The Irish Human Rights Commission says that the U.S. conducted extraordinary renditions through Shannon Airport. The U.S. says no and Dermot Ahern says no because he believes the U.S.
The issue must be settled, as far as Fine Gael's own Billy Timmins is concerned. After all, the IHRC has no evidence whatsoever beyond a firm belief, and that's a call for investigation. Besides, Fine Gael is in opposition and they have to do something that's contrary. Why not have everyone appear before the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee and explain themselves.
As an opposition party, Fine Gael is forced to take the position that the U.S. is lying because Fianna Fail and the Green Party believe the Americans when they say they've never used Irish air space for renditions. What's the point of being on the other side if you don't take the other side as well? Being a clever man, Mr. Timmins is leaving the door open for the IHRC to boldly declare that planes used for rendition have, at some time, touched down at Shannon but weren't rendering anyone at the time. That way everyone can be right.
Not that anyone might have noticed, but there are some seriously pressing issues to be dealt with that are far more important than giving air time to a group that's been foaming at the mouth for months and getting no one to pay them any mind. One hundred girls under the age of seventeen having babies is a bit of a problem, and there's a veritable avalanche of cocaine on the streets. It's a free-for-all in some Dublin neighborhoods where gang members shoot it out and kill innocent bystanders.
Only so many hours in the day, and only so many ways to spend them. Worrying about whether or not the Constitution is being upheld based on gossip? Wasting time is far easier than actually working.
2 comments:
You really should read what the IHRC has said in it's reports before you write such twaddle.
Here is what they have been saying over and over:
1. Planes used in extrodinary rendition have passed through Shannon Airport. This is an uncontraverted fact. The EU and Council of Europe Reports have all found so. It is backed up by data from the European air traffic control centre.
2. The Commission nor the Government do not know who or what was on board because the Governmet will not inspect said planes. They may well have not contained anyone. The Commission are saying they should be random inspections of civilian registered planes, particularly those used by the CIA, to ensure nothing untoward is going on.
3. The Government are relying on diplomatic assurances from the US in order not to inspect said planes.
4. The Commission are saying that such assurances are not sufficient in order for the State to meet its International Human Rights obligations.
Thats it in a nutshell. I do think that avoiding having persons transited through the state to Guantanamo etc is a rather important subject to be involved with.
The IHRC is saying that planes once rented to the CIA have touched down at Shannon. Not that they held any terrorists, mind you. The CIA used the plane had at some time and later it was spotted at Shannon. I have read what the IHRC has said and they're barking mad.
That is twaddle at its purest essence. And don't expect the government to do anything about it. There's too much at stake -- bigger fish to fry.
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