We serve neither King nor Kaiser

1916: We serve neither King nor Kaiser

2006: We serve neither Bush nor Blair

US Military out of Shannon

On Easter 1916 those who took part in the 1916 rising unfurled a banner saying, We serve neither King nor Kaiser. This was a statement that their revolt was part of the resistance to the 1st World War, a war between the imperial powers of the day, as well as a blow for Ireland's independence and for an end of the oppression and occupation of Ireland by the British Empire.

The 1916 rising was the first in a series of revolts that swept across Europe against war and the empires. Kings were deposed and the carnage of the war was brought to an end by mutinies in the armies and rebellions against governments.

Today we have another empire oppressing the world – the US Empire. The death and destruction they have unleashed in Iraq in the last three years means Iraqis are now worse off than under Saddam. US foreign policy has backed murderous regimes and tyrants in the interest of US power and business. We need look no further than Saudi Arabia, Iraq's neighbour, for proof of this.

It is sickening to see the Irish government claim they honour the goals of those who resisted oppression and imperialism in 1916 while backing the current global empire, and its occupation of Iraq, through the use of Shannon airport by the US Military. In truth the people resisting the occupation and oppression of a foreign power in Iraq have more in common with the participants in the 1916 rising than our government.

The Irish government also want to use the celebration of the 1916 rising to further soften people up for militarism. The form of the celebration a military parade on Easter Sunday, is part of an agenda to recast the Irish Army as part of the EU military machine. Willy O'Dea recently announced Irish involvement in EU Battle Groups. These battle groups can be deployed as part of an EU army to grab the resources of countries like Iraq just as the US military is currently doing.

This militarism will involve increased military spending to bring our military into line with NATO standards. This is happening at a time when we face the greatest hospital waiting list crisis in the history of the state. The Irish Anti War Movement says welfare should replace warfare as the priority for government. On the anniversary of the rising we ask is this the Ireland that the Easter rising was fighting for?

At 2pm on Easter Saturday 15^th April the Irish Anti War Movement will be honouring the anti-imperialist tradition of the rising by unfurling a banner at the GPO saying:

1916: We serve neither King nor Kaiser, 2006: We serve neither Bush nor Blair. US Military out of Shannon

We invite everyone interested in peace and who want to see and end to empires to join us.

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Start Date: 2006-04-14 20:00:00-04

End Date: 2006-04-15 07:59:59-04

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Created By: Web Master

Comments

Happy Easter all.

Created By: Dr Raeder Anderson