Category Archives: Apocalypse

The War Posts Part II – The Logic of War

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Foreword: This post is going to start off with what might be seen as in an unfair way. Bear with me.

Opening
I am going to ask you a few uncomfortable questions:

Have you ever felt there was a group of folk you disliked intensely for their views?
Have you ever felt some folk were so opposed to your outlook there was no arguing with them?
Have you ever felt personally threatened by some group for a perceived potentially invasive potential?
Have you ever felt that a group is such a threat to you and your way of life that  force as a last resort is justifiable?
Have you ever felt that a group or community holds views which you consider so repellent and inexcusable that they should not be allowed to continue?
Have you ever coveted anything?

You may feel justified in thinking these are a bit unfair and leading questions. Understandable. Yet I ask them, because in my opinion these are at the very basic, fundamental urges to resort to conflict. In short at this current stage in the development of Humanity, Humanity is wired for conflict. At the least in the verbal; at the worst in warfare. Now you may feel you, personally, can and have managed with much effort to circumvent these urges, and that is laudable. Can however you say the same for the majority of people around you, or to take it one step further, in the world?
Or does the evidence suggest that despite all the hard, harsh tragic lessons of History Humanity still defaults to conflict and thus War? I would contend on that current evidence this is the case. War is a facet of the current Human Condition and thus has its own Logic, one which exists in the extreme versions of those opening questions.

The Environment of the Logic of War
Being this extreme activity which involves the seizure or destruction of people, resources and property either because one side feels a need to or the other side feels the need to stop them, the thought processes, the perceptions and the decision making are ones outside of the usual civil procedures. After all willing acceptance to inflict Death and wilful Destruction are involved and those are very much Absolutes. It can be argued that some wars are conducted with some restraints at some times, but overall the application of violence to achieve or foil achievement are there at the basics. Thus those who are involved in warfare either by profession, political decision or simply in there by no choice at all will shift their perspectives from the civil and civic ways, eventually accepting in within such an environment indeed The Means Justifies The End. By Need or by Duty.

Practices Within The Logic of War 
As stated in the previous post the destruction of on side’s resources and will to resist in addition to their armies was always there in the campaign. This would take various forms.

Outright slaughter upon any who resisted – The Mongol Invasions of the 13th and 14th century took this to such extreme forms that some historians have cited the environment changed such was the loss of Human Life.

Subjugation of The Population – Either by terror or by enslavement. Common in the classical eras for a population of a fallen city to be put into slavery. Even in the 18th century prisons of war taken by the Hapsburg Empire could find themselves sold off to the Ottomans. And of course the continued fear of the armed enemy now living in your neighbourhood, quite at their whim. William the Conqueror to name but one dealt with an Anglo-Saxon uprising in the north of England by what was called ‘The Harrying of the North’. There a many, many more examples – the 20th & 21st centuries were and are carrying on an old response.

Treating People As Resources or Vermin – As briefly covered in the previous post and also during extreme examples of the above questions an action which is ingrained into war. Destroy the people and you destroy the foe’s abilities or will to continue. Jonathan Sumpton’s five volume history of the Hundred Years’ War is a masterful work in scope and in detail, although as you read through the fifth volume you are starting to wonder how there were any folk alive left in France by 1460 after the depravations of The English, The French Civil Wars and the ravaging by mercenary armies. The Thirty Years War is synonymous with slaughter, pillage and rapine throughout central Europe. To spare you any more details I would just summarise by saying in Eastern Europe through to Russia, down to the Ottoman and Persian Empires brutality was the order of the day. When you look through the history of China a similar picture arises. And you can go in any direction and find the same processes. The ultimately depressing or shocking facet being a people can be victims and later instigators, or the other way around and not unusually  both at once.

The Arrival of Industrial Efficiency – There would be some debate as to when this approach impacted on the processes of war. Arguably the overwhelming replacement of steel by the missile as the principal deliverer of action, so maybe the early years of the 18th Century.  Now over the next two centuries would develop a stronger intention to destroy armies by essentially blasting them apart and if the place of conflict happened to include villages or small towns, this was how things were. During this era the French Revolutionary armies developed the principal of mobility through not relying on long supply columns, but living off of the land; in the long history of warfare this was nothing new- grab what you want and if the civilians know what good for them they accept it. (Only this did not work out so well for the French in Spain or Russia, and in 1814 there was retribution visited by a revised Prussia) .  As armies grew larger and supply became a constant problem appropriation of civilians and civilian resources  was not reduced by enlightened thinking or the growth of request for ‘Rights’ and ‘Independence’  Far from it. Fired up by a new concept of Nationalism The Means Justifies The End edict was allowed to run riot, literally in many cases, and woe betide a minority living in an area where a majority had just gained independence, for minorities are always treated with suspicion (see those worrisome questions) 

Being Truly Professional and Social About it – There have always been professionals but the demands and developments of the 19th Century required far more study and contemplation of war, and many more books than simply instruction manuals were coming into print. Probably the one which springs to the military inclined mind would be the Prussian General Carl von Clausewitz’s ‘On War’ being treatises on political-military analysis and strategy, which although published in 1832, still hold some sway in these times. I would suggest this was when Modern War as we know it was distilled from its embryonic form of the Napoleon Era. The Means Justifies The End  now had a truly modern feel. The soldier had to be educated to some degree to handle sophisticated weapons; officer classes trained to handle the various demands of the modern armies and those armies motivated to embrace a nationalistic feel. Science ever in the background was also fully entering the mix and something to be given some study and respect, for it was an exciting new world and every advance had the possibility of finding a place in warfare. With all this taking place a nation looking for or to keep its place on the World Stage or simply stay independent had to be more than ever aware of all these factors. What had once been conducted at the behest of Princes, Kings and Emperors was now overseen by secular Governments and their professional armies. Public support on a national basis had been growing since the 18th Century but now became a strong demand. Thus a change was taking place in the industrialised world. War was not something which happened to the civilian population, the civilian population through the evolution of mass communication could now enter the dynamic, no longer involved in just local squabbles over land or defence or religion, but now through Nationhood. 

