Republic has ordered anti-tank missile system from arms firm

by Mr Nobody Thu Jan 08, 2004 14:26

"Republic has ordered anti-tank missile system from arms firm"

Unfortunate headline. I mean, would there be any other class of
firm that sells anti-tank missile systems?!

by .. Thu Jan 08, 2004 15:49

?

by Hebe Thu Jan 08, 2004 15:56

Would have been in "War Of Independence". It may have been when the Brits brought a tank into Croke Park on Bloody Sunday to mach inegun the spectators and players. That was also the last time a Union Jack flew in Croke Park. But there are now those who want the English Soccer team to play there so they will have the Union Jack flying there again.

by Indymedia Ireland Editorial Group - Indymedia Ireland Thu Jan 08, 2004 17:57

Or is it a cut and paste from some other source? If it's a cut and paste then please just write a summary and provide a link to the original. Cut and pastes are deleted by policy on indymedia.ie. At the very least give credit to the author(s). R Isible

by random input Thu Jan 08, 2004 18:08

€10 Million being spent so that the boys in the Curragh have a new toy to play with.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town...

WCA Poster

by S. Aerobics - Oxigen to Info Thu Jan 08, 2004 18:48

Yeah, I read the article in todays Irish Times. Found it a bit confusing. It reads like its suffered from some editorial meddling. The article is credited to two authors - two stories crammed into one.
The headline refers to the IRL govt. 9.9m euro order for anti-tank misssiles from Bethesda, Maryland, US
The other (original) story concerns the Derry plant itself which a company spokesperson claims is "solely in software development for civilian air-traffic control".
This 'second' story warrants further investigation.
Maybe in relation to-
£127 Radar Deal Launches
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=62235

Irish Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) were recently 'forced' into joining a consortium to run both the Irish and British ATC. From what I understand it was a case of 'buy' or be 'bought out' .
This relates to future plans for a Single European Sky.
It raises questions about the blurring of the lines between civilian services and the military , the type of blurring we're been forced to become familiar with here in Ireland.

There's a lot of questions 'up in the air' - just don't expect them to be answered in the Irish Times.
We wouldn't want to put business and Irish jobs in jeopardy now would we ?

by lone Gunman Thu Jan 08, 2004 22:34

10 million for a system that will never be used.Could have gone to the former Sov block and bought triple that amount of anti tank busting equipment for that money.

by Drbinoche Thu Jan 08, 2004 22:47

Well actually the Croke Park massacre, did not involve a tank, nor did it involve an armoured car. Basically the Black and Tans arrived in their cars and opened fire on the supporters and the players. The movie admits they took a bit of a liberty with the truth with regards teh armoured car going onto the pitch.

The Javelin is a very good anti-tank system and will add something much needed to the Irish Armed Forces. Our troops need to know how to use these things in case we ever need to use em. You never know what might be around the corner and having troops who know they can use, might save lives. The Russian systems, like the Kornet, are aged and won't work that well against the modern MBTs and so you might as well put the money into the better more up to date system. More bang for your buck.

by Jimi Fri Jan 09, 2004 01:03 buttermygroin at hotmail dot com

of COURSE an anti-tank system is necessary.

I mean, 20 years ago, Saddam and george bush snr were buddies.

who's to say who's next?

by s. omeguy Fri Jan 09, 2004 03:39

Its about time we had an army capable of defending this fair isle against the invasion of our soil by american military agressors,which occurs almost daily in shannon.

When the new world order happens,and it will,ireland would be considered a soft target for a us invasion of europe,which is face it becoming sick of its imperialism and economic war.

Its not a fantasy. The US hates france..look at the amount of movies where the bad guy is a frenchman. The Euro is gaining ground every day against the dollar as the US becomes a banana dictatorship. If things get tough,and the US desires a foothold against its next "enemy" of course Ireland is the obvious target. It already controls Britain..

We need a strong well armed force to blow them all away when they arrive....

