Emergency Preparedness Guides

[bearbait]

I see from the Beeb today that our Northern European cousins have been recently provided with some new and updated emergency preparedness guides by their Governments. If interested, the links to the docs and / or content are in the Beeb article...

Sweden, Finland and Norway release new advice on surviving war

Sweden said the new advice follows a worsening security situation, by which it means the war in Ukraine.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[stonepark]

It's almost like joining NATO, instead of being neutral, makes you a potential target for Russian nuclear missiles?

 

[Falstaff]

I don't think Russia has the resources to open a war on more than one front. Ukraine is attractive for a whole host of reasons, mainly economic, and has enough significant Russian origin population pockets to justify creeping "annexation".
It's highly likely that Trump will want to shaft Ukraine and sign a peace deal with Russia. Some of the Nato countries are already shape shifting in readiness.
I suspect the real risk to Scandanavia and probably us, is loss of gas/energy supply, either total or intermittent. That will have a knock on effect to everything else in the supply chain.

 

[Chris]

It's almost like joining NATO, instead of being neutral, makes you a potential target for Russian nuclear missiles?

Yeah, being neutral worked well for Ukraine.

 

[RonW]

I see from the Beeb today that our Northern European cousins have been recently provided with some new and updated emergency preparedness guides by their Governments. If interested, the links to the docs and / or content are in the Beeb article...

Sweden, Finland and Norway release new advice on surviving war

Sweden said the new advice follows a worsening security situation, by which it means the war in Ukraine.

www.bbc.co.uk

Nothing new. I still have the old booklets somewhere with recommendations we here, on this forum, would regard as common sense and logical.
They have been ramping up the fearmongering campaign for quite a few years now. Sweden has a (political) habit of being russophobic. They keep beating that drum.
Makes me wonder; is it because Russia really is a threat or is it to depict Russia as a threat in order to get the Swedes to agree with more weaponssales to all those countries having depleted their old stock?

 

[Chris]

The tens-to-hundreds of thousands of dead in the sovereign state of Ukraine, and the campaign of sabotage across Europe, would probably suggest that Russia is indeed a threat to its neighbours and beyond.

That combined with their constant nuclear rhetoric would make some advice to citizens seem prudent.

 

[TeeDee]

It's almost like joining NATO, instead of being neutral, makes you a potential target for Russian nuclear missiles?

That would depend on a few things.

Good job America had no issues with Cuba buddying up to an opposing political superpower.

Oh, hang on..

 

[RonW]

The tens-to-hundreds of thousands of dead in the sovereign state of Ukraine, and the campaign of sabotage across Europe, would probably suggest that Russia is indeed a threat to its neighbours and beyond.

That combined with their constant nuclear rhetoric would make some advice to citizens seem prudent.

And I am quite sure the ever increasing expansion of NATO eastward, despite promises not to, the ever increasing number of US/NATO-bases, with subsequent deployment of longrange armament, encircling Russia, the constant vilification of Russia by media and politicians AND the Maidan-affair have nothing to do with it.
Why should Russia feel threatened??
I am not mentioning the shady dealings, within the Ukraine, of a number of highranking western politicians, covering the assets and asses.
But we keyboardwarriors have all the answers and insights in this geopolitical game, courtesy of the absolutely reliable media.

 

[Chris]

And I am quite sure the ever increasing expansion of NATO eastward, despite promises not to, the ever increasing number of US/NATO-bases, with subsequent deployment of longrange armament, encircling Russia, the constant vilification of Russia by media and politicians AND the Maidan-affair have nothing to do with it.
Why should Russia feel threatened??
I am not mentioning the shady dealings, within the Ukraine, of a number of highranking western politicians, covering the assets and asses.
But we keyboardwarriors have all the answers and insights in this geopolitical game, courtesy of the absolutely reliable media.

Even if I were to agree with you on those points (which I don’t, but we can agree to disagree there), I don’t think invading a sovereign nation who gave up its nuclear arms on the condition of not being invaded, and killing scores of people is the solution.

It’s also not what Putin claimed the reason for the invasion was, which he claimed was Ukraine being ‘rightly’ Russian and also they were Nazis. But hey.

 

[Glow_worm]

Regardless of underlying motives, I give a lot of credit to these governments which encourage the public to take responsibility for themselves.

 

[stonepark]

Yeah, being neutral worked well for Ukraine.

Ah, so you failed to notice the NAZI coup in 2013 where they changed from neutral to anti Russia....

