Another day in the security booth, and I'm still bored. So I started a YouTube account for The Revolution Script. I hope to make it into part soapbox, part videoblog, part how to/education. I was semi-inspired by ObamaGirl and as such my first video is a question for him.
Dec 30, 2007
Dec 29, 2007
Los Zapatistas Usan Los SKSs
This is one of my favorite pictures of the Zapatista insurgency is this photo from La Jornada. Again, if the SKS is good enough for Pakistan militants and Zapatista insurgent, then it's sure as hell good enough for The Red Son, Sahiem-Al-Azad, and the Green Mountain Boys.
Being a Watchman/Lookout/Security Guard
As some of you may know, I recently graduated from the institution of high learning that I was attending, so I am no longer an "institutionalized" academic. No longer occupied with my studies, I have taken a temporary position as a security guard. Basically I have to sit in a booth for eight hours and let cars with appropriate access privileges through. Needless to say that, it becomes quite dull at points. Currently I am two and a half hours into a sixteen hour doubleshift. In this spirit, here is my list of ways to keep sane during sentry-related duties. Keep in mind that in some situations some of these may not be possible/safe.
• Run sprints and other type of drills • Throw knives into the floor • Blog like nobody's busy •Listen to music, the radio is nice because you can keep up on news, listen to opera, etc. and there is always something new on, unlike CDs, iPods etc. • Philosophize • Smoke mad cigarettes, but be aware that the enemy can smell you smoking and at night see the ember of your cigarette clearly • Mark your territory, keep wild animals away • Practice your ascents, right now I'm working on my Irish ascent • Target practice • Read books • Be creative and switch it up, doing new things and keeping busy is the key to making the sun come up a little bit quicker.
It is a rainy, grey winter day so I am visualizing warmer climates.
• Run sprints and other type of drills • Throw knives into the floor • Blog like nobody's busy •Listen to music, the radio is nice because you can keep up on news, listen to opera, etc. and there is always something new on, unlike CDs, iPods etc. • Philosophize • Smoke mad cigarettes, but be aware that the enemy can smell you smoking and at night see the ember of your cigarette clearly • Mark your territory, keep wild animals away • Practice your ascents, right now I'm working on my Irish ascent • Target practice • Read books • Be creative and switch it up, doing new things and keeping busy is the key to making the sun come up a little bit quicker.
It is a rainy, grey winter day so I am visualizing warmer climates.
Dec 28, 2007
Lessons from the Spanish Civil War
Desert Peace's post of Stephen Lendman's article on the Spanish Civil War and the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, American anti-fascist volunteers. The anarchist elements of the Republican anti-Franco forces during the Spanish Civil War did some really remarkable and innovative things. The actions and tactics of Buenaventura Duranti heavily influence Abraham Guillen who trained and inspired countless urban guerrilla is South America. This section of the aforementioned article is particularly relevant for this blog's purposes.
The "Lincolns," wanted democratic freedom and fascism defeated. Its volunteers became known as the Abraham Lincoln Brigade although fighting units chose their own names and identities. In keeping with the "Popular Front" culture, they became part of the Fifteenth International Brigade along with nationals from other countries. They called themselves the Abraham Lincoln Battalion, the George Washington Battalion, and the John Brown Battery that included 125 doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers and technicians with the American Medical Bureau. They were all volunteers for a noble cause and among them was the first ever racially integrated unit in US history and first one ever led by a black commander. Most never fired a rifle or had military training, but they were committed to learn and they did fast.
They also practiced what they believed in the ranks and created an egalitarian "peoples' army." Rank-and-file soldiers at times elected their own officers and generally shunned traditional military protocol. With them were well-known, or aspiring, writers, artists, composers and filmmakers, including James Lardner (son of Ring Lardner Sr.), Joseph Vogel, Ralph Fasanella, Conlon Nancarrow, Edwin Rolfe, Alvah Bessie, Phil Bard, William Lindsay Gresham and famed author Ernest Hemingway. He supported the "Popular Front," went to Spain in 1937 to report on the war, and spent most of it with the International Brigades.
