Marcion
An accusation frequently hurled at the Terrorists is that they use the religion of Islam to justify their violent, thoroughly anti-Islamic actions. The right wing militarists suggest that this is no accident, because Islam is actually a religion of violence. But the left wing militarists who dominate the Democratic Party, this site and write the cloying IGTNT odes, do not see it that way. They simply regret that this religion of peace has been perverted to condone violence. And not only to condone violence, but to pretend that those who fall in the jihad will be blessed for their actions by a God who finds their violence pleasing and just. We all find it appalling that anyone who think that any God would bless the terrible actions and deaths of the jihadists.
In fact, we all know that God is actually blessing the actions and deaths of the American and allied soldiers who are fighting on the other side. God cannot bless both sides, obviously, much as He might love the war being waged. If this statement strikes you as absurd, I encourage you to check out the latest IGTNT diary, in which a person whose sig line is "Blessed are the peacemakers" heaps one blessing after another upon the latest batch of America’s warriors, fallen in the theaters of occupation.
Poll 20 votes Show Results The relationship of God, soldiers and propaganda Gott Mit Uns (God is Wtih US) Gott Mit Ihnen (God is With Them) Can we leave God out of it? I find these celebrations of death gruesome and inappropriate with or without religious overtones I know Jesus said "blessed are the peacemakers," but he never met our heroes in uniform! The American sodliers is holier than Jesus. If Jesus said otherwise, then He should be corrected. This is terribly unpatriotic. I hope the people who need to know are watching. Shh, the families and frineds might be here right now, and they must hear only unqualifed praise of their loved ones. As a patriot, I fully and completely disassocate myself from the diarist's sentiments. Blessed be this pie. 20 votes Vote Now! The relationship of God, soldiers and propaganda Gott Mit Uns (God is Wtih US) 3 votes Gott Mit Ihnen (God is With Them) 5% 1 vote Can we leave God out of it? 3 votes I find these celebrations of death gruesome and inappropriate with or without religious overtones 7 votes I know Jesus said "blessed are the peacemakers," but he never met our heroes in uniform! 0% 0 votes The American sodliers is holier than Jesus. If Jesus said otherwise, then He should be corrected. 2 votes This is terribly unpatriotic. I hope the people who need to know are watching. 0% 0 votes Shh, the families and frineds might be here right now, and they must hear only unqualifed praise of their loved ones. 5% 1 vote As a patriot, I fully and completely disassocate myself from the diarist's sentiments. 0% 0 votes Blessed be this pie. 3 votes
In 1305 the Catalan Company, a free association of Western European adventurers and their families, who were hired to fight the Turks on behalf of the Byzantine Empire, found themselves in a terrible employment dispute. The Byzantines had decided that these mercenaries were more trouble than they were worth, and launched a surprise attack, massacring most of them, including the commander. At this critical moment, the advantages and defects of a completely free and voluntary society exposed themselves. Every soldier had a voice in the decision making and nobody could be compelled to accept a decision with which they disagreed. In the absence of an accepted top commander, leaders of smaller groups insisted on their own solutions. Sounds a bit like this site, huh?
The Company now met in a raucous general assembly to decide whether they would attempt to escape by sea to the West, disperse the Company into smaller pirate bands, or try to fight their way from the Byzantine siege and wage war against the treacherous Greeks.
If you passed by the first installment, you haven’t missed much. It’s a history about some medieval mercenaries told to illustrate what greatness and what depths of depravity free men can accomplish if they are so inclined. It’s a story of a Free Company – a private war machine, a pirate corporation. Their victories showed what is possible for a group of free men and women to accomplish, while their legendary brutality showed a different side of unfettered humanity. Their attempts to govern themselves were those of any revolutionary regime – direct popular rule mixed with the tyranny of the strong.
