R+B · Vol. 2 [1] · TRF hits fash/REATO targets · RIA started

[Captain Woodhouse]

It's fucking disgusting, be careful who you pretend to be.

I dunno, maybe be careful who you screw with.

You’re misinformed. Scarsaw may be the only NE member RPing a Nazi.

I’m not pretending to be a Nazi any more than I pretended to be a demon when I squatted in isolationist Hell for six years. I never knew or cared about the rest of the game until Antifa left their calling card on my turf.

A multying anarchist and some Genesis Defense Project agents moved to Hell to endorse the WAD I’d unseated. Know why they did that? Because they used Heaven and Hell as way stations and were deeply disturbed by my card-carrying capitalist-imperialist self in one of their haunts. They were also unhappy that I supported an embassy with NAZI EUROPE. The guy Antifa supported didn’t want the embassy and was an infrequent poster. At the time, his politics were unknown to them.

Long story short: Antifa had a rude awakening when their horse began smacking down the anarchist on the RMB and commenting on the wonderfulness of using weapons of mass destruction on innocent people.

I can’t tell you how fast Antifa rode out of Hell when it became clear I wasn’t the only nasty capitalist in the region. The difference between their horse and me was our opinions on a silly embassy.

Nazis and fascists are the only ones hindering Antifa encroachment into neutral and capitalist territory. Defenders and the rest of the R/D clique don’t give a shit.

We're gonna be knocking on your door whether you enjoy being fash or not.

And I’m going to continue spending my fat capitalist bucks to recruit more of what you hate to the game—to keep you occupied ‘bashing the fash’ and out of neutral regions (like Hell was at the time) and capitalist regions.

Come on in, I'll put the kettle on.

I take it you're referring to the big black kettle we borrowed from the Three Little Pigs? Cos that's all that's waiting for Nameless Revolt.

[GreatNazis]

I take it you're referring to the big black kettle we borrowed from the Three Little Pigs? Cos that's all that's waiting for Nameless Revolt.

Bear in mind I am probably the only Englishman who doesn't enjoy tea.

[Misley]

Nazis and fascists are the only ones hindering Antifa encroachment into neutral and capitalist territory. Defenders and the rest of the R/D clique don’t give a shit.

I'm sure REATO would take exception to you leaving them out.

Besides, this isn't true. For the most part, defenders leave TRF alone because we do work that no one objects too loudly to, but they don't completely ignore us. Defenders did jump in to save "Libertarians" after we raided them, but the native point they chose continued to close embassies anyway.

And I’m going to continue spending my fat capitalist bucks to recruit more of what you hate to the game—to keep you occupied ‘bashing the fash’ and out of neutral regions (like Hell was at the time) and capitalist regions.

Our summer campaign against REATO shows that you're wasting your time and money, then. Creating more puppets to move into NE doesn't scare me, and it's funny to watch hundreds CTE in one day when the puppetmasters forget about them.

[Dark Commander]

Nazis and fascists are the only ones hindering Antifa encroachment into neutral and capitalist territory. Defenders and the rest of the R/D clique don’t give a shit.

I'm sure REATO would take exception to you leaving them out.

Know the facts before you open your mouth Misley, several nations in my region sent endorsers to GGR when we found out an invasion was on. No one in my region likes Nazis, even though you would call us "Nazi lovers." The only region I tagged my region "Anti-Communist" was because you guys somehow only see our side as either A. Nazis, or B. Communists.

[Misley]

I'm sure REATO would take exception to you leaving them out.

Know the facts before you open your mouth Misley, several nations in my region sent endorsers to GGR when we found out an invasion was on. No one in my region likes Nazis, even though you would call us "Nazi lovers." The only region I tagged my region "Anti-Communist" was because you guys somehow only see our side as either A. Nazis, or B. Communists.

"Nazis and fascists are the only ones hindering Antifa encroachment into neutral and capitalist territory."

"I'm sure REATO would take exception to you leaving them out."

Try reading a little more closely before you get deeply offended by something that no one is saying.

[Dark Commander]

Know the facts before you open your mouth Misley, several nations in my region sent endorsers to GGR when we found out an invasion was on. No one in my region likes Nazis, even though you would call us "Nazi lovers." The only region I tagged my region "Anti-Communist" was because you guys somehow only see our side as either A. Nazis, or B. Communists.

"Nazis and fascists are the only ones hindering Antifa encroachment into neutral and capitalist territory."

"I'm sure REATO would take exception to you leaving them out."

Try reading a little more closely before you get deeply offended by something that no one is saying.

I haven't gotten deeply offended, I am stating facts. What you said before extends beyond this forum.

[Misley]

I haven't gotten deeply offended, I am stating facts. What you said before extends beyond this forum.

I don't see how that has anything to do with the topic of this thread, then. Woody was saying that only Nazis/fascists stand between the Left and capitalist regions -- basically saying that REATO does nothing to prevent our operations. He's not wrong, but I figured I would point out that the fash aren't the only ones opposed to us in the game.

Somehow you read my reply and felt like you needed to tilt at windmills about "Nazi lovers" and Anti-communist tags. I really don't think you read what either of us wrote, and if you did, it doesn't seem like you understood what our points were.

[Captain Woodhouse]

Creating more puppets to move into NE doesn't scare me, and it's funny to watch hundreds CTE in one day when the puppetmasters forget about them.

