News about the Irish & Irish American culture, music, news, sports. This is hosted by the Irish Aires radio show on KPFT-FM 90.1 in Houston, Texas (a Pacifica community radio station)

October 25, 2006

Rosemary Nelson Murder Inquiry Postponed

News About Ireland & The Irish

BB 10/25/06 Nelson Murder Inquiry Postponed
IT 10/25/06 Minister Proposes Deal On Irish Illegals In US
BT 10/25/06 Assembly Could Still Collapse, Say Governments
BT 10/25/06 DUP Plans St Andrews Document
BB 10/25/06 March Dialogue 'The Way Forward'
BT 10/25/06 Omagh Evidence 'Guesswork'
BB 10/25/06 Vote To Replace Shamed Ex-Mayor
BT 10/25/06 Shamed Former DUP Mayor Lashes Out At Press Photographer
BT 10/25/06 Shoukris Face Move To Isolation Block
BT 10/25/06 Eames: Bigotry Still Alive And Well In Ulster
IN 10/25/06 Nobel Laureate Demands US Firm Move Out Of City
OB 10/25/06 Peter King Fighting For His Life In Long Island Race
BT 10/25/06 Opin: Can Sinn Fein Make The Leap And Back Policing?
BT 10/25/06 Opin: Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and MI5
IT 10/25/06 Opin: Media's One-Track Mindset
BN 10/25/06 New US Ambassador To Meet Ahern
IT 10/25/06 Gardai In Cork Investigate 'Sniper' Shootings
BT 10/25/06 The Sick Ulster Videos Being Posted On You Tube
CH 10/25/06 Student Film On Irish Peace Process Debuts

*************************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6083832.stm

Nelson Murder Inquiry Postponed

The public inquiry into the murder of Rosemary Nelson has
been postponed until September 2007 at the earliest.

The inquiry has said it will not be possible to complete
outstanding work to allow the full hearing to begin as
planned next January.

It said that because of the amount of work still to be
done, it is not able to set a definite new date for the
start of the hearings.

Solicitor Mrs Nelson, 40, was killed by a car bomb in March
1999.

Loyalists planted a booby-trap bomb underneath the mother-
of-three's car outside her Lurgan home.

The inquiry is one of four being held in Northern Ireland
into claims of collusion.

The others are into the murders of Robert Hamill, Billy
Wright, and Pat Finucane.

A fifth inquiry, into the murders of two senior RUC men, is
being held in the Irish Republic.

Retired English High Court Judge Sir Michael Morland had
been due to start hearing evidence in the Rosemary Nelson
inquiry on 16 January 2007

A statement from the inquiry panel said: "The inquiry
recognises that this news will disappoint some of those who
are concerned with its work.

"It has reached its decision only after carefully
considering the progress made to date in all areas of its
work and the adverse consequences of deciding to maintain
the present start date."

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2006/10/25 11:17:32 GMT
© BBC MMVI

*************************

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2006/1025/breaking47.htm

Minister Proposes Deal On Irish Illegals In US

By Elaine Edwards Last updated: 25-10-06, 12:11

Thousands of Irish citizens living unlawfully in the United
States could be legalised in return for more work permits
for US citizens lured to Ireland by its thriving economy,
the Minister for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen has said.

"There is clear evidence to support the establishment of
some form of bilateral agreement between the US and Irish
governments," he said in a statement after he returned from
a trip to New York.

Mr Killeen said that, while 30,000 to 40,000 illegal Irish
immigrants were living in the US, two centuries of mass
emigration to the US from Ireland because of famine and
unemployment was clearly now at an end.

More than 4,300 Americans immigrated to Ireland in search
of work last year, compared with 1,700 Irish people moving
to the US, where more than ten per cent of the population
claims Irish descent.

Mr Killeen said a jobs fair in New York showed how
appealing Ireland had become in the wake of the "Celtic
Tiger" boom.

"The interest expressed by Americans to come and work in
Ireland was so great that a queue more than two-and-a-half
blocks long formed outside the exhibition venue," he said.

"In less than 15 years, Ireland has gone from being the
sick man of Europe to one of the most dynamic economies in
the developed world."

Mr Killeen told the media in New York last week that
Ireland would also try to lure Irish and US citizens back
to Ireland where the population is now back above four
million, having slumped to a 120-year low of 2.8 million in
the 1960s.

© 2006 ireland.com

*************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=711516

Assembly Could Still Collapse, Say Governments

By Noel McAdam
25 October 2006

Inter-party efforts to resolve the ministerial pledge on
policing intensified today as the British and Irish
Governments reaffirmed the Assembly could still collapse.

The multi-party Preparation for Government committee moved
into daily sessions to examine how the "glitch" can be
prevented from developing into a crisis.

The 14-strong group, co-chaired by the DUP and Sinn Fein
which are at odds over the issue, has agreed to meet both
today and tomorrow.

The aim is they can clear the way for the first Programme
for Government committee - due nine days ago - which would
bring DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein President Gerry
Adams face to face for the first time.

As the DUP insisted there was no "wriggle room" on the
issue, the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in
Dublin warned that so-called plan 'B', an enhanced role for
the Republic, will follow if shadow First and Deputy First
Ministers, probably Dr Paisley and Martin McGuinness, are
not designated by November 24.

A joint communique issued afterwards said the Governments
remain convinced that all parties wish to see devolution
restored, but reiterated their deadline for progress
remains firm.

"In the event of failure to agree, they will proceed on the
basis of the new British Irish partnership arrangements to
implement the Belfast Agreement," it said.

But DUP MP Nigel Dodds warned: "There is absolutely no
question of the DUP permitting the Government to wriggle
out of its commitments in relation to this issue."

Mr Adams, however, warned the Government not to pander to
what he called "unrealistic demands" from the DUP - and
insisted the row had not been caused by republicans, but
were the result of differences between the DUP and the
Government.

*************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=711515

DUP Plans St Andrews Document

By Chris Thornton
25 October 2006

The DUP is planning to issue a consultation document about
the St Andrews Agreement after taking soundings in the
heartland of Ian Paisley's support last night.

