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Russia mocks Sweden's lack of military might

Published: 1 Mar 13 07:19 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/46476/20130301/

Russians have seized on statements by the top Swedish military commander about Sweden's limited capacity to defend itself, responding with an Abba-inspired satirical jab broadcast on national television.

In January, Swedish Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Sverker Göranson said that Sweden’s scaled backed military leaves the country vulnerable.

Sweden, he claimed, could only defend itself for one week if it came under attack.

The controversial admission of Sweden's dwindling military capacity has been seized upon by Russian national television in a sketch on the satirical programme Yesterday Live.

Featuring the melody of Abba's hit song Mamma Mia, the parody shows a man who appears to be masquerading as Göranson as he makes an impassioned plea about the imminent threat from the east.

"Mamma Mia! They will tear us apart! 7-3! Just like in hockey last year," he sings, referring to Russia's drubbing of Sweden at the 2012 World Championships.



The clip, a version of which has been published on YouTube with English subtitles, features a rollicking chorus at first sung by a group of fawning female journalists and later by a set of male dancer/soldiers dressed in tight yellow shorts and blue sleeveless shirts.

The video's faux-commander at first suggests that Sweden's only hope of surviving a Russian invasion is to join Nato.

He then makes sexist claims about the qualifications of Karin Enström, Sweden's minister of defence.

"Our potential is fragile and our Minister of Defence wears a skirt," he sings.

But by the end of the video, which also includes references to Ikea, Saab, and duty free alcohol purchases, the satirical Swedish commander has changed his tune about Sweden's suitability for Nato.

"If the Russians are strong...we should ask them to protect us from Nato," he suggests.

Despite being ridiculed in the sketch, Engström took it all in stride.

"Freedom of speech is a good thing, especially in Russia," she told the Aftonbladet newspaper.

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08:42 March 1, 2013 by isenhand
sums it up nicely!

- could only defend itself for one week if it came under attack.

And that is defend only one part of Sweden as well. So, Sweden effectively, has no national defence.
09:53 March 1, 2013 by rise
How very mature of that awful Ivan.
10:36 March 1, 2013 by Rishonim
ROFLMSAO.... Hilarious, specially the portrayal of Swedish men as rubber boots wearing sissy's
10:42 March 1, 2013 by HelmiVainikka
#2

Yeah, because making fun of someone else is only mature when Sweden does it, aye? How was that? Hurt dogs whine?
11:01 March 1, 2013 by flyintiger
"Freedom of speech is a good thing, especially in Russia," she told the Aftonbladet newspaper.

It's nice that she is concern about the freedom of speech in russia...what about the freedom of speech here in sweden beeeearch? The russians are rigtht, it's pathetic to have someone like this skirt to lead the military.
11:12 March 1, 2013 by Annihilanthic
Fear not, the russkies must first go through Finland, and will once again lose a quarter million soldiers before they give up :)
12:38 March 1, 2013 by what would thomas paine do
Technically, I lot of men have kicked a lot of "rumpa" over the centuries wearing all varieties of "skirts". :)
12:44 March 1, 2013 by flyintiger
Since the winter war in 1939, russia has gone through many bigger wars, i'm sure they have learned a thing or two about the modern warfare by now. Finland too has a pussy that leads its military. If Russia wants to strike, it doesn't need to send in that many ground forces anymore, all it has to do is bombardment everything that moves until nothing left, then moving in if necessary. With high tech military hardwares, russia can achieve that easily. A few thermobaric bombs(none nuk bomb) can level any city on this earth to the ground and kill all living things with in it. Of course, russia won't do that, but if it will in the future who can stop it? Since these pussies won't want to develope their own deterrence capability to defend themselve, because they're too much of pusy to do it...so the debate continues....
13:02 March 1, 2013 by Max Reaver
Her reply was actually good! We may not have a capable army, but you guys in Russia sure don't have freedom of speech!
13:08 March 1, 2013 by Marc the Texan
I really enjoyed that.
14:05 March 1, 2013 by rise
#4

Don't ask me, I've never heard the expression.

It is very tough of Russia bullying a country like Sweden with lesser population than Moscow, instead of making fun of someone in their own size, like the EU or the US. Or why not China?
14:22 March 1, 2013 by Kevin Hoffman
One of 3 things is happening here.

Either something got lost in translation, Swedes are mad and cant see clearly or they are just dumb.

The point of this video is not to outright ridicule Sweden for the sake of ridiculing.

Some Swedish Commander said " If Russia invaded Sweden we would fall in 2 days, that is why we need to join Nato".