I can appreciate your amusement, especially if you’re the puppet master. We know someone’s deliberately pumping the region with scads of puppets and ‘forgetting’ to log into them. It sure ain’t us.

You’re another upstanding individual who advocates taking a fight offsite to screw with your enemy’s stuff because the tools Max has given you aren’t doing the job. When you support offsite illegal activity, you admit you can’t win by legal, conventional means. I imagine you’ve a lot of funny stuff up your sleeve.

No puppet master has 29 WA on Svart, and no puppet master was behind the additional 20-something WA deployed to the GGR. Once again, you can’t do the math.

I’m not trying to scare you, Misley. I’m telling it like it is. Are you eliminating or even reducing Nazism and fascism in the game a single iota? Of course not. I thought at least reduction was your goal, but perhaps your objective is to ensure I recruit more Nazis so you can remain in the limelight, writing about Nazis in this thread instead of your font changes.

Besides, this isn't true. For the most part, defenders leave TRF alone because we do work that no one objects too loudly to, but they don't completely ignore us. Defenders did jump in to save "Libertarians" after we raided them, but the native point they chose continued to close embassies anyway.

I don't know what I said that wasn't true. You claim defenders leave TRF alone for the most part, but bugged you one time. Big deal. Is that indicative of any real effort applied to protect non-fascist regions from you?

Our summer campaign against REATO shows that you're wasting your time and money, then.

Libertatem and company are more confused playas than they are capitalists with conviction. We’ve targeted them in the past and will do so again if we identify anything worth targeting. Revenge-tagging embassy regions with founders over losing one of our regions fair and square makes us look more cartoonish than capable.

Libertatem may be capitalist tagged, but they can’t seem to grab much support from capitalists outside their little circle—probably because their misguided and fickle agenda doesn’t appeal to most capitalists in the game. It sure to hell didn’t appeal to me. I’d considered joining them in their fight against you once upon a time.

[Misley]

Creating more puppets to move into NE doesn't scare me, and it's funny to watch hundreds CTE in one day when the puppetmasters forget about them.

I can appreciate your amusement, especially if you’re the puppet master. We know someone’s deliberately pumping the region with scads of puppets and ‘forgetting’ to log into them. It sure ain’t us.

It's my understanding that intentionally setting up multiple puppets to CTE in an enemy region during a single update is a violation of the Regional Happenings Spam rule. If someone is doing that on purpose, it's news to me, and seems like a stupid thing to do in the first place.

You’re another upstanding individual who advocates taking a fight offsite to screw with your enemy’s stuff because the tools Max has given you aren’t doing the job. When you support offsite illegal activity, you admit you can’t win by legal, conventional means.

Except for that one time three days ago when we did win by legal, conventional means. Remember? The Greater German Reich? It's even referenced in the current thread title.

It didn't even take us multiple tries, like when we were reinvading NAZI EUROPE or liberating Anne Frank. TRF led the operation and succeeded on the first attempt.

But yeah, I do support destroying any place y'all create as a "safe space" for Nazism or fascism and their adherents.

No puppet master has 29 WA on Svart, and no puppet master was behind the additional 20-something WA deployed to the GGR. Once again, you can’t do the math.

Just like no puppetmasters are behind the 34 WA on IPR, and no puppetmasters were behind the 20-something WA that the Left pulled in to the GGR, or the 20-something WA that the remaining militaries on the WFE pulled in. What's your point? You still lost, and the fact that you have at minimum 29 actual, separate people in Nazi Europa is not proof that there aren't folks on your side padding that number with puppets.

I don't know what I said that wasn't true. You claim defenders leave TRF alone for the most part, but bugged you one time. Big deal. Is that indicative of any real effort applied to protect non-fascist regions from you?

Perhaps not in recent memory, but I can't be the only one who remembers Pact of Steel. Defenders are not giving us carte blanche to stomp all over capitalist regions any more than they are giving REATO the go-ahead to continue to squat in The Cannabis Communists.

When was the last truly major defender operation? Anne Frank, almost a year ago? Defenders are sleepy across the game, not just in our niche.

Libertatem and company are more confused playas than they are capitalists with conviction. We’ve targeted them in the past and will do so again if we identify anything worth targeting. Revenge-tagging embassy regions with founders over losing one of our regions fair and square makes us look more cartoonish than capable.

You say it makes us look cartoonish and incapable, which is the same argument levied against DEN and their tag raids. The real purpose (beyond revving up activity and giving our regions something to talk about) is practice for update operations. Practice that clearly pays off, when we successfully invade GGR on the first go.

That's something—and I'm talking about the whole thing here: planning, having the numbers, bringing in friendly militaries, and executing—that The Red Fleet would not have been able to pull off two years ago, and you know it.

I'm not trying to scare you, Woodhouse. I'm telling it like it is.

[Verborgenen Herrn]

TRF led the operation and succeeded on the first attempt.

