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Why does Ireland need a military/army?

245

Comments

  • #32
    SafeSurfer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,147 ✭✭✭SafeSurfer


    Not to mention the vital role the Irish army play in tormenting fat feckers on Operation Transformation. Truly tax payers money well spent.

    Multo autem ad rem magis pertinet quallis tibi vide aris quam allis



  • #33
    Praetorian Saighdiuir
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,968 ✭✭✭✭Praetorian Saighdiuir


    SafeSurfer wrote: »
    Not to mention the vital role the Irish army play in tormenting fat feckers on Operation Transformation. Truly tax payers money well spent.

    Good argument....well done!


  • #34
    Wicklowrider
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,029 ✭✭✭Wicklowrider


    The night one of my neighbours houses was booby trapped with two viable devices EVERYONE was glad their property and safety was protected. The "Bomb Squad" left the site safe and were deployed to a viable device in Dundalk a few hours later. Think about that - they go to work and face death or massive injury as a matter of course. Take the Liberian hostage rescue by the ARW for another example. If a foreign army pulled off an operation like that we'd have pages of posts on boards from the internet soldiers - but because they were Irish we'll ignore it.It challenges popular perception about our lads abilities.The Irish Sniper duo placing second in Fort Benning in international competition ( the winning U.S Special force team included an ex Irish Army Sergeant :)) - not a word on the news for the same reason. Could the PDF be improved? I'm sure it could. Could it be more cost efficient ? I'm sure it could. Should we get rid of it? Not in my opinion. I like the security of knowing there are able,trained and disciplined and honourable personnel ready to protect my family and my property and my freedom.


  • #35
    Leo Dowling
    Closed Accounts Posts: 322 ✭✭Leo Dowling


    LordSutch wrote: »
    We don't need an army now, neither did we during the 2nd World War. We are 'de facto' always going to be protected by Great Britain & their (our) proper highly equipped army with Irish regiments.

    *We don't need an army now, neither did we during the 2nd World War. We are 'de facto' always going to be protected by Great Britain & their proper highly equipped army who are always going to be 'de facto' protected by the United States of America and their properly equipped army.


  • #36
    kirving
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,274 ✭✭✭kirving


    SafeSurfer wrote: »
    Not to mention the vital role the Irish army play in tormenting fat feckers on Operation Transformation. Truly tax payers money well spent.

    What's wrong with promoting health and physical fitness on national television? As far as I can seen, that helps everyone.


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  • #37
    44leto
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,137 ✭✭✭44leto


    Also a crucial role for the Naval service and the Aer Corp is fisheries protection. We have the grand fleet of factory ships more then willing to enter our zone and strip it bare and disobey any EU fishing regulations.

    Now we could radio the vessels, that is if we know they are in our zone (which I will add is one of the richest fishing grounds in the world) and threaten them with bad language. But I seriously doubt that would work.

    This saves us millions and millions a year and protects our fishing stock for future generations. Plus they perform anti drug smuggling operations as well

    The defense forces IMO are an example of the PS at its best, they are not overly paid, or overly expensive, they are highly disciplined and a credit to Ireland wherever they perform their duties abroad or at home.


  • #38
    Nodin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 46,938 ✭✭✭✭Nodin


    Leo Dowling wrote: »
    *We don't need an army now, neither did we during the 2nd World War. We are 'de facto' always going to be protected by Great Britain & their proper highly equipped army who are always going to be 'de facto' protected by the United States of America and their properly equipped army.

    And - taking that to be true for the sake of argument - you think thats a desirable state of affairs?


  • #39
    Dyr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,246 ✭✭✭✭Dyr


    Because binmen go on strike
    And the Equestrian unit has a fantastic reputation and advertising the industry abroad.

    A fantastic reputation? Among the international horsey set? Superb :pac:

    Does the industry still have all those ridiculous grants and tax breaks that mccreevy gave it?


  • #40
    44leto
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,137 ✭✭✭44leto


    Bambi wrote: »
    Because binmen go on strike



    A fantastic reputation? Among the international horsey set? Superb :pac:

    Does the industry still have all those ridiculous grants and tax breaks that mccreevy gave it?