The document is expected to be publicly available and is
likely to reflect the presentation made by deputy leader
Peter Robinson at the two meetings with members held so far
this week.

Last night several hundred party members attended a meeting
at the Galgorm Manor Hotel outside Ballymena to hear the
presentation with computerised slideshow from Mr Robinson.

Mr Paisley also spoke and was scheduled to answer questions
from the floor.

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson chaired the private meeting.

Party sources say members in the Ballymena area have been
among the most sceptical about the St Andrews Agreement,
but there were no signs of dissent as last night's meting
progressed.

*************************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6082492.stm

March Dialogue 'The Way Forward'

Dialogue between local people is the "only way to reach a
lasting solution" to marching issues in Northern Ireland,
the Parades Commission has said.

The commission has reviewed its role and published a report
called Parading and a Peaceful Northern Ireland.

Commission chairman Roger Poole said violent incidents had
decreased.

"This happened because people in key areas across their
community and the community divide worked tirelessly," he
said.

The commission said that it wanted the secretary of state
to allow certain vintage vehicle associations an exemption
from the main provisions of the 1998 parades act.

It said it also wanted to add greater clarity and
accessibility to its determinations by reviewing its use of
language and "the inclusion of more explanatory material".

'Amend rules'

The body also wants its procedural rules amended to clarify
the process of determining whether a parade is considered
contentious.

"The commission is putting greater effort than ever before
in promoting and facilitating dialogue," the report said.

"The challenge for us all is to talk through our concerns,
fears, passions, beliefs and frustrations. It is a
challenge the Parades Commission is willing to take."

The Parades Commission currently makes about 170
determinations every year, although more than 50 of those
deal with re-applications for the Portadown Orange Order's
Drumcree march.

The commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on
whether controversial parades should be restricted.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2006/10/25 11:11:33 GMT
© BBC MMVI

*************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=711513

Omagh Evidence 'Guesswork'

Expert's conclusions are dismissed

By Jonathan McCambridge
25 October 2006

A forensic scientist will not be allowed to tell the Omagh
bombing trial that he believes that a series of dissident
republican bombs were constructed by one person.

Trial judge Mr Justice Weir has prevented Dennis McAuley
from presenting his conclusions on a number of bomb timers,
including the Omagh device, after ruling that they were
"guesswork".

Instead the judge said that he would draw his own
conclusions from Mr McAuley's studies, after saying he
could "guess as well as he can because I know as much as he
does".

Sean Hoey (37) from Molly Road, Jonesborough, denies
causing the 1998 Omagh bombing which killed 29 people and a
series of other Real IRA explosions.

Part of the prosecution case was to present evidence from
Mr McAuley, who has more than 30 years experience and has
investigated more than 1,500 bombs.

His studies of the bomb timers from a 1998 dissident
republican campaign indicated a number of similarities and
he concluded that they were likely to have been the work of
one person.

Giving evidence last week, Mr McAuley said there were
similarities between the bomb timers used in the attacks Mr
Hoey is accused of.

He focused particularly on the poor soldering and wiring of
electric circuits inside the timer power units.

However, Hoey's defence team led by London barrister
Orlando Pownall argued that his evidence should not be put
before the trial because it was not scientific and was
"just guesswork".

The judge ruled that Mr McAuley's observations about the
state of the bomb timers could be presented to the court
but he is not allowed to express any opinion or conclusion.

The judge said he accepted the scientist's "physical
findings" but added "Mr McAuley, in my opinion, brings
nothing by way of expert opinion to the interpretation of
these results.

"And I think I am as able as he to decide whether there is
or not anything probative.

"Therefore I decline to allow Mr McAuley to give an expert
opinion as to the conclusions he thinks should be drawn
from his findings."

Earlier Mr Pownall claimed that while Mr McAuley's physical
findings were not in dispute, his expert conclusions as to
whether one or more individuals made the timer units did
"not amount to a row of beans".

Mr Gordon Kerr QC, prosecuting, had argued that an expert
having examined each of the timer units in detail, was
entitled "to express an opinion based on that examination
as to the likelihood or otherwise of the maker", of those
units.

At hearing.

*************************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6082994.stm

Vote To Replace Shamed Ex-Mayor

Voters in the Coleraine district represented by disgraced
former DUP councillor Dessie Stewart face a by-election to
replace him.

Stewart, who admitted electoral fraud, resigned from the
council and his party. On his way to court on Tuesday he
punched a press photographer.

A proposal to co-opt a new councillor was rejected at a
meeting of Coleraine council on Tuesday.

An election in the Skerries area is now likely to take
place on 13 December.

The SDLP proposed co-opting another councillor at the full
council meeting, but Ulster Unionists rejected that plan.

The SDLP's John Dallat said the election would cost
ratepayers about £15,000 and co-option would not have
harmed local democracy.

"In the last assembly it was all co-option, there were no
by-elections at all," he said.

"So I don't think it in any way undermines democracy to
have a co-option, particularly when it is a council which
is going to disappear in a couple of years time."

Vote difference

But Ulster Unionist councillor David McClarty said that
they may have been deprived of victory through Stewart's
fraudulent activities in 2005.

"There were five votes between our candidate and Barney
Fitzpatrick (the Alliance candidate who polled behind
Stewart) on the basis that there were six votes which have
been admitted were used illegally those votes may have gone
to our candidate," he said.

East Londonderry Alliance Association Chair Paddy McGowan
said that their candidate should have been co-opted.

"In any sporting event, if the winner is disqualified, the
runner-up takes the prize," he said.

"Why are Unionists scared of letting Barney Fitzpatrick
take the prize that he deserves?"

The DUP's Adrian McQuillan said that his party would
contest the seat, and added that in the eyes of some people
Stewart's actions may have damaged the party.

"Dessie was foolish in what he done but I think we should
leave Dessie alone now to get on with his life and try and
rebuild.

"After these past few weeks he has been under a lot of
pressure and I think it's important that we leave him alone
to get his life back together."

'People's choice'

Sinn Fein's Billy Leonard said that going back to the
electorate was the right decison.

