Thread by @PJBrennan12

This #kabulairlift mission was a limited success.
Well done @dfat, @IRLDeptDefence and @defenceforces. Lives have been saved.

But, how many more could have been saved if we got there earlier.
This is about risk, about relationships (national and international) + rivalry.

A 🧵👇

https://twitter.com/donlav/status/1430857684266405888

Lack of knowledge about what @defenceforces can do - even in this #shitshow - lead to risk aversion last week.
Well known rivalry between @defenceforces and @IRLDeptDefence lead to a slow Policy response, putting forward options.

And a lack of professional relationships between @dfat and @defenceforces at working/desk level slowed it down too, because interdepartmental stuff is jealously guarded by @IRLDeptDefence.

And then there's the issue of #airlift that @BerryCathal and others have highlighted.

As @koceallaigh highlighted if @IrishAirCorps had some proper medium - long range multi-role planes capable of getting there on our own, some of this would be solved.
But the bean counters fear they can't justify the outlay, and the business case doesn't stack up.

A medium lift plane, like the ones NZ has (a small island nation like us) are for the Nation, not just the @IrishAirCorps.
For the Kabul airlift, for the Greek forest fires - if we wanted to send assistance, for the Beirut bomb to send humanitarian aid.

i.stuff.co.nz/world/30038623…

For moving PPE for @HSELive into an around Ireland.
For stranded tourists in a pandemic.
For internstional air ambulance.
Yes, for @defenceforces to deploy and support overseas missions (our "national airline" is not Irish owned anymore).

Another wake up call?
Will anything change?
Will anyone in a grey suit think about practical contingency plans and policy response?
@defenceforces is a national asset, for local and global use. It can save lives and score points for diplomatic relations.