February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrats cabinet may meet today to discuss the likely U.S. invasion and the consequences for both Irish foreign policy and the Shannon military stopover.
Ireland has continually urged a leading United Nations dimension for any military action again Saddam Hussein, but that prospect dimmed on St. Patrick’s Day with the UN Security Council failing to back the U.S. and British position.
While visiting Washington, D.C., last week, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern all but confirmed that Shannon would remain open to U.S. flights ferrying troops and supplies to the Middle East regardless of the ultimate nature of the attack against Hussein.
After meeting with President Bush in the White House last Thursday, Ahern said that facilities at Shannon had been available to the U.S. in previous conflicts, including Vietnam, and others not specifically sanctioned by the UN.
Ahern also made the point that if Ireland withdrew landing facilities it would be the “only country in the free world” to take such a step.
The taoiseach faces strong opposition to the Shannon military stopover in the D