These are the Senators, along with Senator Cotton, who are selling out the Good Friday Agreement 0f 1998 and may cause the “Troubles” to flare up again. Please call your Senators and advise them to pull back their support for this “Snake Oil Salesman’s” letter to Boris.
The letter was also signed by Senators Barrasso (WY), Blackburn (TN), Boozman (AR), Braun (IN), Burr (NC), Capito (WV), Cassidy (LA), Collins (ME), Cornyn (TX), Cramer (ND), Crapo (ID), Cruz (TX), Daines (MT), Enzi (WY), Ernst (IA), Fischer (NE), Graham (SC), Grassley (IA), Hawley (MO), Hoeven (ND), Hyde-Smith (MS), Inhofe (OK), Isakson (GA), Johnson (WI), Kennedy (LA), Lankford (OK), Lee (UT), McSally (AZ), Murkowski (AK), Perdue (GA), Portman (OH), Risch (ID), Roberts (KS), Rounds (SD), Rubio (FL), Sasse (NE), Scott (FL), Scott (SC), Sullivan (AK), Thune (SD), Tillis (NC), Toomey (PA), Wicker (MS), and Young (IN).
In effect, an anti-Catholic and anti-Irish declaration signed by 44 other Senators
CAPITOL HILL. Sunday, August 4, 2019—— The British Embassy has been busy. Not since the MacBride Principles—a corporate code of conduct for American companies doing business in Northern Ireland— launched by the Irish National Caucus on November 5, 1984, have we seen such on assault on the US Congress. Then, the British Embassy tried to block the MacBride Principles from making sure US dollars would not subsidize anti-Catholic discrimination in Northern Ireland. Now the British Embassy—because of Boris Johnson’s irresponsibility—is attempting to stop the campaign to make sure the United States will not subsidize the destruction of the Good Friday Agreement and the Irish Peace Process, which the United States and former British prime minister Tony Blair, God bless him, did so much to bring about. Fr. Sean McManus—president/founder of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus—said:” I was hoping the bad old days were over and that we would never again see the British Embassy embark on what will be seen as an anti-Irish, anti-Catholic campaign in the Unites States. Now, sadly, the Embassy has been forced to recruit Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) to lead this deplorable charge. He has co-opted 44 other US Senators to sign his appalling and irresponsible letter to British prime minster Boris Johnson, pledging to ‘support whatever course Britain takes’— even, apparently, if that course destroys the Good Friday Agreement and Irish Peace Process, as many fear.” (Full text of letter and names of signers below, as posted on Senator Cotton’s website). Fr. McManus continued:”Many responsible people in the EU, Ireland, north and south, and in the Unites States have expressedreal and deep concern about the dangers a ‘no-deal Brexit’ and the return of a ‘hard’ Border across the face of Ireland can do. ButSenator Cotton and the 44 blithely ignore all this—never even mentioning it. In effect, this appalling letter will be seen by many Irish-Americans as both anti-Catholic and anti-Irish—no matter the intention of the 45 signers, or that some have Irish names, or may, indeed, be Catholic.The letter demonstrates, in the context, either profound ignorance or indifference to the danger posed to both parts of Ireland, which overwhelmingly is opposed to Brexit, hard or soft. What were the other 44 Senators thinking!” I hope these 45 Senators will now clearly and unequivocally state their support of the Irish Peace Process and the Good Friday Agreement.”END.
Cotton, Colleagues Pen Letter Pledging to Back Britain After Brexit
Washington, D.C. — Senator
Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and 44 of his Senate colleagues have sent a
letter to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledging unwavering
support for the United Kingdom as it exits the European Union in the
coming months. The letter calls for a new bilateral trade agreement
between the United States and the United Kingdom. It also reiterates the
importance of U.S.-UK cooperation within the NATO security alliance and
the “Five Eyes” intelligence partnership. The full text of the letter
is below and can be found here. The
letter was also signed by Senators Barrasso (WY), Blackburn (TN),
Boozman (AR), Braun (IN), Burr (NC), Capito (WV), Cassidy (LA), Collins
(ME), Cornyn (TX), Cramer (ND), Crapo (ID), Cruz (TX), Daines (MT), Enzi
(WY), Ernst (IA), Fischer (NE), Graham (SC), Grassley (IA), Hawley
(MO), Hoeven (ND), Hyde-Smith (MS), Inhofe (OK), Isakson (GA), Johnson
(WI), Kennedy (LA), Lankford (OK), Lee (UT), McSally (AZ), Murkowski
(AK), Perdue (GA), Portman (OH), Risch (ID), Roberts (KS), Rounds (SD),
Rubio (FL), Sasse (NE), Scott (FL), Scott (SC), Sullivan (AK), Thune
(SD), Tillis (NC), Toomey (PA), Wicker (MS), and Young (IN). The Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2AA Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
We
write to congratulate you on your election as prime minister. We also
want to assure you and the British people of our continued, unwavering
support for the special relationship between our two countries as
Britain leaves the European Union.
