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The Shannon problem
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Friday’s Irish Times reports on a potential hurdle in coalition formation that while not fatal, will deal a blow to the credibility of several of the independent TDs if/when a dodge is found around it. The issue is that some of them signed a pledge not to participate in any government that allowed the Shannon stopover for US military flights to Iraq to continue.
Mr Finian McGrath is one of a number of newly elected deputies who signed a letter organised by the Peace and Neutrality Alliance and Irish Anti-War Movement demanding the withdrawal of permission for the US military to fly through Shannon.
In the letter, the signatories said: “We the undersigned give a firm commitment that if elected, we 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 in any other Imperialist war.” Independent Dublin Central TD Tony Gregory also signed the letter, along with Sinn Féin TDs Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Arthur Morgan and Martin Ferris.
No elected Green TDs signed it, and 3 Labour TDs signed in an individual capacity, whereas party policy is that the flights are now legitimate because the US operation in Iraq has a supporting UN resolution. Green party policy seeks to end the military transits (and the rendition flights) but not signing the pledge has left them a bit more flexibility. Bertie of course will not give in on the transit flights, and the “great George Bush” assured him that there’s no issue with the rendition flights either.
“The flights are now legitimate because the US operation in Iraq has a supporting UN resolution.”
What supporting UN resolution? If I remember correctly there was an old resolution related to the first gulf war, and then there was a resolution (1441?) that threatened “serious consequences” or somesuch, but the feeling at the time was that this did not provide sufficient grounds for invasion. The US and UK never brought a specific resolution for the invasion to the security council because it was clear that it would not be accepted.
The invasion was not lawful under international law (as, I believe, Kofi Annan stated). For Ireland as a neutral country to support a foreign military operation is also unlawful.
There is nothing legitimate about the US operation in Iraq or the use of Irish facilities to support it.
David, there’s a post-invasion UN resolution authorising the presence of the coalition troops. But it was all done after the fact, in the absence of any better alternative and of course (as you say) can never form a justification for the original invasion.