The Russian German pact is one of the most interesting blunders by both powers prior to the outbreak of hostilities.

A core principle of Nazi ideology was the rejection of Communism and Bolshevism, yet cordial relations were maintained between Hitler and Stalin with regards to craving up parts of Eastern Europe. Right before the outbreak of Operation Barbarossa, various Russian spies sent information of tank and troop formations forming along the border. However Stalin dismissed those, believing Hitler would never attack him. This resulted the huge capitulation on the Eastern front, lots of military and aerial equipment was destroyed as no order came from above about the impending attack.

Hitler was after the Caucus oilfields, a resource the Nazi's were lacking in continuing their war effort, however instead of focusing on that one singular strategic goal Hitler started getting more involved in fighting political battles going after Moscow and Stalingrad. Deluded optimism based off earlier successes.

Numerous German officials and officer remarked at the start of the operation that invading Russia was a grave mistake, as the NAP allowed for single front warfare against France and England without opening another front with the Soviet Union.

Great find, kp. And it's even way more interesting when looked at in today's context.

There's a new recently made documentary The Soviet Story on Soviet-Nazi ties before and during the WW2, showing some startling evidence on how the two superpowers actually collaborated on many levels during the 40s. There's actual documented proof of how SS troops were being taught by KGB agents, of financial assets going from the USSR to Germany, etc. To those ignorant of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact: Soviet radio transmitters guided German bombers in their attacks on Poland, a Soviet naval base near Murmansk helped the Nazi attack on Norway, the Soviet secret police helped train the Gestapo and discussed how to deal with the “Jewish question” in occupied Poland.

It's also kind of funny and yet disturbing at the same time that a Kremlin-backed nationalist youth group “Rossiya molodaya“ hanged and burned a doll of the film's author and director on a Moscow street. The police was there, but nobody stopped them, of course

Further reading by the Economist.

the "change" he is always talking about, that he never lays down, is the kind that will be left in yer pockets after the Obomba drops.....
this short list prediction, taken from promulgated data, and statements made by O himself
• Obama enacts stronger “federal hate crimes legislation” to “reinvigorate enforcement at the Department of Justice's Criminal Section.”...he may even help us all to invent some new definitions of hate...in speech, broadcast, and the printed word-

• Obama creates “a fund to help people refinance their mortgages and provide comprehensive supports to innocent homeowners.”...he will then march in lock-step to the world's money machine, faster and more dutiful than any of his predecessors

• Obama, following through on his pledge to “meet with the leaders of all nations, friend and foe,” signs a non-agression pact with ol' Akmed Handbinnajob

• Obama doubles foreign aid to $50 billion to cut “poverty around the world in half by 2015.”-fucking idiot

• Obama removes our troops from Iraq, leaving a power vacuum filled by Iran.-Armageddion???

• Obama enacts socialized medicine, destroying small businesses with taxes to pay for illegal's healthcare, and further reducing the overall quality of services, across the board-

• Obama enacts amnesty for illegal aliens....they are so helpless and needy, and their country IS connected to ours....

• Obama enacts legislation demanding carbon friendly cars, hammering the final nail in the coffin of the US car industry, and Eris help us, appoints Al Gore to some bullshit post....

• Barack Obama enacts laws to reinforce affirmative action by funneling money to “women and minority-owned businesses.” and affirmative action, well, talk about yer dumbing-down across the board, in universities, etc.

• Obama repeals the Bush tax cuts, then proceeds invent some new reasons for new taxes.....how about a gullible meatsacks tax, for everyone who went to his pep-rally....

• Obama enacts the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to entrench the power of the homosexual lobby, who we all know, are shining examples of fair play and sensibilities you'd wanna pass down to yer kids-fuck the queers in government

In short kiddies, a shitstorm-designed to get us all closer to lock-down in cell block America-

Distorting historical facts is low, I'm disappointed in Wilcox.