 

[RonW]

Even if I were to agree with you on those points (which I don’t, but we can agree to disagree there), I don’t think invading a sovereign nation who gave up its nuclear arms on the condition of not being invaded, and killing scores of people is the solution.

It’s also not what Putin claimed the reason for the invasion was, which he claimed was Ukraine being ‘rightly’ Russian and also they were Nazis. But hey.

First of, I do not in any way condone invading a country by anyone.
However, given the geopolitical games being played and with Russia being backed into a corner, I can understand the presumably preemptive strike.
As for the view that Ukraine is "rightly" Russia, there is a vast difference between our western views and Russian ones. They actually view Ukraine, or at least large parts of it, as rightfully theirs as a part of their historical and cultural heritage and sphere of influence.

 

[haptalaon]

Regardless of underlying motives, I give a lot of credit to these governments which encourage the public to take responsibility for themselves.

I guess that Scandinavian countries, similar to middle of nowhere American towns, have more of a 'natural' preparedness mindset as part of their daily lives. If it's liable to be seriously snowy or emergency services are hours away etc, preparedness is an extension of how you're living anyway.

 

[TLM]

However, given the geopolitical games being played and with Russia being backed into a corner, I can understand the presumably preemptive strike.

Not quite, they drove themselves into the corner in their previous incarnation by being lousy imperium. Eastern European countries were not cathered in by NATO, they wanted security against Putlin.

As for the view that Ukraine is "rightly" Russia, there is a vast difference between our western views and Russian ones.

A more historical view is that Muscovy is part of Ukraine. Peter the Tall actually changed the name into the present one and he took it from the original slavic mother country, Kiev Rus, ie. Ukraine.

 

[Falstaff]

Russia certainly feels threatened, mainly by the USA via NATO, and that it is in a near- future economic bear trap, irrespective of Ukriane sanctions, especially with the move towards electrification. The USA view is simplistic, communism is evil, Russia is communist and therefore must be "ended" and brought back to righteous capitalism and their version of democracy.
If they agree to peace deal being touted by the US, then the US will regard this as a big win and press ever harder on Russia.

 

[TLM]

Russia certainly feels threatened, mainly by the USA via NATO, and that it is in a near- future economic bear trap

When one is totally paranoic anything'll feel threatening.

The USA view is simplistic, communism is evil, Russia is communist and therefore must be "ended" and brought back to righteous capitalism and their version of democracy.

Even The Soviet Union was not "text book" communist, present day Russia is just a totalitarian state with a dictator. Even USA could not take full blown capitalism and the present system is a light version of it. US is not a democracy but a republic. But yes they do have this not so funny crusader mentality every now and then.

 

[Woody girl]

I seem to remember Russia, while amassing troops on the Ukrainian border, and swearing blind, they had absolutely no intention of trying to invade Ukraine, and it was just a normal military practice exersize.
The Olympics were on in China at the time.
I predicted they were waiting for them to finish, so as not to steal china's thunder. A week or so later, they invaded with a special military operation to reclaim Russian territory that had left the Russian Union many years before and become independent.
Do you think we would be regarded as in the right if we invaded any of our old territories to reclaim them on historical terms, after saying we had no intention of doing so, whilst amassing a full blown armed force ot their border?
Put in cannot be trusted, and I know he's full of bluster, but he's calculating. given enough of a push, I wouldn't put it past him to have a wobbly fit, and fire one off to those he feels threatened by.
It would be a realy stupid move, but then humans with a power complex are stupid...they don't listen to wise words, no matter who utters them. Twisted minds are dangerous, as we are now seeing with our present communist overlord in Britain.

 

[Chris]

I can see why political discussions are not allowed here. Perhaps it’s for the best it stays that way, in the name of civility.

 

[TeeDee]

I can see why political discussions are not allowed here. Perhaps it’s for the best it stays that way, in the name of civility.

I agree although clearly Chris and Myself will have opposing views on a lot of things it seems.

Anyway - getting it back on point , if these nations are supporting and urging these actions and I am aware ours have also ( although to a lesser extent ) done the same - are other european nations and are people here following them or see it as unnecessary?

 

[Chris]

I agree although clearly Chris and Myself will have opposing views on a lot of things it seems.

I’m sure there’s plenty of things we will agree on as well - I tend to find almost everyone has far more in common than sets us apart. Unfortunately though, online discourse tends to amplify the things we disagree on. And what power do we have to change half of it? Not much.

Thus we have a divided population, whilst the rich and powerful stay rich and powerful.