But why would they do that, what's the plan behind it?
I'm going to disagree there, the last war imo would have been the Congo mission with over 6000 Irish serving there in the 4 years and heavy fighting. I mean still totally outclassed by the British Army, but more recent than the Civil War
OMG if you think the British will be smug in the aftermath if the 1981 version, can you imagine how smug Churchill would be in 1941!
If I may venture a thought, that reaction is also due to the fact that the last time you had an army dedicated to defending Ireland from foreign invaders was 1172.
Didn't the IRA get weapons from the Nazis during the war?
That one took placed in 1999, which is after the Falklands War. But I understand what you meant, so I stand corrected.
Nah he'll see this as proving him right about the Irish/Ireland etc, etc
I think theres a lot of factors, from the fallout of the Civil War, the conflicting position of London on the question, through to just sheer modern nonsense about "NATO/EU Conscription", I mean you only have to look at some of the stunts and stupidity on display during the recent session on Irish foreign/defence policy...
The Congo Mission was in the 60s.
While Nazis did support them during the war, IRA wasn't part of ROI's government, who just wanted to stay out of the war.
Ah, I must read wrong one. I stand corrected.
Oh to be clear I don't think there was ever a good time for Ireland to invade and "liberate" Northern Ireland - just that if the UK being distracted was enough of a reason to do it - well, they've been far more distracted than in 1982.
United Kingdom actually had more soldiers within the home islands during WWII than during 1980's; it would be impossible to not react if they was to be attacked by Ireland, ROI or IRA. Moreover, ROI, during WWII, didn't want the war at all. That was the reason why its government hit IRA down hard because they knew that IRA would start the unwanted war with the United Kingdom.
The ROI didn't want a war in 1982 either. Again, there was never a good time for Ireland to invade Northern Ireland, my point is that the UK "being distracted" doesn't change this.
That's my point. ROI do not want the war with United Kingdom, ever. United Kingdom's military far outnumbers ROI's military. It would be foolish and stupid affair for ROI if they were to do that.
Truly unclear why the Irish government would court the most moderate Unionist leader since partition and not his mortal enemies who already want reunification.
FWIW there were more casualties in that civil war than in the independence actions.
And one of them later served in the British army with me. Wouldn’t talk about his time in the Congo.
Between the combat and the shit show the DOD managed I’m not surprised.
At that point, no one would be really even entertaining it when there's other, more important things to take care of. So nobody in the Irish government would be willing to give it a shot. regardless of whether or not the neighbors are distracted.
