RTE.ie: What were your last overseas postings and how will they help you in your new role?
Pat Nash: I have had the opportunity to serve overseas on six separate occasions, in Cyprus, Lebanon and the Balkans. I hope to harness this experience but particularly my command of an Irish Battalion in Lebanon in 1999.
Our 23 years in Lebanon from 1978 to 2001 has given me an insight into how capable Irish soldiers are of operating professionally and safely in very difficult circumstances.
I learned also that we have the ability to combine the humanitarian and military roles without losing focus, while still operating with compassion and competence.
RTE.ie: Why do you think an Irish operation commander was requested for this peacekeeping mission?
PN: The Defence Forces' almost 50 years peacekeeping experience and my personal experience is probably one reason. Another is that Ireland is seen an honest broker in international relations.
Finally, we will also be making a significant contribution of 350 troops to the overall force, including Special Forces that will be deployed in the vanguard. The reality is the Defence Forces has modernised greatly in recent years and this has gone some way in increasing our international credibility.
RTE.ie: What type of challenges do you think you will face commanding a multinational force?
PN: My task is to translate diplomatic policy into military action; therefore the challenge I face is give purpose, direction and motivation to a 4,000 strong multinational force that will deploy to a challenging operational environment into very poor countries in humanitarian crisis.
It is a broad, deep, multifaceted challenge that I look forward to in what will be a very busy time.
RTE.ie: What level of force will the mission be mandated to use in pursuit of its mission?
PN: UN Security Council Resolution 1778 was unanimously approved under chapter seven of the UN Charter and authorises 'all necessary measures' to achieve the mandated tasks.
This means my staff and I will shortly deploy peace-enforcement troops on behalf of the EU.
Such a mandate allows the forces I will command to bring about a situation whereby all those in need, and the humanitarian organisations in the region, can enjoy personal security allowing them to deal with the significant other challenges in their daily lives.
RTE.ie: What are you hoping to achieve within your first year of deployment and what is the timeline for the mission?
PN: Our immediate goal is to bring about a safe and secure environment, protecting civilians in danger and delivery of humanitarian aid.
Troops will most likely be deployed initially in November with the main body of troops deploying in the New Year.
Within 12 months I will have a mission at full strength and operating along the eastern Chad and Central African Republic borders with Darfur.
This mission presents large challenges and I hope that within 12 months the situation will have stabilised and progress will have been made.
RTE.ie: 20 African Union peacekeepers were killed last month in neighbouring Darfur, is this a worry for you and your force?
PN: The safety and security of all troops is one of my primary concerns as the Operational Commander. The equipment, training, experience that all Irish troops have, allied to the detailed threat assessment and mission specific pre-deployment training that they carry out will greatly minimise any potential risks.
Suffice to say, if this region was safe there would be no need for our presence. A certain level of threat exists in every theatre of operations where our troops are deployed.
Chad, the Central African Republic and the larger Darfur complex are no exception.
RTE.ie: How will the experience in Liberia help the Irish troops on this EU force?
PN: It will stand us in very good stead, and we’re lucky to have had it particularly for our planning of this operation. Environmentally the situation is similar.
The operational situation is different, but it is our ability to operate in such a resource scarce environment and the confidence that this brings to the soldiers, and their families at home, that is most important.
RTE.ie: What skills will the 350 Irish troops bring to the mission?
PN: They bring the Irish approach to peacekeeping which is evident in all missions we are employed in today. That approach, even in a robust mission, is the ability to talk to all stakeholders and attempt to sort all problems where possible.
It is also likely that we will deploy an element our Special Forces unit, the Army Ranger Wing at the sharp end of the mission to assert a strong, highly mobile, initial presence to ready the area for operations by the main element of Irish soldiers.
RTE.ie: How do you expect the force to be received in Chad and the Central African Republic?
PN: The force deploys with the agreement of both governments. Winning over the ‘hearts and minds’ of the local population could be described as a mission essential task in all deployments overseas. This is no less so here.
RTE.ie: Using the lessons from Iraq and similar operations, is there a point where you could withdraw your troops if things got too unmanageable or dangerous?
PN: The situation may well deteriorate and we will deal with this when it arises.
There is international agreement on our presence and we have a strong mandate to carry out our job. The troops that deploy will be properly equipped and are robustly mandated to carry out this challenging mission.
