Scottish Government urged to kick Trump’s troops out of Prestwick immediately
The First Minister must ban Donald Trump’s troops from using Prestwick and other government owned airports, says Scottish Green Co-leader Ross Greer.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Ross cited flight data compiled by the Scottish Greens which shows that 24 US military flights landed at Prestwick Airport in the week leading up to Trump’s bombing of Iran, including at least one that came from Israel.
Pointing to the First Minister’s own criticism of the American and Israeli bombing campaign, Ross questioned how he could possibly continue to allow the US military to use a Scottish Government owned airport as part of its operations.
In his first question to the First Minister, Ross said:
“Flight data shows that in the week leading up to the US and Israel’s attack on Iran, 24 US military planes landed at Prestwick Airport - some of which came directly from Israel.
“That is a significant increase in American military activity at an airport owned by the Scottish Government. We now know this was in preparation for their bombing campaign against Iran.
“Trump and Natanyahu are not liberating the Iranian people from their brutal regime by murdering their children - as they did when they killed dozens of little girls in a Tehran school shortly after they arrived for class on Saturday.
“The Israeli military is already rightly banned from using Prestwick Airport because of their genocidal assault on Palestine.
“The First Minister has said that America and Israel’s attack on Iran is not compatible with the international rules-based system. In other words, it is illegal under international law.
“So surely he will now ban the American military from Prestwick Airport?"
In his response the First Minister expressed concerns about the conduct of Trump and his military and the legality of strikes on Iran, but refused to ban them from using government-owned Prestwick.
In his second question, Ross said:
“The First Minister is right that America’s attack on Iran is incompatible with international law.
“But he is seeking an answer that we already have about US use of Prestwick Airport. We can see the flight data. We can see the flights between Prestwick Airport and Israel by the US military. It is abundantly obvious what they are doing.
“Spain - a fellow NATO member - has now banned the US military from using their air bases.
“Their Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: “You can be against a hateful regime… and, at the same time, against an unjustified and dangerous military intervention that is outside of international law.”
"I believe the First Minister agrees with that statement, it’s very similar to statements he made when he marched against the war against Iraq in 2003.
“The US is using an airport owned by the Scottish Government to wage an illegal war, killing hundreds if not thousands of innocent people. But at the moment Scotland's First Minister is sitting on his hands.
“This government says it stands up for Scotland - why does that stop the moment it might involve defying Donald Trump? Why won’t the First Minister kick Trump’s troops out of Prestwick immediately?”