By the beginning of the 20th Century the capacity for destruction of not just a foe’s armies but it’s resources and people had developed by enveloping and refining the usage of all possible advances, scientific, political and social. The era we now call Modern needs its own post for there The Logic of War shows its true colours and potential   

The War Posts – Part I .An Introduction to War

The War Posts – Part I .An Introduction to War

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Foreword: The dates of the 6th and 8th of August hold particularly vivid images in the historical narrative. Most readers will be aware of their relevance. The days Nuclear Weaponry was added to the catalogue of weaponry. Thus, arguably these events became the starkest, most fearful indication to a number of people as to the horrors of War. Those who lived in times and places in which they did not personally experience the events and consequences of War. And to everyone how very efficient and finalistic War was now becoming.

Overview
As long as there has been Humanity there has been conflict, as it is with other species. Although as Humanity developed and started its path to civilisation War became more than just one group throwing things at another group. As did everything else War developed too, the logic being weapons had to improve to keep up with everything else; you could hardly conquer in walled city with a host of men armed with sharp pointed stick charging at it and valiantly poking away. Missiles, sieges, mining, poisoning of water courses, throwing in of dead diseased bodies and of course laying waste the land around depriving the foes of resources. Pitched battles could be quite rare at times. There was also the arts of marching and countermarching like chess, and maybe the foe would see no advantage to combat, give up and go home or seek terms. The latter practice carried on into the early 18th century; then with industrialisation war became more focused about destroying armies.

Throughout all this one thing was a constant. That being the suffering of the civilians and the ruination of their livelihoods. The idea of an army marching in good disciplined order with stony faces set of the horizon and their tryst with Fate might make good image on film. Only in the old style propaganda films or political slanted works will you see soldiers treating enemy civilians in sanitised bad ways, you will have to read about the true pillage, multiple gang rapes, random killing, casual cruelty and destruction. You would have to bypass the recent wars quasi-colonial style wars of the latter part of the 20th and thus far in the 21st Century to face the fact that the liberating armies of the Allies moving west through France and into Germany in WWII were not comprised entirely of firm but fair, tough fighting decent lads.

Armies are at best hard, brutal machines trained to expect danger; at worse they are ill-disciplined armed gangs with a smidge of training. And there are the majority, the in-between. Ill-clothed, ill-ed, ill-paid only there because there was no other option.
Civilians are the fodder, either swept up to be part of the violence or to be treated with no more concern than their houses. Either a resource to be used, or one to be destroyed thus depriving the enemy and sapping the general will, another resource.

Reasoning
I can understand that having digested this, the reader would conclude ‘I can see where he is going with this. He is trying to dilute the effects on the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by a sweeping generalisation, that they were nothing special’
It would be a reasonable assumption.
From the perspective of repulsion and the sudden, swift, frightening devastation. A fearful power unleashed, a vision as to how War could now be.
Yes they were special. None of us were now safe. Anywhere. Anyhow. We were all subject to the Dread Logic of War.

War?
Suffering. Terrible, Raw, Suffering. Dealt out with a Logic more terrible than the weapons themselves.

The next part covers The Logic of War

Job Satisfaction Comes Easy For Some of Us. February #BlogBattle: Expectation

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Of late it has been just about the funniest era which I ever witnessed, and in my tenure through the history of The People there have been some truly hilarious ones. Of course, humour is somewhat subjective. and you might not find the end as much of a joke as I would. In this you should give me some leeway for if you had been selected to witness the History of The People and never given even a smidge of a reason as to Why Me or For What Purpose, your perspectives might end up being somewhat, shall we say ‘Different’. Oh, I do envy those who I have encountered who know they have a purpose, even if some of them do make me snigger (but never to their faces, that would be dreadfully rude)

Anyway. It all began during one of those eras when The People had been making progress. As usual the path was ragged, full of holes and mis-directions caused by the fogs of Ambition or Ignorance, but The People were getting there. They’d even formulated rules for warfare, not that those were adhered to much, but as the saying goes ‘It’s The Thought That Counts’

It is possible, just possible the Big Cause was all those sort of wars, which weren’t the big proper ones but the small snippy ones which may have given rise to the dissatisfaction. Because aside from getting killed or maimed or having someone close to you killed or maimed no one likes have explosions near to their homes, and even if there are no near explosions no one likes having to pay out for or do without because of some faraway war. Am I right? Yes I am, I’ve been around long enough. Now apart from blaming those in charge whether they deserved it or not, another thing folk will always do is blame others who although had been living thereabout for a few generations, but if the majority didn’t think them proper natives they got part of the blame. Seems a bit unfair, but folk hate having their Expectations foiled, and doing without or losing folk close to them, or worse losing the war; does tend to make them grumpy and irrational. And to make it even more funny, even if the war was over and they might have won it, they were still unhappy about This and That, even if This and That didn’t really impinge on them.

Now folks of The People who are grumpy like that get really cross because they never stop to think about how they could stop the grumpiness by just be grateful with what they had and letting others live likewise. This is where it gets to be really funny. What do they do? Do they work hard to try and make things better? Nnnnnooooh! They go and look for someone who has got very little idea on how to be constructive and who thinks that pulling things down or picking on different folk is the best way to run a nation, never mind if that person couldn’t even organise an orgy in a Place of Pleasure, never mind if they are only interested in themselves, and their group. Folk start to chose them because they talk the Talk folks want to hear, not The Talk that folk ought to listen to. I’ve heard it so many times, I tell you it is sssoooo funny because what’s going to happen is obvious.

The Folk that put The Rulers there do not get their Expectations fulfilled. Thousands of years re-run and back-run and it still happens. Ooooh y’ just gotta giggle. This People! Sorry about the loss of dictation there, but it gets funnier. Wait I’ll compose myself.

There that’s better. Now what happens next is what with all the Expectations not getting fulfilled The People start hitting each even more than usual and burning down the places they live, play and shop in. Yes that’s right? Smash up your hometown makes you feel better. What a hoot. But it gets even funnier, unbelievable right? No, listen here, all these folk who are upset at the ways things are going and complaining no one listens to them, what do they do next. Oh this is good. You’ll like this. They put into power a person or group of persons who take so much control that no one gets to do what they like. Of course it takes a while for the sillies to realise that, but by then it’s too twiddling late! They are stuck with it, while the ones at the top are skimming off the cream and the only danger they have is from each other. All The People doing it.

