Interesting articles

Great! I can keep me dreadlocks then...

They probably said why would Helicopters be at an army base

My memory is a bit hazy but i think the state has land behind the circle K on that local road. Its actually a very good location for a base with access to the M50, Port Tunnell and Dublin airport but i cant see how helicopter operations would work with it that close to the flightpaths unless they have access by land only

While 'Policy Exchange' are a bunch of Tory shills and assorted ultracon scum, including our own disgraced former diplomat, Ray Bassett, there is a strong tough love element here, which is valid.

I'd also have a high level of respect for George Robertson as a Labour Sec Def and NATO Secretary Sec Gen.

That said, if NATO nations want to see our Defences rapidly and robustly improved, I'd be asking for the kind of handouts and co-funding that NATO are offering the Eastern European nations.

I know similar articles below have being posted the last few days about the evil threats that countrys like China pose to us but its starting to get very long in the tooth with these articles. They might try and focus on sorting out there own armed forces before worring about us.

The UK should google China and Ireland and they would notice that we rolled the red carpet out for the chinese only 2 weeks ago so we could sell them even more Beef and Dairy.

The other important fact these lovely brexit folk should look up is the fact that irish troops never had to fight troops from Russia, China or Iran to leave this Country but we did have to fight the UK.

Interesting radio interview with the Chief of Staff earlier today with Colm O’Mongain. He indicated the radar project, to have sea, air and maritime reach is 24-36 months off delivery, but described it as the biggest in the DF history. The issue of relying on the kindness of others came up and he acknowledged arrangements with the UK. He indicated any decision on intercept capability would be post 2030, but fairly made the point subtly that the manpower capability etc is so low we need to gradually build up the capacity to handle such investment. Certainly articles such as the above which ‘shame’ government into investing are to be welcomed.

Times they are a changing, the world and even our next door neighbour isnt as stable as just a decade ago ,

A large conventional navy and or airforce isnt really much good in protecting subsea cables and pipelines , as the uk discovered when they went off buying oils services vessels , even then what are they gonna do with that ?

I still believe our best defence is our location , if that doesnt suit the UKs world view then tough - however long term our biggest threat ( aside from internal ) is always going to be the UK, so any deterent and co-operation should have that in mind,

Is joining Nato in our interest ? Probably not , co-operating with them definitely is.

If the British General Election were held tomorrow, the most recent poll of polls projects a Labour majority of 128.

453 Labour seats and 197 shared across other 8 parties.

I think this calamitous shift right in the Tory ranks is about to see them decimated. Hell, even if Labour did worse than their worst polling at this point, they'd win an overall majority, just not the landslide.

The Defender causing issues again.

Stand by for the usual comments from the usual suspects, and a load of just stupid shite on Social Media:

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2024/02/09/ireland-enters-wide-ranging-agreement-with-nato-aimed-at-countering-russia-threats/

Its a step up from the previous PfP arrangements that I think have been in place up to now, but its been well flagged, but yeah its all "being mean to Russia"...

Too thick to know that the UK was fighting fascists when her beloved Russia was allied to them and supplying them with war materials.

No fundamental issues with such agreements....some issues with classified clauses in those agreements.

Role of Lend lease has been exaggerated in the USSR successes in the war. It did help plug a gap, but was always small compared to actual soviet military production, many estimate less than 10%. But whatever one might say positive about the USSR( and there were some) it is very difficult to say much positive about Putin’s Russia.

I think while its a good thing for us to be there, I don't imagine our stance on many issues is going to be well received.

https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2024/0216/1432633-munich-security-conference/