Tuesday, May 23, 2006

They Are Worse Than You Can Ever Imagine

I am starting to think that our political leaderships – specifically in Britain and America – are either ignorant of, or are deliberately ignoring some of the most important teachings from humanities glorious intellectual history.

Ignoring, even rubbishing Marx I can understand, after all Bush/blair are committed Capitalists, but the ideas from others leave me thinking they are in fact not only ignorant but consciously hypocritical. Their self-proclaimed belief in the two thousand year old teachings of Christ, being the most obvious example.

There is another though. Two and a half thousand years ago a Chinese General named Sun-Tzu wrote a short treatise on war – The Art of War – that has been the foundation stone of military theory since. Any career military officer or political leader serious about their profession or calling will have studied this work. I only came across the book 5 weeks ago, which goes to show the lack of serious thought I gave to my ‘career’ as a revolutionary during my membership, and leadership in the CPGB. Now, when it is basically too late to make much of a difference, I find the seriousness in further study to give expression to my political thoughts. My dreams even.

Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your political perspective, the present day leadership in America and Britain, both political and military, seem to have rejected Sun-Tzu’s teachings as can be seen with the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq.

(I do not want to tar every member of the British and American armed forces as being hypocritical or unprofessional. Some did raise questions concerning the sagacity, morality and legality of the invasion of Iraq prior to the presidential orders being given to commit the ‘paramount crime’. One or two resigned their commissions, but the majority ended up following the orders from their political leaders. Others have recently questioned the conduct of the war but only from the safety of retirement, unlike Kendall-Smith who refused what he considered illegal orders and was subsequently court-martialled and sentenced to 8 months in the glass-house. Those who have acted like Kendall-Smith are upholding the highest standards and their responsibilities as professional soldiers.)

I am going to quote quite extensively from ‘The Art of War’ to give an idea of the reasons I feel the warmongers in America and Britain – Bush/blair – are going to lose. It’s not that I am an expert on military affairs, far from it. I spent 7 years in the Royal Army Medical Corp and was only promoted to the lowly rank of Lance Corporal, and from which I was ‘bust’ within two months for drinking and fighting. To the Royal Irish Rangers, with whom I spent 6 months in Cyprus, I was the original ‘Mad Medic’, which should speak for itself.

The reason I feel I can write on this topic is the simplicity and clarity with which Sun-Tzu writes. (Translated by John Minford and published by Penguin Books, Great Ideas Series 2005.) Even a dunderhead and late-comer to military reading like me can make sense of it and I would suggest anybody who wants to find out ways of stopping the wars unleashed by Bush/blair non-violently, buy and read it as an initial guide.


From chapter one;

“Command is
Wisdom,
Integrity,
Compassion,
Courage,
Severity.”

Following the obscenity of the assault on 9th Sept 2001 wisdom would have suggested that the reasons for it be examined. Instead we were subjected to a closing down of questions, discussion and debate with Bush leading the way. ‘You’re either for us or for the terrorists’, his opening refrain.

Integrity of both Bush/blair is obviously non-existent if they are prepared to lie to their peoples about the reasons for war. And they did lie.

What compassion does Bush/blair have if they knowingly murder innocents when committing the ‘paramount crime’ by illegally invading Iraq? For compassion you need empathy, but if Islam/Arab is thought of as ‘Other’ through a racist mindset, then compassion is non-existent.

It is not courage when ordering the destruction of a nation from a position of might, especially as the illegally attacked nation had been brought to its knees following a decade of sanctions and almost daily bombing. Kicking somebody when they are down is not courageous.

Severity might be the only aspect of command that is applicable to Bush/blair, but without the previous four it is useless and if only applied to those they believe below them it is divisive amongst those they claim leadership over. The trials in America of low ranking soldiers involved in the torture at Abu Ghraib and not those who authorised the torture like Rumsfeld is a case in point.

