What has the irish army ever done for me?

gnashrr

Why do we have an army? They don't do anything. All they do is play soldier all day long. We don't need an army.

babybundy

guess again they protect your arse wether you believe it or not

cushtac

gnashrr wrote:

Why do we have an army? They don't do anything. All they do is play soldier all day long. We don't need an army.

Cash escort, prisoner escort, protection of both the central bank's minting facility & Portlaois prison, bomb disposal, emergency cover/back-up for ambulance & fire service (happens more often than you'd think), disaster relief (rescuing people during flooding etc.) back-up for Gardai in the likes of missing person searches and the last foot & mouth outbreak.

And all this is when they're not overseas.

Exon

Good points cushtac, ofcourse we need an army.

Bam Bam

In god and the soldier we adore,
In times of danger not before,
When the dangers passed,
and all things righted,
God is forgotten,
And the soldier slighed.




When you need them they are there.

IrishAirCorps

gnashrr wrote:

Why do we have an army? They don't do anything. All they do is play soldier all day long. We don't need an army.

And a big thank you goes out to Joe Public for another well thought out post.:rolleyes:

babybundy

no i dont think its just joe public i think its one of those anti war pricks that think making money from refueling jets at shannon is an act of war

Dub13

A better question,what has gnashrr ever done for Ireland....?

Mick86

gnashrr wrote:

Why do we have an army? They don't do anything. All they do is play soldier all day long. We don't need an army.

Ask not what the army can do for you...

TapouT

gnashrr wrote:

Why do we have an army? They don't do anything. All they do is play soldier all day long. We don't need an army.

Well before the last IRA ceasefire and earlier the year in Yugoslavia no other country in Europe faced the same internal security problems we (Eire) did. Fact is we didn't rip ourselves apart, maybe a continued army presence on Britains border, and the above mentioned prisoner escapes, cash & explosive escorts to name but a few prevented it happening.

I know I'd rather look at the army then look for it when we need it.

iFight

Dub13 wrote:

A better question,what has gnashrr ever done for Ireland....?

Harsh on gnashrr, needed but harsh all the same

If Ireland didn't have a military, everyone would be mocking our lack of defenses and I suppose, generally being pushovers for not having any army. It is necessary to have one, even if they dont get involved in wars. Though I thought that they did peacekeepping etc, plus all the jobs listed by cushtac

Zonko

Switzerland has debatably one of the best armies in the world, and they haven't been in a fight for 800 years. A good example of why an army doesn't need a war to be effective.

Bam Bam

Its also a fortress, Its borders, with surrounding countries, are mountain ranges, and the alps.

Hagar

iFight wrote:

Harsh on gnashrr, needed but harsh all the same

I wouldn't worry too much about gnashrr's feelings, he has been sitebanned for spamming many forums with shyte stirring like this.

boneless

babybundy wrote:

no i dont think its just joe public i think its one of those anti war pricks that think making money from refueling jets at shannon is an act of war

Most soldiers I know are anti-war!! And a lot of them do think that the use of Shannon by the US military is a breach of our neutrality.

I am of the belief that the best way to protect our neutral status is to have a professional, well trained and equipped defence force.

Morpheus

Most soldiers I know are anti-war!!

Sure there are a few, but being a reservist (me that is), I would guess that you dont know that many soldiers

I am of the belief that the best way to protect our neutral status is to have a professional, well trained and equipped defence force.

Read the constitution. were not a neutral state, never have been. Its a misconception used by our rainbow colored, dreadlock spouting, cardigan wearing brigade to try to convince the public that storming a national airport and damaging another countries property is a viable form of protest.

One requirement for an internationally recognised neutral state is to be able to protect oneself without depending on other countries for support. Something we are far far less than capable at, however I agree with your point that this is a requirement for Ireland.

