International Exercise VIKING 08

150 troops from the Irish Defence Forces are currently participating in the multinational, computer-assisted exercise VIKING 08, which began on November 3rd and will end on November 14th. This is the fifth in the VIKING Exercise series, which started in 1999 under the principles of Partnership for Peace (PfP).

The joint military, civilian and police exercise creates a realistic scenario based on complex, UN-mandated Chapter VII peace support operation, which includes security assistance during parliamentary elections.

Over 2000 international personnel (civilian and military) across eight sites in seven countries (Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Austria and Switzerland) are involved in the exercise.
Ireland's contribution is centred on the Military College in the Curragh and mirrors a Multinational Brigade HQ with staff from Ireland, Sweden and Austria.

Brigadier General Dennis Murphy, GOC 2 Eastern Brigade, is in command of the Defence Forces personnel.

The overall aims and objectives of VIKING 08 are for both civilian and military staffs to enhance their individual knowledge and planning skills, as well as to practice co-operation and co-ordination to ensure understanding of the roles and capabilities of the various organisations.

VIKING 08 is a learning exercise for an identifiable audience that may serve on this type of operation in the future.

Representatives from the Department of Defence, the Civil Defence, the Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, Irish Aid, the Irish Red Cross, the Health Service Executive (HSE), GOAL, Concern and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees are participating in the exercise.

For more details and updates visit >
http://www.mil.se/en/Organisation/Exercises/Viking-08/

Differences between Austria and Ireland

Vienna - October 28th, 2008

• A 35-year-old tram driver in the Austrian capital Vienna was bidding farewell to the passengers of his tram with the spoken Nazi-era salute "Sieg Heil!" (meaning: Hail Victory!).
• The incident was widely ignored, but reported in a Jewish newspaper.
• When questioned by his bosses, the driver did not deny using the words. But he said "it was just a joke".
• Vienna's Public Transport Authority took action and sacked the driver with immediate effect and without any severance pay.
• A spokesman for the public prosecutors' office in Vienna said the driver could face prosecution, as any use of Nazi symbols and phrases is a criminal offence in Austria.
• If found guilty, the man could face a jail sentence of up to ten years.

Dublin - October 29th, 2008

• Conor Lenihan, TD, the 45-year-old Minister of State for Integration, called Fine Gael TD Dr. Leo Varadkar in the Dáil "a Fascist" and gave the physical Nazi salute (outstretched arm).
• The incident was widely reported in all Irish media.
• When questioned this morning by Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1, he did not deny the incident.
• After trying to wriggle himself out of the situation verbally by stating that "it was just a joke", he eventually withdrew his remark under pressure from Pat Kenny and Fine Gael TD Simon Coveney.
• He did not say that he was sorry, nor did he apologise to Dr. Leo Varadkar.
• Conor Lenihan remains a Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State for Integration.
• No further action is taken, and no criminal prosecution will take place.

I do not think that any comment from me is needed on this. The facts speak for themselves.

The Emerald Islander