Do we need a gun-toting army?

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

WE have a minister and a whole government department devoted to the principle that we need to defend ourselves.

We spend a significant percentage of our annual budget to keep thousands of young men and women under arms and we have never either discussed or thought through the reasoning for having them in the first place. There is a fundamental question that few ask – against what or whom do we need to defend ourselves?

Our traditional enemy has no further interest in conquest and the improved situation within our shores no longer calls for a heavily armed security force.

Our status within the EU ensures we will not be a target of the "hard men" of modern history and countries that might have designs on our newly-attained poverty just cannot afford the air fare for the expeditionary forces.

In the unlikely event of an attack from a larger world power the best defensive strategy to ensure the safety of the population would be for our army to surrender en masse before the bombs start falling – at the very least that would cause administrative confusion among the aggressors. So from whom do we need to defend ourselves?

Acts of God are an obvious reason for having a corps ready at a moment’s notice to defend against, or at least to react to, the kind of natural disasters we’ve experienced in recent months.

With such a force, Transport Minister Noel Dempsey could enjoy his winter holiday.

However, you don’t bear arms against your maker.

Because of our geographic location, we should be able to provide a comprehensive and efficient air/sea rescue service and not always have to rely on the generosity of our neighbours. Again no arms are required.

Protecting our fishing grounds against poaching might require good intelligence and fast-moving ships but there should be little reason for guns and bombs. Are we willing to shoot Spanish fishermen over a few lousy herring?

Fulfilling our obligations as peacekeepers might have been another reason for maintaining a highly trained policing force but this function has been totally debased since the introduction of the spin phrase "peace enforcing".

Are we willing to send our sons to kill other mothers’ sons? Peacekeeping sounds very noble, but the bigger powers should first declare which peace they’re going to keep.

Patrick Dolan
Pearse Street
Kinsale
Co Cork

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Tuesday, February 02, 2010