rickusn

And here we go again.

If you cant trust the Swedes and the Norwegians who can you trust?

LOL The Russians are fast displacing the US as the "most hated nation" and for good reason.

Europe is running scared.

Again for good reason. Russia KNOWS it will have to accede to any demands made of it by China so to keep its populace in check it has to regain all of its former slave countries plus add Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany.

France gets a free pass for now but not for long.

Within ten years France will be fully a part of the NEW Soviet Union.

Hope they have alot of fun with it. LOL

Once again whos left out in the COLD.

Surprise!! Surprise!!

The UK.

But dont worry my cousins I will move there to help strengthen your resolve against these nefarious shenanigans. Well that is if you still wish to clean my clock at darts. LORD knows I need a pint whether I win or lose. LOL

Long Live!! Weymouth/Portland.

The Local - Swedish army warns of growing Russian threat

Swedish army warns of growing Russian threat

The Swedish Armed Forces are calling for more military resources inside the country following a revision of its stance on Russia.

Major General Michael Moore however warns against perceiving the news as "alarming", stressing that the military does not regard the level of threat to have dramatically increased.


"We are seeing the crystallisation of a changed strategic situation in northern Europe. This is partly due to pressure created by economic advances in China and India, which are demanding more and more energy," Moore told newspaper Dagens Nyheter.

The growing importance of energy, Russia's renewed economic power, and the growth of Baltic trade have all contributed to altering the overall picture, according to Moore.

Colonel Stefan Gustafsson, head of the Armed Forces' strategic analysis unit, agrees that the situation in Russia has changed.

"The country has the financial capacity to invest more in defence. That is not to say that Sweden is at risk of attack.

"Such threats emerge from a combination of resources and intentions. And we do not predict any such intentions in the foreseeable future," he said.

The Swedish Defence Commission will meet on Wednesday to discuss the issue of national security. These discussions will form an important basis for a parliamentary resolution on national defence later this spring.

The Swedish Armed forces have previously prioritised international engagements.



Russia reclassified as a military threat - Aftenposten.no

Russia reclassified as a military threat

Norwegian defense officials aren't declaring a new Cold War with Russia, but Norway's huge neighbour in the northeast is once again being described as a threat, also in the military sense.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been working hard to restore Russian self-confidence and build up its military.


Relations between Russia and Norway have been strained of late, over incidents ranging from illegal fishing in the Barents to collapsed investment prospects in Russian gas fields to Russian restrictions on salmon imports.

At the same time, Russia has been asserting itself all over Europe, often in unpopular ways. It has cut off gas supplies to countries that don't agree to its terms, it has refused entry to top officials traveling to Russia on business, and it has rekindled Russian nationalism to a degree that worries human rights activists. Suspicious murders of government critics also have sparked widespread international concern.

Newspaper Aftenposten has gone through a series of recent speeches and reports written by Norwegian defense officials, and documented use of descriptions of Russia that reflect the recent tensions.

The most revealing was a fresh report from the defense institute FFI (Forsvarets forsvarsinstitutt, the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment ) that analyzed threats against Norway. In the report, which sets the premises for the Defense Ministry from 2009 to 2012, Russia is identified as a "military threat." There's no fear of invasion, but rather a "limited, military action."

The report notes that the institute may be criticized for its classification of Russia, but even Defense Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen has altered her word usage of late. She has stressed that Russia isn't likely to exert power, but notes that its military build-up can't be overlooked.

"We must be aware that developments can take another direction than we want and expect," Strøm-Erichsen said in a recent speech before the defense group Oslo Militære Samfund.

'Demand for attention'
Espen Barth Eide, state secretary attached to the Defense Ministry, says Russia has consciously positioned itself as an "international player with a demand for attention and influence." Oil income and foreign currency reserves have helped give the country new economic clout that it lacked when the Soviet Union fell apart.

Barth Eide also rejects any talk of a new Cold War, but notes that Russia "is back on the international stage." Its president, Vladimir Putin, is working hard to keep it there, and boost Russian self-confidence.

"It's more important than ever that we continue our policies based on dialogue and concrete cooperation, both multilaterally and bilaterally," Barth Eide told Aftenposten.