"We will go back to the people and I think the people in
one sense deserve to have that say because the previous say
was totally and utterly torn apart," he said.

Dessie Stewart admitted electoral fraud during the 2005
elections and was to be sentenced at Antrim Crown Court on
Tuesday.

When Stewart arrived at the court he threw a punch at Press
Association photographer Niall Carson.

Mr Carson said he did not know why he was singled out. "He
lunged at me and when I turned to walk away he punched me
on the back of the head," he said.

Sentencing was put back until 17 November because of what
the judge said were outstanding factual issues which needed
to be resolved.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2006/10/25 07:55:27 GMT
© BBC MMVI

*************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=711465

Double Whammy For Shamed Former Mayor After He Lashes Out
At Press Photographer

By Lisa Smyth
25 October 2006

A former Coleraine mayor, who is facing a possible prison
sentence for electoral fraud, was last night at the centre
of a second police probe after he was accused of punching a
press photographer.

The incident occurred as disgraced Dessie Stewart (57)
arrived at Antrim Crown Court yesterday afternoon, where he
was due to be sentenced after admitting six charges
relating to last year's parliamentary and local government
elections, in which he was re-elected as a DUP councillor.

The retired part-time firefighter was caught on a
television camera lashing out at one of the Press
photographers who had gathered at the gates of the
courthouse ahead of the hearing.

Press Association photographer Niall Carson, who claims he
was punched by Stewart, said: "I was taking pictures as he
was walking towards the court.

"He then actually walked over to me. I tried to move out of
the way and turned my back. It was then that he punched
me."

Police are expected to request the footage of the incident
and although two officers spoke to Stewart at length after
the hearing, he was not arrested. It is thought he will be
invited to attend Antrim Police Station at a later date.

In June last year, the Belfast Telegraph revealed that
Stewart, of Parker Avenue, Portrush, had been questioned by
police investigating allegations of electoral
irregularities.

He has since resigned from both the council and the DUP
after admitting to four counts of pretending to be someone
else in order to cast postal votes and two of fraudulently
stopping free exercise of a proxy vote.

He was accompanied yesterday by family and friends,
including DUP MP Gregory Campbell and his former council
colleague James McClure.

During the short hearing, in which Judge Grant Piers
adjourned proceedings to allow counsel to reach a decision
about the facts that will be presented to the court,
Stewart spoke only twice.

Wearing a dark grey suit and blue shirt, he confirmed his
name and later answered: "Thank you very much indeed sir,"
when Judge Piers ordered him to attend Newry Crown Court
next month to be sentenced for the six counts of electoral
fraud.

He refused to comment on the earlier incident as he emerged
from the courthouse several hours later and could not be
contacted last night.

A PSNI spokesman confirmed that police are investigating
allegations of an assault at Antrim Crown Court.

By-election will be held to fill Stewart's seat

Former constituents of shamed ex-DUP mayor Dessie Stewart
will have to go to the polls to elect his replacement, it
emerged last night.

At a special meeting of Coleraine Borough Council, members
failed to unanimously select a new councillor.

A by-election is now scheduled for December 13 - at a cost
of up to £15,000 for the ratepayers.

SDLP councillor John Dallat proposed Alliance
representative Barney Fitzpatrick, who was the runner-up
for the five seats in the Skerries ward in the 2005 local
government elections.

The DUP offered no opposition to the proposal, but UUP
councillor Norman Hillis called for a by-election in the
interests of democracy.

He said that the people living in the Skerries should be
given the opportunity to elect a new councillor.

Mr Hillis said: "We were reacting to a criminal act that
was dishonesty and vote theft and the DUP councillor
pleaded guilty to that in court, so how can 22 councillors
sit there and decide what way the electorate should vote?

"If someone had died it would have been a different matter
but to have anything else other than a by-election would be
turning democracy on its head."

*************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=711520

Shoukris Face Move To Isolation Block

By Alan Murray
25 October 2006

Former UDA leaders Andre and Ihab Shoukri were expected to
be moved to isolation cells at Maghaberry Prison today
after being told of a serious threat to their lives.

It is understood that the Shoukri brothers were formally
advised of the danger by staff in the category A prison
yesterday morning, but friends claim that they have been
detained in their cells since late on Monday afternoon.

The development comes as the terrorist organisation's
membership in north Belfast prepares to meet tomorrow to
try to appoint a new brigadier.

The meeting comes after months of turmoil within the
organisation in the area which saw Andre Shoukri deposed as
leader and his successor Alan McClean driven out of
Northern Ireland following a dangerous standoff situation
in July.

Last week McClean's daughter Cheryl's Westland Road home
was damaged in an attack which she claimed was orchestrated
by UDA elements loyal to the Inner Council faction which
controls the terror group's other brigades, except south
east Antrim.

Sources in the area say the homes of Ihab Shoukri's
girlfriend and the home of another woman friendly with a
man who left the area with Alan McClean were also damaged,
and at least one computer was stolen.

Prison Service sources say that PSNI officers relayed a
serious threat to the Shoukri brothers' lives to the jail's
governor on Monday afternoon and that since then, Andre and
Ihab Shoukri have been kept in their cells in Bush House
for their own protection.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that two PSNI officers
travelled to the jail to inform the governor of the nature
of the intelligence received and to emphasise the gravity
of the situation.

It's understood that since Monday afternoon, the two
brothers have not been allowed to associate with any of the
other 22 UDA prisoners in Bush House because of the
possibility they might be attacked and killed.

One source within the prison said: "It was done very
swiftly because of the nature of the information passed to
the Governor. It isn't a punishment, but a severe safety
measure to ensure no harm comes to the Shoukri brothers.
This is considered to be a most serious and definite threat
against them."

Prison sources say that two cells have been prepared for
the Shoukris in the Special Separation Unit of the jail
where they will be moved to today to ensure they can't be
harmed by UDA prisoners loyal to the Inner Council faction
of the organisation.

The cells prepared for them are understood to have been
equipped with Sky television facilities like cells in Bush
House so they won't lose any privileges.

