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Post by Louis Parminter on Mar 23, 2011 3:43:54 GMT
Hi JJ, I echo your point that the Americans helped the British win WWII, but just to add to that many of the Americans who fought were 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation Irish-American, and there were quite a few Irish that also went and joined up in the States as well as in Britain. I had family that joined up in Canada. On participating in ceremonies at the American - Filipino Cemetery in Fort Bonifacio, Manila I note so many Irish names amongst those fallen.
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Post by Louis Parminter on Mar 23, 2011 4:23:57 GMT
Hi Brendan You are perhaps better up than myself with regard the status of the army and explosive devices. My own training (in the Philippines) is as EORA. In my mind ordnance disposal is not generally affected by the surrounding combat conditions nor the fact of whether or not the troops are engaged in a combat role (as in warfare), but I would be of the mind that the Peacekeepers role can be just as difficult (in fact sometimes more so) than such a combat role. I beg to disagree on one point and that is that in fact the devices designed as you put it “by thugs” and “left in populated areas are not IEDs, that they are crude and deadly devices that contain explosive material”, they are of course IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) that can feature any of a number of means of detonation – our experience in the Philippines is quite often of Cell phone triggered devices. The EOD personnel in Ireland are regularly called out to neutralise explosive devices including IEDs and the fact that they are not doing so in a combat role neither lessens the risks involved nor the bravery of what they undertake on our behalf. On your statement that many Irish soldiers must die in combat to show that they are fully committed, I absolutely disagree with that statement whilst respecting your rights to hold that opinion. On Ireland’s neutrality...that is something on which there will be many differing views I am sure as there are many, many issues involved and ultimately this is a choice for the people of Ireland to make in my understanding.
regards
Louis
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Post by Brendan on Mar 23, 2011 10:23:58 GMT
Hi Louis,
Excellent points! You are correct, IEDs can be homemade explosives (HME), or any time of material that has an initiator etc. IEDs are essentially what we use to refer to as boob traps years ago. The IEDs I'm referring to are those that the ordnance staff will show and train on those devices that are found in those worn torn countries. The types of IEDs varies immensely.
In your neck of the woods (Philippines), your military are far more adept at dealing with IEDs because of the terrorist group linked to al-Qaida that detonated an IED that killed two US soldiers who were giving humanitarian aide to the impoverished nation.
There are 500 US army advisors embedded in the jungles of the Philippines helping your forces to deal with these terrorists and how to handle IEDs. This is the combat situation I’m talking about. That is not a peacekeeping mission. Thus I respectively disagree with your stance peacekeeping can be more dangerous. Peacekeepers do not engage the enemy, they will return fire if required to defend themselves. They are also not equipped to attack the enemy.
As far as I know there are no known terrorists swanning around the Wicklow Mountains. I am pretty certain that many in the army would like to play a more active role to counteract the terrorist regimes throughout the world. I am just amused at the propaganda espoused by those in Parkgate Street that they are the best in the world, when other nations, like yours, are engaging the enemy head on.
Regards,
Brendan
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Post by Matt McNamara on Mar 23, 2011 13:40:56 GMT
Hi Brendan
While I may accept some of the points, I have to say that time and the Defence Forces as you knew it in the 1980’s have moved on considerably. As a force you would not recognise it in terms of training, equipment and a knowledge base that has been built up in all Corps over the years which has enabled the Irish Defence Forces to be one of the most recognised training establishments in the world when it comes to Counter-IED. I am not going to get into the whole issue on an open forum like this one, but believe me I do know what I am talking about as I have the service in many a combat areas to back it up.
Now if we can please get back to the original thread topic “Irish Defence Forces Overseas Units 1960 – 2011” I would be grateful. Topics like this can always be set-up under a different thread and will not distract or confuse other visitors to the forum.
Matt
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Post by Louis Parminter on Mar 23, 2011 14:52:13 GMT
Matt,
Point taken by myself, I would not be able to contribute a lot more on this particular subject in any case, but if Brendan wishes to debate further then as you suggest such could be done under a different thread. To be honest though I think this is not the forum to criticize the operational capabilities of the PDF. I for one recognize their contribution and not only in EOD. I salute those who have served our country and the world overseas and in particular those who gave their all in the cause of peace.
