Russia - threadbanned users in OP

I do not believe , for one second, that NATO would NOW expect ireland to invest €11 m annually in arms investment - when one considers the side of the Irish economy.

It may have made sense not to join NATO up till now but things have changed big time over the last Number of years eg invasion of UKr; cyber attack on the HSE, interference in USA elections.

Look at Finland and Sweden. Both were staunchly against joining NATO up to recently. But that all changed because of above

i think that it makes perfect sense, IN PRINCIPAL, for Ireland to use a UK service , eg aerial surveillance, that is of benefit to Ireland and the UK . It’s a costly exercise that Irl can ill afford. The service can track submarines, suspected illegal imports, suspicious ships eg cable cutters, likely attacks, etc. The main problem with the service is that the UK do not allow any Irish staff to be part of the crew

Carlson thinks he is doing some kind of a service interviewing a man who blows his internal opponents out of the sky. Throws them out of windows. Poisons them. Bans political rivals from running against him over spelling mistakes on application forms. Arrests old women and little girls for laying flowers and holding placards. What insight will such an interview reveal I wonder? Putin is a proven beyond a shadow of a doubt liar . The words from his mouth have less than zero value and utterly meaningless. We watched him rant and rave in that statement to the world on the eve on the invasion. All meaningless clap trap spouted with his ‘serious’ face on. Stating objectives and grievances that have long disappeared and being discredited. Putin is going to inform us here in the west that our deep state is corrupt and we are only pawns voting for puppet politician's. Meanwhile people flood into our country’s trying to get away from actual corrupt politicians and governments like his. Not buying that .

"Russia can cause major disruption to Irish economy by funding Irish groups that will do it’s bidding"

And why we should be far more careful with vetting who is arriving in our airports & ports. We are hopelessly naïve in such matters, far too trusting.

I’m going to have acquaintances of mine spouting that he is the only journalist who would interview Putin and give Putin a hearing. And how it’s important to hear both sides. And this interview is some sort of profound journalistic achievement. That is the spin being put on it. Whether Carlson believes it or not is another matter. Also that take down by Jon Stewart should be amplified more I wasn’t aware of it until I read it here today. Tucker Carlson has largely been irrelevant in my life but I am starting to see him appear more frequently in forwarded what’s app messages etc.

Tucker did have a debate with a Dutch journalist and was also completely destroyed. Tucker isn’t capable of winning a debate against an intelligent person. His persona is careful managed.

Large swathes of America think Tucker is a great man and very intelligent. I rember Joe Rogan described him as a brilliant person. Dont be surprised if he runs for President in the future.

I suspect Tucker might have a few too many skeletons in the closet. It didn't stop Trump, but those with an eye on the main prize and a few "indiscretions" in their past might see what's happening to Trump now and think twice. Hopefully!

The Swedes have closed the nordsteam investigation

Tucker is trumps replacement. Putin knows Trump is a busted flush so he's installing the next best empty vessel to push his agenda. Not so much a useful idiot as a morally corrupt idiot this time.

Ireland has to demonstrate a capacity to defend itself and its assets to some degree. If the British ever felt there was a threat coming from the west, they would have no issue making sure the holes were plugged as they saw fit. Having no protection from our end you would find that very few countries would disagree with such a move were it to happen. And they wouldn't leave until they thought the threat was no longer there. If we were part of a defence pact we'd be inviting those and others to our aid. Outside of one they'd be taking the decision from our hands. Every truly independent country in the world is able to defend itself to some degree bar us.

As we stand we're putting ourselves on par with Samoa, Liechtenstein, The Vatican, Haiti and Andorra. We don't need a bells and whistles defence system but we do need some sort of defence system.

Don't have to pay through the nose , there is plenty of off the shelf options for defence

Logical decision but fcuks its not a good situation at all. A lot of this is because of US Republicans and Trump.