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THE RECENT ATTACKS in Barcelona have led to the usual clamour about installing retractable bollards in every town and city throughout Ireland.
However, this seems to ignore the reality of what is needed to combat such an attack, an effective and timely police and military response as carried out in the UK and elsewhere.
While the best defence against such attacks are preventative measures including intelligence led operations and community policing, once an attack occurs the State must respond with the appropriate level of lethal force.
More than effective
In Ireland we have two special forces-type assets to exercise that force, the Garda Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and the Army Ranger Wing (ARW).
No one who has dealt with them doubts the capacity and efficiency of the ERU. They have shown themselves to be more than effective foes in combatting organised crime and taking down dissident republican terrorists. However, in a small country like ours, we must maximise our assets and learn from best practice.
In other European countries, in particular the UK, it has been standard procedure to mix police and SAS teams when doing raids as police forces rarely have the explosive or technical expertise that a military unit can bring.
The police still have primacy, but the SAS operators provide expertise in ECM (electronic counter measures, that is interrupting detonation of booby traps) and use of specialised explosive charges to effect entry to buildings being raided.
In addition they also supply a range of medics trained in battle-field first aid who are skilled with applying such aid while still in volatile and combat situations.
The ARW and ERU do not exercise together
At the moment, the ARW and ERU do not exercise together and only are familiar with the others’ operating procedures on an informal ad hoc basis.
The ARW are still considered the primary state asset to call on to deal with a hijacked airliner or prison hostage situation. They were considered the primary special forces entity, mainly because they had more time to train and plan for more complex scenarios.
The irony is that now, those complex scenarios could erupt in a variety of ways. The recent attacks in England and now Barcelona have swung between a complex skilled operation in Manchester to a terrifying DIY-jihadi attack in London. The Barcelona operation combined elements of both skill and a DIY approach.
Some years ago it was considered that the ARW have a more regular relationship with the ERU, even being on-call as a reserve team for more regular operations. This was generally met with approval by relevant members within the Garda and the Defence Forces, but nothing happened.
We should be maximising our State’s skills
We should be maximising our State’s skills and expertise in this area. We recently saw an excellent full-scale Garda exercise combining unarmed and various levels of armed response to a random terror attack.
However, we can’t stop there, we now need to see this stepped up to joint army-garda exercises, including other emergency responders such as Dublin Fire Brigade and the Ambulance Service, plus other State agencies as relevant.
One area worth considering in an exercise scenario is the rapid deployment of ARW or ERU personnel from the air via helicopter to an attack, because what do we do if an attack takes place outside of Dublin?
It’s not that long ago when my generation of soldier played a full part in securing the State as part of what was called Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) operations. Back then the close relationship between soldiers and police allowed the gardaí carry out their duties largely unarmed and so maintain a close relationship with the public.
We don’t live in those times any more, but we do face a new threat and we must be imaginative in how we use and conjoin the differing arms of State and their expertise to better react to this threat.
Declan Power is an independent security analyst and author of Siege of Jadotville. He is a former member of the Defence Forces who has worked for the EU and UN on programmes countering extremism and terrorism.
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Islamic terrorism is a serious threat, though not as potent as the acceptance of Islamic cultural values in our society. Social justice warriors and organisations that advocate LGBT, Women’s and Jewish rights along with the media have been mostly silent on rise of gender segregated music festivals (Sweden), gender segregated trains (Germany), Sharia street patrols (Hamburg and in other parts of Europe), sexual assaults (continuing across Europe) and attacks on Jewish people which are committed by a substantial number of Muslim men. There is also silence on falling education standards, the spread of ghettos and skyrocketing welfare, which again Muslims play a substantial part in due to their cultural values. A Europe that increasingly mirrors these values thanks to the silence of the media, social justice warriors and organisations that are supposed to represent those groups in society is the real problem.
@BrianMcB: that’s only a part of it, most muslims speak out and our of course against this and like living in the west and enjoy the culture … all of us, including muslims need to know our Neighbour – keep a unified community to help try and weed out potential terrorists. Here in Ireland still (somewhat fleeting) tight communities can really help us here – luckily we don’t yet have large segregated communities as some of the other euro cities.