Which part is supposed to be the shocker? The fact that you know how to trigger and post "GO" in chat or the fact that you can succeed when every active GPer in the game is lending you his WA? Give me the same resources and I could take down a feeder WAD.

no puppetmasters were behind the 20-something WA that the Left pulled in to the GGR

The Left was pulling in 30-40 WA in operations like the Tokyo invasion under LePas, so at best you've just kept the Left's army alive.

the fact that you have at minimum 29 actual, separate people in Nazi Europa is not proof that there aren't folks on your side padding that number with puppets

Actually it is. First of all, NE currently has 53 WA in the region, not counting those who arrived from GGR. And few of those 20 that were endorsing me in GGR have rejoined the WA with their main nations. This means that NE has 70+ WA. On average, how often do you see a 100 or 200 nation region with 70 WA? Not too often I'd wager. The number of WAs in a region is usually proportional to its total population. As we can see from regions similar in size to NE, the relative proportionality holds up:

Capitalist Paradise = 98 WA, 401 nations
Nazi Europa = ~70 WA, 374 nations
LKE = 84 WA, 375 nations
Imperium of the Wolf = 60 WA, 334 nations

Therefore we can make conclusions about what a region's population should approximately be based on the number of WA in the region; and NE's population and WA count fits in with those of similarly-sized regions.

The real purpose (beyond revving up activity and giving our regions something to talk about) is practice for update operations. Practice that clearly pays off, when we successfully invade GGR on the first go.

soldiers and sailors poured into the Nazi region twenty seconds before it updated

You needed that much practice to be able to jump 20 seconds before update? In 2012-13 when I was doing tags under another identity and had just learned what update raiding was, we were moving in 3-5 seconds before update. And again - the reason for your success was the massive pile of support. You could have been replaced by a DEN Private and the operation would have gone just as smoothly.

[Misley]

TRF led the operation and succeeded on the first attempt.

Which part is supposed to be the shocker? The fact that you know how to trigger and post "GO" in chat or the fact that you can succeed when every active GPer in the game is lending you his WA? Give me the same resources and I could take down a feeder WAD.

Except that we had the same "every active GPer" involved in NAZI EUROPE and Anne Frank and didn't succeed on the first try in either of those jumps.

And no, you could not take down a feeder GCR with 40 update troops. Don't be absurd.

no puppetmasters were behind the 20-something WA that the Left pulled in to the GGR

The Left was pulling in 30-40 WA in operations like the Tokyo invasion under LePas, so at best you've just kept the Left's army alive.

The Left was not pulling 30-40 update troops when La Pas was around, even in Tokyo.

You needed that much practice to be able to jump 20 seconds before update? In 2012-13 when I was doing tags under another identity and had just learned what update raiding was, we were moving in 3-5 seconds before update. And again - the reason for your success was the massive pile of support. You could have been replaced by a DEN Private and the operation would have gone just as smoothly.

Whatever helps you feel better while you wait for LCG to come back.

[Cormac Stark]

Congratulations to The Red Fleet, et al. It's nice to see GGR raided again, however temporarily.

[Drop Your Pants]

And no, you could not take down a feeder GCR with 40 update troops. Don't be absurd.

Find a vice delegate that can be turned or a long term plant exempt from the endo cap and you could do it. TEP is the closest but you could also try it during delegate switches. Sinkers are a smaller gap, doubt you'd need 40.

Don't mind me

[Captain Woodhouse]

The Left was not pulling 30-40 update troops when La Pas was around, even in Tokyo.

I believe VH was referring to your total troop strength. We’ve seen no indication that you’ve more than 30-40 troops, including updaters. You've never displayed much of an update force. If something changed with your recent TCB alliance, I’m not seeing it on my activity report. You’re going to have to identify all those leftist updaters you claimed to field for the GGR offensive. The flags aren’t doing the job.

It's my understanding that intentionally setting up multiple puppets to CTE in an enemy region during a single update is a violation of the Regional Happenings Spam rule. If someone is doing that on purpose, it's news to me, and seems like a stupid thing to do in the first place.

I think it’s pretty clever using Regional Happenings to screw up a recruitment campaign. Who wants to join a region with nothing but CTE stuff in the RH? As much as you monitor NE, you haven’t noticed all the smutty-named nations that are deleted almost as soon as they enter? One spammer was persistent and moved smut in for the better part of a day. That also looked really sharp in the RH.

Except for that one time three days ago when we did win by legal, conventional means. Remember? The Greater German Reich? It's even referenced in the current thread title.

Thanks for admitting you're promoting illegal activity with this bit. What a peach.

You’ve won some battles, but you’re not winning the war. You let me know how badly you’re losing when you promote illegal activity to hurt your game enemy. I can only infer that you think hacking a forum might be the ticket that’ll run us out of town because your antifascist action isn’t doing shit in that regard.

But yeah, I do support destroying any place y'all create as a "safe space" for Nazism or fascism and their adherents.

Since you know all about NE’s forum, tell me how it’s being used as a safe space for Nazism or fascism and their adherents. We can’t seem to get the Nazis and fascists in NE turned on to the forum. What did you view that was objectionable? A former TRF commander’s rants? An American conservative’s rant?

So you want to see our forum hacked and destroyed again why? That’s rhetorical. You’re hoping we’ll be so intimidated by hacky powah that we’ll leave the game. Our mattresses can only be next, yeah?

What's your point?

I’ve stated the point dozens of times. Perhaps giddiness and ego are hindering absorption.

Two years ago, the SC opened NE for destruction. Nazism was all but gone from the game as evidenced by the shitty 3-WA defensive in Tokyo. That was the extent of what Nazis and fascists could muster to defend their holdings.

