Two Reposts on When Pacifism Meets Reality
tl;dr Western Europe lectures others about self-defense, then rushes to borrow it when the threat lands at home.
Today is November 12, 2025. The war on Israel has quieted down, though it’s too early to say it has ended. Russia continues to invade Ukraine as Europe looks away and often criticizes the victims. Social media continues to pretend that Islamists, Russian expansion, and other very real threats are all “Zio/AIPAC Joo,” NATO, or U.S. lies. Meanwhile, crime and rape rates are skyrocketing in states that welcomed unvetted migrants. Governments are acting in ways that contradict their leaders’ words. Leaders are desperate to coddle the social media mob.
Today I’m sharing two major stories that won’t get the attention they deserve but expose the reality that fake pacifists refuse to confront. Both are about European states quietly begging for help. Keep in mind: I am a real pacifist. I believe in peace. But I’m tired of the fake pacifists insisting that nations should surrender to anti-Western terrorism. That is not pacifism; it’s submission disguised as virtue.
Story 1: Belgium just scrambled foreign anti-drone teams after coordinated incursions shut down airports and probed military sites. The same leaders who preach that force never solves anything are suddenly buying jammers and calling allies for help. (Source: Reuters, Nov 10. Reposted for public awareness. Link: https://www.reuters.com/world/belgium-enlists-foreign-forces-combat-drone-incursions-2025-11-10/)
Story 2: After a year of moral grandstanding abroad and rising tension at home, Dublin is now asking other EU states to bolster security during its presidency, up to and including a visiting warship with air-defense missiles. Neutrality sounds noble until you need someone else’s air cover. (The Irish Times, Nov 8. Reposted for public awareness. Link: https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/11/08/ireland-considers-asking-eu-nations-for-security-help-during-presidency-including-warship/)
A "No Drone Zone" placard at Brussels international Airport in Zaventem on the day of an emergency meeting of Belgian government officials and experts, following drone sightings that closed Brussels Airport, in Zaventem, Belgium, November 6, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Belgium enlists foreign forces to combat drone incursions
By Lili Bayer and Philip Blenkinsop; Nov 10, 2025
BRUSSELS, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Belgium has enlisted the help of foreign armed forces to seize or track down drones that have made incursions around its airports, military bases and a nuclear plant, with officials saying it all bears the hallmarks of Russian interference.
Drone sightings forced authorities to close Brussels Airport, Belgium's busiest, for hours last Tuesday - one of a series of recent incursions that also caused brief closures at cargo hub Liege airport and disrupted an airbase.
We're not saying it's Russia. We're saying it looks like Russia. It's impossible to connect any incident with an actor. We have nothing," a Belgian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak on the record.
"We are working with partners to try to get our hands on a drone, or detect where it is launched from and where it’s going."
Russia has denied any involvement with the drones. Its Brussels embassy said in a statement last week it had "neither motive nor interest in such activities".
Belgium's Defence Minister Theo Francken told Het Laatste Nieuws last week there were assumptions that Russia was behind the incursions, "but I can't prove it".
Belgium was, he said, being closely monitored because of Russian assets frozen at Brussels-based securities depository Euroclear. The EU has proposed using those funds to finance Ukraine. Russia has threatened to make a "painful response" if that happens.
French, German and British anti-drone teams have arrived in Belgium. Around 20 British Royal Air Force specialists were deployed with systems that can jam the electronic signals that drones require to operate.
"We don't know, and the Belgians don't yet know the source of those drones, but we will help them by providing our kit and capability," Richard Knighton, head of Britain's armed forces, told the BBC.
In some cases, the drones seen were large and flying in formation, which means they are likely to have been operated by trained specialists, the Belgian official said.
On Friday, the Belgian government also gave provisional clearance to spend 50 million euros ($58.3 million) on systems to detect drones and to put them out of action, although it is not clear when that equipment will be available.