At this point the leaders having got everyone under control get cross with other leaders because they don’t see their point of view, which is a bit silly because there’s more than one way to run a country right? They just can’t see that. There’s those that reckon very rich folk being allowed to shake down the ordinary folk is the way. Others say no and they do the opposite and they say The State knows best, so no one is allowed to be rich, except the leaders but not so that you’d notice. Meanwhile some say the answer is that if you decide everything is done a religious way then all will be good, and those who don’t believe your way are bad; the leaders reckon they will get to save their god the trouble and they kill the not-believing folk. There are some rulers mix all sorts of different ways to rule, and those are really amusing because they allow folk to vote; the way they are told that is.

This goes on for a while, then the Grumpiness reaches a high level, folk starting hitting folk who work for the Rulers and breaking things belonging to The Rulers. That’s when the Governments do the same back to them to say how they like it. The folk don’t, and reckon another country has got it right, which means every government sets up groups of grumpies in other governments’ lands, and there is lots of hitting, and wars, which get a bit bigger. What used to happen was that eventually everyone would either get fed up of the war or there wouldn’t be many left to send off to get killed or maimed, so everything would settle down. Until the next one that is.

This time it was all of The People All of The Time. In the shape of a war which was very, very, very long and big. All the leaders had plans and expectations but none of those worked out and there was so much damage and loss of life that it looked like folk wouldn’t make it through. Well I could have told them that, for once I did try to in different disguises but The People  were so mixed up they just threw things at me, or tried to have me executed, which naturally never worked. I just said ‘Well spoofle to you,’ then. ‘I know what’ll happen next,’

Yes, they started to run out of not just of the sophisticated stuff they began to mess up the basics of food, shelter and even weaponry. In the case of the latter they had to start to stab each with stick and throw stones or if they were really strong and co-operative hurl big rocks. What was another bit of chucklesome was that they’d lost all the ways of making farming work, and how to hunt without being killed, and thus they decided all what was left was to eat each other. Yes, that’s right. Can you believe it? Of course that led to a lot of creeping about, leaping out on each other, knocking head and stabbing bodies but they kept enough sense to prepare and cook properly. The wars just declined to simply that creeping and crawling followed by leaping out to kill and then munch.

Here’s where the laughable lesson comes in, since Folk were so busy killing and eating each other and those were their only expectations the rest of Life began to recover and some it seeing as how The People were not that strong or swift, lots of Life preyed on them. Oh my, but that is HILARIOUS  to watch!

‘Enough Sister. Enough. What you are describing is a terrible tragedy. It is nothing to laugh at. All that potential wasted. All that suffering. If you could not have handled it yourself you should have called out to us,’

‘Huh! Says you Brother. Why should I have troubled you? You had your own tasks and you had been told or given enough clues to learn yours. You were all busy. It was not right to distract you from your Folk,’

‘But Sister. Had you not thought to reach out? Truly you should have known you could not have been left alone to observe a People and final grow so weary as to find the whole process amusing. Surely you should have realised that was not expected of you?’

‘Dear Sister did you not discern earlier on that the is not the first time I have discussed my situation with Brother or Sister? See how our Brother shakes his head. I see you Brother, you may look and sound different, but I sense you. We have conversed before, and you could not change me then either. For I was never told to do aught but observe by those Unseen. If you ever met them then I am glad for you. Not for me. Not my duty. Not for These People. What else was there to expect? Did I not tell you I did try but they would not listen, and thus, soon they will be gone. All that talent, all that potential, all those gifts, wasted because they thought being simplistic and intolerant was still a good idea. Now that is something to laugh at. A warning within a joke. Truly Sister and Brother I tell you Irony has the Final Say, or maybe Nature. still working on that point. Anyways I bid you both well and would have you return to your own allotted and worthy tasks,’

And turned my back on them which might have been just a bit rude, but since this was my patch of Creation there was not much they could do about it. I was never convinced by their ethics and since The Unseen was or were not telling me otherwise that was that. Still since I have very low expectations in that area I don’t worry about it.

I have this new amusement now, sitting out of sight of The People; there are still a few millions of them about the place and I am throwing small stones at their heads. They yelp, jump up and glare around then picking up a big stick go rushing off in what direction they thought the stone came from. Meanwhile I’ve done the same to another one. As expected they crash into each other; well you can guess the rest. They’d be hitting each other anyway; I might as well get a few extra chortles out of the business.

Some day they will have all died out. By then I will have manufactured a great big plinth and upon that will be inscribed.

‘Here lie a People who could have been so much but instead fell to the call of Terminal Stupidity’.

At that stage I expect I will find out whether I did a good job or not.

Close Estimation. Some Days I Just Wish I Had Been Wrong

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win_20210522_11_00_43_pro

Sometimes you can take a guilty little pleasure in a ‘Toldja’ moment, particularly if you really didn’t agree with those on the other side of the argument and it’s all gone wrong for them. Some of us lefty Brits indulged in this quite a bit in the years following the shock Conservative election win of 1992, and all was to go very wrong for John Major and his fractious ungrateful party Some of us of more generous spirit would smile sadly at those who by 1994 were saying ‘But I thought I did the right thing in voting Conservative’.

Forward 30 years.

We live in a time when  the extremes of the Republican Party and it loud support groups found Trump in the Walmart Action Toy bargain bin and set him up as a Must Have, thus making White Privilege, Denial of Progress and Scientific Evidence and Quasi- Religious Fundamentalism Respectable and Profitable. Witnessing their efforts to roll back everything rational and a resulting polarisation I have been one amongst many suggesting the end of the USA might be on its way. History indicates a declining nation becomes prey to outside predators, not armed ones essentially, but commercial ventures looking to buy off local rulers and gradually get their hooks in, then bring in the armies, and the next thing the natives are subjects. Europe excelled at this from the 16th century to the 20th.

