What if at some point during the Troubles in Northern Ireland (between 1969 and 1997) the Republic of Ireland for whatever reason decides that it could no longer stand idly by and that it must intervene militarily in Northern Ireland?
In 1970 military the Irish Government examined the possibility of intervention in the North with the aim of protecting the Catholic population. Whether this was a seriously considered option or some sort of internal political manoeuvre is still up for debate however a military study was produced under the name EXERCISE ARMAGEDDON.
Armageddon as written was completely unworkable and was even regarded by the Irish General Staff as utter suicide. The plan was essentially for the Irish Defence Forces to invade Northern Ireland and seize Catholic majority areas such as Newry and Londonderry from the British.
For many, many reasons the plan would have never worked and the only certainty was that it would have made things a whole lot worse for people on both sides of the border. In a way the name Armageddon would have been an appropriate name to describe the outcome irrespective of whatever that may have been.
Is there a way Exercise Armageddon could have been made workable?
Leaving Armageddon aside is there any other reason why or method by which the Irish Defence Forces could have ended up crossing the border between 1969 and 1998?
How would the British Government and Armed Forces have responded to this eventuality?
How would the various factions within Northern Ireland have reacted?
What would the long term effects have been?
Leaving aside some sort of large scale Irish Defence Forces operation what would the effects have been of something smaller scale happening such as some sort of clash on the border between British and Irish forces that results in casualties being sustained by either side or something like an Irish Army Ranger Wing force being caught on the wrong side of the border (similar to when eight members of the SAS were arrested after being discovered south of the border)?
In 1970 military the Irish Government examined the possibility of intervention in the North with the aim of protecting the Catholic population. Whether this was a seriously considered option or some sort of internal political manoeuvre is still up for debate however a military study was produced under the name EXERCISE ARMAGEDDON.
Armageddon as written was completely unworkable and was even regarded by the Irish General Staff as utter suicide. The plan was essentially for the Irish Defence Forces to invade Northern Ireland and seize Catholic majority areas such as Newry and Londonderry from the British.
For many, many reasons the plan would have never worked and the only certainty was that it would have made things a whole lot worse for people on both sides of the border. In a way the name Armageddon would have been an appropriate name to describe the outcome irrespective of whatever that may have been.
Is there a way Exercise Armageddon could have been made workable?
Leaving Armageddon aside is there any other reason why or method by which the Irish Defence Forces could have ended up crossing the border between 1969 and 1998?
How would the British Government and Armed Forces have responded to this eventuality?
How would the various factions within Northern Ireland have reacted?
What would the long term effects have been?
Leaving aside some sort of large scale Irish Defence Forces operation what would the effects have been of something smaller scale happening such as some sort of clash on the border between British and Irish forces that results in casualties being sustained by either side or something like an Irish Army Ranger Wing force being caught on the wrong side of the border (similar to when eight members of the SAS were arrested after being discovered south of the border)?