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Subject: Sweden Seeks A Secret Weapon
SYSOP    8/26/2015 6:16:51 AM
 
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Nate Dog    Cute   8/26/2015 8:51:50 PM
i liked the line, 'a scary enough threat'
Not sure what would constitute scary enough. Russia is up arming (within the confines of a newly shrinking economy, but thats only as of the last year) and invading its immediate neighbours, and the pattern its following is interesting, started with pissants for training wars. Is now on its 3rd campaign and this ones against Ukraine, no pissant, even if it is in a depleted state. Who knows what the Russian forces will consider the next step. recent history examples. check out the various German invasions/annexations of the late 30's. 
Don't know that the US or the Euro's would tolerate a Russian annexation/invasion of Sweden, though there would be little they could do to stop it, at least in the short term. 
Seems the nuclear deference isn't what it used to be. The duck and hide under your table routine of the cold war is gone, no one believes anyone (outside of fanatics) would be willing to deploy nukes any more so they appear to have lost some of their deterrence factor. Maybe we need to elect some bat shit crazy leaders in the west for a bit, just to scare the east into thinking we're crazy enough to use them. 
Hell, Kenedy was stupid enough to use them, so Krustchef blinked (thank god). Regan was pretty bat shit mental and was happy to whack troops at anyone that pissed him off. So I'm sure he was feared.
We're all in the west worried that Putin is mad enough and has enough power centered in his war room to pull off a nuclear strike, while i doubt the Russian Oligarchs believe for one second the west would deploy nukes to prevent russia attacking a third party.
This is all conjecture, but if true, puts russia in an unusually strong position. Nothing to lose, lots to gain. Those sanctions had better break the russian economy and fast else we may all be in a bit of trouble. Mind you, with the U.S. presidents propensity to ease sanctions off nations that actively seek to destroy America and do so loudly and often, who knows, we may yet engineer our own defeat yet.
 
 
 
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UnFathomable86       8/26/2015 10:55:57 PM
I wouldn't be too worried about the Russians going on a further annexation spree. The Russian economy is struggling and they seem to be fighting a stalemate in Ukraine. Speaking of which I feel more bad for the Ukrainians and Liberal (in the classical sense) Russians. I doubt, Putin will actually provoke a NATO country directly. Just my two cents. Also, I really enjoyed the article.
 
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Lars    Russia's position   8/27/2015 5:19:37 AM
Russia's geo-strategic situation is pretty hopeless. No natural defenses and limited access to global trade. The whole reason for controlling Ukraine is to have a buffer state against Nato encroachment. Crimea is needed as a base for access to the world's oceans.
 
If Russia invaded the Baltic states, she will be at war with Nato and an obvious first response will be to institute a blockade. Nato can pretty effectively cut Russia off from the rest of the world. Her only ports will be Murmansk and Vladivostok and both of these are pretty marginal.
 
Looking at the big picture, Russia has lost Ukraine as a buffer state and the attempt to recapture a small part of it has bogged down.
 
It's only prudent for Sweden to improve her defenses a bit but no need to make a big drama of it.
 
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vahitkanig       8/27/2015 7:14:30 AM
I dont  think that Russia will irritate Baltic Region with military tension , reversely Russia will seeks partnership by means  of natural resources research.
 
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trenchsol       8/27/2015 10:47:33 AM
There are many people in the world who would like to become Swedish citizens. Not only in Third world countries. Perhaps Sweden might offer the option for candidates to apply for citizenship after enlisting and completing tour(s) of duty. It is up to them to figure out how to implement the screening of the candidates.
 
 
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Lars       8/27/2015 11:09:49 AM


There are many people in the world who would like to become Swedish citizens. Not only in Third world countries. Perhaps Sweden might offer the option for candidates to apply for citizenship after enlisting and completing tour(s) of duty. It is up to them to figure out how to implement the screening of the candidates.

 
The article is about numbers. The key defense systems for Sweden, defending against a Russian invasion, are the air force and the submarine fleet, both intended to be used against the amphibious forces the Russians would have to use. I would think that the local defense planners are quite happy that the Russians did not get their Mistrals.
 
Anyway, the air force is built around the Gripen aircraft, about 80 of them, which is a pretty respectable force. The submarines will be upgraded and new subs are on order. No particular need to make up the numbers, I think. Just more money to keep the high-tech systems up to date.
 
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Nate Dog    If    8/30/2015 5:02:42 AM
Sweden can field 60 of its Gripens when a russian invasion comes, use its ground based AA systems to deny Russian air superiority, and use its fighters to sink invading russian forces, then yes, it could be an effective force. Even if aviation losses are horrendous, 50% in a week of warfare, so long as they knock out those naval assets capable of invasion, then they'll have done their job..
 
 
Big if that.
 
 
 
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Lars    Gripen employment   9/2/2015 9:13:21 AM
You are probably right. From what I understand how it is intended to work, this is the part of the reason for the road bases. The intention is to survive the initial phase where the Russians will seek aerial superiority and to have planes ready to attack the amphibious forces when they arrive. The intention is not to fritter away the forces on a daily grind of ground support missions.
 
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