(ive) nature of the actions but most significantly by their symbolic power. This was the case for us in the anti British Aerospace arms export to Indonesia campaign after the 4 women had acted at Warton in '96 and were acquitted in Liverpool. later that year.

It was nourishing to hear of the anti-war gathering last night at Shannon and hopefully we'll get some pics and reports on that in the coming days.

Those of us left opposing Irish complicity in the war are few and isolated. This is a failure of Irish civic society to address the issue. In terms of the tradition I spring from, if the church was serious about peace & justice they would be devoting some energy & resources to organising opppositin at Shannon...as would trade unions, ngo's etc

Our isolation isn't bad luck. the state ran a black propoganda campaign (some of the anonymous interventions on indymedia are part of this ongoing campaign) against noviolent direct actionists. 2 government ministers lied on the media that the pacifist ploughshares had "assaulted and hospitalised a garda" in the hangar, a slander that was echoed by some of the moderate anti-war leadership who went on to censor any mention of imprisoned anti-war activists from the Feb 15th. (2003) stage. When we cam to trial the said garda testifies that we were nonviolent and comforted him when we thought he seemed stressed.

The Irish Times later ran a front page story accusing us of costing the Irish taxpayer €2.5 million with no evidence that this was in fact true.

So that's where we are. We are at the beginning of a long war. And some folks need to prioritise organising against growing Irish participation in it.

by Response Sun Jan 08, 2006 14:23

http://www.serve.com/nukeresister/nr119/nr119ciaron.html

by Response Sun Jan 08, 2006 14:20

http://www.spunk.org/texts/pubs/theanarc/1/sp000743.txt

by Aborigional Sun Jan 08, 2006 13:02

Interesting that while an Australian(sic) is in Ireland protesting at the U.S war machine his countrymen have and are presiding over the genocide of the indigenous population of Australia. We rarely, if ever, hear Mr O'Reilly speak on this issue. It is interesting to note that Australias current population would not be in residence there were it not for the illegal invasion and occupation of Australia by the English(ably assisted by the Irish) . Does Mr O'Reilly condemn that illegal theft of aborigional land? Does he believe that the natural resources of Australia rightfully belong to the indigenous population?
What exactly is the difference between a war for land and a war for oil?Were the lives of aboriginal children less valuable than the lives of Iraqi children?Does Mr. O'Reilly accept that he like all europeans in Australia are illegal occupiers?

While it is a noble and courageous gesture to carry out their symbolic act of nvda against the U.S, lets not forget that the U.S are just the latest in a long line of imperialist landgrabbers and that Europeans have been responsibile for the decimatrion of indigenous cultures worldwide.

by Steve Jacobs - St. Francis Catholic Worker Community Sun Jan 08, 2006 12:53

I belong to a group under government surveillance despite the fact that most of us in the Catholic Worker (CW) movement feed and shelter homeless folks throughout the U.S. Since 1933 we've been caring for the victims of an economic empire that abandons the mentally ill and disabled, and leaves the working poor and unemployed to fend for themselves in neighborhoods run down with drugs, alcoholism or simple neglect. CW's often take homeless war vets off the streets, so spare me any pro-government excuses for how wealthy government officials have our best interests at heart. The poor know where they stand in this empire when our leaders legislate automatic raises for themselves but ignore requests to raise the minimum wage. To put it crudely; Catholic Workers have 'embedded' themselves with the poor in inner-city neighborhoods and we invite them to share our homes, food and lives until they can move on to something more stable than a city sidewalk. We call it "walking in solidarity with the poor". Though about 80% of us are Catholics, we are catholics with a small 'c', meaning 'universal'. Some (including FBI agents) believe we're leftists but the Sermon on the Mount is our manifesto, a truly radical social program where each recieves according to their need; and the rich share equitably and break bread with the poor. These ideas are too rarely practiced by mainstream North American Christian churches, as are Jesus's teachings to love of ones enemies and return good for evil. His warning that we reap what we sow is almost universally ignored. Like Him, we are dismissed as idealist but, CW's take those teachings very seriously. And since we espouse non-violent resistance to evil, you'd think the government wouldn't waste their time monitoring us. But President Bush, when asked to explain his illegal authorization for surveillance of Americans, said, "If al-Qaed is calling you, we'd like to know why". But CW's would rather the money used to spy on us be given as reparations to innocent civilian war victims so agents won't have to mine data off our emails and phone calls and patiently wait for Osama bin-Laden to call and tell us when to don ninja outfits and sabotage the nearest military-industrial complex. Osama wants our weapons turned into rubble. We'd rather turn them into ploughshares.

