It is very easy to say this when your country doesn’t share a border with an actively aggressive nation.
I hope that isn’t lost on her and others when talking about EU future.
Granted, the most interesting part is this
>Ms McDonald also hinted that after the next European Parliament elections in 2024, the party may not automatically return to the radical Left group in the parliament.
Assume they are looking at S&D
How ironic coming from SF!
Easy to say when you’re from an Island nation and you don’t share any borders with an aggressive authoritarian power.
She’s right.
She’s wrong.
Europe will be better for having some form of an EU military.
Because of out special status Ireland are not obliged to join this.
So basically her opinion matters a fuck.
I mean the fact that we are the most westerly nation in the EU and are essentially protected by being an island and by having two military super powers protecting both our East and western approaches probably means we shouldn’t be pontificating to people in the Baltics and Eastern Europe about militarism.
Jaysus it’s so feckin patronising
Mary Lou is off the beat with this ol’ line. That ship has sailed. It might have played OK 2 years ago but the rumble of tank tracks from the East put the willies up everyone. EU is now a procurement service for arty shells. She’s talking absolute bollox when she says Ireland needs to be able to pull its citizens out of Sudan situations – no chance without an airforce.
We literally have to ask the Brits to protect our airspace. I think Mary Lou should keep quiet on this one
*Basically, the Royal Air Force launches Typhoon fighter jets to intercept unidentified aircraft in the Irish ‘Flight Information Region’ for air policing duties because Ireland is incapable of doing so itself.*
I don’t really disagree with the idea of an EU army, but it does really make it impossible to be neutral. It is also a further sign of integration, again I don’t disagree with integration but where we are now is far enough.
Oh the irony…
Sinn Feinn – “europes getting more guns ,, no fair”
Europe – “listen we had an agreement for you to give up your guns! Remember it was on a Friday? ‘Member? It was good?”
I was in Brussels last week and the fighter jets were passing overhead constantly. It struck me, yeah if I lived closer to the Russian border I would welcome this militarization.
It was such a two faced speech yesterday.
We believe in Europe. But we’ll probably join the EU parliament hard left grouping that opposed the EU.
We believe Ukraine should be able to defend itself. But we condemn the EU militarisation to support them.
She was so busy blowing dogwhistles to every possible grouping to reassure them that Sinn Fein really still supports them it’s amazing she didn’t turn purple.
Give them 5 years and they’ll drop this just like opposition to the EU. They just need to manage part of their base for a while longer.
Europe can get as militarized as it likes.
I don’t care as long are we aren’t forced into NATO or an EU army.
People seem to forget that the current EU started as a trading arrangement between a handful of countries.
The relentless expansion in size and mandate at a relatively fast pace is one of the reasons why British people voted to leave.
Brexit was obviously a very poorly thought out move, but there are several reasons underpinning the discontent which gave some of the arguments validity.
There’s a difference between better integration of nation’s armed forces and an EU army
If Ireland wants further input in this manner it should join NATO, and polls show that that is a divisive issue, so the backdoor entry via an EU would be equally divisive.
The mask has slipped
Another non-serious sentiment meant to appeal to non-serious people
What people seem to miss is that if it comes to an actual shooting war between the Russians and NATO, we are absolutely in the firing line. Much of Europe’s internet is being run from Ireland, and the US has major manufacturing facilities here. The days of us having no targets besides beer and biscuits on our little island are long gone.
Denmark, Norway and the Low Countries were all neutral at the start of WW2, didn’t stop them being attacked.
Whether or not joining NATO or some form of EU military is a valid debate, but not having basic air and naval defences to at least make an aggressor pause for a minute is just negligence.
As a Polish immigrant who’s generally a leftist I find this kind of approach so annoying and selfish. Yes, in a perfect, peaceful world the EU wouldn’t need the military. But we’re not living in a perfect world, we live in Europe in 2023 and Russia is a real danger to Eastern European and Baltic countries.
No. Fuck this tankie tier argument.
