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[Varche]

Is this forthcoming test in preparation for the Russians escalating the Ukraine conflict by disconnecting our undersea power and communcations cables?

Been plenty of evidence of them scoping out Scandinavian undersea infrastructure recently tooas well as North Sea stuff. They have had the ability to cut submarine cables for ages.

Might just be used as “ something wee could do” bargaining tool in the summer peace talks. Neither side can win in my view.

What do you think?

[Doctor Gollum]

I suspect a larger global threat.

[Sir Tigger KC]

There's an interesting article about this in The Telegraph today and here's a thought provoking extract.

"Russia is probing for European vulnerabilities. Apart from food, the daily critical requirements of modern society are energy and communications. The underwater arteries of modern civilisation are surprisingly few. For example, just three pipelines deliver 43 per cent of our baseline gas supply. Five interconnectors deliver electricity to and from the UK and Europe (and one more between Britain and Ireland). There are more communications cables, about 70 in all, but a relatively small number of deep-sea sabotage operations could bring our world to a halt without a shot being fired. We were assured that wind farms would bolster our energy security, but few considered their military exposure."

Bob Seely, The Telegraph 20th April 2023

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/20/vladimir-putin-is-preparing-to-attack-the-uk/

Think about how easily (or so it seems) that Nord Stream 2 was blown up and apparently they still don't know for sure who dunnit! 

[STEMO]

There's an interesting article about this in The Telegraph today and here's a thought provoking extract.

"Russia is probing for European vulnerabilities. Apart from food, the daily critical requirements of modern society are energy and communications. The underwater arteries of modern civilisation are surprisingly few. For example, just three pipelines deliver 43 per cent of our baseline gas supply. Five interconnectors deliver electricity to and from the UK and Europe (and one more between Britain and Ireland). There are more communications cables, about 70 in all, but a relatively small number of deep-sea sabotage operations could bring our world to a halt without a shot being fired. We were assured that wind farms would bolster our energy security, but few considered their military exposure."

Bob Seely, The Telegraph 20th April 2023

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/20/vladimir-putin-is-preparing-to-attack-the-uk/

Think about how easily (or so it seems) that Nord Stream 2 was blown up and apparently they still don't know for sure who dunnit! 

Yes, but actions such as cutting power or communications would be seen as an act of war. Then we could cut their communications by nuking the Kremlin.

[Sir Tigger KC]

There's an interesting article about this in The Telegraph today and here's a thought provoking extract.

"Russia is probing for European vulnerabilities. Apart from food, the daily critical requirements of modern society are energy and communications. The underwater arteries of modern civilisation are surprisingly few. For example, just three pipelines deliver 43 per cent of our baseline gas supply. Five interconnectors deliver electricity to and from the UK and Europe (and one more between Britain and Ireland). There are more communications cables, about 70 in all, but a relatively small number of deep-sea sabotage operations could bring our world to a halt without a shot being fired. We were assured that wind farms would bolster our energy security, but few considered their military exposure."

Bob Seely, The Telegraph 20th April 2023

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/20/vladimir-putin-is-preparing-to-attack-the-uk/

Think about how easily (or so it seems) that Nord Stream 2 was blown up and apparently they still don't know for sure who dunnit! 

Yes, but actions such as cutting power or communications would be seen as an act of war. Then we could cut their communications by nuking the Kremlin.

Yeeeeeaah OK. The Western world has hummed and haaaed about giving the Ukrainians a few old tanks in case it upsets Putin, so the idea we'll nuke the Kremlin if he disconnects a windfarm..... 

[Varche]

A few nuclear torpedoes ( Thames estuary , Netherlands) in response…..

I still think it is just posturing prior to a concerted peace process in summer.

[TheBoy]

Is this forthcoming test in preparation for the Russians escalating the Ukraine conflict by disconnecting our undersea power and communcations cables?

This has been planned for much longer than this.  There were some small scale tests a while back, so national tests were always next.

It has the potential to be useful, and given that adverse weather conditions and climate change are a thing now (although no proper evidence its manmade - but thats one for another day), having local alerts must be a good thing.

Remember, everybody but me cuddles their phone every second of every day, and nobody under the age of 50 watches BBC/Sky/Whatever TV News, so its a convenient medium.

Its all irrelevant if WWIII breaks out, as nuclear capabilities between the superpowers still work on the MAD concept of deterrent.

[dave the builder]

It has the potential to be useful, and given that adverse weather conditions and climate change are a thing now (although no proper evidence its manmade - but thats one for another day), having local alerts must be a good thing.

Remember, everybody but me cuddles their phone every second of every day, and nobody under the age of 50 watches BBC/Sky/Whatever TV News, so its a convenient medium.

I don't use the internet on my phone (though it has that capability, HTC one M8 2014  )
I can still find out what the weather is doing 
I use "windows" 
NOT the new-fangled Microsoft version , the old type ,made of see through glass 

[TheBoy]

Well, quite.  Us non millenials, non Londonium specimens can poke our nose outside and tell what its going to be doing for a few hours.  And use a barometer to tell whats likely to happen in the next couple of days.

But in all seriousness, for things like flooding, it could be a useful tool to get people to evacuate if required, rather than emergency services banging door to door.

[STEMO]

Well, quite.  Us non millenials, non Londonium specimens can poke our nose outside and tell what its going to be doing for a few hours.  And use a barometer to tell whats likely to happen in the next couple of days.

But in all seriousness, for things like flooding, it could be a useful tool to get people to evacuate if required, rather than emergency services banging door to door.

That's if anyone took any notice of it. Trust in the powers that be has been eroded so much over the last twenty years or so, that I doubt anyone would evacuate until the water was coming through the letterbox.

[STEMO]

And only then after packing a suitcase and making suitable arrangements for the dog/cat/budgie/granny.

[YZ250]

.......
Remember, everybody but me cuddles their phone every second of every day, and nobody under the age of 50 watches BBC/Sky/Whatever TV News, so its a convenient medium.
..........

This is partly true for the women in my family but the exact opposite for some of the men. If I text one of them, I'll get a reply about three days later and with the others I get a late reply as their mobile phone is sat on the dashboard of their van all day. 
I can see the point in principle but believe we all have a built in distrust in our own government now.    I do see the logic of not broadcasting it on BBC, as only the ten people who watch BBC would see it, and that would be a massive task for those ten people to let everyone else know about the impending doom. 

[Doctor Gollum]

And only then after packing a suitcase and making suitable arrangements for the dog/cat/budgie/granny.

Prepare to be prepared. Leave in a panic and leave all the important stuff behind.

[STEMO]

And only then after packing a suitcase and making suitable arrangements for the dog/cat/budgie/granny.

Prepare to be prepared. Leave in a panic and leave all the important stuff behind.

That's not the point I was making. If you receive an alert telling you to go, you should go.

[Varche]

Where is  Dave the builder? Probably in his bunker or building others!