The Irish Anti-War Movement has said it is “highly inappropriate” for Barack Obama to be given Freedom of Dublin.
The former US President and his wife, Michelle, were awarded the Freedom of the city in 2017 and have been invited to accept the award in person when they visit Ireland in September.
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Lord Mayor of Dublin Ray McAdam described it as a “rare distinction” for people who have “made a profound and lasting contribution to the world”.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Irish Anti-War Movement Jim Roche said there is an “awful lot of willful forgetfulness” about Mr Obama’s legacy - particularly his foreign policy, which he described as “horrific”.
“Let me remind listeners of some of the things that Obama did,” he said.
“He increased the use of drone warfare, for example, in Afghanistan and spread it into Pakistan.
“According to the US Brookings Institute, the rate of civilian death to militants due to drone attacks was 10 to one.”
President Barack Obama presents a 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom to former President of Ireland Mary Robinson. Picture by: Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo.Mr Roche added that there are a “whole lot of other things” that he objected to during the Obama presidency as well.
“His role in suppressing the Arab Revolutions, his failure to close Guantanamo Bay, the NATO bombing of Libya, his increase in defence spending,” he explained.
“I think drone warfare is the particular one.
“There were 563 attacks under his two terms, compared to 57 under George Bush.”
US President Barack Obama meets with Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Oval Office in 2012. Picture by: American Photo Archive / Alamy Stock Photo.Also on the programme, Professor Scott Lucas Professor of University College Dublin admitted Mr Obama was not “perfect” but insisted that his foreign policy was “just part of the record”.
“He was a decent man, he was a good man who tried to make a difference,” he said.
“I think what he did with healthcare will be a legacy and tribute to him - despite the Trump administration’s attempt to unravel it.
“I think his attempts to deal with long-standing issues of discrimination, long-standing issues of violence are to be credited.
“He helped bring the United States out of the great financial crash.”
Main image: Barack Obama. Picture by: Alamy.com.
