Sir, – Since the foundation of the State, through the second World War, to the present time, we have used the veil of neutrality to protect us from external aggression. The time has come to realistically evaluate our current and future security risks and not just depend on our neutrality for protection.
Finland and Sweden recently abandoned their neutrality; as frontline countries, they realised that strength was more a deterrent in face of possible aggression from their neighbour to the east.
Our Defence Forces have identified the absence of a national security strategy as leaving the State at high risk of mounting an incoherent defence of its sovereignty and territory in the event of an attack. (“State’s ability to defend itself compromised by lack of security strategy, says Defence Forces,” November 5th).
We are no longer just an isolated island west of the European mainland; we are now the fulcrum of communication between North America and Europe and are subject to frequent cyber attacks. In recent times our airlines are being disrupted by bomb threats.
RM Block
We cannot continue to ignore these threats; as a nation must invest in the protection of our air and sea territory.
Our defence investment is a fraction of many of our EU fellow members. We should be using some of our corporate tax bonanza to ensure our sovereign security and that of future generations. We should not put this on the long finger. We must equip our Defence Forces with tools and equipment to fulfil their mandate. – Yours, etc,
VINCENT CARROLL,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin.
Sir, – According to a confidential Defence Forces assessment, Ireland is at high risk of mounting an incoherent defence of its sovereignty and territory in the event of an attack.
We are constantly being barraged with warnings such as these, which are based on what are called “confidential assessments of a high risk” to our country.
While not subscribing to conspiracy theories, it seems that our senior military personnel have become part of an European obsession that all European nations must vastly increase their military readiness to repulse a possible Russian attack.
The danger is that this will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
