Ireland - now considered one of most vulnerable countries in the EU (defense wise)

Watching the flypast over O'Connell Street for the centenary in 2016, I had to compare it with the similar event in 1966 for the half-centenary. The latter featured one or more jet fighters. Don't hold me to it, but I think they were Hawker Hunters. Anyway, they were British-built. No fighters in 2016, nor anything capable of intercepting a Russian bomber with its transponder turned off. Nothing wrong with being under the umbrella of the RAF, both in terms of primary radar and interception capability. This arrangement works to the advantage of both countries. And Britain is also, to some extent, under the umbrella of the US.

There's some professional quality colour footage on Youtube, about 11 minutes without any sound. The flypast is about 5 minutes in, but blink and you'd miss it. There's a clock showing midday, some armoured personnel carriers led by a Land Rover, then the flypast. Shows how good my memory is. The aircraft are fairly obviously De Havilland Vampire night fighters, four of them in close formation. Absolutely beautiful aeroplanes, and nothing at all like the Hawker Hunter. This is from the Wikipedia page for the De Havilland Vampire, under the Ireland section. The Fouga Magister was a jet, but classed as a trainer, so maybe the change signalled the first signs of downgrading Ireland's air capability?

The Vampire entered service with the Irish Air Corps in 1955, and was the first ever jet powered fighter aircraft in Ireland. A total of six Vampire T.55s were acquired and served under No.1 Fighter Squadron, stationed at Casement Air Base. The Vampires replaced the Supermarine Spitfire and Seafire as Ireland's main combat aircraft. The Vampire brought the jet age to Ireland and introduced heavier armaments through the Vampire's cannons, as well as new technology such as ejection seats. The Vampires served until 1975 and were replaced with six Fouga CM.170 Magisters.

The EU has been polite about our negligence so far. That will change. No country will get a free ride in the future.

Will try to after the rugby.

Total nonsense. The EU will defend its members.

Having a pro-security outlook does not work with an approach of depending on an increasingly isolationist and unpredictable country an ocean away.

Europe is moving to strategic autonomy. Macron sets an ultimatum to Russia, and Czechia/EU organize artillery for Ukraine.

Meanwhile US congress denies Ukraine aid due to internal conflict, and Trump gives Putin his blessing, then meets with Orban.

Europe can only rely on Europe.

Ok bye..

What effect would you think it would have if the Public heard it from the media that a new crowd was in charge. Some kind of puppet government installed. It is a bit far fetched but it is a possibility and does occur in other countries from time to time. I am not saying it is likely but I was asked to paint a scenario where it could happen and I did..

The world is becoming more and more polarized again and a world war 3 would be the end of the world.

Ally with the UK, the people that genocided every inhabitant in Tasmanian, still have the same dynasty as head of state and still occupy Northern Ireland? Ally with the USA that is currently providing Israel with bombs to kill children?

No for me anyway. Lots of nice people in USA,/ UK but I'd rather die fighting than help those fuckers butcher people around the world💪

No but it can do what the Finns used to do. The aim is not to defeat an army but to make it clear that whoever tries will have a hard time and get a bloody nose in the process. The "make it not worth it" approach to an aggressor.

We use our resistance to joining NATO as an excuse to avoid defending ourselves at all. Both Sweden and Switzerland practiced armed neutrality for many decades, unlike ourselves. They didn’t depend utterly on the kindness of strangers.

Would you like to be fully consistent in that stance and demand that all their companies leave our state? Yes, they have a terrible history of oppressing non-Europeans but we were their willing helpers in that regard. Look across the British Empire or the Americas and you will find stories of many people of Irish origin committing atrocities. We live in an imperfect world; let’s choose the least awful options.