From chapter two;

“In War,
Victory should be
Swift.
If victory is slow,
Men tire,
Morale sags.
Sieges
Exhaust strength;
Protracted campaigns
Strain the public treasury.”

On 1st May 2003 Bush declared ‘Mission Accomplished’ six weeks after the illegal invasion of Iraq. It is now obvious that such a statement was slightly premature to say the least and that the resistance to the occupation is gaining strength. The Troops morale is shot. The public treasury – social welfare – is being stolen to pay for the escalating costs of the war in both America and Britain.

“The Skilful Warrior
Never conscripts troops
A second time;
Never transports provisions
A third.”

In America they have instigated ‘Stop/Loss’ whereby troops have had their contracts extended unilaterally. There is no surer way of destroying trust between commander and soldier. Again morale is shot.

“Treat prisoners of war kindly,
And care for them.
Use victory over the enemy
To enhance your own strength.”

Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib are torture centres for all the world to see, as I have written previously, and they seem to be a deliberate renunciation of this piece of Sun-Tzu’s teachings. Nearly every country in the world has denounced the practise and even in Britain the Attorney General, the highest legal professional in Britain, Lord Goldsmith, has stated that Guantanamo is ‘unacceptable’.

From chapter three;

“In War,
Better take
A state
Intact
Than destroy it.

Better take
An army,
A regiment,
A detachment,
A company,
Intact
Than destroy them.”

On entering Baghdad the first thing Rumsfeld did was to disband the Iraqi army in direct contradiction to the above teachings of Sun-Tzu. ‘Regime change’ was the name of the game, not the destruction of WMD or the ‘war against terrorism’. It is as if the belligerent parties in the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq – Bush/blair – didn’t want the Iraqi people to have a coherent force capable of maintaining the state. Taken with subsequent events, the advent of sectarian death squads for one – the Salvador option - has shown that they were intent on ‘balkanising’ Iraq from the start.

“Ultimate excellence lies
Not in winning
Every battle
But in defeating the enemy
Without ever fighting.
The highest form of warfare
Is to attack
Strategy itself;

The next,
To attack
Alliances;

The next,
To attack
Armies;

The lowest form of war is
To attack
Cities.
Siege warfare
Is the last resort.”

It is now very obvious that the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq has degenerated into ‘the lowest form of war’. The siege and subsequent destruction of Fallujah being the most blatant example and where war crimes were committed as though the leadership who countenanced such behaviour think themselves above, outwith the conscience of basic human dignity.

“A ruler can bring misfortune
Upon his troops
In three ways:

Ordering them
To advance
Or to retreat
When they should not
Is called
Hobbling the army;

Ignorant interference
In military decisions
Confuses
Officers and men;

Ignorant meddling
In military appointments
Perplexes
Officers and men.”

The ignorance of Bush is manifold but as ‘Commander in Chief’ his decision to invade Iraq with lies as justification has hobbled his – and Britain’s – army. As the lies of Bush/blair have unravelled they have sown confusion and perplexed the troops. They now know not the moral cause they are fighting for.

“The decision to invade Iraq, was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who never had to execute these missions – or bury the results.” Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold. Even the American Generals are starting to recognise the lack of understanding of Sun-Tzu to the likes of Bush, blair, Rumsfeld, Cheney et al.

From chapter eleven;

“To the question
‘How should we confront
Numerous and well arrayed,
Poised to attack?’
My reply is
‘Seize something
He cherishes,
And he will do your will.’

This is probably the one lesson from Sun-Tzu that has been learnt by Bush/blair. The taking of hostages by the illegal occupying troops in Iraq, usually the wives and children of those they are seeking to arrest or kill, has been well reported over the last three years. The strength of the resistance is confirmed by such actions. It is in fact a war crime as stated in the Geneva Convention. I will be referring to this quote later on in this article on a more personal issue.

From chapter twelve;

“A ruler
Must never
Mobilise his men
Out of anger;
Must never
Engage battle
Out of spite.

Move
If there is gain;
Halt
If there is no gain.