@BrianMcB:
There is a blatantly obvious political agenda to flood Europe with Islamic migrants,
Why would any government import tens of thousands of people who are commanded by their religion to hate, even kill us…?
@BrianMcB:
There is a blatantly obvious political agenda to flood Europe with Islamic migrants,
Why would any government import tens of thousands of people who are commanded by their religion to hate, even kill us…?
@BrianMcB: One would think the threat had “nothing to do with Islam” from reading this article as he doesn’t mention it once.
@Ulick Daly: It’s a flavour of Marxism.
@BrianMcB: Well said.
@BrianMcB: People have learned more about the actual threat from Islam from reading your comment than the whole article above it.
@BrianMcB: Trying to blame social justice warriors? It was right, center right and conservative governments that started the wars in the middle east that led to the refugee crisis. It was right, center right and conservative governments that introduced treaties to make travel withing EU so easy. It was right, center right and conservative governments that funded and backed various terrorist groups. It was right, center right and conservative governments that allowed the mismanaged influx of refugees into Europe. It’s right, center right and conservative governments that continue with failed policies and austerity driven cuts to security services across Europe.
But it’s the SJWs and gay community that are the problem?
@Ulick Daly: you misinformed or just racist? Look at why there are migrants. Would get away with saying the same against the Jewish community after the second world war ? Please inform yourself better or keep your racist views inside your little racist mind
@free Palestine:The guy who it would appear openly supports Hamas a terrorist organisation lectures everyone on racism. You’re showing your level of intellect by calling criticism of an ideology, a religion a racist thing to do. It’s pointed out here time and time again that Islam is not a race. Muslims are people and Islam is an ideology, get it? I know it;’s the fashion to call your opponents racists but it’s getting old, people are getting immune to this kind of verbal diarrhoea.
@Mike: Spot on. Free Palestine sounds like the kind of bloke who wouldn’t object to ISIS throwing him off a building in case he’d come across as an ‘Islamophobe’. Having lived in a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood in Britain I can tell you there is plenty of racism there. Besides, being critical of an ideology doesn’t make you a racist. There are many ex Muslims who criticise the strong authoritarian and intolerant streak within that faith with the exception of the genuine moderates and peaceful sects like the Ahmadis.
https://www.google.ie/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/sep/29/family-boycott-wedding-day
@Ulick Daly: we said,but the lefties won’t like it..
@free Palestine:
Throwing around the word ‘racist’ doesn’t work to shut down debate anymore and just shows you for what you are.
Debate the substantive issues if you can, otherwise go away and throw around your childish insults elsewhere.
@Pat Troy: well
@free Palestine: what have you got against pigs.
Well first things first.deport the 70 known terrorist sympathisers that are living here In Ireland.take it from there then.
@Red hurley: That would be a big step in the right direction.
@Red hurley: Eastern European countries have virtually negligible numbers of Muslms and no terrorist threat. West European countries have high numbers and numerous threats and attacks. Something suggests there’s a correlation.
Declan Power is a politically correct lightweight. He likes to come on the radio or write a silly article for the journal where he’s loved by the leftist elite. He never lets them down as can be seen by the rubbish he’s written above. He hasn’t once mentioned that the threat we’re faced with is Islamic terrorism. Not one mention that the attackers would be Muslim. He hasn’t mentioned the security threat from Muslim migrants be that recent or ones that arrived 20 years ago. We’re supposed to take a security analyst seriously when he is at such pains to be politically correct he cannot mention once let alone describe the threat the country faces. How easy is it to solve a complicated problem without naming it or describing it? It’s OK tho, if we are ever the victims of an attack here Power will get all the gigs on the Irish MSM as he’s proven to be one of the crowd, he won’t rock the boat, he won’t blame Islam.
@Mike: does he have to spell it out for ya?
