Shannon airport being turned into US Military Cargo Hub?

by jim Tue May 27, 2008 10:56

"CIA are still using Shannon as a refuelling stop for its torture rendition planes, usually at about 2 am in the morning. Torture is best hidden in the dark of night."

You have no proof whatsoever that terrorist suspects are passing through Shannon.
Have you been aboard any of these planes? Until these planes have been searched by Irish authorities and found to be carrying detainees you have no grounds to make these claims.

Your claims about the contents of cargo planes and other aircraft are similarly unproven.
These planes might contains bombs, ammunition etc or they might contain baby food.
You have no way of knowing.

by HJ Tue May 27, 2008 12:06

Jim wrote:
"You have no proof whatsoever that terrorist suspects are passing through Shannon."

And plenty of proof that the PLANES that are known to carry them are passing through, which is the claim actually made in the article. You're arguing against a claim not presented.
These ARE the planes used in the rendition programme. The reason there is to-date no 100% proof that any torture victim has been on the plane is down to one thing. ZERO EFFORT by the Irish Authorities to enforce the Convention Against Torture.

by Edward Horgan Tue May 27, 2008 12:34

The issue of proof on crimes against humanity is for the courts to decide, not Jim, or the Gardai or anyone else.
However, tons of evidence exists that over one million US armed troops passed through Shannon airport, that CIA associated aircraft were refuelled at Shannon airport on hundreds of occasions, and that some of these aircraft were going to and from actual unlawful renditions. I have access to thousands of flight logs that confirm these US troop flights, CIA planes, and US military cargo planes at Shannon airport.
It is the primary job of the Gardai to collect and discover such evidence and the Gardai are deliberatly and knowingly failing in their duties to investigate these crimes and collect this evidence.

Jim points out that without the "authorities" boarding or searching these planes, no proof exists. This is incorrect. The proof exists, de facto, by the facts of the actual crimes being committed, and the complicity of the Irish government and authorites and workers at Shannon airport who are assisting and complicit in these crimes.

I note from todays Irish Times that Judge Victor Montigio in Chile has ordered the arrest of over 100 former soldiers and police who were involved or complicit in the Pinochet eta murders and human rights abuses that occurred between 1973 and 1990.

As a peace and human rights activist, you can take it that I will be pursuing these issues, and those people who have been complicit at Shannon airport, for as long as I live, not on my own behalf, but on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of innocent victims.

by Mike Novack Tue May 27, 2008 13:26

The problem is that you don't know which flights, which planes.

It should be obvious that given the fairly large number of planes/flights most of them will NOT be carrying anything "illegal". How about discussing what would happen if you did start these searches and were unlucky enough that the first few turned up nothing.

Understand? I am not asking you what you think the REASONABLE response would be. I am asking you what you thought the LIKELY response of the US would be. For example, do you predict that Aer Lingus filights to the US would be subjected to such long intrusive searches that passengers would soon cease to fly Aer Linus to/from the US?

by Fred Johnston Tue May 27, 2008 13:32 sylfredcar at iolfree dot ie

That rendition aircraft and others carrying very questionable material on behalf of the US military through Shannon Airport are now a commonplace is a given; the difficulty lies in understanding why the Republic's government, citing (quietly) economic reasons, continue allegedly to participate in aiding and abetting torture and an illegal invasion. 'Economic reasons' doesn't cut it; US companies have closed in this country and moved elsewhere no matter how the government has pandered to the US administration. It's American economics, not those of Ireland, that matter to them. There is no special relationship, even of a nostalgic kind, that should allow our government to look the other way. So is it fear or merely cowardice that prevents inspections of US aircraft being ordered? In effect, if official inspectors, backed up by Gardai, were to go on board US military aircraft - or suspect aircraft - in the morning there is nothing the US could do about it. This doesn't seem to have occurred to minds in Leinster House, at least some of whom will be concerned that the annual Shamrock Farce at the White House might suffer! We are a disgrace, internationally.

by Jkrmn Tue May 27, 2008 14:33

Mike Novack wrote:
The problem is that you don't know which flights, which planes.

