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We must spread our ideas in the army

Anonymous | 02.09.2009 23:31 | Anti-militarism | World

Harsh times may lie ahead, prepare now




The war between the oppressed and the oppressors is flaring up, and such a dynamic leads to a revolution. The elite’s invariable tactic in such situations is to replace the pseudo-democratic governments with fascists and use the army against the resisters. There is immediate need to maximise the spread of revolutionary ideas amongst the soldiers, so that when the time for confrontation comes there will already be free-thinkers amongst them.

It is necessary to organise suitable anarchist groups within the army to help the soldiers understand the source of social injustice and the positions of protesters, and not allow them fell victims to political party propaganda. It is also necessary to provide messages in a form which is easy to understand by draftees or soldiers calling them to not use their weapons against protesters.

This call is valid worldwide because the social dynamic that has been formed is global itself. It is short so that it can be communicated easily.


Anonymous

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Takes two to tango

03.09.2009 02:20

I attended my first military rally five years ago next month, and talked with retired soldiers already knowledgable about the PNAC 'Rebuilding Americas Defences' report, before many activists knew about it.

Military families have done more for anti-war events than peace activists have done for military families. There is a chasm between us, one that can and should be bridged, but it isn't a one-way street. Activists have to recognise and support the troops predicament, and acknowledge their contribution to trying to end the war, before even thinking of 'recruiting' for anything other than individual events. Still, we have the next forty years to learn how to negotiate common-cause between protestor and soldier in this war of terror, there is no particular rush for either group.

Danny

i agree but

03.09.2009 04:18

I agree, but it's not so easy as you think...

meanwhile, have some resources


Create an account and post here with ARRSE to engage with people currently serving.
 http://www.arrse.co.uk/
(uk)

Then go and watch "Sir No Sir" and distribute copies of it to people you know who are serving... very inspiring!
 http://www.sirnosir.com
(us)

and then, for a more recent film, subscribe to the weekly video screened at
 http://www.thisiswherewetakeourstand.com
(us)

and be sure to promote awareness of the cases of current uk refuseniks, e.g Malcolm Kendall Smith
Coz servicemen and women who refuse their orders have a pretty tough time! They need to know they are being supported by the folk back home.

good luck! and share more resources if you have them.


sean

Swallow well.

03.09.2009 08:21

"Still, we have the next forty years to learn how to negotiate common-cause between protestor and soldier in this war of terror, there is no particular rush for either group."

er no, forty years is a joke. thats not going to happen. it wont go on for that long. thats just what the media say, it dont mean nothing.

the war has got to styop- danny and swallowing the line isnt going to help at all.

Refusenik.

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Massive divide

03.09.2009 09:03

Don't fool yourselves, the divide between the current military and the activist community is huge. Yes they are pissed off at operations in Afghanistan and before that Iraq but not because they questioned the mission. Their unhappiness is over equipment, their treatment by the current government and the MoD purchasing of crappy kit.

The British Army knows full well the current conflict in Afghanistan is winnable in just military terms in about two months but only by total warfare which is unacceptable so as a result they are fighting a 50% war so they are very pissed off.

Current soldiers view the activist community as in general workshy layabouts who take their freedoms for granted while being unwilling to defend them, the idea we can some comminality of thought is ridiculous.

Son of a current soldier

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Danny the Man.

03.09.2009 09:10

Danny, exactly who are you?

You don't seem to fit in here chummy.

Oxford.

Home by Christmas?

03.09.2009 10:47

Goverments always lie about how short they expect any war to be, when in truth there is no way for anyone to know in advance. The main politicians and generals have repeatedly stated that this war could last up to 2050. The USuk forces could leave Afghanistan tommorow but events can change this - for instance they wouldn't be able to walk away from Taliban controlled Pakistan given the nukes there.
I have no reason to believe this war will be over before 2050, no qualification to do so and no interest in doing so.

Sean is correct it isn't easy to interact on military forums like ARRSE, it requires a great deal of respect and diplomacy since most people there regard would rate refuseniks like Kendall-Smith as cowardly traitors and peace activists as slightly lower than pond life.

I used to distribute DVDs such as FTA to military families but many honestly find it too America-centric or irrelevant to a non-conscript army. Seemingly the copy I got was distributed among US troops in Iraq though. It would be great if someone filmed a modern equivalent focussing on this war.