    That was one of that plonkers better ideas. The bloodstock industry in Ireland is world renowned and a huge earner, its a multi billion euro industry and its irish.

    It also in a way has set us up for our next target, the government is trying to attract online gambling industries here, its the future of betting and will be another multi billion euro earner,


  • #41
    Doc Ruby
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,956 ✭✭✭Doc Ruby


    Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

    Actually I'd like to see the air force and navy in particular get a few more shekels towards surveillance drones, those are a spectacularly cost effective way to patrol our quite extensive waters.


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  • #42
    dr.fuzzenstein
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,620 ✭✭✭✭dr.fuzzenstein


    Well, we could scrap the Irish airforce:

    http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20081103015449/uncyclopedia/images/9/9d/Irish_airforce.png


  • #43
    Explosions in the Sky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 191 ✭✭Explosions in the Sky


    OP if the army bomb squad was non existent there would be alot dead people this year and last etc, an army is a necessity for every country imo


  • #44
    bb1234567
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,513 ✭✭✭bb1234567


    Explosions in the Sky wrote: »
    OP if the army bomb squad was non existent there would be alot dead people this year and last etc, an army is a necessity for every country imo

    Costa rica and Iceland have no army and theyre doing fine,but ye youre right an army is helpful it shouldnt be scrapped:)


  • #45
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    bb1234567 wrote: »
    Costa rica and Iceland have no army and theyre doing fine,but ye youre right an army is helpful it shouldnt be scrapped:)

    Whatever about Costa Rica, Iceland has a "roll over and take it" attitude.

    Wikipedia: Invasion of Iceland


  • #46
    bb1234567
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,513 ✭✭✭bb1234567


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Whatever about Costa Rica, Iceland has a "roll over and take it" attitude.

    Wikipedia: Invasion of Iceland

    I doubt Ireland would do any better if attacked by either Britain or Germany,well maybe theyd put up a bit of a better fight:p


  • #47
    dr.fuzzenstein
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,620 ✭✭✭✭dr.fuzzenstein


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Whatever about Costa Rica, Iceland has a "roll over and take it" attitude.

    Wikipedia: Invasion of Iceland

    Whatever about Iceland, but I don't think the Brits will invade here again in a hurry.


  • #48
    al28283
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,062 ✭✭✭al28283


    Nodin wrote: »
    And - taking that to be true for the sake of argument - you think thats a desirable state of affairs?

    Absolutely!


  • #49
    Nodin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 46,938 ✭✭✭✭Nodin


    al28283 wrote: »
    Absolutely!

    ...despite the fact it might mean having to be involved in extremely dubious matters which are not in our national interest....


  • #50
    al28283
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,062 ✭✭✭al28283


    Nodin wrote: »
    ...despite the fact it might mean having to be involved in extremely dubious matters which are not in our national interest....

    National interest or not... If we are in the position of having to defend against a nation seriously trying to invade Ireland, we are going to be facing some dubious matters on a daily basis, and even with a well funded, well trained army we are still going to be associating with other nations. Every country under threat of invasion has


  • #51
    kieranfitz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 592 ✭✭✭kieranfitz


    Oh joy, a why don't we scrap the Army, sure we don't even need one, and who'd ever have a pop at neutral Ireland, doesn't everyone love us. We haven't had one of these in at least a month. Cue the en-mass arrival of hand wringing crustys bitching about how even having the DF violates our "constitutional neutrality" that doesn't and never did exist. And worse the fat celtic jersey wearing armchair provos thinking that an extended trip to Newry is a good idea.


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  • #52
    marketty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,089 ✭✭✭marketty


    SafeSurfer wrote: »
    Not to mention the vital role the Irish army play in tormenting fat feckers on Operation Transformation. Truly tax payers money well spent.

    The Defence Forces bills Operation Transformation for their time


  • #53
    Milk & Honey
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,950 ✭✭✭Milk & Honey


    Sindri wrote: »
    Britain is our closest ally. Churchill wanted Ireland for our tactical importance and to negate any advantage the Nazi's may have gotten if they successfully invaded.

