On Friday 17 February 2012, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) organised an event called the “Twelfth NGO Forum on Human Rights” at Dublin Castle the main theme of which was the “Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid”, and of the objectives of which was to help promote the election of Ireland to the UN Committee on Torture. It was well attended by NGO representatives and by representatives for most of the embassies including a number of ambassadors.

Needless to say, controversial issues such as CIA torture rendition planes being refuelled at Shannon airport and the transit of over two million US armed troops through Shannon on their way to unjustified wars were not on the agenda and not welcomed as topics.

Listing to instructions - Eamon Gilmore pays close attention to what US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton says

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has once again demonstrated his willingness to support US and Israeli policy regardless of the consequences. In answers to parliamentary questions last week he justified sanctions against Iran because of concerns about the "military dimensions" of its nuclear programme. At the same time he said he did not support sanctions against Israel. Both countries have appalling human rights records but only one (Israel) is believed to have operational nuclear weapons. Israel is also guilty of war crimes and has repeatedly violated international law.

Shannonwatch supports a statement from PANA which was released on 2 February 2011 calling for peace talks with Iran rather than sanctions and war.

In the PANA statement, Roger Cole notes how the entire corporate media seem intent on supporting a war on Iran, just as they did in the case of Iraq. Like the "weapons of mass destruction" lie that were used in part to justify sanctions against Iraq, the "Iran will have nuclear weapons" threat is now being used to justify sanctions on Iran. And like the sanctions on Iraq, these are very likely to lead to widespread suffering and war.

The PANA statement goes on to recommend that the article by Ray McGovern which is reproduced below should be read by all the media that now support the crazy decision by Eamonn Gilmore to support an oil embargo on Iran. Not only is there no justification for the embargo but it will inevitably lead to increased petrol costs that the Irish domestic economy needs like a hole in the head.

Airports all over the world continue to facilitate travel to and from Israel despite the country's ongoing systematic abuse of the Palestinian people and its refusal to uphold international humanitarian and human rights law. Unfortunately Shannon is no exception, as this photograph of an Arkia plane being towed to its stand on Friday 27th January shows.

Arkia is an Israeli airline that performs international charter flights as well as operating domestic flights. The plane spotted at Shannon was a B757, registration 4X-BAU. As it arrived at its stand, an airport police vehicle took up a position close to the aircraft - perhaps under instruction to protect the aircraft or the passengers on board.

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar confirmed that his government wants to continue the use of Shannon Airport in US wars, and is even implementing new measures to facilitate failed and destructive American foreign policy. Speaking at a Chamber of Commerce business breakfast in Limerick on "Securing the Future of Shannon Airport", he responded to a question from Shannonwatch and PANA by confirming that quarter of a million troops a year come through the airport. He said America are our friends and that he wants to see the relationship continue. He even announced the opening of a new military pre-clearance facility at the airport.

Irish soldiers serving with NATO/ISAF forces in Afghanistan are increasingly in danger of being killed by Afghan soldiers, who are supposedly their allies. France is suspending its military operations in Afghanistan and may even withdraw from the NATO-led force after an Afghan soldier shot dead four French soldiers on 20 January 2012. Last December two French foreign legionnaires and one American were killed in similar shootings by Afghan soldiers. In 2009 an Afghan police officer shot and killed five British soldiers in Helmand.

It has subsequently emerged that the Afghan soldier responsible for the January 20 shooting was angry about a video that seemed to show US marines desecrating the bodies of Taliban insurgents.