Parihaka

I wrote this in another thread somewhere, Putin is trying by economic measures and appealing to the socialist european masses by America bashing, to complete what his predecessors could never do: extend Russia's control to the English channel. He'll do it to....

dave lukins

Russian Armada don't think so Pari,hate each other, until challenged!

rickusn

LOL A moderator who agrees with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Most amazed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW Heres a map of Gods Country:

http://www.weymouth.gov.uk/docstore/...tailedxcat.pdf

I cant believe how much its changed in 30 years. But then I can hardly believe how much Ive changed. LOL

Or have we?!?!?!?!?!?

rickusn

http://www.portlandbill.co.uk/images/crystal.jpg

Graet Piics!!!!!111

Ray

Oil is playing a role!

An interesting brew.

Worth a read:

Strategic Diplomacy (Part 8) - Russia by Harry Drews

And this is the analysis of SIPRI

RUSSIA AND EUROPE: The Emerging Security Agenda

The overall perspective is of import with the contemporary environment for a balanced analysis.

Analysis without balance lead to Iraq like situations!

__________________


"Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

HAKUNA MATATA

Parihaka

LOL, don't let it go to your head Rick

rickusn

Balanced like this unwarranted off-topic statement:

"Analysis without balance lead to Iraq like situations!"

Hypocritical and without merit.

Your air of superiority sickens me.

You get to say what ever you want with no repercussions.

And for the record I was against the Iraq invasion from the beginning because of a # of adverse scenarios I could forsee one or more of which actually have occured.

But to allow the situation that existed sinec we booted Iraq out of Kuwait to continue indefinitely was not realistic either.

Russia, China and the UN were no help. But of course thats all the USAs fault.

BS.

But what you want is the USA and the rest of the world to appease you, Russia, China and attack the USA at any an all costs.

So be it.

Moderators:

Ive requested that this person be reined in but to no avail.

Only what he thinks is acceptable. He knows it all and no one else knows anything.

Again BS.

It may be "politically correct".

In fact this whole site is fast becoming the "poster child" for political correctness.

Its gone beyond irritating.

Your double-standards and favoritism have become increasingly annoyiing not to mention disrespectful.

Goodbye.

Ray

Under no circumstances any country appeases any other country. Each one follows its own national interests.

US acted correctly as far as her national interest was concerned in Iraq and in the initial stage achieved the aim. However, since the whole issue was not thought through the problems have arisen. I supported the Iraq issue but I was not aware that the issue had not been thought through, even though I had mentioned the problems of urban insurgency that could follow.

That is the point that was in my post - thinking through the issues before acting.

Sweden, on the one hand, has Russia back on the threat list, Norway thinks otherwise. Contradictory and odd. Baltic Sea is an important choke point for the Russian fleet. Therefore, the Russian - European equation along with the Scandinavian countries have to be taken into consideration. Hence the links.

Russia is making overtures to Europe. Europe, on the other hand, is attempting to get the Baku oil without entering Russian territory and yet Russia has once again started exerting itself in the countries where the source of oil is as also on transit countries. The planned deployment of the Missiles has cause a serious kerfuffle.

Turkey which is an important ally and is to have one of the viable and possible the only feasible terminal not transiting Russian and 'allies' territory of the Baku oil. She is being alienated with the Kurdish autonomy in Iraq question and if alienated could be a problem area. Then take the Kosovo question. It too has its own issues that will impinge on the relationship. Poland has taken umbrage with the Germans. Italy is to try the US CIA agents who sent the AQ suspects to Egypt through Italy without Italy being aware. Therefore, Europe is in a flux and one just doesn't know which way the cat shall jump.

Therefore, one cannot look at issues in isolation.

I am sure such a comment is not out of context.

But if one (anyone for that matter, including me) is of the opinion that comments not in synchromesh with one's comments is not to one's liking and should not be posted, then all one could say that it is a sad viewpoint in a forum where debate is the format.

If Islam and other religions can be debated without umbrage being taken, then one can hardly take umbrage anywhere else, unless it is personal.

My comments in no way indicates that they are acceptable or sacrosanct since this is but a forum to exchange ideas and information and hopefully emerging more educated! I do not belabour under fond delusions.

Ray

Here is something which indicates that it is advisable to look before one leaps;

Italians protest expansion of U.S. military base - International Herald Tribune

One does not exult at every bit of good news since it indicates the following:

1. That one's morale was in one's boot and so the positive news was a straw that one clutched to feel good.

2. Any analyst observes the environment and weighs the pros and cons.

In Europe, there was support for the US for the Iraq War. Amongst the heavyweights of Europe, the exceptions were France (total) and Germany (lacklustre). Blair was all for the War, but overwhelmingly, the British public was against the war. Notwithstanding, the War in Iraq was pursued with all enthusiasm and gusto expected of allies.

