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#Post#: 7368--------------------------------------------------
Re: Military decolonization
By: 90sRetroFan Date: July 1, 2021, 10:52 pm
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HTML https://www.yahoo.com/news/taliban-prevailed-afghanistan-says-former-172727945.html
[quote]The Taliban has “prevailed” in its battle with the West
in Afghanistan, the former head of the British Army has said, as
it emerged all UK and US troops will be withdrawn on Sunday.
...
Lord Dannatt has called for a Chilcot-like “audit” of the
campaign to take place, after The Telegraph revealed that the
Union flag has been lowered in Kabul, ending 20 years of British
presence in the country.
The Telegraph can now also reveal that a source close to General
Sir Nick Carter, the chief of the defence staff, confirmed that
the remaining British and US forces would be withdrawn from
Afghanistan on Independence Day.
The source said: “We will all be out on July 4th. The main
British mission will also be concluded by July 4th.”[/quote]
[img width=1280
height=856]
HTML https://idsb.tmgrup.com.tr/ly/uploads/images/2020/08/04/50008.jpg[/img]
#Post#: 7385--------------------------------------------------
Re: Military decolonization
By: 90sRetroFan Date: July 2, 2021, 11:47 pm
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HTML https://us.yahoo.com/news/european-troops-low-key-return-131158103.html
[quote]BERLIN (AP) — Most European troops have already pulled
out of Afghanistan, quietly withdrawing months before the
U.S.-led mission was officially expected to end — part of an
anticlimactic close to the “forever war” that risks leaving the
country on the brink of civil war.
Germany and Italy declared their missions in Afghanistan over on
Wednesday and Poland's last troops returned home, bringing their
deployments to a low-key end nearly 20 years after the first
Western soldiers were deployed there.
...
The German pullout came amid a spate of withdrawals by European
nations. Poland’s last departing troops were greeted Wednesday
by Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak. Some 33,000 Polish troops
have served in Afghanistan over the past 20 years.
...
Georgia’s last troops returned home Monday, while Romania
brought home its remaining 140 troops Saturday, when Norway also
pulled out. Troops from Denmark, Estonia and the Netherlands
also returned home last week. Spain withdrew its last troops on
May 13, Sweden on May 25, and Belgium on June 14. The small
contingents deployed by Portugal, the Czech Republic, Slovenia,
Finland, Albania, North Macedonia and Luxembourg have left as
well.[/quote]
NEVER FORGIVE. NEVER FORGET. And never let the lower-profile
Western countries get away with lying about them never
participating in colonialism. See also:
HTML https://trueleft.createaforum.com/colonial-era/colonial-crimes-dw-documentary/msg5465/#msg5465
#Post#: 7416--------------------------------------------------
Re: Military decolonization
By: 90sRetroFan Date: July 4, 2021, 10:40 pm
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HTML https://www.yahoo.com/news/afghanistan-foreign-troops-must-leave-211219883.html
[quote]Any foreign troops left in Afghanistan after Nato's
September withdrawal deadline will be at risk as occupiers, the
Taliban has told the BBC.[/quote]
Too bad we don't see Japan etc. talking like this despite also
being under military occupation (and for so much longer too!).
[quote]The Taliban spokesman described the current government as
"moribund" and referred to the country as the "Islamic emirate"
- an indication that the group envisaged a theocratic basis for
governing the country and were unlikely to agree to Afghan
government demands for elections.[/quote]
HTML https://www.longwarjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Taliban-IEA-logo.png
#Post#: 7482--------------------------------------------------
Re: Military decolonization
By: 90sRetroFan Date: July 10, 2021, 3:39 am
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More good news:
HTML https://www.yahoo.com/news/macron-france-withdraw-more-2-141131233.html
[quote]PARIS (AP) — France will withdraw more than 2,000 troops
from an anti-extremism force in Africa’s Sahel region by early
next year and pivot its military presence to specialized
regional forces instead, President Emmanuel Macron said Friday.
Macron announced last month a future reduction of France’s
military presence, arguing that it’s no longer adapted to the
needs in the area. The French Barkhane force, operating in Mali,
Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania, had also met
opposition from some Africans.
After discussions Friday with leaders of the African countries
involved, Macron announced that France would reduce its force to
2,500 to 3,000 troops over the long term. The country currently
has 5,000 troops in the region.
...
