Defence Forces Review 2010

PrefaceAs Director of Defence Forces’ Public Relations it gives me great pleasureto launch the Defence Forces Review for 2010. In this our seventeenth year,the Review continues to provide a forum for contributors to raise currentissues, provoke thought and generate discussion across the wider DefenceCommunity. The contributors to this edition are drawn from serving and retiredmilitary members as well as members of the academic community with interestin defence and security related issues. The broad range of subjects coveredindicates the challenges and the level of complexity facing the contemporaryIrish soldier both at home and abroad. As this year marks the fiftieth anniversaryof the deployment of Irish troops to the Congo I am particularly delighted tohave a contribution regarding that mission in this year’s edition.The Editor of the Defence Review for 2010 is Comdt Mark Hearns. Despitea very heavy schedule as an Instructor in the Command and Staff School heassumed this editorial burden with relish and commitment, displaying hugeenthusiasm in pursuing this project.For this year’s edition he has assembled an outstanding group of writers, allof whom I wish to thank personally for the effort involved in their work. Thestrength of the Review relies on the quality of its voluntary contributors, and Iam delighted to say that this year’s product is a very strong one indeed.I would like conclude by thanking the staff of the Defence Forces Printing Pressand the staff of An Cosantoir for their assistance in publishing the document.Kieran BrennanLt ColDirector of Defence Forces’ Public RelationsThe material contained in thesearticles are the views of the authorsand do not purport to represent theofficial views of the Defence Force.