In
2016, the British people voted to leave the European Union. While we
don’t necessarily agree among ourselves about that decision, we
recognize and respect your nation’s sovereign right to determine its
future. It is for your government to decide the terms of a Brexit deal
with the EU. In your victory speech last month, you pledged “to
get Brexit done on October the 31st,” a date just
around the corner. We wouldn’t presume to recommend the right policy,
but we will support whatever course Britain takes. First,
if Britain leaves the EU with no deal, we will work with our
administration, your government, and our friends in the EU to minimize
disruptions in critical matters such as international air travel,
financial transactions, and the shipment of medicine, food, and other
vital supplies. Second,
irrespective of how Brexit occurs, we recommit to the NATO security
alliance and the “Five Eyes” intelligence partnership. We also will
advocate for a new bilateral trade agreement, as early as
your Brexit terms would allow, that reflects the centuries of open
commerce between our nations. Finally,
we pledge our friendship in the future to the United Kingdom. Our
soldiers have fought together from the beaches of Normandy to the
mountains of Afghanistan. Together, we have toppled tyrants and
liberated the oppressed. The shared story of our special relationship is
a great one indeed, and we look forward to adding more chapters still. Congratulations
again to you. Your great predecessor once averred that the British
people had the heart of a lion, and he “had the luck to be called upon
to give the roar” during their finest hour. Best wishes in the days
ahead for every success in giving the roar for what we’re confident will
be another very fine hour in the long history of your lion-hearted
people.
August 2019 A chairde: FFAI ISSUES UPDATEA-Boris Johnson threatens Ireland and European Union with “no deal Brexit” unless new deal concessions -After becoming British Prime Minister without any general election, popular mandate or Westminster majority , Boris Johnson began by threatening a no deal Brexit disaster on October 31st, unless the EU renegotiates the Withdrawal Agreement to his liking. He is gambling that the EU will bow to threats and offer major concessions to stop Britain from crashing out of Europe and forcing a hard border across Ireland. Johnson in his first Westminster speech as Prime Minister promised a “golden age”, ushered in by an October 31st withdrawal ” no ifs, no buts”. He said the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated by the British government under Theresa May was something “no country that values its independence and indeed its self-respect could agree” and its terms for the Irish border, a “monstrosity” “unacceptable”, “anti-democratic.” Johnson boasted that his regime was “turbocharging” preparations for a no deal Brexit crash out, if Europe refused to abolish the backstop. He snubbed Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, by not phoning him for six days.(Customarily incoming British Prime Ministers make a courtesy call to the head of the Irish government within a day of taking office).Johnson then clashed with Varadkar, saying the backstop must be abolished. Varadkar replied that the emergency measure was made necessary by British decisions. Ireland’s Tanaiste or Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney described Johnson’s strategy as “give me what I want or I will burn the house down for everybody.” He said if Johnson wants to “tear up” the existing Withdrawal Agreement with the EU “we are in trouble” and charged the British Prime Minister with deliberately putting Britain on a “collision course” with Ireland and the European Union. Johnson said he would not meet with French and German leaders unless they agree in advance to “abolish the backstop”. The “backstop” was agreed by Britain and the EU as part of the 599 page Withdrawal Agreement to avoid a disastrous hard border across Ireland. Brexit would make the six counties Europe’s land border with Britain, requiring customs, import and immigration checks. The EU invited the north to remain in the customs union, with customs, immigration controls etc beginning in the Irish sea, (meaning at entry points into England, Scotland or Wales). Brexiteers within the Tory Party, backed the DUP, to veto a “backstop” or safety net that would only begin if a full trade agreement was not reached by the end of 2020.Johnson took over for Theresa May after winning a contest within the Conservative Party. There was no general election and he needs 10 DUP votes for a majority in Westminster. Alliance Party head Naomi Long said “we need a statesman not a showman.” SDLP head Colum Eastwood said “Johnson coasted into Downing Street on a wave of Brexit bluff and bluster”. Michelle O’Neill said Sinn Fein would “engage Johnson on the fact that there is nothing good to come from Brexit”. B-New amnesty moves for British troopers meet Congressional challenge-In the closing days of the contest for Tory Party leadership, Boris