EU would be better in the long run if it can defend itself without relying on the US to save the day. Military independence would mean greater independence overall
“However, she criticised what she called “growing militarisation, deregulation, privatisation, and the reflexive unleashing of austerity at times of economic crisis.””
I mean this sounds fair no?
We wouldn’t fucking have to militarise if Russia weren’t desperately trying to make USSR2 happen, Mary.
After the last Venezuelan election, SF aligned themselves with beacons of democracy such as Russia, Cuba, North Korea, China and Iran in declaring the election free and fair….. It’s worth noting that we face enormous change on the international geopolitical situation & foreign policy should really come into any decision on who to give your vote too.
SF showing their anti EU pro Putin credentials
She’s pissed off cause she had to give her guns away.
“Easy to say when Ireland doesn’t have any enemies on its border!”
Uhm, yes…exactly…that’s precisely the reason why we have no interest in growing militarisation.
Incredible how those who pontificate about British Imperialism can’t even see the obvious threat Russian Imperialism poses to the EU in its entirety and not just to the entire Eastern flank. Like a lot of wishy washy things SF talk about, here we have the PR move of ‘fair play to Ukraine’ but the usual half arsed ‘how dare countries arm a country defending itself’.
I grant permission for McDonald to go to the polish border with Belarus or russia
Sinn Fein 2025: *Stealing Defeat from the Jaws of Victory*
SF did not learn from it’s history books of Ireland being invaded by Britain. Clearly strong army would make things easier for invaders.
A military organization with a political wing thinks the EU arming up is dangerous?
Speaking out of both sides of her mouth. She will be looking for photo ops with Ukrainian ambassador before weekend is out. Today it’s the Putin talking points.
Europe needs a comprehensive military, we can’t rely on the USA. Outside of NATO France is the only country in the EU with a nuclear arsenal, that’s nuts.
If anything Europe needs vastly more weapons and at least 3-4 more countries with nukes.
If you are living close to Russia you’d be be wondering where this woman has been for the last few years. Is ireland that isolated from World events? Silly, naive and stupid.
36 comments
It is very easy to say this when your country doesn’t share a border with an actively aggressive nation.
I hope that isn’t lost on her and others when talking about EU future.
Granted, the most interesting part is this
>Ms McDonald also hinted that after the next European Parliament elections in 2024, the party may not automatically return to the radical Left group in the parliament.
Assume they are looking at S&D
How ironic coming from SF!
Easy to say when you’re from an Island nation and you don’t share any borders with an aggressive authoritarian power.
She’s right.
She’s wrong.
Europe will be better for having some form of an EU military.
Because of out special status Ireland are not obliged to join this.
So basically her opinion matters a fuck.
I mean the fact that we are the most westerly nation in the EU and are essentially protected by being an island and by having two military super powers protecting both our East and western approaches probably means we shouldn’t be pontificating to people in the Baltics and Eastern Europe about militarism.
Jaysus it’s so feckin patronising
Mary Lou is off the beat with this ol’ line. That ship has sailed. It might have played OK 2 years ago but the rumble of tank tracks from the East put the willies up everyone. EU is now a procurement service for arty shells. She’s talking absolute bollox when she says Ireland needs to be able to pull its citizens out of Sudan situations – no chance without an airforce.
We literally have to ask the Brits to protect our airspace. I think Mary Lou should keep quiet on this one
[https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/why-do-british-jets-protect-irish-airspace/](https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/why-do-british-jets-protect-irish-airspace/)
*Basically, the Royal Air Force launches Typhoon fighter jets to intercept unidentified aircraft in the Irish ‘Flight Information Region’ for air policing duties because Ireland is incapable of doing so itself.*
I don’t really disagree with the idea of an EU army, but it does really make it impossible to be neutral. It is also a further sign of integration, again I don’t disagree with integration but where we are now is far enough.
Oh the irony…
Sinn Feinn – “europes getting more guns ,, no fair”
Europe – “listen we had an agreement for you to give up your guns! Remember it was on a Friday? ‘Member? It was good?”
I was in Brussels last week and the fighter jets were passing overhead constantly. It struck me, yeah if I lived closer to the Russian border I would welcome this militarization.