Well it seems I was part-right. Only it has come in the form of one dangerously wealthy person, some quirk of the 21st century. This Musk person with an abnormal form of intelligence and drive naturally would influence Trump who can only see dollar signs and the attraction of folk with unworkable reactionary ideas. So with Musk ensconced Musk promptly, as the script goes started to influence beyond the democratic process, impose his will, buy off willing politicians lacking either principals or intelligence or perception or all three.  Dylan’s song ‘It’s alright Mah I’m only Bleeding’ is rich with quotable lines, in this case:
‘Money doesn’t talk. It swears’

And while we’re on the subject of apt songs, let’s go back to an real oldie by The Electric Prunes (only in the 1960s would you get such a name)- sorry WP isn’t working it’s mojo with showing the whole video, just the link – Sold To The Highest Bidder is the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnKby42E4tU

Land deal purchased at a knocked down price. Still part of the USA history, like the Louisiana Purchase, or the Alaska Purchase. Only this time the USA isn’t buying, it’s being bought.
Some joke uh?

An Uncomfortable Fact

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Sudan Suffering

It is understandable that folk should have become angry and upset over the latest events between Palestine and Israel. The news made the headlines. The actions by both sides were militarily and politically inexcusable and neither come out with any honour. 

 Arguably there might not have been the same impact with the war in Ukraine. The Ukrainians fought back and even if Russia does win grinding down stage the price is high. Some grim satisfaction for the observer. 

For more than a few October 2023 may have been their first introduction to the full brutality of war upon civilians en mass. And to be fair most folk have to rely on the media feeds, the intensity and the duration of the reporting. And whether any outlet bothers to gather experts, journalists and activists  to discuss the events at prime time. As for the political arenas….Well that depends on whether there is any mileage doesn’t it? Is there a Sudanese vote this presidential year? Can Trump find it on the map. At least Biden went for sanctions (which is a bit like a bucket of water in a forest fire, but he tried) 

And so Sudan suffers.

Sudan The current round of destruction of homes, slaughter and mass rape began on the 15th April last year, when fighting began between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Force (previously known as The Janjaweed whose levels of brutality have been a byword in Sudan for decades). The current death toll is 13,000 -15,000, the injured reaching 30,000 + the internally displaced about 6,000,000, refugees 1,700,000+ and if you add all those figures together and take just 1% you would have a lower figure for the number of women and children raped. Some official figure says 88. My rebuttal is redacted, even self-censoring doesn’t cover my fury.

Other internal militias have piled into the chaos, some neighbouring states have become involved. Those stalwarts of Peace-Keeping and Liberation The Wagner group operate there with the RSF and there are rumours that Ukrainian Special Forces have found time to deploy anywhere Wagner is. 

Sudan bleeds, cries, screams and finally sits in dull-eyed trauma regularly. Blink and you miss the news items. 

And are there large scale demonstrations on any streets of The West? Do any large groups concerned about the rights of one group of peoples care about the rights of the Sudanese? Do  folk who raise their flags and ranks of demonstrators any time the US , anyone in the West or Israel acts consider the Sudanese? 

Just to repeat. I can understand folk being upset and outraged by atrocities being perpetrated on any group, when that news is made known to them. Of course you would. When it is made known to you. But some professional activists? Those who cry long and loud for one case, or give a free pass to another aggressor because they ‘were provoked’ (Russia is allowed to be provoked). And yet are  quiescent when it comes to an equally bloody episode, which ‘regrettably’ does not interest them politically, or is beyond their limited capacity for perception. Where are the thousands out on the streets in support of the innocents of Sudan? (It’s nearly a year now people!)

Sudan 3

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-68606201

To be fair, some do care. So let us tip our hats to students in Cambridge:

Sudan in Cambridge

https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/27249

And Sudan did get a mention thanks to the efforts of Sudanese in London:

From Sudan to Palestine: United in London’s March Against Genocide and Injustice

 

And that is to name but just one human manufactured catastrophe in our world. If a village of fifty folk gets burden down, its folk killed or raped in some remote area of a country you would be hard put to say one sentence about, the misery is just as great for them, as a nation in torment.

So pardon me if scoff in bitter derision at those who only march against Israel. Selective outrage does not hack it. And unless you are weeping, seething for the rest suffering out there, yes, it does look like antisemitism. And that ‘some’ folk are just not worth your attention. Change that image people. 

All Human suffering deserves our attention, wheresoever it may be.

(Feel free to mention those you wish to add)

Required to Write Because…. (A Lament)

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Lamentation for the Future

Foreword: One danger or risk in writing is The Mood taking over. You have this urge to write ‘something’ in the style, even the content you have doubts about. This could be using a format you are not comfortable with or a subject matter which you are sure ‘needs more work’. And yet The Mood insists that this is how it will be. Part of you is still urging caution and suggesting the result should be put away for another day to be nuanced, worked on with reflection, jagged parts given a better ‘finishing’. The Mood will have none of that; it insists on the raw product be made public; The Mood in this case fancies itself to be a distant cousin of Melpomene, the Greek muse of Tragedy and bothered me to produce this. Truth be known I know not just what form this is. I dare not suggest poetry as that could bring sad shakings of head or even noises of disapproval from genuine poets. It may be some kind of monologue or soliloquy  in a play never to be written. All I am certain of is that it is a response to the news of several floods, droughts, fires and storms this year coupled with the continued presence of the Denial Industry, its Political Appointees and Social Media acolytes. (And probably influence of three or four Scottish laments which are ever in the back of my mind. No one does laments like the Scots) 

                  I was born
                When the seasons sang
                To an ancient song
                  With a warning verse
                  Of our vulnerability.
                  But our vanity and greed
                  Plugged our ears
                  Blinded our eyes
                  Said it would all be fine
                  There would be sunshine
                  After all the rains
                  And the storms were but passing trials
                  Cured by reassuring leaders’ smiles.
                  And mercenary pundits’ lies

                  Now the forests burn
                  Consuming innocents’ homes
                  While the begged for rains
                  Gather in far off tribes
                 Thus, with cousins grim
                  Sweep other folk away
                  Into seas that warm,
                  In their silent scorn.

