Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Nevermind, didn't realise this site is complete **** on mobile and replies don't function correctly.

Well I am not suggesting that we join but I wouldn't take it for granted that Russia would never target Ireland to send a message.

A Western European country with effectively no ability to fight back, but also no trigger of a NATO response.

For me I would like to see us become a full participant in the likely future EU defense forces and we can look at whether NATO makes sense down the road after we have been a full partner in the EU defense force for a time. Being part of the EU is where we are and where our future lies.

Sure we are a tiny country and nobody is suggesting suddenly we are supposed to be some serious military force. But what we can do is look for a niche where we can provide a high level of contribution and skill. Given we are an island national maybe an increased naval capability would be the way to go. We used to spend about 1.5% of our gdp as recently as the early 1980's so certainly there is scope for us to build up to that level again from the paltry 0.3% we were at in 2020.

It good to hear that one side will take war crimes seriously even when it involves their own troops.

Warning: some viewers might find the Videos in the tweet/responses difficult to watch or gruesome.

The claim that Ireland is of no strategic value to the Russians is nonsense.

Even back to 1981, Ireland's strategic importance was the discussion of many UK Military discussions and papers.

One paper specifically mentions Irelands role and importance, to the UK and NATO, in the event of WW3 and a Nuclear Exchange.

It identifies the possibility of recruiting 500,000 extra soldiers. The UK paper also identifies Irelands abysmal radar and lack of Early Warning Radar, which if installed would further protect the Western Flank, allowing NATO to focus on the East. The paper identifies 38 airports ( from main ones to airstrips) and mentions that, in the event of USSR decimating and capturing large parts of Eastern Europe ( as it was in the '80's), that governments in exile would come to Ireland and work from here, generally situated at The Curragh.

Regarding Nuclear strikes, the UK Military paper also states that both Shannon and Bantry were candidates for a direct nuclear strike and an airburst strike over strategically important communications sites, such as the Curragh, would render all electronics useless due to the EMP.

I remember reading the details of the paper, which was published here in Ireland under FOI documents release. I'll try to find the link.

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If you'd asked 100 officials in similar high positions in any country they would have said much the same. Absolutely nobody really gave them any hope of holding out for more than 3 days.

"Destroyed car found on the road between Husarivka and Shevelivka villages in Kharkiv region. Bodies of 3 members of family extracted, including 3y.o. child"

Call me whatever you like, but I don't care if Russian POWs are getting shot in the legs. Some people need to get a sense of proportion.

Very true, but it highlights that it has a chance of being addressed by Ukraine and not acceptable, while Russia appears to encourage war crimes.

So just a bigger version of this:

I’m amazed at Russian technology!

Unless of course the whole strategy is going according to plan as some would have us believe. It is 4-D chess and us mere mortals are too thick to understand it.