Russia invades Ukraine Feb 2022

[PadraicHenryPearse]

That's not "in government in Spain". That's like saying the TUV has been in government in Belfast because it's had a couple of councillors.

to some level have or had recent far right parties in government.

I structured the sentence poorly but what I meant by adding 'to some level' was to allow for the inclusion in the list of the likes of Spain. And again I used the word 'recent' as Vox did poorly in the last elections compared to how they fared 2018/19/20

[Sportacus]

Donald Tusk warming that Europe is not prepared for war. Laughable five years ago but it's not beyond the bounds of possibility now with Putin well and truly untouchable in his own country.
Where does that leave Ireland, a geographic soft spot on the western fringe of UK and Europe?
Has NATO a blueprint somewhere to save Irelands ass for their own welfare?  And does Ireland know about it?

[johnnycool]

Donald Tusk warming that Europe is not prepared for war. Laughable five years ago but it's not beyond the bounds of possibility now with Putin well and truly untouchable in his own country.
Where does that leave Ireland, a geographic soft spot on the western fringe of UK and Europe?
Has NATO a blueprint somewhere to save Irelands ass for their own welfare?  And does Ireland know about it?

Putin couldn't even roll over Ukraine, right on his own border, so how do you think he's ever going to invade the whole of Europe, let alone Ireland?

Pure scaremongering in the US and Europe to drive more taxpayers money into the hands of the Military–industrial complex who are lining the pockets of a lot of politicians along the way.

[Ed Ricketts]

Donald Tusk warming that Europe is not prepared for war. Laughable five years ago but it's not beyond the bounds of possibility now with Putin well and truly untouchable in his own country.
Where does that leave Ireland, a geographic soft spot on the western fringe of UK and Europe?
Has NATO a blueprint somewhere to save Irelands ass for their own welfare?  And does Ireland know about it?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIUK_gap

The Brits will mind us.

[Main Street]

Bad news for Mick and Clare?

BBC reports
Russian network that 'paid European politicians' busted, authorities claim

A Russian-backed "propaganda" network has been broken up for spreading anti-Ukraine stories and paying unnamed European politicians, according to authorities in several countries.
Investigators claimed it used the popular Voice of Europe website as a vehicle to pay politicians.
The Czech Republic and Poland said the network aimed to influence European politics.


Incidentally, Clare (and Mick by siamese association) were added last October to the Shady Horse of Russian Propaganda list, joining Shady Horse luminaries such as avowed racist Tommy Robinson, Geert Wilders, César Vidal, Victor Urban and a host of other shady horses. Quite an accomplishment for Clare the  self acclaimed socialist, to have her portrait mounted unashamedly in that hall of ignominy.


From the Ukraine Crisis Media Centre

[theskull1]

No need to consider any possibility it being a smear campaign by those with vested interests to keep the thing going

[RadioGAAGAA]

Donald Tusk warming that Europe is not prepared for war. Laughable five years ago but it's not beyond the bounds of possibility now with Putin well and truly untouchable in his own country.
Where does that leave Ireland, a geographic soft spot on the western fringe of UK and Europe?
Has NATO a blueprint somewhere to save Irelands ass for their own welfare?  And does Ireland know about it?

WHAT?!?!?

So the Russians with their extensive Navy are going to try and invade Ireland, a full EU member, putting themselves at the end of an enormously fragile supply  chain and piss off half of the US on both sides of congress/senate?

If any Russian ship managed to make it to Irish territorial waters I'd be amazed. If any managed to reach shoreline I'd be in a state of disbelief and if they lasted longer than a week before dying of half the USAF's missiles up their hole I'd die of shock.


Of course, the Russians aren't that stupid so would never even try. Not before already occupying all of continental Europe and probably the UK too.

[Bord na Mona man]

I doubt anyone expects Russian troops to rock up in Ireland any time soon
But then, why is Russia investing so much energy into sowing discord in the West?
Why are they so concerned with amplifying extremism, disrupting elections and parliaments in the EU, and the US for example?
A country of dirt roads and $600 per month average salaries isn't trying to level up by pulling itself upwards, it's trying to pull the rest down.

The HSE cyber attack originating from Russia should be a wake up call for those thinking that 'neutral' Ireland are immune from being targeted.
It may be a taster, there is plenty of more serious disruption a rogue entity could do to Ireland.