Also check out the Black Water Christmas Card.
Dec 27, 2007
Benazir Bhutto Assassinated, Pakistan Descends Further into Chaos
Benazir Bhutto, the opposition candidate who was expected to be elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan in less than two weeks died today after being shot and her motorcade attacked by a suicide bomber following a pre-election rally. I'll save the analysis and reporting to Arms and Influence, Soob, and Danger Room. The point I wish to make is as follows: Pakistan is continuing to fall apart political and socially. If one was looking for a hotspot before it got too hot, my bet would be Pakistan. Elections will be postponed and martial law will likely be re-declared. The efforts of Islamic militants will be re-invigorated and their activities increased in scope and severity. My question is how much of this destabilization is due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Dec 26, 2007
Gun of the Day: Custom AR-15s
As previously posted, my comrade recently custom built a Rock River AR-15 with a 16 inch barrel, seven position collapsable stock, sweet flip-up rear ghost ring sights and a larger trigger guard so the gun can be shot with winter gloves. We recently put some rounds through it, which was the first time I got shoot an AR-variant outside of shooting events. I used to be all about using AK-47, until I got to send some time with Stoner's rifle. The AR is very light and feels great held to your shoulder. It could be shot with one hand without too much trouble, which can't be said for my Mossberg 500. The trigger pull is smooth and clean, a nice change from my SKS. Recoil on the AR-15 is almost negligible. My comrade's rifle is so compact with the stock fully collapsed that it can be completely hidden under my trenchcoat. I am still going to buy an AK as soon as funds permit, but now I have a lot more respect for and understanding of the AR system.
Dec 25, 2007
Merry Christmas and Happy Winter Solstice!
Seasons Greetings From The Revolution Script and the Green Mountain Boys! And May 2008 be one step closer to 2012!
Dec 24, 2007
Some Blogs to Ponder
A recent article in Wired gives a pretty interesting critique of the U.S. Armies operations in Iraq adn Afghanistan and how technology is not the cure all some in the military had hoped that it would be.
Also see Abu Muqawama's post about counter-insurgency training camps in Afghanistan. Both of these articles give good insight into counter-insurgency tactics, but some can be just as easily applied to insurgency.
Also see my anarchist comrade's blog on Animal Liberation and Arms and Influence, which discusses "The political uses of violence, for good or bad."
Also stay tuned for The Revolution Script's Christmas Card!
Also see Abu Muqawama's post about counter-insurgency training camps in Afghanistan. Both of these articles give good insight into counter-insurgency tactics, but some can be just as easily applied to insurgency.
Also see my anarchist comrade's blog on Animal Liberation and Arms and Influence, which discusses "The political uses of violence, for good or bad."
Also stay tuned for The Revolution Script's Christmas Card!
Dec 20, 2007
Alternatives to Firearms (Besides Politics)
A little while back comrade Blackstone asked about instructions for making shanks out of spoons made of biodegradable plastic like the one in my "portable revolution kit". But I would rather talk about some alternatives for those who wish to arm themselves, but can't for whatever reason obtain firearms.
Knives, Skanks, etc.- Knives can be found everywhere and are commonly used to great effect for a great many purposes. I am quite found of throwing knives. Shanks/Shivs can be made out of anything that can be sharpened to a point. Just watch any episode of MSNBC Investigates that is about a prison.
Crossbow and Hunting Bows- Legal to own without restriction in most U.S. states, crossbows are a great alternative to firearms and often have many advantages over using a gun. An arrow or bolt with a sharp point can penetrate Kevlar due to their ballistic characteristics. Guns are loud, bow are not. Ammo for bows in reusable most of the time. While there is more skill involved delivering lethal shots with a bow of any kind, that make it that much more badass plus modern bow technology make it much easier.
Muzzle Loaders- Guns loaded from the muzzle, i.e. down the barrel are not considered to be "firearms" under U.S. law and thus are easier to obtain that other guns. While the rate of fire is very slow, sometimes one bullet is all you need. And again modern technology has made muzzle loader much easier to use than before.
