To be worried about war?

[RudolphTheReindeer]

I'm not usually concerned but we have the French and now British Chief of Defence saying we need to be prepared for war with Russia. Which is very concerning?

https://news.sky.com/story/uks-sons-and-daughters-need-to-be-ready-to-fight-amid-growing-russian-threat-says-head-of-armed-forces-13483860

It probably doesn't help I saw some stupid meme on insta last night saying there's a pattern to our years and according to that we're a due a war in 2026

I'm fairly uninformed, but war now won't be like war of the last century. To be honest, with all the recent cyber incidents, I would say we are probably already in it. But there will be MNers much more informed than me.

Any " war" or attack will be about disruption of society and creating civil unrest. UK is a vulnerable point in Europe because of our reliance on imports and undersea cables and pipelines for energy and communications. Cyber attacks will target banking, energy supplies and social media and comms to spread disinformation. Very quickly,looting and rioting will start. To restore peace, the attackers will ask for their ransom demands to be paid. Very quickly,a scared and anarchic society will.put pressure on UK Govt to accede to demands and turn the lights back on.
All of this is real. Read the recently published Strategic Defence Review to get an accurate view of the threats we currently face.

Is worrying about it going to help in any way?

Of course high ranking military officers are going to say things like that to get people on board and in favour of increased spending on defence...because it's true defence spending has been falling due to years of peace and now political instability means we need to up it again.

Politicians, military figures & their creatures in the media want you terrified of Vladimir Putin so that you don’t notice that politicians in the west are basically organised criminals, asset stripping what’s left of the welfare state, & increasingly demolishing our civil liberties in order to stop us - the people - protesting against it.

The bad guys are inside the house.

They’ll have a war if they think they can make money out of it, & that the population, proudly wearing their poppies & waving their flags & painting stripes on roundabouts, are too gullible & distracted by brain rotting TV and military propaganda and Tommy Robinson to object.

Im not sure this is the experience of war that the Ukrainians have had.

I agree and I think actual boots on the ground is a clear threat at this point.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn81x8py3j5o

YANBU I feel worried too. I think Russia has us all where they want us. Donald Trumps clearly on their payroll and has turned his back on Europe. If Putin is going to attack, now would be the time.

Ukraine unilaterally gave up its nuclear weapons for a false promise. Not that the UK is much better off, because our nuclear weapons are tied to the US.

No point worrying, like decades past. If it happens we plebs won't get much notice anyway.

Ukraine borders Russia. Different landmass,different geography,different war.

I think a lot of the people clicking YABU are either in denial, incredibly naive or not very educated on politics and/or world affairs

Agree.

We all need to take basic steps to prepare but nobody will of course.

They are both concerning but I would say the British Chief of the Defence Staff is very concerning. The French probably think the French information is very concerning though. So my answer is both - sitting on the fence 😬

I partly agree with this, especially the point about already being at war. Russian cyberattacks, political interference and murderous Russian agents active in Britain- this is at least a Cold War and actually rather more than that.

I don’t spend a lot of time worrying because what’s the point but I don’t think it’s a crazy thing to be concerned about. To the point about modern warfare not requiring conscription, tell that to Ukraine.

Any suggestions besides non-perishables & medication

Preparing for war doesn’t mean there will be one. Want peace, prepare for war as the saying goes. Russia has been emboldened because we’ve not cared for defence and relied on the USA for it. They are now stepping away. It leaves us weaker than we should be.

Putin could attack in five years and how old will he be then and will his people want him to attack ?

What kind of preparation can I take please? I have never even thought to think to do any prep, so naive I am.

Basic power. Some form of solar power bank to keep basic electrics running.
camping stove and fuel.
torches and batteries - ideally also the type you can wind up or similar to power.
warm clothing

That will be him publicly trying to shame the government in upping the defence budget.
Quite right too.

You don't seriously think Putin himself will be on the front line do you?

Eurgh. We are so financially tight right now. I don’t know if I can make this happen, solar etc

Keep a months worth of bottled water and tinned food in the garage, keep a supply of basic medical supplies and painkillers plus any regular medications you take. Torches and candles, ensure you have warm bedding and clothing (feather/wool) if possible, and a battery operated radio.

You can go further than that, but the above is just a basic sensible list I think.

^This

No point worrying, foregone conclusion. We will lose the next one.

Nah you'll be fine op, I'll bet you a fiver it won't come to anything