The video ridicules the idea of "Big bad Russia is going to invade, pls HELP!"
15:29 March 1, 2013 by HelmiVainikka
Rise, do you honestly believe that humor should be based on the population count of a country? Yeah, the whole of Scandinavia combined is number wise pretty lame compared to monster countries like China or Russia, but just because that is the case, you can not make fun of them, but they (well...we actually!) can about others? Double standards anyone?

Humor can not and should not ever bow to any restrictions like that.

I had a good laugh about it and so did my wife (she actually is Swedish).

Plus, as Kevin said, the Video actually mocks the higher ups more than anything else.
16:22 March 1, 2013 by rise
HelmiVainikka, first you are putting words in my mouth and then claims the words to be double standard. Please stop arguing with your own imagination. ;)
16:23 March 1, 2013 by Avidror
For when a video mocking Russia's higher suicide and murder rates, lack of freedom of speech, higher presence of organized crime or more freeze-related deaths, for example? Taking into account all of that and more, Russia mocking Sweden's defense capabilities as if a Russian-Swedish war was about to explode is just ridiculous.
16:48 March 1, 2013 by HelmiVainikka
Rise dude, quit splitting hair.

Core of my argument was that it shouldnt matter whatsoever how "big" and "populated" a country is when it comes to humor.

Forgot your own statement already?

"It is very tough of Russia bullying a country like Sweden with lesser population than Moscow, instead of making fun of someone in their own size,"

Yeah thats totally different.
17:19 March 1, 2013 by Vendorune
So many children here and all over the world... I am part Russian and part Swede living in America. You (Sweden) need to understand that deep down Russia wants to see strong Sweden - of course!! It was a historical balance when England and France were afraid to seriously get into it because of strong Sweden. That went away when Swedish king Karl ?? (someone needs to learn to count their kings too!!) lost so stupidly to Peter. Basically the North had no balance since... Oh I do not think that balance can or should return through domination! But through understanding and cooperation with your neighbors - Norway and Denmark first, then Finland, etc. Currently Norway is not in EU, but in NATA, Sweden EU, not NATO and Denmark both. Regardless how you feel about NATO or EU this underscore lack of unity with your closest cousins. Lack of unity where economic and political unity is needed most -- on your borders.
18:26 March 1, 2013 by Svensksmith
What's wrong with wearing a skirt?
18:49 March 1, 2013 by snale
I thought it was quite fun and I am swede. Though nobody have wrote what this is the answer on, search for Tingaliin in Russia, by DJ Trexx & Olga Pratilova for the Eurovision Song Contest of 2009, a hilarious sketch with a catchy tune you must see that makes fun of russian clichés, so we only got it back. It took four years though...
18:58 March 1, 2013 by Greysuede
Sure, Russia and its bootslicking allies Armenia together with Syria will be able to defeat Sweden, Poland or Czechia. But if they just dare to do so they will be smashed from all around.
23:35 March 1, 2013 by theobserver
Sweden has no need to defend itself. If Hitler comes again, Swedes will bend over and say "welcome, do whatever you like, just don't touch us". Swedes are sissies, of course, this is why they "maintained neutrality" in WWII. While the nazis were screwing Norway and Finland, Sweden was supplying Hitler with minerals or women. To defend oneself requires having the balls and the guts to assume responsibility. But responsibility is a word that does not exist in Sweden.
10:14 March 2, 2013 by svenskmat
Friends, usually I wish , when we are commenting, we should try to provide possible solutions to the problems. This is the reason why I often find immigration as a positive tool to be use by Sweden, with it population of constant 9m, some of these immigranst , especially the students should be given work permit free for five years, or better still do like the USA, presently, these will help bost the numbers in the swedish military , we must have men and materials the two must work side by side.
11:37 March 2, 2013 by 001Oleg
Nobody in Russia wants to attack Sweden, it is absurd. Lets play hockey ! Russia and Sweden are great hockey countries ! Our teams show very professional hockey ( better then Canada and USA)
17:55 March 2, 2013 by snale
Yes Oleg I totally agree, play hockey is much better than war. :)

To the observer, read on little more on the subject before you write, you know nothing. Of course that will not help because you will only read and remember what you want to.
17:28 March 6, 2013 by Carbarrister
Sweden should just do away with it's military. Either do it right or don't waste money doing a half-assed job.

Just contract with the French for defense.
20:57 March 7, 2013 by wxman
Invade Finland and Sweden? Right, that's exactly what the Russians want. More cold, dark landscape.
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