Gameplay’s objective was to eliminate Nazism and fascism entirely from the game. The Liberation was supposed to be the killing stroke. It wasn’t. And that is the point you can’t grasp.

I'm not trying to scare you, Woodhouse. I'm telling it like it is.

Gameplay couldn’t stomach the near extinction of Nazis in ’13. Not even you can unload enough bullshit to convince anyone with a few functioning brain cells that the ever expanding numbers of Nazis and fascists in the game are producing a feel-good vibe.

When LCG CTEd, I thought what if Gameplay finally got a clue and doesn’t care anymore? What if they ignore the GGR as if it’s a piece of shit not worth blinking an eye over? Wouldn’t that be a fine slap in the face?

LCG’s abandonment of the GGR had already destroyed the region. I said something similar about NE long ago. TCE’s desertion is what killed NE. What you and Gameplay do is repeatedly throw Nazis and fascists into the limelight to validate their worth in the game after the founders of their regions have silently expressed how worthless they are.

If that’s not enough, you ensure we know how very precious we are when you rally a huge coalition force to take us on in MT Army created traps like Anne Frank and dead, no-account regions like Liberal Haven.

Look at that hub of activity today in refounded LH: last RMB post was over three months ago. Bravo. Tell me again how I’m losing the war.

You say it makes us look cartoonish and incapable, which is the same argument levied against DEN and their tag raids

Comparing the teaspoon of jam you could make out of the fruits of your summer labor to cats who tag at least as many regions during a single update quarter, 24/7? I’ve never typed this before, but lel.

Defenders are not giving us carte blanche to stomp all over capitalist regions any more than they are giving REATO the go-ahead to continue to squat in The Cannabis Communists.

I’m not seeing defenders doing squat in The Cannabis Communists. Good on REATO, I guess, for letting you know how much those embassy taggings really hurt them.

I didn’t say TRF was getting special treatment. I said defenders aren’t doing shit to protect non-fascist regions from you. Even you agree they’re really not.

and the fact that you have at minimum 29 actual, separate people in Nazi Europa is not proof that there aren't folks on your side padding that number with puppets.

We’ve many more than 29 actual, separate WA. Hell, we wanted Svart in the seat and asked people to endo him to get him in. Not many of our soldiers keep WA in NE. Are you accusing us of multying to inflate our strength? If so: lel again.

You seem a tad incredulous. Tell me again how I’m losing the war.

[Misley]

When LCG CTEd, I thought what if Gameplay finally got a clue and doesn’t care anymore? What if they ignore the GGR as if it’s a piece of shit not worth blinking an eye over? Wouldn’t that be a fine slap in the face?

LCG’s abandonment of the GGR had already destroyed the region. I said something similar about NE long ago. TCE’s desertion is what killed NE. What you and Gameplay do is repeatedly throw Nazis and fascists into the limelight to validate their worth in the game after the founders of their regions have silently expressed how worthless they are.

If NE and GGR and their communities ceased to exist tomorrow, some two-bit dash region would come along and take their place. Kaiserreich might well be the next "GGR" (meaning a "role play" fash/Nazi-themed region).

Besides, you all made it the prize that it was by piling into the region. Taking the delegate from the native who was there before Herrm with only a few endos would not have been nearly the victory you gave us by calling all the troops home. And how you think you've gotten back at us by invading Hong Kong is beyond me.

Your ability to spin every loss as a victory is impressive. But then I guess when the entire GP community unites against you, you have to move the goalposts.

[Luxdonia]

I deplore fascism and it's followers but I respect the right of anyone being able to freely share their views. Anyway, communism has caused more deaths then fascism anyway.

[Valrifell]

I deplore fascism and it's followers but I respect the right of anyone being able to freely share their views. Anyway, communism has caused more deaths then fascism anyway.

No, it hasn't.
Stalinism has caused more deaths than National Socialism (NAZIism).

[Drop Your Pants]

Stalinism has caused more deaths than National Socialism (NAZIism).

And guns have killed more than both but i think we're going off topic slightly

On the region itself, its taking a long time for people to swap their WA's. Fun to watch the slight confusion.

[Zemnaya Svoboda]

I deplore fascism and it's followers but I respect the right of anyone being able to freely share their views. Anyway, communism has caused more deaths then fascism anyway.

That's actually not as certain as people used to think.

I suspect that it comes to a matter of interpretation: can one blame the whole of (european) world war II on fascism?

In any case, this sort of "atrocity olympics" is not very helpful. We're discussing ideologies, and genocide is in nazism's DNA.

[Consular]

In any case, this sort of "atrocity olympics" is not very helpful.

Yeah, I think when your main argument is that one thing isn't numerically as horribly evil as another thing, you know you're in bad waters.

[The Red and Black]

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Interview with Zenny Winter
INTERVIEW · THE COMMUNIST BLOC · TCB REVOLUTION

On September 26, 2015, the Republic of The Communist Bloc was overthrown in a revolution by longtime region member Zenny Winter. In an announcement proclaiming the formation of the "People's Republic of The Communist Bloc," Zenny set the vision for the future of the region that has come to define her career in NationStates.

Zenny sat down with the Red + Black to talk about the revolution and the response she and her Revolutionary Command have received.