They seem to have a fairly decent list of aircraft, actually.

It should be obvious that given the fairly large number of planes/flights most of them will NOT be carrying anything "illegal".

I think YOU should read up on the legislation. Nowhere does it require that the torture victim be ON the plane for the police to make an inspection or an arrest. The suspected TORTURER is who they are supposed to arrest.
Police rarely catch a murderer red handed either. If they get a report of a drive by shooting, they can stop and search any car matching the description or the registration, and arrest for questioning anybody they find in that car. Likewise, if they know of a car used to courier drugs, they can stop it anytime they see it as they have reasonable grounds. even if they find it empty on the first search.

At Shannon airport, Ed and his friends have given lists of the aircrafts including their registrations to the Gardai. The Gardai also have access to INTERPOL information on international arrest warrants for CIA agents wanted by Italian prosecutors for a rendition operation in Italy. So, the Gardai have solid grounds to seek out these people when these suspect aircraft land.

How about discussing what would happen if you did start these searches and were unlucky enough that the first few turned up nothing.

And do the police stop searching for guns, bombs or drugs if the first raid doesn't yield results?
Do they stop doing roadside checks for tax, insurance or drunk drivers if the first 5 cars in the queue seem okay? I think not.
So why would the CIA, known for torture, assassination and working with big time drug dealing warlords, get a free pass, when the rest of us have to show compliance with the law on any occassion that the authorities seem fit to seek it?

I am asking you what you thought the LIKELY response of the US would be. For example, do you predict that Aer Lingus filights to the US would be subjected to such long intrusive searches that passengers would soon cease to fly Aer Linus to/from the US?

Civilian passengers going to the US already get passed through metal detectors, have their luggage screened, finger prints taken, and fill out detailed information about themselves to get access to the US. What type of search are you on about? The CIA just pass through Shannon unhindered and undocumented.

More likely the US ambassador would have a 'frank and full discussion" (i.e. shouting) with Cowen, and some junkets would be cancelled. The US can't bring down our currency, we don't have one any more.
Is scaremongering all you've got?
What about the upside of refusing to be an accessory to torturing innocent people? You don't see one?

by paul o toole Tue May 27, 2008 17:26

Because the police do not search planes what is revealed is a corrupt government unwilling to find out the truth and expose itself for warcrimes. So not only are the police inept in not searcinng planes they are actually covering up a crime passing unhindered under their very noses.
The Greens caved in the independents caved and Fianna Fail caved to the pressure of thr US whom we call 'friend'.
Not searching planes is a crime itself, as it is the remit of an Garda Siochana to do so. The US military have admitted carrying Napalm, Mark77 firebombs, rocket engines, etc through Shannon.
Seeing,hearing no evol dosend stand up if no effort is made to find the evidence when aircraft cleaners can find human beings in chains on flights by accident.
We as a nation can no longer condemn the work of Adolf Hitler and support the US/UK at the same time.

by Mary Kelly Tue May 27, 2008 17:48

from yesterday's Examiner- Shannon search unit staff suspended by Pat Flynn.

" Two members of a search unit at Shannon Airport have been suspended without pay...passengers managed to carry unauthorised objects through security without being detected...four incidents in recent months where search unit members have been 'caught out' during random inspections. Dept of Transport officials carry out regular and often unannounced site visits...to assess security proceedures and practices."

How low can you go? ! They punish workers at Shannon and let the major war criminals laugh their way through customs.Correction. The CIA don't even have to check into customs!

Like stated in 17th century poem ( nicked from a Ramor Ryan indymedia article)

“They hang the man, and flog the woman,
That steals the goose from off the common;
But let the greater villain loose,
That steals the common from the goose.”

Solidarity to the workers, especially the one who is appealing the decision. Instead of harassing the Shannon staff, be a bit braver lads!

Here are two immediate reasons these Department of Transport Officials and Shannon Gardai could cut the crap and start randomly boarding, searching and impounding planes at any time...

