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Red Flags: Kingdom vs. Kingdom

Bob Neumann

Throughout mankind’s long and tumultuous history, war has been a major source of suffering and death. Ancient Greek and Roman mythology describe the God of War as the personification of frail humanity’s fears.

Such author pornographic efforts did not limit itself to the likes of the Roman Mars, or the Greek Ares. Modern buzz words as Havoc, Amok, and Typhoon Burserker, all originated from ancient tales of individual whose exploits were the stuff of nightmare. Fear and terror were the purpose and the deities to whom the practitioner of mayhem worshipped and lived. Today they still have their counterparts, but the venue seems to be changing. “WAR” appears to have lost its luster as the technology of man has advanced. Likewise improvement in tactics decreased the individual efforts.

A strange equality has been berthed. Individual abilities and coverage always took a back seat to technology. As rock and stone fell prey to bronze, so bronze eventually fell to iron and steel. As individuals fell to large numbers, so too did massed warriors fall to disciplined soldiers. Tactics and strategies changed with time slowly, only to accelerate suddenly and unexpectedly. Even Shakespeare documented one of these sentimental moments in mankind’s evolution.

The play Henry V portrays the battle of any in court. In this small area of France the ultimate example of chivalry, the massed French Cavalry, all knights in shining armor road off to battle. The Aristocracy of glorious France assembled in response to their dauphin, the Prince of France. With “Superior” armament, numerical “superiority”, and “righteous” cause they advanced with victory “assured.” But there are more variables than armor, numbers, and incentive. Terrain, meteorology, and technology favored the British. In rain and mud cavalry lost it’s advantage, in fog and mist it lost its cohesion. What French Knight who was not felled by the long bows of English yeomen, fell to their pikes, swords and axes.

The Gods of War were greatly served in the most one sided battle in history. And it was a battle, man of war vs man of war. Technology today has removed that possibility. This Twentieth Century is the Century of Two World Wars. It is also the Century of Refugees, friendly fire, collateral damage, and mutual assured destruction. Mutual assured destruction, MAD, is the bastard child of technology and global power. It was berthed into the abstraction called the cold war. Coined in the stalemate between the east and the west, it epitomized the awkward balances that technology established. Thermonuclear War was seen by the secular world as “Armageddon”, a literal doomsday where nuclear winter would be the ultimate victor. Interestingly man turned to technology to provide an alternative to battle in the Thermonuclear Age. The neutron bomb destroyed life, but left inanimate objects intact. Star Wars anti missile warhead research might supply a theoretical defensive support to strategic first strike capabilities. Laser and Pulse Beam/Particle Beam Research and Development continue today. In the heat of the Cold War and expanded arsenal of probability was needed, so biological/chemical genetic weaponry was espoused. But now they are no longer needed. Global Peace and Prosperity, love and happiness are at the door. Just listen to your politicians. And if doesn’t seem to matter where in the “free” world you might live. Only little of the world now appears to be free.

One of the problems of the cold war and MAD was it did change the nature of man. When technology prevented conflict, the followers of the Gods of War changed tactics, strategies, and venues. Between 1945 and 1988 east/west, communism/capitalism changed the venue from direct confrontation to “surrogate” war. The “game” was created around some global hot spot where each super power took aside in a local conflict. Each would send “aid” and “advisors”, sometimes troupes were committed. Global ore-up man ship played out in the concept of a “guerrilla”, a “little” war. (For many years American citizens heard the word “gorilla” and could not understand how apes were involved. But if you heard it on the TV, it had to be right. Right!)

Depending upon what side of the fence you stood the combatants of “guerilla” warfare took on astoundingly different characteristics. If you were supportive of their efforts for whatever reason they became daring, charismatic, even romantic freedom fighters. Independent partisans rising against the great aggressor to restore peace, safety, and freedom to their countryman. They over came great odds through great sacrifice. Of such are the legends of William Tell, Robin Hood, Joan of Arc, and the scarlet pimpernel. Again, depending on your point of view, modern “legends” might include Wallensa of Poland. Pavel of Czechoslovokia, Ghandi of India, Ben Gurien and Begin of Israel, “Marshal” Tito of Croatia and Yugoslavia, Mao of China, Castro, Noriega, the Ahyatolla Khomeni , Sadam Hussein, etc. I think you get my point. One mans patriotic freedom fighter could be another’s saboteur, assassin, or terrorist. It all depend on who wins and who writes the History books. Or it used to.