($1 = 0.8575 euros)
Reporting by Lili Bayer and Philip Blenkinsop; Additional reporting by Liz Piper in London; Editing by Andrew Heavens
Sailors aboard French frigate FS Bretagne in May 2023. File photograph: EPA
Ireland may seek aid of French warship to boost security during EU presidency
State already investing in drone defences ahead of visits from ministers and heads of state next year
Martin Wall, Conor Gallagher, Jack Power; Nov 08, 2025
Ireland is considering asking larger EU nations for security assistance during its forthcoming EU presidency, including sending a warship to Dublin for air defence.
One such ship, the French frigate Bretagne, will dock in Dublin this month on a courtesy visit. It is equipped with anti-aircraft missiles.
Heads of state and ministers from across Europe will be attending more than 20 top-level meetings in Ireland next year amid an increasingly tense security climate, with illegal drone activity reported during the recent Danish presidency.
As part of security preparations, the Government has already decided to fast-track the purchase of a multimillion euro counter-drone system.
Other measures being taken by security services are the acquisition of short-range anti-drone weapons by gardaí. Officers are liaising with Dutch police over the use of such devices.
Gardaí have also deployed a team to EU headquarters in Brussels to liaise on security matters, while other Irish officers have visited Copenhagen to inspect their security measures.
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris is understood to have authorised officials to seek urgent delivery of a system to track and intercept drones.
It is understood that under current plans a single counter unmanned aerial battery would be deployed to the airbase at Baldonnel in west Dublin.
The system would be aimed at protecting the airspace around the military airport to allow ministers and heads of state to land safely in Dublin to attend events during Ireland’s presidency of the European Union (EU), which commences in July.
The counter unmanned aerial system will form part of a larger military radar project the Government is set to purchase.
In light of disruption caused by drones at airports and other facilities in Europe, security will be a crucial issue for the Government in the run-up to the presidency.
During the recent Danish presidency, France and Germany sent counter-drone teams, including a German anti-aircraft ship, to Copenhagen in response to increased illegal drone activity, which Denmark attributed to Russian actors.
Mr Harris told the Dáil on Thursday that planning and preparations for the Irish presidency of the EU are well under way.
“The phased early delivery of elements of the military radar programme in 2026 may form part of these preparations,” he said.
“A key focus, and a key early focus of the programme, should be our counter unmanned aerial system capability. We have a structure in place to keep the Oireachtas committee up to date and we will do that in a sensitive and appropriate way.”
The cost of the overall military radar project is expected to run to several hundred million euro.
Mr Harris secured €1.7 billion in funding for defence under the revised National Development Plan agreed by the Government in the summer.
The defence sector will receive capital funding of €300 million next year under the revised National Development Plan.
Overall, Ireland’s presidency of the EU is expected to cost several hundred million euro.
It is understood the Government has set a budget of between €165 million and €185 million. In addition, a further €15 million will be provided for planned meetings of the European Political Community, which will involve up to 47 heads of state travelling to Dublin.
However, these figures do not include security costs.
There is also an expectation in Government that the Department of Justice will seek substantial funds for Garda overtime during the six-month presidency.
Outro
This is the hypocrisy I keep pointing out: punish states for defending themselves, then quietly rely on the very same tools of defense when your own airports, summits, and streets are at risk. Ireland recognized Palestine and saw the relationship with Israel collapse—as it faced Islamist-linked security concerns and unrest over crime and migration. The very same politicians who sneer at NATO’s “militarism” still depend on NATO’s strength as their safety net.
If you demand others keep you safe while condemning their right to be safe, that is not pacifism—it’s free-riding wrapped in moral vanity. History should mark Switzerland as cowards and Ireland as Hitler-apologists during WW2, both states that quietly profitted on genocide and then pretended there was virtue in it.
Personally, I think Western allies should direct their defense resources toward the regions where genuine genocide is occurring—particularly Africa—and issue a public statement refusing to assist Belgium or Ireland until both acknowledge that defense is a necessity, not an embarrassment. If I was involved with Israel’s military, I would also suspend intelligence sharing with UK, Belgium and Ireland… temporarily. Remind them what vulnerability feels like when you mock the defenders you rely on. Let their politicians cancel all their meetings and hide.
What do you think?