International aviation, governed by the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Chicago Convention) to which Ireland, the United States and most countries in the world are parties. Article 16 confers powers on the contracting states to search civil aircraft, and Articles 29 and 34 to inspect the certificates and other documents including the journey logbook and cargo manifest. In domestic legislation, Section 33 of the Air Navigation and Transport Act, 1988 provides that an “authorised officer”, or other person designated by the Minister, may in the interest of inter alia the security or safety of persons, under Sections 33 and 49, may board an aircraft and inspect it and all documents relating to cargo and passengers for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this Act or bye-laws made under this Act

by Black Guard Detachment Tue May 27, 2008 23:11

Good to see your article Ed, and well done for continuing to highlight the situation at Shannon. Just briefly, I agree with the comment that it is taken as a given fact now that the US is sponsoring major torture atrocities across the world - Shame on the USA. The fact that we (in particular Fianna Fail and the Green Party) are allowing some of this dirty work to take place via the aegis of Shannon Airport is extremely disturbing. As I said, well done for keeping this in the news.

by paul o toole Wed May 28, 2008 09:46

Remember Dermot Aherne,minister for foreign affairs at the time of Sadam Hussein's sentencing called for his life to be 'spared'.
He 'joined other nations' to 'call on Iraq not to hang Sadam', (You could be fooled into thinking that he had a concience). ....On one hand it is the ultimate hypocracy to call to spare the life of the criminal Fianna Fail supported throughout the Sanctions, and not a single word-not one single word-none-...to call on anyone to prevent the killing of 1.2 million innocent people.
....On the other hand it is not hypocritical at all when you consider that Minister Aherne is also a criminal. It is no wonder he would call for Sadams life to be spared. For it was he and his fellow criminals in Fianna Fail who are assisting the US and UK to continnue to kill more of the same innocent people.

As Biffo has taken over from his pre decessor Bertie, im sure that he is working under the same pathetic 'assurances' from the man who has told the whole world the greatest lies ever in order to destroy nations of his choosing....'I asked him 'to be sure, to be sure? and he said 'sure'.

Whats that saying, that bad things happen not when bad people do bad things- but when good people do nothing...

by Sean Wed May 28, 2008 10:12

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” - Edmund Burke, (1729-1797), the Dublin born right-winger who had no problem with the evil of capitalism triumphing over ordinary people.

by Jimbob Wed May 28, 2008 10:16

And still too many of nod and accept assurances from professional liars that we are doing nothing wrong, or maybe even helping.

Ask an Iraqi how many troops they want in their country and what they think of Ireland helping them to get there.
The vast majority of Iraqis want the US occupation to end immediately - no further discussion is needed really. Armed people who are not welcome in your country, should leave, and people who help reinforcements and weapons to arrive to continue the bloody and lethal occupation are collaborators in a war crime

You can dance around that all you like, but one day, when they get their country back, the Iraqis will be asking questions of Ireland for helping to kill, maim, steal and invade their home.

by Nodin Wed May 28, 2008 12:04

I don't think theres any need to get into a debate over how much worse or similiar to Hitler anyone is to get to how pathetic the current Government stance is.....

The fact is that the US is known to be involved in whats termed "rendition". Rather than search planes under the suspicion that they are involved in this process, the Government accepts the word of the US. Yet if it were suggested that the same logic be applied to the possible smuggling of herbal cannabis and passengers coming through ports and airports, it would be automatically be derided as a ludicrous means of regulation. Likewise Weaponry.

by Mike Novack Wed May 28, 2008 12:34

I almost never tell other folks what they should or should not do. I discuss CONSEQUENCES (likely consequences) because it seems too often we end up bitching about being surprised by a response.

I couldn't care less if you folks accept "if a blue Saab sedan was used in a driveby Sunday the police could stop/search all blue Saqab sedans for the next five weeks" or "If vehicle registration XYZ23 had EVER been used to transport drugs that is a valid reason in and of itself to stop search that particular vehicle for the rest of its days on the road". That is up to you folks.

