Sweden returns a call to the army in connection with the threat from Russia

[wutard]

Nothing causes such damage as a betrayal. Your people always know our most vulnerable places and gladly turn them over to the enemy. It's terrible, but there is no protection from this.

There is a protection against betrayal and defection! Pay your soldiers good salary and promise them generous Google-like benefits (free gourmet food, health insurance, pension, free education etc), so they will be motivated to fight bravely and defend country. Soldiers must to understand that if own army loses, they will also lose all promised benefits.

You know what? World is large and wide and not everybody will fight and kill for green paper and extra week of vacation. Men are by nature quite tribal. And proud.

Since we are talking Sweden, I have my doubts, that state spending vast majority of its budget on welfare and transgender propaganda will offer that kind of paycheck to hot blooded men, who have tribal and religious links to potential enemies of state.

Afterall we did not manage to bribe Russia into cooperation and Turkey keeps rising the stakes, despite "benefits" they could have if they stayed in line. So you are not able to bribe your enemies, you formed society which scoffs at patriotism and now, you are dependant on mercenaries, who will only fight as far as paycheck is concerned. Exactly like late Roman Empire.

If you take into account that the army is contracted in most countries, then you need to understand that it is a soldier's job to fight. There is a contract that needs to be fulfilled. And what a difference for money or for insurance.

[giantdragon]

World is large and wide and not everybody will fight and kill for green paper and extra week of vacation.

In technologically-advanced professional army people don't need to risk their life like it was in WWII. But to fly an impact drone you need education and skill set, so this professional will expect relevant salary and benefits.

you are dependant on mercenaries, who will only fight as far as paycheck is concerned. Exactly like late Roman Empire.

Some ideology like communism may also provide motivation to fight. Many Soviet soldiers during WWII fought bravely and scarified their life believing in communism, although state paid them almost nothing and food ration was just enough to survive.

So, without ideology (no one Western country have state ideology now), only monetary reward can be used to motivate serving in the army.

[Kemarit]

I assume that Sweden wants to bring back military conscription because of the political and military changes around in borders and neighbors.
"The Russian illegal annexation of Crimea [in 2014], the conflict in Ukraine and the increased military activity in our neighbourhood are some of the reasons,". according to the Press Secretary to the Swedish Minister for Defence. I guess they are feel threaten by the ongoing military exercises of Russia around the Baltic. You can't blame them as they have the every right to defend their country, but I don't think they will likely go into conflict with the Russians because they know that they will not win any war them.

[RJX]

Conscription isn't half bad. A lot of youngsters have been born and raised in liberty and some of them seem to have difficulties respecting other raised in the same sphere.

And I guess if you feel threatened by a neighbouring nation, why not?

Russia and Sweden never shared land border in the past hundred years 

I think it is obvious that this is all ruse to somehow get out tens of thousands of immigrant Africans and Arabs out of their ghettos and force them to socialize and learn discipline. I doubt it will be very effective as modern armed forces are not very effective at stomping out extremism or tribal mentality. They will learn how to use guns properly, though.

haha touché 

I hope though, this is not meant to train the newly arrived immigrants. What with their loyalties being not primarily with the host country...

[RJX]

Conscription isn't half bad. A lot of youngsters have been born and raised in liberty and some of them seem to have difficulties respecting other raised in the same sphere.

Why some organization (government) can force other people to do free work? Conscription is a form of slavery!
It may be morally acceptable if govt required people to serve in army to get welfare or so called "basic income", but never for free!

Who says the conscripts don't get paid? As far as I know you do get a salary as an enlisted person. It's minimum wage probably but nonetheless.

[Casanova18]

Nothing causes such damage as a betrayal. Your people always know our most vulnerable places and gladly turn them over to the enemy. It's terrible, but there is no protection from this.

There is a protection against betrayal and defection! Pay your soldiers good salary and promise them generous Google-like benefits (free gourmet food, health insurance, pension, free education etc), so they will be motivated to fight bravely and defend country. Soldiers must to understand that if own army loses, they will also lose all promised benefits.

You know what? World is large and wide and not everybody will fight and kill for green paper and extra week of vacation. Men are by nature quite tribal. And proud.

