Role for Irish Defence Forces in Ukraine?

We can only send about 12 without UN Approval cause somehow letting China and Russia decide our Foreign Policy is a good idea... Until of course it isn't.

What do you suggest that 12 could do that would be of any benefit to the scale of the Ukrainian War?

We are not at war with Russia. That is why we have no troops there.

if we sent a battalion of troops to assist and defend the Ukranians, they’d have to be armed, in a war zone, therefore, ‘at war’…

logistically it would cost millions….

There are no EU troops in the Ukraine. There won’t be any either.

if you are in the Irish military only to get told… “ ok, you are off to a war zone, in the Ukraine where about 14,000 Ukrainian military have died. “ I am in my **** “ would be the likely response….from 99.99% of men and women…correctly too. Why would you risk your life for The Ukraine and Ukrainians, we are doing more then enough for little enough genuine thanks, without seeing our loved ones head over 3000 kilometres away to risk their lives, some lose their lives into the bargain! 🤷‍♂️

Any politician here, who makes a call to override our neutrality, either publicly or covertly… risks putting their party back to the dark ages.

as it would be impossible to do it covertly due to the number of people who’d know….and that would be an immense breach of trust between that political entity and the Irish people… no,

@Strumms if you are in the Irish military only to get told… “ ok, you are off to a war zone, in the Ukraine where about 14,000 Ukrainian military have died. “ I am in my **** “ would be the likely response….from 99.99% of men and women…correctly too. Why would you risk your life for The Ukraine and Ukrainians.

Yet tens of thousands who have travelled to other war zones with the UN did so proudly .

I'd imagine the majority of soldiers who actually trained for the moment of seeing real combat would More than likely jump at the chance to see real combat experience in Ukraine or elsewhere,

And since when is the defense forces a democratic system, right lads and girls we had duties do you want to vote which one's you do and don't want to to .

They are trained first and foremost to fight and kill ,

They get orders and they follow them

Unfortunately the Ukraine has lost a lot more than 14k. Nearly 100k lost on both sides is what most observers think.

The Ukraine's are weakening the Russian military with very little help from us and the West. Do you think that Putin would honour our "neutrality"? Especially when we aren't really neutral, as we can't defend ourselves, and putting long range missiles on our Island will make US resupply of Europe difficult.

Russia aren't going to attack anyone outside of Ukraine,

Come on now ,

Even that got complaints from the usual suspects… Shower of gobshites.

I said they were going to invade and I've been saying it for the last 9 years.

Do you honestly think that there are no foreign troops inside Ukraine

There are many foreign soldiers in Ukraine fighting against Russia. However there are no foreign armies fighting alongside Ukraine. I hope you can understand the difference.

Advisers don't count.

"id not want a single citizen of this nation within 1000km of that in any capacity."

So at what point would you approve? That's the question. Let's suppose Russia eventually overcomes Ukraine and then seeks to expand westwards. Do you/ we just sit on our hands forever, until it arrives onto our doorstep? And if you do accept that there would be a point when our military would get involved, why wait till then? What's the difference.

These are the same questions that confronted societies in the last two great European wars. And that persuaded ordinary men & women, who would have no interest in fighting, into joining up.]

Neutrality is all very well and works to a point, until the aggressor just punches you in the face and burns down your house.

 In the last two great European wars was Ireland Invaded or our sovereignty threatened in any major way? Our constitution covers invasion.