I was referring to "likely consequences" because of how people here think (for better or worse*) and perhaps to explain why your government is being so compliant. I am saying that harrassment at Shannon (however well justified in your eyes) would result in harrasment of Irish planes at US airports and that closing Shannon would result in the loss of gates here. Do you understand now? You do what you think is right, just don't bitch about consequences.

* Either of the above examples would be considered "unacceptable police state intrusion" and neither would even stand up in courts as valid "probable cause" should anything incriminating (but unrelated) be found. You describe "random roadblock to check for drunk drivers" --- remember the police CAN'T get away with that here (special legislation enables them to random test truck drivers at "weigh stations" -- but the "weigh station" stop can include a full truck safety inspection too and the only random part is really whether the "weigh station" is open that day).

by Jimbob Wed May 28, 2008 14:40

I was referring to "likely consequences" because of how people here think (for better or worse*) and perhaps to explain why your government is being so compliant. I am saying that harrassment at Shannon (however well justified in your eyes) would result in harrasment of Irish planes at US airports and that closing Shannon would result in the loss of gates here. Do you understand now? You do what you think is right, just don't bitch about consequences.

And how likely that is , is up to your own judgement or imagination.
Personally, I don't think those scenarios are very likely, given the absence of serious consequences for Germany or Italy that have issued arrest warrants for CIA pilots and crew involved in rendition flights.

I don't see any problems for any Italian or German flights into the US as a result. Do you?

Likewise, French opposition to the Iraq war, saw some smokescreen anti-french hatred from reactionary politicians and FOX news, but Air France had no problems, and US investment in France went up.

By the way, enforcing the Criminal Justice (UN Convention Against Torture) Act is hardly "harrassment" . If these spooks have nothing to hide, they have nothing to fear, right?

---------
"War is just the improvement of investment opportunities by other means" - War, Inc.

by Shannon WATCH Wed May 28, 2008 15:10

N126HY and N845CW were both spotted at Shannon this afternoon.

N126HY is a Raytheon Hawker 850XP (serial: 258782 transponder: 50065302)
previous registrations include N706CW and N782XP

It is registered to a shell company called
WELLS FARGO BANK NORTHWEST NA TRUSTEE
299 South Main St. 12th Floor
MAC U1228-120
Salt Lake City
Utah 84111
United States.

(this same shell company has been cited in relation to CIA flights in several other countries)

N845CW is a BAe 125-800A twin engine jet. (serial 258045 transponder 52711263)
It is registered to a shell company called
IOTC AVIATION LLC
3020 North Military Trail Suite 100
Boca Raton
Palm Beach
Florida 33431-1805
United States

(co-incidentally, that is also the address of Trigeant Air which owns N107WR but which is currently listed on the FAA database as being owned by Bank of UTAH Trustees, in Salt Lake City, UTAH (just down the road from those friendly Wells Fargo chaps.)

a photo of the aircraft is available here:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/British-Aerospace-BAe-12...26/M/

according to FAA records, it is soon to be re-registered as N802SA

both the Airport Police and Shannon Garda station were made aware of the presence of these aircraft, their registered owners, etc and requested to ensure that nothing illegal was going on.

The Gardai said they would send a car to see if the aircraft were still on the ground, but said they could not board them.

by Sceptic Wed May 28, 2008 16:31

“Edmund Burke, (1729-1797), the Dublin born right-winger who had no problem with the evil of capitalism triumphing over ordinary people.” – Sean

It would be pretty meaningless to describe Edmund Bourke as a right winger in late 18th century British politics. His championing of the cause of American independence would normally be regarded as the opposite of “right wing” in modern parlance insofar as parallels can be drawn.

It is also unjust to describe him in terms of “having no problem” with capitalism triumphing under ordinary people. What is the basis for this extraordinary statement? The factory system was not adopted until the 19th century in England so that there were no capitalists and workers in any modern sense in Burke’s time.

