Bullets To Afghanistan

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“The amount of people that are being killed today by military hardware has just gone off the Richter scale. The five biggest producers of arms, or exporters of arms, in the last five years were the US, Russia, China, Germany and France. And sadly, you have to ask yourself, if you look and ask how many repressive autocratic regimes in this region that France has not sold arms to, it’s a difficult question.”

“Because they have sold to Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Pakistan.”

“Well, my niece said to me, on Saturday morning, that, for the first time in her life, she got an idea of what it must be like to live in the Middle East because it happens on a regular basis, what happened in Paris. Can you imagine it? That you couldn’t go to a concert, or a restaurant or a bar but you might be afraid to be killed. And this is what these people are facing all the time.”

“And last year, we gave permits for 190 metric tonnes of bullets to go to Afghanistan. Now, I don’t imagine that they did much good, in terms of peace. 2.5million troops have gone through Shannon since 2001, huge amounts of military armoury have gone through Shannon since 2001, and huge amounts have been overflown. And we are OK with that.”

“As long as the arms industry, and the shares have gone up 4% on average in the last three days in the arms industry, it’s a good weekend for them. Because it looks like there’s going to be even more arms used.

“President Hollande said, we are going to lead a war which will be pitiless. But they’re already bombing ISIS and others. They’re giving guns and arms to Saudi Arabia, who are giving them to ISIS, as are the United Arab Emirates, they give arms and guns to anyone that will fight Assad. Western countries are arming both sides.”

“We have created ISIS but we’re not going to defeat the military of ISIS. Only Iraq and Syria will actually eventually defeat ISIS. They want France to react in a strong military fashion. That’s what they want. They don’t want us to take a peaceful position on it and to stop militarising the area. They don’t want us to take a rational position on it. We are feeding them with this whole militarisation of the region.”

Independent TD Mick Wallace in the Dáil earlier this evening.

Related: Extent of Shannon and Ireland’s Complicity in War Revealed (Shannonwatch)

Thanks Oireachtas Retort

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51 thoughts on “Bullets To Afghanistan

    1. martco

      I think the point he’s making is that not only are the above listed superpowers complicit architects of this scenario they’ve also very very happily supplied the building materials, piggys at the trough. Never ceases to amaze me how so few journos get into the meat of items like the sales of arms when looking for root analysis. whatever u think of Wallace he’s been on this subject for a long time now all credit

        1. :-Joe

          Any comment on his words, though?

          To me there worth at least 19 Billion by our usual standards.

          The truth is priceless.

          :-J

    2. Frenchfarmer

      Joe my boy,
      You are so far from being cool that there is no possible way to measure it.
      Talk about basement level thinking.

    3. :-Joe

      I’m not as cool as Joe but I have hugged a tree while naked before.

      [COPIED FROM MY REVIEW IN YELP-BEST TREES IN IRELAND TO GET EMOTIONAL WITH]
      Ahh, the wicklow mountains on a Sunday morning after mass…. fresh air, bark, nudity, the thrill and the wind gently tickling one’s ball sack as the mid-day sun warms the cheeks.
      Despite the disturbed narrow minded children and the thrill of the hunt(from the farmers and the guards, not cool at all),
      Auld Shivers Me Timber and Mc Stumpy(just left of the Sally Gap) will live long in my memory.
      Highly recommended but only for the true believer : D

      4 Stars. -1 for the woodpecker/police brutality.

      Overall, I found it to be a worthwhile, interesting and overall enlightening experience.

      :-J

  1. Jackdaw

    For those who have to deal with idiots who don’t believe in retaliation against ISIS:

    1. Engage in conversation, and ask if military force is appropriate.
    2. When he says “No,” ask, “Why not?”
    3. Wait until he says something to the effect of “using violence against violence doesn’t solve anything.”
    4. When he’s in mid sentence, punch him in the face as hard as you can.
    5. When he gets back up to punch you, point out that it would be a mistake and contrary to his values to strike you, because that would be awful and he should not cause more violence.
    6. Wait until he agrees, and has pledged not to commit additional violence.
    7. Punch him in the face again, harder this time.
    8. Repeat steps 5 through 7 until he understands that sometimes it is necessary to punch back.”

