Comments on: Lessons Abroad: Why Ireland Wants Obama As America’s Next President http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/09/28/lessons-abroad-why-ireland-wants-obama-as-americas-next-president/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:14:28 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mike http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/09/28/lessons-abroad-why-ireland-wants-obama-as-americas-next-president/comment-page-1/#comment-75336 Mike Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:20:30 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=667#comment-75336 American foreign policy stepped in on behalf of the Allies during WW2, and rebuilt Europe in the aftermath of the war. American foreign policy stood down the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and was ultimately responsible for it's collapse. American foreign policy also lent generous financial aid to France after the May 1968 Marxist student riots which brought about the collapse of the De Gaulle government, thus preventing France from descending even further into chaos. American foreign policy also stepped in and stopped the the ethnic cleansing of the Muslim Albanians during the 1990's in the war torn Balkans. These are to name just a few examples of the "selfish" and "disastrous" aspects of American foreign policy over the past six decades. Under the Clinton administration, America was instrumental in helping to negotiate the Good Friday Accords that put an end to decades of IRA terrorism. It was also under the Clinton administration that the U.S. became Ireland's principle foreign investor. As a matter of fact, exports to the U.S. amounted to 10% of Ireland's GDP in 2005 alone. The U.S. J-1 visa program, for example, remains a popular means for Irish youths to work temporarily in the United States. And what has Ireland done for the United States in return for this unprecedented benevolence and generosity? Have the Irish been as accommodating to American tourists who visit their country? Here in the States, the Irish are treated with much kindness and affection. One has to only watch the BBC or read the Irish Independent in order to see the truly disgraceful way in which Americans are treated in that country. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, Many Irish newspapers and media programs were quick to place the blame of that atrocity squarely on the shoulders of the United States. Prominent Irish journalist such as Bob Fisk, Helena Sheehan, Tim Pat Coogan, and Carole Coleman went so far as to imply that this was America's foreign policy coming home to roost. Indeed, most of the Irish media elites went even so far as to place the blame of Bush himself though neglecting to point out the fact that the man had been in office for less than a year when 9/11 occurred. What a hateful, hateful, hateful group of people they must be. More recently with regards to the Iraq war, and all of the mistakes that were made, the crude resurgence of Anti Americanism reared it's ugly head once again. To try to argue with a people who cheer when our soldiers die and actively support the right of one of the most evil tyrants in human history to remain in power defies all logic and common sense. I never will forget watching a scene from Shannon Airport. Our troops, most of whom were mere kids in their late teens and early twenties were disembarking for Iraq. This was during the hight of the 2005-06 insurgency. Most of those kids were heading off to certain death. The Irish, upon seeing them pass by, gave them a sarcastic standing ovation. What a disgustingly low and vile thing to do to another human being. Condemned criminals are shown more compassion and dignity than that. The people of Europe have always been against the war. Then again, France and Germany secretly did business with Saddam, against U.N. sanctions by the way. Look up the E.U.'s involvement with the Oil for Food scandal. Miss Byrne, you are an educated and intelligent woman. You have no blame in defending our country. And yes, it is your fundamental right to question our governments actions. Our republic was founded on the right to disagree. However, I urge you to take a step back and examine where the criticism is coming from. The Irish have proven how much our friendship really means to them. With friends like Ireland who needs Al Qaeda. American foreign policy stepped in on behalf of the Allies during WW2, and rebuilt Europe in the aftermath of the war. American foreign policy stood down the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and was ultimately responsible for it's collapse. American foreign policy also lent generous financial aid to France after the May 1968 Marxist student riots which brought about the collapse of the De Gaulle government, thus preventing France from descending even further into chaos. American foreign policy also stepped in and stopped the the ethnic cleansing of the Muslim Albanians during the 1990's in the war torn Balkans. These are to name just a few examples of the "selfish" and "disastrous" aspects of American foreign policy over the past six decades.

Under the Clinton administration, America was instrumental in helping to negotiate the Good Friday Accords that put an end to decades of IRA terrorism. It was also under the Clinton administration that the U.S. became Ireland's principle foreign investor. As a matter of fact, exports to the U.S. amounted to 10% of Ireland's GDP in 2005 alone. The U.S. J-1 visa program, for example, remains a popular means for Irish youths to work temporarily in the United States. And what has Ireland done for the United States in return for this unprecedented benevolence and generosity? Have the Irish been as accommodating to American tourists who visit their country? Here in the States, the Irish are treated with much kindness and affection. One has to only watch the BBC or read the Irish Independent in order to see the truly disgraceful way in which Americans are treated in that country. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, Many Irish newspapers and media programs were quick to place the blame of that atrocity squarely on the shoulders of the United States. Prominent Irish journalist such as Bob Fisk, Helena Sheehan, Tim Pat Coogan, and Carole Coleman went so far as to imply that this was America's foreign policy coming home to roost. Indeed, most of the Irish media elites went even so far as to place the blame of Bush himself though neglecting to point out the fact that the man had been in office for less than a year when 9/11 occurred. What a hateful, hateful, hateful group of people they must be. More recently with regards to the Iraq war, and all of the mistakes that were made, the crude resurgence of Anti Americanism reared it's ugly head once again. To try to argue with a people who cheer when our soldiers die and actively support the right of one of the most evil tyrants in human history to remain in power defies all logic and common sense. I never will forget watching a scene from Shannon Airport. Our troops, most of whom were mere kids in their late teens and early twenties were disembarking for Iraq. This was during the hight of the 2005-06 insurgency. Most of those kids were heading off to certain death. The Irish, upon seeing them pass by, gave them a sarcastic standing ovation. What a disgustingly low and vile thing to do to another human being. Condemned criminals are shown more compassion and dignity than that. The people of Europe have always been against the war. Then again, France and Germany secretly did business with Saddam, against U.N. sanctions by the way. Look up the E.U.'s involvement with the Oil for Food scandal. Miss Byrne, you are an educated and intelligent woman. You have no blame in defending our country. And yes, it is your fundamental right to question our governments actions. Our republic was founded on the right to disagree. However, I urge you to take a step back and examine where the criticism is coming from. The Irish have proven how much our friendship really means to them. With friends like Ireland who needs Al Qaeda.

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