Posted on 07/01/2010 6:55:47 PM PDT by mylife
STOCKHOLM - A 100-year tradition of military conscription, also known as the draft, was abolished today according to the Associated Press.
Sweden, population approximately 9 million with well over 1.5 million in greater Stockholm, has adopted a new policy which means that 'required military service' will only be enacted if the country feels threatened. In peacetime, a voluntary system will be in place with more stringent requirements that must be met in order to join the military. The new system applies to both men and women.
Defense Minister Sten Tolgfors is quoted as saying "Sweden's defense capacity is strengthened by the increased professionalism"
In the last few decades, the percentage of conscripts entering Sweden's military from the population of 18 year-old males has dropped as the government adopted more lenient policies and allowed eligible males to opt out. The compulsory service ranged from 80 to 450 days and was adopted in 1901. The currently active conscripts, numbering approximately 1,700 will be allowed to choose whether to stay in the military or not.
On March 19, 2009 Sweden's government voted to end conscription, setting forth a 'mid-2010' target date to shelve the policy for compulsory military service.
Sweden is a monarchy, Kind Carl XVI Gustaf acceded to the throne in 1973. He is a member of the Bernadotte dynasty which has ruled Sweden since 1818.
You and me both!
OK class, lets review, Swedish KIA:
WWI: 0
WWII: 0
Korea: 0
Vietnam: 0
Iraq: 0
Afghanistan: 4
I salute those four soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan, but I don’t think that it makes much of a statement about the military contributions of Sweden over the past 100 years.
Your move.
“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state...”
Now there's a cognomen to strike fear into noöne's heart.
Still it's better than "Erik (IX) the Stuttering and Lame".
But Swedish Kings rarely had impressive nicknames. Bjorn Ironside and Harald Wartooth were about the best.
Good luck finding allies, genius.
I have here a 22 conversion for full auto HK G3 or HK 91.
Its for sale in excellent condition.
Swedes are smart, rich, beautiful, and cool.
They make the quietest subs in the world, and many of the best artillery and vehicles. Their specialized ammo is also the best in the world.
A very tech-friendly country that is free by any measure.
The Swedish navy helps our navy very much.
Sweden’s chicks (the non-muzzies) are super cute.
They just passed a law that makes all immigrants need to speak Swedish as well.
I aint rooting for Sweden here. I’m just noting social trends there.
State Slavery finally abolished, welcome to the 20th century
A 100-year tradition of military conscription,...?
I always thought a traditions were kept by choice by a group of people, not enforced by the government. .
Agreed.
You misunderstand my point. I admire the Swedish military, its their government who have chosen to sit on the sidelines while others secured their freedoms and privileged way of life. Besides, if we are keeping score, its more like 0.004 Swed to 1.0 American. And that only counting Afghanistan.
You’ve provided a very interesting post, but I wonder if you didn’t wander on to this thread by mistake. We are talking about Sweden here, not Switzerland. Switzerland is that small landlocked country tucked away in the Alps and best known for banking, watches, and very fine alpine skiing. Sweden sits up on the Baltic sea and is best known for beautiful women and ... beautiful women.
I’m guessing that you don’t fire that puppy from a standing position.
The Lahti?
Hell NO! Thats a 20mm anti tank gun!
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