Pride parade- But... Are we proud?

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Threat perceptions have changed. And so presumably has the need for ground troops protecting Swedish territory. Nevertheless it surprised many fellows of the Academy of War Sciences to hear from a representative of our Defence Headquarters how very small the so-called National Reserve is. Besides some Special Forces there seems to be only one light mechanised company to be reckoned with.

There are of course other troops in training on a yearly basis, among them units of enlisted soldiers within the Swedish-led EU Battle Group, but so far one has not seen any organised reserve battalions, even though the country still disposes of selected conscript contingents.

One of the reasons for this state of affairs, the author believes, is the result of over-confidence in Network Centric Warfare. Politicians were too easily persuaded by some military prophets that better sensors, better situation awareness and better intelligence in combination with arms of precision would diminish the need for actual combat units on the ground.

The US showed the way. But Sweden might have found it better to modernise more slowly and in the context of smallpower security needs.

50 000 people participated in the Pride Parade. Fine! Except for one thing. That's more than all the Swedish armed forces put together ([EU]NBG, conscripts, reserves and National Security forces). I don't care what people do in their bedrooms. I have many fine gay friends. But will they defend our nation in future distress? Still, this is what the social democratic leader Mona Sahlin thinks is tha thang right now. Meanwhile a couple of thousand people in Darfur, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other places paid their lifes in the fight for their right of autonomous thinking. And ask yourself this question: What rights has the people of North Korea got?

What's the BIG issue here? Really? Perspective people- please!

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