*************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=711445

Eames: Bigotry Still Alive And Well In Ulster

Primate in hard-hitting speech to Synod

By Alf McCreary
25 October 2006

Sectarianism in Northern Ireland is still alive and well,
warned the Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Robin
Eames, who retires at the end of this year.

In a hard-hitting farewell address to his Diocesan Synod in
Armagh yesterday, he said: "Sectarianism is alive and well
in Northern Ireland. It is alive within the Church as well
as in every strata of our lives."

He said that racially-motivated attacks seemed to be a
regular occurrence, and racism and sectarianism go hand in
hand.

He added: "It is a failure to accept difference which lies
at the root of the problem."

In a wide-ranging address, he urged progress in moving
forward and replacing "the community of suspicion with the
community of trust.

"We must replace the community of shouting with the
community that listens.

"The prize we have endured so much to achieve deserves
nothing less."

Lord Eames reflected on the "incredible change" in Northern
Ireland in his 20 years as Primate and Archbishop.

He said that nationalists must see that "they have moved
out of second-class citizenship for good. They have to
avoid remaining a community which carries resentment
becasuse of inequality or oppression."

He added that unionists must recognise that the
constitutional position "is secure as long as they wish it
to be so. They must stop leaning on that issue, to the
denial of social justice for community fairness for others.

"Those who propagate such attitudes must become yesterday's
Protestants."

The Archbishop also said that trust was essential. "This
society is crying out for a political process in which we
mean what we say, do what we say and be honest in what we
say and do. So let our political representatives enjoy
trust, but let us in turn trust them to show integrity,
honesty and decency in all they do in our name.

"We must find ways of releasing society as far as we can
from the prison of negative memories."

*************************

http://www.irishnews.com/

Nobel Laureate Demands US Firm Move Out Of City

By Seamus McKinney

A NOBEL peace laureate joined protesters in Derry yesterday
demanding that a controversial US company move out of the
city.

A demonstration was held outside the Guildhall during a
council debate about news that Raytheon’s plant in Derry
develops software for use in the arms industry.

Councillors were told that in a recent meeting, the company
admitted it was carrying out defence work at its Derry
site.

Meanwhile, a Derry woman was yesterday arrested in
connection with an occupation of Raytheon’s plant by anti-
war protesters earlier this year.

Goretti Horgan, whose partner Eamon McCann has been charged
in connection with the August 9 demonstration along with
eight others, was told a file would be sent to the Public
Prosecution Service.

Speaking at the Guildhall protest yesterday, 1976 Nobel
Peace Prize winner Mairead Corrigan Maguire said she was
taking part to support the Derry Anti-War Coalition (DAWC)
and the Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign (FEIC)

She called on Derry City Council to declare that Raytheon
was no longer welcome and pledged to return to the city to
hear the council addressed by FEIC and DAWC next month.

In the chamber, councillors were told that Raytheon
employed 40 people in Derry and had established a centre of
excellence in the city.

In his report, town clerk Anthony McGurk said: “They again
stressed they were involved in software development, which
can have many applications, and that no weapons are or were
being manufactured on the site.”

SDLP councillor Gerard Diver said the council passed a
motion in 2004 noting that “if the basis of Raytheon’s
acceptance [in Derry] had changed, then council’s position
would change”.

Stressing a commitment to build Derry’s economy, Mr Diver
proposed that the council write to the British and Irish
governments demanding “much stronger control” on the arms
trade.

Sinn Fein’s Gerry Mac Lochlainn said many of the products
developed by Raytheon would be welcome but not software for
the arms industry.

DUP MP Gregory Campbell said the council would enter
“exceptionally dangerous territory” if it was to rule that
every inward investor should be “screened”.

He said that while everyone had personal views, “a huge rod
is being created to beat the backs of the north west.”

The SDLP proposal was carried with Sinn Fein support, with
unionist members abstaining.

*************************

http://www.observer.com/printpage.asp?iid=13594&ic=News+Story+1

Peter King Calls the Republicans a Bunch of Wimps

Pro-Iraq War Congressman Fighting For His Life In Long
Island Race

By: Jason Horowitz
Date: 10/30/2006

Peter King is worried that his fellow Republicans are
turning into wimps.

“I find it frustrating sometimes with the Republicans—you
want to shake them and say ‘Let’s do this,’” said Mr. King,
the pugnacious Long Island Republican who chairs the House
Homeland Security Committee. “A lot of Republicans, when
they get thrown off their game, they are scrambling to find
a new message. To me, if you believe in what you are
saying, you continue to say the same thing.”

Mr. King is perhaps the last unapologetic Iraq hawk in the
entire New York State delegation in Washington. More than
any of his beleaguered local Republican colleagues, he is
sticking with the original G.O.P. game plan and talking in
unrelentingly tough terms about the war. Never mind that
the teetering war effort has other Republican candidates
across the country changing the subject and has forced even
President George Bush to abandon his “stay the course”
rhetoric.

“If you know what you are talking about and believe in what
you are saying, go forward; otherwise, what the hell?” Mr.
King said Friday afternoon in the New York Athletic Club on
Central Park South, where he had addressed a luncheon for
security professionals minutes earlier. “Not just from the
sanctimonious side. I mean, it works. It does resonate.”

Mr. King, a disarmingly down-to-earth caricature of a
gruff, 62-year-old blue-collar Long Islander, has earned
himself a reputation during his 14 years in Congress as a
philosophical conservative but a political maverick,
counting among his allies John McCain as well as Bill and
Hillary Clinton.

Now, some polls suggest that he too is susceptible to the
noxious political climate that’s having such a worrying
effect on the country’s Republicans. He is facing a serious
challenge from Dave Mejias, a Nassau County state
legislator, who is doing everything possible to paint Mr.
King as a right-wing war enabler and lackey of the
profoundly unpopular President. An RT Strategies and
Constituent Dynamics poll conducted between Oct. 8 and 10
showed Mr. King’s lead down to only two points, 47 percent
to 45 percent.

Mr. King has suddenly become a living test case for the
G.O.P.’s worst-case scenario.