Red + Black: Thank you for sitting down with us.

Zenny Winter: It's my pleasure. I'm verry flattered you would have me.

R+B: First things first - what was the impetus behind the revolution? It has been alleged that until very recently, you were opposed to applying Marxism to NationStates. What changed?

ZW: It wasn't that I was opposed to it. It was a combination of me thinking that Marxist theory was not applicable to NationStates and a severe lack of understanding of what it was. I'm certainly no expert, but over the last six to eight months, I've been learning not only in my real life studies but also through a lot of communication with other leftists on NationStates through regions like The Internationale and Union of Socialist Soviet Republics.

I was not fully aware that I was a very strong revisionist of Marxist theory myself and in near direct contradiction of my beliefs on the establishment of the workers' state.

R+B: The Left has responded somewhat favorably to the idea of the revolution, but some are still not convinced that it is genuine. What do you say to those who point out TCB's alliances with monarchist regions and refusal to remove anti-leftist members from the region?

ZW: Diplomacy should never be reserved for a clique or only those you agree with. As the only leftist region with active forum embassies across the world, we have the opportunity to spread leftist education across NationStates. Cutting regional ties and exclusion from diplomacy is only for the worst kind of regions, like fascists and Nazis.

The issue of anti-leftist members is one that will have to be determined internally. Even in The Internationale, there are plenty of nations with anti-leftist classifications such as Capitalist Paradise, and we could say that this disqualifies The Internationale as a leftist region. You and I know that this is not true, because people should be free to decide their in-game issues however they please, since the classification system is not accurate and may not reflect the individuals and how they conduct themselves in real life.

R+B: But the issue of anti-leftist members is not restricted to nation categories. There are members of TCB who have actively worked to bring down leftist projects. Conservative Idealism, for example, was a leader in REATO during the raid on Congress of Armed Proletarian States and several other leftist regions while holding citizenship in The Communist Bloc.

ZW: Condealism has never been politically involved in our region. For what I've seen, he is here socially to meet people. He has never injected himself into any internal policy discussion in all his time in TCB. If he were to advocate such things within our borders, there would be issues.

R+B: He nominated himself for the Vice Presidency under Brunhilde's term prior to the revolution.

ZW: I was not made aware. In any case, he has never caused any issues with our members or brought harm to us. He has always been polite and respectful to all our members no matter their political position.

R+B: How does The Communist Bloc reconcile the contradiction of allowing people who have actually had a hand in anti-leftist activities to remain in the region while removing others as "reactionaries" for disapproving of the current revolution? How is this a meaningful change in policy aligned with Marxism and not simply a purge of opponents?

ZW: First off, we have not removed anyone. All the people who left self-exiled themselves and have resigned their citizenship, only to then have seven former citizens claim to be a government-in-exile. No group has been purged whatsoever. Many opponents remain and are vocal in their opposition.

R+B: Right, there is still domestic opposition, but many of the former major players in the Socialist Labour Party or Socialist Party of The Communist Bloc have left the region. Even in the absence of government action, you have the same result.

ZW: I offered all of them complete immunity for their past crimes and even offered all the SLP ministers to keep their positions under the transitional government. They refused and decided to stage the event publicly as a form of protest.

R+B: The question, from the perspective of the NS Left, is how TCB reconciles its problem, stated as its "toleration of reactionary and treasonous ideas," with the unimpeded existence of real reactionary elements in the region.

ZW: It is a very delicate issue. These are things that the community has a whole needs to discuss as to how we can balance our incorrect toleration of reactionaries with how we remain relevant in the world community and remain competitive in terms of population and talent pool. Something absolutely has to be done, I agree with the NS Left.

I also do not want TCB to become a place where people have to constantly be on their toes or face ejection for the slightest of deviation from leftist thought. It has to be balanced, how we do this is still a question we are working to answer. Any immediate condemnation by the NS Left will only further alienate people from even consideration of these ideas. We need their support to do this.

R+B: Speaking of condemnations, The Internationale is currently voting to repeal its condemnation of TCB and is discussing the possibility of repealing its prohibition of relations. What are TCB's thoughts?

ZW: I'm becoming rather fond of TI lately. All of them have made me feel pretty welcomed in their community and seem very understanding of my cause and the difficulties that come with it. As far as TCB-TI relations I know that everyone who knows about it in the Bloc has said that its a promising development and we look forward to hopefully someday being able to finally establish formal diplomatic ties between the regions.

There is a long way to go, but this is a really solid move after a few close operations between The Red Fleet and the Peoples' Revolutionary Armed Forces.

R+B: Relations between members of The Internationale and TCB have warmed considerably in recent months. Teksi, who founded the Congress of Armed Proletarian States, was even one of the members to welcome you to TI when you moved. What do you credit with this thaw?

ZW: A lot of things can be solved just by communication. I guess I've in effect served as an unofficial ambassador to TI and hopefully I've changed a few minds on us that there is hope for a leftist TCB. I was surprised by Teksi's welcome considering my poor history with him that I regret massively, but I think he's a good representative of the changing thoughts on TCB within the NS Left, and I hope that more turn out to be like him and are open minded to change. If he can change his mind on me and TCB after our horrid choice in the case of CAPS, I'm very confident we can do the same elsewhere.