Be creative: your body is a weapons and so are common household chemicals, bottles, sporting equipment, broken glass, wire, chains, tools and power tools (check out nail guns powered by .22 blanks), etc. etc.
Once you have a weapon such as those described above, it is up to you to figure how to use it to get another, much better weapon, like an assault rifle. See, revolution is easy, mkay?
Knives, Skanks, etc.- Knives can be found everywhere and are commonly used to great effect for a great many purposes. I am quite found of throwing knives. Shanks/Shivs can be made out of anything that can be sharpened to a point. Just watch any episode of MSNBC Investigates that is about a prison.
Crossbow and Hunting Bows- Legal to own without restriction in most U.S. states, crossbows are a great alternative to firearms and often have many advantages over using a gun. An arrow or bolt with a sharp point can penetrate Kevlar due to their ballistic characteristics. Guns are loud, bow are not. Ammo for bows in reusable most of the time. While there is more skill involved delivering lethal shots with a bow of any kind, that make it that much more badass plus modern bow technology make it much easier.
Muzzle Loaders- Guns loaded from the muzzle, i.e. down the barrel are not considered to be "firearms" under U.S. law and thus are easier to obtain that other guns. While the rate of fire is very slow, sometimes one bullet is all you need. And again modern technology has made muzzle loader much easier to use than before.
Be creative: your body is a weapons and so are common household chemicals, bottles, sporting equipment, broken glass, wire, chains, tools and power tools (check out nail guns powered by .22 blanks), etc. etc.
Once you have a weapon such as those described above, it is up to you to figure how to use it to get another, much better weapon, like an assault rifle. See, revolution is easy, mkay?
Dec 17, 2007
The Armorer's Report: Surviving a Firefight; Tactics and Common Sense
Being involved in a gunfight/battle is a very chaotic and stressful environment that certain people can handle better than others. While some are able to return accurate and effective fire under battlefield conditions, others are paralyzed by shock and fear and cannot do a thing. This is not good because more fire superiority (amount of bullets being thrown at opposing team) is usually what wins most battles. When the first shot is fired your number one objective is to stay alive. Your second objective is to destroy the enemy with well placed, accurate fire. Battlefield tactics are really all about commonsense. Think things through before you act. If you stumbled upon a field while on patrol, you wouldn't walk across it, exposing yourself for all to see with no cover to go to once the firing started. You would stick to the woods and walk around it. Simple.
When getting involved in a firefight the first thing you will want to look for is something to get between you and your adversaries bullets. There are two ways to go about doing this, either through cover or through concealment. Cover is something that you can hide behind and it will stop bullets from hitting you like a concrete barrier or steel engine block. Notice how I said concrete or steel. Concealment is something that hides YOU from the shooter but doesn’t necessarily provide bullet stopping capabilities, which means that while the shooter may not be able to see you, you can still be shot. Concealment is better than no cover at all, but I would not recommend engaging in your first firefight without some form of acceptable cover, not concealment, to hide behind. Also remember that cover can turn into concealment if it gets shot enough.
Alright, so you’ve found some decent cover, now what do you do? You fire back! Take heed though, there are proper and improper ways of firing from behind cover. First of all when using cover, make sure that you LOOK AROUND IT and NOT OVER IT when surveying the battlefield. Looking over cover more easily silhouettes your body and makes for an easier target. While looking around cover may limit your field of view of the battle, it will also make you a much smaller target and not as many hostiles will be able to get a shot at you. When you decide that it is time to fire back from behind your cover, make sure that you change where you stick your head/body out from behind that cover each time you take a shot. If you don't the enemy will plan for this and have his/her cross hairs ready on the spot where you have been sticking your head/body out repeatedly. If you are a right handed shooter make sure that you know how to shoot left handed as well. Shoot right handed around right corners, left handed around left corners (or trees or whatever). You aren’t always going to be able to peek around the right hand side of cover to engage targets and shooting right handed around a left corner exposes more of your body for your enemies to shoot. Common sense people!