While governments in the Sahel have embraced France’s military
help, some critics have likened their presence to a vestige of
French colonial rule.[/quote]
That is exactly what it is! If France is worried about what it
calls "extremism" in the Sahel, it should simply accept refugees
from the Sahel (and use its military to help transport
refugees). Then those who dislike the "extremism" can relocate
to France, while those who like it can stay put. Let people
decide for themselves! What is so difficult to understand about
this?!
#Post#: 7724--------------------------------------------------
Re: Military decolonization
By: Zea_mays Date: July 26, 2021, 12:17 pm
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I don't know if this counts, but US military leadership took
Trump's coup attempt seriously and seems to have realized the
existential and anti-American threat White Supremacy in the
military poses.
US Military leadership seems like they are almost on the cusp of
explicitly admitting the military is antiracist and needs to
root out white supremacy.
[quote]In February, Austin ordered a stand-down across all
branches of the military to address the issue of white supremacy
within the ranks following revelations that a number of current
and former service members were involved in the Capitol attack
on Jan 6. Shortly after that, Austin appointed a senior adviser
of human capital, diversity, equity and inclusion.
Those initiatives have been supported by number of current
military leaders, including Milley — the supreme commander of
all U.S. armed forces — and Maj. Gen. John Evans, commander of
the Army Cadet Command.[/quote]
HTML https://www.salon.com/2021/06/12/potential-2024-candidate-tom-cotton-leading-gop-charge-against-woke-ideology-in-military/
A month ago a WN Lt. Col. was relieved of his command for being
anti-American:
[quote]Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier joined The Steve Gruber show to
discuss his new book, "Irresistible Revolution: Marxism's Goal
of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military," which
alleges that Marxist ideologies are becoming widespread within
the armed forces. He expounded on those concerns in the podcast.
"Since taking command as a commander about 10 months ago, I saw
what I consider fundamentally incompatible and competing
narratives of what America was, is and should be," Lohmeier
said. "That wasn't just prolific in social media, or throughout
the country during this past year, but it was spreading
throughout the United States military. And I had recognized
those narratives as being Marxist in nature."
When pressed on what exactly he meant, Lohmeier decried the New
York Times 1619 Project, a historical look at how slavery formed
America's institutions, as "anti-American."
"It teaches intensive teaching that I heard at my base -- that
at the time the country ratified the United States Constitution,
it codified White supremacy as the law of the land," Lohmeier
said. "If you want to disagree with that, then you start (being)
labeled all manner of things including racist."[/quote]
HTML https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/15/politics/space-force-lohmeier-fired-after-comments/index.html
Matt Gaetz and other Republicans have been trying to goad the
military leadership into saying they support "critical race
theory". As if being anti-racist is supposed to be some kind of
gotcha moment?
HTML https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4967648/defense-secretary-austin-calls-claim-pentagon-embracing-critical-race-theory-spurious
[quote]Matt Gaetz Throws a Colossal Shit Fit Over the Military
Acknowledging Racism Is Real[/quote]
HTML https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/06/matt-gaetz-republicans-critical-race-theory-military
Obviously they don't have the courage to fully embrace being
"woke", but they are basically acknowledging the military must
be anti-racist in order to maintain unity in order to be able to
function and carry out its mission.
[quote]Responding to a question by Rep. Mike Waltz about the
appropriateness of a seminar at the United States Military
Academy at West Point called "Understanding Whiteness and White
Rage," Milley responded: "I want to understand White rage. And
I'm White. And I want to understand it."
Tying the question to the January 6 insurrection, Milley asked:
"What is it that caused thousands of people to assault this
building and try to overturn the Constitution of the United
States of America? What caused that? I want to find that out. I
want to maintain an open mind here."
Milley called it "offensive" that service members were being
called "quote, 'woke' or something else, because we're studying
some theories that are out there."
"I've read Mao Zedong. I've read, I've read Karl Marx. I've read
Lenin. That doesn't make me a communist," Milley said. "So what
is wrong with understanding, having some situational
understanding about the country for which we are here to
defend?"[/quote]
HTML https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/mark-milley-top-us-general-hits-back-against-offensive-gop-criticism-and-defends-pentagon-diversity-efforts/ar-AALmKAt
Video of General Milley's remarks:
HTML https://twitter.com/RanttMedia/status/1407753160760889351
[quote]"Initially you mentioned critical race theory. I'm not a
theorist. I'm the Chief of Naval Operations," Gilday responded
to Lamborn. "What I can tell you is factually, based on a
substantial amount of time talking to sailors in the fleet,
there's racism in the Navy just like there's racism in our
country. And the way we're going to get after it is to be honest
about it, not to sweep it under the rug, and to talk about it."
