Calls to end the bombing of Afghanistan and protests at the use of Irish airports by US military were made yesterday by the Irish Anti-War Movement.
At a press conference in Dublin, members of the IAWM unreservedly condemned the terrorist attacks on the US on September 11th but said that an attempt to use them to launch a war on the people of Afghanistan could only bring greater loss of innocent human life. They called on the Government to use its position of chair of the UN Security Council to promote peace.
Mr John Gormley TD of the Green Party criticised the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen. "Mr Cowen is going beyond both the UN and the EU in his praise for military solutions. In his tacit support for bombing countries other than Afghanistan, he is in fact supporting a widening of the war. We are now all staring World War Three in the face," Mr Gormley said.
AfrI co-ordinator Mr Joe Murray said so far the words and actions of the Government had been disappointing in the extreme. "The Irish Government should be a promoter of mediation and peace rather than a bit-player in an ill-defined war, the method, means or end of which is as yet unknown," he said.
Mr Joe Higgins TD of the Socialist Party said there should be discussions in the Dβil about the offer to the US military of Irish airports.
Mr Seamus Healy TD (Independent) said the perpetrators of the crime on September 11th should be brought to justice before an international court.
The IAWM is organising protests at the US embassy on Saturday at 3 p.m. and at the Dβil on Tuesday, October 16th at 6.30 p.m.