Military Stance - What sort of stance would you like?

[CubanFox]

Say you run a commie/socialist country. You have virtually infinite money to spend on the military, and then you can do whatever you want with it. What do you do?

Personally, I'd build a hell big military as a deterrent. The Red Air Force would patrol the skies to keep away spy planes, the Red Navy would shoo illegal fishing boats away (not to the point of being aggressive, just, you know "Push off, stop stealing our fish!", not impounding the boats or anything) and the Red Army ever ready to repel invaders. I would never project military might unless forced to (say my Socialist Utopia of St Vincent and the Grenadines was invaded by another nation, I'd counterattack to teach them not to do it again).

Never pull an Iraq/Afghanistan or anything.

What would you do, oh Defence Ministers of Your Countries?

[Ian]

Arm the populace in an event of war (I'm not one of those "The best defence against tyranny is a well armed populace" wackos, I think "A well informed populace is the best defence against tyranny"), maybe have something similar to Cuba.

[CubanFox]

Nah, I don't like the idea of an armed populace...just gives the aggressors an excuse to massacre civilians.

[chamo]

I would not have anything like America's "defense" system; spelt differently and also has a different meaning.

I would have a defence system which has less money spent on it than the education system and health system. It would be a proper people's militia, no forced service or conscription. No nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons of course. It wouldn't be an aggressive army, it would only be used for defence situations and would fight off invasions and attacks on the population, such as the attacks on Cuba by Alpha66. Revolutionary warfare would be fought, and would give assistance to other countries in Socialist causes against capitalist aggressors.

[CubanFox]

My military would not sacrifice health and education funding...since the latter are infinitely more important.

[vox]

"No nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons of course."

No? What if the "bad" guy had them? Suppose you had, say, 2,000 missiles with nuclear warheads pointing at your country, would you then think ahving nuclear weapons was a good deterrent?

The Rosenbergs saved this world by giving the Soviets the leverage to stop US imperialism. Now that Republicans are in power throughout the gov't, they feel no need to stop their expansionist ways, and there is no "evil empire" to stop them.

It's very hard for weakness to pretend to be strength, but that seems to be what you're advising.

[chamo]

No? What if the "bad" guy had them? Suppose you had, say, 2,000 missiles with nuclear warheads pointing at your country, would you then think ahving nuclear weapons was a good deterrent?

Well, first of all I wouldn't be trying to aggrovate any country into attacking my little paradise. And If I had any nuclear weapons they would not be used for aggressive purposes. I'm all for nuclear disarmament, and would make it my policy not to use them. Remember, there are lots of countries without nuclear weapons that are under the threat of attack. the attacking countries do not use their destructive weapons because they are under the threat of attack from the other countries in the world.

For example: If my country had those 2,000 nuclear weapons pointing at it from say, the USA, George Bush would not fire them because then Britain and the other European powers could bomb America, though unlikely, and therefore they would be under heavy pressure from the rest of the world not to use them. If this is not the case, then why has the Earth not been blown to smiterines already?

Hypothetically, if there was a real threat to my country, I would have to seek help from outside countries, the UN for example, or set up a missile-defense system at a last resort.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Each commune would have all of it's inhabitants trained in the use of firearms and urban/geurilla combat (depending on the commune's location)
a voluntary 10% of each commune's population will have FULL military training, as well as one or two armoured vehicles.

Suggestions?

[chamo]

Would that not be an incentive for the population to abuse their rights as soldiers and use their guns for looting and killing?

Sounds like a dangerous proposal to me.

It would depend on how desperate the situation is to need this. If you were under constant attacks from countries over the border attacking your villages, then yes, it is a possible solution to being able to stave off the attacks.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Watching each other's back:
Mannfred decides to take his rifle and rob a bank.
Sigfried goes with him as a partner in crime.
They enter bank, shoot cieling, demand money.
Cashier secretly hits panic button, alerting the militia just a couple of streets away.
Militia leap into APC, zoom down to bank, surround bank,
where Mannfred and Sigfried are forced to either surrender or be shot.

End of story. Bedtime, kiddies.

[Dirty Commie]

A peoples militia would be an invitation to having invaders slaughter inncoent civilians, I'd rather have a small, elite fighting force than have a massive army.

Nuclear weapons, I would have them, but only defensive...The only time I would first attack a foreign country is in the event that they form a naval blockade, or I can prove they are sponsoring terrorists inside of my country.

