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[SS4Gogita]

Truly a .gif for every situation.

 

[Evil Monkey DTT]

My fiance is from sweeden and this scares the shit out of me. Every bit of this scares the shit out of me because I have no idea what this is leading to.

 

[Heshinsi]

Invading Sweden means infringing on a sovereign European nation which means creating a Baltic corridor which means ipso facto, NATO is involved.

If they push into Sweden they will kick off European aggression in return which means NATO is involved. They are, effectively, a de facto NATO state.

Because that worked out real well for Georgia and Ukraine.

 

[M52B28]

My fiance is from sweeden and this scares the shit out of me. Every bit of this scares the shit out of me because I have no idea what this is leading to.

Yeah, I've been going out with a Swede and we have had multiple discussions on this.

She's genuinely scared.

I don't think there will be anything that will amount to war or invasion, but it is destressing for her to talk about it.

Fuck Putin.

 

[SiegfriedFM]

Wait... What's the source for that initial article? Because I'd think it would be somewhere in local news if Löfven was actually telling us to prepare for war.

Edit: okay, found the SvD link. It's still nothing, it has been known for a long time. Basically them going "okay, maybe removing ALL of our defense capabilities was a bad move".

 

[Blastoise]

Obama + This = War Time?

 

[Evil Monkey DTT]

Wait... What's the source for that initial article? Because I'd think it would be somewhere in local news if Löfven was actually telling us to prepare for war.

It's not really a link but my fiance has been talking about this for the past cupple months. Basically talking about how Russia has been making some pretty threating actions. She believes it was because Sweden wants to join Nato, but Russia doesn't want that. I don't know specifics and I'm only quoting but fuck I am worried. 2016 was the year of awful shit happening, 2017 is the year we have to deal with those things.

 

[Lord_Byron28]

So isn't this now USA, France, Germany and Sweden all reporting Russian influence in their elections? I feel it would be wise for North American and Western European leaders to convene immediately. At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if Russia heavily influenced the Brexit decision. Especially with Trump who will sit back and let Russia slowly encroach on Western Europe.

 

[SiegfriedFM]

So isn't this now USA, France, Germany and Sweden all reporting Russian influence in their elections? I feel it would be wise for North American and Western European leaders to convene immediately. Especially with Trump who will sit back and let Russia slowly encroach on Western Europe.

We haven't had an election in a while. Aside from the good old rise of the racist party, there's nothing new.

 

[fanboi]

Didn't Russia hackers take down Sweden's ATC?

No that was fear mongering. I believe it was a ISP failure that caused it.

 

[fanboi]

So isn't this now USA, France, Germany and Sweden all reporting Russian influence in their elections? I feel it would be wise for North American and Western European leaders to convene immediately. At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if Russia heavily influenced the Brexit decision. Especially with Trump who will sit back and let Russia slowly encroach on Western Europe.

Of course they did regarding brexit, the biggest sponsor to organisations for a brexit was Russia.

 

[Flai]

"Swedish authorities are telling people to prepare for war!"
"As a Swede, that makes me very worried about the possibility of war!"
"That's ridiculous, why would you be worried about war? Don't be ridiculous."

Well, it is pretty ridicoulous. I live in Finland and if war happens, I could be pretty much on the front lines. Yet still I'm not really worried at all, in the end war is pretty unlikely to happen. Sweden? Yeah no way.

 

[Hjod]

 

[Kworn]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/15/swedish-towns-told-make-preparations-regarding-threat-war-conflict/?WT.mc_id=tmg_share_tw

GTFO Putin

 

[His Majesty]

it's just a load of hot air

 

[danowat]

Cold War v2.0

 

[CoolOff]

The Swedish position is just moving to what should be normal from a preparation level that didn't exist during the 90s and 00s. Then Crimea happened.

For example, we didn't have ANY active military on Gotland, an incredibly important strategic target in the Baltic.

 

[ClosingADoor]

The country’s Civil Contingency Agency (MSB) last week sent a letter to local authorities across the country asking them to maintain operations centres in underground bunkers, ensure that a system of emergency sirens is in place, and to be open to cooperating on war exercises with the Swedish Armed Forces.