This installment begins in 1302, at the moment Roger de Flor, vice admiral of the transitory Kingdom of Trinacria, fugitive ex-Templar and habitual pirate, has sold the services of several thousand mercenaries, people of ill repute from throughout Western Europe who had grown hard fighting in the chaos of medieval Italy, to the Byzantine Emperor.
Pres. Obama and his top commanders Gens. Petraeus and Gen. McChrystal believe that the War on Terror is a "war of perceptions." In a struggle between a superpower and small loosely linked bands of militants, the idea of a conventional military victory is not applicable. It does not matter how many insurgents are killed, how many terror attacks are carried out successfully, or what particular locations are occupied. What matters is that, in the minds of the global public, there is a perception that the US is winning, that the momentum is on our side. And when everybody thinks the US has won, it has.
The dramatic increase in targeted assassinations, the Iraq style "surge" of troops, the assault against the "Taliban stronghold" in Marja, the capture of "high level Talibs", even the reprimands issued to US officers for failing to prevent deadly ambushes, are all part of a single push to alter the public perception of the conflict.
So now that we find ourselves part of the battlefield, let’s ask the question: have our perceptions been altered?
Poll 82 votes Show Results Has your perception of progress in the War on Terror been altered in the past few months? Yes, and I credit Obama for bringing us closer to victory. Too soon to tell - there have been some notable achievements, but I remain unconvinced victory is possible. Bring me the head of Osama. No, I still think this is a quagmire. I do not see any progress, and I believe that war without end, with invented ups and downs, is the goals of the neo-imperialist forces. I donÃ<em>f</em>¢â,¬<sup>TM</sup>t know, but I'm happy that some top terrorists are getting killed or captured, they deserve it. I have the vague feeling this diary does not support the troops and I am sickened by t his. Bitter pie. 82 votes Vote Now! Has your perception of progress in the War on Terror been altered in the past few months? Yes, and I credit Obama for bringing us closer to victory. 9 votes Too soon to tell - there have been some notable achievements, but I remain unconvinced victory is possible. Bring me the head of Osama. 6% 5 votes No, I still think this is a quagmire. 33 votes I do not see any progress, and I believe that war without end, with invented ups and downs, is the goals of the neo-imperialist forces. 29 votes I donÃ<em>f</em>¢â,¬<sup>TM</sup>t know, but I'm happy that some top terrorists are getting killed or captured, they deserve it. 2% 2 votes I have the vague feeling this diary does not support the troops and I am sickened by t his. 2% 2 votes Bitter pie. 2% 2 votes
This series is devoted to the historical phenomenon known as "free companies," Vikings, pirates, freebooters or filibusters, all of which terms refer to voluntary stateless corporations that sprang up throughout history for the purpose of waging a sort of commercialized warfare in regions where established authority has collapsed or was weak. Often referred to as mercenaries because trading military service for pay was one of the methods such associations employed, they were open to any other method for turning violence into profit, including outright conquest, pillage, ransom of prisoners of war, civilians or even entire municipalities, slaving expeditions, and many other ingenious and amoral inventions.
The governance and dynamics of freely formed and member led anarchic military organizations, and their interactions with established powers provide unique insight into human psychology and the age during which they exist, while their exploits make for some great reading.
This particular installment focuses on a medieval European free company, known as the Catalan Grand Company, which overran the Byzantine Empire in the early 14th century, and its first leader Roger de Flor, a German-Italian pirate and disgraced Templar.
Poll 41 votes Show Results What did you think? I liked it, give me the next chapter Too long, too dense Boring Needs more sex This is helping to elect Democrats how? Free Pie! 41 votes Vote Now! What did you think? I liked it, give me the next chapter 28 votes Too long, too dense 7% 3 votes Boring 5% 2 votes Needs more sex 7% 3 votes This is helping to elect Democrats how? 7% 3 votes Free Pie! 5% 2 votes
There once lived a father whose daughter grew gravely ill. He was a poor man, and the necessary treatment was out of his means. He desperately tried to get the money, but could not. Out of options, he went to an unholy place and offered up his soul to any demonic force in return for the health of his child. Many dark specters crowded around him with interest, but their visages were too terrible and he turned away. But then he was approached by a smallish demon who looked nearly human in aspect and did not elicit the same feeling of revulsion and terror as the others. His horns seemed smaller and less sharp. This demon said to the man: "I am not like the terrifying throng of daemons all around us, I am a demon, no "a," and I feel keenly for the human condition. I do not want your soul, or to cause you harm. If you simply serve and worship me for one year, I will heal your child." The man was overjoyed and the deal was struck.