You seem to be coming from a historically misplaced ideological point of view.

by Mike Novack Wed May 28, 2008 20:13

"Personally, I don't think those scenarios are very likely, given the absence of serious consequences for Germany or Italy that have issued arrest warrants for CIA pilots and crew involved in rendition flights."

They have issued arrest warrants for persons for whom possibly they have some semblance of description or name. Consider what they are NOT doing. They are NOT for example searching all US planes passing through Germany or Italy on the basis "perchance one of these people will be on board" (they have presumably been known to have been on planes passing through there before).

If either Germany or Italy did that I assure you that there woule indeed be "consequences".

That would indeed be an idea for you though. Campaign to get your govenrment to do likewise (to issue arrest warrants for those persons for whom you have evidence they were involved in what you consider illegal). Would be a good way to make sure those persons never entered Ireland (as I assure you, any CIA operative NAMED or with sufficient "John Doe" descriptions aren't going to be allowed to go into either Germany or Italy).

by Jimbob Fri May 30, 2008 12:12

and how exactly can we give effect to any arrest warrants if we don't even verify the identities of the people passing through?

Here's what a former Inspector General of the CIA said last year when asked about the 'extraordinary rendition program'.

FREDERICK HITZ: This is—that’s an excellent question, and I feel very strongly about it. I believe that the CIA I know, the officers I know, do not favor extraordinary rendition. They know it’s a mugs game. They know that there’s no bottom to it, and they also know that, quite frankly, in the ways these things play out—and it’s beginning to go this way—they, the officers involved, the people in the field, those people who are being called to act in this manner, they’re the ones that are going to pay the price. There’s nobody in the chain of command that really will be held accountable for this, based on past practice from Iran-Contra and other kinds of episodes. So, in my view, I am against it. I’m against extraordinary rendition on a number of grounds, principally because of the immorality of it, the illegality of it, the fact that it doesn’t work—didn’t produce anything in this case—but very importantly, very importantly, from my past, because I fear that the CIA and the officers involved in this are going to be really put through a long period of explanation and perhaps even some legal jeopardy as a consequence.
{radio interview with Amy Goodman on Democracy Now! Feb 2nd 2007 }

The germans and the italians have been willing to strain political relations over this. the Irish government has no spine whatsoever.

by Edward Horgan Sat May 31, 2008 11:04

See picture attached.
The two suspect jets are located between the two Ryanair jets. the one on the left is N126HY, and the one on the right is N845CW.

Airport Security and the Gardai at Shannon Garda station were asked to investigate and search both planes in case they were connected in any way with the US rendition torture programme.

Shannon Gardai informed the caller that they would only enter and search the planes if they positive evidence of wrongdoing.
In other words, the Gardai at Shannon have confirmed on this and on many other occasions that they will only investigate crimes of torture if they see torture victims being actually tortured. This represents gross dereliction of duty by the Gardai and the Irish authorities who are obliged under the UN Convention against Torture to prevent not only acts of torture but also any complicity in acts of torture, and take all necessary steps to apprehend those involved in such acts.

suspect_executive_at_shannon_28_may_08.jpg 0.21 Mb

by Fred Johnston Tue Jun 03, 2008 02:15 sylfredcar at iolfree dot ie

Glad to see that one contributor has highlighted the courage of the Italian judiciary in pursuing illegal US/CIA kidnapping in Italy all the way interviewing their own Prime Minister, while our cowardly and supine Irish government, their collective heads still stuck in the local parish hurling-results, can't prevent our country from becoming complicit in US war crimes. It cannot be emphasised enough that the US cannot do a thing to us if we halted the transition of US military through Shannon in the morning. The US administration is disgraced in the eyes of the world. If our security forces boarded a suspect jet in the morning, the US would not dare announce that the aircraft, under civilian colours, was there on US military business. THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, as we have a right, as a sovereign country, to inspect any vehicles, aircarft or vessels entering our country. Since when was this simple right given away? Shame on Fianna Fáil. They have betrayed everything we once stood for, or endeavoured to stand for.