Image is from the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists’ recent article on Kashmir.
It looks like the spat between India and Pakistan could be dying down, due to a new ceasefire. As of the time of me writing this paragraph, it seems both sides want to maintain it (despite some reports of violations here and there).
Both sides have declared victory, which is completely expected given their mutual political parties and nationalist histories. It’s a little harder to say which side has actually won, as both sides seem to have managed to shoot down aircraft and hit military bases. India has, in my opinion, had the more embarrassing moments, but international conflicts aren’t cringe compilations. I feel no good-will towards Pakistan’s comprador government, but it is at least nice to see Modi knocked down a few pegs. Regardless of the final technical victor, it’s obvious that - if the ceasefire is maintained - who won are the hundreds of millions of people who won’t have to live in fear of dying in nuclear hellfire.
This conflict is a good example of what multipolarity will truly entail. Countries that have been previously limited in their nationalist ambitions by American pressure will now take opportunities to revolt, sometimes against America itself, and sometimes against other countries in their regional neighbourhood. It’s also why, as communists, our goals do not stop at multipolarity; it is merely the establishing act of a new era of agitation against peripheral and semi-peripheral capitalist countries that are forming powerful national bourgeoisie classes as the international American capitalists are forced away.
Last week’s thread is here. The Imperialism Reading Group is here.
Please check out the RedAtlas!
The bulletins site is here. Currently not used.
The RSS feed is here. Also currently not used.
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Sources on the fighting in Palestine against Israel. In general, CW for footage of battles, explosions, dead people, and so on:
UNRWA reports on Israel’s destruction and siege of Gaza and the West Bank.
English-language Palestinian Marxist-Leninist twitter account. Alt here.
English-language twitter account that collates news.
Arab-language twitter account with videos and images of fighting.
English-language (with some Arab retweets) Twitter account based in Lebanon. - Telegram is @IbnRiad.
English-language Palestinian Twitter account which reports on news from the Resistance Axis. - Telegram is @EyesOnSouth.
English-language Twitter account in the same group as the previous two. - Telegram here.
English-language PalestineResist telegram channel.
More telegram channels here for those interested.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Sources:
Defense Politics Asia’s youtube channel and their map. Their youtube channel has substantially diminished in quality but the map is still useful.
Moon of Alabama, which tends to have interesting analysis. Avoid the comment section.
Understanding War and the Saker: reactionary sources that have occasional insights on the war.
Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don’t want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it’s just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.
Simplicius, who publishes on Substack. Like others, his political analysis should be soundly ignored, but his knowledge of weaponry and military strategy is generally quite good.
On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists’ side.
Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.
Pro-Russian Telegram Channels:
Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.
https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR’s former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR’s forces. Russian language.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.
https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.
https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster’s telegram channel.
https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator.
https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps.
https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a ‘propaganda tax’, if you don’t believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.
https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.
Pro-Ukraine Telegram Channels:
Almost every Western media outlet.
https://discord.gg/projectowl ~ Pro-Ukrainian OSINT Discord.
https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.
Senior Ansarallah leader Nasr al-Din Amer:
(RNN)
Their missile capabilities have advanced significantly since October 7th 2023. From firing off long range SCUDs, to Hatem-2 (Kheibar Shekan-1), to Palestine-1 (Kheibar Shekan-2), to Palestine-2 (Fattah/Kheibar Shekan series hybrid variant), to Fattah-1 itself now. If a volley of Fattah-1 missiles are fired in a large enough number, the US/Israeli air defence net will struggle to deal with such an attack (as seen by Operation True Promise II), even with THAAD in the picture now. This is an opportune moment for such an attack, as the US Navy is busy rotating Carrier Strike Groups in the Red Sea (USS Harry Truman leaving, USS Gerald Ford arriving). With minimal to no US Navy warships in the Red Sea now, they cannot blunt a missile attack from Yemen with SM-3 interceptors for a late boost phase or early midcourse interception. The position of the USS Carl Vinson, off to the East in the Gulf of Aden, is also not in position to do this. US Navy warships near Israel can still launch SM-3 midcourse interceptors, but there’s quite a difference between ships in the Mediterranean launching SM-3s, and ships in the Red Sea launching SM-3s.
My question is if they can actually launch the advanced missiles in sufficient numbers to cause damage. Cluster warheads that release tiny munitions at high altitude on less advanced missiles are another option, but that would be very imprecise.
“And he who gives fair warning is absolved of blame”
When they do eventually strike the terminals of Lud airport, no one can say that they didn’t not give fair warning. The proud Yemeni revolutionaries are followers of the Islam of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, rather than the Islam of the Ummayad butchers, and therefore they fight within the limits. What is coming is greater.
Pray for victory for the Resistance, protection for the people, peace for the martyrs, freedom for the prisoners, and punishment of the enemies.
Comrade, why don’t we emphasize their solidarity rather than their sect, just like they emphasize Islamic unity?
Glory to the resistance!
I think there is miscommunication. How are you interpreting what I have written?
I think he may have interpreted your mention of the Umayyads as referring to Sunnis in general. But it’s important to clarify that even from a Sunni perspective, the Umayyads are viewed critically in some respects. After all, Caliph Ali is considered one of the rightly guided caliphs by Sunnis as well, and it was the Umayyads who fought against him and ultimately contributed to his death. So in that sense, the Umayyads are seen as controversial, not only by Shia but also to some extent by Sunni Muslims.
You are entirely correct. However, the start of the Ummayad dynasty was the first Fitna, which is why Shia sources emphasize their brutality more, while Sunni may be ambivalent. Followers of the Ahl al Bayt is a clear reference to Shia Islam though
For as much as the Wahhabis scream about “bidah this bidah that”, the Nasibi (anti-Ali) ideology is pure innovation created by the Umayyads to suppress challenges to their rule.
I interpreted this as a reference to their Shiism. I dont mean to misinterpret your words
No problem. I am glad you asked as it gives an opportunity for more people to learn important Islamic Revolutionary history.
The Umayyad caliphate was notoriously brutal, racist, corrupt, and heavily focused on the accumulation of wealth. It came after the death of the Prophet. The Umayyad system is of course the system and history that the gulf cartels try to emulate and promote. It has nothing to do with the Sunnah.
The Martyr Sayed Hussein al Houthi and the Leader of the Revolution Sayed Abdul-Malik al Houthi are clear that they want a return to the Quran and the Islam of Muhammad pbuh. The Quran mandates “not exceeding the limits” in all aspects. This is a phrase that occurs multiple times. It also mandates armed Jihad against the enemies who break treaties, steal land, and violate the Believers (Surah at-Tawbah). This has nothing to do with sectarianism surely. The Sayed is saving Islam from corruption and distortion.
Ansarallah is a tapestry of sects and political orientations, under the banner of what the Sayed calls a “Quranic project”, which is part of why it is such a powerful people’s movement.
Thank you for your comment. I agree Ansarallah is a beacon in Islam today.
Alhamdullilah