Once the euphoria waned and the promises of 'share in the rebuilding of Iraq' weighed heavily in the US' favour (and why not?), grumbles surfaced. The UK alone stood steadfast and resolute. The situation was still in favor of the Allies in so far as resolute pressing home in Iraq was concerned.

However, with the failure to unearth the WMD (traces notwithstanding!) and the direct link with the AQ, the whole issue was viewed negatively (of the war in Iraq) by the world, even though there was wide and wholehearted condemnation for the mayhem unleashed by the terrorists in Iraq.

The terrorist struck in Madrid and the pro Bush govt came out as lying to the people since they misled the people! This huge faux pas cost the govt dearly and it was shown the door! The Spanish troops withdrew from the Coalition of the Willing.

The German election brought a more pro US govt, but not quite the type that would support the US in its totality.

Berloscuni of Italy who was totally pro Bush was toppled. While he weathered all the storm in Italy against the Iraq War and the US e.g. the case of the Italian journalist shot at the US checkpoint, the CIA whisking off a terrorist Imam etc, the current govt is not so well disposed. In fact, an Italian court is to try the CIA personnel who whisked the Imam!

Anti US attitude seems to be hardening in Italy if this is anything to go by:
Italians protest expansion of U.S. military base - International Herald Tribune
France as usual has its own agenda where US is concerned:
France in bid to salvage waning ties to Africa | csmonitor.com

Turkey is most unhappy with Europe.

The Kosovo issue is yet another aspect that may create serious problems in Europe as anyone would realise who are conversant with the case.

Therefore from the foregoing facts (the analysis of which can be done in detail), it will be seen that Europe is in no way totally united in resolve. Therefore, there is no guarantee how they will react to issues, especially since they are not acting in unison and with the enthusiasm required as they did when they joined the Coalition of the Willing.

Therefore, while a silver lining may bring cheer, yet one must not lose sight of the cloud that bears the silver lining.

One rather be a pragmatist than come to grief with odds and ends that bring cheer.

Sweden joined the NATO in 1994 and given the independent attitude the Scandinavian countries have as also if one goes by the example of France, one has to take this into consideration when viewing an issue in its holity!

This is my view and I do not claim I am to be the last word/ alphabet - Z.

braindead

Sorry Sir, but Sweden is still neutral and probably will be so for long time

__________________
....

Ray

Here it goes again - the winds of change!

Real flux.



Braindead,

You are right.

What was in my mind was Sweden's cooperation with NATO in EAPC/PfP.

Shek

Ray,

There were protests at Caserma Ederle over NATO's involvement in Kosovo. Protests are nothing new there, although hopefully they didn't throw eggs over the gate and almost hit a duty officer like what happened to me years ago

This fact doesn't eliminate the fact that anti-American sentiment has increased since the beginning of the Bush 43 reign, but the protest certainly doesn't maintain the lustre if it is compared to similar protests in years past.

__________________
"So little pains do the vulgar take in the investigation of truth, accepting readily the first story that comes to hand." Thucydides 1.20.3

Shek

Sir,

There were protests at Caserma Ederle over NATO's involvement in Kosovo. Protests are nothing new there, although hopefully they didn't throw eggs over the gate and almost hit a duty officer like what happened to me years ago

This fact doesn't eliminate the fact that anti-American sentiment has increased since the beginning of the Bush 43 reign, but the protest certainly doesn't maintain the lustre if it is compared to similar protests in years past.

Ray

Shek,

I agree with your contention.

Yet, if I may state, Europe, as I see it, is much less cohesive than the Cold War days.

Therefore, to keep the old paradigm as the template would be dangerous.

Right now, the ticker tape on my computer tells me that Blair is withdrawing troops by 1500 and then another 3500 by Christmas. Blair was a staunch Bush fan and if he can do this, imagine the effect it will have on others! And imagine the effect it will have in accomplishing the mission in Iraq, notwithstanding the tripe Blair is spewing out as a sop!

Hence, none can be banked upon with guarantee!

A dangerous input for strategic planning and for the vision of the future.

No longer is there a common goal. It will all have to be bartered with give and take. Hardnose bargaining. No longer a military manner of approach is feasible. It is more like a business negotiation!

Not a happy situation, as I see it!

Thus, I find it difficult to jubilate on individual issue of cheer and instead look at thing in a very clinical manner that may appear to be negative.

Forewarned is Forearmed!

Prepare or Perish!

Complacency has no place in these turbulent days!