Swedish military calls off hunt for suspected submarine

[KeepItReal]

Source: Reuters

The Swedish military said on Friday that it had called of its search for a suspected foreign submarine in waters off Stockholm after a week-long hunt, ending the country's biggest military mobilization since the Cold War.

More than 200 troops, stealth ships and helicopters have scoured waters off Stockholm since last Friday after reports of foreign "underwater activity" - suspected to be a Russian sub.

"This means the bulk of ships and amphibious forces have returned to port," the armed forces said in a statement, adding that some smaller forces would remain in the area.

The military had received what it described as credible reports of activity by foreign submarines or divers using an underwater vehicle. The vessels were unidentified, but during the 1980s the Swedish navy from time to time hunted suspected Soviet submarines in its waters

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/24/us-sweden-deployment-idUSKCN0ID0E720141024

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Sweden maybe should have held onto a couple of those anti-submarine helicopters it phased out in 2008.

I guess the money saved was a peace dividend and was put to good use.

Would have been nice to see them expose whoever was violating their waters, though.

[newthinking]

1. Propaganda value? +1, Military budget increased? +1, Media hype +1 - mission acomplished

We now live in an age where completely baseless propa-tainment can be used regularly on an ignorant population at will.

[djean111]

2. I agree with you on all counts.

I believe that NATO, the US, and Russia likely have submarines where they should not be, all over the world.
It does seem silly to keep looking for a submarine for a whole week or whatever.

[CJCRANE]

3. Western countries are overdoing the "problem-reaction-solution" formula.

It seems like we are being governed by kneejerk reactions to events, both real and contrived.

There is little rational debate or long-term planning.

Governments need to wake up to the fact that we the voters are adult enough and intelligent enough to make rational decisions based on the facts and are tired of being jerked around and assaulted by the constant stream of sensationalist propaganda.

It is counterproductive to have both representatives and citizens running around in a constant state of panic. We all need to calm down and think clearly about what is in the best interests of everyone not just the 1%er corporations.