A rebel British MP claimed today the Taoiseach must think Iraqis are "stupid" if he tries to maintain Ireland is a neutral state.
Mr George Galloway, ejected from the Labour Party for his opposition to the Iraq war, today called on the Government to stop the use of Shannon airport by US troops en route to Iraq.
"It is nonsense that Mr Ahern keeps prattling on about Irish neutrality," he told an anti-war meeting in Trinity College, Dublin. How can he possibly say that when it is a staging post for 1,000 soldiers a day?"
He claimed the immediate withdrawal of both British and American troops from Iraq was the only way to stop the continuing spiral into violence.
"MPs are the ones who will lose seats due to the huge unpopularity of this war," he said. "People have got to speak up, the public does not want this."
Mr Galloway called on Irish anti-war supporters to join a protest against the use of Shannon airport by US troops on November 13th.
latest figures suggest up to 350,000 US troops will pass through Shannon by the end of this year, up from the 125,000 who used the airport last year.
"Bertie Ahern must think the Iraqi people are stupid if he thinks he can call Ireland neutral," Mr Galloway added. "It is important people take to the streets and voice their concerns."