Moving under fire is also another important tactic that must be discussed. Before moving to any position, make sure that you have ACCURATE covering fire from your teammates. When getting ready to move into a new position you should know where you are moving to and assess whether or not what you are moving to will provide both valuable cover and a tactically sound position. When planning, make sure to keep your movements to 30 feet or less. I’d say 30 feet is pushing it, too. I have heard of a certain saying that soldiers recite to themselves while leapfrogging from cover to cover when taking incoming fire. You say to yourself as soon as you start moving out of cover: “I’m up, he see’s me, I’m down!”. By the time you've finished reciting this you should have got up, moved and found new cover, right quick. I have found this to be an extremely effective tactic when moving under fire. When actually moving under fire, make sure to keep your movements quick and unpredictable because your enemy will most likely be leading you. Make sure that you zig-zag if you are running directly towards/away from your adversary. If you are running across his horizon line don’t even bother zig zagging as this will just slow you down.
Communication is also extremely important on the battlefield. It can make the difference between staying alive or being killed. Say for instance that you hear firing, but you do not have visual confirmation on the target and you cannot pinpoint it. Instead of looking around your cover, exposing yourself and trying to assess the situation, maybe your buddy saw the tango and can call it out instead of having your entire team taken out while peeking around cover looking for the hostile. Something like “enemy spotted: 2 o’clock, 30 meters in front of us, to the right of that Oak tree” should suffice quite nicely. Also make sure to let your teammates know when you are reloading, running low on ammo or throwing (or receiving) an explosive device.
If you are fighting in an urban environment here are a few tips that can help you survive such an encounter. First of all, remember that bullets ricochet in urban environments very unpredictably. You can use this to your advantage. Like comrade Red Son stated in an earlier post aim low because bullets can ricochet up into your target. This is better than aiming high and having your bullets travel harmlessly over your adversaries head. Here's another good tip to remember when coming up to the corner of a building in an urban environment with hostilies just around it. Instead of just stepping out to engage them, exposing a great portion of your body from the top of your head to the bottom of your foot (which is just begging to get hit by ricochets), plant your right foot (if right corner) as close to the edge of the corner as possible without exposing it (or, if left corner, plant your left foot with firearm in left handed firing position) and then LEAN out to engage the targets. This makes for a much smaller presentable target for your enemy to shoot at which also increases your odds of survival. That’s all for now...more tips to come in the future! Saheim out.
When getting involved in a firefight the first thing you will want to look for is something to get between you and your adversaries bullets. There are two ways to go about doing this, either through cover or through concealment. Cover is something that you can hide behind and it will stop bullets from hitting you like a concrete barrier or steel engine block. Notice how I said concrete or steel. Concealment is something that hides YOU from the shooter but doesn’t necessarily provide bullet stopping capabilities, which means that while the shooter may not be able to see you, you can still be shot. Concealment is better than no cover at all, but I would not recommend engaging in your first firefight without some form of acceptable cover, not concealment, to hide behind. Also remember that cover can turn into concealment if it gets shot enough.
Alright, so you’ve found some decent cover, now what do you do? You fire back! Take heed though, there are proper and improper ways of firing from behind cover. First of all when using cover, make sure that you LOOK AROUND IT and NOT OVER IT when surveying the battlefield. Looking over cover more easily silhouettes your body and makes for an easier target. While looking around cover may limit your field of view of the battle, it will also make you a much smaller target and not as many hostiles will be able to get a shot at you. When you decide that it is time to fire back from behind your cover, make sure that you change where you stick your head/body out from behind that cover each time you take a shot. If you don't the enemy will plan for this and have his/her cross hairs ready on the spot where you have been sticking your head/body out repeatedly. If you are a right handed shooter make sure that you know how to shoot left handed as well. Shoot right handed around right corners, left handed around left corners (or trees or whatever). You aren’t always going to be able to peek around the right hand side of cover to engage targets and shooting right handed around a left corner exposes more of your body for your enemies to shoot. Common sense people!