In May 2001, after filing a surveilance report on Catholic Workers protesting the multi-billion dollar National Missile Defense at Vandenberg Air Force base as a theft from the poor and homeless, an FBI agent wrote, that Catholic Workers ". . . advocate(s) a communist distribution of resources." The report, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act was posted on the ACLU web site. This was months before 9-11 so Bush's explanation that 9-11 made it necessary for the government to spy on Americans is only a sloppy alibi.

National Security Agency (NSA) and various military intelligence groups too, have recently been exposed for spying and infiltrating peace groups that are dedicated to non-violence; like the Quakers. As the petulant and pampered son of a millionaire, Bush's response is to begin investigating who told the truth. He only seems to care about leaks if others do it, not his buddies Scooter Libby and Karl Rove.

As pacifist Christians, the only threat we pose to the government is a moral one. But the government should be concerned; because Jesus's subversive non-violent ideas can cause more damage to war efforts than any terrorists bomb. If His teachings gain traction again, that it's hypocritical for Christians to say we love our neighbors/enemies and then kill them, then Christians in uniform will start refusing to fight. Hundreds have already done so. It's the ultimate subversion that cuts the legs out from under any pretense of standing on some higher moral ground, especially when we've lowered ourselves to engage in the vilest forms of torture and murder in secret government-run prisons because somebody higher up ordered it. "I was only obeying orders" is the excuse of war criminals. This is how killing those made in the image and likeness of God gives us cancer of the soul, slowly eating away at our principles until we find ourselves doing unto others pre-emptively before they can do it unto us, without anticipating the moral corollary: that those who have evil done to them; do evil in return. Christian non-violence is the threat of a good idea because it's crazy enough that it just might work.

But as dark as the times are, there are still those whose conscience compells them to shed some light on our leaders criminal actions. Recently Russell Tice who worked as an intelligence analyst with the NSA and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) wrote to Congress and publicly stated his desire to testify about illegal black ops programs at NSA. He said, "The freedom of the American people cannot be protected when our constitutional liberties are ignored and our nation has decayed into a police state".

Furthermore a federal judge resigned from the federal court that approves surveillance under the FISA act to protest the President's illegal authorizations to invade Americans privacy. Even John Ashcrofts chief deputy, James Comey, at the Justice Department refused to authorize the NSA program so Alberto Gonzalez, who believes that international restrictions on torture are quaint, went over Comey's head. These non-cooperators are hardly radicals of CW's ilk. If there is equal justice under the law, and we know that there is not, then Bush and Cheney should be impeached.

So, why should you care if you're not a CW? According to Russell Tice, if terrorists simply dial a wrong number, an innocent American citizen could be "spirited away to some back alley country to get the rubber hose treatment".

Think that could never happen? Innocent folks have already been pulled off planes and sent to torture in places like Syria (whose government seems anxious to appease us by torturing our detainees) or Uzbekistan where a British diplomat resigned to protest his governments acceptance of intelligence that was obtained by Uzbeki torturers. Do you think Bush and Cheney would have moral courage to resign in a similar situation?

Dissidents like CW's are the canaries in the coal mine of democracy. When secret government agents come after us then you'd better set aside that patriotic fantasy about America being the champion of human rights and realize that the police state is operational.

The framers of the Constitution would be appalled that their later countrymen allowed the government to assume the right of omniscience by policing the entire worlds conversations. Ben Franklin warned, "Those that would sacrifice their liberty for more security deserve neither". Choosing between criminal politicians and terrorists no longer seems like much of a choice. Their behavior is too much alike.

Steve Jacobs

by Geronimo Sun Jan 08, 2006 12:36

U.S. out of North America!

by y Sun Jan 08, 2006 04:02

Would you people rather see ireland out of world politics, issue's and events. There is the strong possibility now that if everyone pulls out of Iraq, everything is going to get worse there, alot worse. It could turn into another Afghanistan, not that its much better now but it could get much worse.

There is alot of Anti-Americanism on this board and if the Irish Government just suddenly stopped all of these flights going through Shannon:
(1), What difference would it make?
(2) What else would you move on to and complian about America's involvement in?