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

Quote: from happyguy on 3:00 pm on May 23, 2003
No? What if the "bad" guy had them? Suppose you had, say, 2,000 missiles with nuclear warheads pointing at your country, would you then think ahving nuclear weapons was a good deterrent?

Well, first of all I wouldn't be trying to aggrovate any country into attacking my little paradise. And If I had any nuclear weapons they would not be used for aggressive purposes. I'm all for nuclear disarmament, and would make it my policy not to use them. Remember, there are lots of countries without nuclear weapons that are under the threat of attack. the attacking countries do not use their destructive weapons because they are under the threat of attack from the other countries in the world.

For example: If my country had those 2,000 nuclear weapons pointing at it from say, the USA, George Bush would not fire them because then Britain and the other European powers could bomb America, though unlikely, and therefore they would be under heavy pressure from the rest of the world not to use them. If this is not the case, then why has the Earth not been blown to smiterines already?

Hypothetically, if there was a real threat to my country, I would have to seek help from outside countries, the UN for example, or set up a missile-defense system at a last resort.

You don't have to do anything, if you're socialist, you're an enemy of the US.

I myself would have a small elite trained force.

It doesn't cost too much and it's very fittable for operation in current days.

Ofcourse you have a problem when you get invaded or you've to conquer another country.

[James]

Further to the above quote; I think the war on Iraq prooves that if a country like the Us wants to go to war, then it will. Regardless of public opinion or what the UN has to say.

Modern warfare seems to be long distance bombing... not much can really done about this i guess. Well actually - obviously a strong navy (subs?) and air force

[chamo]

Quote: from NoXion on 3:25 pm on May 23, 2003
Watching each other's back:
Mannfred decides to take his rifle and rob a bank.
Sigfried goes with him as a partner in crime.
They enter bank, shoot cieling, demand money.
Cashier secretly hits panic button, alerting the militia just a couple of streets away.
Militia leap into APC, zoom down to bank, surround bank,
where Mannfred and Sigfried are forced to either surrender or be shot.

End of story. Bedtime, kiddies.

So...... if Mannfred and Sigfried weren't given guns, then they wouldn't have been able to rob the bank and no=ones life would have been brought into danger. As the American policy has shown the world with high-school massacares, you don't let just anyone have a gun.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

If the State won't give them firearms or if they couldn't get them legally, they would just acquire them illegally.

[GCusack]

I would make military service compulsary for two years and then keep everyone up to the age of 40 in the reserves, they would have to go to a training camp once a year to guarentee they are still proficient. This would mean that the population would be ready in time for an attack. I would keep the red army patrolling the Irish sea and the Atlantic coast line to prevent any illegal ativities and I would wire all bridges with explosives, like they have in Switzerland. The Air would be under constant supervision of the radars. I would not impose myself I would keep my borders where they are and I would not get involved unless the call over another country like Scotland or Wales needed to be answered by me and then I would join them but after that allow them to sort out a military and would offer guidance but I would only be a defensive nation other than that!

[Sandanista]

Ah well not many socialists here then?

Amries? hahahahahahahahahahaha

Have u lot never read Marx?

[Urban Rubble]

HappyGuy, I think you're being really un-realistic.

[chamo]

"Ah well not many socialists here then?

Amries? hahahahahahahahahahaha

Have u lot never read Marx?"

To answer your question, yes, I'm sure all the people here have read Marx. But they are not all single visioned fools. Surely you should know that Marx's vision was purely utopian and Marxism was not designed to be a completley workable theory. It is to be built upon, be it Marxist-Leninism, Castroism, Trotskyism, Dogmatic Marxism, Anarcho-Communism, or even the British Welfare State.

Yeah, Marx stated that in a communist utopia there is no need for an armed military, but do you seriously think that in the modern day and political turmoil that an after-revolution would survive if that nation did not have an army. You think that no-one is going to steal, commit crimes or cause violence? You don't consider that capitalist imperialist countries will not try to invade to upset your regime?

Name me one socialist country which has never had an army, or even a cause for one.

Found one yet?

[Sandanista]

No, I can't, because there never has been a socialist state.

Well in name only.

Marx's vision wasn't purely utopian, and yes, there are some countries which will not be attacked in present day climate, especially if said state/s disarmed completely there would be no excuse to attack said regions.

Did u bother to read marx's critique of utopian-socialism?