Report claims Defence Forces Admit ”They Cannot Meaningfully Defend Ireland”

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118558487#Comment_118558487

You sound just like Yates at O'Leary's funeral in 1913

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118566182#Comment_118566182

Even on this thread you have posters hilariously claiming it was possible.

Gatling

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118566226#Comment_118566226

They would have been massacred and no help was going to be sent if they got into trouble or a firefight .

Thinkingaboutit

This country is effectively without navy, army or air corp if we think in terms of bodies able able to fulfill any meaningful duty beyond minor UN peacekeeping or providing Michael D with some ceremonial guard or parade duty. Interdiction of smuggling is beyond the ken anything this country possesses. Like most things done by the Irish state, it might be a lack of resources, but equally it can be a result of a mis-application of resources, of a complacent attitude. We cannot assume there will be no direct military threats. Many European countries with a fairly, civilian, pacific outlook, found that was not a wise thing at various points in the past. Given too, that our neutrality is nominal, we will find themselves dragged into another's issue.

CreadanLady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118566070#Comment_118566070

You know, that is actually true. That may be our strength. We probably have decent stocks of small arms and basic explosives materials. And plenty experience still around amongst those who excelled at making Barrack Buster artilery out of gas bottles and agricultural odds and ends.

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/de9d1ed9-3546-4f22-b1ad-01861f24b7ca

We'd have a new flying columns laying the Ruskies low with ambushes.

And a whole new ablum of rebel songs would be born.

"Come out ye russian bears"

"The Commie Dew"

"The Boys of Castletownbere"

"Patrick Murphy from Skibbereen"

"Go on home russian sailors go on home"

Few good sessions in the making there.

Harryd225

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118566226#Comment_118566226

Claiming what was possible? To successfully takeover Northern Ireland and occupy it? No that was not possible, although they could have successfully launched guerilla attacks across Northern Ireland to make an international point, yes that would have been possible.

Ironically this thread is centred on an invasion (probably by Russia) yet you have been people on here claiming we would have had absolutely no chance of launching guerrilla attacks against the British in Northern Ireland FFS, I think that pretty much proves the point that we would have no chance defending ourselves whatsoever if Russia invaded.

Ger Roe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118566385#Comment_118566385

Part of the role of the army is to be at the exclusive disposal and direction of the government in power. Under that remit, it may have to defend the offices of the state from internal threats, such as existed during 'the troubles' when IRA activity could have posed a direct threat to the stability of the state. If Mick and Leo went Putin overnight, the army could be called upon to defend their ivory towers from the rampant rowdy rabble. There are not many governments around the world that would operate without the backup potential of an armed force. The Irish army has not been called upon to act in such circumstances, but it could be.

There is more to having an army, than attacking others, or defending the state from external threats .... countering internal threats of various kinds and the ability to aid the civil power on request, are also under the remit of the army.

An army is also a political establishment insurance policy.

BattleCorp1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118566177#Comment_118566177

No need to be rude. I was answering the question about whether or not a militia/guerilla force was feasible and I gave reasons why I didn't think it is feasible because of the actions of the Government, Gardai and Media. They are currently drafting legislation to try take certain firearms off target shooters for fcuk sake. So given those circumstances, the powers that be don't have the stomach for a militia.

And by the way, you seem to be the only one bringing the US Murica BS in here. My post didn't call for the establishment of a militia or a guerilla force so how is it Murica BS?

And there are a lot more guns out there than farmers shotguns. But if we wanted a militia, we'd need a lot more, not that I'm calling for that.

Gatling

@CreadanLady You know, that is actually true. That may be our strength. We probably have decent stocks of small arms and basic explosives materials..

This is fact .....

Harryd225

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118566602#Comment_118566602

Undoubtedly yes we would already have people here with that knowledge in bomb making and previous experience in guerilla warfare who could train the younger population, the question is how many people today would actually be willing to fight, Ireland is not like it was back then, Ireland was largely working class and our population was a lot more tough than it is now. I can't see much people signing up to be fair, most people would probably just get on with things so long as there wasn't any mass murder against our population going on.

So long as they kept us relatively sweet and allowed us to carry on with our lives then I doubt much people would be willing to sign up to a guerilla army.

Gatling

You would think it was a complex idea ,

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118566722#Comment_118566722

Your last paragraph is how it's always been. IRA numbers were tiny and the myth we all had an uncle in the Ra happened afterwards.