And if America suddenly fell tomorrow and was unable to retain its position in the world it holds today, Do you think the world would be a better place? Do you think Al Qaeda would suddenly break up and say "Ah well, thats done now"
No it wouldn't, and the world would be a much, much worse and more dangerous place. Could you imagine, without America's presence, the actions so countries or even terrorist countries would try to take? Things they wouldn't dare do otherwise?

by A Sun Jan 08, 2006 00:57

for the above story

by ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Sat Jan 07, 2006 19:47

http://news.yahoo.com/fc/us/us_congress

by redjade Sat Jan 07, 2006 18:08

'Hugh Thompson Jr., a former Army helicopter pilot honored for rescuing Vietnamese civilians from his fellow GIs during the My Lai massacre, died early Friday. He was 62.

Thompson, whose role in the 1968 massacre did not become widely known until decades later, died at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Alexandria, hospital spokesman Jay DeWorth said....

'These people were looking at me for help and there was no way I could turn my back on them,' Thompson recalled in a 1998 Associated Press interview.'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5528916,00.html

. . . .

• more about the My Lai Massacre
'a massacre by U.S. soldiers of hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians, mostly women and children, on March 16, 1968, during the Vietnam War.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_massacre

. . . .

• Colin Powell was part of the cover up of the My Lai Massacre....
'Colin Powell wrote: "In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between American soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent." Later, Powell's refutation would be called an act of "white-washing" the news of My Lai, and questions would continue to remain undisclosed to the public. On May 4, 2004, Powell, then United States Secretary of State, said to Larry King, "I mean, I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after My Lai happened. So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored."'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_massacre#Cover-up

♣‡ Seymour Hersh was the American journalist that broke the story about the My Lai Massacre. Today he's America's best investigative reporter on the Iraq War and the Bush Regime...

• Seymour Hersh: Where is the Iraq war headed next?
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=73217

• Seymour Hersh: The US War in Iran has Already Started
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=68264

• Seymour Hersh's Latest: Did Washington try to manipulate Iraq’s election?
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=70946

Hugh Thompson Jr

My Lai massacre

by Ciaron O'Reilly - Dublin Catholic Worker Sat Jan 07, 2006 17:57

Mewling A, You should refer to the statements of the U.S. Ambassador at the time (Feb 2002) regarding the withdrawl of 3 U.S. companies transporting troops to the theatre in rsponse to the disarmament actions. You seem to be pushing the government spin here, so you may not have far to go to check the references!

There has never been any evidence provided, inside or outside of court, in relation to the Irish state paying for repairs. There was no obligation. It was only the sychophancy of Ahearn who made the offer to pick up the tab, when his imperial masters were upset. Behavior in keeping with his bowl of Shamrocks tithe every Paddy's Day at the Whit House.

There is no evidence that the Irish government actually paid for repairs. Pocket change to the Pentagon who have spent $US2 trillion on this war effort. In both collapsed trials of the Ploughshares repair bills were in $US...no breakdown of bill was provided from a Pentago famous for forking out $1,000 spanners and largesse to corporate friends.

You refer of course is an Irish government that forked out €8 million for 18 hours of "security" so Bush could have a pre-electoral Irish photo op.in June 2004.

Another significant pre-war nvda, were a couple of Scottish train drivers who refused to move munitions. I believe they received more support fomr their trade union than what was on offer from the Trade Unions representing workers at Shannon.

by Mewling A Sat Jan 07, 2006 15:53

The name of the author of this post has been changed as the previous name was in breach of editorial policy - 1 of IMC Ed
Sorry to throw some water on Ciarons statement of Shannon being disrupted.The two air lift companies returned after a couple of weeks and are still there,and no not much was,is or has been disrupted.Well the navy plane would go home I suppose,it wasnt "sent" home,as the pitstop crowd seemingly wanted it to stay permantly here by smashing it up,so we the tax payer could foot the bill for that as well.
And WHAT exactly does "3 US companies troops withdrawing from Ireland,etc etc"mean.
Do you mean three US companies withdrew from Ireland???
Or three US military companies withdrew from Ireland?Where were they if they were here???How did they end up here,and if so why?
Clarity in statements can mean a hell o f a lot in a press statement.

by Ciaron O'Reilly - Dublin Catholic Worker Sat Jan 07, 2006 14:55 087 918 4552

It was a week where another 11 U.S. troops died in Iraq, the U.S. Air Force targetted a family home, 130 Iraqi civilians died in suicide bombings, Bush's war effort has been budgeted at $US2 trillion by a Nobel Prize winning economist. Some of that blood money has been soaked up by the Irish Aviation Authority that has hosted 333,000 Invading U.S. troops at Shannon Airport in 2005.

