That idea can only be held by those ignorant of history. In our long history we were neither injured nor insulted by the Russians.
In modern history, Britain used Ireland as a safety apron, and prepared towipe her population out should one of Britain’s continental enemies effect a landing in Ireland.
In 1911 the British Home Secretary gave a speech in Belfast in favour of Irish Home Rule. He predicted a prosperous and loyal Ireland, “lying like a great breakwater across our (British) flank….this would be a boon to the British Empire, a wonderful reinforcement.”
Three decades later Ireland, despite British and American threats, had a Government
which maintained its own defences and refused to fulfil the destiny decreed for it in 1911. The British Government resolved, should the Germans make a landing on Irish soil to use chemical weapons, manufactured at Porton Down, near Salisbury, andsprayed by aircraft from Feltwell in Norfolk, on Jews and Gentiles, Orange and Green, Infant and Geriatric. The Chemicals were Mustard Gas and Phosgene.
The Home Secretary in 1911 was British Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945.
The Germans occupied the Atlantic Coast of Continental Europe from the North of Norway to the French border with Spain for 5 years. The British did not drop chemical weapons there. The Irish refusal to accept the role chosen for them by British Imperialists might have unleashed a repeat of the Genocidal tactics repeatedly since the days of Good Queen Bess.
Back in 1911 the Home Secretary was a member of the secret Committee of ImperialDefence, which had been plotting to destroy Germany since the signing of theEntente Cordiale in 1904.
His name was Winston Churchill.
I have never understood why we Irish have always had to follow lemming like those countries who pick fights with Russia. To paraphrase the late, great Muhammad Ali, no Russian ever called me Fenian.
We didn’t follow in 1939. Despite James Dillon.
Guided by Eamon de Valera, citizens enacted a sovereign democratic state in 1937 which looked to its own defence .
The electorate had buried John Redmond’s and John Dillon’s party in 1918.
But like Burke & Hare the Coalition are resurrecting it today