    Checkmate.

    1. My Last Comment Got Deleted

      Great stuff man! That’ll learn everyone, proliferate violence whenever possible. That’s what I say.

      And whenever an idealist wants people to not continue to be maimed, punch that pansey in the face.

    2. Fardays

      But that’s an analogy that doesn’t quite reflect the complicated socio-political-historical situation. The situation you describe ascribes to the idea that ‘might is right.’ You can continue to punch this person and force them under your will, because (presumably in your mind) you can manipulate them through power. You are more powerful than them, therefore they must cede to your will. If that person happens to be bigger and stronger than you, you will be forced under their will.

    3. Twunt

      The lilly livered among think we can kill them with kindness, they are mostly cowards, the thing that scares them most is being accused of racisim. If a Muslim spat in their face they would pretend it is raining.

    4. :-Joe

      Thanks for an opening gambit that saves me the time of reading your failed ideology.
      Oooops.. I’ve accidentally and inadvertently created a mnemonic link between you and religious extremism..
      Sorry pal.. it must be these new rational pills I created out of nothing.

      +1 for freedom of speech and efficiency of ignorance, though.

      :-J

    5. LiamZero

      Jackdaw, that’s just stupid. The problem most people have with striking against ISIS is not the violence but the fact ISIS is effectively waging a guerrilla war so it’s not clear where strikes should be targeted. And when indiscriminate Western attacks kill civilians, that just serves as an effective recruitment drive for more people in the Middle East to become radicalised against the West, which is exactly what ISIS wants.
      Or, to correct your own analogy, someone receives a punch and tries to hit back but misses their intended target and hits a load of the wrong people. What do you think happens then?
      This is not a simple military case. The ISIS brand of warfare does not conform to what we expect. Their main weapon is fear. And sadly their campaign is working brilliantly.

    6. Nigel

      Remember, it has to be something to the effect of ‘violence against violence doesn’t solve anything.’ If you’re waiting there with yous fist ready getting ready to throw down and they’re going on about the tactical situation, the ineffectiveness and counter-productiveness of current strategy, the horrifically farcical knot of geo-political power entanglements and economic interests that are allowing the situation to develop and deteriorate, you’ll just have to go punching yourself to prove your point. Keep punching yourself until the point is proved.

  2. CousinJack

    Not sure that the religious fundamentalisn that existed in Afganistan and Saudi Arabia for the last few 100 years has mcuh to do with the arms industry.
    Once the whack jobs are destroyed, then it might be time for doves not hawks, but the last thing we need at the moment is appeasement

    1. Zuppy International

      “The first world war came and its cost was laid on the people.
      The second world war — the third — what will be the cost.
      And will it repay the people for what they pay?…
      The little girl saw her first troop parade and asked,
      ‘What are those?’
      ‘Soldiers.’
      ‘What are soldiers?’
      ‘They are for war. They fight and each tries to kill as many of the other side as he can.’
      The girl held still and studied.
      ‘Do you know … I know something?’
      ‘Yes, what is it you know?’
      ‘Sometime they’ll give a war and nobody will come.’

      Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) from “The People, Yes”

    2. Ms Piggy

      The history of Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia has been far far more shaped by western interests in oil and ‘spheres of influence’ than it has by religion.

    3. john

      You have no idea what you are talking about. Have you been to Saudi or Afghanistan? Read anything about their history? Afghanistan has always been conservative but religious fundamentalism has only sprung up there since the late 1970s, and grew after the Soviet invasion.

      The main driver of all of this is Gulf money – and the Gulf as a whole has got far more religious in the past 20 years. To take just two examples, Kuwait and Sharjah were renowned as ‘party destinations’ among Western expats in the 1970s and much of the 1980s. They are now both dry.

