Pressure on Govt to cancel Bush visit
Further pressure was heaped on the Government today to cancel George Bush’s upcoming visit to Ireland in the wake of the latest killings in Iraq.
The US President is due to arrive at Shannon on June 25 and stay overnight at Dromoland Castle, Co Clare, during an EU/US summit.
All political parties made statements in the Irish parliament today on the current situation in Iraq.
There were no opportunities for questions despite calls from various opposition TDs to suspend the order of business to allow for a debate on the issue.
Tom Kitt, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, expressed “deep concern” about the latest spate of killings in northern Iraq and said the violence was now reaching a horrific level.
He said there was a clear threat to the welfare of the Iraqi people and to the successful transfer of sovereignty.
“This current campaign of terrorist violence in Iraq is impeding the path to political progress and economic reconstruction,” he said.
“I would urge the US to ensure that every conceivable effort is made to avoid civilian casualties.”
He also condemned reports of abuse in detention centres in Iraq and said UN involvement in the process was vital.
Green Party TD John Gormley described the entire war as an “unmitigated disaster” and claimed it was sowing the seeds for further terrorism.
He said statistics for the number of US troops going through Shannon en route to Iraq proved we were in the middle of a worsening situation and the war showed no signs of abating.
The war was based on lies, he said, and the Irish people have not been given any explanation as to why their government supported the US war effort.
“One can only come to the conclusion that it was kow-towing to the US,” he claimed. “I say the Government’s position is morally bankrupt.”
Mr Gormley wondered whether President Bush would bring a leash on his visit to Ireland and put it around the neck of the Taoiseach “because that would be a true symbol of the subservient nature of our relationship with the United States.”
Labour TD Michael D Higgins said protesting when Mr Bush visited the country was the only chance Irish people had to voice their outrage.
He described the most recent violence as “appalling” and said by staying silent Ireland was “degraded and shamed.”
He said: “When we are quacking on about about the outrage over the pictures we are still not in a position to say that some of the people involved did not go through Shannon with the Government’s agreement,” he said.
Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins called for the visit to be cancelled and asked Tánaiste Mary Harney if she would feel comfortable shaking hands with Mr Bush in the light of yesterday’s attacks. She did not reply.
Meanwhile the Irish Anti-War Movement has also stepped up its calls for the Bush visit to be cancelled.
Chairman Richard Boyd Barrett described the latest attack on the village of Makr al-Deeb that killed at least 41 civilians as a “terrible act of aggression.”
He said a clear message should be sent to the US President that Irish people opposed the US-led occupation of Iraq.
“We do not want the blood of innocent Iraqis on our hands,” he said.
“The clearest way of sending this message is to cancel the visit of George Bush in June and not give him the opportunity to use it as photo-call for the US elections.”
The IAWM is organising a demonstration in Dublin on June 25 and a second at Dromoland Castle on the 26th.
