Thread: Economic Sanctions against Russia and Russia’s Retaliatory Trade Measures

Sorry if I am boring anyone with this. I can only talk about what I know, and I am not the Russia expert here, the Russians are....

Personally I am interested in the view that people have of my country abroad, and I would have thought that that goes for people of other nationalities too.

Yeah that video (heard of it) would be funny if this wasn't taken completely seriously.
How can anyone believe this kind of talk, when it's so completely ludicrous.
I feel like I'm in North Korea or something, with the level of propaganda going on.

There is a kind of a national debating forum for Sweden and they had to create a separate section just for crazy stuff about Russia. People are totally obsessed with this and have lost all sense of perspective.
https://www.flashback.org/f484
It just goes to show what a well orchestrated media campaign can achieve.

I think there is plenty legitimate criticism against Russia that could be discussed - it's not a perfect country, but I think the odds of Russia invading Sweden is about as likely as Martians landing on my balcony tomorrow.

A few days ago it was discovered that somebody put up a fake mobile phone transmitter in the parliament quarters of town, so that all politicians telephones could be tapped. Immediately everybody is convinced it's Russia doing this. Despite the fact that the country that the USA is the country with a proven recent history of doing this... Not saying that Russia couldn't have done it, but it could be any other country, a newspaper looking for scoops or whatever. Why point a finger until there is proof?

It's actually scary to live in a situation where there is no respect for logic and truth as propaganda is dished out and people around you just lap it up. Normally the agitation or whatever you want to call it, is about "politically correct" causes, like anti-racism, homosexual rights, femininsm or whatever. In my childhood it was anti-imperialism. Annoying, but at least they mean well; they believe these are positive causes to make people believe in.

But now there is agitation about an actual enemy, a whole nation that is just pointed out as the evil empire from which nothing good can come. Despite there being no realistic proof or threat! It's gone too far! This is the tactics of aggressive dictatorships!! It's hard to accept that it's going on under my nose.
I am getting Nazi Germany vibes from this level of hysteria against another country.

I think the paranoia is worse regarding this, even than in Poland... Maybe not the Baltic States, but at least they have some kind of legitimate reason and history for being Russophobes. We don't. And when it comes to Poles I think they know Russia a bit better than most Swedes do, who are quite prone to believe any proposterous lie about Russia, just because they have no direct experience themselves.

Originally Posted by Hanna

Yeah that video (heard of it) would be funny if this wasn't taken completely seriously.

It's ok. It's a new game of the world: to be afraid of Russia. Who is afraid more will get some "made in USA cookies"™
I personally see nothing wrong if Swedes would want to brush up their military defense capabilities.