Moving under fire is also another important tactic that must be discussed. Before moving to any position, make sure that you have ACCURATE covering fire from your teammates. When getting ready to move into a new position you should know where you are moving to and assess whether or not what you are moving to will provide both valuable cover and a tactically sound position. When planning, make sure to keep your movements to 30 feet or less. I’d say 30 feet is pushing it, too. I have heard of a certain saying that soldiers recite to themselves while leapfrogging from cover to cover when taking incoming fire. You say to yourself as soon as you start moving out of cover: “I’m up, he see’s me, I’m down!”. By the time you've finished reciting this you should have got up, moved and found new cover, right quick. I have found this to be an extremely effective tactic when moving under fire. When actually moving under fire, make sure to keep your movements quick and unpredictable because your enemy will most likely be leading you. Make sure that you zig-zag if you are running directly towards/away from your adversary. If you are running across his horizon line don’t even bother zig zagging as this will just slow you down.
Communication is also extremely important on the battlefield. It can make the difference between staying alive or being killed. Say for instance that you hear firing, but you do not have visual confirmation on the target and you cannot pinpoint it. Instead of looking around your cover, exposing yourself and trying to assess the situation, maybe your buddy saw the tango and can call it out instead of having your entire team taken out while peeking around cover looking for the hostile. Something like “enemy spotted: 2 o’clock, 30 meters in front of us, to the right of that Oak tree” should suffice quite nicely. Also make sure to let your teammates know when you are reloading, running low on ammo or throwing (or receiving) an explosive device.
If you are fighting in an urban environment here are a few tips that can help you survive such an encounter. First of all, remember that bullets ricochet in urban environments very unpredictably. You can use this to your advantage. Like comrade Red Son stated in an earlier post aim low because bullets can ricochet up into your target. This is better than aiming high and having your bullets travel harmlessly over your adversaries head. Here's another good tip to remember when coming up to the corner of a building in an urban environment with hostilies just around it. Instead of just stepping out to engage them, exposing a great portion of your body from the top of your head to the bottom of your foot (which is just begging to get hit by ricochets), plant your right foot (if right corner) as close to the edge of the corner as possible without exposing it (or, if left corner, plant your left foot with firearm in left handed firing position) and then LEAN out to engage the targets. This makes for a much smaller presentable target for your enemy to shoot at which also increases your odds of survival. That’s all for now...more tips to come in the future! Saheim out.
Dec 16, 2007
Dumpstered Ammo and AR-15s
I recently got some temporary work as a security guard, so right now I am sitting in my booth where I will be posting for the next couple of weeks. I recently obtained 120+ rounds of .38 special that my friend found in a dumpster in Utah. Now aside from the safety issues, my comrades and I are pretty happy about this. Before my friend got there, his buddy got some hunting bows from the same dumpster. Apparently somebody had moved and didn't bother to take a lot of stuff with them. Dumpsters are a great source for all sorts of items, not limited to food, clothes, electronics and armaments.
Also, my fellow contributer on The Revolution Script, Saheim Al-Azad recently ordered all the parts and built his own Rock River AR-15. Because he built it himself it was much cheaper and he was able to customize it to his specifications, including a winter trigger guard so a gloved finger can fit in it. We ran thirty rounds through it and it shot like a dream, a refreshing change from our beloved but clunky SKSs and Saiga .308. A more thorough field testing and holiday shoot-off is pending.
Hasta Siempre
Also, my fellow contributer on The Revolution Script, Saheim Al-Azad recently ordered all the parts and built his own Rock River AR-15. Because he built it himself it was much cheaper and he was able to customize it to his specifications, including a winter trigger guard so a gloved finger can fit in it. We ran thirty rounds through it and it shot like a dream, a refreshing change from our beloved but clunky SKSs and Saiga .308. A more thorough field testing and holiday shoot-off is pending.
Hasta Siempre
Dec 12, 2007
Tip of the Day: Lay Down Some Suppression Fire!