Johnson vowed to end “unfair prosecutions” of British troopers for murders committed in the north between 1969-98 with a statute of limitations. (Read ‘unfair” as ‘any’ murder prosecutions of troopers). He quickly created a post of British Army veterans minister and named Johnny Mercer, the most vocal advocate of trooper amnesty at Westminster, to head it. The move would make a mockery of British claims that its troopers and constabulary were not “above the law” or did not act with impunity in the north. Only a handful of British troopers were ever imprisoned for murders like Ballymurphy or Bloody Sunday. There are growing British worries about prosecutions of former troopers, because proceedings like the Ballymurphy Massacre Inquest reveal how British troopers committed brutal murders which were white-washed by the crown. Six Members of Congress joined in a bipartisan letter to Deputy British Ambassador Michael Tatum, citing American concerns about state force amnesty in legacy killings and Britain’s failure to implement agreed legacy mechanisms. The bipartisan Congressional initiative, joined by Representatives Peter King, Eliot Engel, Chris Smith, Brian Fitzpatrick, Nita Lowey and Brendan Boyle. The initiative also follows a recent AOH sponsored tour by Mark Thompson of Relatives For Justice and Edge Hill University Professor Mark McGovern, author of Counterinsurgency and Collusion in Northern Ireland. The British government repeatedly claimed that it was opposed to amnesty for killings by British military, including in a formal letter by then Ambassador Kim Darroch to Members of Congress on May 18,2018.An amnesty in the form of statute of limitations was overwhelmingly opposed by those who responded to the British government Consultation on legacy, announced earlier this month. However this policy was summarily discarded by the new Tory leader. Legacy mechanisms were agreed and published by the British government as part of the Stormont House Agreement of 2014. These mechanisms, which include a Historical Investigations Unit into Troubles killings, have never been implemented. Many nationalists believe that the HIU would bring charges against crown forces for killings or collusion with loyalists in murders.C-Julian Smith, named six countysecretary snubs Derry nationalists-Julian Smith replaced Karen Bradley as Britain’s six county secretary. He was met by Bloody Sunday and Irish language protestors as he arrived in Derry for his first day in the new post. Smith who had been applauded on the stage as a “friend of the party” at the Democratic Unionist Party conference 2017, had been a key figure in keeping the DUP MPs propping up Theresa May. He visited a number of unionist landmarks, including the Apprentice Boys of Derry Siege Museum, the Apprentice Boys Walker’s Monument and the city walls. He avoided nearby nationalist sites such as the Bogside, Museum of Free Derry or Free Derry corner. Smith then said he would speak with all political parties in the north and treat them equally. However he is viewed as the DUP’s choice for the post, carrying out policies set by Boris Johnson who seems willing to sacrifice Irish interest for Westminster political gains. Meanwhile talks to restore the devolved Stormont Assembly, which has not sat since January 2017 continue. There is no agreement on key issues including an Irish Language Act, implementing legacy mechanisms, the Renewable Heat Initiative and social issues. Last year a DUP-Sinn Fein agreement fell apart on Valentine’s Day, when the DUP reneged on a compromise proposal allowing an Irish language Act along the lines of Scotland and Wales.D-Bonfire threats by loyalists force City Council retreat -July is not only marked by triumphal Orange parades across the north but also by hundreds of huge July 11th night bonfires. Many of these bonfires are topped off with posters of nationalists, KAT signs( meaning kill all Catholics), or Irish symbols which are publicly burned to cheers and sectarian songs as part of the celebrations. This year the most sinister example was a bonfire built in the parking lot of a Belfast City Council owned leisure center at Avoniel. When local residents called for the bonfire materials to be removed from the city owned property, a crowd connected to the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force formed a barricade at the entrance to the parking lot. They made threats to staff and forced the facility to be closed. Belfast City Council made a formal complaint to the PSNI constabulary about “aggravated trespassing” and hired contractors to remove the bonfire materials. The names of the contractors were leaked to loyalists. Threatening graffiti naming the contractors was painted on the walls, with slogans like contractors “attack loyalism at your own risk!” Instead of enforcing the City’s right to remove the materials, constabulary warned there was a risk of “serious violence” using firearms if council workers made any attempt to dismantle the bonfire. Belfast City Council then gave up efforts to remove the bonfire.