Gilday said he has read the book and praised it for how "Kendi
is self-critical about his own journey as an African-American in
this country."[/quote]
HTML https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/15/politics/gilday-navy-confronting-racism/index.html
[quote]During one debate in the Oval Office, Bender reportedly
wrote, Miller said the protests reminded him of a war zone.
Milley turned around in his seat, pointed his finger at Miller,
and said, "Shut the f--- up, Stephen," the book reportedly
says.[/quote]
HTML https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-milley-told-stephen-miller-shut-up-blm-comments-book-2021-6
Right-wing propagandist suggests withholding all funding from
the military until the military stops being against racism. Mind
boggling.
HTML https://www.businessinsider.com/fox-news-host-laura-ingraham-suggests-defunding-the-military-video-2021-6
[quote]"Mark Milley is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff," Carlson added. "He didn't get that job because he's
brilliant or because he's brave. Or because people who know him
respect him. He is not, and they definitely don't. Milley got
the job because he is obsequious. He knows who to suck up to,
and he's more than happy to do it. Feed him a script and he will
read it."
[...]
The Fox News host then claimed that white rage only affected
people "with specific melanin levels" and was "a race-specific
illness."
After playing more footage of Milley's testimony to the House
committee, Carlson laughed and said: "He's not just a pig. He's
stupid."
He then complained that Milley had read Marx and Mao, but would
be "fired instantly" if he read books by white supremacists to
educate himself.[/quote]
HTML https://www.newsweek.com/tucker-carlson-calls-general-mark-milley-pig-critical-race-theory-comments-1604029
Besides anti-racists, who would read WN literature to "educate
themselves"? Oh, right, WNs like Carlson.
Left-leaning media seems to be getting wiser, at least:
[quote]Don't be fooled by parents' "critical race theory"
tantrums — they're a part of the GOP's strategy
[...]
It's hard not to laugh at some dude being dragged out of school
board meeting half-naked, hollering about how he refuses to be
oppressed on the basis of the pasty skin he is amply showing off
to the world. But it would be unwise to underestimate these
people, just because they act like a bunch of clowns. What they
are doing has been carefully orchestrated by GOP operatives for
the express purpose of stoking racism. The ridiculous behavior
we're seeing from white people across the country right now is a
feature, not a bug, of this strategy.
[...]
In the past few weeks, much has been written highlighting how
the national freakout over "critical race theory" is not
organic, but complete astroturf ginned up by Republicans who are
looking for a fresh new angle on the race-baiting tactics
they've used to organize their base for decades. In a heavily
reported piece, NBC News exposed how what seems to be a parent
uprising is, in fact, a "coordinated movement with the backing
of major conservative organizations and media outlets." Both
Media Matters and the New Yorker have taken deep dives into how
much this entire movement is being propped up by Republican
operatives posing as nothing more than "concerned parents."
But it's not just the lies about critical race theory that are
deliberate here. The over-the-top antics at school boards are
central to this scheme. While it's hilarious to liberals,
watching white people on a victim trip melt down, it's actually
very effective as a propaganda technique.[/quote]
HTML https://www.salon.com/2021/06/24/dont-be-fooled-by-parents-critical-race-theory-tantrums--theyre-a-part-of-the-gops-strategy/
Apparently public opinion turned on the red scare McCarthyism
after he started going after the military. Will the public
finally turn on rightist fear mongers now that they are
attacking our military? Even after decades of "support our
troops" propaganda, I doubt it...
HTML https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_McCarthy#Investigating_the_army
(As an additional matter of trivia, McCarthy's main lawyer Roy
Cohn also helped Trump get his started in the 1970s, defending
him against lawsuits alleging that Trump wouldn't rent to
"blacks" in the 1970s).
HTML https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Cohn#Representation_of_Donald_Trump_and_Rupert_Murdoch
HTML https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_affairs_of_Donald_Trump#1970s
#Post#: 8530--------------------------------------------------
Re: Military decolonization
By: 90sRetroFan Date: September 1, 2021, 3:01 pm
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HTML https://www.unilad.co.uk/news/taliban-accuses-australia-of-human-rights-violations/
[quote]During a lengthy interview with 9News Australia, Suhail
Shaheen claimed that the 41 Australian soldiers who died during
the war in Afghanistan had ‘died in vain’, claiming that they
‘died in our country, occupying our country’.