We have a defence and foreign policy of non alignment,without a national referendum, thats as close to constitutional neutrality that we will ever get i think. Its also why we dont have a problem allowing the US to refuel in Shannon, probably also because if anything did happen here (which i doubt it would) we are keeping our two closest neighbours (both also super powers and close allies to each other) close to us.

boneless

Don't presume that I do not know many soldiers... I spent 15 years in the FCA in integrated regiments... I still hold a mess card for the NCO's mess in McKee!!! I spend a fair bit of time in my brothers company; he's in the PDF. I know many of his colleagues.

As regards to the constitution, you should read it again with more care. I agree with the your assessment of the necessary components to be neutral under international law. That is why I believe there should be greater investment in the armed forces of this country.

It suits our present and past governments to be "neutral on the right side", but that does not mean it is legal.

All the above is, by the way, in the spirit of healthy debate.

easyontheeye

gnashrr wrote:

Why do we have an army? They don't do anything. All they do is play soldier all day long. We don't need an army.

ignorant muppet!! :mad:

Morpheus

Don't presume that I do not know many soldiers... I spent 15 years in the FCA in integrated regiments... I still hold a mess card for the NCO's mess in McKee!!! I spend a fair bit of time in my brothers company; he's in the PDF. I know many of his colleagues.

Fair enough, point taken, well then i suppose i could say the majority of soldiers that i know arent exactly anti war, if your definition is one like mine, based on that of indymedia (*pause while i walk away from desk to curse,scream,vomit for actually typing that word*) and the fence jumping, plane damaging, social misfits who through the sheer ignorance of our courts walked away scot free last week, this is usually what i think of when i hear antiwar.

As regards to the constitution, you should read it again with more care.

I have read it, i challenge you to show me where it reads such that we are constitutionally a neutral state?

Check this out... [url] http://www.forumoneurope.ie/eng/index.asp?docID=569 [/url]

And This...
[url] http://www.avrildoyle.ie/content/view/147/4/ [/url]

Also some interesting reading
[url] http://www.lehigh.edu/~incntr/publications/perspectives/v19/Johnson.PDF [/url]

In the spirit of healthy debate, like i said, were not neutral

boneless

But that's the whole point... it does not state we are not neutral either.

I don't think that Hagar will appreciate us taking up space with this debate though!! Sorry Mod!!

Maybe we should move to the politics forum and broaden the issue.

Regards...

Hagar

The State's Neutrality Policy certainly impacts on the DF so I won't be giving anyone grief about the discussion but to take it any further a thread in politics would be more appropriate and would attract some knowledgeable posters who don't frequent this forum.

ircoha

easyontheeye wrote:

ignorant muppet!! :mad:

You are being generous.

As asked elsewhere what did he ever do for his country.

If he is banned WTF is he let post this s...?

Hagar

He was banned for/after this post. It was left as a warning to others...;)

OwenM

Like a head on a spike?

Hagar

Correct, but don't fret we have plenty more spikes...

Latchy

QUOTE=cushtac]Cash escort, prisoner escort, protection of both the central bank's minting facility & Portlaois prison, bomb disposal, emergency cover/back-up for ambulance & fire service (happens more often than you'd think), disaster relief (rescuing people during flooding etc.) back-up for Gardai in the likes of missing person searches and the last foot & mouth outbreak.

And all this is when they're not oversea

Add Limerick prison , mountjoy jail , border duties , explosive escorts, vip escorts ,gaurd of honour to the above .I spent 6 years in the Defence forces 1975/81 doing such like duties ,when the army was overstretched as well . Great expierences i would not have got anywere else .

timmywex

the defence forces make portlaoise prison the most secure in europe as they constantly guard it!!

purple'n'gold

For historical reasons we have to have an army loyal to the government. It is only very recently that the very real threat from the IRA has diminished. The very fact that the army was there, and loyal meant that republican traitors were kept in check.

DarkMuse

purplengold wrote:

For historical reasons we have to have an army loyal to the government. It is only very recently that the very real threat from the IRA has diminished. The very fact that the army was there, and loyal meant that republican traitors were kept in check.