                  There will come the day
                  Mayhap not so far away
                  When my eyes will close
                 For the very last time.
                  Weep not for me,
                  I will be at rest.
                  Save your tears for those
                  Who are left behind
                  To the wild, hot fiery winds
                  The raging storms
                  And the blazing sun
                 That blazing sun.

9th August 1945 Nagasaki. A Place Where War Can Take You.

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WAR & CONFLICT BOOKERA: WORLD WAR II/WAR IN THE EAST/JAPAN

The remains of a temple overlooking Nagasaki August 1945

There was a time in the USA when if anyone outside of the various Strategic Command units had heard of Nagasaki it would have probably been in relation to a novelty jazz song written by Warren & Dixon in 1928 (and still performed):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasaki_(song)

After the 9th August 1945 the city would be forever linked to Hiroshima. You may look around the internet and get the impression it has been fated to be an add-on to Hiroshima. A kind of tragic PS when discussing the only (thus far) use of nuclear weapons in a strategic setting. In fact if it had not been for the weather that day Kokura would have been the target. Thus there is always unpredictability in War.

The discussion on the use of the two atomic weapons still generates passion and acrimony. In a grim parallel, debate on the topic carries its own fall out. This comes from all angles and direction, from the Humanitarian to the downright shallow racism of Only America Could Be So Evil. Even some of the historical accounts of the military actions take on a certain subtext of attacking the opponents for being naïve, declaring there was no other option. Actually, there are always other options. Options always come with qualifiers, and your acceptance of those depends on the inherent complexity of your own personal views.

Now does that read as if I am dodging the question? Am I trying to skirt around matters and maybe make a subtle play for a certain point of view? Well, I might be.

Except the intention of this post is to discuss not just one war and to argue the merits or motivations of one side or another in that war. This post is about- The Logic of War.

And there it is. The Logic of War. Yes WAR has its own logic. Not one which works in civilian life and those who try and meld its mores, norms and conventions onto business practices are being very foolish indeed because they are missing out those aspects polite society does not care to dwell on.

The Killing. The plain simple fact that in the overwhelming number of wars the basic intention is to destroy the will or capability of the opposition and that is done by killing. Either in battle, raids on civilians and destruction of capacity, which involves famine by the way and more death. That however is not the first step.

The first step is the strong urge to deliver violence to another. This arises from a myriad of reasons. Acquisition of resources. Differences which come in various guises and have boiled over. Some twisted idea of a destiny. Suspicion of the other and be the first to get the punch in. And all sorts of combinations. The response is normally a violent one. One side might win the first few rounds, but WAR is a long business, even if structurally one side is overwhelmed resistance will continue at lower levels. Even Peace Treaties are but truces, sometimes between once- allies. Often though one side rides the initial blows and begins to dig in deep. By then The Logic of War has taken over, instincts for Survival, of Hatred,  of Anger and Determination take hold. The professionals trained for so long naturally have reacted as trained, the part of the population urging war, come forth, others will get swept up in this, some may try and flee, but WAR will seek them out either physically or mentally or spiritually. Death and ruination are powerful emotional actors and WAR has a long reach and it tracks folk down the years.

Amongst its myriad of horrors come the elements of locations, resources and level of industrialisation, herein lie some of the most frightening of factors which will be brought to the field.

If the war is one in which the nations are not neighbours, then to proceed it is likely they will both have strong industrial bases. Thus, the capacities and need to degrade and destroy are ramped up exponentially, as The Logic of War is now in full flow replacing anything which the ordinary day to day societies consider acceptable. After all, the nations say; this is for survival and at this stage to be effective means take to on bigger degrees of scale. Under the remorseless logic, the battlefield expands beyond the places where soldiers fight and draws in the civilians be they producers or within the community of the producers. This is actually nothing new, but the scale to cause harm and the area in which harm can be caused has increased. The Logic dictates The Whole Population are potential targets.

Depending on the structure of the society of one or more of the combatants for wars will include allies (willing or otherwise) there may well be concerns raised about the harm being meted out to the civilians. It may surprise some to read these will be raised by elements of the military, particularly those concerned with the politics of the war and the possible degradation of the moral of the fighting units. These concerns are more likely in nations with a democratic structure; although it should be born in mind that a mistake made by all totalitarian states is that democracies are weak and will fold, this they learn is an error, democracies will be fearfully ruthless in defence of their structures.

As the war moves along, the degradation of the enemy takes on a greater and greater priority, spurred on by the wish to end the war before resources are used up. By now the maintenance of The Will to continue has become a paramount. In democracies the administration is forever looking over its shoulder, in totalitarian states the imposition of The Will is ruthless, even should defeat be obvious. The larger the states at war the greater the pressures across the entire spectrum, military, economic, structural, social and so forth. The Logic again dictates Focus. The Focus is to break The Will of the other side. This will be measured not just on the traditionally measured battlefields. The nations are the battlefields; physically, mental and spiritual.

These therefore are all the dread factors of WAR laid out bare. This is what is entered into. Within the Industrialised Nations since WWII Wars have been in the form of military actions born out of politics and policy, the survival of the nations only take the form of National Prestige. This is a fragile factor. The physical survival of the nation is not at stake. The full potentials have not been called upon or tested. The Blood and Treasure costs may well have been high, but failure is an acceptable risk because the Nation itself is not the issue, only its domestic politics.

The full capacity has not been released.

When that is, one or other parties will suffer fearfully. Because the war will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. By both sides one for victory, one for survival, the roles shifting and changing. WAR is also feeding on the brutal excesses of one side or another against vulnerable non-combatant civilian in unstrategic areas. Those taking part are made to represent the entire population from whence they came. Everyone is demonised. Vengeance and retribution are required by the other side to be meted out.

And very, very few will think they have the right to stop that.

That is how it is.

To return to the opening. Today is the anniversary of the second use of a nuclear weapon. Upon this period this issue much has been written. Two works are leaving impression upon me, because they cover the subject matter of this The Logic of War

The Prompt and Utter Destruction by J Samuel Walker – This deals essentially with the decision making processes in Washington and the issues facing Truman. I respect this book because it unsettle my previous held belief that use of the Nuclear Weapon was inevitable. Remember I mentioned ‘Options’, yes there could have been ‘Options’.