In echoes of the Nazi period, Aviation Authority bureaucrats responded to questions about their policies facilitating the U.S. war machine at Shannon with "we don't make policy, just mplement it!" The government attempts to transcend the moral questions implied with the response "Sure, it's nothing new, we were doing the same during the Vietnam War!" One wonders if the 2 1/2 million Indo-Chinese dead from that policy will be surpassed by the latest Bush/Blair/Ahearn effort.

Those of us opposing Irish complicity in this ongoing war, will need to build from the bottom again. We can acknowlege that Shannon Airport was probably the most significant site of disruption by the international peace movement of the U.S. mobilisation for the invasion of Iraq - a US Navy plane turned around and sent home, Irish Army deployed and 3 U.S. companies troops withdrawing from Ireland in response to the disarmament actions.

Our strength has always been in community/affinity group based nonviolent direct actions. The tactic of marching through town was exposed as ineffectual after February 15th 2003, smaller repititions on a 6 monthly basis is not a strategy to move forward. The peace camp at Shannon this weekend is significant....hopefully it is a beginning and not a one-off.

by Update Sat Jan 07, 2006 12:06

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=73477

by orla Sat Jan 07, 2006 11:41

I heard on the RTE news that a peace camp is to be re-established in Shannon on 7 Jan. Is there going to be some kind of demo? Where and when should supporters arrive?

by redjade Sat Jan 07, 2006 02:09

♣‡ Wish i was there - nice to see things are still happening and people remembering.

I wonder if Lance Cpl. Blake Miller either went through Shannon or came back home through Shannon.

He was the pin-up boy for the chickenhawks and cheerleaders of this war - a useful image. A momentary distraction from the daily car bombing in Baghdad.

Now he's got PTSD and an honorable discharge - sitting in Kentucky discovering no one really gives a shit. He was just a useful propaganda media moment for a war thats run out of lies to tell.

Hell, Bush cares so much for people like Miller that he recently compared physical injuries of soldiers to himself hitting his forehead on a tree branch. Cant make shit like that up - its true.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/01/06.html#a6601

What 'Marlboro Man' says can also be said of Ireland: 'Being in Iraq is something no one wants to talk about.'

- - -

'Marlboro Man' in Iraq War Photo Suffers from PTSD

So whatever happened to Lance Cpl. Blake Miller -- the U.S. Marine pictured as a kind of war-weary "Marlboro Man" in one of the most widely published iconic images of the Iraq war?

....Now Miller, of Jonancy, Ky., is a civilian "and is having trouble adjusting to civilian life," CBS News reports.

Back home, he got married in June, but on duty during the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, Miller suffered from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and was granted an honorable discharge from the Marines in November.

[....]

"The more and more I talk to [other guys], the more I found out there were a lot of Marines that are going through same or similar emotions. It's tough to deal with. Being in Iraq is something no one wants to talk about."

read the rest at
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0104-08.htm

Marlboro Man

by Elaine Fri Jan 06, 2006 23:43

Who deal in Kidnapping and Shipping the young to Kill and be Killed.

How Can This Ever Be Justified? - Shame! Shame! Shame!

The I.A.A. Gets Named And Shamed

Read All About It - Ireland's Complicity In The War

What Caption Is She Going To Put On ThIs? Sez Jon, Keep Smiling, Sez Kitty, We'll Find Out Later!

Some Of Today's Crew - In Solidarity With Shannon Peace Campers

by Elaine Fri Jan 06, 2006 23:34

See you tomorrow in the big tent at Shannon.

A Light In The Darkness

Americans Against The War - Code Pink's Kathleen And Glenda

I Ask The Questions Round Here - Near FM's Robbie S. Quizzes Ciaron

Robbie S. Interviews Kathleen

Wall Of Shame

by W - Grassroots Dissent Fri Jan 06, 2006 20:50

Placards

stencil nearby