Shaheen, a fluent English speaker who previously edited the
Kabul Times, told reporter Jonathan Kearsley that Australian
soldiers had ‘committed some of the worst and most brutal human
rights violations by cutting fingers off dead bodies and killing
farmers’.
...
Shaheen has stated that evidence for his accusations against the
Australian military can be found in the 2020 Brereton report.
This report, published after a four-year enquiry by Major Gen
Paul Brereton, provided credible evidence to suggest that
Australian special forces soldiers had allegedly murdered 39
Afghan people in separate 23 incidents. Another two people had
allegedly been subjected to cruel treatment.
All of the alleged victims had been non-combatants, a factor
that the report concluded ‘was or should have been plain’, while
one alleged incident was described as ‘possibly the most
disgraceful episode in Australia’s military history’.[/quote]
What else do you expect from Westerners?
HTML https://trueleft.createaforum.com/colonial-era/has-australia-reconciled-with-its-colonial-past/
HTML https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_Australia#Asylum_seekers
[quote]Commentators[who?] have accused the Australian Government
of racism in its approach to asylum seekers in
Australia[citation needed]. Both major parties support a ban on
asylum seekers who arrive by boat.[159] Australia operates the
Pacific Solution which includes the relocation asylum seekers.
Former Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott
Morrison described asylum seekers as 'illegal'.[160] Social
justice advocates and international organisations such as
Amnesty International have condemned Australia's policies, with
one describing them as 'an appeal to fear and
racism'.[161][/quote]
[img]
HTML https://content.api.new
s/v3/images/bin/35c36ba684d8b5a0d3abcacc1d9123ef[/img]
#Post#: 8617--------------------------------------------------
Re: Military decolonization
By: 90sRetroFan Date: September 6, 2021, 10:07 pm
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Japan is not only not militarily decolonizing over time, the
literal reverse is occurring:
HTML https://www.yahoo.com/news/britain-shows-off-queen-elizabeth-111948813.html
[quote]TOKYO (Reuters) - Britain showed off its HMS Queen
Elizabeth aircraft carrier to Japan's defence chief on Monday at
a naval base near Tokyo, marking the start of a permanent
military presence
...
"The visit of the British carrier strike group holds great
significance, to maintain and strengthen a free and open
Indo-Pacific," Kishi told reporters after his visit to the Queen
Elizabeth.
...
A close U.S. ally, Japan hosts the biggest concentration of U.S.
military forces outside the United States, including the U.S.
Navy's Seventh Fleet, aircraft and thousands of Marines.
...
Leading two destroyers, two frigates, a submarine and two
support ships, the Queen Elizabeth set sail from Britain in May
and has sailed through waters including the contested South
China Sea, of which China claims 90%, before arriving in Japan
on Saturday, the furthest port call on its maiden deployment.
It has been joined by a U.S. destroyer and a frigate from the
Dutch navy, and is also carrying U.S. F-35Bs, which fly
alongside British stealth jets.
After the Queen Elizabeth carrier strike group returns, two
warships will continue the British presence in the region, as
London looks for a bigger world presence following its departure
from the European Union.[/quote]
HTML https://smallimg.pngkey.com/png/small/129-1297667_clip-free-stock-collection-of-free-failing-clipart.png
#Post#: 9609--------------------------------------------------
Re: Military decolonization
By: 90sRetroFan Date: October 29, 2021, 10:27 pm
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More bad news:
HTML https://us.yahoo.com/news/japans-okinawa-ruling-partys-tough-043656034.html
[quote]in the far southern prefecture of Okinawa - long a
bastion of the pacifist opposition - the LDP's harder line
on China and proactive security policy is helping it win over
younger voters.
"If we don't have U.S. forces and our Self-Defense Forces
(SDF) here, we can be attacked by China," said electrician
Takuji Ikemiya, 41, at the rally. "We think differently from the
older generation that has experienced the war and its
aftermath."
Elderly voters are mostly sticking with left-wing parties,
mindful of Okinawa's past as one of the bloodiest
battlegrounds of World War Two, and opposing the U.S. military
bases which house 50,000 people and take up a fifth of the main
island.[/quote]
The elders have it correct! The youth have been colonized!
