To think that preparing for war with Russia is total madness?

[Newbutoldfather]

General Patrick Sanders, our top general, warns troops ‘must be prepared to fight Russia in the battlefield’.

There is increasing acceptance of the idea that we could somehow fight a limited war with Russia. I just don’t believe this.

Leaving aside that our military consists of a toy battleship and an old man with a wooden gun (only slight hyperbole), have people wished nukes away?

I am very curious as to what this war would look like. Are they envisaging that there would be a limited battlefield and a list of allowed weapons and that the loser would shake hands and walk away?

I think we are perilously close to the total annihilation of Homo sapiens (which would happen in a nuclear war). We, meaning the west and, especially, the increasingly jingoistic UK, need to dial back the rhetoric and look for a way to find peace, even if we have to compromise on our principles.

Interested in what people think and whether people do think that AIBU.

Removing the UK from EU definitely lowered the UKs soft power internationally as a key negotiator within the EU, the biggest economic block in the world.

Yes, and bear in mind one of the foundational objectives of the European Union is to present a united front against Russian expansion. God knows why the UK has resolutely chosen to forget this.

As I recall, one of Putin's chiefs actually said that Brexit would be very helpful to Russia. They promote anti-EU activism in the other member countries too, of course.

I was raised in Russia. We also have great education, strong-willed people, nourishing food, rich culture.

'Bad roads, drunkenness, misery' - a bit rich coming from a Brit.

Corruption? You have child molester for a prince. For starters.

It’s likely to be Poland or similar as part of a NATO operation.

I am staggered you have the sheer audacity to come on here in the first place and defend Russia. The monsters massacred tens of thousands of perfectly innocent Ukrainians for no reason whatsoever.

There is literally NOTHING you can say to defend that barbaric behaviour.

Not to mention the thousands of Russians Putin sent to die. I can’t tell you how disgusted I feel that it is still continuing. Why don’t you grow a backbone and stand up to the monster sociopath that currently runs your country like a cartel?

Not preparing for war doesn’t mean you don’t have one waged against you. It just means you get squished when one turns up on your doorstep.

She isn't defending the politics of the country. She just reacted to the "everything in there is shit and we are just so much better like, aren't we" attitude towards the country. Not politicians really.
Cabbage soups are delicious.

Lol russia are staring into the abyss, they are in futue going to be at the mercy of China and will be their "yes boy".
I don't think people realise how screwed Russia future now looks and post Putin will be power stuggles that will likely lead to many parts of Russia breaking off.

They aren't coming after Europe or Nato they don't have the arms or man power and know they will be squashed.

I think she can speak for herself, thanks

@grilled,

’Grow a backbone’.

Again, this shows a total misunderstanding of what nukes are, and the existential risk they pose.

You can’t ‘stand up’ to nukes other than with nukes of your own and the doctrine of MAD. We have nukes already, although personally I would bet on Putin’s being in better condition than ours.

The most dangerous thing we can do (and when I say we, I don’t mean the UK, we only have a cameo role here) is to provoke an aging psychopath into thinking that his only option left is destroying the World.

Only the UK, as far as I know, has been openly talking about winning a war with Putin. The US and NATO have quietly affirmed that we too have nukes and, if Russia decides to fire ours, it will assuredly be the end for everyone. Of course, I am sure they are using stronger language to Putin and his generals via back channels in private, as they should.

A weak Russia is not necessarily a good thing, for many reasons.

The inner stability of Russia protects us all from terrorism and nuclear threats. Also, a weak. Russia means a stronger China and Iran. We don’t want that either.

It’s a balancing game, and we seem to be losing at it, as the Middle East conflict shows.

As to what happens to Ukraine, I am quite impressed by the U.S stance. Don’t let Russia invade but don’t let Zelensky have a clear victory either.

The end game is Russia wasting its men and treasure and finally agreeing to a peace where they retain some land (Crimea and the Donbas) in return for security guarantees from NATO for the rest of Ukraine.

Putin can have a victory parade and we can laud the heroic (and ‘surprisingly’ wealthy) Zelensky.

That is how then ‘Great Game’ should be played.

Of course, there are other alternatives. We give Zelensky longer range missiles and he goes after Russia’s supply lines deep in Russia. In return, Putin fires on NATO supply lines in Poland and it escalates from there. No real room for Tommy in his hazmat suit (which will do nothing to stop gamma radiation) here.

You seem very stressed and anxious. Maybe it’s time to see a GP.

Russia have overplayed their hand and have shown to have a decrepit and weak army with equipment thirty years out of date. I wouldn’t bet their nukes are in any better order. Either way a psychopath or not he is unlikely to do anything beyond more postering.

Let’s hope he keels over quietly and the adults can take over and bring this war to an end. It’s been an abject failure for Russia.

It’s pre election political bollocks Imho. At least Schapp’s statement. If the govt really believed it then why are they cutting troop numbers so much? Going to cut from 82,000 to 73,000 ……doesn’t sound sensible if he really believed we’ll be at war with Russia in five years.

@Newchapterbeckons ,

I am not anxious, I grew up during the Cold War. I remember the government information film about what to do should the siren sound (get under your table, seal the house and don’t come out for a few days (LOL)).

I also grew up reading On The Beach and seeing Where The Wind Blows. My mother told me about the end-of-the-world party during the Cuban missile crisis where they made the most of what they thought might be their last day on earth (apparently it was some party!).

We understand what nukes are, both intellectually and viscerally.

I do feel that some of the younger generation feel we might fight a limited nuclear war with Russia and win it, and that is certainly how some of our politicians sound.

We, meaning the west and, especially, the increasingly jingoistic UK, need to dial back the rhetoric and look for a way to find peace, even if we have to compromise on our principles.

Absolutely not. I came to the West, attracted by western principles. I would sooner die than go back to being under the heel of my old country or any other like it.

This generation needs to learn that some principles, like that of freedom and tolerance, need to be fought for and protected.

You’re suggesting we use nukes like a game of poker, the one who bluffs the best will win. And that the West just rolls over to show it’s belly to prevent any fight at all.

You’ve never lived in a country where your freedom is taken away, really actually taken away.

Trust me. Death would be better.

It’s madness not to consider what’s going on across the world

It’s clear volatility is increasing

Wars will seldom be fought on the ground going forward that us is why. Far better to invest in the advanced tech.

The threat never totally went and readiness to deter Russia should never have been stopped.

Look at your posts. Nothing new as changed with Russia since you sat under your table. They are less powerful if anything - and considerably depleted. This war has been a disaster for them on so many levels. It will take decades and billions and billions to restore their defences.

We should be calm and pragmatic Russia will hardly attack a country with nukes as they will be wiped off the earth in seconds. So no, I don’t think it will happen at all.

We should however learn from this - and by extension all countries with autocratic /dictatorships countries never to truly trust them again.

The UK will get mullered.

Should have made friends with Russia decades ago.

You really don't understand how someone desperately cornered with no way out might react.

When someone has nothing to lose, that's when it's really bum squeak time.

Our freedom is hard won and must be defended. Russia wants to disrupt the West's way of life. We should not make it easy for them.

I support the UK, US (hopefully) and our allies in this. I don't think a lot of people understand what is at stake. We have sheltered from what's happening.

@Newchapterbeckons ,

Look at your posts!

You assume Putin is, and will remain, a rational actor.

You also assume, and our government had done a great job in brainwashing you here, that Putin is being deterred by the might of the all-powerful British military, and not the U.S and China (who are surely keeping him in check in return for continuing to buy his cut price energy and keep his economy afloat).

This vision of the UK as a superpower in no way serves us well.