#IrishDefenceThoughts I was recently invited onto @TheDarkStatePod where we discussed: • The current state of @dfreserve • #IrregularReserve concept • Drones • Irish societal responsibility for defence. You can listen here: https://t.co/dPQbCtrLjr Feedback is welcome

Defence spending and neutrality. Letters in todays @IrishTimes.

Nothing to see here, just a Ukrainian mini-MLRS mounted on a BMW E38 😯 A vehicle of the 7th Battalion of the 114th Territorial Defense Brigade has been fitted with three launch rails from a BM-21 ‘Grad’ for 122 mm rockets. Such improvised combat vehicles are used to deliver

Regrettably, these are recycled numbers We're not seeing a change in spend, attitude, or sense of urgency, despite the change of ministerial leadership. This is probably due to defence ministers not actually being in charge. Its just the same blunt edge leadership from the DoD.

@shashj Most of that announcement was, in fact, a re-annoucement of previously announced equipment upgrades and purchases! A Euro short, and a day late, would probably best sum it up.

There’s nothing wrong with a country wishing to be neutral. But a country that claims neutrality towards others needing help but expects help if itself gets into trouble, and regards this two-facedness as clever, is a sleeveen among nations.

“We have to get very serious in recognising the threat." "One of the key talk show hosts came out on Russian television saying we need to assassinate European leaders." Gillian Tett, Provost at King's College Cambridge, discusses Russian aggression. #Newsnight

. @jimmycarr may be a comedian, but he ain’t lyin about AI….

The guy who doesn't like regulations can't understand why the EU won't let his tacky trucks be sold in the EU. https://t.co/f8kWPkXCTe

Foreign paramilitary forces conducting a live operation on the streets of Dublin and silence from Paul ‘neutrality’ Murphy and co are utterly silent @paulmurphy_TD 😱😱😱😱😱

This is so heartbreakingly true. The struggle is real.

Another capability use case for an #IrregularReserve

Our robot machine gun sees the drone, tracks the drone, and shoots the drone The enemy intends to spend a few thousand dollars on a drone to kill a 35 million dollar helicopter (for example) We'll spend less than 20 bucks worth of ammo to knock it out of the sky

Submitted in December 2019. Might be out of date now...

Irish military "neutrality ". We rely on the French navy, the RAF, and now NATO members Portugal and French paramilitaries to provide internal Irish diplomatic security back up. We are a joke state. @MichealMartinTD @HMcEntee

The "manufactured threat"... just because you don't give a damn about Ukrainian lives - because they don't fit into your selective campist worldview- doesn't mean this didn't happen.

1.7bn should be spent this year, and each year after that - not over 5 years.

Like it or not, @HMcEntee is a wartime Minister for Defence, now. We must behave, spend, train, & act accordingly. Defence, resilience, resistance.... It all starts with leadership. We need our leaders to be strong & consistent. We have much to lose. https://t.co/ZCJxHLSmKn

I hope this criticism is taken in the constructive spirit that it is given. Those troops don't have what they need to defend this country. Soft words of support and encouragement are insufficient. Decisive language, firm commitments, sternly delivered, is the order of the day.

I hate to be superficial, but it would have been more impactful to be standing outside, telling the troops, out in the rain, that hard times aren't here yet, & be prepared to standby for action & to hold the line. This is not a moment for jolly photos. https://t.co/uyYxYdH2kM

When Zelenskyy isn't dodging drones in our unprotected skies, he puts himself on the frontline, in territory claimed by his enemies. This is what commands the respect of the troops, and inspires confidence. https://t.co/pHtk6MlaKB