Intelligencer

Dems Focus on Irish Positions

AS the New Hampshire primary nears, the campaigns of Dr. Howard Dean and General Wesley Clark are beginning to focus on the Irish question as more and more Irish American organizations seek their views.

We can expect an Irish statement from both camps in the coming days, and there seems little doubt that the statements will be comprehensive, given who is involved in drafting them.

For Dean, former National Security Advisor Tony Lake has been the key voice, and it would be hard to get a more committed political figure on Irish issues than Lake, who was President Clinton’s point man on the issue.

General Clark is not doing so badly either. Lake’s deputy Nancy Soderbergh has been getting opinion from leading Irish Americans this week on the Clark stance on the issue which is also expected to be released very soon.

To date Senator Joe Lieberman and Congressman Denis Kucinich have released their positions on Ireland. It is believed that both Clark and Dean will also include passages on the need for immigration reform as it impacts the Irish – perhaps the most visible issue for many Irish Americans this political season.

It is understood that both Dean and Clark will undertake to travel to Northern Ireland if elected to give a boost to the peace process there. Both men also are expected to state that they would heed the advice of old Irish hands such as President Clinton, Senator George Mitchell and Senator Edward Kennedy on the question.

With the race seemingly narrowing in many states, the Irish American vote in places such as New York, California, Pennsylvania will be an important one. That may well be the reason that the two leading campaigns have suddenly begun to focus on the issue.

‘Green’ U.S. Embassy Smacked by State 

AN interesting insight into the mindset of the US government early on the Northern Troubles is given in the recently released Department of State documents in Washington. 

The transcripts reveal a U.S. Embassy in Dublin considerably greener and more sympathetic to Irish nationalism than the State Department, always mindful of their relationship with Britain, would have wanted them to be.

Following Bloody Sunday, U.S. Ambassador John Moore, appointed by Richard Nixon, wrote to the State Department and said, “The sober view of people in government here . . . is that the present course of events on this island, if not modified by a change in British policy, runs a grave risk of leading to civil war or at least more bloodshed.

“We think out government would wish to say that it did not stand by unconcernedly as Ireland headed towards bloodshed. We believe therefore it is in our national interest to show as much responsiveness as possible to (the Irish government appeal) for international intervention.”

Another embassy staffer stated, “The Irish will not, repeat not, be satisfied with expressions of sympathy and they will expect at least a U.S. commitment to approach the British and ask them to take steps to relieve tensions in the North.”

The response from the State Department, however, was as predictable as usual, with the pro-British lean evident right away.

“Unquestionably the Irish reactions to the events in Derry has been . . . emotionally charged. We do not believe, however, that our response to the Irish government should be based primarily on concern for Ireland’s problems. We believe our response should be based on our own interests.” (Read the special relationship with Britain.)

Bush Woos Irish Vote

THE new immigration legislation proposed by President George W. Bush on the eve of his meeting with Mexican President Vicente Fox will also be good news for Irish undocumented living here.

While details are not available at press time, it appears that Bush is recommending a major overhaul of the system, which will likely give tens of thousands of Irish here illegally a chance to regularize their position.

Such a step would provide a boost to Bush among Irish Americans who care deeply about this issue. While it is obviously primarily aimed at the Hispanic community, the legislation will also be of immense benefit to many Irish if it is passed.

Indeed, it seems that Bush will have the support of leading Democrats for his plan, making it all the more likely that it will pass. Ironically, it is his own right-wingers who are expected to provide most of the opposition, ironic in the sense that Bush legislation is usually crafted to please them first before anyone else.

An Irish Invasion

WITH Ireland holding the presidency of Europe for the next six months we can expect a flood of Irish ministers to visit the U.S. in coming months, representing the European Union. 

Indeed, Irish Finance Minster Charles McCreevy is already scheduled for a major international conference in Florida early next month.

The main meeting, however, will be between Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, and President George W. Bush, and Ahern has made it clear that he will be trying hard to close the gap between Europe and the U.S. on a number of controversial issues. 

While the meeting will likely take place around St. Patrick’s Day, it is expected to focus more heavily on European/U.S. issues than Irish questions.