Sounds like you must have read Will and Ariel Durant's essay "The Lessons of History" that accompanies their 10 volume work "The History of Civilization." The short essay should be required reading for every school kid.
From Chapter 11, History and War (presented as a debate between general and philospher)

General;
"War is one of the constants of history, and has not diminished with civilization or democracy. In the last 3,421 years of recorded history only 268 have seen no war. We have acknowledged war as, at present, the ultimate form of competition and natural selection in the human species. "Polemos pater panton," said Heracleitus; war, or competition, is the father of all things, the potent source of ideas, inventions, institutions, and states. Peace is an unstable equilibrium, which can be preserved only be acknowledged supremacy or equal power."
Philosopher;
"Perhaps each of us, while maintaining adequate defenses, can arrange nonaggression and nonsubversion pacts with other states, and from these accords a world order may take form within which each nation will remain sovereign and unique, limited only be agreements freely signed. We ask you to join us in this defiance of history, this resolve to extend courtesy and civilization to the relations among states.......if you and we succeed, we shall merit a place for centuries to come in the grateful memory of mankind."
General;
"You have forgotten all the lessons of history.....interludes of widespread peace are unnatural and exceptional; they will soon be ended by changes in the distribution of military power. You have told us that man is a competitive animal, that his states must be like himself, and that natural selection now operates on an international scale. States will unite in basic co-operation only when they are in common attacked from without."

In reply to this comment by RhesusMonk:
The Battery was attacked REPEATEDLY in the colonial period. I like this piece, but I can't stand manipulating facts to make people's hearts bleed.

Also, what I have to say is probably unpopular, but, welcome to the world, ladies and gentlemen. War is the norm for state level societies, always has been. You think you don't like it? You see a possibility for another societal ontology? I assure you, you are not that smart.

Distorting historical facts is low, I'm disappointed in Wilcox.

Sounds like you must have read Will and Ariel Durant's essay "The Lessons of History" that accompanies their 10 volume work "The History of Civilization." The short essay should be required reading for every school kid.
From Chapter 11, History and War (presented as a debate between general and philospher)

General;
"War is one of the constants of history, and has not diminished with civilization or democracy. In the last 3,421 years of recorded history only 268 have seen no war. We have acknowledged war as, at present, the ultimate form of competition and natural selection in the human species. "Polemos pater panton," said Heracleitus; war, or competition, is the father of all things, the potent source of ideas, inventions, institutions, and states. Peace is an unstable equilibrium, which can be preserved only by acknowledged supremacy or equal power."
Philosopher;
"Perhaps each of us, while maintaining adequate defenses, can arrange nonaggression and nonsubversion pacts with other states, and from these accords a world order may take form within which each nation will remain sovereign and unique, limited only by agreements freely signed. We ask you to join us in this defiance of history, this resolve to extend courtesy and civilization to the relations among states.......if you and we succeed, we shall merit a place for centuries to come in the grateful memory of mankind."
General;
"You have forgotten all the lessons of history.....interludes of widespread peace are unnatural and exceptional; they will soon be ended by changes in the distribution of military power. You have told us that man is a competitive animal, that his states must be like himself, and that natural selection now operates on an international scale. States will unite in basic co-operation only when they are in common attacked from without."
>> ^RhesusMonk:
The Battery was attacked REPEATEDLY in the colonial period. I like this piece, but I can't stand manipulating facts to make people's hearts bleed.
Also, what I have to say is probably unpopular, but, welcome to the world, ladies and gentlemen. War is the norm for state level societies, always has been. You think you don't like it? You see a possibility for another societal ontology? I assure you, you are not that smart.

Are you kidding me? Olbermouth, what about the behind the scenes racism and hatred from Obama's Spiritual Advisor Jeremiah Wright? At least Ferraro did not spew damnation. If you do not know by now that racism exists, then it is time to wake up. I don't like it anymore than you do. The truth hurts. Let us not be 1 sided! The tapes spew Hilary! Hilary! Hilary! White man, white man, white man!!!!! Are you going to ask Obama to denounce Jeremiah Wright? Are you going to tell him that Jeremiah Wright is a catastrophe to his campaign? He was on Obama's Campaign Committee just like Ferraro was on Clintons. Isn't it awesome when God intervenes. Your arrogance against Hilary Clinton came back to haunt you. Hilary apologized for Ferraro's comments. All I heard from Obama were excuses. I have not heard Obama reject nor denounce Jeremiah Wright. He has not cut all ties, Olbermouth this is cheap, ignorant, vile racism, this is a suicide pact. Aren't these your words Olbermouth. You talk too much and you say nothing. We all need prayer, including you!!!!!!!!!!!

"In many ways, the movement against scientology is the same type of beast as a religious cult, with the vegetoid masses signing up to feel part of something noble and larger than life."