Gatling

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118567481#Comment_118567481

How many uncles and grandads were in the GPO with Mick ,

You could fill Croke park several times over with the numbers who claim it

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118567490#Comment_118567490

Armed with nothing but hurleys and the pride that comes with knowing they were not snowflakes

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118567481#Comment_118567481

Easy to check if it is true. Look up the military records has names of those who got medals/pensions or were listed as members at a given point in time. The records are not fully complete in some cases due to the circumstances.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118566722#Comment_118566722

People were saying the same nonsense about the younger generations in the 1930s too. It was as stupid then as it is now.

Harryd225

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568266#Comment_118568266

That's complete rubbish if you think the population of Ireland hasn't gotten a lot softer then you are deluded, Ireland has become far more spoiled and the population a lot less street wise.

Remember when a loyalist attacked a funeral with guns and grenades in the 80s, instead of running away the people literally chased him down throwing rocks at him while he was throwing grenades and shooting at them, I can't imagine that happening today.

Nowadays.... You have hundreds of people in London running away from one person armed with a knife during terror attacks, and our people aren't much different.

Gatling

@Harryd225 Remember when a loyalist attacked a funeral with guns and grenades in the 80s, instead of running away the people literally chased him down throwing rocks at him while he was throwing grenades and shooting at them, I can't imagine that happening today.

That was NI at a ira funeral ...

Hardly a prime example of ordinary Joe Irish.

Wonder how russians would do ?

Podge_irl

So its complete rubbish because your imagination says so?

Your protestations and proclamations are nothing new. The obsession that the young have gone soft and would not be able to face up to the same hardships as their elders has been around for centuries (probably longer). We are not at war, ergo we don't need to act like it.

CreadanLady

Violent gang criminals, the likes of the Kinihans and the McCarthy-Dundons, could be given a pardon on condition of joining up into a fighting unit. They would be tough as nails.

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118566722#Comment_118566722

You make it out like it is a bad thing that we are not so "tough" as our predecessors and that we don't have people willing to sign up to kill women and children like the PIRA did.

I actually think that is a good thing as we now have a much greater appreciation of the value of all lives unlike those who joined the PIRA.

Sleepy

There is of course the argument that given the mess our own lads have made of things maybe we're better off not having a military capable of defending the state... maybe we'd do better under foreign rule? 😛

Thinkingaboutit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118566491#Comment_118566491

Yes of course, there is defence of government against all comers. However thing go south in this country, I would hope that we do not end up there, where Michéal and Leo declare themselves co- or alternating taoiseagh go beo. What can be realistically hoped is that the Armed Forces, particularly Navy and Air Corp are kept at or raised to a level where they can be used to frustrate criminality that uses sea and air corridors, with the Army as a last resort against heavily armed criminals. Realistically if the Ukraine crisis winds down, there could a lot of weapons available to those who should not have it. Effective support of policy is obtainable with not too much more resources (although realistically it plain increase is essential), but perhaps a careful consideration of how they are used. Localities might be attached to barracks, but not all are probably needed.

CreadanLady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118570955#Comment_118570955

Do you think Russians would have the same outlook? Or indeed, the loyalists in the North?

When push comes to shove, every irish person is entitled to die as a martyr for Ireland, in the even we're invaded by protestants, or mohammadáns, or any other class of heathen

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118571476#Comment_118571476

I was told in school that it was a great honour to be able to die for Ireland.

kravmaga

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118563204#Comment_118563204

Are you in the IDF, sound a bit touchy to me

Esel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118573227#Comment_118573227

Why do you think the poster is in the Israeli Defence Forces?

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118571476#Comment_118571476

Well, I don't subscribe to that theory. It only perpetuates the man's inhumanity to man approach that has caused so many wars.

While not a pacifist, the threshold for a just war is very high. It hasn't been met on this island for a century, for example.

BirgerH

Hey guys, greetings from Finland. Just did read the news that you don't have real army in Ireland and found this discussion you are having about it. Here is the solution of what you lads should do

Just want to comment, that you should write your politicians and ask to hire retired finnish general Jarmo Lindberg. He was 5 years in charge of finnish defence forces and is the best man in world to fix any army.

We have here in Finland 64 F18 jets (just made the order for 64 x F35), biggest artillery in EU, 100 battle tanks, 400 000 strong reserve force and better arctic navy then USA (yes, our navy can operate in 1 meter ice, USA can't). All with the population around the same then Ireland and quite small defence budget. No one doubts our readiness to stop Russian invasion even we have over 1000km land border with them. In fact we are the only country in world to have stopped Soviet Union invasion (Winter War).

You can watch the video "Taistelukenttä 2020" from youtube to know more.

BirgerH

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118575145#Comment_118575145

Hey and the video below has english subtitles in settings. You should really watch it to know how modern small country army does it's job.