Since we are talking Sweden, I have my doubts, that state spending vast majority of its budget on welfare and transgender propaganda will offer that kind of paycheck to hot blooded men, who have tribal and religious links to potential enemies of state.

Afterall we did not manage to bribe Russia into cooperation and Turkey keeps rising the stakes, despite "benefits" they could have if they stayed in line. So you are not able to bribe your enemies, you formed society which scoffs at patriotism and now, you are dependant on mercenaries, who will only fight as far as paycheck is concerned. Exactly like late Roman Empire.

If you take into account that the army is contracted in most countries, then you need to understand that it is a soldier's job to fight. There is a contract that needs to be fulfilled. And what a difference for money or for insurance.

I agree, but the army is unable to fight against a large aggressor. Without reserve she will not survive the onslaught. To keep a large army is more difficult to maintain than in the form of reservists.

[Sithara007]

haha touché 

I hope though, this is not meant to train the newly arrived immigrants. What with their loyalties being not primarily with the host country...

The generous welfare system in Sweden has attracted huge numbers of third world immigrants, especially those from Muslim nations such as Afghanistan, Somalia, and Pakistan. These people doesn't feel any attachment with Sweden. If a war happens, then they will just immigrate to some other country.

[giantdragon]

Who says the conscripts don't get paid? As far as I know you do get a salary as an enlisted person. It's minimum wage probably but nonetheless.

If a programmer will be called into the army and offered hobo's pittance instead of highly-skilled and well-paid job, the Swedish society will lose good talent and chunk of economy.

[RJX]

Who says the conscripts don't get paid? As far as I know you do get a salary as an enlisted person. It's minimum wage probably but nonetheless.

If a programmer will be called into the army and offered hobo's pittance instead of highly-skilled and well-paid job, the Swedish society will lose good talent and chunk of economy.

Most likely so. But that's another point. Conscripts, as far as I know, get paid a salary. Whether it's a pittance depends on the eye of the beholder.

Besides that; conscription can happen to anyone, more or less, and it's temporary so I doubt an economy will suffer from highly skilled people being drafted into the army.

[Mometaskers]

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Freakin parasites only out to save their skins. Yeah, impossible to get rid of these. Hopefully these people who are likely to switch sides can be spotted during the training program and tagged as such. Better not give them any important tasks. Sure some will escape that net (good actors) but hopefully that should reduce the damage that they'd cause.

Nothing causes such damage as a betrayal. Your people always know our most vulnerable places and gladly turn them over to the enemy. It's terrible, but there is no protection from this.

There are still some ways to reduce the chances of these happening. Some people might cringe but instilling love for the country into people from a very young age helps. Military training in young adulthood to instill discipline. And make it clear to them what's at stake should the country fall. The Japanese knew the fate of losers, that's why they hurl themselves down cliffs rather than be taken captive. Only the nukes broke their spirit, they would have kept fighting.

[giantdragon]

Conscripts, as far as I know, get paid a salary. Whether it's a pittance depends on the eye of the beholder.

It depends from the average standard of living in the concrete country. I think there would be 100s millions of voluntary conscripts in India if offered $1000/month, but for Sweden it is just a pittance!

Besides that; conscription can happen to anyone, more or less, and it's temporary so I doubt an economy will suffer from highly skilled people being drafted into the army.

A programmer can quickly lose his skills if not working in the profession just for a year.

Some people might cringe but instilling love for the country into people from a very young age helps.

Why to stop here?! I think you will also support chemical treatment of conscripts' brain to make them even more loyal to the govt!

[Sithara007]

Conscripts, as far as I know, get paid a salary. Whether it's a pittance depends on the eye of the beholder.

It depends from the average standard of living in the concrete country. I think there would be 100s millions of voluntary conscripts in India if offered $1000/month, but for Sweden it is just a pittance!

Then why can't you import mercenaries from Somalia and Afghanistan to Sweden? IMO, it will save a lot of money for the government. But no one will be able to guarantee their loyalty.

[giantdragon]

Then why can't you import mercenaries from Somalia and Afghanistan to Sweden? IMO, it will save a lot of money for the government. But no one will be able to guarantee their loyalty.

Bad example. These people obviously don't accept Western values!