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  • #16
    Originally posted by Soarhead2 View Post
    All these posts about Gripen or Eurofighter and C130 versus A400. Really ?? Covid is emptying the coffers, just be grateful the PC12's arrived.
    The CASA replacement 295's are likely to be the last investment for the next 25 years.

    Sorry but you know thats the reality.
    To come back to your earlier statement, the Eithne, Ciara and Orla are all now long overdue for replacement, in 15 yrs the Mowags will reach the end of their useful lives and so on. There needs to be continuous investment to enable the Defence Forces to continue to operate. The reality is the the Defence Forces are near terminal contraction, that they will become non-viable.

    What has been missing in Ireland since the formation of the State is a proper discussion on the purpose of the Defence Forces. There have been individual articles written by some prominent people but nothing concerted. In the last year or so this has started to happen and now hopefully we will get a proper Commission on Defence to ask the questions and find the answers to our future defence. Everyone knows what should be spent on defence, the current Tánaiste is even on record stating the amount.

    The reality is something fundamental has to change, if things continue they way they are today there will be a long slow decline in the Defence Forces. No-one want to join an organisation that they only ever hear negative headline about. Many see thereforethe proposed Commission as a chance to enable this change. What it will deliver we do not know yet, we still await to see who will chair it. But we have already seen some change in the DoD, the new SecGen is an outsider, so a chance to reset the relationship between the department and the forces. Hopefully a sign of willingness to move in a different direction than the one we have had up to now. Will it all change at once, no, it will be an on-going action which hopefully will continue positively for the Defence Forces.

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    • #17
      Originally posted by EUFighter View Post
      Overseas Aid is just that overseas aid, if it is used for military equipment or expenses then it is no longer overseas aid but military expenditure.

      But it should not be just throwing money at defence, it needs first to have identified the need and ensured that what is spent is spent wisely and effectively.
      Fair point, but it is a cost neutral, no need for extra taxes on the taxpayer way to increase defence spending, carefully advertised to show the investment in equipment and expenses will directly benefit the countries where said mission equipment is used.

      But you are right in that overseas aid has a powerful and vocal lobbyist voice regardless of whether recipient countries should receive it or use it appropriately.
      An army is power. Its entire purpose is to coerce others. This power can not be used carelessly or recklessly. This power can do great harm. We have seen more suffering than any man should ever see, and if there is going to be an end to it, it must be an end that justifies the cost. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

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      • #18
        Originally posted by X-RayOne View Post
        Fair point, but it is a cost neutral, no need for extra taxes on the taxpayer way to increase defence spending, carefully advertised to show the investment in equipment and expenses will directly benefit the countries where said mission equipment is used.

        But you are right in that overseas aid has a powerful and vocal lobbyist voice regardless of whether recipient countries should receive it or use it appropriately.
        A lot of people making a good living in the overseas poverty industry. mess with the cash and they will use every tool available to make sure the funding is not interfered with.

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