It was such a two faced speech yesterday.
We believe in Europe. But we’ll probably join the EU parliament hard left grouping that opposed the EU.
We believe Ukraine should be able to defend itself. But we condemn the EU militarisation to support them.
She was so busy blowing dogwhistles to every possible grouping to reassure them that Sinn Fein really still supports them it’s amazing she didn’t turn purple.
Give them 5 years and they’ll drop this just like opposition to the EU. They just need to manage part of their base for a while longer.
Europe can get as militarized as it likes.
I don’t care as long are we aren’t forced into NATO or an EU army.
People seem to forget that the current EU started as a trading arrangement between a handful of countries.
The relentless expansion in size and mandate at a relatively fast pace is one of the reasons why British people voted to leave.
Brexit was obviously a very poorly thought out move, but there are several reasons underpinning the discontent which gave some of the arguments validity.
There’s a difference between better integration of nation’s armed forces and an EU army
If Ireland wants further input in this manner it should join NATO, and polls show that that is a divisive issue, so the backdoor entry via an EU would be equally divisive.
The mask has slipped
Another non-serious sentiment meant to appeal to non-serious people
What people seem to miss is that if it comes to an actual shooting war between the Russians and NATO, we are absolutely in the firing line. Much of Europe’s internet is being run from Ireland, and the US has major manufacturing facilities here. The days of us having no targets besides beer and biscuits on our little island are long gone.
Denmark, Norway and the Low Countries were all neutral at the start of WW2, didn’t stop them being attacked.
Whether or not joining NATO or some form of EU military is a valid debate, but not having basic air and naval defences to at least make an aggressor pause for a minute is just negligence.
As a Polish immigrant who’s generally a leftist I find this kind of approach so annoying and selfish. Yes, in a perfect, peaceful world the EU wouldn’t need the military. But we’re not living in a perfect world, we live in Europe in 2023 and Russia is a real danger to Eastern European and Baltic countries.
No. Fuck this tankie tier argument.
EU would be better in the long run if it can defend itself without relying on the US to save the day. Military independence would mean greater independence overall
“However, she criticised what she called “growing militarisation, deregulation, privatisation, and the reflexive unleashing of austerity at times of economic crisis.””
I mean this sounds fair no?
We wouldn’t fucking have to militarise if Russia weren’t desperately trying to make USSR2 happen, Mary.
After the last Venezuelan election, SF aligned themselves with beacons of democracy such as Russia, Cuba, North Korea, China and Iran in declaring the election free and fair….. It’s worth noting that we face enormous change on the international geopolitical situation & foreign policy should really come into any decision on who to give your vote too.
SF showing their anti EU pro Putin credentials
She’s pissed off cause she had to give her guns away.
“Easy to say when Ireland doesn’t have any enemies on its border!”
Uhm, yes…exactly…that’s precisely the reason why we have no interest in growing militarisation.
Incredible how those who pontificate about British Imperialism can’t even see the obvious threat Russian Imperialism poses to the EU in its entirety and not just to the entire Eastern flank. Like a lot of wishy washy things SF talk about, here we have the PR move of ‘fair play to Ukraine’ but the usual half arsed ‘how dare countries arm a country defending itself’.
I grant permission for McDonald to go to the polish border with Belarus or russia
Sinn Fein 2025: *Stealing Defeat from the Jaws of Victory*
SF did not learn from it’s history books of Ireland being invaded by Britain. Clearly strong army would make things easier for invaders.
A military organization with a political wing thinks the EU arming up is dangerous?
Speaking out of both sides of her mouth. She will be looking for photo ops with Ukrainian ambassador before weekend is out. Today it’s the Putin talking points.
Europe needs a comprehensive military, we can’t rely on the USA. Outside of NATO France is the only country in the EU with a nuclear arsenal, that’s nuts.
If anything Europe needs vastly more weapons and at least 3-4 more countries with nukes.
If you are living close to Russia you’d be be wondering where this woman has been for the last few years. Is ireland that isolated from World events? Silly, naive and stupid.