Anger
Can turn to
Pleasure;
Spite
Can turn to
Joy.
But a nation destroyed
Cannot be
Put back together again;
A dead man
Cannot be
Brought back to life.

So the enlightened ruler
Is prudent;
The effective general
Is cautious.
This is the Way
To keep a nation
At peace
And an army
Intact.”

A rather long quote, but worth it for its obviousness in that the Bush/blair arrogance and spite – their hubris - have brought their respective armies almost to their knees. Armies are to maintain peace and defend the nation, but Bush/blair have decided that the opposite is true and will destroy their respective nations for a lie. Where is the gain for the peoples of America and Britain – who are the nation – in these illegal wars? There is none, just the certainty that more poverty will ensue amongst the ordinary people, whilst the corporations and oligarchs stuff their pockets with record profits from the obscene murder of innocents.

From chapter thirteen;

“There are Five Sorts of Spies:

Local,
Internal,
Double,
Dead, and
Live.”

I think I have met them all, either during my time in the CP, or more recently. In the town where I live there is a CIA Field Officer. I have previously mentioned the tricks he has pulled on me but I have come into further information that, for me, makes it a positive ‘sighting’. He arrived in the area in May 2002, a month after Bush/blair took the decision to invade Iraq, which fits if American ‘assets’ were to be in place around the world preparing for the illegal invasion by disrupting the opposition to the war. There are at least two others, British, who are working with him and are either directly employed by the CIA or are MI6. (During a discussion with David Shayler - ex-MI5 - he mentioned that MI6 did operate in Britain and used MI5 as cover without their knowledge.) While living in Salcombe one tried to get close to me, again I have mentioned this previously, but he is now a ‘dead’ spy in that he has been swapped – another has been given his name and has moved near-by to me following my move from Salcombe.

The following two incidents have happened since the beginning of the year. On Jan 13th I had my fingerprints lifted. While in the café I usually frequent I was very carefully handed a new book by a woman I had fallen into discussion with a few weeks previously. The book had a very glossy cover and the way of being handed it and then taken back made me suspicious. She never directly touched the cover of the book herself. On the afternoon of 13th April, the day before Good Friday and the Easter break, I was visited at home by somebody claiming to be from my landlord and who wanted to do a ‘quality check’ on the kitchen. He then proceeded to take loads of photographs of the kitchen. The kitchen had been renovated a year before and I was suspicious that it had taken this long to check, so on the following Tuesday I went to the landlord’s office to find out who he was. After waiting 15/20 minutes he arrived dressed in black boots, black trousers with no belt and white shirt. I had seen this type of dress on police during my youth when they had to quickly try and appear in ‘plain’ clothes. I live in a small town where it only takes 10 minutes to get anywhere.

Recently I have been thinking about Operation Gladio, having been reminded of it by David Shayler. This was the Italian name of a European wide clandestine reactionary force set up following World War II. Initially established by the British and named in Britain as ‘Stay Behind’, it was conceived as a guerrilla force fighting the Russians if they invaded Western Europe. It was taken over by the American’s – read CIA – and incorporated into NATO almost immediately after its creation. ‘Stay Behind’ membership comprised personnel from the intelligence, police and military services of European nations, including those not affiliated to NATO, and reactionary elements from the various countries involved.

I had read about this in the 1980’s while studying, to a certain extent, the Italian CP’s experience in trying to develop what they called the ‘historic compromise’, an attempt at sharing power in Italy between the Christian Democrats and the PCI. This was brought to an end with the kidnapping and murder of former CD Prime Minister, Aldo Moro in 1978 by the Red Brigades, who in fact were a front for reaction and nothing to do with the Left in Italy. Subsequent investigations in Italy have attributed to Operation Gladio many false flag atrocities from the 1960’s to 1990’s.

I am now wondering if ‘stay behind’ was re-activated throughout Europe as a part of the build up to the illegal invasion of Iraq. And if it is the case, then blair has committed treason against the British people.

