Irish neutrality

[Look-Up!]

Interesting alright, if a bit preachy. I've read other opinions of the same type. Hit's on a few valid points but very unrealistic in others.

Doesn't explain exactly how Ireland is getting rich with data centres or having cables ran through our territorial waters either. The former is not a massive employer and is actually putting huge pressures on our NG using massive energy at discounted rates.

Doesn't explain how exactly we should be defending these infrastructures either. They come into our waters and go out again, it's a joint infrastructure for ALL of Europe. We're a small island of 5 million people with no military infrastructure, inclination or history. So it would be completely moronic to just dump all this shit in out waters and expect us to defend it. If they are arguing we are caught with our pants completely down, then we're not alone. And we've bailed out plenty with regards to Europe so far.

We can't defend the cables. We depend on them. We have to ask the Brits for help. We freeload. It's not serious.

Annoys me when I hear the term freeload, which was the undertone of the article.

Everyone in Europe depends on these cables, was that not another point of the article?

So maybe the author can write another article on the freeloading Austrians, Swiss and Luxembourgers with no f*****g navies at all.

We can't deal with drones or Russian interference. We can't deal with Russian ships entering our waters. We have 4 ships.

Stating the bleeding obvious. Still doesn't explain the point of the article or solution to problem, apart from stating some of the bleeding obvious.

We need to spend more on defence. The Navy and the Air Corps need to be equipped to defend the country's interests, same as any other country. Ireland spends 0.24% of GDP on defence.
The European Union European Defence Agency member state average spend on defence as a percentage of GDP was 1.6% in 2023. So we spend one sixth of the average.
The Army isn't ready to deal with loyalist trouble in a United Ireland either. There is a lot of catching up to do.

We are a small non-war mongering nation. Traditionally we had no reason to spend on defense. Comparing our percentages to EU countries is a bit disingenuous. As is the term defense. Traditionally these big European countries invested in the military for speculation and colonization and conquest, as much as it did for "defense". They gained massive wealth and expertise from this approach and reinvested in military so it was a self fulfilling system. So their base is a lot higher than ours.

Notwithstanding all that I get some of the points. We are in Europe now, it's a community and we all need to chip in and think more about the security of the union. So we do need to change our mindset.

But as an Irishman, what I won't accept is the finger wagging preachy tone of that article. The union should be based on mutual co-operation and respect, and to defend the Atlantic will take major investment. This is as much the responsibility, and failure, of the union as a whole, not just lazy little freeloading Ireland.

[seafoid]

"Traditionally these big European countries invested in the military for speculation and colonization and conquest, as much as it did for "defense". They gained massive wealth and expertise from this approach and reinvested in military so it was a self fulfilling system. So their base is a lot higher than ours."

European Defence spending is significantly lower than in the 80s when the Soviet Union was a threat. We should be closer to 1.6%.

[AustinPowers]

So... it sounds like  you're all in agreement, that  Ireland should join NATO?

[Look-Up!]

"Traditionally these big European countries invested in the military for speculation and colonization and conquest, as much as it did for "defense". They gained massive wealth and expertise from this approach and reinvested in military so it was a self fulfilling system. So their base is a lot higher than ours."

European Defence spending is significantly lower than in the 80s when the Soviet Union was a threat. We should be closer to 1.6%.

Right so Europe dropped the ball on European defense. Not sure what they expect us to do about that.

[Hand of God]

Why are we so scared of the Russians?

Because they are happy to damage the running of countries - neighbours and beyond.

Just like the US so? Why aren't we afraid of the yanks? How many regime changes, illegal wars, black ops do we need to fear the yanks?

[Dag Dog]

Why are we so scared of the Russians?

Because they are happy to damage the running of countries - neighbours and beyond.

Just like the US so? Why aren't we afraid of the yanks? How many regime changes, illegal wars, black ops do we need to fear the yanks?

Have the yanks ever carried out a hack like the Russian one on the HSE?

[Hand of God]

Why are we so scared of the Russians?

Because they are happy to damage the running of countries - neighbours and beyond.

Just like the US so? Why aren't we afraid of the yanks? How many regime changes, illegal wars, black ops do we need to fear the yanks?

Have the yanks ever carried out a hack like the Russian one on the HSE?

You're saying the Russian government hacked the HSE? Do you have your tinfoil hat on you?

Wait until you find out about the The Brits blowing up Dublin and Monaghan.

[Dag Dog]

Why are we so scared of the Russians?

Because they are happy to damage the running of countries - neighbours and beyond.

Just like the US so? Why aren't we afraid of the yanks? How many regime changes, illegal wars, black ops do we need to fear the yanks?

Have the yanks ever carried out a hack like the Russian one on the HSE?

You're saying the Russian government hacked the HSE? Do you have your tinfoil hat on you?

Wait until you find out about the The Brits blowing up Dublin and Monaghan.

You started with the yanks, and now it's the Brits.
'Look over there, stop picking on poor Russia'.

[Hand of God]

Why are we so scared of the Russians?

Because they are happy to damage the running of countries - neighbours and beyond.

Just like the US so? Why aren't we afraid of the yanks? How many regime changes, illegal wars, black ops do we need to fear the yanks?

Have the yanks ever carried out a hack like the Russian one on the HSE?

You're saying the Russian government hacked the HSE? Do you have your tinfoil hat on you?

Wait until you find out about the The Brits blowing up Dublin and Monaghan.

You started with the yanks, and now it's the Brits.
'Look over there, stop picking on poor Russia'.

You are the one spreading conspiracy theories that the Russian government hacked the HSE? It's you who is all over the place here.

Conversely you don't seem bothered about a neighbouring state who have committed terrorist atrocities on Irish citizens and towns and villages.

Strange fellow.

[Banks of the Bann]

No need to worry about Russia in 2025 folks because the Brits had their fingerprints all over Dublin-Monaghan in 1974.

That's the logic this genius employs.

[Hand of God]

No need to worry about Russia in 2025 folks because the Brits had their fingerprints all over Dublin-Monaghan in 1974.

That's the logic this genius employs.

The Brits haven't changed in 2025. 50 years and still no justice, victims families going to their grave denied justice and answers. That's the western world you adore.

Ask the victims of state terrorism and see what justice was served. Ask the Palestinians who are being murdered in their hundreds every day with British weapons and components, in full knowledge. Ask the Palestinians about the British PM who said Israel have the right to genocide them.

You have quite a twisted and sick world view.

[Armagh18]

Another thread ruined by you pair of doses.

Is there no moderators on here anymore???

[Hand of God]

Another thread ruined by you pair of doses.

Is there no moderators on here anymore???

How am I ruining a thread by countering conspiracy theories?

Not everyone is guilty by association. Cop yourself on.

[Banks of the Bann]

No need to worry about Russia in 2025 folks because the Brits had their fingerprints all over Dublin-Monaghan in 1974.

That's the logic this genius employs.

The Brits haven't changed in 2025. 50 years and still no justice, victims families going to their grave denied justice and answers. That's the western world you adore.

Ask the victims of state terrorism and see what justice was served. Ask the Palestinians who are being murdered in their hundreds every day with British weapons and components, in full knowledge. Ask the Palestinians about the British PM who said Israel have the right to genocide them.

You have quite a twisted and sick world view.

None of that has anything to do with the threat posed by Russia today.

[Banks of the Bann]

Another thread ruined by you pair of doses.

Is there no moderators on here anymore???

Eh no. I dug up this thread in order to share an interesting article I read earlier today.

This prompted some debate among posters.

It's not my fault someone criticised  Russia and HoG shit himself as a result.