I would have said Republican Freedom Fighters myself...

timmywex

portlaoise prison is the most secure prison in europe thanks to the 24/7 armed guard making it the most secure prison in europe!!

that not good enough to keep all the rapists and murderors and ira men locked off the streets??

purple'n'gold

DarkMuse wrote:

I would have said Republican Freedom Fighters myself...

Your so called freedom fighters did not recognise the legitimate democratically elected government of our country. That was one good reason why we had to have an efficient and loyal army.

spurious

Being an oul' one, I remember the time when the army provided a substitute bus service. Oh happy days bouncing along in the back of one of their trucks.

The army do plenty. If we took them away for a month we'd realise just how much.

Clare gunner

Bam Bam wrote:

Its also a fortress, Its borders, with surrounding countries, are mountain ranges, and the alps.

And every man jack of them is in the army as well.You stay as a reserveist till you are 65.Your unit is called up annually to do 2/3 weeks active service.
You keep your gun,uniform and equipment at home with 500 rounds in a sealed container.J
oke in Switzerland is the army runs the banks as well.
all the managers and directors are reserve Cols in the army,the tellers are ranks up to NCOs ,supervisors are NCOs.Seems to work pretty well over there.:cool:

babybundy

if there was more money invested in the reserves i would be all for everyone doing a stint in the reserves just one contract

cushtac

timmywex wrote:

that not good enough to keep all the rapists and murderors and ira men locked off the streets??

None of the above have escaped from Portlaoise, rather they have been released by the authorities. The presence of such people of the streets is a policy issue, not a security one.

babybundy

ya has anyone escaped from portlaoise prison

DarkMuse

purplengold wrote:

Your so called freedom fighters did not recognise the legitimate democratically elected government of our country. That was one good reason why we had to have an efficient and loyal army.

Better a Freedom Fighter than a Free Stater.

Sometimes Majority should not rule.

I put forward 1916 and the Holocaust as examples.

purple'n'gold

DarkMuse wrote:

Better a Freedom Fighter than a Free Stater.

Sometimes Majority should not rule.

I put forward 1916 and the Holocaust as examples.

what on earth are you talking about?

DarkMuse

purplengold wrote:

Your so called freedom fighters did not recognise the legitimate democratically elected government of our country. That was one good reason why we had to have an efficient and loyal army.

Sometimes Democracy fails.

purple'n'gold

DarkMuse wrote:

Sometimes Democracy fails.

Democracy has served us well since independence. Off the top of my head I cannot think of a better system. Personally I am not into totalitarian dictatorships.

DonJose

The Irish Army looked on while Irish citizens were being murdered/burnt out of their home in an act that I would consider ethnic cleansing. Were it not for the actions of the real Óglaigh na hEireann hundreds of Irish citizens would have been murdered.

DarkMuse

purplengold wrote:

Democracy has served us well since independence. Off the top of my head I cannot think of a better system. Personally I am not into totalitarian dictatorships.

Served us well enough I Suppose. Of course it was that Democratically Elected Government that killed therir former Comrades in arms using the same Artillary that bombed the 1916 heroes.

In 1916 the Rebels did not have the support of the Majority of the people of Ireland. Were their actions justified?

When most of Germany voted Hitler into office were they right?

As a general rule Democracy works. But sometimes it takes a few people who know what is right to stand up and go against the Majority.

DarkMuse

DonJose wrote:

The Irish Army looked on while Irish citizens were being murdered/burnt out of their home in an act that I would consider ethnic cleansing. Were it not for the actions of the real Óglaigh na hEireann hundreds of Irish citizens would have been murdered.

Well said. It's easy to be a Free Stater in the South.

Just like it was easy to declare oneself a republican in 22.

Hagar

We have both a "Politics" and a "History & Heritage" Forum if you want to continue a Civil War debate there, otherwise lay off the politics and get back on topic.

cyrusdvirus

topic being the squishing and head spiking of trolls? sounds good to me

DarkMuse

gatecrash wrote:

topic being the squishing and head spiking of trolls? sounds good to me

Wooo000OOOO!!!

He went there:D

Hagar

Sharpens spike(s)...

I'm closing the thread before someone gets beheaded.