Mick Wallace and Clare Daly might be harmless idiots to most. Maybe they're funded by Russia, maybe they're not, but I doubt we even have the resources and intelligence ability to find out.
Ireland certainly needs to beef up on security and at a minimum be able to patrol and track what's going on in our coastal waters.

[thebigfella]

I doubt anyone expects Russian troops to rock up in Ireland any time soon
But then, why is Russia investing so much energy into sowing discord in the West?
Why are they so concerned with amplifying extremism, disrupting elections and parliaments in the EU, and the US for example?
A country of dirt roads and $600 per month average salaries isn't trying to level up by pulling itself upwards, it's trying to pull the rest down.

The HSE cyber attack originating from Russia should be a wake up call for those thinking that 'neutral' Ireland are immune from being targeted.
It may be a taster, there is plenty of more serious disruption a rogue entity could do to Ireland.

Mick Wallace and Clare Daly might be harmless idiots to most. Maybe they're funded by Russia, maybe they're not, but I doubt we even have the resources and intelligence ability to find out.
Ireland certainly needs to beef up on security and at a minimum be able to patrol and track what's going on in our coastal waters.

There is zero evidence it was a nation state sponsored attack. The group identified behind it are a cyber crime gang and was a ransomware attack purely for profit.

[Bord na Mona man]

I doubt anyone expects Russian troops to rock up in Ireland any time soon
But then, why is Russia investing so much energy into sowing discord in the West?
Why are they so concerned with amplifying extremism, disrupting elections and parliaments in the EU, and the US for example?
A country of dirt roads and $600 per month average salaries isn't trying to level up by pulling itself upwards, it's trying to pull the rest down.

The HSE cyber attack originating from Russia should be a wake up call for those thinking that 'neutral' Ireland are immune from being targeted.
It may be a taster, there is plenty of more serious disruption a rogue entity could do to Ireland.

Mick Wallace and Clare Daly might be harmless idiots to most. Maybe they're funded by Russia, maybe they're not, but I doubt we even have the resources and intelligence ability to find out.
Ireland certainly needs to beef up on security and at a minimum be able to patrol and track what's going on in our coastal waters.

There is zero evidence it was a nation state sponsored attack. The group identified behind it are a cyber crime gang and was a ransomware attack purely for profit.

In Russia, cyber crime gangs are known to the Kremlin. They're expected to cooperate with them and share the windfalls from their ransom attacks.

[seafoid]

Russia also interferes in European politics via far right parties .Orban reports to Putin. so does Le Pen.

[thebigfella]

I doubt anyone expects Russian troops to rock up in Ireland any time soon
But then, why is Russia investing so much energy into sowing discord in the West?
Why are they so concerned with amplifying extremism, disrupting elections and parliaments in the EU, and the US for example?
A country of dirt roads and $600 per month average salaries isn't trying to level up by pulling itself upwards, it's trying to pull the rest down.

The HSE cyber attack originating from Russia should be a wake up call for those thinking that 'neutral' Ireland are immune from being targeted.
It may be a taster, there is plenty of more serious disruption a rogue entity could do to Ireland.

Mick Wallace and Clare Daly might be harmless idiots to most. Maybe they're funded by Russia, maybe they're not, but I doubt we even have the resources and intelligence ability to find out.
Ireland certainly needs to beef up on security and at a minimum be able to patrol and track what's going on in our coastal waters.

There is zero evidence it was a nation state sponsored attack. The group identified behind it are a cyber crime gang and was a ransomware attack purely for profit.

In Russia, cyber crime gangs are known to the Kremlin. They're expected to cooperate with them and share the windfalls from their ransom attacks.

Cyber gangs are tolerated and some are even hired on behalf of the state, but there is zero evidence the Russian state targeted the HSE.

The ransomware gang behind the HSE attack actively target state agencies and the HSE attack followed the same pattern as previous attacks. There was nothing more to it than good old extortion.

[Main Street]

When it comes to the Kremlin terrorist state shenanigans, presume guilt & lies until otherwise informed.
Poland, Finland and the Baltic states only know that too well.

[bennydorano]

Some people with short memories, was there not a Russian sub at their geopolitical games of the coast of Cork last year?

[thebigfella]

Some people with short memories, was there not a Russian sub at their geopolitical games of the coast of Cork last year?

Regardless of all the other points, the Russian State was not responsible for the HSE ransomware attack despite where it is believed to have originated from based upon the evidence.

Stating otherwise is false and Ireland has a greater threat from cyber crime gangs than rogue nations hacking us for geopolitical reasons. We are just not that important in the grand scheme of things.