140 Days to Hiroshima by David Dean Barrett  – Actually goes beyond the first use of Nuclear Weaponry and into Nagasaki’s bombing and the events following. I admit have not yet finished this book those have reached the post bombing section. It’s themes also cover the Japanese Government’s processes and insights into the rationales of the component groups within. It also deals in chilling detail with the discussions on both sides for preparation for conventional warfare. Those ‘Options’ .And opens with the description of the  horrific mass firebombing of Tokyo on the night of the 9-10 March 1945.

These books offer views into the fearful processes which are birthed in The Logic of War. They are to be read with caution because to repeat an earlier point, the ordinary patterns and conventions of Civilian Life as you know are discarded. Frankly they have taken a second place, if considered at all.

You could go deeper into the topic and chose to read from the vast number of works on WWII or simply the wars Japan felt it necessary to start, a large collection in itself. Although some would say you have to go further back into the 19th century to get a better grasp.

One simple summary. A nation felt inclined to use War as a policy. Other nations reacted. From there the whole remorseless business began. The Avalanche if you like, a force of Nature which has a small beginning but then is unstoppable. But a War is stoppable you say? I would say, no. Not when that path has been chosen. Avoidable, yes. Wars are always avoidable. The art of the task is to ensure one side does not feel there is any point in using WAR.

And the seed? The seed is The Extreme. Beware The Extreme. It is not to be dismissed, not laughed at like in Doctor Strangelove. Walk wary of The Extreme. It leads to ruins, where bodies lie, ripped, torn, burnt, twisted, where the survivors sit screaming, dying, some walking as they do.

What is done is done. The evidence of where The Logic of War drags us. There is enough of it. The Extreme though would have you believe there is always a simple and glorious solution. The Extreme always lies. Therein lie The Crimes.

In comparison WAR is a simple being. What You See Is What You Get.

An Upside To Grim Songs – House At Pooneil Corner

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Jefferson_Airplane

Forewarning: This is one of those long post that might appear to be meandering. Some posts need the elements of stories to get to the point. This is one.

Yes, there they are, Jefferson Airplane, one of the bands which are automatically associated with the many often inaccurately named time from 1965 to its stuttering end 1969 – 1970.

Like many bands of that era, the more you read about them, even filtering out the hyperbole, the less you feel affection for them as individuals or a group of folk, even if the music does stick.  My own opinion was they were played out by 1969 and the music was dying…Marty Balin originator of the band was to leave, disillusioned with those politics of the band…

So having set the mood, let’s take a look at one particular but not universally known song produced when they were still fresh.

After the great success of Surrealistic Pillow, second album and first to feature their ionic line up, there would eventually arrive, arguably, their most accomplished and fourth album: Crown of Creation. Although with still some folky-rock roots, this was a more of a venture into pure rock  Amongst noteworthy several songs was the unforgivingly grim and oddly titled House at Pooneil Corners. Paul Kanter vocals, guitar and lyrics was particularly influenced by books in his song writing. Winnie The Pooh by A.A Milne had captured the imaginations of several bands’ song writers, its innocence and quiet philosophies I suppose. On the previous drug-drenched album After Bathing At Baxters   an upbeat cheery(ish) song had been ‘The Ballad of You, Me and Pooneil . ‘Pooneil’ was, so the story goes, a made up word mixing ‘Pooh’ as in ‘Winnie’ with ‘Neil’ as in ‘Fred Neil’ a talented and incisive song writer whose work members of the band respected. Just exactly how, when and for what purpose this word came into being is lost to many questionable memories and Time, and various legends. (If you know any feel free to post them in the Comments)

And onto the song…

Lyrics
 
You and me, we keep walking around and we seeAll the bullshit around usYou try and keep your mind on whats going downCant help but see the rhinoceros* around us
 
Then you wonder what you can beAnd you do what you can to get far and highAnd you know I’m still gonna need you aroundAnd you know I’m still gonna need you around
 
You say it’s healing, but nobody’s feeling itSomebody’s dealing, somebody’s stealingAnd you say you don’t see and you don’tYou say you won’t know and you won’t, when it comes
 
Everything someday will be gone except silenceThe earth will be quiet againSeas from clouds will wash off the ashes of violenceLeft as the memory of menThere will be no survivors, my friend
 
Suddenly everyone will look surprisedStars spinning wheels in the skiesSun is scrambled in their eyesAnd circles like a vulture
 
Someone stood at the window and cried one tearI thought that would stop the war, but someone is killing meThats the last time I do think anymoreJelly and juice and bubbles, bubbles on the floor
 
Castles on cliffs vanishedJust like heaps of rubbishSeen from the stars hour upon hourAs splinters, dust, and black flowers**
 
From here to heaven is a scarDead center, deep as deathAll the idiots have leftThe idiots have left
 
Cows are almost cooingTurtle doves are mooingWhich is why a Pooh is poohingIn the sunSun
 
* references a play by Eugene Ionesco— https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinoceros_(play)
** Could also be ‘powder’- Opinion is divided.
 
Mostly written by Balin the lyrics reflect the fear common in the 1950s and 60s of a Nuclear War. I would also suggest their is something of a sub-text of general disillusionment with the times Balin was living through, Flower Power and such was withering into frantic thrashing about for the ‘latest thing’, money grabbing and ego nurturing; an Old Story. Woodstock was a last gasp. This song was a reflection of the Times as they were. On YouTube you can find a couple of live version including a magnificent rooftop performance which predates the Beatles. For clarity’s sake of listening I include here the album version
 
 
 
 

Some of the songs from that time are stuck in their era, such as Country Joe & The Fish’s Feel-Like-I’m-Fixing-To Die-  that could only be 1960s  and about Vietnam – that aside we don’t give wars the lightly ironic treatment anymore. This song, dealing with a nightmare vision of what could happen and the hopelessness of being unable to stop it is transferable into other times and situations. Thus examining the lyrics and shifting the symbolism of the words or phrases you can adapt it to the political upheavals which are currently going on, and that feeling of helplessness at being unable to stop the tsunami of reactionary intolerance and mis-information crashing out of the media into your personal space. I cite the reference to Ionesco’s play based on his own experiences in his native Romania and the rise in the 1930s of the Right-Wing extremist Iron Guard. Does that parallel unsettle you in 2020s USA? I would suggest set against the back drop of a relentless signature Jefferson Airplane sound, and interlacing of solo and harmonies of Balin and Slick (two exceptional vocalists of that era) this song is a very powerful anthem of ‘Warning’.