Poll 19 votes Show Results Demons or daemons? I'll never serve the daemons, they frigthen me. Our only hope is with the demons. I still have hope in the demonic promises, give them a few more years to pay off and give them a few more years to win their wars. The only reasons the demons seem to be enacting the same daemonic programs is because we are not working hard enough for them. I left it all on the road for the demons, and now I need a new set of guts. I don't know, daemon sounds cooler. Plus Ann Coulter is weirdly attractive. I was born a demon supporter, and I'll die a deomn supporter, at such time as the demons honer me by eating my insides. It's one or the other, my friend. It's not lie the devil third party challengers have any hope of winning. Not now, I'm phone banking in hell. Four legs good, two legs bad. No wait, isn't that from another allegory? Fuck these infernal apparitions, I'm going to save my time, money and hope for myself. 19 votes Vote Now! Demons or daemons? I'll never serve the daemons, they frigthen me. Our only hope is with the demons. 0% 0 votes I still have hope in the demonic promises, give them a few more years to pay off and give them a few more years to win their wars. 0% 0 votes The only reasons the demons seem to be enacting the same daemonic programs is because we are not working hard enough for them. 5% 1 vote I left it all on the road for the demons, and now I need a new set of guts. 0% 0 votes I don't know, daemon sounds cooler. Plus Ann Coulter is weirdly attractive. 0% 0 votes I was born a demon supporter, and I'll die a deomn supporter, at such time as the demons honer me by eating my insides. 3 votes It's one or the other, my friend. It's not lie the devil third party challengers have any hope of winning. 0% 0 votes Not now, I'm phone banking in hell. 0% 0 votes Four legs good, two legs bad. No wait, isn't that from another allegory? 4 votes Fuck these infernal apparitions, I'm going to save my time, money and hope for myself. 11 votes
Much attention is paid on this site to the brutality visited upon Iranian protesters by security forces, particularly when the soldiers go so far as to fire live rounds at the crowd. The world knows the names of the martyrs, such as Neda, created by such violence.
However, next door in Afghanistan, pro-government forces forces are also firing into crowds. Hunter-killer teams round up young men once their guilt seems sufficiently clear, and summarily execute them. Passenger cars are shot up on the slightest pretense.
These recent incidents shed light on the terror tactics systematically employed against the Afghan population by the occupiers. Lacking sufficient numbers to garrison the country, and faced with a hostile people, the occupiers inevitably resort to the tried and true strategy of historical imperialism, collective punishment reprisals and other deliberate brutality, in order to demonstrate their will to win and break the will of the occupied.
Around this time in a Democratic administration, the progressives and various other lefties start complaining and losing their illusions after yet another Democrat turns out to be a staunch defender of the status quo and an aggressive militarist to boot. But all of the complaints are tempered by the sobering realization that the American two party system affords them no alternative but to put their hopes in the Democrats time and time again as the party formally closer to their viewpoint. How can we achieve any reform, they ask, if we don't vote for the party that at least bothers to pretend like they want what we want?
But as shown by the collapse of the Soviet empire, the answer is not to engage with "reformist" factions of the regime, thus lending popular support to the status quo, but instead to reject all of its offers and pretenses of legitimacy. Without the support of the people, no regime, regardless of how brutal, can exist for long. So we must stop lending this regime our support, or, if we choose to do so, we must admit that we are the very bulwarks of the status quo we pretend to reject.
