Russia's unjustifiable war of aggression in Ukraine

[fed up]

Joining NATO would cost 2-3% of our GDP per year afaik. We do fine as a neutral country.

 

[Stacky]

Britain didn’t in WW2 but I bet they war-gamed it - I think Churchill was supposed to be bullish on taking back the ports… the fact we were friendly-neutral helped us

Considering the last successful invasion of the English was 1066 I’d say a serious hostile force staged here might be a worry to them based on how near the islands are

Aerial warfare (even looking at it on tv) is horrific but it’s definitely not the same as a panzer busting in your parliament wall

Dictators often don’t overly factor in international PR

Anyway that’s all conjecture - as I said on another post I’d have us in NATO immediately.. they are a huge part of why we have such free security

Defenseless at land, sea and air as even neutrality has to be defended.

No proper cyber security.

No proper radar and all the vulnerable important data cables off our coast.

Do nothing and sure we can throw turf at them............or properly invest as the money is there.

 

[ElderBerries]

Defenseless at land, sea and air as even neutrality has to be defended.

No proper cyber security.

No proper radar and all the vulnerable important data cables off our coast.

Do nothing and sure we can throw turf at them............or properly invest as the money is there.

Properly invest in what exactly Statty? Personnel and/or hardware ...what?

What do you think would be "properly invest"ing? And in your opinion exactly how much "money is there" to do it?

 

[fed up]

Defenseless at land, sea and air as even neutrality has to be defended.

No proper cyber security.

No proper radar and all the vulnerable important data cables off our coast.

Do nothing and sure we can throw turf at them............or properly invest as the money is there.

Money there so for a united Ireland?

 

[Stacky]

Properly invest in what exactly Statty? Personnel and/or hardware ...what?

What do you think would be "properly invest"ing? And in your opinion exactly how much "money is there" to do it?

Radar and modern equipment and much more into cyber security.

There have been plenty of reports done just provide the funding for a modern small army, navy and air force.

We have a huge coastal territorial area to be looked after for a start (Wind turbines, energy infrastructure, critical infrastructure like data cables, fisheries protection etc)

 

[ElderBerries]

Radar and modern equipment and much more into cyber security.

There have been plenty of reports done just provide the funding for a modern small army, navy and air force.

We have a huge coastal territorial area to be looked after for a start (Wind turbines, energy infrastructure, critical infrastructure like data cables, fisheries protection etc)

I agree we are woefully under-served in terms of naval infrastructure given the size of our coastline. But again we can't attract personnel to man ships even if we bought them. Our engineer and signals are quite good as it goes - many are head-hunted into private industry. Buddy of mine (I know, I know) ex-signals, went to private industry, and then set up his own company which he recently sold for multi-millions and is now retired living the life of riley - lucky so and so.
Most of the pilots use the training to secure jobs in private industry too.

Joining the Army/Navy/Airforce is not attractive and they are forces taken very much for granted imho. But technology has moved on so much now it's very far removed from the infantry man with a rifle. Multi multi billion dollar industries where a guy can use a drone to drop a bomb anywhere in the world from the comfort of his home/office/barracks/bunker etc means that no matter how much we invest, unless we get really really serious to the detriment of other public services, then we're always going to be seen as "poorly armed sheep herders" - but as was seen in places like Afghanistan and Vietnam, and indeed here when we took on the military elite, you write off people fighting for and on their native ground at your peril.

As any threat would come from abroad we should be beefing up our navy - it could also double in customs and rescue. But it should be made attractive both in terms of equipment and salaries. I dont think we are ever going to catch up in terms of an airforce so why waste money trying. Keep helicopter rescue up to speed, and squad deployment, but not large transports or attack helicopters or anything like it.

 

[BillyMorganRuinedMyLife]

Congratulations PRoCcers!

View attachment 35430

In fairness to you Catcha, you’ve been outstanding about keeping us informed .. even while being mindful of the Ukrainian cost it was such a lift to see Russia getting a lick of it’s own medicine lately

 

[Swanforthelough]

Do you think the UN should just disband and leave it all to NATO's generals Statty?

Maybe ask the Bosnians lying in graves in Srbrenicia what they think?

 

[outdagap]

Putin’s Russia isn’t civilised based on its suppression of its own people & multi stage invasion (since 2014?) of Ukraine … they’re working off an older playbook

They thought the Ukrainians would fold, the USA & Europe would look away, & it’d all be over in a month … thanks to the incredibly brave Ukrainians + help from USA/NATO they’ve been stalled - personally I’d have us in NATO in the morning

None of those other countries mentioned have the conditions that Russia have .. Superpower mentality combined with madman in control.. what I was raising was the subject of the Russian reasoning/mentality … there’s going to be a post-Putin Russia too that’s going to have to be lived with

That's true, they are an anachronism in a modern world and that's why they need to be faced down. If Russia was to succeed that obviously the Baltic States would be next, and of course China are watching closely on. I wouldn't be overly concerned with a post Putin Russia, as I'm sure he'll be replaced by some other butcher. Maybe they'll be a little bit more worldly wise.

 

[catcha]

situation today in Kursk Oblast according to Polish mil bloggers (thus written in Polish Kursk Oblast).
Yesterday UA claimed controlling 1000km2 in russia.