Conscription

I think if we went to war it would either be Russia or Iran.
But just my thoughts, I don’t really know.

Perhaps we are already at war.

I there already is a war of ideologies in Britain and in Europe. Certainly a clash of cultures, but I actually think Britain is far more accepting of differences than most of Europe.

I think there is….

maddyone

I think if we went to war it would either be Russia or Iran.
But just my thoughts, I don’t really know.

and China and Korea

There are about 25,000 Russian born migrants in Australia but it is increasing ( can’t think why!)and about 1.5 million Chinese. The Chinese people own most of the shopping malls and many of the big ranches and the 1.5 million is just those here permanently. There are many,many more who commute between here but have a home in China. I really can’t see any of those people fighting for the Americans . There are also many people from Middle Eastern countries who might not happily support British or American interests. Hope it never comes to that.

nanna8

There are about 25,000 Russian born migrants in Australia but it is increasing ( can’t think why!)and about 1.5 million Chinese. The Chinese people own most of the shopping malls and many of the big ranches and the 1.5 million is just those here permanently. There are many,many more who commute between here but have a home in China. I really can’t see any of those people fighting for the Americans . There are also many people from Middle Eastern countries who might not happily support British or American interests. Hope it never comes to that.

There are indeed Chinese residents in many developing countries mostly running businesses that the locals formerly owned, that’s the price of foreign aid. Australia, NZ and Canada are used as safe havens for Chinese in case of domestic problems in China.

I have faith in our young folk, and like to think that if the U.K. were to be in a situation where we had to defend our shores that there would be queues outside the offices to sign up voluntarily grannygravy I disagree wholeheartedly

I hope to god none of my grandsons or granddaughters are ever in that queue
I can NEVER agree with young people picking up guns to kill and be killed War is the most idiotic thing I d encourage them to go and live in a neutral country just minding its own business although I know at least one grandson who’d be ‘there’ in a flash but who has no idea what real war means

Talking is always better than killing

Well said, BlueBelle!

I veer between being concerned about what seems like the inevitability of a major war and doubting that it will happen. China's economy is suffering from the property crash, and will get worse before it gets better. Russia is tied up with Ukraine, and that's not going well for Putin, Iran isn't in a position to take on a superpower, and neither Biden nor Trump is keen to fight outside of American borders - another Vietnam is not going to be popular for either of them in an election year. Plus, the fear of mutually assured destruction has fended off all-out war since the Cuban Missile Crisis, and I don't think anything has happened to change that.

European economies (including ours) are floundering, and rearming might help, but as a policy that hasn't been popular for decades, so the papers could well be selling us the idea that war is inevitable in order to soften us up. There is an imminent budget, so maybe people will be happier at the idea of paying an arms tax than at the idea of their sons and daughters being called up. In my youth I was a paid-up member of CND, but even I was mattering to Mr Dog about the need to grow the armed forces the other day.

I don't know. I can't say I'm not concerned, but I'm not digging a bunker either. I very much doubt that military conscription is likely to happen, as if there were a war it probably won't be like the one in Ukraine.

That doesn't mean that some sort of citizen service wouldn't be a good idea, though. It could reduce the divisions in society, open doors and minds, and rebuild the society that was lost under Thatcher. I doubt it will happen, as a divided, self-interested and inward-looking population is more biddable and less dangerous to governments of all stripes.

Doodledog

I veer between being concerned about what seems like the inevitability of a major war and doubting that it will happen. China's economy is suffering from the property crash, and will get worse before it gets better. Russia is tied up with Ukraine, and that's not going well for Putin, Iran isn't in a position to take on a superpower, and neither Biden nor Trump is keen to fight outside of American borders - another Vietnam is not going to be popular for either of them in an election year. Plus, the fear of mutually assured destruction has fended off all-out war since the Cuban Missile Crisis, and I don't think anything has happened to change that.

European economies (including ours) are floundering, and rearming might help, but as a policy that hasn't been popular for decades, so the papers could well be selling us the idea that war is inevitable in order to soften us up. There is an imminent budget, so maybe people will be happier at the idea of paying an arms tax than at the idea of their sons and daughters being called up. In my youth I was a paid-up member of CND, but even I was mattering to Mr Dog about the need to grow the armed forces the other day.

I don't know. I can't say I'm not concerned, but I'm not digging a bunker either. I very much doubt that military conscription is likely to happen, as if there were a war it probably won't be like the one in Ukraine.

That doesn't mean that some sort of citizen service wouldn't be a good idea, though. It could reduce the divisions in society, open doors and minds, and rebuild the society that was lost under Thatcher. I doubt it will happen, as a divided, self-interested and inward-looking population is more biddable and less dangerous to governments of all stripes.

sound and thoughtful post Doodledog.. I too am torn between those two possibilities..