Now there is the word I wanted to weave in ‘Warning’ and the power of songs to initiate a theme of the listener’s mood. There is quite a bit of gloom, despair and fatalism around these days, the forces of reaction and intolerance seeming rampant, and in addition there seems no way to truly halt the environmental damages  Warnings in themselves. One quality which a Warning has at its most basic level right across Nature is for the creature to react or be ready to react ‘Flight / Fight’. Placing this in the political equation of the USA you could understand some wishing to ‘up-sticks’ and move to another country (Warning folks: The pastures on the horizon may seem greener, but when you get up close, there’s hard-scrabble there too). The other reaction- Fight- being along the lines of ‘The Hell You Will!’ to whatever the threat might be. Warnings therefore carry their own potency and energy. You can thus use such a song to channel up your own angers, frustrations and fears into constructive ways to strive to halt that which you fear. Heck, as long as you don’t try and go commercial with it, you can even alter a word or a phrase here and there; that’s been a common evolution of many a folk song down the centuries, in recent centuries also alive and thriving in Blue and Country.

So you take a song, or a poem, or a speech and you work with it, to revitalise. ‘House At Pooneil Corners’ may not appeal to you (‘Sorry just not my scene / bag, man’-as we used to say back then), but the principal, I have to revert just one more time to 1960’s speak ‘You dig?’  

On The Matter of Asking (a sort of follow up to ‘A Singular Circumstance. One Summer’s Day’) September #BlogBattle-Eschaton

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End of Days

Storms whose furies dwarfed the worst of winters past, driving the might of seas up rivers and into the least streams. Lands turbulent, restless as fever haunted sleepers. Mountains in anger threw down rock, snow and ice or hauled up worse from the depths of the earth. Disease flourished in the resultant death. And in the terror came myriad small wars.

For those charged with remaining calm and analytical the evidence led to one plausible conclusion. This in turn begged further examination for this conclusion flew against hard won rational beliefs founded in the sciences and many a mighty machine.  Yet all pointed to lore based on creed of the heart and ephemeral faith . The urgency of the matter compacted what might have otherwise been years of debate into mere days, for the process envisaged was innovative, an appeal to Devine Agencies. Across the breadth of consensus, there was, however, no other option. As one put it.

‘It’s worth a try,’

‘Lady Betrügerin? The Ghost of?’

‘If you likes Custodian Vastberaden. I’m  not fussy. Thanks for recognising me though. A girl likes to have a bit of a reputation. Quite a bit of effort there, getting yourself noticed by us. Took a risk. I could’ve nobbled you without discourse,’

‘It’s a time when risks don’t matter,’

‘I suppose it would be fer you folk, down on the ground there,’

The brief conversation concluded as the mist cleared, and light blue passageway ended with a simple wood arched door. The woman of youthful appearance and three centuries notoriety, knocked with deference, but spoke otherwise.

‘He’s ‘ere Guv’nor,’

‘Thank you Betrügerin,’

Opening the door and with a less than sober gesture of invitation Betrügerin stood to one side allowing the Custodian to pass through.

‘Best of luck with your pitch mate,’ she said and passed back into the mist.

Although the atmosphere of the room seemed clear Vastberaden discerned more mist, of a soft coastal sort, the variance made the task of focusing on the man at the other end of the room, problematic. The only detail The Custodian was certain of, the fellow was tall and studying a map laid out on a table, which might have been bigger than first inspection. Vastberaden supposed there would be challenges to the senses when meeting someone who was arbiter of the fate of the world.

‘Custodian Vastberaden,’ the voice was quite ordinary, paradoxically Vastberaden would have been disappointed if he had been addressed in majestic echoing tones, the business to him would seem to have smacked of ostentation. ‘You did not journey here of your own volition. Sent at the behest of eminent and intelligent people, though you did volunteer,’

‘No questions,’ thought Vastberaden, ‘It would also be disappointing if he had to ask. He is supposed to have a quite comprehensive knowledge,’

Then there was the silence. Vastberaden concluded he was going to have to do the talking.

‘Correct,’ the fellow said ‘You are here to state the case for Preservation of Your Civilisations’ Status. In the light of evidence to the opposite,’

‘Of course, he can hear my thoughts. But speaking can be more coherent,’

‘After all the study and conclusions based on investigations over the past century. We discovered this link or pathway, and felt a direct approach was the correct thing to do. After all the effort in forging our civilisation, fatalism could not be countenanced,’

There was a sigh.

‘Whereas your response can be considered positive in its level of determination, you must appreciate against the weight of evidence the achievements are outweighed by the mistakes, abuses and of course hubris,’

‘We are aware of the shortcomings. We are not complacent or uncaring. I would also point out that the current amount of suffering of the innocent is comparable to several of our more profligate wars. We struggle to see The Justice, nay even The Example being set by Higher Authority if I may use such a term,’

The figure looked up from the map, Vastberaden discerned emotion, though which one he found he could not make out.

‘You appear not to have perceived the disadvantageous changes you folk are bringing unto the World,’ one hand drifted across the map ‘Here, these are plain to see. For Humanity is not the only concern. Other Life. And Other Dynamics. They have precedence,’ there was a brief neutral gesture for Vastberaden to draw closer. ‘Come closer. You may be able to discern why things are unravelling the way they have been,’

Vastberaden looked down upon a map, whose basic outlines seemed distantly familiar, although total perception was made difficult by the movements and interactions of shapes, some geometric, some reminiscent of clouds or oceans while others tested the senses to comprehend. The Custodian shook his head in bafflement, at this one hand rested lightly on his shoulder, and in a jarring interlude there was a focus, albeit blurred.