Aren't these pretty standard? Maybe not an underground center, but most cities would have an emergency room for authorities to gather. Emergency sirens are tested here in Holland every month in case they are needed for 10 years or so already. And cooperation with the armed forces is also normal.

Seems like Sweden just wants to make sure the basics are in place in case something does go wrong. Which is a good thing.

 

[SiegfriedFM]

There is a thread for this already, and it's nothing.

 

[jufonuk]

I wonder how tall Putin is?

 

[the_batman]

I wonder how tall Putin is?

 

[Keasar]

It's currently a lot of hot air.

However, it is worth remembering we Swedes have a lot of history with the Russians and not the good kind.

So it is kinda natural we get very anxious.

 

[benjipwns]

why is that man (David Cameron?) trying to walk into the pictured forest?

 

[Dram]

I wonder if Trump would lend any aid to Russia, when he's President, if they did decide to invade Sweden?

 

[hoserx]

hahaha. He's pretty short but this picture can't be 100% accurate. Some say he's 5'7" while some say 5'2". I think he looks even shorter than 5'2" here.

 

[chadskin]

why is that man (David Cameron?) trying to walk into the pictured forest?

He has spotted a wild pig.

 

[the_batman]

I wonder if Trump would lend any aid to Russia, when he's President, if they did decide to invade Sweden?

pretty sure Trump is telling his master all of our national secrets.

 

[Ragnar Blackmane]

Is this photo accurate? Can't be, google says he is 170cm.

If it is: Oh my god, how does he manage to not fall off the bear he rides when he has to prove he is a true man?

 

[the_batman]

Is this photo accurate? Can't be, google says he is 170cm.

If it is: Oh my god, how does he manage to not fall off the bear he rides when he has to prove he is a true man?

here's another one for comparison

 

[veryslowhand]

dont worry russia never starts world wars

 

[Keasar]

pretty sure Trump is telling his master all of our national secrets.

As long as nobody mentions the Moon Cannon in Kebnekaise we should be fi...FUCK!

 

[Ragnar Blackmane]

here's another one for comparison

If true I'd start to think that Putin inspired George R.R. Martin when it comes to political genius dwarfs and wouldn't be surprised if he is constantly overcompensating by publically wrestling bears to death ;-).

That said, Putin seems to actually be 170cm unless he is cheating somehow:

Still short, I'm 170cm myself and it is a total pain when the average size for men in your country is 180cm+ .

 

[maquiladora]

Sweden has recently deployed RBS-15 missile batteries to Gotland for the first time since the end of the Cold War, so they are taking it seriously.

With Trump in power and the prospect of more right-wing pro-Putin leaders coming to power in Europe, all bets are off.

 

[Sölf]

That said, Putin seems to actually be 170cm unless he is cheating somehow:

Still short, I'm 170cm myself and it is a total pain when the average size for men in your country is 180cm+ .

Well, this picture doesn't show his legs, so he is obviously standing on something.

 

[IAmAnAgnostic]

Finland is in the way.. I live there and I haven't heard anything out of the ordinary regarding Russia.

 

[Kilrogg]

I can't tell if hoserx and Ragnar Blackmane are being serious about those Putin pics.

 

[Familienoberhauptvogel]

wrt Putin it's better to be prepared. Wish we could our shit together and form an EU army, especially now with that twat getting inaugurated soon.

 

[benjipwns]

Well, this picture doesn't show his legs, so he is obviously standing on something.

Crimea

 

[Agremont]

here's another one for comparison

Ehm... people are joking about thinking these pictures are genuine....right?

 

[Greddleok]

If true I'd start to think that Putin inspired George R.R. Martin when it comes to political genius dwarfs and wouldn't be surprised if he is constantly overcompensating by publically wrestling bears to death ;-).

That said, Putin seems to actually be 170cm unless he is cheating somehow:

Still short, I'm 170cm myself and it is a total pain when the average size for men in your country is 180cm+ .

Nah look, he's around the same height as Merkel. She's short too.

 

[Funky Papa]

Can we please get back on topic?