These sites are a great resource  http://www.traveling-soldier.org/
 http://www.williambowles.info/gispecial/2008/index.html

Danny

Exceptional.

03.09.2009 11:21

"for instance they wouldn't be able to walk away from Taliban controlled Pakistan given the nukes there. "

What planet do you live on?

Staggering, absolutely staggering!!!!

Tin foil hat

war is..

03.09.2009 13:18

see them run.... victory is at hand.... our boys..... glory... home by christmas... a just war....


AVOID TABLOIDS!

osamabinsatsuma

Unpredictable but unexecptional

03.09.2009 13:21

>What planet do you live on?
A planet complicated enough that I am unable to predict what'll happen in warzones like Pakistan in five years time, let alone in fifty. Nobody predicted the Khmer Rouge after the US invasion of Vietnam overspilled into Cambodia, and noone can predict what could happen now that the US invasion of Afghanistan has overspilled into Pakistan. The threat to the US and UK of the nuclear Pakistan state being otherthrown is taken seriously by generals in steel-helmets rather than tin-foil hats so you might want to educate yourself.

 http://www.youtube.com/v/C3I6SxMpivo

Danny

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IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Predictable

03.09.2009 16:07

"The threat to the US and UK of the nuclear Pakistan state being otherthrown is taken seriously by generals in steel-helmets rather than tin-foil hats so you might want to educate yourself."

So you respect those generals do you Danny? Perhaps more than the anti-war movement you "CLAIM" to be a part of...?

Educate YOURSELF. And stop spamming Indymedia.

Tin foil hat.

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IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Sigh

03.09.2009 16:58

>So you respect those generals do you Danny? Perhaps more than the anti-war movement you "CLAIM" to be a part of...?

Actually, quite a lot of the peace movement as well as military analysts recognise that this really could be a 'Long War', and that Pakistan is at risk of destabilisation would be a complicating factor. I have no intention of spamming IM, they can hide what they want, but it is difficult not to respond to dunderheids like you spraffing out yer keechter.

Danny

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Predictable

03.09.2009 19:14

"Actually, quite a lot of the peace movement as well as military analysts recognise that this really could be a 'Long War', and that Pakistan is at risk of destabilisation would be a complicating factor."

Yep, thats the one. The "LONG WAR" eh?

I don't think so.

DO NOT claim you speak on behalf of others in the peace movement. You do not.

Your a spammer.


Tin foil hat

Grammatically - you're a spammer

03.09.2009 20:04

>Yep, thats the one. The "LONG WAR" eh? I don't think so. DO NOT claim you speak on behalf of others in the peace movement. You do not.

I only ever speak for myself and wouldn't wish to speak for anyone else. I'm not speaking for the peace-movement but I am paying attention to what they are saying.


AMY GOODMAN: Do you see Afghanistan becoming an ever-expanded war in the next decade or so? Do you—now we’re talking about doubling the US troops there.

NOAM CHOMSKY: No, that’s the way Obama and the Pentagon see it. In fact, they say so: this is going to be a long war, it’s going to be extended, the US is going to take over the military side, and it’s going to expand it, it’s going to expand into Pakistan. And, I mean, we’ll talk about development, but the focus will be on the military. Obama, right now, is trying to get NATO to cooperate, but recognizing that they’re not going to send military forces. The populations are opposed.

(In case you are confused, Chomsky isn't saying he doesn't believe the war will expand, he is stating that it will but that is already admitted by the establishment, not his assertion).

 http://blog.socialwatch.org/noam-chomsky-on-the-global-economic-crisis-healthcare-us-foreign-policy-and-resistance-to-american-empire/

Long War Needs Long Peace Movement
Tom Hayden
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-hayden/long-war-needs-long-peace_b_224154.html

The Long War: The Apotheosis of Capitalism, Part Two
Ralph Schoenman and Mya Shone
 http://takingaimradio.com/shows/audio.html

The Long War
William S. Lind
 http://www.counterpunch.org/lind02092006.html

America's "Long War". From the Truman Doctrine to the NeoCons - mp3 25M
Michel Chossudovsky
 http://www1.indymedia.org.uk/media/2007/07//376089.mp3

America's Long War
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/feb/15/politics.usa1

Results 1 - 10 of about 1,050 for "long war" "stop the war coalition".

>Your a spammer.

A spammer posts opinions without supporting evidence, like you do, and often lacking grammer too. I'm merely over enthusiastic.

Danny

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