Heavy caliber weapons and shotguns can be used to lay down suppression fire, i.e. firing on an enemy position so that your comrades can move between cover without being shot. Any squad should have someone who is heavily armed to act as a gunner. The gunner should be accompanied by multiple rifle men(or women) who can place less powerful but more precise shots. A grenadier/explosives expert is also helpful and should carry a light firearm, i.e. pistol, submachine gun or, in urban settings a sawed-off shotgun. Small squad-based tactics are the bread and butter of the guerrilla, urban or rural. Just for kicks, here a pic of me "delivering the mail," to quote Michael Bane on some enemy pumpkins.
What is "reactionary?"
I have noticed the tendencies of some online denizens to use the word reactionary. Maybe I missed the memo but when did this rigid dichotomy of revolutionary and reactionary become the defining paradigm is some leftist radicals? This turns everything into black and white, good and bad, which is extremely problematic. To call all forms of nationalism "reactionary" and leave it at that is reductionism at it's worse and a poor method of critique. On Rev Left there was a post titled "what is the most reactionary TV show?" If there is any answer to this question it is obviously ALL OF THEM! This is just something that has been getting my goat and I felt compelled to post about it.
Dec 7, 2007
The Armorer's Report:The SKS In The News Again
Turns out he ACTUALLY used an AK-47 to go on his murderous spree, not an SKS. If somebody went on a rampage with a semiauto .22 with a scope, the media would say he "used a high powered assault sniper rifle". Regardless of what type of weapon he used, this is yet another thing for anti-gunners to complain about. It is the same old story though, the kid stole the rifle from his step-father's collection, something that happens more often than not and also something that is unpreventable unless these types of weapons are completey outlawed, in which case only criminals would be left to possess the remaining illegal "assault weapons".
December 6th, 2007 expressindia.com
"A 20-year-old man dressed in camouflage went on a shooting rampage in a mall crowded with holiday shoppers, killing eight persons and wounding five others, before turning the rifle on himself in the US' Nebraska state."
"Hundreds of panic-stricken shoppers ran to bathrooms, hid under display racks and crouched behind garbage cans as Robert Hawkins, who left a suicide note that said "now, I will be famous", sprayed bullets from his AK-47 assault rifle while perched on a third floor balcony."
The AK-47 is yet again in some serious trouble here in the U.S.
For a firearm to qualify as an "assault rifle" (as set forth by US Assault Weapons Ban) it must be capable of semi-automatic fire and be able to accept detachable magazines. It must also have two or more of the following options:
Folding/Telescoping Stock
Pistol Grip
Bayonet Mount
Flash hider, grenade launcher or threaded barrel
How does having a bayonet mount or flash hider make a weapon an "assault weapon"? Ridiculous.
December 6th, 2007 expressindia.com
"A 20-year-old man dressed in camouflage went on a shooting rampage in a mall crowded with holiday shoppers, killing eight persons and wounding five others, before turning the rifle on himself in the US' Nebraska state."
"Hundreds of panic-stricken shoppers ran to bathrooms, hid under display racks and crouched behind garbage cans as Robert Hawkins, who left a suicide note that said "now, I will be famous", sprayed bullets from his AK-47 assault rifle while perched on a third floor balcony."
The AK-47 is yet again in some serious trouble here in the U.S.
For a firearm to qualify as an "assault rifle" (as set forth by US Assault Weapons Ban) it must be capable of semi-automatic fire and be able to accept detachable magazines. It must also have two or more of the following options:
Folding/Telescoping Stock
Pistol Grip
Bayonet Mount
Flash hider, grenade launcher or threaded barrel
How does having a bayonet mount or flash hider make a weapon an "assault weapon"? Ridiculous.
Dec 6, 2007
Riots/"Urban Guerrilla Warfare" in Paris
Thanks to a reader who alerted me to this. Harper's reports "More than 80 French police officers were injured in clashes with youths firing shotguns in the Paris banlieues." Rioting with guns? Intriguing...