“It says a lot that he is in trouble; it is testimony to
the toxic nature of Iraq in this election cycle,” said
Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of
Virginia. “In New York, Pete King is the best example of
Bush’s weakness and Iraq’s weakness for Republicans.”

Mr. King, a devoted amateur boxer reared by Irish
immigrants in Sunnyside, Queens, has always identified
himself with the tough guys in the room.

His longtime support for the Irish Republican Army proved
useful when the Clinton administration called on his help
to broker Ireland’s landmark peace agreement, leading to an
unusually cordial relationship with the Clintons.

Even as Republican representation on Long Island dwindled
over the years, Mr. King kept winning with an eclectic mix
of hawkish foreign policy, conservative social values and
an often liberal economic philosophy.

His career reached new heights last year, when he ascended
to the chairmanship of the House Homeland Security
Committee, a perch he often uses to criticize other
Republicans who are competing with New York for federal
money and resources.

True to form, Mr. King has refused to soften his act in the
current campaign, which promises to be his most competitive
since first running for Congress seven terms ago in 1992.
He shows no sign of reining in the innate combativeness
that he likens to that of another popular Republican, Rudy
Giuliani.

“We are much from that blue-collar, neighborhood-oriented,
law-and-order hard-hat background, and we just feel you
have to kick ass—you really do,” Mr. King said.

Lately, he has been taking American Muslims to task for not
speaking out against Islamic terrorism, charging that as
much as 85 percent of the country’s mosques are run by
extremists and that civil liberties, such as the right of
habeas corpus, should be denied to suspected terrorists. On
Friday afternoon, he expressed his high regard for the
Nassau County Police Department for having “quite a few
mosques” under surveillance.

“He’s using terror the same way Republicans in the
Southwest are using immigration,” said Mr. Sabato. “This is
a way to tap into fear, which is one of the primary
emotions of politics.”

Mr. King counters that he isn’t trying to scare voters;
he’s just trying to remind them of the frightening
realities that threaten New York in a post-9/11 world.

“People do want to hear this,” he said. “They do want these
issues discussed.”

Last Friday, Mr. King was invited to appear as the guest of
honor at a gathering of law-enforcement officials and
security professionals at the Athletic Club. Large, stern
men in dark suits sat around drinking liquor, checking
BlackBerries and eating ham in a room overlooking Central
Park. The placards on the table read “ADT” and “Universal
Security Systems.” Police commissioners were on the guest
list. Mr. King, a Twin Towers pin on his lapel, darted his
dark eyes around the room and buttered a roll.

Before he rose to speak, the security professionals around
the dining room described Mr. King in heroic terms. He was
a “great American” and a “straight talker.”

“Peter King is right on the ball,” said Joseph Levy, an
account executive at Universal Security Systems, a Long
Island–based company which has sought Mr. King’s help at
the Homeland Security Committee. “The guy is a
professional.”

Mr. King climbed to a podium in front of gray, rain-
splashed windows. The room went quiet except for fork tines
touching plates as Mr. King spoke about Islamic terrorism.

“Very literally and quite frankly,” he said, America needed
“to kill them overseas before they get here.”

He received hearty applause when he expressed support for
the Patriot Act and the prosecution of newspapers that
reveal secret government programs in wartime.

“We can’t afford political correctness or to look the other
way,” he said.

Mr. King got a standing ovation, and for more than 45
minutes afterward he was greeted by well-wishers saying
things like “I’m glad we got guys like you looking out for
us” and “Here’s my card—I’m certified in homeland
security.” He asked after friends’ families and signed a
copy of his novel, Terrible Beauty. ( It was criticized in
Kirkus Reviews as a piece of agitprop for the I.R.A., Mr.
King’s preferred cause before 9/11 converted him into the
committed foe of international terrorism.)

In between congratulations and appreciations from cops and
friends, Mr. King acknowledged that he was an endangered
breed of New York hawk.

“I am what I am,” he said. “My speech today is what I am.”

So Mr. King gets points for self-actualization. But does it
amount to a winning campaign strategy?

His opponent, for one, thinks not.

“This guy is just so out of touch,” said Mr. Mejias, a 36-
year-old Nassau County legislator from North Farmingdale.

He pointed to Mr. King’s recent comment that traveling
through Baghdad “was like being in Manhattan,” and quoted
from a letter Mr. King wrote to a constituent last year
which included the line about thanking God every night that
George Bush is President.

Long Island is no longer a hospitable environment for
politicians who make those kinds of statements—particularly
in a year in which Democrats Eliot Spitzer and Hillary
Clinton are likely to pile up huge margins over the
Republicans at the top of the ticket.

“I’m very lucky,” admitted Mr. Mejias. “There is a perfect
storm happening here. There is a tsunami, and I know that
he’s nervous.”

But Mr. King says that the much-discussed October poll was
flawed and that his internal polling shows him up 23
points, even as it shows his district overwhelmingly in
favor of Mr. Spitzer for Governor. And anyway, he wants to
make clear, this is no time for a poll-tested campaign.

“We are at war. We are at war,” he said, sounding genuinely
angry and perplexed. “I mean, you can’t say we are going to
have Americans dying every day if there is no purpose for
it. And we have to show that and say why we believe it. If
people disagree, then fine.”

*************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=711447

Opin: Can Sinn Fein Make The Leap And Back Policing?

Chris Thornton examines the debate within republican circles
25 October 2006

It was another millennium when the policing debate began.

Back in 1998, as the Patten Commission deliberated about
what to do with the RUC, Sinn Fein offices were handing out
a short checklist that gave some indication of republican
requirements for "a new beginning" to policing.

The leaflet posed 10 questions about familiar republican
themes - Special Branch, Orange influence and Protestant
domination of the RUC - over a photograph of RUC officers
batoning civil rights marchers at Burntollet.

The document wasn't an official party production - it said
it was made by "community organisations and human rights
activists" - but it had some form of republican approval.

The 10 questions were even reproduced on a mural at the
bottom of the Falls Road.

This was the litmus test for republican acceptance of
policing, and Patten didn't pass, mainly because it opted
to transform the RUC rather than scrap it outright. Even
eight years later, only half of the leaflet's requirements
have been met.

