US: An Irish-American anti-war group is calling all Americans visiting Ireland for St Patrick's Day to protest at the US embassy in Dublin against war in Iraq. The group, US Citizens in Ireland for Alternatives to War, said yesterday it has organised the Ballsbridge embassy vigil to "denounce" President Bush and his "reckless and unjust drive to war".
"The latest Washington Post opinion poll found that almost 40 per cent of US citizens are totally opposed to this war, with or without the UN resolution," Ms Mary Van Lieshout, co-founder of the group, said.
"Our president is acting in a reckless manner in pushing this war against a country that has been deemed to be in co-operation with UN armament procedures. We seek a peaceful solution to terrorism. Opposition to the war grows in strength as the war grows nearer," she added.
The speakers at the vigil include journalist Harry Browne, who said it was a "grotesque irony" that Irish politicians were engaged in Northern Ireland peace talks with the US Government while it was preparing for war.
"The extraordinary opposition to this war across the United States is evidence that ordinary American people are not interested in being citizens of a rapacious empire," he said. "They want to live in a world that values dialogue, diplomacy, human rights and justice."
Even if the ramifications of the war turned out to be "largely positive", Mr Browne said, "it doesn't make it right that America can act in this unfettered way".
Co-founder of the group, Ms Carol Fox, criticised the "shamrock diplomacy" of the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern. "We are facing a double disappointment. Disappointment in our own president of the United States and disappointment in the country we have come to live in."
The group is asking all Americans, including parade participants and tourists, to join the protest at 5 p.m. Speakers will include writer Tony Glavin.