"I hold the same disgust toward scientology as I do toward judeo-christianity, which has delivered us the most violent century in ALL of human history, the 20th."

"So who do we blame for all of this? Well let's start with all of those organisations preaching religious tolerance. ... Think about if *your* religion would survive"

Yes, everyone is to blame. Everyone should die and join a suicide pact. Ok, I get it.

How about a pragmatic take on the recent Scientology events? Scientology much like MPAA and RIAA abuses copyright laws to bully people on the internet and sue and very litigious over clearly fair use. Therefore people are pissed off, especially culture warriors and the internets meme generators.

How about the fact that Scientology is a financial scam which pretends to be a "faith" in order for tax-free status and the exemption of "donations" for course fees. Forget the financial milking of their followers, it serves them right, but what about the tax-scam?

Who was the only group to infiltrate the US gov't including the IRS and DOJ? Was it Russia? Was it islamo-fascists? Nope, it was Scienologists and 11 of them (including Hubbard's wife) were convicted and sent to federal prison.

Scientology as acquired a massive portfolio of real estate all because of the tax shelters and loophole provided to them as a "Church" and "religion". How did they achieve such status? Seriously ask yourself that and do some research. Could YOU write a sci-fi slash religious text and get a group of 20 of your followers tax-free church status?

Also, why is it that a Jewish family that send their kids to a private school or religious camp cannot deduct those expenses, whereas scientologist can claim ALL of their course work, in the $100,000 in some cases, as donations? Why are these super rich Hollywood types allowed to pump all of this money tax free into this corporation.

If you still fail to see Scientology as a corporation, then ask yourself this, (aside from CBN) how many other religions have infomercials, amazon book stores, and also re-release all of their books and CDs every four years like it is a Star Wars franchise?

Does the Catholic church sell newly remastered and digitally restored DVDs? Seriously?

I signed a pact with the devil to attain a PC that could run Crysis, I didnt have the numerous hardware problems alot of its users report.

However while it is pretty its still solidily no more then a mod for Far Cry, plus the pretty graphics are nothing but filler for a game that starts out great with the nano wankyiness, it is nice in the open scapes (though not as free roaming as FC) when dealing the DRPK troops but quickly cascades into being shit when it goes all "Xen" on you after encountering the aliens, battles with which consist mainly of shooting at them till they drop unravelling the nice strategic combat with the troops at the start of the game.

The end was particularly underwhelming, I mean Crytek revealed the boss battle at the end of the game a full 2 years before release. Not to mention it was basically Contra by then.

jwray, I used to think that a One World Government was a wonderful idea when I was younger. I grew up watching Star Trek and loved the concept of the United Federation of Planets and how it could apply to our current times as a One World Government. I also ended up studying politics and the Constitution. I fell in love with the Constitution and what it does for people on so many levels. Many take it for granted here in the States.

We have all been witnessing the slow degredation of it although the current administration has been advancing that aspect a hundred-fold. If our government is to be dismantled for an all-powerful League of Nations, will it be comparable to what the Constitution gives us? Are the people forming this as noble and honorable as the founders of the US Constitution?

Do they really care about us? With the degree of secrecy involved, I seriously doubt it. Are you really willing to take that chance? What mechanisms will be in place to protect the freedom, liberty and Justice of everybody with such a pact? Just look at what has happened to our Justice dept... they can no longer guarantee Justice for the American people thanks to the appointments from a dictator-like president.

"Creation of a world government does not necessarily require any fascism or any other immoral policy."
I agree... it does not require facism... but if we are to give up our protective mechanisms for a ruling of an outside source, what will guarantee that it won't be controlled by a small group of fascist men/women that have the outward appearance of being benign and "for the people". What I fear the most is that people may realize such a thing when it's too late.

so... us military sales to saddam before the kuwait invasion made regime change then a potential quagmire?? that us military sales to the taliban emboldened them??

really???

not really

from 1972 to 1990 us military sales to saddam amounted to a measly total of 200m dollars, in the form of 117 light helicopters -- during the same period, the warsaw pact, china and others sold saddam a grand total of 43.96 BILLION dollars worth of military goods, making the us contribution towards the whole a whopping half a percent

in afghanistan, us aid went to afghan mujahideen until the soviets pulled out in 1989 -- when was the taliban created? oh yeah, 1994... hmmm? but, but... weren't the mujahideen and the taliban allies?? nope, they were enemies... in fact, the mujahideen fought alongside us forces AGAINST the taliban since 2001

so... if this was posted for jon's very funny comedy - great! heh heh, his hammish act is always worth some laughs

if this was posted as any sort of political history, well, it's lack of context makes it dishonest

"Could anyone give more details? I have very little idea of what the conflict is and who is on what side."

