krista@ihuxr.UUCP (k.j.anderson) (03/22/84)
<sacrifice>
Well, how would you like it if Mexico and Canada had dozens of
nuclear weapons pointed at each other? You might threaten to shoot
down any weapons which flew over your territory! Anyway, Sweden
isn't the only country which is p*ssed off about US/USSR
hostilities. Have you heard the English version of that German "Red
Balloon" song? It expresses the view of the Europeans who would
suffer the effects of US/USSR carelessness.
I would like to hear what our Swedish friends in netland have
to say about this subject.
With grandparents from Malmo,
ihuxr!krista (k.j.anderson)
mike@erix.UUCP (Mike Williams) (03/28/84)
I am British but have lived in Sweden for the last 14 years. As with all
countries Sweden has both advantages and disadvantages. One of the
advantages is that Sweden is a neutral country. Sweden maintains this
neutrality by military forces with one of the highest per capita military
expenditures in Europe. This means that Sweden will try to prevent all
military intrusion on Swedish soil, water and airspace by force.
Neutrality means that one must be neutral to *all* parties. Why else
does Sweden hunt Soviet submarines in Swedish waters? Sweden will shoot
down cruise missiles passing over from *both* sides. The only alternative
would be to let both sides blackmail Sweden by military force. If you don't
like the US selling weapons (such as radar stations) to Sweden remember
that that would make it much harder for Sweden to keep out the Soviets without
US weapons. And the USSR is just over the water from us.
Sweden is *not* a Soviet satelite. Sweden has democratic elections at
regular intervals - the socialists have *not* always been in power, they
regained power a few years ago in a perfectly democratic election.
(BTW elections here are done with proporional representation - a by far
fairer method than that used in the USA). If you want to keep the Soviet
influence in Sweden to a minimum stop bitching about Palme threatening
to shoot down cruise missiles and treat Sweden like the neutral country
she tries so hard to be.
Mike Williams
( mike@erix.UUCP or {decvax,philabs}!mcvax!enea!erix!mike )