London, Barcelona etc, I think we all know it wasnt the Mexicans
@Slim Browne: It takes effort not to mention the elephant in the room. If neo nazis were killing thousands of people around the world and we had scores of neo nazis in Ireland actively working with neo nazi killers, would the the writer not have mentioned the ideology of the threat? How about republican terrorists, would IRA, republican, Catholic or Irish have been mentioned?
@Mike: so u just want him to emphasize”Islamic Terrorism” so there ive said it for him, terrorist is a terrorist no matter what he follows.
@Mike: He’s a lightweight lefty?
Lets see…..
Adjunct Lecturer in NATA school in The Hague – Check
Adjunct Lecturer in City Colleges on Terrorism and International Security – Check
Counter Terror / CVE advisor and evaluator to the European Commission – Check
Senior Consultant at Europa Strategic Partners for developing counter terrorism training systems – Check
Specialises in Crisis management and risk assessment in counter terrorism – Check
14 years serving in the irish defence forces as a soldier and officer advising at the highest levels and before that a member of the irish army reserve. – Check
What exactly did you for your country and the wider EU and what is your expertise to dismiss him – other than being coming across as rather less intelligent than Mr. Power?
@Ros Aodha: He is on the record numerous times as being absolutely soft of the reason for this epidemic of Islamic terror around Europe. He showed his colours clearly in the above article by clearly avoiding the of the word Islam, Islamic or Muslim. He strives to be politically correct. He bends over backwards to do so. You can talk about colleges he lectures in and who he speaks to all you like but the fact is he wouldn’t have these gigs if he weren’t so politically correct. If he spoke clearly of where the threats came from and how to minimize these threats once having identified them I would be OK with it. He refuses to do so time and time again. In Ireland he’s the go to guy for the MSM on terror related stuff and one thinks if the MSM love him so much there is a good chance he’s not speaking in a manner that upsets their sensibilities.
@Slim Browne: Why did it take you to say it for him? Why did he avoid saying it? He wrote the article after all.
@Mike: well when he was writing it im sure he taut readers wud have enuf savvy to join the dots, ur not a monday person are ya !!!!
@Mike: spot on. There was an article in the Irish Times at the weekend contemplating what drives young Muslims to become jihadist. A basic google search will lead you to the Islamists telling you what drives them is their abhorrence of the values of liberal democracy which they see as being in conflict with their aim to spread a global caliphate. Another google search and you can find reams of information about non violent extremism mosques pumping out hatred for the west. It’s a short step from non violent to violent extremism.
@Slim Browne: You have no reason to believe that you have any clue that the writer thinks that. It is delusional to imply you have knowledge of another persons thoughts without actual evidence.
The practice of not naming Islam, Islamic extremism, radical Islam, Muslim terrorist etc etc in relation to the aforementioned is done so in a deliberate manner to intentionally deflect criticism of Islam and Islamic teachings. Declan Power knows exactly what he is doing.
@Mike: I think the clue was in the article, certain cities around Europe might have rang a bell with the majority, I dont think im delusional, never got much education but I can read between the lines .
@Mike: well put
@AR Devine: That is a well written article, thanks
So your saying the country should train and exercise all its emergency services together BEFORE something happens? I douth the government will go for that….
Ireland has more problems than just communication and integration among the special forces units. In France, police are generally armed and soldiers patrol the streets. In Spain, police are armed and soldiers patrol the streets. In the US everyone is armed.
What is an overweight and ageing Garda with peper spray going to do against an Islamic attack on Grafton Street?
I would hope our Muslim community would report any suspicions they have to the relevant authorities. That maybe the only way to stop an attack at this stage.
It’s very hard to combat against a man driving a van into a crowds area.
The ARW and ERU should be training together though.
@phil: reporting on fellow muslims undertaking jihad as per the book would be the equivalent of apostasy even for a moderate Muslim.
@phil: A study in the UK shows that 66% of Muslims would not report on fellow Muslims involved in a terror plot. Good luck with expecting help from the Muslim community.