      The last thing we need now is cretins such as yourself who have zero insight into the region spouting off crap you read on your Facebook thread.

      1. :-Joe

        He’s onto something new and refreshing…

        Truth.. the best that humans should expect.

        (Contact your local pharmacy for advice)

        :-J

      1. :-Joe

        So true, nothing like in-depth journalism to get the blood flowing.

        It does get a little boring though, reading the same level of analysis everywhere in the media.

        :-J

  3. Truth in the News

    As long as the US supports Israel and props up the despots in Saudi Arabia
    it will go on and keep going on, the people who orchestrated the so called
    “Arab Spring” are now reaping the results…..we are appalled at what happened
    in Paris last Friday night and so we should….but where is our indignation as
    to whats been done to the Palenstenian People since 1948…..The west has a
    lot blood on its hands and the’ll soon stand along with Hitler as being no better.
    Will they ever learn…..we need to put a stop to our national territory being used
    in wars….we a neutral

    1. Neilo

      At some point, all the evils that afflict the world according to Broadsheet from a terrorist slaugher in Paris to a disappointed geek at a Star Wars film will be the fault of The Wily Jew™

  4. Vingtras

    Wallace is right to point out the lunacy of flogging arms to Wahhabi Gulf states. But that doesn’t make military action against ISIS any less necessary. These are apocalyptic fanatics who have to be crushed. Ceasing arms sales to their tacit supporters is part of that but won’t do the job alone.

    You can negotiate with the RA, with Hamas, with Hezbollah, even with the Taliban. But ISIS exists on a wholly different plane of destruction and lunacy. Violence is the only thing that will work here.

  5. Kolmo

    TD Wallace is correct.
    All war is a racket. All religions are a tool of division. Combine them both and you can really improve your portfolio.

  6. Stumpy

    “And last year, we gave permits for 190 metric tonnes of bullets to go to Afghanistan. Now, I don’t imagine that they did much good, in terms of peace.” – Mick, you haven’t a fupping clue what you’re talking about.

      1. Stumpy

        He really doesn’t. He should maybe spend some time here first before he spouts off about what’s doing any good in terms of peace.

        1. Anomanomanom

          Ok so your answer is keep supplying weapons to scum nations who happily supply ISIS. And where exactly is “here”, I assume by your comment your not in the Eu.

  7. :-Joe

    Mick, I hope you sort out those financial problems.

    Irish politics needs real people that live in reality and real public representation like you and sadly, only a handful of others that are too few.

    Do be Do be Doooo…. nice.

    :-J

  8. some oldf queen

    Mick is of right in what he is saying and as other comments have already pointed out, the route of the Middle East’s problems is meddling from foreign powers, mainly because of gas and oil. The West and Russia now appear to be starting to work together but it never should have got to this point in the first place.

    In the mean time, a savage and barbaric death cult from the 12th century has been unleashed on the world. Blame games and hand wringing is not enough now. For the sake of humanity, Daesh must be stopped. The debate on geo economics can wait.

  9. Louise Hannon

    If tens of thousands in Ireland protested against the Iraq war led by Bush and Blair it’s logical to assume they would support not sending arms through Shannon. Sadly the damage of that war is now being seen in the export of mayhem outside the Middle East. Mick is right but it’s now too late to say stop. The arms sales and meddling by major western powers has allowed this toxic religious mix with Isil. There is now no alternative but to try and stem the advance

  10. Demon

    a) Such wonderful straw man comments! Wallace said nothing about bombing Syria. He said it’s lunacy for western countries to be supplying jihadists with heavy weaponry.

    b) If you slap someone repeatedly in the face, you’ll quickly find yourself in the slammer, with your future severely compromised. It will prove mainly that you’re a foolish short-term thinker, not that you’ve made a clever point, as you perhaps originally intended.

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