Make Shannon an Election Issue

by V2 Fri May 11, 2007 14:09

Why on earth is the second event happening in Dun Laoghaire of all places?

by blindingly obvious Fri May 11, 2007 14:14

IAWM=SWP=PBPA=RBB=Dunlaoire

by MichaelY - iawm Fri May 11, 2007 14:26

On the Wednesday, 23rd, a whole load of people, including Cindy Sheehan, will be flying to Shannon where they will be welcomed by Shannon activists, some of whom are members of Cosantoiri Siochana and others close to Sinn Fein.
Invitations to join us have been extended to PANA, AWI, the NGO Alliance and all other acitivists.

It does get a bit tiring for people to be blinded by such sectarian and arrogant nonsense as the one above.....in a way, it answers the question redjade asked in another thread.
Anonymista idiots who are adept in getting their kicks out of their keyboards and the little dead spot in their hard disk they call 'brain'......give it up please.

by Robert Ching Fri May 11, 2007 14:32

This vividly illustrates how the SWP are using the IAWM as an election platform for RBB. Instead of holding the meeting in a venue which would attract the maximum number of participants they have decided to hold it in RBBs constituency. Thus they have turned it into an election rally for RBB.

Surely there must be some honest independent people in the IAWM, cant they see how they are being used? Given Galloways membership of "RESPECT" its hardly suprising that he would be along to help RBB out. But its appalling that an honest sincere woman like Cindy Sheehan is being used in this fashion.

The SWP have sunk to yet new and deeper depths.

by v2 Fri May 11, 2007 14:32

Do you have an alternative answer? Are you happy to use abuse as a response a legitimate question, or is there a better reason why Dun Laoghaire is hosting an anti-war event? I can't think of any reason OTHER than the one put forward, and your tetchy and small minded response doesn't do much to dissuade me.

by MichaelY - iawm Fri May 11, 2007 14:48

There is anti-war event, hosted by the iawm, in the Teachers Club next Monday 14th where a whole set of prospective candidates and current TDs have been invited to attend. It must have escaped some of your notices - what does Parnell Square and the Teachers Club have to do with Shannon and the people of Iraq methinks?
The event in Dun Laoghaire is being hosted by the iawm in co-operation with all the local organisations, Residents Associations and campaigning groups that support Richard's election campaign. Cannot for the life of me see anything wrong with the iawm deciding to host an anti-war event in the constituency where its Chairperson is fighting with a good chance of winning a Dail seat.
As for the slagging of George Galloway and the rest of us as not being as 'honest' as Cindy Sheehan - I return that compliment to its sender.
From the lot of us not in the swp or in pbpalliance who've been working very hard across the city in our campaign to make Shannon an Election Issue, from the TDs and prospective candidates who have signed our pledge, please stop this divisive rant and get on with your political activity whatever that is - invite us, or anybody else you wish, to your areas and we'll be there.

by unbelieveable Fri May 11, 2007 15:03

"Speakers for the Kingston Hotel meeting will be Cindy Sheehan, George Galloway and Richard Boyd Barrett. The meeting will be chaired by Gearoid Kilgallen of the iawm Steering Committee."

This is incredible. The IAWM has Galloway and Cindy Sheehan in Dublin and they're trundled off to Dunleary to help Richard boyd Barret's election campaign! If this is not the truth of the situation, why not hold the second meeting in Swords or Lucan? Why Dun Laoighoire?

We know why. Unbelievable! Back to the IAWM/SWP I think.

by V2 Fri May 11, 2007 15:06

The Teacher's Club is in the City Centre.

You are seriously saying that Richard Boyd Barret is using the Anti War movement and the presence of Cindy Sheehan to bolster his doomed election campaign and to raise his profile as a candidate.

No other election candidates are listed as speakers, no matter how much they have worked against the invasion.

It strikes me as pretty cynical stuff, and I can see why people have a rather jaundiced view of the IAWM and the SWP.

It also means that the first answer given to my question was substantially true, but you met it with abuse.