@Mike: In truth, Muslims are very much at risk if they speak out against radical Islam. If the state goes softly softly with terrorists and leaves suspected terrorists and sympathizers in our midst how can we expect Muslims living here to openly condemn radical Islam? They will be targeted within their own community.
Ireland is not new to terrorism, although it seems to me many people dont realise that. We have dealt with the IRA and the loyalists (and even attacks from MI6).
The best way to avoid terrorism is to be neutral. You must realise that most (not all) the terrorism happening is actually an act of war, not terrorism, as the country is either directly engaged in a war in the middle east or is supporting it indirectly. Spain is not bombing syria, but they do support the countries involed. And they were involved in previous campaigns in the middle east.
Ireland should publicly denounce both terrorism AND the nations involved in bombing syria, as right now we are anything but neutral.
I understand that you will see me as some lefty nut, but the truth is that this terrorism is due to the wars in the middle east. And as long as they still fight there terrorism will not stop. We cannot stop terrorism through policing or using intelligence services, it cannot be done. The world has been ‘at war with terror’ for over a decade and a half, and it has only gotten worse.
We need real solutions, and right now not one country is talking about a real solution. Look at the north again, was it tough policing and use of spy networks that solved the horrible violence? No! We Irish should know better than most how to stop it, and yet we say nothing. Nay, most dont even try to learn from history, they just think more violence is the answer.
@Andy K: You’re nuts. We are dealing with people who don’t discriminate between who is “neutral” and who is not. If you’re European, or Western in general, or non-Muslim – then you’re a target.
@Andy K: Unfortunately many people believe this kind of rubbish that andy is coming out with. He thinks that somehow the peace loving Swedes despite their allowing in over a million Muslim migrants in recent years somehow offended Muslims enough to justify an attack. Or that the Finns with their recent Islamic terror attack didn’t quite condemn all wars and terrorists. It’s stupid and actually serves to make us more vulnerable by obfuscation the real problem. We already know why Muslim terrorists attack Western peoples. It’s because we are unbelievers living in secular democracies with such crimes against Islam such as gay marriage, freedom of religious choice and equal rights for women.
People like Andy think that if the terrorists just knew what a cowardly, servile wimp he was that they wouldn’t harm him. They’ll chop his head off as quick as mine if he’s a non muslim, or indeed if he’s not in the correct Islamic sect, or if he’s not obeying the multitude of Islamic laws.. the list goes on.
@Alan O’Donoghue: Really? So what is your solution? Everyone is monitored 24/7? We install cameras in every room in every home? Or do we just wipe out all muslims?
How would you have solved the troubles? Wipe out all Catholics or Protestants? They didnt care who or what you were. They would ask ‘Are you Protestant or Catholic?’, and if you were not the same as them you were dead. Not much difference to the jihadists if you ask me. So how did the violence stop in the north? You probably dont even know…. Maybe do some learning and come back.
@Andy K: in 2016 there were approx 470 suicide attacks world wide. Over 450 of them were carried out in Muslim majority countries. In the coming years the number of attacks in Europe will increase regardless of all the fence sitting you might want to do.
@Andy K: Hilarious response! How have you shifted to Neutrality to the troubles….and somehow thrown genocide in there as a suggestion too.
As I said in my first comment – You are nuts! :-)
@Andy K:
There is a huge difference between the Troubles and what we are seeing today. The Troubles was primarily a political and ethnic conflict whereas Islamic terror is driven primarily by conquest.
Islamic terrorists want a world where everyone is either Islamic or subject to Islamic rule. The religious text that they use for justification idolises those who die in the name of spreading Islam by force.
@Andy K: That is total nonsense.
@Andy K: Andy ISIS have stated explicitly in their magazine (see link below) that the main reason they attack the west is because they despise the values of liberal democracy. They have stated that foreign policy is not the main reason & that even if the west stopped attacking them they would still strike at us. Only the most cowardly & supine of nations would remain neutral against such a barbaric ideology. We need to stand with our fellow western liberal democracies against this threat not hide away from it.
