BMG Post ™ 11/14/05 PM - CIA Accused Of Using Spanish Airport For Covert Tranfers Of Terror Suspects

Comment: Irish govt. recently denied Shannon has been used for any U.S. rendition manuevers...

Shannon Troop Numbers Up
By Mairead Carey
Irish Voice
12 Oct 2005

snippet:

"...The number of U.S. soldiers passing through Shannon airport en route to Iraq will top one quarter of a million this year.

New figures released this week show that in the first nine months to October, 234,000 soldiers came through the Co. Clare airport..."

"...The figures, released on Tuesday by the Department of Transport, show a 48% increase on last year’s figures.

So far this year 1,757 planes carrying troops have gone through the airport..."

"...Ed Horgan of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) threatened to “increase our agitation against the U.S. military using Shannon, and this includes more frequent unannounced protests....


Final paragraphs:

“Questions have to be asked where this growing military use of Shannon is leading to,” said party leader Trevor Sargent. “The Irish government must demand a timetable from the U.S. to have its military cease using Shannon.”

Last week former Labor Party leader Ruairi Quinn told reporters that he was “alarmed” to learn that the Gardai at Shannon had carried out no inspections on U.S. aircraft involved in the war in Iraq.

He said this was extraordinary “considering the evidence that exists indicating that people have been illegally kidnapped and transported through Ireland to destinations unknown for torture.”

He said he had serious concerns about the U.S. “renditions” program which he said concerned the alleged smuggling of terrorist suspects on unmarked planes operated by U.S. intelligence operatives to third party countries for interrogation and then on to Guantanamo Bay