If Lynch Had Invaded?

[BaudrillardNeverExisted]

Baudillairdneverexisted.

My point is that the Northenr IrLnn problem would have been forced onto the UN agenda.

Britain would have been forced to admit they were not impartial in dealing with the issues as subsequent history so tragically illustrated.

Many people felt at the time that the UN should have been involved and stupid Britain always insisted it was an internal UK problem.

For years the British kept the southern government at arms length on the issue.

Cowardly jack lynch was quite happy to let them do so.

Again, I see where you're going with this but I think it is being very optimistic. The big 5 are off-limits as far as the UN agenda is concerned. In this case, which of the big 5 would raise the issue with the British?

Look at it this way: as much as Tibet, Uighur, Chechnya and even South Ossetia are big issues, they're hardly a big topic in NYC because ultimately anything said on it would be futile. Looking at a recent example, nothing the Americans/British/French/Chinese say about South Ossetia will ever make the slightest bit of difference as long as the Russians themselves regard it as a de-facto domestic issue.

[thebig C]

OK, here is a slight deviation since we are deal with the historical "what might have beens".

Around 1969/1970 when the British authorities were initially criticising the Stormont administration for heavy handedness and pressuring the Unionist to give in to some Nationalist demands, there was talk in some Unionist circles that NI might declare independence. Certain Unionists were looking to Rhodesias Unilateral Declaration of Independence as a way of stopping outside interference in their sectarian reigme!

So, if the North had declared independence, it wouldn't have had an ounce of international recognition but the British might not have wanted to intervene.

In that case....

Do people think, invasion by the ROI was more likely? What the outcome would have been? Would Britain have acted since technically we would not longer be invading part of Britain??

C

[The Field Marshal]

TimBUck11

Should the situation return?

Clearly the UN would have to be involved.

The southern govt would employ a David & Goliath strategy to force the British to involve UN peacekeepers.

This would involve the strategic use of limited miltary force at weakly defended border points in conjunction with international diplomatic propaganda.

Fatalities within the Irish army would be inevitable.

Much would depend on the reaction of the British and military force would only be used when all diplomatic efforts had failed

[BaudrillardNeverExisted]

OK, here is a slight deviation since we are deal with the historical "what might have beens".

Around 1969/1970 when the British authorities were initially criticising the Stormont administration for heavy handedness and pressuring the Unionist to give in to some Nationalist demands, there was talk in some Unionist circles that NI might declare independence. Certain Unionists were looking to Rhodesias Unilateral Declaration of Independence as a way of stopping outside interference in their sectarian reigme!

So, if the North had declared independence, it wouldn't have had an ounce of international recognition but the British might not have wanted to intervene.

In that case....

Do people think, invasion by the ROI was more likely? What the outcome would have been? Would Britain have acted since technically we would not longer be invading part of Britain??

C

Or could there have been an unlikely alliance of sorts resulting in re-partition?

[thebig C]

Or could there have been an unlikely alliance of sorts resulting in re-partition?

Indeed!

[TimBuckII]

Or could there have been an unlikely alliance of sorts resulting in re-partition?

That's hardly likely

[Rocky]

Point of information.

The Irish army at the time was approx 14000 if memory serves me right.

Whilst deficient in materiele to some extent their levels of training was exceptionally high and the calibre of commissioned officers was exceptional

Certainly a sufficient force to hold temporarily either Derry or Newry

No they wouldn't have been.

The British had Air support, artillery and tanks they would have destroyed the Irish forces. Look at how Israel annihilated its enemies who were far better armed and had far more troops then we had comparatively with the British in the Six-Day, which only happened two years previously. As that war showed Air Support is everything in a war between two regular armies and we had none.

[Keith-M]

Or could there have been an unlikely alliance of sorts resulting in re-partition?

The only likely repartition would have been that Donegal would have been taken back into the U.K.

[MacO'velli]

The Canberra was used in Derry several years later before the Brits dismantled the barricades - whether it was for photographs or flag waving I have no idea, either way it was pretty well obsolete in the 70's. Regarding the Phantom, it was the main workhorse at the time, capable of doing huge damage as the Vietmanese and Egyptians can testify.

As far as I am aware the Phantom was only beginning to enter service with the RAF in lateE 69, The first squadron being operational in september, at Leuchers.

[MacO'velli]

Very true! Although I heard it was a Canberra. There were alot of questions about this incident in the Dail. The British aircraft actually flew over Dublin for around an hour, and Dublin ATC had to divert planes because of this unknown presence in the sky.

C

Apologies, yes it was a canberra.