Is it time to join Nato

I'm not sure why you're resorting to abuse. The better way is to take apart my posts and criticise what you object to.

I accept your description of Ireland's defensive inability and stand corrected on that point.

I don't agree with your claim that the UK is the danger you describe.

Once again, you don't tell me to go away.

I repeat, we disagree and hopefully will not engage again.

They are not the "biggest threat" (those would be Russia, Turkey and China) but they plainly do wish to undermine + fragment the EU, and that is disruptive rather than helpful. It's very hard IMO for them (current crowd running the shop) to make Brexit work out as fully intended unless this happens. Others were meant to quit by now + join the UK outside (who would dominate and shape a new, better "bloc" as a founder) & this has not happened and it looks unlikely.

Wrecking the EU is (I think) obviously not going to be a good thing for European security even if it (might?) benefit the UK. So this is a risk all the members of the EU must consider when dealing with the UK. It may recede in future when the UK has a less "Brexit-y" government that is not quite so fixated with the project and hostile to the EU (e.g. there's some shift in the Tories where the faction that drove through the very hard Brexit lose power, or else the Tories themselves are out of government for a time).

You could argue that doesn't mean the UK bear ill will to any EU member countries themselves (Boris repeatedly calls them [incl. us] "our friends" every time he opens his mouth on the topic, and in fairness UK is very supportive of security of Eastern members and assisting Ukraine strongly through its NATO membership etc.).

However the EU members obviously won't be happy with UK divide and rule efforts. It does create alot of tension and trouble (e.g. over NI), given these countries are all still remaining in the EU by choice, they don't view it as the UK does. They want it to work well (for them) & think this is vital for their interests going forward rather than have it falter & dissolve into an "EEC" type structure, or shatter apart as UK seems to desire. When the UK govt. goes to battle with the EU as it loves to do, or plots to undermine it, it's also attacking these countries, and harming its relations with them. I am not sure if the UK govt. fully get this (or want to get it).

I agree that Brexit has caused many headaches, mostly for Britain. I voted Remain and recall posting in 2016 that whilst politicians then were asserting that the UK was not turning it's back on Europe, it seemed so to me. I can understand why the EU is reluctant to grant the UK any favours and I never accepted that the EU would fragment. The European project was too important and valuable to it's members - even if there were/are elements of Euro scepticism within some nations.

I would hope that divide and rule belongs in the past and that the Europeans don't regard Britain as more that an economic competitor rather than a potential threat to the security of the EU. Their suspicion is understandable though. The UK has placed a distance between itself and Europe.

Brexit is a reality and I've had my share of raving at the tv with the shenanigans played out in parliament. It won't be reversed any time soon so it has to be dealt with and I'd say most of the 14,000,000 who voted Remain have accepted this.

You're right to mention the type of government in the UK at the moment. If Britain is to strike out on it's own there's no point in making enemies whilst doing so - easier said than done.

I never thought the UK population was well served in the whole Brexit business - from either side of the argument. Britain certainly needs a better quality of politicians going forward.

I now hope Brexit is a raging success in the long term, not because I desired it but because that's where the country is now.

This is just ridiculous. The Russians fly, sail and submarine all around these islands all the time.

’We wanna join Nato’ let’s create some scaremongering about it.

Sounds like you've watched too many American films depicting scary Commies.

Ireland isn't Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia had been bed fellows for a few centuries before the collapse of the USSR and they started parting ways.

You're a denier. You are the guy who would try to persuade me i dont need a house alarm after all my neighbours had been burgled.

Wake up and smell the coffee.

Historically, Taiwan was also part of Japan for 50 years, or did you miss that bit from your history lesson? China can view it how it wants, doesn't make it so. Russia can view Ukraine as part of the greater Rusian Empire, how is that going?

Regardless, right now, there are 25 million Taiwanese who want to truck with the way the CCP runs China and their more ardent authoritarian rule on the mainland. Anyone with a brain would support a liberal, democratic and most important free Taiwan, free from the shackles of the CCP.

Yurt is right as well, if Taiwan falls, it will mean a certain war in the wider Pacific region with South Korea and Japan right in the mix along with the Philippines, Australians and Americans upping their game. It would be a disaster.

Is it wrong? Nope, it isnt....

We all know your views Francie, which is akin to doing nothing because the Brits are part of it.

A phishing email with a link to a malicious excel file, accessed from a computer not running any AntiVirus, hackers run rampant in the system for 8 weeks before it was noticed.

Sorry but that attack doesn't require resources of a State to mount.

It's time to bring our defence forces to an acceptable standard. We should be increasing the size of the forces, have purpose built barracks and not relics of a bygone era, modern equipment for modern conflicts, and good pay for those who serve.

Who said Taiwan wasn't under control of Japan??? I said China sees Taiwan as part of their country. That is a fact. It also fact they were connected for 200 years.

You have really odd way of arguing. Twice you have brought up points that nobody ever made and then tell them to read up on it. Taiwan being under Japanese control for 50 years and projecting power.

The fact is china see Taiwan as part of thier country and that is their number one motive for invasion.

Who sees Ireland as part of their country? Ireland is not in the same position as Taiwan or even the Ukraine. Churchill had a plan to invade Ireland. He could not handle us being neutral. He even offered the North should we go in with allies but De Valera said no. The link you sent about operation green even said it was a threat more than an actual planned invasion.

The Russia attack on the HSE according to Paul Reid will cost us 100m+. So a very expensive attack it proved to be financially as well as the significant disruption it caused to our health care system at the time.