US troops 27,000 more ordered to Gulf
Party Chairman, John Gormley TD, says it is now clear that Shannon could become a target in the event of a war.
And he says the party is now planning to spearhead political opposition to a war against Iraq and the use of Shannon by military planes.
More troops deployed to Gulf
Meanwhile, the Bush administration has ordered another 27,000 troops to the Gulf as part of a rapidly growing buildup for possible war with Iraq, the New York Times reported yesterday.
It was the second deployment order in 24 hours.
The newspaper said this means the United States could be positioned for an attack on Iraq by mid-to-late February with a force exceeding 150,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen.
However, increasing pressure from allies for Washington to allow UN weapons inspectors to complete their work in Iraq has raised speculation in recent days about whether US war plans might yet be slowed.
The latest deployment order was signed overnight by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
It includes thousands of Marines, an Army airborne infantry brigade, a squadron of Air Force F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighters and two squadrons of F-16CJ radar-jamming fighters, the Times reported.