@Andy K:
Wise up Andy and don’t be so naive – you’re the classic ‘useful idiot’.
If you actually pay attention to what islamic supremacist fundamentalists are saying themselves about their motives, it’s clear that we’re a target just for having western liberal values, regardless of our foreign policy.
@Andy K: Snowflakes and the screaming offended tree hugging masses that weve raised are too young to recall border crossings through heavily armed checkpoints.
@Avina Laaf: So you think the reason the people blow themselves up is because we gave gay people rights and the like? Not the fact that the west destroyed their country, bombed their city, killed their family and continue to do so?
Really? Are you thick?
Violence only creates more violence.
@Andy K: The main reason for the attacks are that we are unbelievers. There are secondary and tertiary reasons but the main reason is we are unbelievers.
This is clear and is stated in so many videos by suicide terrorists, their masters and radical Imama. It’s written in the Koran that all Muslims must kill unbleievers, ISIS explain this to us in painful detail why they attack us.
Only the perpetually willfully ignorant such as yourself can come on here and claim that jihadist attacks occur because of the West’s foreign policy. The USA foreign policy may have given opportunity to ISIS and others but it is not the reason ISIS and others want to kill us.
@Andy K:
If you’re going to acuse people of being intellectually deficient then you should make sure that you know what you’re talking about.
Islamic terror and violent conquest has been around since Islam itself was founded. On top of this, countries with absolutely nothing to do with Western actions over the last century are dealing with Islamic insurgents.
@Alan O’Donoghue: Firstly, you avoided my question, how would you solve the violence?
Second, my point about neutrality and the troubles is relevant.
You see, it was the neutral parties that were responsible for calming the violence in the north and ultimately put an end to it. It was NOT accomplished through violence, stricter policing and control.
That is how you solve the violence in Syria. A NEUTRAL country is needed to talk to both sides and try and get some form of common ground. For start, you show you are not 100% anti muslim by condemning the countries currently involved in Syria. That gives you a small bit of breathing room to start the next step to end the war, which in turn will reduce the terrorism. It is a long road riddled with problems, but it is the only way to ‘win’ the war on terror.
But for now it seems too many nations are involved and none are against the violence, at least not as far as condemning the countries involved. So, as far as the extremists are involved, no nation is neutral. That means all nations are targets.
@Thought for Food: By your logic:
Christianity, hinduism and judaism are all rooted in violence and terror, from its early stages. From genocides to crusades, they have done it all, over thousands of years.
And some of the most peaceful times in Jerusalem were when Saladin ruled, who brought peace between jewish, christians and muslims. There was of course wars etc, but by your logic peace between religions would have been impossible due to their belief. And the muslims in Ireland who have been here for decades are all planning to put you out of your home and cut off your head. Why then, has that not happened? Maybe…. you are wrong.
As far as the countries not involved in the middle eastern wars, that list is small. Finland sells weapons to Israel and vice versa, Sweden was involved in the Iraq war, Norway is a member of NATO, Belguim was involved in the Iraq war directly, France was bombing syria for months before any attack, Germany is basically still occupied by the US, with multiple air bases, missile silos and Intelligence headquarters, Ireland supports the US directly, Spain backed the Iraq war, the UK was involved in it all, and the list goes on.
Please tell me which country was ACTUALLY neutral.
@Avina Laaf: Were a target for our liberal values? Not for bombing their cities, killing their people, condemning their religion, massacreing their families, destroying their schools, burning their hospitals, and all that for over 15 years?
Really? You think people would die because we allow gay people to marry, rather than the fact that we killed their whole family? And you call me an idiot?
@Neville Bartos: Fence sitting is not what I am advocating. I am calling for people to condemn the violence on both sides and go as far as putting sanctions on all the higher up people involed in the war in Syria. Similar to what happened to the Russsians after Ukraine, we should freeze all thetheir Irish assets, ban them travelling through Ireland, stop the US from flying through shannon unchecked and call out to all nations to do the same.
