New leaflet by our friends in Ireland, Shannonwatch and the Peace and Neutrality Alliance

It is estimated that over 3 million US troops have gone through Shannon Airport since 2002 …. The US military account for well over 90% of all flights requesting permits to carry munitions through Irish airspace and airports.

The erosion of Irish neutrality is inextricably linked to the daily use of Shannon Airport by the US military for almost two decades. It is effectively a forward operating base used to support their operations in the Middle East, with approximately three million US troops and their weapons, regular US Air Force/Navy cargo planes, and an unknown number of CIA extraordinary rendition flights passing through since 2002.

Two Articles of the Irish Constitution have been repeatedly and consistently undermined through this misuse of a civilian airport. Article 28.3.1 says war shall not be declared and the State shall not participate in any war save with the assent of Dáil Éireann (Irish parliament). Article 29 affirms the State’s devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality, and its adherence to the principles of the peaceful settlement of international disputes by international arbitration or judicial determination. Despite this, Shannon has provided direct support for ground offensives and bombing campaigns, and has been complicit in the deaths and displacement of millions of people.

“Part of the US military conveyor-belt of death”
Scott Ritter, former UN weapons inspector in Iraq speaking about Shannon Airport (July 2003)

“The use of Shannon Airport by the US military is directly linked with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, a region that has been destabilised and devastated beyond recognition by US military activity.”
Mick Wallace TD, Dáil Éireann (October 2014)

“If Shannon was being used by any other group to cause the type of damage that the 2.25 million US troops that have passed through Shannon have caused, then the US would rightly identify it as a target.”
Dr Tom Clonan, Security Analyst, Ennis Court (February 2015)