Jeb Bush Not Welcome in Dublin

THe following is the text of the speech made at the protest against the presence in Dublin City of Governot Jeb Bush:

'Ladies and Gentleman, as Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin I am delighted to be here to today to support the Irish Anti-War Movement’s protest against the presence in our city of Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

Dublin is a major international capital and so its civic leaders have a responsibility to make statements on matters of grave injustice no matter where they occur, be they in the Developing World, in Iraq or in Palestine.

The Bush’s regime’s actions in Iraq, of which Jeb is a key supporter, have outraged every right-thinking Irish citizen. The president’s comments this week in support of Israel while unsurprising once again illustrate quite clearly the blinkered and savage mindset of the Bush administration.

Jewish votes in America are obviously much more important than dead Lebanese or Palestinian children. It is important that we shed some light on what Mr Jeb Bush believes in. Governor Bush is a signatory to the ‘Project for the New American Century, a campaign which explicitly confirms what many have been thinking all along of the current U.S. administration.

According to the group’s statement of principles, ‘we need to challenge regimes hostile to our interests and values’. Listed as top priority is fighting for ‘a defense budget that would maintain American security and advance American interests in the new century’. In a report entitled "Rebuilding America's Defenses" they call for a foreign policy that boldly and purposefully promotes American principles abroad.

They say ‘Such a Reaganite policy of military strength and moral clarity may not be fashionable today but it is necessary if the United States is to build on the successes of this past century and to ensure our security and our greatness in the next.’

Against such a background of aggressive militarism Washington has invaded Iraq, a country with the world's second largest reserves of oil. Jeb and his brother George believe blood is a reasonable price for oil even if it means extinguishing the lives of countless innocent human beings.

Today we as Dubliners take a stand against the immoral Bush regime. In the past we have stood against the Apartheid regime in South Africa. We have stood against Israeli aggression in the Middle East and we have stood against the war in Iraq. That is why today again we Dubliners stand together stand against you Jeb Bush.

We believe in truth and justice and we do not believe in your American way. AS long as you support the killing of innocent civilians for the causes and cheap domestic votes, we will stand against you. You are not welcome in our city Mr Bush. Teigh abhaile Jeb– Nil failte romhat anseo. Go raibh math agaibh.'