IRAQ: The former Head of the United Nations Humanitarian Programme for Iraq yesterday accused the Government of ruining Ireland's international reputation through allowing US military aircraft use Shannon airport.
Today, Mr Denis Halliday is to join peace activists on a five-mile march from Bunratty to Shannon airport to protest at the continuing use of Shannon by the US military - the march organised by Action From Ireland or AfrI, a non-governmental organisation, is to include the Catholic Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh.
Mr Halliday said yesterday: "I am appalled and disgusted that our Taoiseach is joining the US in this colonial endeavour by allowing the US military use Shannon. Our Taoiseach is joining the US in breaching international law.
"Article Two of the UN charter states that threats of war are not allowed and the US is currently threatening war on Iraq. By allowing the US military use Shannon the Irish Government is joining in on this action," he maintained.
Mr Halliday added that "our Taoiseach's mad gesture to allow the US use Shannon to keep the US happy and help sustain the Irish economy is not worth the price of becoming involved in a war".Mr Halliday, who has just returned from Iraq, said: "The Iraqi people are rallying around Saddam Hussein in the same way the American people rallied around President Bush after September 11th."
The airport is located in Bishop Walsh's diocese and he said: "It is very difficult to make a definitive moral judgement at the moment. There are strong arguments from both sides.
"However, if the US starts war with Iraq without a mandate from the United Nations, that would warrant the Shannon issue being revisited and my inclination would then be to oppose the use of Shannon by the US for direct military purposes."
On the possible war, Bishop Walsh said: "We cannot justify the terrible violence which will inflict so much suffering on millions of innocent people on the basis of a possible threat to us."
