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14/03/2003
Union leader accuses US president of 'hypocrisy'
The leader of Northern Ireland’s trade union movement has accused US President George Bush of "hypocrisy" in encouraging Northern Ireland’s politicians to talk peace while preparing for war in the Middle East.
Peter Bunting, Assistant General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), was responding to yesterday's meeting between President Bush and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Washington.
At yesterday's ceremony, the President pledged further US assistance in finding agreement a resolution to Northern Ireland's current political impasse, and praised the Irish government for its support in the "war against terror".
"Today, our two countries share a deep commitment to building a world of peace and security and prosperity and freedom," said President Bush.
"We've stood together in Afghanistan, in Kosovo, in Bosnia and beyond, to stop aggression and to alleviate suffering. Ireland is a valued member of the coalition against global terror. And we thank you, sir."
However, Peter Bunting slammed Mr Bush for what he felt were double standards.
“To have President Bush talk peace while plotting a St Patrick’s Day war is the ultimate in hypocrisy," he said.
"We want peace, not just for the people of Northern Ireland, but also for the people of Iraq. Unfortunately President Bush has another fate for them in mind – death and destruction from air, land and sea.”
War in the Gulf is now looking increasingly likely after the US government said yesterday that the time for diplomacy was nearing an end. It was revealed today that the US is moving around a dozen warships – with cruise missile capability – through the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea. The US military presence in the region currently totals around 225,000 personnel with another 75,000 on the way. Around 1,500 troops from Northern Ireland have been deployed to the Gulf as part of the UK's commitment of 45,000 personnel.
Elsewhere, in the House of Commons yesterday, the UUP's MP for South Antrim David Burnside called for the UK and UN to unite beside the United States.
He said: "Unless the UN stands by the United States and the United Kingdom, and hopefully a strong and united world order, terrorists, rogue states and the Saddam Husseins of the world will think, 'Divide, rule and conquer.' As they read the papers and watch the television they see a weakening world order - we are not sending out a good message. Saddam Hussein poses a threat, as do international terrorists such as bin Laden and others. The world order should be united and stand together."
The Northern Ireland Committee of the ICTU coordinates the Stop the War Coalition and announced plans earlier this week for a series of anti-war rallies across the province in the event of war.
(GMcG)
Peter Bunting, Assistant General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), was responding to yesterday's meeting between President Bush and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Washington.
At yesterday's ceremony, the President pledged further US assistance in finding agreement a resolution to Northern Ireland's current political impasse, and praised the Irish government for its support in the "war against terror".
"Today, our two countries share a deep commitment to building a world of peace and security and prosperity and freedom," said President Bush.
"We've stood together in Afghanistan, in Kosovo, in Bosnia and beyond, to stop aggression and to alleviate suffering. Ireland is a valued member of the coalition against global terror. And we thank you, sir."
However, Peter Bunting slammed Mr Bush for what he felt were double standards.
“To have President Bush talk peace while plotting a St Patrick’s Day war is the ultimate in hypocrisy," he said.
"We want peace, not just for the people of Northern Ireland, but also for the people of Iraq. Unfortunately President Bush has another fate for them in mind – death and destruction from air, land and sea.”
War in the Gulf is now looking increasingly likely after the US government said yesterday that the time for diplomacy was nearing an end. It was revealed today that the US is moving around a dozen warships – with cruise missile capability – through the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea. The US military presence in the region currently totals around 225,000 personnel with another 75,000 on the way. Around 1,500 troops from Northern Ireland have been deployed to the Gulf as part of the UK's commitment of 45,000 personnel.
Elsewhere, in the House of Commons yesterday, the UUP's MP for South Antrim David Burnside called for the UK and UN to unite beside the United States.
He said: "Unless the UN stands by the United States and the United Kingdom, and hopefully a strong and united world order, terrorists, rogue states and the Saddam Husseins of the world will think, 'Divide, rule and conquer.' As they read the papers and watch the television they see a weakening world order - we are not sending out a good message. Saddam Hussein poses a threat, as do international terrorists such as bin Laden and others. The world order should be united and stand together."
The Northern Ireland Committee of the ICTU coordinates the Stop the War Coalition and announced plans earlier this week for a series of anti-war rallies across the province in the event of war.
(GMcG)
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