Life was a part of The World. A factor which lived under the sway of forces able to sweep lands and oceans clean of it, and yet in its own various dynamics capable of causing those forces to react in ways folk had not expected to react. Many forms found balance and accord, some did not. Humanity appeared to be one such, and thus forged an extreme example of unbalance. Vastberaden considered the panorama and the circumstances unfolding, no the correct word be ‘unravelling’.

He looked up into a face saddened.

‘You understand something of the problem. You folk with such inventiveness and ability have this talent for making things worse,’

‘Aye. This much is obvious. We made great efforts to seek out something which when it was staring us in the face,’

‘There is the irony. Consider your example. In your urge to find a practical and rational answer you did not rely on convoluted recitations, nor some of the more questionable religious practices. You worked on the evidence of activities of my,’ here Vastberaden detected a slight laugh ‘Own band’s extended efforts. Concluded there was a distinct pattern leading to some intelligence beyond your own realms. One combating malevolent people in your fields and cities. Thence was a most dangerous bold strategy of placing your people as potential false targets sought to establish contact,’

‘It cost us several brave folk,’

‘It was unfortunate. Some of my own have not yet, even ever grasped the subtleties of operations against the corrosions. Lady Betrügerin, though as ruthless as any is possessed of a certain whimsy which saved your life, physical. Know this here is an opportunity of insight. We have our own missions against Ignorance, Fear and Intolerance and despite our seeming apparel of celestial power, in the scheme of things are but talented dedicated, small folk. We cannot stop these events you have brought upon yourselves,’

In his career Vastberaden had known many disappointments, some defeats and a fair number of those designated as insurmountable challenges. To avoid shock and dismay he had prepared himself for this endeavour to be one of the latter, mixed with something of the first. Speak calmly, though. Good manners cost nothing.

‘You did, still allow me to have audience. Would you then, by definition have some advice?’

‘There is always advice. This would depend on whether the listener truly wants advice no matter how unpalatable, and not just an alleged solution?’

Vastberaden thought this reasonable. The one facet which had weighed heavily upon him was the notion of making an appeal to a celestial being. After all such folk would not necessarily have the same moral compass, thus what might seem a heartfelt appeal to you could be laughable or worse objectionable to them. And as for advice, well you could listen to as much of it as you wished, then filter through the whole flood looking for gems.

‘I would always listen to advice,’ Vastberaden said, as he often had, for many folk had taken this statement as willingness to wholeheartdly accept what they would say.

The conclave which had debated and finally acquiesced to Vastberaden’s mission walked into the most secret of chambers to discuss and speculate what had, was and might be taking place.  Such was their immersion in the whole venture none of them were truly surprised to find him already seated there. He was quick and economical to advise them he had journeyed to where intended, he had met with someone in authority and had positive news to give them. As was their experience in grave and weighty matters none of them hurried him along, even though a nearby substantial river, had driven by great rains broken its banks, rushed upon and caused the collapse of a castle.

‘There is guidance,’ he said, thoughtfully and told them of the great map and the information thereupon ‘The responsibility lays with everyone.  It is not a spiritual, but a physical matter. The resources of the world cannot be taken granted as servile, it is necessary work with the land, rivers, seas, yea even skies. New disciplines and means have to be learnt, old ones adapted. The great forces once thought to be under control are not, much study is necessary. The work will be hard and long. Everyone must understand, bend their minds and bodies to change,’

The first to speak was a graven military fellow, versed in the ways of war and state security, thus with the shortcomings and weaknesses of territories, rulers, influencers of rulers, those who would be either and of course the mentality of mobs and rumours.

‘This will be a very difficult task, like trying to turn around a great vessel in a narrow shallow when a tide has gripped it,’

‘Indeed,’ agreed Vastberaden, then speaking guardedly added ‘The folk I spoke with can offer some assistance,’

At this a woman appeared at his side, she smiled waved, a cheerful little gesture.

‘Lady Betrügerin,’ she said.

‘The Death Maiden?’ asked a man of theological scholarship and thus rather interested ‘Not legendary then Vastberaden?’

‘I can speak for meself.,’ she snapped ‘Quite real thank you. So is he,’ she pointed to someone turning from a mist to a more discernible figure robed, features hidden by a cowl, and in a thin hand holding aloft a scythe. He was silent. Vastberaden took up the discourse.

‘Those whose representatives you see here, are willing to take some time out from their allotted task purging evil dabblers in demonics, to assist as it were. In expunging those of arguably a more important threat. The ones who will not listen either through greed, ignorance or stubborn intransigence,’

‘Of course we can’t be everywhere at once,’ Lady Betrügerin said and the cowled figure nodded agreement ‘And we can’t go taking everyone of the world. Be a bit drastic. Things are bad enough anyhows.  Only the worst and most loudest, let the others learn. Y’know you can help there, by telling folk the ones taken was smited by Devine Judgement,’

As the cowled figure nodded so did the military man and the theologian; it seemed a reasonable approach the pair thought.

To be fair to the assembly being mortal there was a brief hub-bub, but general agreement.

‘Strange times. But necessary requirements,’ said the current chairman ‘You Custodian Vastberaden must be escorted to and speak with the emperor, in secret of course,’

Vastberaden seemed a smidge abashed and hesitant, Lady Betrügerin sniggered and nudged him.

‘G’wan,’ she enthused ‘Tell ‘em,’

‘I visited him first,’  Vastberaden confessed ‘He was annoyed. Said it would interfere with his gold mining enterprises. He was my first case. He’s gone from this mortal realm,’

Vastberaden rose, out of the chair and into the air with Lady Betrügerin and the cowled figure.

‘Initially I did display great doubt, myself. Then Lady Betrügerin, educated me, as it were. It didn’t hurt at all. Think on it, gentlemen,’ he said.

And left.

A Singular Circumstance. One Summer’s Day (August#BlogBattle- Peculiar)

 

https://bbprompt.com/2022/09/02/september-blogbattle-eschaton/