Smithy -

[Silver]

So what do you think ?

Is Smithy doing a good job in modernising the Defence Forces ?

...or a bad job ?

Or is he merely being instructed to do so from 'higher powers' in order to prepare the DF's for future NATO, or 'EU Army', membership ?

[FiannaFail]

Silver,
You forgot to ask whether we think the Minister is great!

[pilatus]

in my opinion i think he is doing a bad job!for the same price we could have had L159s from surplus czech airforce stocks but we bought pc9s!the pilatus is a great plane but imagine the  L159s flying with mavericks and amraams!also we could have sold the gulfstream not bought the learjet and used the money to help buy 2more ULHs and the government could have used the state airline aer lingus just like other countries!also he now intends to buy a number of armoured vehichles.he could have bought these and the APCs at the same time from mowag or whatever company and got the whole lot cheaper just like what the corps are doing now with the choppers buying 2different catogories at the same time!save the pennies and the pounds will look after them selves! :'>

[FMolloy]

We've been over the L159 thing before - it offers very little different in the way of capability and has higher running costs than the PC-9.

In any event, Smith didn't choose the PC-9, the tender board did. All Smith did was make the money available. In that respect, Smith has done a good job in what is an unglamorous portfolio. He bit the bullet of barrack closures and ploughed the money into infrastructure & equipment. As a result, the DF is better equipped than it ever has been.

As for involvement NATO/EU Army, that is a long way off, if it ever happens. We're going to be contributing to the Rapid Reaction Force, not a standing EU Army. Equating one with the other is nonsense.

[StevieW]

I'd agree with FMolloy on this one. Minister for defence is the job that no-one wants. I think Minister Smith has done the best he could with what he was given. PC 9 was a very good buy in my opinion. And the MATS/Aer Lingus point you make(Pilatus) can hardly be blamed on Smith.

Stevie.

[pilatus]

mats is under the dept of defence control so as everything to do with defence dept is under his control!more money for other more military type aircraft!and Fmolloy the L159 would not offer much more in capability!if you think this you must not know much about both aircraft!the L159 radar+sidewinder/amramm=pc9pilots eye+HMG/rockets!which sounds better?the range speed difference also!if the corps can fly government jets why not fly something more useful!dont get me wrong the pc9 is a mighty plane but not comparable to the L159!sorry for going over old ground here but it needed to be explained a bit better! '>

[FMolloy]

Again, Smith didn't personally choose the PC-9M, so there's no point in blaming it on him.

As for the new gov jet, the rest of the government wanted it. If the Taoiseach & Taniste want something, the minister for defence is hardly going to be able to refuse (unless he wants to lose his job).

As an American observer with several decades of experience as a military officer and a defence journalist, including 16 years residence in Europe, permit me to say that from my perch Mr. Smith is managing an appropriate, long overdue modernization of the Irish Defence Forces against serious domestic political and public opposition.  So far his plan has unfolded just about exactly right, given the fiscal/political restrictions he must operate under.  The PC-9 deal is done, the all-important 'military' helicopter deal is nearly done - pending selection of either Sikorsky (favored with S-70/S-76) or AgustaWestland (a strong bid with the AB-139/A-109).  Next up is airlift with a choice between a Marshalls of Cambridge upgraded C-130 (good for 10 years) or the CASA C-295 - notwithstanding the very real and smart likelihood of an eventual Irish buy-in to the A400 within the umbrella of a soon to be realized multi-national European Airlift Group.  As for the European connection, it is the only way to go and Mr. Smith deserves Kudos for recognizing and acting on that fact.  The emerging, Rapid Reaction deployable core of the Irish Defense Forces will be a brigade HQ, an Infantry Battalion Group with Mowags, the Ranger Wing, a mixed support battalion equivalent, Tactical Airlift, Tactical Support Helicopters and a multi-purpose Naval Service ship similar to the Danish ABSALON, capable of offshore interdiction patrols and rapid reaction  force support - the maritime lift of troops and vehicles, fire support and  a helicopter capability.  All of the above will be designed, equipped and trained to operate with multi-national forces, primarilly European, but not exluding Americans, pretty much around the world, given the proper mandate - which will always be from the UN and the EU.   - Cheers

[IAS]

Jim,

Please do not take this the wrong way, but as your post makes some far reaching points can you tell us if it's a) pure speculation, b) an educated guess or c) something else.

Your background and extensive experience must give you opportunities and access that the rest of us don't share, so I'm assuming a) is out, however it would be nice to know, without asking you to reveal any possible sources, as to whether it is b) or c).

My question stems from the fact that I have to say what you propose makes much sense from a military point of view, however, it has to be said that up to now Ireland has not really made such decisions, hopefully this is about to change.

Thanks in advance,
ias