That is the First step. It is a long road, but it is the only way to stop the violence other than total surveillance of the population. Bombing the crap out of them will only make things worse.
You would think we Irish would have learned from how we dealt with our own religious terrorists…..
@Andy K: The links above tell you just exactly that. Just because the truth doesn’t suit you, it doesn’t mean you can disregard it.
@AR Devine: That is a youtube video, done by someone who shares your view. It is not a trustworthy source. If you get all your information from youtube no wonder you believe what you do…..
But I did watch that short video where he takes two scentences out of context.
But, most importantly, people would never listen to ISIS if the west did not blow their country to shit. The scentences he reads from the magazine support that. And while they say they will not stop, if you bring peace to the middle east the terrorism would drop dramatically year after year until ISIS is no more.
@Andrew Eager: If you meant that youtube video, see my previous comment. If you meant another link, please state it.
And if we are talking about truth then please expand your search as this has happened dozens of times in history, even our own. And if ou do not believe that history repeats itself then you need to learn more about history, as every historian would disagree with you.
@Andy K: Ive read the actual ISIS magazine article where they tell us in clear language why they attack us. I take them at their word. If you are going to kill yourself in a suicide bomb you are probably being authentic when you tell people why you are doing it. A bit counterproductive to lie about your aims when murdering others in a suicide bombing. You can get a direct link on this article to the ISIS magazine article where they tell us explicitly foreign policy is not the main reason & they’d attack us anyway. I have a feeling you will continue to think you know their minds better than they do. Take your head out of the regressive left sandpit and engage with the facts.
https://clarionproject.org/breaking-cross-latest-isis-magazine-aimed-christians/
@Andy K: You’re a disgrace to suggest that anyone here is advocating “wiping out” any group of people. Always the leftists who salivate at the mention of mass murder or racism even though the leftists are the ones with the violent words or racist language.
@Andy K:
If you don’t want to come across as being completely naive and blinkered, please answer the following questions:
Why do countries all over the planet with zero history of military intervention in the middle east also have huge problems with islamic extremism?
Why aren’t middle eastern christians, kurds, ba’hai, druze etc. etc. etc. launching attacks on the west in retaliation for the bombing of their countries?
Why are the vast majority of victims of islamic extremists other muslims? Seems like a pretty strange way of teaching the west a lesson…
I could ask a dozen more pertinent questions, but you must be getting the picture by now (or maybe not)….
@Andy K: Unfortunately your analysis is inaccurate, recently Islamic Radicals attacked and murdered citizens of one of the worlds foremost neutral countries Finland. Sadly no Western nation is immune to this threat irrespective of their military stance or engagement in the world. Everyone needs to understand this and prepare accordingly.
@Andy K: Violence does not always create more violence. Sometimes extreme violence is an absolute necessity, like it or not. Appeasement and diplomacy are not always the answer. It wasn’t Neville Chamberlain waving a piece of paper that stopped the Nazi’s. Sometimes violence just has to be met with more effective violence.
The greatest terror threat we face is if Fianna Fáil get a majority government to ruin the country again.
@Ciarán McPhillips: spot on-If Mehole gets in we’re going down the swany
@Ciarán McPhillips: ZOOM! You’ve just flown miles off topic. Are you one of those people who have to shoe horn FF into every comment regardless of the content of the article? It’s about defence against a terrorist attack.
@Ciarán McPhillips: You’re nearly as bad as the writer on this one. The problem is Islam. Fianna Fail or any combination of parties may well wreck the country but the ones killing in the name of Islam are Muslim terrorists.
@Ciarán McPhillips: I’m no fan of FF, but to say they are the greatest terror threat to the country ignores the serious threat that exists just to score yourself a few green thumbs.
@Ciarán McPhillips: very easy to redirect the sheep
@Cheeky Bums: lighten up!
@TheBluffmaster2: I’m totally lightened up. Why bring FF into the conversation… Nothing to do with such a threat. “Heh heh I’ll say something negative about FF, leverage off the general abhorrence people have for the party and net myself a few thumbs up under an article I have no knowledge of or interest in!”