But now, in a different political context, the end may be
in sight. Yesterday in Newry, Gerry Adams made a public
start to consulting his party about the St Andrews
Agreement.

Conor Murphy, the Newry and Armagh MP leading the
consultation in Northern Ireland, says that it will be a
"very exhaustive" process, touching on all the issues that
arise out of the St Andrews documents.

But policing is the topic that will chiefly occupy the
party and the public, since it must be the crucial offering
from republicans if St Andrews is to stick.

If it is successful, the Sinn Fein consultation process
will lead to a special ard fheis, at which the leadership
will recommend that the party embraces the PSNI.

Early indications are that Mr Murphy and his colleagues
have their work cut out for them.

Suspicion of the police is deeply ingrained in the
republican psyche.

Much of that has softened over the years, and in some
republican areas, like west Belfast, there is a sense that
the community is moving ahead of republicans in accepting
and co-operating with police.

But some incidents - Stormontgate and the emergence of
Denis Donaldson as an informer - have been capable of
bringing back the edge to old attitudes.

Many in Sinn Fein say support for policing is inevitable at
some stage, but that is something different from the gut
reaction when acceptance is imminent.

The leadership has already reportedly run into resistance
from Tyrone, an area largely opposed to acceptance.

A weblog run by Ogra Shinn Fein, the party's youth wing,
already has a debate under way.

One member compares acceptance of policing with donning a
British uniform.

Another argues that they have a chance to finally silence
the DUP and give republicans the right to policing "which
they have always been denied".

In spite of the republican leadership's ability to guide
debate and neuter dissent on past issues, this is clearly
not a settled matter.

Nor is it likely to be resolved quickly, whatever the DUP
or Government expectations about November.

Many republicans expect the process to drag on into the new
year, especially because they have one more box to tick.

That concerns the devolution of justice.

Ian Paisley says Martin McGuinness is scheduled to take an
oath in support of policing on November 24, but Sinn Fein's
conditions are unlikely to have been met by then.

The party has told members at previous conferences that
they will only sign up to policing when the Government
produces the legislation for the devolution of justice.

The legislation can be passed quickly but the detail of it
has to be agreed by direct negotiation between Sinn Fein
and the DUP in the Programme for Government Committee -
which Mr Paisley has so far boycotted because Mr McGuinness
hasn't signed up to the oath.

That chicken and egg situation can probably be resolved.

"In our view, none of these challenges are insurmountable,"
says Conor Murphy.

But the process has only just started.

At the last Sinn Fein ard fheis, the leadership promised a
consultation paper on policing that "would go to all levels
of the party".

That has yet to be produced, at least publicly.

Mr Murphy says it is a "bit of an insult" to the broad Sinn
Fein membership to conclude that the leadership has already
decided party policy on policing.

But some of his colleagues feel that its only a matter of
time.

"It's a dose of reality," said one. "The only way to keep
changing this is by being in there."

*************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/opinion/story.jsp?story=711435

Opin: Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and MI5

Now that they're opening a branch in Holywood I'm toying
with the idea of joining M15. My qualifications for the
job? In a place where not a week passes that someone else
isn't accused of being a spook, spy, agent, tout or
informer, no one has ever suggested that I could be one.

Surely in spying terms this has to give an applicant an
edge - the fact that no one would ever imagine you could be
one?

I got to thinking about the M15 job after reading reports
about that swish new headquarters currently being built at
Holywood. By the look of it the place will be as big as a
branch of Tesco and will presumably bring with it much the
same scale of employment opportunities.

For, numerous as existing local agents may be, surely they
won't fill all the available posts. Surely there will be a
few jobs left over for the rest of us?

Martin McGuinness is just one of those who, it's been
claimed, has some experience as an agent.

Whatever the truth in that, the idea that commuters
travelling from Co Down into Belfast might now occasionally
spot Martin driving in to clock on for a day's work at Spy
Central is, of course, a fanciful one.

But here's the thing: Could the day come when the Shinners
openly encourage young republicans to consider a career in
spookery? In the service of Her Majesty's Government?

I only ask because, unthinkable as that might seem, what
Martin and Gerry and the party they lead are said to be
about to endorse - support for policing - would not so long
ago have seemed every bit as unthinkable.

In fact, judging by the graffiti, to many in the republican
hinterland it still is.

Take the lower Ormeau Road where graffiti taunting SF/IRA
as 'Traitors' has been daubed in big letters on the metal
shutters of the Sinn Fein office and on a nearby bus
shelter. A few yards further along on a gable wall which
has traditionally featured pro Sinn Fein murals, a new
addition reads "F*** Adams and the IRA."

Ouch, Gerry!

But, then, wasn't such a response inevitable?

After all, the Sinn Fein leadership that is currently
moving towards backing policing is exactly the same
leadership which for years and years demonised policing.

Like the Grand Old Duke of York that same leadership
marched their supporters up to the top of the hill of hate.
Now that they're attempting to march them back down again,
no wonder they're encountering some residual opposition.

Martin and Gerry, let us not forget, were the foremost
voice-pieces who for over 30 years condoned and promoted
the IRA's bloody campaign against police officers.

Those officers were branded 'legitimate targets' by the
republican movement in which both men played a pivotal
role. As a result over 300 were murdered. Thousands more
were maimed.

Like new recruits on the parade ground Gerry and Martin are
now said to be about to execute a neat about-turn - and to
finally fall in behind policing.

But they may find that not everyone in their old squad
stays in step.

Tough. You'll excuse me if my heart doesn't bleed for the
pair of them.

For these two men orchestrated hatred on a massive scale.
They turned it on.

If they're now encountering difficulty turning it off,
that's only to be expected.

Certainly, the writing on the wall would seem to suggest
that some in the republican community are now seriously
spooked.

Martin and Gerry? They should have spied it coming ?

