Quote:
Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers
I have a much simpler explanation. You Irish may not want to believe it but it's there. We're FAMILY! Not allies. Not friends. We're FAMILY!
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Sir, nobody in Ireland would doubt or demean the strong relations that we have with the Canadians, Americans, Kiwis and Ozzies, and a valuable, warm friendship we have with the Brits, but Ireland is an odd case in many regards - Ask 100 Irish people whether they consider links with ABCANZ or links with Europe more important.
I can tell you right now, Europe by a landslide - again, not because Irish people don't consider relations with ABCANZ important, they do, just nowhere near as important as you think they are, and certainly not a heated, 'we're family' style relationship - a cool, calm relationship, involving the rest of Europe, working for the betterment of all.
Foreign relations of the Republic of Ireland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - a short but interesting read.
Personally I'd favour Irish membership of NATO, but the vast majority of my countrymen don't and won't.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers
Oh we'll fight and nag and complain to each other how the big old mean Big Brother is so much a meanie but come 11 September, who were the 1st to rescue the Americans (the Canadians), who were the 1st to go into Afghanistan (the British), who were the 1st outside of NATO not obliged by the NATO group consensus to side with the Americans (the Aussies and Kiwis).
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A very good example.
Where do the Irish fit in there?