Posted on 12/14/2014 12:10:52 PM PST by elhombrelibre
Stockholm (AFP) - With an assertive Russia next door, Sweden has started to beef up its military after a decade of downsizing, but a credible deterrent may take years to achieve, analysts warn.
In one of Sweden's most dramatic steps since the end of the Cold War, it has brought back the option of using reservists to boost its military force, making no attempt to hide the fact that the main motivation behind the move is Russia.
Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist went on TV this week to argue the move was necessary against the backdrop of Russia's rearmament and its annexation of Crimea, as well as the Ukrainian conflict.
The decision also came just two months after Sweden got a rough wake-up call in the form of a lengthy but ultimately futile submarine hunt in the Stockholm archipelago.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I don’t think anyone will make those points. Probably sum it up in one sentence.
A) I couldn’t give two **** about Sweden. Radical lib country.
Good for you. If they don’t share your politics, Putin should push them around.
Still it's hard to find a more self-loathing, spineless people than the Swedes. A nation without men.
A lot of Europe will have to wake up, and I agree that they’ve been loathsome about self-defense.
Reagan/Thatcher brought down the "evil empire". Obambi is letting it rebuild.
Stopped feeling sympathy for libs when they destroyed America
The idiots stop national service through conscription in 2010 believing earthly peace had arrived.
With less than 40,000 men under arms ( includes active and reserve forces) they’re not exactly a deterrent against anyone.
With their modern era policy of non-alignment they should have followed the Swiss neutral model, arm and train every able bodied male, period.
Guess the Swedes count on the Finns to repeat their Winter War defense against Soviet/Russian aggression. Surprise, surprise! Putin’s action in Ukraine proved that Spec Ops troops can be easily inserted to raise hell without conventional attack. But then again Czechoslovakia invasion of 1968 provided solid proof of Soviet airlift capacity as did the Afghan invasion. Too entrenched in their socialism to learn from the experiences and mistakes of others.
Sweden would be a good addition to NATO and help cement the northern flank. If Sweden joined, Finland would not be far behind.
Lots of countries are being frightened into NATO by President for Life Putin’s reckless adventurism and his idiotic Russian chauvinism.
Agreed
I imagine Norway and Denmark would be especially happy to see Sweden and Finland in NATO.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.