Thursday, January 22, 2009

How Do You Say Cead Mile Failte In Arabic?


Well, seeing as how the new American President is going to close Guantanamo in a year, and seeing as how the prisoners need someplace to go.....

There's plenty of rooms available, particularly in the west of Ireland, and Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern would like to extend a thousand welcomes to the inmates of Guantanamo.

They're used to warmer weather, and Ireland's chill might come as a bit of a shock, but then again, the Islamic lads were picked up off battlefields in Afghanistan and it's plenty cold there in the winter.

The welcome mat is at the door as long as the entire European Union acts in concert to help the U.S. find new homes for those unwanted in their native lands. No one wants to return and be tortured, after all, when they could enjoy the warmth and hospitality of the Irish countryside.

Oh, and Micheal Martin wishes to point out that the EU is talking about taking in the non-combatants, not the terrorists. Sweet Jaysus, don't be sending the likes of that Ron Jeremy look-alike to Dublin or Shannon, no, that's not what this is all about.

Europe would like the inmates with no history of terrorist activities, if you please. Amnesty International estimates that fifty men have been cleared of charges, but since they'd face torture if they went home (what were they doing in Afghanistan, their own security forces would like to know) they're stuck in no-man's-land.

Sure the Irish would love to give shelter to fifty Arabic speakers, provide them with a place to live, food to eat and a few euros to buy souvenirs. Considering the state of the economy, Mr. Ahern couldn't have made a more wise suggestion. In Enda Kenny's mind, that is.

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