*************************

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/opinion/2006/1025/1161565746752.html

Opin: Media's One-Track Mindset

In the coming election campaign, not a single newspaper,
radio station nor television station among the mainstream
media will campaign for a radical restructuring of Irish
society to achieve a far greater level of equality than
exists, writes Vincent Browne

I am not arguing that this is necessarily the preferred
programme, let along that it is the only option. Nor am I
arguing that it is necessarily the only fair option. I am
simply drawing attention to the fact that not a single one
of the mainstream media will campaign on that front or
anything resembling that front.

The media, including RTÉ, will represent the prevailing
"common sense": that while criticisms may be levelled at
some of the more glaring manifestations of inequality,
fundamentally the structure of Irish society is okay; that
this structure has yielded spectacular economic success in
the last decade and a half and that this economic success
has indeed lifted all boats; that the levels of consistent
poverty are now a fraction of what they used to be; that
poverty previously was associated primarily with
unemployment and unemployment is now largely taken care of.

This is a respectable and defensible point of view. Indeed,
the point of view expressed by Michael McDowell some time
ago in an interview with the Irish Catholic to do with some
inequality being a good thing is also respectable, and I
think that viewpoint was unfairly traduced. Most people
accept that some level of inequality is appropriate to
reflect, for instance, different levels of commitment,
different hardships associated with particular kinds of
work and a variety of other factors.

So my point is not that opinions other than the one which
holds that a radical restructuring of Irish society is
essential are unsustainable or are morally objectionable. I
am merely noting that none of the mainstream media will
reflect that position. They all converge around the
prevailing "common sense" - that aside from some marginal
imperfections, the structure of society is fine.

And the media-led agenda will reflect that "common sense".
The debate will be about who best can manage this
"basically okay" society and what marginal reforms are
necessary to correct the imperfections. The view that there
is something inherently wrong with the structure won't get
an airing, aside from the obligatory genuflections towards
"balance" which will allow the occasional representation of
that viewpoint before the main debate resumes.

And that media-led consensual agenda will result in either
the re-election of the present Government or the election
of a government that, policy-wise, is inherently no
different.

For we are governed primarily not by laws or parties of
coalitions or individuals or even economic forces. We are
governed by a mindset. A mindset created in the main by the
media and also by the educational system and by religion
(religion, education and the media being the main purveyors
of ideology). And it has always been thus. Those who signed
in 1776 the American Declaration of Independence - "We hold
these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and
the Pursuit of Happiness" - were fine people: John Adams,
Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R Livingston of
New York, and Thomas Jefferson. It was Jefferson who
drafted the Declaration of Independence.

And yet many of the men who signed the declaration, and the
person who drafted it, owned slaves. The words "We hold
these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created
equal" didn't apply to slaves.

The "common sense" of the day was that the institution of
slavery was in the natural order of things. It made "common
sense". It was the mindset.

And the mindset of today, the "common sense" of today, is
that it is okay that one fifth of the population is living
on household incomes of €9,680 or less (that is, €186 per
week or less). This is according to a report of the Central
Statistics Office in reference to 2004.

The report stated: "Excluding social transfers [ such as
unemployment benefits, child benefits and pensions], the
risk of poverty rate would have been close to 40 per cent [
of the total population]". The report states that, without
social transfers, nearly all old people (87 per cent) would
be at risk of poverty.

The realisation that two in five people in this massively
wealthy society are dependent on social welfare payments to
keep them out of the "at-risk poverty" bracket, and that
nearly all old people here would be at risk of poverty were
it not for social welfare payments, is shocking.

What's the "common sense" of that? (Yes, I anticipate the
response that this is why we have welfare payments, but why
should so many people be so dependent on welfare payments?
Does it not speak of some basic injustice?)

There are numerous other indicators of a deeply unjust
society. How is it that this will be ignored almost
entirely in the coming debate and that none of the media
will campaign on these realities? It's the mindset.

© The Irish Times

*************************

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2006/10/25/story282472.html

New US Ambassador To Meet Ahern

25/10/2006 - 09:12:54

The new US Ambassador to Ireland will today hold talks with
the Taoiseach at Government Buildings.

Businessman Thomas Foley replaced James Kenny at the US
Embassy in Ballsbridge earlier this month.

Chicago-born Mr Foley, 54 was nominated for the position in
July by President George Bush and sworn into office on
September 28.

The father-of-one attended Harvard University with Mr Bush
in the early 1970s and they remained close friends.

Mr Foley will pay a courtesy call on the Taoiseach at
lunchtime today.

The diplomat presented his credentials to President Mary
McAleese in Aras an Uachtarain last week.

In 2003/2004 Mr Foley worked in Iraq and had responsibility
for restarting the economy and boosting growth of private
businesses and private sector employment.

He oversaw Iraq’s 192 state-owned enterprises, developing
foreign trade and investment, and advising the ministries
of trade and industry.

He received the Department of Defence Distinguished Public
Service Award in June, 2004 for his service in Iraq.

*************************

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2006/1025/breaking50.htm

Gardai In Cork Investigate 'Sniper' Shootings

By Elaine Edwards Last updated: 25-10-06, 12:37

Gardaí in Co Cork are investigating a series of apparent
shootings in which the windows of cars, houses and a hotel
were damaged yesterday.

Reports of the 'sniper' shooting incidents have just
emerged today. There were no reported injuries.

A Garda spokesman confirmed a number of shots had been
fired from a car "by a person unknown" in the Kinsale and
Togher areas between 1pm and around 2.45pm yesterday
afternoon.

Windows were damaged at the Trident Hotel in Kinsale.

Later, two windows were damaged when shots were fired at a
school bus in Inishannon. It is not clear whether anyone
was on the bus at the time, the Garda spokesman said.

Damage was also done to a house in the same area. And
later, a four-wheel drive vehicle parked on the main
Kinsale to Bandon road was found with its windows damaged,
apparently by a firearm.

"The scenes were all technically examined and the matters
are being investigated," the Garda spokesman said.

He said anyone who witnessed any of the incidents should
report them to the Garda at Bandon or Kinsale.

© 2006 ireland.com

*************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=711461

The Sick Ulster Videos Being Posted On You Tube

Internet bigots get a kick out of showing atrocities

By Lesley - Anne Henry
25 October 2006

Sick internet yobs are glorifying some of Ulster's worst
atrocities in the name of entertainment.