In American “history” has an adversary called “redaction.” Much of history is being rewritten as the “memory” begins to fade. Regrettably it in difficult to spot who is responsible for this changing of History, but it is obvious the American people are the opposition. So it is necessary to study the Technology, tactics and strategies of the “little war.” Because of its nature the “guerilla war” is one that attempts to change a balance of power without head to head conflict. Tactically it pits a smaller, weaker group against the present government/culture/society. So the idea of anonymity is important. If a government does not know who to fight, it is powerless to even strike at its enemy. The principle weapons of anonymity are misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda. this diminishes effective creation and deployment of any counter-insurgent measures by the “Government.”

The second tactic of this “guerrilla” war is attrition. To damage the strength and literal structure of the “government.” Attrition can be anything from debasing the economy to disrupting the infrastructure. Assassination and sabotage are weapons of attrition that lead to the third major tactic of warfare, and that is terrorism. The goal of the “guerilla” is to overthrow the present government/culture/society.

One means of doing so is to either win the support of the common people, and if not, to destroy their will to resist the insurrectionists. If misinformation and propaganda fail to move the people, fear will. That is the sole purpose of terrorism. Sometimes it works, look at “modern” Israel and Afghanistan. But “victory” takes a price, ask a Muhajadin or a Machabee. Yet terrorism, by itself, has never over thrown a government.

A “terrorist act” by definition is to create fear as it damages present authority. To blow up a power plant, bridge, factory, or rail line “disrupts” more than “frightens.” But to “attack” the people is a sign of a terrorist. “Fear” is created by exposing vulnerability. But whose? In the perfect world of Hollywood the insurrectionist seemed to be attempting to restore “freedom.” To either throw out an external/aggressor or to overthrow a corrupt or tyrannical government. Yet historically the cold war created few heroes, but many victims. And it continues until today.

Today terrorism can be a tactic of many possible causes. But we need to only look at three. The first, of course, is to restore freedom to a conquered people, or to regain a “homeland”. The second is to overthrow a government and to replace it in some way. The third is simple anarchy for either profit or pleasure. The first and second cause for terrorism has a purpose that is simply understood because it has a goal.

The third cause tends to be a “Pandora’s Box” of possibilities and probabilities. There was once a time where the word Anarchist brought vivid mental pictures of wild eyed fanatics who caused death and destruction for unimagined reason or cause.

Anarchy by definition, is a state where all rules of conduct are suspended, all bets are off. In the previous century literature described the Anarchist as a “mad man with a bomb.” Before there were serial killers and mass murderers we had Anarchists. Long-haired, bearded “Bohemians” whose only desire was to upset the apple cart. Or so they were pictured. Now that we have laid a “foundation” on Terrorism and Terrorist. Let us look at recent ‘events’ in America. Let us go back to the World Trade Center and planned bombings in New York City.

Supposedly the FBI was aware of activities prior to the bombing and quickly moved afterwards against certain Islamic Fundamentalists. In Oklahoma City a bomb went off and quickly suspects were arrested. A Value Jet aircraft went down in the Everglades “equipment” failure is believed. A TWA aircraft goes down in the Atlantic; no answers have yet to be given. A bomb goes off in Atlanta, one suspect is, mentioned, and then ignored by the authorities, but not the media. Now where is the “common thread” between them.

By nature, when a “guerilla’ goes to the point of requiring terrorist acts either the cause is nearly won, or it is hopeless. In the first case a ruthless act of terror will get a dictator to abdicate, or an enemy to withdraw. The second case is to show that the “cause” has not died when it basically has. You may call it a vengeful act, the so called insurgent calls it a “parting shot”, not quickly forgotten. It is in their light that when a bomb goes off somewhere in the world, the News Media is “contacted” by “alleged groups” who take claim for the terrorist act. A number of years ago a “pipe bomb exploded in a European Airport Terminal.

