If being an unaligned country with a large army is no deterrent to Putin's ambitions is it time for ROI to join Nato?
The issue is that the old rule the ancient Romans also applied still exists: If you want to avoid a war, you need to prepare for one.
I think Ireland should have an honest debate about NATO membership, not a historical debate on British oppression, 1916 and the Black and Tans.
Try and deal with the issue and cut out the playing the man.
I like teaching you history 😉
Rubbish.
You do a good impression of one though you have to admit
An EU army led by the US?
Nope.
Germany is not occupying Poland and the UK has not been beaten to a pulp by the US fir occupying us. See the difference?
Feel free to take up arms against the occupier - your enemy.. get off the armchair like
Feel free to do what? Take my 50+ yo fat ass over to Ukraine to be a hinderance to their defence? LOL
The Ukranians are accepting foreign volunteers.
Feel free.
🤣
In principle, yes, I would favour joining NATO.
However, the practical details around equipping and upskilling the Defence Forces are such that I can't envisage it happening for a couple of decades and who knows whether it would be a good idea by then.
We should pay the army we have more, not increase its numbers unnecessarily.
As for arming every citizen, yes, let’s give guns to every nationalist nutter.
I would observe that a reputation for peacekeeping and a nominally capable military are not mutually exclusive concepts. Ireland routinely partners with Sweden or Finland to make joint battalions on UN missions, both are somewhat well equipped.
There are pros and cons of being part of any military alliance. There are pros and cons of being non aligned.
People get too focused on the "why would x invade us", when really they should be asking "what happens IF". Realistically, the "why" doesn't matter.
People believe x will protect us because of x. Well, there are no guarantees. And why should they?our defence is our responsibility.
Being part of a military alliance is contentious for a lot of people. Mainly ones who never or would never put a uniform on if a time warranted it.
We are the militarily weak link in Europe. We are a strategic geographical location in western Europe. IF someone for whatever reason wanted to make a big boy point without suffering many consequences, Ireland could be the target.
We are soft, we are unprotected, we are not part of a military alliance who are obliged to come to our aid. We provide fcuk all for fcuk all, when the balloon goes up.
IF we we faced an external threat, it could be the case that other countries respond the way we do. In a limited fashion, not to offend their sensibilities or step on any toes. Heres some plasters, aren't we great lads, just play the game there boss.
Here's a few iodine tablets lads.
Incorrect.
You'll have to make do with them Russians - collaborator
I dunno... I've met people abroad who were more aware of the Irish peacekeeping efforts than I was.
This thread should be like shooting fish in a barrel for mods.
We certainly need a bigger army ; in fact we should have become a people under arms generations ago.
We should have guns at home like in America.
Paratroops into Kilcock I hope. Handsome ones please. Ideally French or Italian.
And Arklow as well.
Dont forget Arklow.
Nobody outside of Ireland really gives a **** about us as a peace keeping force.
Nonsense. A couple of assault ships landing in Galway, paratroopers landing at shannon and transport planes then landing, no need to try to go through UK and France to try to reach us.
Neutrality has served us well since the foundation of this state.
I see no compelling reason to abandon it.
We are blessed by geography in that we enjoy splendid remoteness and friendly, democratic neighbours.
Neutrality is a logical and dignified policy for a nation of our size, history and position.
People need to get real about this concept.
Ireland has no defence, and even if we pumped billions into our "defence" over the next year or more, we'd still have no real defence. Almost any nation that wanted to invade would steamroller through us in a matter of, at best, months.
In addition, joining NATO comes with a list of responsibilities, the most salient of which is supporting other NATO aligned nations if they come under an attack. That means ANY NATO aligned nations, whether or not we agree with their plight or the circumstances that were the catalyst.
We are far better off maintaining our long standing neutrality that has served us well in the past and contributing to UN peacekeeping operations, which amounts to a mere pinprick as it is.
The bottom line is we don't have the resources to be a viable member of NATO...nor do we have the need.
Not the important part though.
The Black Velvet Band?
Here we go again! 🤦♂️ You and Black Noel should start a band!
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