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Reminds me of Ireland's passive "neutrality" in which they have for decades tolerated US military transports to stopover and refuel on Irish territory (Shannon Airport) on their way to Iraq, Yugoslavia, etc.

Note, Irish neutrality has repeatedly been a contentious issue in Irish referendum held on European treaties on further European integration which could possibly affect Ireland's independent neutral status as part of any wider European actions. In my opinion, there has been a growing sentiment in the Irish political class that neutrality has become outdated. Last year there was even a big push by government officials to lobby for a seat on the UN Security Council.

What to make of a world where neutrality is increasingly regarded as "outdated" and no longer tenable even by parties traditionally left of center and anti-war? The echoes of the past are growing louder...

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Meanwhile, over here the Swedish Department of Foreign Affairs is trying to stop the Parliament's annual commemoration of the Armenian Genocide carried out by the turks over a century ago.

The armenian amabssador to Sweden was briefed by representatives by the UD (Department of Foreign Affairs) and asked to keep it quiet, so as not to further upset the turks and NATO-application process.

It wasn't until 2010 that the Armenian Genocide was even recognised as such here and no swedish governement has wanted to call it "genocide", mainly due to the Socialist Democrats and their corporate allies not wanting to upset business opportunities in Turkey and neighbouring areas where Turkey's got a lot of 'pull'.

Both the Left Party and the Sweden Democrats have protested this action by the UD while the minister of foreign affairs, the Moderate (read: gloablist neoliberal) won't even use the word "genocide" at all, and objects to it beng used, afull 180-degree turn from when he was in opposition to the Socialist Democrats a few years ago.

To neoliberals, there are no values more sacred than monetary profits, they make even the communists look decent in comparison. I wonder when the Black Book of the tens of millions murdered by capitalism will be made...

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