Poll 44 votes Show Results So do you want a revolution? Hell yeah, come what may, I want to breathe like a free man for once in my life. Hmm, maybe, as long as the rule of law is respected and the moderates are given a voice and I get to betray the revolution as soon as it falters. No way, I got my eye on that sweet corner office. But don't worry, we are building captalism with a human face. Much better. No thank you, all that revolutionary talk makes me nervous. I think Ben Nelson has some good ideas. Who do I call to report this? Hope and Change. Man from Hope. Change we can believe in. Yes we can. A chicken in every pot. Tippecanoe and Tyler too. Pie. I need to be able to purchase 14 kinds of hydrogenated oil pie at my supermarket, otherwise, I don't want to live. 44 votes Vote Now! So do you want a revolution? Hell yeah, come what may, I want to breathe like a free man for once in my life. 25 votes Hmm, maybe, as long as the rule of law is respected and the moderates are given a voice and I get to betray the revolution as soon as it falters. 2% 1 vote No way, I got my eye on that sweet corner office. But don't worry, we are building captalism with a human face. Much better. 2% 1 vote No thank you, all that revolutionary talk makes me nervous. I think Ben Nelson has some good ideas. 2% 1 vote Who do I call to report this? 7% 3 votes Hope and Change. Man from Hope. Change we can believe in. Yes we can. A chicken in every pot. Tippecanoe and Tyler too. 5 votes Pie. I need to be able to purchase 14 kinds of hydrogenated oil pie at my supermarket, otherwise, I don't want to live. 8 votes
I come back to this site periodically, to observe the abused spouse like struggle against itself that the progressive left goes through in its relationship with the Democratic Party. It is risky to get between the partners in an abusive relationship, because the codependent victim will turn on you a lot quicker than they will on their real tormentor. During the good times, you are accused of slandering and insulting the beloved better half, while during the bad times you are berated for not understanding the complexity of the relationship and for making the situation worse, preventing any chance for improvement.
Obviously, there was no talking to anybody here after Obama's victory. The family were going to the Mall, and the Party would finally get us all those presents it promised us for all those years of toughing it out. The Afghanistan escalation was barely a blip on the radar, the progressives were prepared to trade any pretensions to anti militarism for another moment of watching Obama solemnly and manfully ordering the troops deployed and watching their returning caskets.
But now that you are black and blue after the beating the Dems gave you on health care, now that you're written to the President telling him how disappointed you are, I want to ask you, have you had enough?
Poll 56 votes Show Results Have you had enough? No, look at all the good things Obama has done. 10 percent less mountain top removal, baby! What, and let the Rathugs win? I'll vote for McCain before I let Sarah Palin win! Hey, we outlived the Segregationist Dems and Robert Byrd doesn't call for it nearly as much anymore. Give it time, Joe Lieberman looks droopier every day. No way, not when Obama's finally fighting the war in Afghanistan the way it needed to be fought. Sending more troops means they'll come home that much sooner. Obama's just getting warmed up, a Presidency shouldn't really be judged until after its first 1000 days. No way, it's all about the local elections. You'll never believe the folksy war hero running in Nebraska's third district! He'll finally tip the balance! More better good! I've had enough, I'm just waiting for Edwards to run again. He is finally going to fix the Two Americas. I've had enough, and and I will no longer fundraise for two of the DNC's three fund raising arms! I've had enough, and from now on I will only listen to ex DNC Chairmen, not current ones. I've had enough, this charade can go on but without me. I'm ready to boycott the Democratic Party. I love boycotts. I'm currently boycotting three time slots on Fox News and it's working. We must be the change we see in the world, first we walk away, then the conservatives, and soon the elections charade will have to be abandoned. You