Thanks to Merkel’s year long open door policy as well as many deserving individuals we in the EU now have hordes of Islamists or people sympathetic to Islamist extremists. Listen to some of the anti-western bile from some of the British women in this channel 4 report one who openly decribes hereself as an Islamist & goes unchallenged by the Journalist. Can you see Tommy Robinson being given the same unchallenged airtime to air his concerns? There are plenty of Muslims with illiberal anti western beliefs. Listen to some of the views being preached in a certain mosque here.
The media are no help. Mostly understating the problem. Just listened to RTE about Halawa. You would have thought we were awaiting the release of Nelson Mandela.
@John Belton: Never a mention of the illiberal anti- western and homophobic bile that spews from the Clonskeagh Mosque his father is the head of.
@John Belton: not much between them.
First thing first, it’s better to prevent than fix, so we should be increasing surveillance and intelligence gathering. National Security > Civil Liberties
Surprised to hear the ARW and ERU don’t train together their skill mix could be a prevention as well as an appropriate response to terrorism.
UK voted with their feet to escape the EU and to tighten and reduce immigration.
They wish to have their own rules re who comes and goes. Stop the terrorists coming in. Send back the suspects they find. Seeing the aftermath of Manchester Areana was more than enough to bring home the reality of having even suspected terrorists being deported. Train our forces to protect and respond together. Neutrality is not the answer now. Take bk control of our country and sadly that means the right for Ireland to choose who lives here.
@smudge: Totally agree with you there.
@Toby Jennings: Muslims are not interested in mixing with us.I see it at schools..plus would you want to talk/approach a woman who is covered head to toe. Intimidating…..problem is pc europe allow minority dictate..last time I heard it was a democracy
I could have written this 5years .Too many lefties in the TV and written media.None of them live in the areas where these new irish are placed.Well I do,they don’t want to integrate full stop.
Only effective way of prevention is infiltration ,moles,informers,this takes a huge budget which the 26 county government won’t release,ever,as far as the rangers taking down what you call ” dissident terrorists” never happened,as the green book forbids any military action against the 26 county forces,yes Jerry McCabe happened ,but in general no Republican group ever took on Gardai,army etc,and won’t,and vice versa,again paid informers will only give exact intelligence ,this takes years ,expert guidance etc to put in place,so for now we are in a precarious situation waiting , hoping that attacks won’t take place,but folks time isn’t on our side.
@billy Dorney: You have a short memory. Pte Patrick Kelly killed by the IRA in the line of duty along with trainee Garda Síochána Gary Sheehan while both were involved in the rescue of Don Tidey, at Derrada Wood, Ballinamore, County Leitrim.
@billy Dorney: On the contrary. Deportation along with ultra-strict border controls is far more effective.
@Ros Aodha: haven’t a short memory bud,stated fact green book forbids action against 26 county forces,in general has been observed
@Tom Sullivan: agree
@Tom Sullivan: but won’t happen on any large scale here,they’d be uproar
As a resident of Bray, I was concerned that the Bray Air Display would be a possible target. The prom is wide enough for a lorry to come roaring up the the prom entering from the south car park. Of course it didn’t happen. But my main concern is the how we would cope to such an event occurring outside of Dublin. I would have low confidence of an adequate response to such an attack on such a day in sleeping auld Bray. We don’t really have a pedigree for emergency response to any type of disaster, whether it nature or man made.
@John Flood: simple – dont hold airshows anymore. or concerts. or festivals. or leave the house. obviously not, the answer is that we invest in defence and security. a bitter pill for irish people to swallow, but in this day and age the time of hiding behind other countries and an imaginary shield of neutrality. Spending less than 1% GDP (lowest in EU) on defence year on year since 2000s has done nothing but further erode the states ability to defend its population and we have accepted it and indeed cried foul when any govt has tried to increase it. result?
less than 1 (real full strength) brigade of soldiers, weapons and equipment shared amongst the bones of 2 brigades, training schools, courses, in maintenance or overseas on UN missions,
no air defence assets (and only 26 aircraft mostly used for training, maritime patrol or HEMS)
limited air lift capability
limited logistics and support capability
a tiny navy considering we own one of the largest maritime territories in the EU
limited counter insurgency / counter terrorism capability
limited intelligence capability
limited to zero cyber security
Shockingly tiny reserve force.
