Is it time to join Nato

I said you were free to disagree - that's fine.

My suspicions are based on the facts that I outlined. The most powerful countries in NATO have the biggest arms industries along with Russia and those countries are always in or around the major conflicts in the world. Some of them even went outside NATO to invade a country to achieve their aims. The morals and legality of which you can decide for yourself.

As I said, I don't share your black and white/good v bad view of the world. It is much more nuanced and complex.

Most normal people disagree with nutjobs, cranks and conspiracy theories Francie. Guess what camp you are in?

Absolutely, the response by the US & UK to a major cyber attack is unknown but unlike Ireland they have the ability to respond above and beyond having a stern word with the Ambassador.

New strategy: In a new strategy document, NATO reaffirmed a 2021 commitment that a cyberattack could (but would not automatically) trigger Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which would make it an attack against the alliance as a whole. It also pledged to work with the private sector to counter threats, formally recognized threats in cyberspace posed by Russia and China, and promised to update NATO’s command structure to reflect new cyber threats.

Forgive me here, but my consistent argument is that there are two sides and while the Russian side is worse, the NATO/West side bear responsibility too.

The Irish people in polling reject the idea of joining NATO as do the government and the governments before this one. There is a reason and no amount of trying to demean that is going to do any favours to the campaign to join it.

Were there two sides during the Holocaust and other Genocides?

According to your worldview, probably.

There is zero 'wild conspiracy theory' in what I said. Here is a Nobel Peace Prize nominated group's views. Care to call them 'conspiracy theorists'?

The arms industry seek to and do influence government policy. Why? Well it's simple, follow the money. I have my suspicions that this extends to keeping conflicts going.

You are either naive or being willfully obtuse about this stuff. I have my 'suspicions' about which of them it is.

If you found out that Norton were spreading viruses would you advocate that they should stay in business? Would you go into patrnership with them?

Right back at you blanch, would you be in favour of going into an alliance with a government who are riding ripshod over their own rules, never mind international rules and doing what they are doing with the Saudis?

Yes or no?

No rabbithole, that is just a conveinient dodge of the question.

Would you be in favour of going into an alliance with a government who are riding ripshod over their own rules, never mind international rules and doing what they are doing with the Saudis?

Yes or no?

So you are ok with one of the powers in NATO supplying arms to the Saudis to bomb the **** out of Yemen? You can keep up the pretense that 'we're all the good guys'?

If the UK are playing fast and lose, you can be sure others in NATO are...follow the money.

Right back at you.

A) You seem to be OK with that country having a veto over Irish Defence Policy.

b) You seem to be OK with that country using its air force to protect our airspace. You don't want us to fund our own air defence either.