Some interesting snippets from the AP:
"The overnight violence was more intense than during the three weeks of rioting in 2005, said the official, Patrice Ribeiro. He said "genuine urban guerrillas with conventional weapons and hunting weapons" were among the rioters.
On Monday night, youths were seen firing buckshot at police and reporters. About 30 of 82 injured officers were hit by buckshot, Ribeiro told The Associated Press. Rioters also hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at police, authorities said.
"Police officers were targeted with hunting weapons; a certain number of them were wounded by lead shot," said Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie. "This is totally unacceptable," she said, adding there were six serious injuries, "people who notably were struck in the face and close to the eyes."
The use of firearms added a dangerous new dimension to the rioting. Firearms are widespread in France, and police generally carry guns. Such weapons, though, were rarely used in the 2005 riots that spread to poor housing projects nationwide."
In Tip of the Day: Use Shotguns I said that the benefits of using shotguns included:
"Shotguns and shotshells are cheap and easily acquired in most situations because they are used for hunting.
They rip people up at close range, great for room clearing and other urban combat situations."
I wasn't lying. Being armed in one of the most empowering (for better or worse) tools of resistance and methods of deterrence. And the idea that you cannot resist a modern high tech repression force (police, military, etc.) using civilian firearms is a myth and these riots prove it.
Some interesting snippets from the AP:
"The overnight violence was more intense than during the three weeks of rioting in 2005, said the official, Patrice Ribeiro. He said "genuine urban guerrillas with conventional weapons and hunting weapons" were among the rioters.
On Monday night, youths were seen firing buckshot at police and reporters. About 30 of 82 injured officers were hit by buckshot, Ribeiro told The Associated Press. Rioters also hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at police, authorities said.
"Police officers were targeted with hunting weapons; a certain number of them were wounded by lead shot," said Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie. "This is totally unacceptable," she said, adding there were six serious injuries, "people who notably were struck in the face and close to the eyes."
The use of firearms added a dangerous new dimension to the rioting. Firearms are widespread in France, and police generally carry guns. Such weapons, though, were rarely used in the 2005 riots that spread to poor housing projects nationwide."
In Tip of the Day: Use Shotguns I said that the benefits of using shotguns included:
"Shotguns and shotshells are cheap and easily acquired in most situations because they are used for hunting.
They rip people up at close range, great for room clearing and other urban combat situations."
I wasn't lying. Being armed in one of the most empowering (for better or worse) tools of resistance and methods of deterrence. And the idea that you cannot resist a modern high tech repression force (police, military, etc.) using civilian firearms is a myth and these riots prove it.
New, Inclusionary Forms of Nationalism
For all those who want more politics on The Revolution Script, here you go. With this post I want to try something new. I want to start a dialectic concerning a new form of nationalism or an alternative to previous, exclusionary forms of nationalism that have bred such horror in the past. I ask this because as my regular readers will know, I am Vermont nationalist and have started to develop my own political, economic and social program for a Socialist State of Vermont. But I don't want the nationalism that unites my state to also divide it. So what do my readers think? I think that a socialist brand of nationalism (not national socialism) would unite people based on their desire for a better future for our dear state. I would not construct a national identity based on ethnicity, race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, etc. If the government that formed was based on true participatory politics that were all inclusive, then the "national project" of Vermont would be formed through consensus, with no one's interests excluded. These are just some ideas of mine, but YOU, the reader must also contribute your ideas for this experiment to be a success
Dec 5, 2007
The FLQ and the Global Struggle against Western Capitalism
I apologize for my long absence, things have been crazy 'round this parts. I have posted a PDF of my latest thesis in the downloads sections after I removed all identifying details. The topic is the FLQ and other urban guerrilla movements active during the 1960's and 1970's. The paper constructs a theory of a transnational urban guerrilla movement that emerged post-1959/Cuban Revolution and uses the FLQ as a case study for exploring the validity of this theory. I would love any feed back from my readership, and please excuse the less refined sections.
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