Within 24 hours a major wire service documented that the act of terrorism was claimed by eight separate groups: The Irish Republican Army, the PLO, The Red Brigades of Italy, A Basque Separatist Group, A Greek Royalist Group, The German Badder Meinholf “Gang” and a “Green Party” activist who would not disclose his/her country of origin. It is interesting that so many causes openly desire credit for killing and naming “innocent people.” Especially when authorities apprehended the bomber.

An employee that had been fired was “getting even”. Shades of the United States Postal Service. In the first 24 hours of both the World Trade Center and the Oklahoma City bombings, the Media mentioned a claim for each from an “Islamic Group”, but only briefly. No other claims were “reported.” But where any claims made? Nor has the Media reported such claims in either crash or the Atlanta Bombing. This goes against the “nature” of a terrorist, whether factual or bogus.

If they are all acts of an anarchist “he” is not the mad man, megalomaniac we would expect to see. So that tends to leave out the “pleasure” variable. Imagine a group or person exceptionally competent technically and professionally disciplined acting in the area terrorism on behalf of the highest bidder. Yet both maintaining anonymity. All this does is to bring us completely full circle.

Is there an unseen “Kingdom” openly contesting for the expulsion of an invading power who has conquered and enslaved the people of the United States? While we were asleep or not looking? That obviously is not the apparent situation.

So in spite of what either the Democrats or the Republicans might say at their conventions, the forceful overthrow of a despotic tyrant does not seem underway. So what remains. Over the years who has not heard of some strange conspiracy coming from outside and from inside our very government. Some have been more that far fetched while a few were quite intriguing. What usually eliminated these theories where those who came forward to warn us of “impending dooms”. Granted, before most got their 15 minutes in the spot light, they had borne the brand of fanatic, lunatic, and crackpot. And where did the titles come from, our friends in the fourth estate. Then again, the media itself, and how it has slowly evolved into the molder of the message, rather than just the messenger, is suspect.

Point of fact, whenever a coup de tat would take place, the central objective would be to capture all areas of media and control. Political control does not come only by military and police control, but the economical and popular power.

The radio and television links give the coup access to the people, both for the dissemination of information and propaganda. Most military and political strategists saw this not only as the key failure of the Soviet Coup against Mikael Gorbachev, but as the linch-pin of the “charade.”

All tactical experts agreed that no effort was made to either control or to shoot down both the local and International Media. In fact, they agreed that the “protection” of International Media and their satellite uplinks proved that the “Coup” was a “staged event.” Merely Russian Theater at it’s highest. But little was said over the media that would cause disbelief to spring up. All contrary thoughts took time to filter through the channels. Enough to me that Gorbachev was out, Yeltzin was in and those who “staged” the coup were dealt with. Unknown invisible men were safely out of sight. Obvious the Soviet/Russian Bear had truly changed.

The “Evil Empire” berthed by Levin and Stalin dealt speedily with all who rose up against it. And the net eternity in the bowels of Lubianca Prison, or a shallow grave in Siberia, not in Summer House in Crimea. For nearly forty years the Kingdoms in conflict were simple to distinguish. East vs West, Communism vs Democracy, Socialism vs Capitalism were simply labels for the two systems that vied for world domination. Our side was based in “Washington” while the other was based in “Moscow.” But because of technological advance to the stage of mutual assured destruction. Global conflict became limited to the surrogate level.

Basically you could play one side against the other, but ultimately all played by a strange set of rules. And as the cold war ended, between the two powers, local instability occurred when “nationalism” filled the power void. So who would gain from any form of Terrorist Act against the American people? Who would benefit by attacks against the American power grid or infrastructure? What is left is a “conspiracy” so advanced and developed that victory is assured.

The anarchist theory of terrorism for pleasure or profit no longer fits because the megalomaniac wants recognition for his acts. That is his source of pleasure. Likewise the profit ideal falls because while the perpetrators would seek anonymity, the “customer” would seek the media to chin the credit. Literally notoriety based on the size of the “bang” for their “bucks.” Crude humor, but accurate. That leaves only scapegoats and surrogates to ponder.

Samuel

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