Military: What's your opinion about it?

[Philosophos]

Hello I'm putting gas on the fire again but I just have to ask. I wish we could live in a communist world from the one moment to the other but that is just not possible.

If some countries decide to have a socialist government and there is a DotP or an anarchist movement or whatever that is communistic, should we have military? I mean we live in a capitalist world and every oposission will be treated as a threat to their system. At the same time do you think military training should be optional? I believe it should be but at the same time I ask myself what if there are not lots of people who want to train?

For example we have a 20 million population in a country. Let's say that there 5 millions of men capable of taking part in a war (I'm not putting kids, women that want to take part to make it a little easier). What will happen if from the 5 millions only the 1 million has been trained because the rest 4 millions didn't want to. If their enemy (propably capitalist country) has let's say 5 millions soldiers wouldn't that make the socialist country get overwhelmed(did I spell it right?).

So what's your opinion? Would you sacrifice communism for the optional military training? Am I thinking something in the wrong way?

[Jack]

A military is necessary for the defense of revolution. Personally I'm against regular/institutional conscription (like what Israel has) but can see its need in times of crisis or intense warfare.

[medgardd]

Professional military is not needed, in the soviet union, during the siege of Stalingrad, most of the fighting was being executed by civilians, by either grabbing a gas cylinder and jumping under tanks and such.
This made the Nazies fall on their backs, not the "cold and harsh winter of Russia".
As far as military goes, i think best is to have a guerilla force or some kind of militant faction.

[smellincoffee]

Barring something catastrophic like the collapse of global civilization, militaries will probably exist indefinitely for the same reason states will continue to exist: it's the problem of a "Mexican standoff". The first person to put down their gun loses.

[Domela Nieuwenhuis]

Military is an evil.
Whe need an army of workers, not of soldiers.

I can't seem to find who actually said this but: "A bayonet is a weapon with a worker at both ends"

[Philosophos]

I wasn't just talking about the "pure blood soldiers" I'm talking generally about the military part, the military training and the whole concept of military and war. I wish we were all pascifists but since we are not and capitalists are not what should we do?

[Domela Nieuwenhuis]

I wasn't just talking about the "pure blood soldiers" I'm talking generally about the military part, the military training and the whole concept of military and war. I wish we were all pascifists but since we are not and capitalists are not what should we do?

Revolution => abolish army.

[Philosophos]

Revolution => abolish army.

I'm sorry I don't know what exactly you mean with revolution. Do you mean the global revolution or a revolution in a country? If it is the first I tottaly agree with you. If it is the second, seriously now?

[Domela Nieuwenhuis]

I'm sorry I don't know what exactly you mean with revolution. Do you mean the global revolution or a revolution in a country? If it is the first I tottaly agree with you. If it is the second, seriously now?

I think we all agree that a revolution in one country is not a real revolution and surely not a maintainable option.

[Comrade Samuel]

I think we all agree that a revolution in one country is not a real revolution and surely not a maintainable option.

I think many would argue just the opposite and say that expecting the entire world to just suddenly become communist is wildly unrealistic.

[Anarchocommunaltoad]

A reduced form of military should be converted to a space colonization force to put down the bugger threat.

[hetz]

Well Marxists have always talked of abolishing the army and establishing an armed people's militia.
But the Bolsheviks soon learned in 1918 that they needed a more disciplined, professional army with all that comes with that.

[Anarchocommunaltoad]

Well Marxists have always talked of abolishing the army and establishing an armed people's militia.
But the Bolsheviks soon learned in 1918 that they needed a more disciplined, professional army with all that comes with that.

I've always hated the word militia. "We should abolish the cops and replace them with a people's militia""We should abolish the military and replace it with a people's militia." The word means nothing besides a redpolice and rearmy unless you truly wish to convert the institutions into posses.

PS

Stalingrad was won because its citizens held out long enough for the red army to adequately arrive and push the germans out. Without reinforcements and military supplies stalingrad would have been fucked.

[Philosophos]

I think we all agree that a revolution in one country is not a real revolution and surely not a maintainable option.

Well ofcourse it's not going to be the real deal of revolution if it's not in the whole world but how are we going to help people get class conciousness in the whole planet at the same time?

I seriously think that with the current conditions (look at Goden Dawn) Greece has more possibilities of turning to communism than the USA has (and they have more population BY A LOT). So what are for example Serbia, Greece, Croatia, Italy, UK and the rest do if the USA is not ready for the revolution? wait for them? Theoretically yes but practically.... no

[hetz]

So what are for example Serbia, Greece, Croatia1. Balkan Federation, as we should have done back in '45
2. Kick-ass
3. ???
4. Profit

I was wondering, if next year we somehow got a Red Balkan Federation, what could we do with it? Could we even survive, develop towards socialism or stay in some kind of horrible limbo ( like the DPRK ) waiting for the world revolution?

[Philosophos]

1. Balkan Federation, as we should have done back in '45
2. Kick-ass
3. ???
4. Profit

I was wondering, if next year we somehow got a Red Balkan Federation, what could we do with it? Could we even survive, develop towards socialism or stay in some kind of limbo waiting for the world revolution?

Well we need some backup because the USA never wanted a considerable power in the Balkans and I don't think they're going to change their mind.

What was this thing about profit I didn't quite get that...

[hetz]

It's just a joke. :)

[Philosophos]

It's just a joke. :)

Well you see that's why I hate forums, facebook and the rest because if you don't see/listen the joke you can't get it... I almost got beat up because of one joke that it had to be listened.