This article is about Germany rapidly increasing defence spending, and also the fact that they’re considering conscription. I also found this interesting:

A recent YouGov poll showed that 79% of Germans still see Vladimir Putin as “very” or “quite” dangerous to European peace and security. Now 74% said the same for Donald Trump.

Thoughts?

  • 5714@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    3 days ago

    Just because you might call yourself militant doesnt mean that you need to querfront with all militants. Militancy is simply a tool.

    • Matombo@feddit.org
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      3 days ago

      How does a strong military prevent a war? It didn’t work WW1 or 2.

      • 5714@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        3 days ago

        I see your attempt of derailing, but I’ll play the game.

        How does appeasement prevent a war? It didn’t work for the First or Second World War.

          • 5714@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            3 days ago

            You are just naive in thinking that querfronts can prevent a war.

            I never said that I think weapons prevent wars.

            Wars with erratic actors like Putin cannot be prevented, because certainty of peace is built on trust, but Putin cannot be trusted.

              • 5714@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                3 days ago

                The country I live in tries to be prepared for war and so do many countries in Europe.

                I and my in-group have a lot to lose when countries like Russia, USA or China expand their influence onto Europe, by indirect, hybrid or direct intervention.

                European society is already split enough, it doesn’t need further authority (from outside).

                  • 5714@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                    2 days ago

                    MAD only works if all sides have nuclear anxiety and the existence of nuclear weapons doesn’t rule ballistic weapons out of existence, especially for countries without nuclear weapons (see Ukraine). I’m not advocating for nuclear proliferation here.

                    The equilibrium of MAD (as in “The only way to win is not to play”) might be relevant for countries with nuclear weapons (i.e. Russia, USA, China), but telling the Ukraine defense that “The only way to win is not to play” is insulting and privileged.

                    Germany does not intend to test how far Russia is going with ballistic weapons and cannot rely solely on the power of MAD’s equilibrium from France, NATO or USA.

                • Matombo@feddit.org
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                  2 days ago

                  I don’t have a solution, but unlike the militarist I don’t pretend to have one.

      • Ooops@feddit.org
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        3 days ago

        What does prevent your stuff from getting stolen all the time? Your ability to lock your door and a state-operated police and judical system that oversees the adherence to laws or the sign over your open door that everyone can come in an take your stuff unpunished?

        What does prevent an agressive neighbour with no regards to laws from invading you? The ability to defend yourself making an attempt too costly or your active work on being as helpless as possible and appeasing the aggressor?

        • Matombo@feddit.org
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          3 days ago

          Yes a state judical system, but not you holding your neightbor at gunpoint, but that is basically what militarism is advocationg for on an international level.

          If you will you contradicted your 2nd part of your post with the first one.

          • Ooops@feddit.org
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            2 days ago

            No, there isn’t a contradiction in the argument. There is one in reality: There is no independent authority (police force/judical system) making countries accountable for breaking the law. We tried to build up something comparable on the judical side of things but those still lack the ability to enforce their rulings.

            So it boils down to “fortifying your door” and being able to defend it against the few people really determined to tear it down.

              • Ooops@feddit.org
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                2 days ago

                Now you are pretending to be dumb, aren’t you?

                Being able to properly defend yourself so an aggressor will not risk attacking in the first place will prevent a war.

                Showing how helpless you are and asking an aggressor nicely to respect that and not invade you will not.

                It actually is that easy.

                • Matombo@feddit.org
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                  2 days ago

                  just following your metapher, someone trying to break in is already ww3

                  And hoping that it doesn’t happen just because you have some more tanks is just an unproven naive hope.

                  • Ooops@feddit.org
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                    1 day ago

                    And thinking that “look I’m helpless, please don’t kill me and take my stuff, because I was nice and made it easier for you” is something else than naive hope?