Sure - from CBC

Organizers of the protests at the North American leaders' summit in Montebello, Que., say they have video that shows police disguised as masked demonstrators tried to incite violence on Monday.

About 1,200 protesters were in the small resort town near Ottawa as Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with U.S. President George W. Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon at a two-day summit to discuss issues under the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America pact.

The video titled Stop SPP Protest — Union Leader stops provocateurs, posted on YouTube Tuesday, was shown at a news conference held Wednesday in Ottawa by protest organizers, including Dave Coles, president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, who appears in the video.

In the footage filmed Monday afternoon, three burly men with bandanas and other covers over their faces push through protesters toward a line of riot police. One of the men has a rock in his hand.

As they move forward, Coles and other union leaders dressed in suits order the men to put the rock down and leave, accuse them of being police agents provocateurs, and try unsuccessfully to unmask them.

In the end, they squeeze behind the police line, where they are calmly handcuffed.

"The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union believes that the security force at Montebello were ordered to infiltrate our peaceful assembly and to provoke incidents," Coles told reporters. "I think the evidence that we've shown you today reinforces the view."

Coles showed photographs of the masked men's and police officers' boots taken during the handcuffing, in which they appear to have identical tread patterns on their soles.

He also questioned why other activists have been unable to identify the three men whose images have been broadcast worldwide and demanded to know who the masked men were.

"Do they have any connection to the Quebec police force or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or are they part of some other security force that was at Montebello?" Coles asked, adding that he wants to know how the Prime Minister's Office was involved in security during the protests.

He suggested that the government might want to provoke violence in order justify its security budget for the summit and discredit protesters.

"They want to defuse our questions ... by trying to make it look like some radical group trying to create a confrontation," he said.

The RCMP has refused to comment, while Quebec's provincial force has flatly denied that its officers were involved in the incident.

It said it is not releasing any names as no charges were laid.
Retired police officer believes masked men were cops

Meanwhile, a retired Ottawa police officer who was formerly in charge of overseeing demonstrations for the force said he questions who the masked men really are, after viewing the video.

"Were they legitimate protesters? I don’t think so," said Doug Kirkland.

"Well, if they weren't police, I think they might well have been working in the best interests of police."

He added that if the situation was as it appeared, he did not approve of the tactic. "It's pretty close to baiting," he said.

On Wednesday, the mayor of Montebello thanked police and protesters, praising the fact that there wasn't a single report of damage during the two-day summit.

The Security and Prosperity Partnership pact, signed in 2005, is intended to forge closer trade and security links between the countries.

Opponents say negotiations about the agreement are secretive and undemocratic, and the treaty itself erodes Canada's control over its natural resources, security and defence.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/08/22/ot-police-070822.html

gwaan, admirable efforts there but something tells me gorillaman isn't one to change his opinion.

my girlfriend of 5yrs is scottish and whilst being english i spent most of my school life in wales.
within scotland there is an immense amount of national pride and while there's absolutely nothing
wrong with that it borders on offensive at times.

e.g. i've heard countless scots berate the english for the events you've been discussing, to the point
where i've felt uncomfortable. it's in the past. i'm not condoning anything but no-one's gonna get
anywhere if we keep harping on about things that happened when we weren't even born (that goes for any
situation, not just this one).
also, most scots will also support pretty much anything if it goes against something the english believe
in or support. anywhere else and that kind of group behaviour would be frowned upon. when she was about
to leave school for uni my now girlfriend and all her schoolmates made a pact to never have a relationship
with an english person because we're 'scum' (what can i say, i tamed the beast). what have our generation
done to deserve that kind of pre-concieved judgement?

having said all that, i do love the scots. it's just one thing that rubs me the wrong way.

and i do think they should have their independence if that's their wish, hopefully it would go some
way to slowly eradicating most of the resentment that clearly still exists. also, they already have
their own legal system and parliament so i don't really see the point of them being in limbo with regards to
full independence. with regards to language, if you want to speak it, speak it. i think every child
should have at least the option to speak/learn their country's language from the moment they start
school.