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In Those Days - Universal Culture of "Invade, Conquer and Subjugate"

Kirkhill

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Or - sometimes you eat the bear....

Joshua Nkomo of the Russian backed ZAPU was Ndebele.
Robert Mugabe of the Chinese backed ZANU was Shona

Their discussions predated the discussions with Ian Smith.
 
Don't ask embarrassing questions as to how slaves made up of interior Africans got to the coast to be sold abroad.
 

Or - sometimes you eat the bear....

Joshua Nkomo of the Russian backed ZAPU was Ndebele.
Robert Mugabe of the Chinese backed ZANU was Shona

Their discussions predated the discussions with Ian Smith.
I remember these two from the late 70s when Rhodesia was in the midst of it. Mugabe has run that once prosperous nation into the ground.
 
I remember these two from the late 70s when Rhodesia was in the midst of it. Mugabe has run that once prosperous nation into the ground.

But all they have to do is 'blame whitey' and they're gold, right? :)

Economy of Zimbabwe​


In recent years, there has been considerable economic hardship in Zimbabwe. Many western countries argue that the Government of Zimbabwe's land reform program, recurrent interference with, and intimidation of the judiciary, as well as maintenance of unrealistic price controls and exchange rates has led to a sharp drop in investor confidence.

Between 2000 and December 2007, the national economy contracted by as much as 40%; inflation vaulted to over 66,000%, and there were persistent shortages of hard currency, fuel, medicine, and food. GDP per capita dropped by 40%, agricultural output dropped by 51% and industrial production dropped by 47%.[citation needed]

The Mugabe Government attribute Zimbabwe's economic difficulties to sanctions imposed by the Western powers. It has been argued[by whom?] that the sanctions imposed by Britain, the US, and the EU have been designed to cripple the economy and the conditions of the Zimbabwean people in an attempt to overthrow President Mugabe's government.

 
Took me a minute ...

It isn't about "blaming whitey". There's enough to blame whitey about, if you're so inclined.

It's about historical evidence that people have always been people everywhere. They seem to have reacted similarly to similar situations time after time and regardless of location.

Everybody wants to believe there was a time when you didn't have to struggle for your crust. Where you were given your daily bread and there was no temptation.

Eden and the Noble Savage never existed. Given that, and based on the maxim that the past is the best predictor of the future, it is highly unlikely that Jerusalem will be builded among dark satanic mills anytime soon.

Currently one of the debates is about America's Forever Wars and what is the nature of war. War has now expanded into multiple "domains" to include economics, politics and the propaganda of faith. Clausewitz would be happy. What we are coming to is redefining war as competition. And as competition is enduring so must war be enduring. If we choose to define war by every economic and political micro-aggression we encounter. In that event Jerry Pournelle is right and "There Will Be War". Just as the poor will always be with us.

Peculiarly, as we move through this post 1948 world of no wars, nothing that has been declared, we drift into this lawlessness of Hobbes.

When do we revert to 1648 and Westphalian rules of making it explicit that there is a time when the rules of war apply and a time when they don't apply?

That simple divide has been common practice in New Guinea, Rhodesia and Mesopotamia - as well as Europe.
 
In the absence of infinite or even merely plentiful resources, competition for resources is inevitable.

In the absence of a uniformity of all humans, cultural jealousy is inevitable.

Those are a couple of strong pretexts for conflict. Trying to manage conflict is something we bolt on after the fact.
 
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