Ireland used to transport Apache helicoptors to Israel

[lostexpectation]

The Irish independent reports:

" In February a cargo plane carrying three Boeing Apache helicopters, the type used by both the American and Israeli forces, landed at Shannon, where it stayed overnight before taking off for Israel.

When contacted last month both the Department of Transport, which is responsible for foreign civilian flights, and the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is responsible for foreign military flights, denied any knowledge of the flight.

This week, when presented with the serial numbers of the cargo planes and of the helicopters, they conceded the flights had taken place and said that they have launched an inquiry.

Although Shannon airport is routinely used by American planes in support of the ongoing occupation of Iraq, this is the first time it has emerged that Ireland also facilitates the sale of American heavy-arms sales. "

The antonov aircraft using shannon were first reported on Indymedia in February, including, what were then 'unconfirmed reports' of helicopters being transported through Shannon: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/74563#comment140451

Related Link: http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=...13904

[Redstone]

1. 1) So? 2) Why would Russian airplanes be carrying US helicopters?

3) Again, so what? We sell helicopters to Israel. Big deal.

Redstone

[tocqueville]

2. the Antonov is hired for it's capacity not because it's Russian

besides Ireland is supposed to be a neutral country.

[TheBaldyMan]

3. Rep. of Ireland has a convenient lack of arms trafficking laws & regs.

You can pretty much buy and re-export any weapon system or 'security' equipment. There was a (UK)Channel 4 programme part of the 'Dispatches' series where a well known stand-up comic and activist, Mark Thomas, organised two groups of HS schoolkids as arms dealers! It was eye opening to say the least. One group in the UK could trade in all kinds of torture equipment but ran into laws that restricted more obvious security equipment of dubious use, no such regulations exist in Eire and the second group based in the RoI could trade in everything including military issue weaponry. No kidding, tanks, RPGs, automatic grenade launchers, the works.

on edit:
Here's a link to a related post on Mark Thomas' show with a link to a downloadable version of the TV programme.

MonkeySeeMonkeyDo's post #1

[lostexpectation]

4. if it not a big deal

look at the amount of denials it took for them to admit it