They have four of them.
Posted on 08/29/2014 2:45:27 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Dozens of warships have arrived at Turku harbour today Friday for Nato’s annual Northern Coasts war exercise, organised since 2007 and which Finland is hosting this year for the second time. The appearance of the impressive military hardware raises mixed emotions in Turku residents.
Part of the populace welcomes the ships and their crews with open arms, but especially younger citizens say they are troubled by the grey battleships. Sign language student Salla Haapaporras said the ships make her feel threatened.
”It’s a pretty scary thought, they’re right there when they’re usually in another part of the world,” Haapaporras described her feelings. “The world of war feels so distant, but they’re right here in front of us.”
The student was sitting by the river with her friends, who say they were very surprised to see the ships in Aurajoki, their hometown river.
Antti Bang from Turku says he thinks the Nato exercise is a good thing.
”I feel very positively about it, because the situation we’re in now is nearly the same as in 1939,” he says. “We need to have some sort of buffer against all these airspace stunts and submarine threats. It’s an unfortunate fact that Putin is against Western countries like ours.”
Merja Suhonen is also among the supporters of the war games.
”I’m not anxious at all, it’s great! This is how it should be,” she says. “I’m all for Finland getting into Nato.”
Suhonen was accompanied by schoolchild Joni Kuusela, who said he likes the impressive warships. On the other hand, he said, it would be nice if war could be ended in the world for good.
About 10–15 countries join in the annual war exercise each year. This year 15 countries are involved, including Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the United States. Finland last hosted the war games in 2010. This year's exercises are based on hypothetical crisis control scenarios, with security risk situations like terrorist strikes and smuggling.
“Salla Haapaporras said the ships make her feel threatened.”
You’re an idiot, Salla.
They have four of them.
Just showing where her true loyalties lie — NOT with western civilization.
My opinion.
Does the Boogie man scare her too? How about the big Russian bear next door?
The Finns have been on the fence since the Cold War began. Part of it was Finland's alliance with the Nazis and war with the Soviets during WWII. Part of it is probably the hope that they can emerge unscathed while the West wards off Russia. Now that the Russians appear to be peeling off anyone not aligned with the West via a defense treaty, they are starting make noises about joining NATO. My guess is that they'll join minutes after Russia crosses the Finnish border.
Smart kid!!
I think Finland was banned by a peace treaty from joining NATO after fighting a war with the Soviets. They would dearly have liked to have joined NATO if they could have done.
As a sign language she should realize what this signifies, which is that this represents, that man is sinful by nature, and thus must face force when it will not conform to what is right.
But the liberal shuns thus reality, trying to put it out of mind, as in their fantasy kids never need to be spanked, wars never need to be fought, as man is basically good, and only do bad things because a George Bush said they were evil.
It’s only a matter of getting better acquainted, which has already been happening.
There was an unspoken agreement between Finland and Russia that said Finland stayed out of NATO, but could align towards the West.
But Russian nationalist view Finland as part of Great Russia. The Finns have fought the Russians before, and know it won’t be as easy this time.
Sadly for them, NATO isn’t going to help them. The members all depend on Russian gas to keep the lights on
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