Finland is experiencing economic downturn, helped by the cutoff of Russia which was a substantial part of their economic activity.
They joined NATO and now have a very long border to protect and real changes of a conflict to which they are not prepared. Nor is NATO.
Europe says it is preparing f a conflict w Russia in 3-5 years. They assume they will have produced enough weaponary ( which they are currently losing in Ukraine) by then while at the same time assuming Russia will simply stand still.
You don't announce your intentions way ahead and expect the opponent not to react!!
As usual the one that will suffer from the Finnish government decision will be the people, no one even asked their opinion. While the so called elites and stubbystupid hide in his bunker people's life will become a hell
The 'EU cool kids' plus the UK cool kids and many of the tech bros in the US are nihilists. Hence their support for the actions of Israel. We are governed, or perhaps controlled is a better description by evil people. At this stage war , and nuclear war, seems inevitable.
Sweden is at the same track. In old Soviet military doctrines it says that as long as Sweden isn't relevant they won't be a target, and by closing Kaliningrad with an US base on Gotland we are supposed to sleep safe.
That is an strategic military aggression threatening Russian nuclear deterrence that I find it difficult to believe Sweden isn't already in war.
That however goes agains western current doctrine that claims, only west can decide when wars start or not, and reaches Trump level stupidity that ended and started Iran war, is it, 34 times.
Well, in the early 1980s western Europe had mass protests against the installation of US cruise missiles. The majority of people felt that would make them a target in case of a war . And politicians felt it. It was part of an overall discussion.
Compared to then the politicians now seem to rush legislation through parliament without really considering the consent by the population.
They say they will 'consult' w the people, meaning they will tell them what WILL happen.
And the media goes along. It used to be the prerogative of fascist/ communist states.
The same people who warn about 'far-right' influences.
The Finns might have been misled by the 1939-1940 Winter War history. But I guess I should doubt first whether Kaja Kallas read history or not. In 1939, Russia invaded unfamiliar territory without proper preparation. The Finns defended well, but still they lost the battle. If the Finns want to attack Russian territory now, the result is unlikely to be good, even if only missiles fly into Russia from Finland.
Great article, your comment “2022 full scale invasion” clearly indicates a lack of understanding of what any full scale invasion means. Restraint often seen as weakness is a huge misunderstanding of Russias power and commitment if provoked to that degree. The past history should not be the only indicator for future relations. Finland was a great success through its wisdom and now that wisdom has been replaced by dangerous for all of us narratives that serve NATO. Here in cyprus we lacked that wisdom, and the great powers of the west took advantage and now we have 1/2.
Filnland's neoliberal - far right coalition government are, predictably, traitors harming Finland to lick Pete Hegseth's boots.
Stubb resembles a reincarnation of Gustav Hilger, the Nazi diplomat who facilitated the Molotov Ribbentrop treaty, here seen introducing Molotov to Hitler in November 1940. Hilger was retained post war by NATO West Germany as an adviser on the Soviet Union.
It seems the "Democratic, not Autocratic" West, is now very much the "Autocratic, not Democratic" West after all, to no-one's surprise except those hypnotised by the 'Kewl Kids' mass media.
The Finns will be in for a very nasty shock if they try to vote to reverse this, first they will discover that any opposition candidate will have NATO spend millions to undermine them, as they did Corbyn [See "Integrity Initiative: https://monthlyreview.org/articles/anatomy-of-a-propaganda-campaign-jeremy-corbyns-political-assassination/], if THAT doesn't work then they will simply be banned as "Russian stooges" - being NATO, US, EU, Israel stooges is of course perfectly A-OK.
Pure madness. I have been to Finland. Nice people. Their leaders are deranged.
Nuclear weapons (esp missiles) in Finland and Baltic states are an existential threat to Russia for one reason, attacks without very short warning time window. This is the real aim of NATO. By putting nuclear armed missiles at Moscow’s door step, they hope to cower Russia into submission. Once Russia is co-opted, China will fall in line.
If Putin is replaced by a hardliner — a not unlikely possibility — a preemptive strike on these neighboring states is likely. Nobody wants to have nuclear-armed missiles pointing at him with only 5 minute warning window.
Putin has done great damage to Russia’s security. He is a bureaucrat. If I were in his shoes, I would launch preemptive nuclear strike on Kiev, Berlin, Warsaw, Tallinn, Vilnius and possible London. Not tactical nukes. Strategic nukes. That should settle the question once for all. The US will do nothing. Zilch.
As Machiavelli said in Prince, fortune favors the bold.
Putin is a “nice guy.” He seems to be wanted to be respected and liked by the western leaders. He cannot understand that the western elites view Russians as subhumans and have done so for over a century. Not just the Nazis. People in Eastern Europe and in Baltic states also hate and despite the Russians. You can’t win over your haters. The Baltic states are the chihuahuas. The Lithuanians are probably dreaming of their glorious past when they ruled over the Russians. The Germans never learn, after what the Russians did to their country and their women at the end of WWII. (I was appalled by the atrocity. But again, the Germans never learn.) just nuke them. The world will be a better, more peaceful place.
Repealing the ban does seem to put Finland more at risk than increase its security. I am not sure that the rationale for the repeal is personal as described. I would guess different types of pressures and incentives were applied.
Finland is experiencing economic downturn, helped by the cutoff of Russia which was a substantial part of their economic activity.
They joined NATO and now have a very long border to protect and real changes of a conflict to which they are not prepared. Nor is NATO.
Europe says it is preparing f a conflict w Russia in 3-5 years. They assume they will have produced enough weaponary ( which they are currently losing in Ukraine) by then while at the same time assuming Russia will simply stand still.