    Any country that has Ireland could so serious damage to the Eastern Seaboard of the United Sates. And it would have a tactical advantage over the North Atlantic and the West of Europe.

    Britain or America would never allow that.

    That's why the Yanks and Churchill were so pissed with us not joining the war.


    Exactly, they were going to invade us if it suited them. Not exactly friendly protectors are they? How neutral are we? Had they invaded, we would have resisted, tying down large numbers of their troops. many of the Irishmen in the British forces would have deserted or possibly committed acts of sabotage against them. They didn't invade because of the damage which would have been caused to themselves.
    The Germans didn't invade because of the supply line problem. It would still be an issue but not a major one.


  • #54
    losthorizon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,565 ✭✭✭losthorizon


    LordSutch wrote: »
    We don't need an army now, neither did we during the 2nd World War. We are 'de facto' always going to be protected by Great Britain & their (our) proper highly equipped army with Irish regiments.


    Maybe they might have moved back in during WW2 except we had an army? I'm not saying they would have but who knows? We licked them once why not again? Hand to Hand fighting against an Irish army in Dublin in 1940 I wouldnt fancy that, would you?


  • #55
    johnr1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 965 ✭✭✭johnr1


    The last time this thread was done was only two months ago. It ran to approx 40 pages over 3-4 days. I started it.
    I was all for disbanding them.

    Conclusions seemed to be :

    There are very good, very dedicated, highly trained people in the Defence Forces.

    Much of their work is done abroad, the direct cost of these operations does not fall on the Irish state. However the cost of training soldiers to this level obviously does.

    The Irish defence forces are highly respected worldwide.

    There is GROSS abuse of public money in the defence forces. Archaic practices, Senoir officers on truly ridiculous pay levels, trained soldiers waiting on them hand and foot, silver service, personal dresser/clothes assistants etc.

    This was confirmed to me by a serving soldier.

    He also told me that most of the young lads with families in his unit are on family income support - this indicates VERY low rates of pay.

    My own personal view is that the bullsh1t practices should be stopped, the land army size reduced, and the money saved spent on our Navy who are a joke given the size of our Coastal waters, and the DAILY THEFT from us of our fish stocks by the Spanish among others.


    .


  • #56
    BrokenArrows
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,531 ✭✭✭BrokenArrows


    No country needs a standing army until they actually need them!!

    It takes years to train and setup an army. If we disbanded the army then anyone could just come in and take over.

    If we didn't have an army "the King of England could just walk in here any time he wants, and start shoving you around. Do you want that? Huh? Do you?" - Homer Simpson


  • #57
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    losthorizon wrote: »
    Maybe they might have moved back in during WW2 except we had an army? I'm not saying they would have but who knows? We licked them once why not again? Hand to Hand fighting against an Irish army in Dublin in 1940 I wouldnt fancy that, would you?

    Who did we lick? and I am not sure what you mean by hand to hand fighting (in Dublin) in 1940.


  • #58
    luckyfrank
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,054 ✭✭✭luckyfrank


    The brits should be our army, they have a proper army irish people join it anyways, it would save money


  • #59
    Praetorian Saighdiuir
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,968 ✭✭✭✭Praetorian Saighdiuir


    luckyfrank wrote: »
    The brits should be our army, they have a proper army irish people join it anyways, it would save money

    What an idiotic statement to make. How much money will it save luckyfrank?


  • #60
    Explosions in the Sky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 191 ✭✭Explosions in the Sky


    This thread should be closed as should any of these threads that start up again, they are worse than "people on the dole are scumbags" and the "recession" threads :cool:


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  • #61
    Terrontress
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,928 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    Explosions in the Sky wrote: »
    OP if the army bomb squad was non existent there would be alot dead people this year and last

    Bomb squads tend to be using military expertise in a civilian environment. There is no reason why the Gardaí should not perform that function if soldiers are trained primarily with domestic bombs in mind. If they are trained for military purposes and assist the government by using that training then it is easier to justify.

    The Metropolitan Police in London has its own bomb squad.


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