Does Cindy Sheehan realise that she is being used in this way?

by anon Fri May 11, 2007 15:14

Will other anti-war candidates in the Dun Laoighaire constituency be invited to speak from the platform, or is it SWP only? Green Party and Sinn Fein? Well?

by Robert Ching Fri May 11, 2007 15:24

I am more saddened than suprised by the response from Mr Y. Bluster and bullying will not enable you to hide the truth. The IAWM is supposed to be a non party organisation yet it is actively working to elect a member of the SWP to the Dail. The Labour, Green and Sinn Fein candidates in Dun Laoire have all opposed the war, why aren't they on the platform?

This is a subverting and sabotage of the struggle against the war. The SWP and their henchmen have shown that they couldn't care less about taking an action to build the Anti War Movement. Instead they hijack an honest woman like Cindy Sheehan and bring her to Dun Laoire in an attempt to bolster RBBs flagging campaign.

Shame on you.

by MichaelY - iawm Fri May 11, 2007 16:01

A few elements of truth for your consideration:

(1) IAWM activists have been working in support of ALL anti-war candidates right across the country. From Galway and Catherine Connolly, from Kerry with Green candidates and Ferris, with Joan Collins and Brid Smith, with Carmel in Wicklow, with Patricia Mckenna, Lou and Tony Gregory and Finian McGrath and, of course, Richard Boyd Barrett and Rory Hearne. In all of our Press Releases, and in our website, we have stated clearly that the IAWM supports ALL and EVERY anti-war candidate - irrespective of Party affiliation.
(2) To answer anon's question above, the Green Party leadership, with the exception of Patricia, have refused to sign the anti-war pledge. That's their monkey, of course..... The Labour Party have published an anti-war statement in the manifesto, but individual candidates have taken a variety of positions....Joe Costello, for example, has signed the pledge, Gilmore hasn't!! Finally tne new boy from SF in the Dun laoghaire bloc, to my knowledge, has been invited to speak in the platform.....
(3) As for Cindy Sheehan , who is visiting Dublin and Shannon for the second time, being "hijacked"......Mr Ching you're off the mark. So far away that's hardly worth arguing that particular point. She has stated she will speak only on the war, the Bush strategy, the US anti-war movement, and WILL NOT support any candidate!
Btw, Mr Ching, why don't you come to the meeting...bring your friends and, who knows, you may learn something and, in the process, you may regale us all with your knowledgeable comments.

A face to remember

by V2 Fri May 11, 2007 16:44

If Cindy Sheehan has said that she does not want to support any candidate - then why are you bringing her to Dun Laoghaire? Why not have an evening event in the city centre and invite a range of people to speak with her (or none- there's no rule that says Rich Boy has to be on the panel for each and every event is there?).

Dragging her out to Dun Laoighaire to appear with RBB and other people associated with the SWP is obviously using her fame to attract people to hear speeches on how wonderful he is and why people should vote for him. Even you have to admit that.

The SWP is using the IAWM as a front, it's obvious. They even used the mailing list to get people to go to a fundraiser for Rich Boy's campaign. Now they are using the IAWM email list to recruit readers for their newspaper. Are you going to be the last person in Ireland to wake up to this fact?

by MichaelY - iawm Fri May 11, 2007 17:03

Reading your stuff good friend makes me wonder:
(1) What is the fixation with that tiny outfit called swp? These 'accusations' you throw about, one would have thought we are reliving the period of 'reds under the beds' some of us, the older ones, experienced in our youth.
(2) You are very badly misinformed about Richard - you keep calling him Rich Boy and such like.....let me tell you something. From all of the candidates standing in DunLaoghaire/Rathdown, RBB's personal situation compares very badly with the rest of the cabal's election budgets, poster expenditure, resources etc. Whether you like it or not, he's been at the forefront of anti-war organising since 2003, not on his own, but with many others, he is the Chairperson of the IAWM, and we, the rest of us non-swappers,including myself, may be slow learners, but we value integrity and honesty. And above all political commitment, irrespective of affiliation. Richard has worked extremely hard in the community in many campaigns, including the Shannon issue, but that's irrelevant, is it not?
(3) Dun Laoghaire is not the South or North Pole....Cindy will not be "dragged" or "hijacked".....all her moves, the Press Conference earlier on Tuesday in Buswell's, her fly-in to Shannon the following day, her presence in the Kingston have all been worked out carefully with her. Give us a bit of credit v2.
Finally, if you care about the issue of the war and the use of Shannon, just think of the potential of an RBB victory....as much as a Clare Daly, a Patricia McKenna, a Joan Collins, a Catherine Connolly victory.....leave your anti-SWP anti-Ricahrd hysteria aside and think politically for a change.
If you do, you may slow down but begin to see sense......gradually.