You don't announce your intentions way ahead and expect the opponent not to react!!
As usual the one that will suffer from the Finnish government decision will be the people, no one even asked their opinion. While the so called elites and stubbystupid hide in his bunker people's life will become a hell
As a Finn I am grateful for this analysis and I do agree with all you said in this splendid text of yours.
The 'EU cool kids' plus the UK cool kids and many of the tech bros in the US are nihilists. Hence their support for the actions of Israel. We are governed, or perhaps controlled is a better description by evil people. At this stage war , and nuclear war, seems inevitable.
Sweden is at the same track. In old Soviet military doctrines it says that as long as Sweden isn't relevant they won't be a target, and by closing Kaliningrad with an US base on Gotland we are supposed to sleep safe.
That is an strategic military aggression threatening Russian nuclear deterrence that I find it difficult to believe Sweden isn't already in war.
That however goes agains western current doctrine that claims, only west can decide when wars start or not, and reaches Trump level stupidity that ended and started Iran war, is it, 34 times.
Well, in the early 1980s western Europe had mass protests against the installation of US cruise missiles. The majority of people felt that would make them a target in case of a war . And politicians felt it. It was part of an overall discussion.
Compared to then the politicians now seem to rush legislation through parliament without really considering the consent by the population.
They say they will 'consult' w the people, meaning they will tell them what WILL happen.
And the media goes along. It used to be the prerogative of fascist/ communist states.
The same people who warn about 'far-right' influences.
Pathetic..
The Finns might have been misled by the 1939-1940 Winter War history. But I guess I should doubt first whether Kaja Kallas read history or not. In 1939, Russia invaded unfamiliar territory without proper preparation. The Finns defended well, but still they lost the battle. If the Finns want to attack Russian territory now, the result is unlikely to be good, even if only missiles fly into Russia from Finland.
Great article, your comment “2022 full scale invasion” clearly indicates a lack of understanding of what any full scale invasion means. Restraint often seen as weakness is a huge misunderstanding of Russias power and commitment if provoked to that degree. The past history should not be the only indicator for future relations. Finland was a great success through its wisdom and now that wisdom has been replaced by dangerous for all of us narratives that serve NATO. Here in cyprus we lacked that wisdom, and the great powers of the west took advantage and now we have 1/2.
Filnland's neoliberal - far right coalition government are, predictably, traitors harming Finland to lick Pete Hegseth's boots.
Stubb resembles a reincarnation of Gustav Hilger, the Nazi diplomat who facilitated the Molotov Ribbentrop treaty, here seen introducing Molotov to Hitler in November 1940. Hilger was retained post war by NATO West Germany as an adviser on the Soviet Union.
"Following Russia’s full scale invasion "
SERIOUSLY?!?
Not even in ironic quote marks either!
Well, the rest of the write-up is pretty decent.
It seems the "Democratic, not Autocratic" West, is now very much the "Autocratic, not Democratic" West after all, to no-one's surprise except those hypnotised by the 'Kewl Kids' mass media.
The Finns will be in for a very nasty shock if they try to vote to reverse this, first they will discover that any opposition candidate will have NATO spend millions to undermine them, as they did Corbyn [See "Integrity Initiative: https://monthlyreview.org/articles/anatomy-of-a-propaganda-campaign-jeremy-corbyns-political-assassination/], if THAT doesn't work then they will simply be banned as "Russian stooges" - being NATO, US, EU, Israel stooges is of course perfectly A-OK.
…hahahahahahaha nice try
Defeat is better than non-action.
Overthrow them all.
We're free people.
Politics don't mean a thing, but division and despotism.
What matters is your bravery, strength, will, and freedom.
Is the American spirit in you?
Revolution is the solution.
Pure madness. I have been to Finland. Nice people. Their leaders are deranged.
Nuclear weapons (esp missiles) in Finland and Baltic states are an existential threat to Russia for one reason, attacks without very short warning time window. This is the real aim of NATO. By putting nuclear armed missiles at Moscow’s door step, they hope to cower Russia into submission. Once Russia is co-opted, China will fall in line.
If Putin is replaced by a hardliner — a not unlikely possibility — a preemptive strike on these neighboring states is likely. Nobody wants to have nuclear-armed missiles pointing at him with only 5 minute warning window.
Putin has done great damage to Russia’s security. He is a bureaucrat. If I were in his shoes, I would launch preemptive nuclear strike on Kiev, Berlin, Warsaw, Tallinn, Vilnius and possible London. Not tactical nukes. Strategic nukes. That should settle the question once for all. The US will do nothing. Zilch.
As Machiavelli said in Prince, fortune favors the bold.
Putin is a “nice guy.” He seems to be wanted to be respected and liked by the western leaders. He cannot understand that the western elites view Russians as subhumans and have done so for over a century. Not just the Nazis. People in Eastern Europe and in Baltic states also hate and despite the Russians. You can’t win over your haters. The Baltic states are the chihuahuas. The Lithuanians are probably dreaming of their glorious past when they ruled over the Russians. The Germans never learn, after what the Russians did to their country and their women at the end of WWII. (I was appalled by the atrocity. But again, the Germans never learn.) just nuke them. The world will be a better, more peaceful place.
Repealing the ban does seem to put Finland more at risk than increase its security. I am not sure that the rationale for the repeal is personal as described. I would guess different types of pressures and incentives were applied.
Saddle River rich kid, "conservative" magatard pukes kremlin-spooge because daddy ran through too many goomahs.
Seems like the Duran, in blaming this on an EU cool club, are also puppets of US based interests and their proxy war against Russia.