Louis Sitting under a Mango tree in the Philippines
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Post by Brendan on Mar 24, 2011 23:55:52 GMT
Hi Matt:
My comments are based on factual, experiential and academic assessments. I am fascinated by Louis’s experience in the Philippines. It is not my intention to disparage the expertise of the Irish Ordnance team. My own knowledge of IEDs and explosive devices is attributable to my army training under the auspices of the incredible guidance of the NCO instructors in the SME. The fundamentals of explosive devices have not changed in two decades, despite popular opinion. Booby traps and IEDs are really one and the same.
I would also like to thank an individual officer who I can not name for obvious reasons. He stood out when it wasn’t popular.
Despite this, I don’t apologize for my opinion, nor do I back away from any facts I have stated, or for any criticism for the crap that I hear, or read about in the media.
Despite everything, I do know what I’m talking about, simply because I was taught by the best. Perhaps I am more opinionated than most. For that I do NOT apologise.
Matt: I have expressed my admiration for your service, which I stand by. As for the tread, I was merely following up with the flow of of the discussion. I think a little objectivity would be in line with a public forum. Policing comments reminds is a little authoritarian. Lighten up please.
Thanks,
Brendan
Brendan
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Post by andybrennan on Mar 25, 2011 8:30:26 GMT
Brendan, Again very fine words, I would have been disappointed if there were a mea culpa in respect of your beliefs, for if you did then you would not believe what you stated, the tone to me is you are pro NATO perhaps I am wrong. Your last dealt with the teaching you got on explosives and veered away from a very strong pro NATO view. It is hard to state that the general views on explosive techniques and teaching in the Irish Army is crap and at the same time praise those individuals who taught you as an educator apart. You are certainly entitled to your opinion and indeed I do like reading them, I agree with some yet not with others.
As for Matt he is the administrator and it is his job to administer to the site, he can sit on the fence taking neither side regardless of his personal feelings. So he should not lighten up on his administration, all he did was ask that this topic be opened on a separate thread in order not to confuse this topic with the Defence Forces Overseas Duty.
At least you did not get the request to drop or put a topic to bed.
And do this poor auld pupil of the boys national school in the Curragh a small favour please use simple English as I hate having to look up in the dictionary some of your fine words in order to get a meaning as that meaning can be lost due to one or more explanations of a word
Keep em coming Brendan, I do so enjoy your postings.
Andy
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Post by gaul on Mar 25, 2011 8:43:13 GMT
Brendan, By you own admission you are an opinionated individual. I reject your conclusion that your comments are based on academic assesement.An assesement made on academic grounds utilises the study of both sides of the subject and comes to a conclusion after informed information excluding opinions and prejuice. In your case this not the the result. You reveal a certain a certain agressiveness in your propos,maybe this is why you consider combat to be so important. The editor did not say that the subject was banned ,he merely asked that it be given a separate forum,which is very reasonable.Your assesment of that was also flawed. Maybe you should follow the advice of your last line.
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Post by afcmoore on Mar 26, 2011 9:37:29 GMT
Hi All. Well done the Irish Peace Makers the World would be a better place if we had more jaw jaw and less war war. I look with pride to what our small Country's Defence Forces have achieved over the years. Stand up for your own and well done to the Irish personal serving in the Curragh they are second to none in the World. Regards Anthony .
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Post by congojoemallon on Mar 26, 2011 12:54:19 GMT
Matt, I have a photo of UN vets on parade which I'd like you to add to the website. Can you let me know your email address and I'll send it on to you
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Post by Matt McNamara on Mar 26, 2011 13:33:40 GMT
Hi Joe
It's matt@curragh.info
All the best
Matt
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Post by kenkinsella on Aug 21, 2011 10:04:34 GMT
HI Matt, Firstly thank you for excellent work once again, compiling those lists of Batts and dates. REG Andys question in, have you any intentions of expanding the info, ie. names, ranks,etc. This would be an enormous task, hours/days/weeks of work i'm sure.But I am curious is there any way I could look up (as a civilian) names to Batts myself. Thanks.
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Post by kenkinsella on Aug 21, 2011 17:39:52 GMT
Hi all, I should have also said if anyone else has answers on how to research this I would much appreciate it. Thanks.
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Post by tommyhetherington on Aug 27, 2011 23:18:14 GMT
Hi ken, I am not sure how much info can be given out with regards to names and ranks.If this information was allowed under the freedom of information act it would be simple in one way as there was a manifest for each Battalion, as for putting it up on the forum that would be difficult. If you are engaged in research for a project etc do try the FOI act. Tommy H
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Post by kenkinsella on Aug 29, 2011 17:44:01 GMT
Thanks very much Tommy.
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