In a previous post I stated that I had compromised myself with the British Establishment in my attempts to shed myself of the Americans spooking me. That was not quite true. It’s not so much me who has been compromised, but my family.

During my membership of the now defunct Communist Party of Great Britain I must have met dozens of ‘agents’, but in my naiveté about security matters I never considered it. We genuine revolutionaries were after all only amateurs. Information gathered about individuals in the CP would have been passed to the informant’s ‘handlers’. The knowledge they acquired about me was the little I mentioned of my family, especially my sister, to friends and comrades. There was something there to investigate, search out and they found it big time.

I am now convinced that as preparation for the coming wars, the CIA/MI6 placed an agent to my sister’s daughter to find the secret we had between us. He became the father of her children and was caught by my niece, probably deliberately, searching for porn on the internet. After the incident she agreed to stay with him if he rid himself of the ‘addiction’. His name came over with the 7,000+ names supplied by American intelligence to the British Police in May 2002 as one who accessed child porn sites. (In April 2002 Bush/blair decided to invade Iraq). He was arrested as part of Operation Ore, which was the name given by the police to the action following the handing over of the names. I think this happened in Jan 2003. It obviously freaked my sister and brought back memories from our childhood, which she made very public. He is no longer a member of my family and I was only informed of his arrest and conviction in March 2005. It was following this that an attempt was made to set me up on a ‘stalking charge’ by the ‘police’ in 2003. (See Empathy is not a Colour for the details). The evidence Operation Ore relied on was revealed as "false claims" according to news item in PC PRO by Alun Williams, dated 23rd June 2005 and which referred to an up coming article by Duncan Campbell in the August 2005 issue.

I have stated in other essays that immense sacrifices will have to be made if the war is to be stopped. This also includes the sacrifice I will personally have to make. I am already estranged from the majority of my family and if what I have written will estrange me from the rest – so be it.

Previous posts to this site have included three essays on conspiracy. I am not a believer in conspiracy theories as a means of understanding and explaining historical developments and my writings have tried to say that - not all that coherently. That is not to say that conspiracies do not happen, but they are not the driving force of human history. Recently I came across an essay by Dr Bulent Gokay (Pravda via ICH) that manages to express my ramblings over three attempts, in only half an essay, more succinctly and with greater clarity.

The reason I am mentioning this now is that some of what I have just written can be construed as the fertile imaginings of a conspiracy theorist with a paranoid mind. Paranoia is the psychiatric equivalent of conspiracy theory as they are always mentioned in the same breath. But recent research has shown that approximately 80% of the population is paranoid if one considers it as a condition from being slightly wary to an extreme fearful nervousness. I have not been able to re-find the research item that mentioned this but it is very understandable if one believes the idea that we evolved from a prey species, which recent paleoanthropological research seems to have discovered. That we are like other species, hard-wired, as well as being taught, to be aware of any dangers in our surroundings.

I have previously posted to the outsidethegates.blogspot.com site, for 36hrs, a piece about being informed that my neurologist had been put on indefinite leave due to a drug trial investigation, the informant/information was very unreliable hence the lack of a full follow through from me in a further post. I did include in the 36hr piece an extract from a letter that I had written the neurologist in Nov 2005 in which I mentioned that I had entrusted the neurologist with the manuscript of ‘Empathy is not a Colour’ and that, when trying to explain what was happening around me - the spooking, surveillance etc - he stated that I was not paranoid. Whilst not volunteering any information about a ‘police’ investigation, he carried through his Hippocratic Oath of doing no harm.

The other point that needs to be emphasised here is that although I didn’t think I was that important in the overall scheme of things it seems the instigators of illegal wars thought otherwise. My previous role as a leader of a national revolutionary party albeit a small one, the Welsh CP, from 1989 to its demise in 1992 has obviously made this the case. The following link should make this abundantly clear. The Wedge Strategy at antievolution.org.

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