I could go on but seems to me that nobody is listening
@Ros Aodha: could you read that please.
@Pat Troy: not meant for that site.sorry.
@Ros Aodha: we need lots of things in Ireland. We pick and choose when we want to be part of Europe. When it comes to terror we need to step up and plan, prepare, and practice.
For everyone here mentioning racism. Ffs islam is not a race, it’s a religious ideology that calls for the death of non Muslims. Get a Koran and read it. The majority of Muslims are very decent people but you can’t just presume. Any migrants that are let into a civilised country must be vetted properly and monitored. It would be better to have them sent to a Muslim country. Think outside the box you dimwits.
When I served in the army during the 90′s and early 00′s armed Garda were not allowed to operate alongside armed soldiers due to I believe a Garda opening up on a soldier years before. I wonder has this anything to with both forces not co-operating?
But sure inform radicals that we are pisspoor and not maximising our security protocols…
Increase cctv everywhere especially busu places
The Gardai are polishing their rockets as we speak
MR power you cant prevent this type of attack ,the best you can do is contain it after it happens ,your in fairy land if you think the resources will be made available .The irish public need to be vigilant and prepared to react ,these attackers have been shown to be mostly brainwashed young civilians not professional soldier s .
Send back all the muslims that are living in Ireland, burn the muslims church what ever it’s Fu__kin called. Send them back to their own country. They just cause trouble like they always do
@Catherine Marie Cullinan: No that’s utterly extreme. Deport non citizen extremists. Limit overall Muslim immigration but give refuge to genuine moderate Muslims who oppose Sharia & Christians & non believers from middle east & asia.
@AR Devine: are there really any moderate Muslims,i mean really moderate?
@billy Dorney: Ahmadis, many Sufis & a la carte Muslims of various sects who dont support Sharia but yes there are a lot more extremists than we are led to believe because the mainstream media either refuse to research the subject or are in willful denial
there’s a line from the commander adama in the newer battlestar gallactica (which if you haven’t seen, you really should, that sums up why keeping police and military forces separate as we largely have, is a good idea:
“There’s a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people.”
Nerdy? Yes. A realistic fear in Ireland? Probably not. But apt nonetheless.
Why do those who think Islamic fundamentalism has nothing to do with Islam and is all about westernern foreign policy not listen to the Islamists when tell us why? It must be very frustrating to be a suicide bomber when those you are trying to kill won’t even listen to you.
http://www.faisalalmutar.com/2015/11/16/i-am-a-jihadist-and-i-am-tired-of-not-being-given-credit/
I was very annoyed when the Rose of Tralee committee disqualified the Saudi Rose because she insisted on wearing a burqa.
It is also time to better utilize the Airports and Harbour Police and amalgamate them into a Transport Police like rest of EU !
The Journal.ie is aiding and abetting Irish religious extremists by refusing to do fact checks
Irrespective of the political correctness of the author or not , the fact remains Ireland is not immune from the possibility of such an attack by radical Islamic Jihadists who see all western nations as potential targets. The real issue is how prepared are our Emergency services and Defence Forces to respond and deal with such an attack. The ERU and ARW are both extremely professional unit’s with individual capabilities and assets they can deploy. If they are not training together as of yet in Counter Terrorism responses they need to do so immediately. Both have completely different roles but the necessary skill set to deal with these threats effectively. Hopefully we never experience this kind of attack but we cannot be so naive as. It to prepare, plan and exercise our response to it.
What a hypocrite this guy Power is.
I well remember him on radio at the time of the murderous attacks on Iraq and later on Libya cheerleading these mad military aggressions.
Shut Up, Power, your ilk caused this problem.
have your say