Dramatic increases in the number of United States military personnel using Shannon Airport as a gateway to fighting their illegal war in Iraq are being highlighted by Ireland's Peace and Neutrality Alliance. PANA is campaigning to ensure that the Ahern governments policy of allowing Shannon's utilisation to support the Iraq war becomes an election issue.

The April figures (14356) for troop transits via Shannon was almost double that in January (8847) and the dramatic increase is expected to continue with a new programme of flights issued by the Pentagon last month which could see as many as 25,000 more troops passing through the airport every month.

PANA has assiduously promoted opposition to any dilution of Ireland's policy of neutrality over recent years and the Celtic League Irish branch has also co-operated wholeheartedly with PANA to that end.

Whilst there is some opposition to PANA (primarily on economic grounds) in the Shannon area the organisation does accurately reflect the mood of the country as a whole. A recent poll carried out by Lansdowne Market Research on behalf of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance shows that 58 per cent of those polled said they were opposed to the use of Shannon by the US military, while only 19 per cent said they were in favour.

PANA are 'ratcheting up' their campaign with an excellent resource of materials for those who wish to lend support which can be down-loaded from the website at:

(voir le site)

It is not just in Ireland that you can help. There are considerable numbers of Irish expatriates eligible to vote in the forthcoming election overseas and any publicity for PANA's campaign that can be generated is welcome

PANA chairman, Roger Cole, has said: "It seems self-evident that the use of Shannon airport in the war, especially now that the number of US troops using it are increasing, is and should be an election issue."

Please visit their web-pages, use their resource material and publicise their campaign.

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

19/05/07

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