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“It is yet another indicator of the total normalisation of relationships between all of us on this island, the island of Ireland, and between this State and the United Kingdom.” ‘Irish, UK troops to deploy to Mali’ Irish Times, 13 Feb 2013.

'We welcome the Irish contribution which will help develop further working relations between our two countries,' said Mr Hammond. Philip Hammond, the defence secretary, confirmed that Britain would contribute 40 personnel to a European Union training mission due to start in the spring.
Twenty-one soldiers from 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment will do the infantry training, and 12 personnel will carry out mortar and artillery training.
In addition, the UK is contributing four personnel to the headquarters staff and three civilians from the Foreign Office's Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative to provide human rights and gender awareness training.
The team will be augmented by a further six infantry trainers from the Republic of Ireland.' ‘Britain to send Military Advisers to Mali’, Daily Telegraph, 18 Feb 2013.

‘But be in no doubt. The Mali training mission has nothing to do with traditional "peacekeeping": the days of social workers with guns are over, the era of peace-enforcing, by violent means, is upon us.
From Nigeria to Somalia, throughout the Arab world, and on either side of the Hindu Kush, armed Islamism is resurgent. Ireland is now taking its place in the line in the great war of values, which was formally declared on 9/11. NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says he would welcome Irish membership of NATO. So would I. ... FINALLY, finally, some sense has prevailed in the Army's relationship witof a handful of Army soldiers on a training mission in Mali with soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment, a full 90 years after the two armies went their separate ways, is a long overdue recognition of political, cultural and geographical realities. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the Minister responsible is Jewish, and is therefore less beholden to the traditions of querulous deference to "republican" sensitivities, which has gravely undermined the willingness of our political classes to engage in any closer military co-operation with the British'.
‘Helping Britain’s army marks end of “social workers with guns” era’, Irish Independent, 15 Feb 2013.

"War with everybody is at present the enviable condition of our amiable sister of England.
At the uttermost end of earth her soldiers and sailors are triumphing – if triumph that can be called which is victory without glory – over a nation of feminine creatures, destitute even of the brute instinct of resistance, and apparently incapable of imitating the most timid animals, which becomes valorous by despair. Thousands of these unhappy wretches, who yet, be it remembered, are human beings, nurtured to men’s estate, not without many sufferings, tears and cares, – every one of them having parents, wives, children, friends, or some or all of these to lament their loss – are being butchered mercilessly – mowed down by canister and grape, or driven into the rivers at the point of the bayonet – and for what?

Why, simply, because a horde of scoundrel smugglers, busy in the pursuit of unhallowed gain, have been interdicted by the Emperor of China – a potentate whose relation towards his subjects is less monarchical than paternal – from poisoning with their contraband opium the bodies, and rendering more imbecile the minds of his People.
This is, truly, an honourable warfare for a great, moral (!) and religious (!!) nation to be engaged in; and we need hardly say, we wish it all the success it deserves.

Then, in the country beyond the Indus, where, really and truly, they had no business whatever – in Affghanistan – where ruled a monarch friendly, or at least not hostile, to the British – some insane fear of Russia and Persia, or rather some accursed lust of power, plunder, and blood-letting, disguised under the mask of affected fear, set armies in motion through dangerous passes, and over barren mountains, to achieve the semblance of a triumph in the capture of Cabul, and the dethronement of Dost Mahomed – the best, if not the only friend the British had in these barbarous regions.

But there are no Chinese men-women in Affghanistan, nor is Akhbar Khan a mandarin of the third button.
The doctrine of resistance is perfectly well understood among these fierce children of the crescent; and fearfully have they carried this doctrine into practice. Let the bones of thirteen thousand British subjects, whitening in the wintry blast, testify how dearly England has paid for her unjust, and worse than that – her foolish, her stupid aggression upon this indomitable People.

There is no disguising the fact: England has been “thrashed” by a fellow living at the back of a mountain, this said Akhbar Khan. He shot down their Envoy – exterminated their legions – carried away captive their women and children; and the whole energy, wisdom and bravery of their rulers are now put into action, not to subdue the Affghans – not to tax them – not to divide and govern them – not even to convert them; but to buy off British women and children, get the most respectable [terms?] they can for future transactions,. …' (reprinted in The Nation: Selections 1842-1844, Aubane Historical Society, 2000; Volume One: Young Ireland, Daniel O’Connell, Monster Meetings, State Trials, A New Irish Culture.)