The Irish political and military establishments, state bureaucracy, mass media and numerous “think tanks” continue in their carefully crafted strategy to end the neutrality of this state and turn our country into an unsinkable platform for NATO. They want this state to be the new poster boy for NATO.
The courting of the Irish people to abandon neutrality has been ongoing and relentless over the last number of years, led by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, but has intensified over recent years, particularly since the Russian intervention in what was an ongoing civil war in Ukraine, in the Donbas region – a conflict in which thousands had already died before the Russian intervention.
Hardly a day passes when we are not bombarded by serried ranks of “experts” telling us that we can no longer freeload on security and must grow up and take a more mature position in regard to actively supporting western security against the nefarious activities of Russia and China. That we need to stand shoulder to shoulder with our European partners.
When this state joined the EEC our people were told it was simply an economic union. In addition, over the course of the numerous referenda regarding the deepening of EU integration, the Irish establishment secured the passing of referenda by stating that there were no commitments regarding the defence of this “benign” union, the most advanced civilising force in world history.
They even passed the solemn declaration in the form of the Triple Lock, that neutrality was safe, in order to secure the passing of the second Nice and Lisbon Treaties. The Triple Lock defines how and when Irish defence forces can be deployed overseas, requiring a mandate from the UN Security Council or the UN General Assembly, the Irish government, and the Dáil, thereby preventing an Irish government from simply deciding.
Over the course of August we were subject to a series of NATO generals – like General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe and Commander of US European Command – who was given access to Irish public media to scaremonger about the dire consequences if we did not grow up and mature regarding our security responsibilities. He warned that any attempt to end the US military occupation of Shannon Airport would have “severe economic consequences”.
The latest militarists to grace our shores were in late August: Radmila Shekerinska, Deputy Secretary General of NATO, at the invitation of the Institute of International and European Affairs – a body that receives very significant funding from semi-state bodies and private corporations.
In late August the Government announced that the British and French navies would be patrolling 21 miles off our coast to protect the EU Summit later in the year.
The Irish mass media has been pushing hard the government line that we face an existential threat from Russian invasion of Europe. No evidence is provided, just the stoking up of fear. According to the political and military strategists across the EU, Russia was, at the start of its intervention in Ukraine, a basket case, its military not capable of holding Ukrainian territory. They have moved on to saying Russia is so militarily powerful that we have to increase military spending and prepare for a Russian invasion by 2030.
The Irish government and state are getting great value for its funding to six Irish media outlets through the Department of Foreign Affairs “Global Ireland Media Challenge Fund”, which includes RTÉ, The Journal, Irish Independent, Business Post, Bauer Media, Reach Media and the Irish News. They dutifully push the line that we are under threat, that we have been freeloading, etc. A similar approach was taken in September 1898, when The Skibbereen Eagle instilled fear in relation to the threat posed by the Russian Tsar.
So it is not by accident that NATO and its supporters have been working away so diligently to undermine neutrality; it is part of NATO’s overall strategy to secure Ireland for this war alliance. The battle to protect the Triple Lock is not over – no matter what the Government forces through the Dáil, the battle will continue.
Until the vote, we need to continue to build the pressure on the government, make them aware that there is and will be a major political price to pay by the establishment parties for their collaboration with NATO. No matter the outcome, the struggle to assert the desired wish of the Irish people to remain neutral will continue.
