Irish Neutrality

[Wangball]

You can try back up the claim if you don't want to be slted for it. also we didn't join in 1972

Oh and allowing us planes to refuel doesn't affect our nuetrality, it would only affect our nuetrality if we refused other countries leave to refuel

Well said, we're neutral until such a time that we refuse any enemy of the US from refueling in Shannon on their way to bomb the States

[Da Real Rover]

I think everyone accepts that. Would be more accurate if the navy rebranded as the coast guard. I think the future of the army is smaller better trained & equipped numbers.

I don't think violation of neutrality would in anyway compromise our UN missions. I doubt people in Chad know or care we are neutral.

Ask an Irish Defence Force member and they will tell you that they are already stretched as it is.

Believe it or not but the IDF does alot of work behind the scenes that is not recognised.
Their intelligence wing moniters alot of criminal activity in Ireland, especially the new threat from Eastern European Criminal gangs. Not much goes by without these boys monitering it.

[Da Real Rover]

we are not neutral nation, we have allowed american fighter jets to re-fuel at shannon for many years - i would of been in favour of irish participation in WW2 as well , please don't slate me for this - but i honestly believe our country suffered economically because of this in the post-war period, since our inclusion to the EU in 72,unfortunately some will disagree with my views but ultimately we suffered because of this,

I agree with you copletely until the bit where you said you were in favour of Irish participation.
Since when do we decide our military position due to financial insentives?

[jebus]

I agree with you copletely until the bit where you said you were in favour of Irish participation.
Since when do we decide our military position due to financial insentives?

We shouldn't, and normally I'd agree that Ireland should have gotten involved to stop a superpower expanding throughout Europe (including our own island). That said we still had our noses bloodied by British occupation, and the Civil War, so I don't think we had the stomach for World War Two at that time

[Wangball]

Ask an Irish Defence Force member and they will tell you that they are already stretched as it is.

Believe it or not but the IDF does alot of work behind the scenes that is not recognised.
Their intelligence wing moniters alot of criminal activity in Ireland, especially the new threat from Eastern European Criminal gangs. Not much goes by without these boys monitering it.

Over stretched and underpaid yet always professional

We shouldn't, and normally I'd agree that Ireland should have gotten involved to stop a superpower expanding throughout Europe (including our own island). That said we still had our noses bloodied by British occupation, and the Civil War, so I don't think we had the stomach for World War Two at that time

I find it hard to disagree on that point, we should of gotten involved, anyone who thinks Hitler would of stopped with Britain had he been successful is just being naive

[Dodge]

Whats that old saying "Nuetral in favour of the allies..."

[pete]

So you think they're not trained well enough now? Any reasons for this?

Not a pop at the army at all but with better equipment comes better training - probably more need for specialised units.

[jebus]

Whats that old saying "Nuetral in favour of the allies..."

Anyone else think we must be high enough on the Al Queda hitlist? I mean we allow American torture planes land in Shannon, there are always loads and loads of military in the lounge out there, and we have that connection with American. Not too much of a stretch to see Bin Laden and his boys twirling the globe for their next bombing and landing on us is it? If that happens I wonder where our 'we're neutral' claims will get us

[Dodge]

Anyone else think we must be high enough on the Al Queda hitlist? I mean we allow American torture planes land in Shannon, there are always loads and loads of military in the lounge out there, and we have that connection with American. Not too much of a stretch to see Bin Laden and his boys twirling the globe for their next bombing and landing on us is it? If that happens I wonder where our 'we're neutral' claims will get us

Dramaqueen much? Don't get me wrong I'd like to see the american refuelings stop. But if anybody thinks we're in the top 10 nations for al queda to target they might want to read an international newspaper.

As long as we continue to condemn israel for attacking Palestine we'll be OK...

[soccerc]

As long as we continue to condemn israel for attacking Palestine we'll be OK...

Careful Dodge, remember in 2005 Ireland football fans having flags of a legitimate recognised democratic nation being removed from them in Lansdowne at the insistence of zionist mossad agents.

[Da Real Rover]

We shouldn't, and normally I'd agree that Ireland should have gotten involved to stop a superpower expanding throughout Europe (including our own island). That said we still had our noses bloodied by British occupation, and the Civil War, so I don't think we had the stomach for World War Two at that time

I disagree, with the information that was available to the Free State at the time they made the right decision in not partaking in the war.
Let people not forget that the Allied European Super powers were expansionist aswell, just not on the European continent. Does that make them any better? Not in my eyes. That was a war of the Empires, we had no place in that war.