R+B: As TCB remains steadfast in its support of diplomacy with monarchist and imperialist regions, how will its leaders continue to build bridges with the NS Left and prevent participation in operations like CAPS, Eastern Europe, or Lazarus in the future?

ZW: Not only will be not participate in such operations, but I feel we can strongly influence and persuade our allies and partners to not take part in operations against leftist targets. In many cases these targets are at complete random as apart of general raiding in NS, but if the NS left had a much stronger and active voice in interregional diplomacy I feel many of these raids and occupations could be avoided.

R+B: Let's hope so. Any final words?

ZW: I'd just like to thank you for your time and interest in speaking with me. The more discussion and interaction we have, the closer that we can all come to an agreeable outcome for all sides and move forward united in solidarity.

R+B: Solidarity forever! Thanks for your time.

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Antifascist operation in GGR continues, first ribbons awarded
NEWS · THE GREATER GERMAN REICH

Antifascist comrades are still piling into the Greater German Reich a week after the initial invasion. While the endorsement count at one point rose over 100 nations, the Europeian Republican Navy and Royal Navy of The Kingdom of Great Britain have pulled their forces out to pursue other operations. Taking their place are comrades from The Internationale, Libcom, the Democratic Socialist Union, The Mafia, and even REATO member International Republican Union, who provided troops while their allies in Libertatem continue a concurrent operation to lock down an inconsequential leftist region. With the addition of these reservists, the numbers in GGR remain over seventy nations on the lead endorsee, Seditia, with co-endorsees The Greater Qing, Jugandaria, and Pavlichenko each holding nearly fifty endorsements.

Despite orders from Nazi Europa's military commanders to leave their nations in the Greater German Reich, many fascist members of the Greater German Reich have moved out of the region, which could prove disastrous to the fascist defensive tactic of waiting for Leather Clad Germany to return to the game.

As the operation continues, The Red Fleet Admiralty Board has ordered the issuance of the first decoration inspired by the historic operation after a suggestion by comrade Sailor Transemilia.



The Red Fleet "Wound Stripe" ribbon is based on the Soviet equivalent of the well-known "Purple Heart" US military decoration, which was awarded in two variants to wounded soldiers. Minor injuries were denoted by a red stripe of fabric worn on the soldier's chest, while more severe wounds requiring emergency battlefield treatment earned the survivor a yellow wound stripe. The Red Fleet ribbon combines these into a single ribbon over an olive drab background.

This ribbon will be awarded to all Red Fleet sailors who are ejected by an enemy delegate between the order to move into the region and the actual region update. In GGR, six comrades were ejected by Verborgenen Herrn, making them the first recipients of what will almost assuredly be one of the rarest and most prized Red Fleet decorations:

• Comradeland (Korean Peoples Army)
• Godless Monkey (Korean Peoples Army)
• Gulliver (Taijitu Citizens' Militia)
• Sasten (North Pacific Army)
• We Are Not The NSA (DEN)
• Ivo (The Black Hawks)

As the operation continues, further decorations are being planned for participants.

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Socialism
ESSAY · SOCIALISM
by Auhl of The Internationale

Socialism. That ideology where cause and consequence are regularly mistaken, both voluntarily and involuntarily. What is the aim of socialism? It appears to be that of empowering the working classes and establishing a centralised society. That is generally understood. Socialism aims to empower the poorer spectrum of the society and create a nation based on the egalitarian development of social services and human experience. This is where the misunderstanding begins.

Let's clarify that the proletariat, the working classes that support the revolution are initially in a situation of poverty and decadence in many countries. However, socialism does not aim to maintain that condition. Instead, it strives to develop a strong, national industry to provide the basis for the economy to succeed at all levels.

It is wrong to assume that socialism, according to how it targets the working classes to pursue the revolution, is actually seeking the establishment of an authoritarian system where, apart from the bureaucrats, the people are subdued – effectively continuing their historically unfortunate situation while making them support that system. What I have just described is fascism.

It may seem wrong, and it should, to be able to extract a fascist view from a socialist premise, only because of an apparently unimportant mistake: mixing up cause and consequence. Was that confusion really that transcendent? Apparently, yes. The capitalistic notion that socialism means equality in poverty instead of equality in wealth comes from that specific reasoning, although, of course, when capitalist politicians state this, it is safe to assume that it was on purpose. Furthermore, this satisfies the important feat of associating fascism and socialism to prevent the latter from succeeding in a capitalist environment.

The reality, however, is quite different. The government, controlled directly by the proletariat, defends the development of industry and primary resources from a genuinely economic point of view. The main difference is that the state itself has the responsibility to control the economy to develop society, and particularly to have the sufficient tools to control technology. This is the main reason why, in a capitalist country, if oil is discovered (and the country does not own a nationalised oil company), the only way to generate wealth and employment would be to grant the area to private enterprises. This, of course, results in lower benefits for the working classes and, in fact, for everyone apart from the select few that own or organise the business. In a socialist country, natural resources would be exploited by state-owned enterprises. This generates just as much total wealth as it would in a capitalist country.

However, there is a fundamental difference: the wealth will be distributed according to government plans. This does not mean that the administrator and the CEO will earn nothing. That is nonsense. Their job is necessary, as much as that of a technician that operates the machinery. They'll earn money, probably even more than most of the workers (their work does require preparation). Two main differences: they will definitely earn much less than in a capitalist country and the working classes will nonetheless have a fabulous social backup in terms of education, health, insurance and overall welfare.