Words and posters

by v2 Fri May 11, 2007 17:45

Michael,

Your consdescending tone does you no favours.

It's clear that Cindy Sheehan is being used to boost the election campaign of the SWP. This is in spite of your report of her wish not to be used in this way. Given that her son's death is at the heart of her protest, I can see why she wants to keep away from supporting one or another political group. Nevertheless, the SWP is using its front group the IAWM to support the campaign of one of its leading lights.

You can dress this up anyway you want, but that's what's happening, and you should be ashamed.

by MichaelY - iawm Sun May 20, 2007 14:06

Dear friends,

Please check article on p.3 of Irish Business Post today. A million apologies also if my response(s) above were received as 'condescending' - it was certainly not intentional. For you info:

IRISH ANTI WAR MOVEMENT PRESS RELEASE

US anti war campaigner, Cindy Sheehan, visits Ireland
She will be appearing at a
PRESS CONFERENCE IN BUSWELLS HOTEL, DUBLIN 2.
Tuesday 22 MAY 2007 - 11.30am

Speakers:
Cindy Sheehan, US Peace Mom and Mother of US soldier killed in Iraq
Rhuhel Ahmed, former Guantanamo Bay Prisoner (Tipton 3)
Richard Boyd Barrett, Irish Anti-War Movement
Roger Cole, Peace and Neutrality Alliance
Brendan Butler, NGO Peace Alliance

The Press Conference will be chaired by Michael Youlton

Representatives from the Labour Party, Green Party, Sinn Fein, Socialist Party, Independent TDs, Senators and Councillors, Anti War Ireland, Eirigi, speakers from the Muslim, Iraqi, Lebanese and Palestinian Communities in Ireland and a number of Trade Unionists and various Irish personalities who are against the Iraq war will also be attending.

PRESS CONFERENCE WILL ALSO RELEASE the names of nearly 80 (eighty) CANDIDATES IN THE FORTHCOMING GENERAL ELECTION WHO HAVE SIGNED THE ANTI-WAR PLEDGE
There will be a photo opportunity at the end with all participants, and with a giant version of the following election pledge being held election candidates among the 80 who have signed it so far:

I, the undersigned, give a firm commitment that if elected I will not participate in any government that allows Shannon Airport or other Irish facilities to be used by the United States to conduct war in Iraq or any other imperialist war"

For further information, and possible arrangements for interviews etc., please contact
Jim Roche, Secretary, Steering Committee IAWM (087 647 2737 )
Michael Youlton, Co-Chair, Steering Committee IAWM (086 815 9487)

ATTACHMENT
STOP COMPLICITY OF IRISH GOVERNMENT IN BUSH AND BLAIR¹S SENSELESS WAR AND IN TORTURE FLIGHTS

US & BRITISH TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ

US TROOPS AND TORTURE PLANES OUT OF SHANNON

Four years on, the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq has torn apart the social fabric of the country. The Iraqi government, put in place by the occupying powers, is not able to exert authority evenly or effectively. Across huge swathes of territory, it is largely irrelevant in terms of organising or controlling social, economic, and political life. Civil war is a reality.
Despite the increase in the numbers of the occupying forces, Bush’s so-called ‘surge’, Iraq is going through a critical time. If numbers of people killed or numbers of bomb attacks are used as an indicator, the security situation is more perilous than ever before. In April alone, according to government figures, 1,500 civilians were killed in a variety of ways right across the territory. Again during April, 104 US soldiers were also killed while 25 more lost their lives during the first week of May. Nearly 70% of Americans are now against this war.
In Ireland, with elections looming, the War and the criminal collaboration of the Fianna Fail / PD government in allowing Shannon to be used as a warport has been kicked and buried deep into the shadows. While the Lansdowne Marketing /PANA poll showed 58% of our people to be against the use of Shannon by the US troops, the political establishment is ignoring the issue, with the tacit co-operation of most of the mainstream media.

by L. Blissett Sun May 20, 2007 16:42

I suppose the 'Irish Anti (US/UK) War Movement' just wouldnt have the same ring to it.

Not wanting to distract anyone from this thread about a brilliantly clever election move.

Whatever next?