Thread by @robggill

🧵Some final thoughts on the latest Michael D controversy. I think majoirity of people criticising/defending the President haven't read the interview in its entirety.
His thoughts on NATO membership are not the problem. It is the undermining of an initiative by the Tanaiste 1/

He seems to be not fully briefed on the make-up of the the forum or has deliberately misrepresented it, referring to non-existent Admirals and Air force Generals. Only Generals in attendance are Irish Officers. He also bizarrely appears to take a dig at Latvia and Lithuania 2/

Every adult citizen/resident had opportunity to apply to attend. The public weren't somehow screened for Pro/Anti NATO views. The President took an unnecessary shot at the chair, for having a DBE. The same President was happy to be ferried around in a gold carriage for 2 days. 3/

during his visit to Windsor. He mentioned he had a list of names he could have provided, would be curious to hear these as I don't believe they'd provide the fair balance he evidently thinks they would. Issue is he sought out this interview to launch a personalised attack. 4/

The President, and others like RBB, Tom Clonan, Mick Barry have deliberately attempted to undermine this initiative and pre-empted the entire discussion. Those on the left who laud Higgins for his foreign policy interventions were promoting #notmypresident a few year ago 5/

Because he wouldn't use a veto power he didn't have. However the most damaging part of the article was, as Supreme Commander, he intimated that the defence forces shouldn't receive extra funding or resources. That is damaging to morale. His reference to UN is also problematic 6/

As he seems to think the future of that Organisation is with anti-democratic, autocratic or illiberal democracies. Overall the interview was damaging and quite spiteful. A slap in the face to Michael Martin, our defence forces and our EU partners like Finland, Lithuania, Latvia.

Also if you actually look at a list of the speakers, academics from Sweden - real neo-con hawks there! Cheney in disguise.
There are more hawkish speakers addressing the IIEA on a regular basis than at this forum.The concerns expressed about this event are ludicrous.