Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Alot of questions...I must have annoyed you. No I'm Irish with no German links whatsoever. I mainly just read along rather than post, and find the thread useful as a news aggregator. I don't have that many (or maybe any) unique thoughts or insight about this situation to share that others better able are not already doing a good job of providing so don't always post.

I don't agree at all with the hysterical bile about the Germans (Russia's "ally" in the war one would almost believe and "blood on its hands") that gets dished out here (mostly by @Danzy in fairness but not exclusively by him!).

I don't think it is good for anyone, and it deserves to have someone challenge it in text with a small dose of reality + perspective and a reminder of Ireland's own flaws. This is an Irish focussed site after all isn't it, it is Ireland most of us will know best perhaps.

Noone else seemed to be doing it this particular evening, and so I posted. You have a point that maybe I've done somewhat too much of it now (and becoming a broken record/bore), so will try and refrain from now on.

On the embassy, there are alot more than 4 staff in there anyway...read in some other reports that the embassy complement of "diplomats" is completely outsized e.g. below article states there are 31 actual diplomats in it and presumably other staff helping them too:

As said, despite the large complement I assume we expelled just 4, because, and I speculate here, our own embassy in Russia is likely of a more normal size given population of Irish in Russia and trade links (i.e. it is tiny) - so if we expel a big block of Russians and Russia just retaliates in tit for tat fashion it will either be rendered unable to do any work or closed.

As for us being "entirely on our own" in face of any threat from Russia, we are not as we are an EU member same as a number of others that are in EU, and neutral, and still I believe did not equivocate somewhat on the EU aid facility as we did (this was/has been my main personal gripe with what Ireland has done - edit: I should say it is not a "major" gripe + think we've most done a good job). I don't think we'd be left entirely to our own devices either if a military (or some "grey zone" type) attack was launched by Russia on the country, but I admit you are right to point out we are more exposed given we're defenceless against any type of aggression whatsoever (unlike those other "neutrals") as well as being in no military alliance.

Yes, I agree far more is rightly expected of Germany than of us given its position and influence, the huge size of its economy, its arms industry etc. etc. Maybe not its military, as everything I've been reading suggests it is in a very poor state and not at all ready for war (or to help another country fight a war by giving supplies) despite a rapid increase in spending over last couple of years. It is still useful to reflect IMO on what Ireland is actually doing or not doing here in its own much smaller and far less vital way when people here take up the cudgels about all the German failings.

Relocating from Russia back to Ireland does sound like a no brainer....until you exit Dublin airport to find you cant get a rental or buy a house!

I'm highly sceptical this is a video of equipment being transferred to Ukraine.

Considering they're only just talking about training Ukrainians on howitzers in some "unnamed eastern European country"; I don't see why or how they would have transferred a bunch of these vehicles. They also look brand new to me; although they could just be well maintained.

Also the M142 HIMARS has a range of up to 300km; I don't see anyone transferring weapons to Ukraine with that kind of range. It's also compatible with precision guided munitions; again a capability I can't imagine Ukraine being given.

I sincerely hope I'm wrong though; because these would be amazing for Ukraine.

It's only few spare parts as in a few pieces .

No complete aircraft or functional aircraft from anyone ,the gas thing is America has Russian Migs and suhkoi jets they bought off the likes of Moldova, add the 30 mig 29s from Poland they could give Ukraine 60 odd combat aircraft,

If they don't or won't let them have jets give them predator and reapers with as many hellfire missles they can give ,

Even the newer variant that comes with 2 miniguns and 10 + hellfires would be an absolute game changer to the Ukrainians .

Give them C-rams to take out incoming missles and rockets too

Better than being trapped in the basement of your house in Maripuol with no food or water and being bombed by your neighbour.

What you call hysterical bile against Germany by me and a few others, the others including leading German investigate journalists, the Ukrainian Govt, numerous German economists, ex Ministers, leading Governing party members, academics, nearly every govt in Eastern Europe, the French PM etc etc etc.

It's not anti German, it's Anti Putin, Just putting pressure on one of his only allies.

If Germany walks away from Russia, it's over for Putin and the war in Ukraine.

If they continue as is then Putin will win through taking East of Dneiper, in a war of attrition and mass loss.

Germany will then step in as peace maker and settle the new territory of Russia in to a new order in Eastern Europe.

Berlin will get cheap gas and deals on resources in payment for a job well done.

It may well overplay it's hand and face a united Eastern Europe who have seen it unmasked. As is Germany has destroyed its name in Eastern Europe.

Ukraine has apparently increased it's military aircraft fleet after receiving military aid from an undisclosed state,

America sent a few wings and other parts literally a few bits but no complete functional aircraft,but someone sent something that flys

Good news. But far too late. This should have happened weeks ago. But still, they will be put to good use.

While the aircraft are probably soviet era ones that UA pilots can fly, i wonder if the armaments' have also been upgraded!

Did we give Ukraine our airforce ?

I think you are overestimating the role of Irish embassies abroad. If an Irish citizen chooses to buy a house in Russia and now cant sell it or get the roubles home then thats on them, not the Irish state. If they lose their passport they will issue an emergency one so they can get back to Dublin to replace it with a new one. If an Irish citizen is imprisoned a third secretary will visit them to make sure they have legal representation but they cannot subvert local laws. Thats pretty much the extent of their role for Irish citizens living abroad.

Plus there are over 100 countries in the world that do not have an Irish embassy or consulate. Adding one more wouldnt make any difference because if you need assistance for an emergency passport then the Department of Foreign Affairs will tell you to go to the local British embassy. They provide Irish consular services in countries where there is no Irish consulate. Many Irish passports abroad are collected in British embassies.

I would not be opposed at all to NATO forces entering Ukraine in order to push Russian forces out of Ukraine. Not in principle at least. Making it clear that this was a defensive campaign that only went up to the Ukrainian border would be the best bet to prevent it ballooning into something far bigger, but this is in no way a given when taking into consideration how Putin is acting. I wouldn't expect him to go, "Ah yeah, fair enough..." on that.

But the big problem would be that NATO cannot and should not fight in Ukraine where Russia can fire rockets at them from inside Russia, or artillery when NATO got closer to the border, and NATO can't respond. That stuff would need to be neutralised by someone and that would mean attacking Russia directly.

I remember seeing this a few years ago, don't now how they would match up against Russian Migs though

Takeoff and land from any wide enough street or avenue