Future of warfare (How should Ireland build their millitary)

We have access to multiple sources of information from different perspectives these days but most Irish still in Ireland rely on RTE.

We would never be invaded. No need to as we have nothing Russia wants. Our waters and unprotected areas are what Russia can exploit.

But hey! We've got fishermen!

I'm afraid the powers that be know exactly what is going on and have made forced choices on the PDF to shift it from 14,500 to 9,500 personnel following the Report on the Commission on Remuneration and Conditions in the Defence Forces July 1990. With the latest Census we are at 5.1m population and should aspire to a PDF, inclusive of reserves, of 25,000 or 0.5% of Population.

If budget remains static and pay increases then numbers , conditions, and capital acquisitions are moved downwards.

As regards media, most news is orchestrated and often seasonal and topical. it can be led by lobbyists, financial interests, political parties etc. Large parts of media are used to eulogize entities and those making money out of the Irish environment. We are the dearest country in Europe, we are leaders in Medical, Chemical and technical output. we HQ some of the world's biggest tech Corporations and yet we minimise Defence and Social protection so much so you would think strange non-national Gurus are in charge.

Currently Russia is the one invading countries who are not our allies.

The UK is in NATO. They're not rogue. Just arrogant twats lol.

To be honest, I'm not sure who's running things these days as some recent Supreme Court decisions in the US have been questionable to say the least. Who is buying those dudes?

The war games by Russia off the coast of Cork were a metaphorical fishing exercise rather than a literal one lol.

Barbados a nice place I have been there a few times but does not compare to the unique position of the island of Ireland. We are located on the sea lanes North and South of the Approaches to Europe , larger ships from the North of Europe are routed down our west Coast, and most Atlantic air corridors pass over Ireland. In addition our Western EEZ is submarine playground and deterrent pool. We just need to know what's there and intervene as necessary to show our awareness during peacetime. As regards lethal intervention we must enforce our rights and emulate Finland of old and Ukraine of today.

Our retarding problem is the cause of our alleged neutrality and that is the northern occupation. it is weakened somewhat by the GFA and may allow us to join an alliance as a contributing partner. I think depending on others to do it is weak and one can admire the decision of two little Baltic States joining together to purchase a co-ordinated Air Defence System.

If you ever fancy taking me to Barbados - I'm free! ;)

If I was Putin and wanted to set up a base to nuke Europe, England and the US, I would pick Ireland!

For now I think his sole mission is to regain the former Soviet Union states. He seems to be getting ever more brutal. Last I read, he bombed a shopping centre in the Ukraine while 1000 people were inside it. He's a lunatic no matter what way you look at it and entirely unpredictable. The Ukraine was begging NATO and the EU for years about the build up of troops on their borders etc. Poland, in the EU and NATO I think? were saying the same thing! Nobody listened.

Putin has already said that he'll nuke London.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1617151/putin-superweapon-uk-kinzhal-nuclear-war-ukraine-russia

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/06/21/vladimir-putin-threatens-unleash-satan-ii-nuclear-missile-year/

Not being a member of NATO is partly the reason why the Ukraine is fucked and under attack. Russia knows very well that Ireland isn't part of NATO. The NATO alliance essentially protects those within it, but not anyone outside of it. Russia knows that attacking a NATO nation is not a good idea, but Ukraine and Ireland are not in NATO and he KNOWS.

This is an interesting read by the way. It has various ways of measuring the relative intelligence of different countries.

Ireland features in one measurement. Russia doesn't feature in any measurement but Belarus does ;)

The relevance of me posting that is that we can outsmart the Russians. We outwitted the Brits!

Why do you think Finland has joined NATO all of a sudden?

Oh, I do apologise.

I'm not necessarily replying to anyone or to any specific point at any time.

Is that ok? Sir?

We are already part of a bloc, being a member of the EU.

We can make a sensible contribution to the defence of Europe by picking from defence tasks and equip to do that well in consort with others . As an Island we are in a Marine environment and should be skilled at Marine landings, Mining and clearing mines, detecting and dealing with submarines, surveillance in all dimensions, helicopters for troop insertion land and sea, MPA with ASM, all arms air defence capability, and land mobile response units with strike missiles.

As a Naval contribution think One MRV, Four 115m Vard's, 4 MCM vessels, two minelaying vessels, Twelve 25 knot + attack torpedo craft, and two bases on west and east coasts. In addition we must up our use of offensive drone technology. Some of the skills required passed through the Service from 1940's to 1971 and were allowed lapse. What you do has to be relevant and not just observing and reporting.

The vessels involved in last weeks AS exercise west of Scotland has a Canadian Frigate ( H) weekending in Cork. We should be capable of joining such teams.

Ah wait till “the sonar is ruining the fish” argument comes out…

Some members enjoy the frivolity of clowning while the main acts are coming on. There is a current need to defend our country from ongoing cyber attacks and guard against organisational and productive shut downs. I agree that the tactics and smaller formation capabilities of our Infantry units have been proven in Un operations. We need to put in place the dimensional aspects of defence on land Sea and Air. There must be an immediate Defence Plan based on some co-operation with European Defence. perhaps also participate in ready Force units.

Our biggest problems are to recreate the modern versions of the skills and equipments that have been deleted from our OB. When we deleted equipment , the DOD also went for disposal of the primary assets such as all the Coastal Forts. They also got rid of major Posts , Barracks, and Hospitals and large acreage facilities. We need mobile CDM, ADM systems , and Long range ARTY, and geo-positions to fire from. The Navy needs a restored Defensive/Offensive edge and likewise the Air Corps. The Surveillance task, and who will do it, needs to b clearly identified and co-ordinated.

The major danger at all times is the propensity of elected parliamentarians to shut down or curtail major State assets and in the long term leave the country totally dependent on others far afield. Lastly the provision of port facilities is a decision and matter for Government through the ACTS as appropriate.