fool, I joined the United Front because I got a mortgage, and all the giveaways to the financial sector are keeping rates super low! It's a golden age! I've had enough pie. 56 votes Vote Now! Have you had enough? No, look at all the good things Obama has done. 10 percent less mountain top removal, baby! 2% 1 vote What, and let the Rathugs win? I'll vote for McCain before I let Sarah Palin win! 9 votes Hey, we outlived the Segregationist Dems and Robert Byrd doesn't call for it nearly as much anymore. Give it time, Joe Lieberman looks droopier every day. 4% 2 votes No way, not when Obama's finally fighting the war in Afghanistan the way it needed to be fought. Sending more troops means they'll come home that much sooner. 2% 1 vote Obama's just getting warmed up, a Presidency shouldn't really be judged until after its first 1000 days. 9% 5 votes No way, it's all about the local elections. You'll never believe the folksy war hero running in Nebraska's third district! He'll finally tip the balance! More better good! 2% 1 vote I've had enough, I'm just waiting for Edwards to run again. He is finally going to fix the Two Americas. 0% 0 votes I've had enough, and and I will no longer fundraise for two of the DNC's three fund raising arms! 0% 0 votes I've had enough, and from now on I will only listen to ex DNC Chairmen, not current ones. 7% 4 votes I've had enough, this charade can go on but without me. 21 votes I'm ready to boycott the Democratic Party. I love boycotts. I'm currently boycotting three time slots on Fox News and it's working. 0% 0 votes We must be the change we see in the world, first we walk away, then the conservatives, and soon the elections charade will have to be abandoned. 7% 4 votes You fool, I joined the United Front because I got a mortgage, and all the giveaways to the financial sector are keeping rates super low! It's a golden age! 4% 2 votes I've had enough pie. 6 votes
The Afghan Presidential elections are over. The first round was characterized by massive fraud which made the incumbent President Hamid Karzai’s victory appear completely implausible and unacceptable to both the Afghan people and the Western coalition. After much armtwisting, Karzai agreed to a runoff, employing all the same mechanisms of fraud and corruption as he did in the first round. The Afghan "Independent" Electoral Commission, which handed the first election to Karzai by stuffing ballots and inventing polling places, remained in place to rig the second round of voting. The challenger, Dr. Abdullah withdrew in disgust, leaving the field to Karzai.
Having a legitimate and credible local partner is essential to the hopes of Western victory over militant forces in Afghanistan, and this election was seen as crucial to the West's chances of success. Tens of thousands of additional American soldiers are set to deploy to the region to continue the grim struggle. To evaluate the prospect of any credible local partner emerging under the occupation, we have to delve into Afghan politics and history. You want?
This spring, following a 2 month strategic review, Obama sent 37,000 troops to the Afghan theater. The largest Marine offensive since Vietnam were launched to retake Helmand Province. Now the results of the Spring Surge are in: coalition casualties increased dramatically, Taliban areas of control expanded, and the Kabul government has been completely discredited following the failed presidential elections.
As the summer offensive stalled, Obama replaced the Bush era commander with General McChrystal, and asked him to submit his policy recommendations. In these recommendations McChrystal states that if the tactical initiative is not captured in the next year, defeat will become unavoidable, and calls for between 20,000 and 80,000 additional combat troops. Even before the determination is made, American forces have begun evacuating exposed combat outposts and pulling back to the cities. The Afghan elections, on which so much hope had been placed, were and remain a debacle.
Afghanistan is on a downward trajectory which will take many years to right under the most optimistic scenarios. In the absence of any viable opposition to the bipartisan war effort, all we can do is behold the bloody farce as from all over the world people hasten to die on the fields of Afghanistan, like moths to the flame.
