As NATO troops trumpet their peacekeeping credentials in States such as Afghanistan troops from a NATO member Spain have been deployed into Catalonia in a move that is likely to exacerbate tensions.
The troops have been deployed to provide ‘logistical support’ to the paramilitary Civil Guard who most Catalans are calling to be removed from the country.
The move is reminiscent of the deployment of British troops in the six counties of Ireland after the now disbanded paramilitary RUC ran amok violently assaulting the population. In that instance the United Kingdom found it was easy to deploy troops but not so easy to extract them.
Meanwhile the EU remains shamefully silent although apparently there have been sharp exchanges in the Irish cabinet over the situation and calls for action in the Dail.
Links
http://www.express.co.uk/…/Catalonia-crisis-army-Spain-troo…
https://www.irishtimes.com/…/irish-cabinet-clashes-over-cat…
Bernard Moffatt
pp Celtic League
04/10/17