Socialism targets the working class to significantly improve their situation, not to fetishise poverty and to impetuously worsen their condition.

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Far right mobilizes—Beat them back!
REAL LIFE · ANALYSIS · REFUGEE CRISIS · FASCISM
by Liberation News Staff

The refugee crisis has led to sharp political polarization across Europe. On one hand, there have been massive demonstrations of international solidarity—demanding that their governments allow in the refugees and provide for their basic needs. On the other side, fascist and semi-fascist forces across the continent has exploited this crisis to gain strength. They have been helped by a range of ruling-class political parties that have scapegoated Muslims and immigrants for their country’s social problems.

In Italy, the government announced last year that it would be ending its search-and-rescue mission for refugees in the Mediterranean Sea. This is a criminal policy, given that many refugees attempt to reach Europe across the Mediterranean in a perilous crossing that has already led to the tragic death of thousands. Italy receives many refugees from Libya, which has fallen into civil war between rival militias since the 2011 NATO bombing. Roberto Maroni, a leader of Italy’s anti-immigrant Northern League and governor of Lombardy, announced in June that his province would stop admitting refugees altogether.

Closer to Syria is Greece, a main entry point for refugees into Europe. Greece’s economy has been crippled by U.S. and EU-imposed austerity and soaring unemployment. Hate crimes have been on the rise, and the powerful neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn has risen to become a national political force. Pro-immigrant, socialist and anarchist groups have organized community defense squads to defend areas of immigrants and refugees. Although its top leadership is under house arrest for running a criminal organization, Golden Dawn still increased its level of support in September’s election to 7 percent.

This dangerous phenomenon is present to varying degrees across the European Union. In Finland, fascists threw rocks and petrol bombs at vehicles carrying refugees. In France, the far-right anti-immigrant National Front is polling at or near first place for the next presidential election. France’s prime minister, from the misnamed Socialist Party, insists that the country will not admit more than 30,000 refugees, a tiny figure. In Britain, the anti-immigrant UK Independence Party has grown dramatically in recent years and the ruling Conservative Party is moving to the right to compensate.

Even in countries like Germany, whose government has advocated a comparatively more accepting policy, there have been manifestations of far-right anti-immigrant violence. Hundreds of rioters attacked refugees in the German city of Dresden multiple times in August.

But in other states of the European Union, the government sets the tone for the right-wing attack. Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary has been perhaps the most outspokenly anti-refugee head of government in the EU. Meeting refugees on his border with brutal military force, Orban is blatantly bigoted against Muslims, saying, “We don’t want to [live with a large number of Muslims] and I think we have a right to decide that we do not want a large number of Muslim people in our country.”

Progressive forces across Europe have been mobilizing opposition to this right-wing trend and proclaiming “refugees are welcome here!” As imperialist-fueled civil conflicts have combined with rapid shifts in the global capitalist order, human displacement is higher than ever.

In this global context, it is vital to strengthen working-class internationalism to counter the fascists and semi-fascists. This is underway in the form of large demonstrations, a resurgent immigrant and refugee rights movement, and important breakthroughs such as the one in Barcelona, where the Mayor Ada Colau announced the city would be a safe haven for refugees. The same is needed in the United States to not only assist the refugees of the Middle East, but to defeat dangerous, well-funded bigots like Donald Trump.

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For other editions of the Red + Black, see our off-site forum.

[Schweinehund]

YOUR WOUND BADGE IS UGLY

[Misley]

YOUR WOUND BADGE IS UGLY

Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, uh, your opinion, man.

And I'd say GGR was pretty ugly before we got in there. I think the Red Fleet ensign flying over the ruins of Berlin-Welthauptstadt Germania really ties the region together.

[The Red and Black]

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North Korea begins elections for Central Committee, launches NKTV
NEWS · NORTH KOREA · ELECTION SEASON

Elections have begun in North Korea, where comrades are voting to fill seats in that region's Central Committee. In a post to the North Korea regional message board, founder V Ming explained the political structure of the region and importance of the Central Committee.

"North Korea is unique in that the heads of the central committee are not given offices, orders, or tasks, but instead rule in the spirit of volunteerism and accomplishing what needs done. No one nation here represents North Korea in any area of administration—there is no minister for foreign affairs, no war minister. We worth together, raising the region by concentrating on areas that need our attention, picking up what lags behind and throwing it forward once more."

She praised the work of the outgoing central committee: Godless Munky, Communal Earth, and Comradeland, and herself, but stated her hope that the committee could have achieved more.

At print time, Ming, Comradeland, Custadia, and Kazirstan have been nominated. Custadia and Kazirstan are relative newcomers to North Korea, having moved there from Das Kommune. Both have been involved in antifascist struggle, with Custadia active as a member of the Korean Peoples Army. Kazirstan formerly commanded the Red Army of Das Kommune.

In her electoral platform, Ming cited the expansion of anti-fascist and anti-reactionary struggle by the Korean Peoples Army over the summer, establishment of a regional educational program, and creation of "NKTV" as her experience in leadership in the region.