Poll 21 votes Show Results How can a democracy depirve its citizens of even the possibilty of choosing peace? Actually, a genuine peace candidate is just around the corner and DAilyKos and the DNC stand ready to defeat him. Real Americans don't choose peace, the cut and runners should stand aside while we nail Bin Laden! Militarism built this democracy, and it will bury it. The people and the military industrial complex are one. The people get the government they deserve. It is up to the soldiers to say "enough" - they are the ones doing the dying and the killing and they know what's going on. We can't just leave! We never leave! We're still in Cuba, for God's sakes! You can't hanlde the truth. Don't whine,t you can always vote for Kucinich. Go ahead, throw your vote away. The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine. The arc of human history is long, but it bends towards justice. This is the best of all possible worlds. Obama will bring us victory. I don't know how, but he will bring us victory and wipe our tears away. Pie. 21 votes Vote Now! How can a democracy depirve its citizens of even the possibilty of choosing peace? Actually, a genuine peace candidate is just around the corner and DAilyKos and the DNC stand ready to defeat him. 3 votes Real Americans don't choose peace, the cut and runners should stand aside while we nail Bin Laden! 5% 1 vote Militarism built this democracy, and it will bury it. 4 votes The people and the military industrial complex are one. 0% 0 votes The people get the government they deserve. 2 votes It is up to the soldiers to say "enough" - they are the ones doing the dying and the killing and they know what's going on. 0% 0 votes We can't just leave! We never leave! We're still in Cuba, for God's sakes! 0% 0 votes You can't hanlde the truth. 3 votes Don't whine,t you can always vote for Kucinich. Go ahead, throw your vote away. 2 votes The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine. 5% 1 vote The arc of human history is long, but it bends towards justice. 5% 1 vote This is the best of all possible worlds. 0% 0 votes Obama will bring us victory. I don't know how, but he will bring us victory and wipe our tears away. 5% 1 vote Pie. 3 votes
The US is currently mulling over its Afghan strategy amid a a crisis of legitimacy and record casualties. The 21,000 troops sent earlier this year, a stop gap measure to bolster security for the Afghan elections, failed to accomplish even this limited goal, while the Taliban has grown significantly stronger.
Obama's appointee Gen. McChrystal is now arguing for reversal from offensive to defensive operations, evacuating exposed positions in more remote provinces, retreating from the positions gained in this summer's failed offensive, and trying to protect just the major population centers. He needs an additional 40,000 American troops to carry out this retrenchment. Some in the Administration find even this defensive posture unsustainable and envision a counterterrorism strategy of targeting only the most imminent terrorist threats, leaving the countryside to the Taliban, similar to the operations in Pakistan or Somalia.
Poll 31 votes Show Results The best plan for Afghanistan McChrystal's plan - retreat to the cities, protect the civilian population, prevent outright defeat. Biden's plan - withdraw occuaption forces, launch targeted strikes and assasinations. Obama's 2009 summer offensive strategy - push out into Taliban strongholds, deny them opium revenues, restore allegiance to the Kabul government. Status quo - hold the forward operating bases, attempt to engage the Taliban whenver possible, keep training Afghan army and police, they will take over evenutally. Leave power to the most powerful local forces, no matter who they are, focus on internatioanl terror plots. Reevaluate America's militaristic posture and curtail imperialist expansion, even if it means reduced power and wealth for the US. Find a weaker region of the world to attack. Antarctica may have oil. Pie. 31 votes Vote Now! The best plan for Afghanistan McChrystal's plan - retreat to the cities, protect the civilian population, prevent outright defeat. 5 votes Biden's plan - withdraw occuaption forces, launch targeted strikes and assasinations. 6% 2 votes Obama's 2009 summer offensive strategy - push out into Taliban strongholds, deny them opium revenues, restore allegiance to the Kabul government. 4 votes Status quo - hold the forward operating bases, attempt to engage the Taliban whenver possible, keep training Afghan army and police, they will take over evenutally. 6% 2 votes Leave power to the most powerful local forces, no matter who they are, focus on internatioanl terror plots. 4 votes Reevaluate America's militaristic posture and curtail imperialist expansion, even if it means reduced power and wealth for the US. 12 votes Find a weaker region of the world to attack. Antarctica may have oil. 0% 0 votes Pie. 6% 2 votes
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