The Irish government and right-wing press have both been hard at work trying to portray the movement against Bush in Ireland as extremist and “anti-American.�
This of course is nonsense. The Irish are by far the most pro-American population in Europe. After all, the US gave refuge to millions of Irish immigrants who fled our country escaping famine, poverty, high unemployment, and oppression by the British colonial powers.
This is not to say that Irish attitudes toward the US haven’t shifted somewhat since George W. Bush came to power. Everyone involved with the anti-war movement in Ireland makes a clear distinction between George Bush and the ordinary working people of America. And even the staunchest defenders of US foreign policy here are starting to question the absolute authority the Republican Party seems to have over the world.
Ireland was under British rule for 800 years. About a quarter of the population still lives under England’s governance. The Irish people understand how it feels to be deprived of the right to self-determination. So while most Irish people are not as politically aware as our other European neighbors, national liberation struggles have always been close to our hearts. Much like the South African anti-apartheid movement in the 1980’s, the ongoing struggles of people in Palestine, Afghanistan, and Iraq are issues that many Irish people feel empathy for today.
We also have first hand experience with a “War on Terrorismâ€? policy which Britain has pursued in Northern Ireland. In the late 1960’s the Irish nationalist paramilitary group the IRA (Irish Republican Army) and their political wing SĂnn Fein split into rival factions: the left wing “Officialsâ€? and the right-wing “Provisionals.â€? The “Officialsâ€? who supported a peaceful transition to Independence, had widespread support from the nationalist community in the North, while the “Provisionalsâ€? had little support for their armed struggle tactic.
However, Britain’s “War on Terrorism,� which effectively meant the implementation of Military occupation, collusion with Loyalist (Pro-British) Terrorists, and furthering the oppression of the Catholic minority, guaranteed the popularity of the “Provisional� IRA among many Northern Nationalists.
The Irish public was wholly sympathetic to the people of America after the 9/11 attacks. We too have suffered terrorist atrocities in the past. But this does not blind us to that fact that imperialism’s “War on Terrorism� has only served to further aggravate the problem of terrorism.
The Irish movement against the wars on and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan have without a doubt captured the hearts of ordinary people in a way that has never been seen before.
100,000 people in Dublin (capital of the southern “Republic of Ireland�) and 15,000 people in Belfast (capital of British ruled “Northern Ireland�) took to the streets in protest on the 15th of February. That is the largest crowd to attend a public event in Ireland in the recorded history of the nation.
Unfortunately the current government does not share the public’s disgust for Bush’s so-called “War on Terrorism.� They have continued to allow US war planes to land and refuel in Ireland’s Shannon and Baldonal Airports.
The Republic of Ireland has a long tradition of neutrality and is one of the only nations in the European Union which is not a member of NATO, a fact that most Irish people are extremely proud of. Needless to say, the use of Irish airports by the US military has incensed the Irish public and led to numerous protests at both airports.
“Irish Anti-War Movement� led by the Non-Governmental Organization Peace Alliance; political parties including the Communist Party, Socialist Workers Party, Green Party, and Labour Party; and the Connolly Youth Movement have recently formed a new coalition of peace groups called the “Stop Bush Campaign.� This is an amazing feat, considering the left is usually so fragmented.
Bush will land in Ireland at 2:00am on Monday, June 24th. The “Stop Bush Campaign,� which will start protesting in Dublin on Sunday Afternoon, will arrive at Shannon Airport to give Mr. Bush the Irish welcome he deserves. Thousands are expected to attend.
The Irish experience of terrorism has taught us a hugely important lesson. Imperialism does not offer a way out of terrorism, on the contrary, it has always been the cause of it. Only when people can sit down together and talk will peace be achieved—in Northern Ireland, Palestine, Iraq or the USA.
Connolly Youth Movement of Ireland
Ă“gra UĂ Chonghaile
www.communistpartyofireland.ie/cym
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