NKTV, a project developed jointly by Ming and KPA General Godless Munky, provides a platform for leftists to view synchronized videos with one another, allowing for real-time discussions about the videos being watched. Videos shown on the "network" have included a documentary about L'Internationale and Battleship Potemkin.

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The Internationale repeals legislation adverse to The Communist Bloc
NEWS · THE INTERNATIONALE · THE COMMUNIST BLOC

Comrade Members of The Internationale unanimously voted Tuesday to repeal two articles of legislation passed earlier this year that targeted The Communist Bloc, opening up the possibility of official diplomatic communication between the two regions for the first time in nine months.

The Internationale voted in February to block relations with TCB and condemn the region after members of its elite posted inflammatory comments about TI on other regions' off-site forums and in the wake of military operations against leftist regions that were joined by TCB's military, the People's Revolutionary Armed Forces.

Tensions cooled over the summer, perhaps due to the prohibition on relations between the two regions. When the revolution was declared in The Communist Bloc, purportedly to remove reactionary elements from the region, the NS Left responded warily, but welcomed the prospect of changes to bring TCB towards the left.

A Marxist critique of the revolution in TCB, posted to the regional message board of North Korea by Ming caused a brief flare in relations as members of The Internationale cited it in their votes to veto the repeals. Members of The Communist Bloc reacted negatively to the criticism, seeing it as foreign intervention in TCB's affairs. In a later RMB post, Ming clarified that her criticism was intended for domestic consumption by North Korea and was not intended to drive a wedge between TI and TCB.

After several more days of discussion, and following the interview with Zenny Winter published in the previous edition of the Red + Black, the comrade members who had vetoed the repeals changed their votes, paving the way for consensus to be found in favor of removing the legislation.

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TCB announces Central Committee
NEWS · THE COMMUNIST BLOC · ELECTION SEASON

The Communist Bloc announced the members of the Central Committee of its Workers' Party: Josh Conure, Charli, Navbot Winter, Thomas Calloway, Phazon Winter, Zenny Winter, Comrade Hayden, Gabriel Oakenfist, and Ceres. Of these members, a majority were formerly members of the United Zennyist Front (UZF) Political Bureau.

Charli, Comrade Hayden, Gabriel Oakenfist, and Ceres were not formerly members of the UZF.

Charli had formerly been a member of the Democratic Action Front, the forerunner to the UZF. Comrade Hayden had been a member of the Socialist Labour Party, the pre-revolution opposition party to UZF. Gabriel Oakenfist had been a member of a party that later merged with UZF, but did not join himself. Ceres joined The Communist Bloc after the revolution was declared, when parties other than the Workers' Party had been disbanded.

As the revolution continues, work has begun on a new constitution for the People's Republic. Observers continue to debate how much change will be enacted in The Communist Bloc.

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REATO wastes entire month occupying dead region to change its flag to Ron Paul smoking
ANALYSIS · "MILITARY" · REATO

Troops from the REAGAN Treaty Organization have apparently ended a month-long operation in The Cannabis Communists, a left-aligned region that never quite took off, by changing the regional flag to an image of Ron Paul digitally edited to appear as if the failure of a Republican presidential candidate is smoking a marijuana cigarette.

The Cannabis Communists once held embassies with The Internationale, Das Kommune, and other leftist regions, but changes in regional policy in these regions mean that it would be unlikely for embassies to be constructed if requested by TCC natives today.

The Cannabis Communists Regional Profile:
Founded: December 2013
Largest Native Size: 3 nations
Native RMB Posts: 44

The raid had been detected early by The Red Fleet Intelligence Directorate, but the decision not to liberate the region was made by the Admiralty Board in favor of executing the high-profile tag raid on Glorious Nations of Iwaku and making preparations for the successful and ongoing invasion of The Greater German Reich.

"We had already begun the execution of Operation Red Dragon in Iwaku when they hit TCC, and it would've set us back at least a week if we had called off that operation to organize a liberation. In looking at the region's activity levels and number of natives—only one native was left, who actually ceased to exist before REATO concluded their operation—we made a decision to move forward in Iwaku instead. REATO tried to make it seem like a leftist defensive lockdown operation, but it was patently obvious to any observer that it wasn't us," explains Fleet Admiral Misley. "They even had one of their soldiers admit that it was a REATO operation on the regional message board. It's babytown frolics."

Libertatem's military manager claimed that "through a mix of child labour, environmental destruction and good ol'-fashioned wage slavery, REATO managed to overpower the struggling forces of the left with dozens of endorsers in The Cannabis Communists."

Libertatem's former allies in the Greater German Reich, with whom they shared embassies for seven months, might disagree with the characterization of leftist forces as "struggling," as antifascist forces are close to concluding their third week of that region's occupation.

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For other editions of the Red + Black, see our off-site forum.

[Zenny]

My thanks to R+B for the continued coverage of important events in TCB. Thus far its a been a difficult road but no revolution has ever been easy. Thankfully the people of the region are overwhelmingly optimistic and supportive of the cause, and it is up to us now to make sure that the intentions of the revolution are respected and fully implemeted into the political and social structure of the region through a detailed constitution and party manifesto which significantly reduces the amount of bureaucracy that is not needed while also effectively empowering the people to take part in their region and its many activities. The coverage from R+B and especially the move of normalizing relations between TI and TCB is a major step forward for both us and the rest of the NS Left.