AOH BUILDING CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR FFAI This past week anyone reading the daily papers in the north, the nationalist IRISH NEWS or the unionist BELFAST TELEGRAPH or anyone reading the Irish American papers, the IRISH ECHO and IRISH VOICE, read about AOH supporting victims’ families in the north by getting a major Congressional letter on legacy justice to the British Ambassador. We got many phone calls and email messages from Ireland, thanking the AOH, and telling us that American Congressional initiatives have a major impact on the British and are a morale boost for those fighting for justice. The AOH got word on Friday afternoon that Congressman Peter King agreed to take the lead. Over the weekend we were able to get five more co-signers, including important committee chairs.The AOH was able to accomplish this because AOH members in local districts have contacted representatives and said Irish Americans in their constituency wanted them to take a stand and support us on the key issue of legacy justice. We want to build up a network of Congressmen, who are aware of key FFAI issues and the importance of Irish issues to voters in their district. Brothers living in Congressional districts across the country, are a key part of building that network.
FFAI MONTHLY BULLETIN Please read the monthly FFAI Bulletin in the AOH national email blasts, or on the New York State and National AOH web sites. We want to give you monthly updates on key events in the north with short analysis and explanation. MGALVINESQ@AOL.COM.
“Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader. They set out to make the difference. It is never about the role – always about the goal.” Lisa Haisha
By Oleg Vishnepolsky
Weak leaders measure success by money, position and power.
Strong leaders measure success by the difference they made in other people’s lives.
The secret to the success of my own career was to hire good people, trust them to do their jobs, and bring out the best in them, not the stress in them.
Good people need little to no management. They need support, clarity and encouragement.
But most of all they need leaders who care.
If we don’t care about people, we don’t deserve to be leaders.
The new British government under Boris Johnson has already displayed its
contempt for the political process in Ireland by holding a private dinner with the DUP
ahead of meeting the other political parties, while new
Direct Ruler Julian Smith’s first message to the public was to express
his joy at seeing a picture of the English queen on his desk.
Johnson held more formal talks with Stormont’s main parties in Belfast
on Wednesday as he made his first visit to the Six Counties since
becoming British Prime Minister.
But his first action on Tuesday evening was to dine with DUP leader
Arlene Foster and DUP MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Nigel Dodds after
arriving into Belfast.
The event showed Johnson’s focus is on renewing the Tories’ confidence
and supply deal with the hardline unionists who are keeping the minority
Tory government in power.
Following Sinn Féin’s meeting with Mr Johnson, party leader Mary Lou
McDonald said she told the British prime minister he had to stop being
the DUP’s “gopher”.
Ms McDonald said his stated claim of impartiality was “laughable”.
“He tells us he will act with absolute impartiality, we have told him
that nobody believes that,” she said. “Nobody believes that because
there are no grounds to believe there is any kind of impartiality, much
less strict impartiality.”
She said the confidence and supply deal at Westminster between the DUP
and the Tories had “poisoned the groundwater” at Stormont.
“He asked for our advice and we have strongly advised him that to make
progress here he needs to ensure that he is not the DUP’s gopher, he
needs to stop mollycoddling them, he needs to spell out the realities of
life to them and put pressure on his unionist colleagues to ensure we
can land on an equitable and sustainable agreement,” she said.
Johnson’s visits to Scotland, Wales and finally the north of Ireland
were greeted by jeering and booing crowds in Edinburgh and Cardiff and
by a mixed bag of protestors in Belfast. Demonstrators from the Bloody
Sunday Justice Campaign as well as activists in favour of same-sex
marriage, Irish language legislation and Harland & Wolff shipyard
shouted slogans as he arrived.
But Johnson, who was joined at Stormont by newly-appointed Direct Ruler
Julian Smith, merely reiterated his hardline Brexit-at-all-costs agenda,
despite claiming to “attach huge importance to the letter, spirit of the
Belfast Good Friday Agreement”.
It was a statement that rang hollow before he finished the sentence. He
had left it to his Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to admit the Tories
plan to simply impose full Direct Rule from London in the event of a
no-deal Brexit, while his newly established ‘Office of Veterans Affairs’
snubbed victims of state violence and collusion by describing British
killer soldiers as ‘the pinnacle of British character’ who should be
protected by the government.
The hypocrisy was even clearer when Smith’s first message to his Irish
subjects was a colonial-style picture of the English queen. In a tweet,
he wrote: “Proud to have a picture of Her Majesty The Queen on the
mantle piece of my private office at Stormont. I was delighted to see it
there when I arrived last Friday.”
Smith was understood to be mocking a current controversy over employment
equality legislation which has seen compensation paid to a civil servant
required to walk a gauntlet of portraits of the English royal family.
The actions have confirmed the widely-held belief that as far as the
north of Ireland is concerned, the Tories only priority remains the same
as when Theresa May was in charge: a formula of clear and calculated
insults to nationalists in order to keep the DUP placated, because the
votes of its 10 MPs are vital for them to stay in power.