In the 80s saddam was the friend,iran was the enemy,france was the friend,ghaddafi was the enemy,canada was the friend,russia was the enemy..
in the 90s,they searched the world for a new enemy
Today saddam is the enemy,iran is the friend
france is "unfriendly",ghaddafi is "friendly"
canada is not in the coilition of the willing,russia.....well we dont really know...

Fight the Yankee Imperialist Now....or dont blame me when the tanks come rolling down o connell st

by Pat Sun Jan 11, 2004 02:57

We would be much better off if Ireland was the 51st state. Up the Yanks

by Leonard Sun Jan 11, 2004 05:46

Pat, You're trying to give wet dreams to lone gunman and drbinoche. They would love to have the 'Right To Keep And Bear Arms'.
Anyway, thanks for your comprehensive analysis of Ireland's relationship with the USA. I hope writing it did not exhaust your imagination or your linguistic abilities.

by dream on Sun Jan 11, 2004 12:50

The anti-tank system would be of little use in the case of a US invasion .....

In the first place, before any engagements on the ground, they would bomb the f**k out of the place (look at Serbia, Iraq ....) .....
The anti-tank system probably would not survive such an attack (given that its location is likely to be known via intelligence channels and other surveillance) ......

In the - currently hypothetical - case of such an invasion, the only hope of the Irish would be to fall back on that which they have proven themselves to be good at, namely guerilla warfare .....

For that kind of stuff, a sophisticated high-tech system is useless (easy to locate and detect and hence "neutralize"). What you need is a large well-distributed supply of relatively low-tech hand-operated anti-tank weapons (i.e. bazooka-type weapons) for local engagements (ambushes etc.) .....

Remember if you are planning to take on the "big boys" don't play according to their rules .....................

You can be almost 100% sure that whenever they sell you a sophisticated high-tech system, they also have the means to detect and neutralise it in case you would ever try to use it against them.

by Drbinoche Sun Jan 11, 2004 21:55

Leonard, where di you get this idea that I want Ireland to become a part of America. Ill tell you now, that it is not true, I don't think Ireland should belong to anything bar the EU. We would not benefit at all from American status. I just think that you guys hate America so much that it is now like an insult to call some pro-american. So in other words, because the leaders of one nation are shit, the whole nation sucks. Well then Ireland sucks. We voted them in and they are raping us really badly. So by your own twisted view, we all suck and we are all shit. Including you.

Look either way, America has done good in the past, FACT. America has done bad in the past, FACT. Saddam Hussein was captured, FACT. Iraq is rid of Saddams Regime, FACT. Under 10000 Iraqis died, FACT. The way you guys say it, all of the above FACTS are irrelevant or lies. Try to dsipute any of the facts and you show yourselves to be nothing but moany pissants.

by Michael Lavery - Evening Herald, Thu Jan 15, 2004 17:39

The US Congress has been told of the possible sale of a sophisticated 26m euro misssile system to Ireland
The US made Javelin missile is in the running to become the Army's new anti-tank system.

Request
The US Defence Security Co -operation Agency told Congress last year that the Irish Government had requested a posssible sale of 60 Javelin command/launch units, 100 Javelin missile rounds and other support at a cost of $26m.
"This approved sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the US by improving the military capabilities of Ireland while enhancing weapon system standardisation and interoperability with US forces," the agency said.
"Ireland desires this missile system to fulfil their commitments for participation in peacekeeping operations throughout the world, including the United Nations Stand-by Arrangement System," it said.

?

"This approved sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the US by improving the military capabilities of Ireland while enhancing weapon system standardisation and interoperability with US forces,"

by Dr Death Thu Jan 15, 2004 19:04

...but isn't the javelin a portable, handheld system?
As suggested, a war in Ireland would be most effective if guerilla warfare were employed.
The javelin would be perfect for this role as it could be carried and used by small teams of guerillas.
Don't forget that Ireland is involved a lot in the peace keeping role and such a weapon might come in handy when some big hairy arsed serb millita man tries to run you down in his BMP armoured personal carrier.