[quote]The LDP will not reverse its projected losses on this
issue alone, experts say. But the fact that the party is on the
cusp of making gains in Okinawa shows how concerns over China
are helping the LDP win a longer game with the
electorate.[/quote]
Of all prefectures, you would think that Okinawa has the least
historical basis to be Sinophobic:
HTML https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryukyu_Kingdom
[quote]Many Chinese people moved to Ryukyu to serve the
government or to engage in business during this period[citation
needed]. At the request of the Ryukyuan King, the Ming Chinese
sent thirty-six Chinese families from Fujian to manage oceanic
dealings in the kingdom in 1392, during the Hongwu emperor's
reign. Many Ryukyuan officials were descended from these Chinese
immigrants, being born in China or having Chinese
grandfathers.[6] They assisted the Ryukyuans in advancing their
technology and diplomatic relations.[7][8][9]
...
Golden age of maritime trade
For nearly two hundred years, the Ryukyu Kingdom would thrive as
a key player in maritime trade with Southeast and East
Asia.[14][15] Central to the kingdom's maritime activities
was the continuation of the tributary relationship with Ming
dynasty China, begun by Chūzan in 1372,[12][c] and enjoyed
by the three Okinawan kingdoms which followed it. China provided
ships for Ryukyu's maritime trade activities,[16] allowed a
limited number of Ryukyuans to study at the Imperial Academy in
Beijing, and formally recognized the authority of the King of
Chūzan, allowing the kingdom to trade formally at Ming
ports. Ryukyuan ships, often provided by China, traded at ports
throughout the region, which included, among others, China,
Đại Việt (Vietnam), Japan, Java, Korea, Luzon,
Malacca, Pattani, Palembang, Siam, and Sumatra.[17]
...
The Chinese policy of haijin (海禁, "sea bans"),
limiting trade with China to tributary states and those with
formal authorization, along with the accompanying preferential
treatment of the Ming Court towards Ryukyu, allowed the kingdom
to flourish and prosper for roughly 150 years.[18][/quote]
[quote]"My parents support 'All Okinawa' because of
their anti-base position, but I grew up with American bases and
I take them for granted," said Kazuhisa Higa, 33, a construction
company worker who will vote LDP.[/quote]
Your parents' biggest mistake was to reproduce.
[quote]NATIONALIST MESSAGE
The Okinawa trend captures a broader shift started about a
decade ago by ex-premier Shinzo Abe, who galvanised younger
voters with his nationalist message, said Yoichiro Sato,
international relations professor at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific
University.
"Abe lowered the voting age to 18 knowing that the agenda he was
promoting would attract younger voters. Conservative agenda,
defence was one of those, but also nationalism,"[/quote]
Supporting the idea of your country being literally occupied by
foreign troops is about as anti-nationalist as it is possible to
be. (The Taliban is an example of authentic nationalism with
regard to foreign troop presence.)
#Post#: 9613--------------------------------------------------
Re: Military decolonization
By: guest55 Date: October 29, 2021, 11:43 pm
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[quote]Elderly voters are mostly sticking with left-wing
parties, mindful of Okinawa's past as one of the bloodiest
battlegrounds of World War Two, and opposing the U.S. military
bases which house 50,000 people and take up a fifth of the main
island.[/quote]
That's interesting in itself if we consider that the elderly
often move rightward in the political spectrum as they age,
especially in Western countries, yet the memory of WWII has kept
these elderly in Japan left leaning. Perhaps it is
disproportionately "white" Westerners who move rightward as they
age? If so, what is the excuse for those that actually won WWII,
"white" rightists, to become more and more callous as they age?
#Post#: 9617--------------------------------------------------
Re: Military decolonization
By: 90sRetroFan Date: October 30, 2021, 1:46 am
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"the elderly often move rightward in the political spectrum as
they age"
"kept these elderly in Japan left leaning"
I think both these statements can be true simultaneously. Just
because today's elders are more left-learning than
today's youth does not mean the former have not shifted
rightwards as they aged. In other words, when these elders were
younger, they were probably even further left than they are now!
(This would not be surprising as their youth would have
coincided with the height of the Counterculture era.)
Or to put it the pessimistic way, observing how right-leaning
today's youth already are while still young, imagine how
much worse they will be by the time they are old..... This is
probably what the LDP are betting on happening.
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