We are being primed

[Mambo19866]

Story after story now of conscription being needed. I was thoroughly convinced that this is just scaremongering but the number of senior figures coming out again today warning us to prepare it really feels like they are getting us used to the idea. Also in the papers today the US is moving some of its nuclear stockpile to the UK. Getting bit nervous now I have to admit.

Does anyone know the actual likelihood of Russia trying to take over a NATO country like Poland?

Because surely war is a very real and big possibility if there's even a fair chance that Russia will do that? Since we would then be forced into getting involved under Article 5?

It's exactly this kind of nonsense that gives power to Putin and his ilk.

It was once said "If you want peace, prepare for war".

All the righteous, flag waving youth you are referring to would be cut to pieces by cluster munitions on the street corners they were marching to not protect.

War is brutal, and it doesn't stop because you think it's just not nice.

So you genuinely believe Putin would pull out of Ukraine if a bunch of teenagers held a protest march in Kiev?

Jesus, Zelensk should have thought of that.

Take over a whole country by invasion?

Unlikely as things stand.

But force a land corridor to Kaliningrad?

Salami (we really need Yes Prime Minister rebroadcast, prime time every election year)

And one reason why these topics have come up now is because Putin has just visited Kaliningrad.

Are you coming back op? Thought not. Not that worried after all, just after making other people worried.

Remind me again when there are elections in the UK and US?

Um, haven't you noticed what has been happening in the Ukraine?

Totally agree. The naivety on this thread is astonishing.

Yes obviously.

But I have also noticed the UK is far, far away from Russia. Putin would have to conquer the whole of Europe to get here. Why would he bother? Does he have the military personnel to do that? His only other option would be to nuke us, I suppose. But again, why bother? We are small fry.

Oof. I really want to say something at this point, but I don't want to get banned. I echo @bringsomewood. Bear in mind the fact that there are US and UK elections incoming.

Oh do go away. Do you have any idea how much protesting the "generation who have done nothing but take at your expense" did, how much they rebelled against their elders. The younger generations seem far too self-absorbed and entitled to rebel against anything. They go on a few climate change marches and seem to think they are the saviours of the world, then go back to their consumerist ways.

The generation I presume you are referring to did not grow up with everything handed to them on a plate, or their parents fighting all their battles for them. They are not (mostly) the ones who have numerous self-diagnosed anxiety and neurosis over everything - to the point where they can't even open their door to someone who hasn't given six months prior notice.

For what it's worth, I wouldn't expect anyone to fight for "me", I would expect them to fight for their country and their way of life, and if there was anything practical I could do to assist I would be doing it!

Funny how those in the older generations don't feel the need to blame their parents for how they were raised, but it's a good get out clause for younger people. I could make up my own mind by the time I was a teen, I didn't need my parents babying me, and most people of my generation didn't bring their children up to need constant reassurance and hand-holding.

I agree with you @bringsomewood. Where I live we aren't preparing for war, but are advised to prepare in case of natural disaster, and many of us do so, even though it may never happen.

People in the UK seem to live in some cosy little bubble of their own, where nothing will ever go wrong - but if it does go wrong it is solely the responsibility of the government to sort it out.

I think realistically people need to remember we have had it “good” for a long time. Despite cost of living etc we’ve had a long period of relative peace and stability. We‘ve become lazy and used to having everything on demand, relying on the internet and electronics.
In this context it makes sense to stop and think okay how would I cope if all that was taken away?
in a similar vein it’s smart for those higher up in the armed forces to think okay if this situation escalates how do we deal with it? Do we have the forces to deal with it? How would we fix this?
and it’s smart for the Daily Mail to think okay so how do we sell more papers and get more views - sensationalise this story and scare the shit out of people so they keep wanting more information and updates about it.
and then you have the upcoming elections.
it’s the perfect storm of circumstances to generate panic and fear.

but it IS smart to think about how we would cope if things got harder or took a turn rather than just shutting it down and saying “would never happen”

Young people aren’t blaming their parents

I am blaming those parents who seem to have brought up a load of children that in your words need constant reassurance and hand-holding

I don’t know any young adults like that, loads of other posters on here seem to know masses so god knows who they are hanging round with

Yes, this is how I feel too. Different cultures I guess.

The vast bulk of your generation have done no protesting to speak of, other than filling up the Daily Mail comment section 😂

In comparison with younger people today as a group they had greater stability and prosperity - access to affordable housing, functioning public services and stable jobs, final salary pensions. They could have used their privilege to fight to maintain this for younger generations and bring in proper protections for climate change but instead, kept the tories in power and in the main were instrumental in achieving brexit.

There’s now massive intergenerational inequality as a result. which undermines the sense of social obligation that many feel. What are the young fighting for exactly? The tories have crushed almost everything that was good about the UK.

A grossly sweeping statement about young people and you damn well know it!

I think the prejudice against certain age groups is awful. The insults about young people and boomers are all offensive. Writing off whole generations is ridiculous. There are lots of lovely hard working young people, lots of boomers fought against racism, homophobia, sexism, how do people think we got equal pay legislation and maternity rights not to mention disability legislation? Boomers fought for all that, it didn't just happen.

The only people benefitting from this are the politicians who can wind you up and watch you go while they continue to mess us all up.

LlynTegid · Yesterday 15:27

@MrsSkylerWhite British soil was occupied by the Nazis in the Channel Islands between 1940 and 1945. Some of those people on the island were deported, especially non-UK nationals.”

I know, which is why I excepted the islands upthread.

Absolutely.

People who are bigoted about other generations are people who since having born in the time they were, have still nothing greater to be proud of.

Excellent post! 👏

They also might be checking out public opinion. And the only thing which will stop any unwise decisions will be public opinion, looking at (real) history.