Video clips of Michael Stone's attack on Milltown cemetery,
republican rioting in Ardoyne during the Holy Cross dispute
and last year's Whiterock disturbances are among dozens of
tasteless clips being shown on video-sharing website
www.youtube.com.

The site, which was bought by internet giant Google for
£883 million earlier this month, has more than 70 million
hits daily.

It contains thousands of short clips divided into 12
sections.

Under the entertainment and comedy categories are images of
some of Ulster's darkest days.

One from a contributor known as 'Gangster12345' shows
former UDA man Michael Stone carrying out his attack on
Belfast's Milltown cemetery in 1988.

A prelude to the clip reads: "Michael Stone at Milltown,
chucking a few hand grenades at the provo scum, he even
fired a few rounds from a pistol for good measure, watch
them all get down, hide behind gravestones, run, scatter,
scream, cry, panic, etc.. 10/10... well done Michael."

A total of 4,987 people have watched it to date.

Another clip posted from the same email address features
five-and-a-half minutes of footage from a 2002 riot in east
Belfast - known locally as the Siege Of The Short Strand.

But it is not just loyalists cashing in on the global
publicity. Provisional and Continuity IRA propaganda videos
have also been posted.

Footage of an IRA engineering class taken from the 70s and
80s has had 1,654 views in the three months since it was
uploaded.

And there are a number of others such as, We Won't Back
Down - IRA, which have also proved popular.

Among those focusing on Ulster's more recent strife is a
clip entitled A Normal Day In Belfast. This video is set to
the Kaiser Chiefs' hit single I Predict A Riot and features
riot scenes from across the city. Meanwhile another, made
by Djdave76, puts riots in Belfast and Derry to the tune of
the Prodigy's Firestarter.

And a final clip, set to Queen song, Another One Bites The
Dust, shows attacks on the security forces. This ends with
the statement: "Hugh Orde, your boys took one hell of a
beating."

Belfast's District Policing Partnership chairman Robin
Newton said such entertainment of this nature was
"unacceptable".

He said: "Belfast is trying hard to shake off its image of
its violent past. We are now seeing a resurgence of new
developments namely Victoria Square, the Obel Building and
the number of tourists visiting the city has increased
considerably.

"We do not need to be reminded of these events and this
type entertainment is totally unacceptable and does nothing
to enhance the city."

No one from You Tube was available for comment.

*************************

http://www.chicoer.com/newshome/ci_4546076

Student Film On Irish Peace Process Debuts

By Melissa Daugherty - Staff Writer
Article Launched:10/25/2006 12:06:27 AM PDT

Students who shot a documentary about Northern Ireland's
peace process are unveiling the finished film publicly this
week at Chico State University.

"When Hope and History Rhymed" was filmed by 15 Chico State
students who traveled to the once-embattled city of Belfast
two summers ago.

While there, they interviewed Nobel Peace Prize laureate
John Hume, and influential politicians, including Gerry
Adams, president of the Irish Republican party Sinn Féin,
along with everyday citizens, who spoke from the city's
segregated streets.

The goal was to capture the strides the region has made
since the period known as the Troubles — a decades-long
stretch beginning in the late '60s when violence plagued
the region.

More than 3,000 people died as a result of warring between
Catholic nationalists, who fought for a united Ireland, and
Protestant unionists, who fought to stay a part of the
United Kingdom.

The 15 months since the shoot has been filled with much
editing. And in September, three of those students went
back to Ireland and traveled to Britain to film interviews
with high-ranking religious leaders and Prime Minister Tony
Blair.

They were accompanied by Kelly Candaele and Catherine
Growdon, members of

Chico State's Peace Institute, who are producers of the
film. Both are Chico State alumni who attended the
university in the '70s, and Candaele is the director and
mastermind behind documentary.

He is also a member of the board of trustees for the Los
Angeles Community College District. Now that the film is
finished, Candaele said it will be distributed through the
district's campuses immediately. He'll also be looking for
national means of distribution.

During the recent trip abroad, Candaele sat with the prime
minister at his Downing Street address in London,
interviewing him on his efforts in Ireland.

"He was very thoughtful about how the lessons there might
be applied elsewhere," he said of Blair.

Kevin Puotinen, a recent Chico State graduate, filmed the
meeting, an experience he said seemed unreal at times. He
was the only camera operator on the trip, and has been
involved in the film's editing process.

Altogether, the crew shot about 70 hours of footage during
the two trips. The final product is an hour long.

Puotinen, who graduated in 2005, felt seasoned during the
second trip. As a media arts major, he said he knew very
little about the peace process in Northern Ireland prior to
his first journey.

It was fascinating to see the region's segregated streets,
and difficult to make sense of the hatred between
communities, said 22-year-old Puotinen.

Current Chico State students Tanner Songer and Jonny Lewis
went along on the first trip abroad. Both returned to
Northern Ireland with Puotinen, but in the role of
interviewer.

Puotinen is now a freelance camera operator, working out of
Hollywood. In the year since he moved away from Chico he's
done other documentary work. But his first attempt has
obviously stayed with him.

"I'd love to -- someday -- do some sort of film related to
the (Irish Republican Army) and the struggle," he said.

"When Hope and History Rhymed" will be shown at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday in Harlen Adams Theatre on the university campus.
The screening is free and open to the public.

Staff writer Melissa Daugherty can be reached at 896-7761
or mdaugherty@chicoer.com.

Public Screening:

"When Hope and History Rhymed"
7:30 p.m. Thursday
Harlen Adams Theatre
Chico State University

----
To Subscribe to Irish Aires Google News List, click Here.
To Unsub from Irish Aires Google News List, click Here
For options visit: http://groups.google.com/group/IrishAiresNews

Or join our Irish Aires Yahoo Group, Click here

To Get RSS Feed for Irish Aires News click HERE
(Paste http://irishaires.blogspot.com/atom.xml into a News Reader)

To October Index
To Index of Monthly Archives
Posted by: Unknown / 8:10 AM
Comments: Post a Comment

<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?