 

[Onlinehero]

Aren't these pretty standard? Maybe not an underground center, but most cities would have an emergency room for authorities to gather. Emergency sirens are tested here in Holland every month in case they are needed for 10 years or so already. And cooperation with the armed forces is also normal.

Seems like Sweden just wants to make sure the basics are in place in case something does go wrong. Which is a good thing.

Yeah, "prepare for war" is of course media fearmongering. It's just a call for maintnence of plans which has been neglected on a local level for lord knows how long. Pretty much any crisis preparedness plan on municipality level is on paper and dusty as fuck. NPM has shaved off most "what if?" scenarios if they're deemed unlikely.

 

[JonnyDBrit]

I just...don't understand what Russia hopes to gain here

Like what is the motivation other than dick waving? Seizing economic hubs to boost Russia's GDP? Does Sweden have oil? What do they want?

As simplistic as it sounds, basically? Standing in the world.

Thing is, within living memory, Russia was once seen as one of the two great powers of the globe. It had the power to literally decide the fate of the world. When the Cold War ended, that was no longer the case, and many Russians did not take this well. So a lot of Russian foreign policy for the last decade or so has been about making them matter again, whether through actively using their veto in the UN to prevent the security council from acting, or by rolling into and occupying parts of others countries while the world merely watches. Putin's supporters love this by the way, and it contributes to his strong grip on the Russian executive.

This is also part of the reason they're suspected to have interfered in the US elections - by making the US look weak and/or unstable, the expectation is that other nations will start looking to Russia instead. It's all about looking powerful.

 

[Oppo]

The west is a bunch of fuckbois. The moment Russia decides to invade Sweden is the moment China raises hell in the South China since the USA won't be able to amass the necessary forces on two fronts so large and important. This is the future Repulicans, Electors and Putin want and we're gonna barrel right into it.

first off, please define "fuckboi" for me, i have no idea what that means.

secondly, the US military is preposterously large. like over 10x the size of everyone else put together. i think they could manage two fronts. it would be a nightmare of course. but logistically, yeah they can handle it.

Not with my taxes. Let those white European nations use their privilege to defend themselves

ha! this is hilarious. i think your taxes already go there.

as for "privilege" – what the hell? what?

 

[strafer]

Guess all those hours of playing the last of us will come in handy

Im scared. Like my life isnt shit enough, i dont wanna have to deal with war.

 

[JonnyDBrit]

secondly, the US military is preposterously large. like over 10x the size of everyone else put together. i think they could manage two fronts. it would be a nightmare of course. but logistically, yeah they can handle it.

Hell, that's actually been the policy of the US military for several decades, IIRC - it's expected to be powerful enough to take on the next two most powerful nations on Earth simultaneously. Whether or not it actually can is somewhat untested, mind.

 

[PdotMichael]

Russia's economy is a declining mess.

Putin knows the best that they are a paper tiger. He isn't gonna do anything.

 

[Tacitus_]

Russia is not going to invade Sweden anytime soon. That said, Sweden really needs to take a hard look at their defences so it remains that way. Their response time was pathetic when Russia was testing it some time ago.

 

[Andrin]

Sweden has no resources, but simply keeping their own state in a "War" mode is going to bolster the economy, and avoid the fact they basically have no real industry. Their another country that's biggest export is oil and oil was getting closer to being on it's way out. This will delay it.

The one thing Reagan actually had right was that, they can't compete at all on the economical field.

That's not entirely true. As far as I know Sweden has some of the largest deposits of high quality uranium in the world. That being said, a hypothetical invasion by Russia would not be because of resources, but rather for political posturing and for the strategic position Sweden has in the Baltic sea. It's still unlikely that there'll be an outright war anytime soon, but Russia has routinely made aggressive overtures against Sweden for some years now.

 

[Chuck Norris]

I just...don't understand what Russia hopes to gain here

Like what is the motivation other than dick waving? Seizing economic hubs to boost Russia's GDP? Does Sweden have oil? What do they want?

For all intents and purposes, it seems Russia have outlined their geopolitical intentions in a book

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics