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Dolphin Whisperer’s and Ferox’s Top Ten(ish) of 2024
By Dolphin Whisperer
Dolphin Whisperer
Every year, its end becomes more shocking and swift. Once, some guy told me, simply, “it only gets worse.” Not life though—attributing a better or worse or any sort of constant determination of our passage leaves a lot of room for falling into a void of enjoyment—life is, after all, a constant until its not. But time, or our sense of being in its too ever-present stream, flows at a rate that changes in ways to which we never quite catch up.
As such, there’s a comfort in knowing how much time an album, particularly one you enjoy will take. For the ten-to-twenty minutes it takes for grindcore proper to slap me silly or the forty-to-eighty minutes that it takes for my deepest progressive loves to wring out a moaning confession, I know where my attention lies, even if it’s only half there and half on a task at hand. Time and tasks, day to night, play to stop, music makes my world a better place. And entering my now third year at Angry Metal Guy, an institution that has been a fixture of my musical journey for even longer, I continue to hold a profound gratitude and excitement for another year of discovery.
2024 has had its challenges professionally and personally. 2025 will be no doubt the same, even if some trials we can see forming in the distance. But you want to know about the music, right? On that end, 2024 has yielded a heaping trove of great albums. Heck, even a Rodeö pick scratched at the rungs of an honorable mention. The below list barely scratches the surface of the breadth that the year has offered. Further down you will see Ferox‘s list, which captures a different collection equally rooted in joy. He might be more right than I am. But that matters little. Celebrate with us, your favorite collective of writers on the world wide web! Come hang with some of us on Discord too if you’d like. Most of the people there are certified flea-free. And don’t be too upset if 2025 doesn’t hit you the same at first. It’s just another year, and it’ll be over before you know it.
#ish. Kalandra // A Frame of Mind – At my core, I consider myself a Norwegian sad girl. Usually, this manifests in some sort of weepy, melancholy prog, the likes of Age of Silence or Madder Mortem.1 But Kalandra’s enfolkened an impassioned take on an artsy, progressive collection of empowering tunes hit me square in my aching heart from the moment I heard it. Most importantly, though, Kalandra knows that suffering is just a step on the path of growth and happiness, which is a message that inspires me every day.
#10. Dawnwalker // The Unknowing – The power to dream and envision a world driven by mysticism has an allure that’s hard to ignore. And while we know that more determinable laws guide the happenings of our daily lives, a glimpse of the unknown will always find its way into sequence. Dawnwalker putting this esoteric but ever-present concept into an atmospheric, genre-warped, playfully progressive package hardly surprises me, though. The British troupe has had my number since their unsung classic In Rooms,2 so I’m doing my last in continuing to love them despite Twelve‘s best efforts to underrate them.3
#9. Lizzard // Mesh – Lizzard’s 2021 opus Eroded is my favorite album of this decade so far. The French trio’s ability to warp deep, rhythm-tricky layers into driving and emotional rock songs his me at the core of my musical desire for cathartic hope expressed in an unassuming and lush framework. Mesh doesn’t present any differently in that regard. But its wrinkles on Lizzard’s timeless yet ’90s alternative-rooted oeuvre fuel Mesh’s inherent melancholy with a hope that’s jubilant, like a cracked smile on an overcast day.
#8. Dissimulator // Lower Form Resistance – [INCOMING TRANSMISSION.] “My name is Clyde, and I arrive from beyond with wonderful news. My good friend Ferox has survived this timeline after all, having learned to navigate the Lower Form Resistance assault of fast-twitch rhythms and slow-twitch death metal punctuation. His head, fully intact, sways wildly in its hairless glory—big dives for big skanking breaks, snappy rolls for whiplash accelerations. He may not be as rhythmically gifted in pit-galloping cadence as the virtuoso drum and bass duo that provides life to Dissimulator’s effortless strides, but Ferox is my everything nonetheless.” [END TRANSMISSION.]
#7. Mamaleek // Vida Blue – I couldn’t begin to tell you what has never landed about Mamaleek’s works before with a weird precision. As an act dedicated to sounding only like Mamaleek, their singular expression of tortured black(ish) metal warped by jazzy and slogging attitudes has manifested quite the take-it-or-leave-it musical experience. And while you, dear reader, may assume this is firmly up my alley, it has not been. At least not until Vida Blue served a bottom of the ninth heart-shaker as an ode to a departed friend.4 With a soulful swing, a tortured connection, and an exit velocity powered by equal parts loss and love, Mamaleek has clinched a campaign for my attention.
#6. Defeated Sanity // Chronicles of Lunacy – As an apex predator in the brutal death metal world, Defeated Sanity’s appearance arouses not questions of competency but rather calculations of the carnage wrought. Chronicles of Lunacy does not mark a turning point or novel twist in the Defeated Sanity timeline—its finely tuned lashings hit as inescapable all the same. When neither a beast’s reach, nor mass, nor attack speed goes contested, an exhibition of its might will flash with morbid glee. As such, Defeated Sanity need not surprise to strike mortal wound. Chronicles’ fangs glisten with an aged-imbrued tarnish, tearing at my flesh in every way I would expect. And I want more.
#5. Orgone // Pleroma – Meticulous and constructed as a master-work, Pleroma’s opening notes signal a trance. Acoustic twang and chamber instrument-fueled swoon build an atmosphere of wonder against a fervent and languished march of post-genre swells and death-fueled crescendos. Cycling through its many shades feels less like a fever dream and more of a trial-filled journey. Wielding a demure grandeur, Pleroma’s effortless realization of Orgone’s peerless vision never feels like the epic journey its runtime suggests. Were my time truly infinite, Pleroma would be even harder to rip away from the queue.
#4. Julie Christmas // Ridiculous and Full of Blood – A lady screaming bloody murder shouldn’t go down this smooth, but that’s always been the promise and success of Julie Christmas. Few vocalists leave me slack-jawed and ear-shaken in the wake of piercing cries, raw-throated shrieks, and impassioned lyrical slather. Yet, Ridiculous and Full of Blood cuts track after track out of sonic patterns that do exactly that, all while empowering a full band expression of alternative-laced grooves, post-informed climbs, and punk-tied sneer. The Christmas season sums a flurry of inspired performances under the banner of a madwoman. And I stand at the ready to fray my vocal cords in attempt to crack with the same battle-tested precision that Ms. Christmas has earned from a life hard-worn.
#3. Ingurgitating Oblivion // Ontology of Nought – Though born of minds unrelated, Ontology of Nought exists as an esoteric companion to the Pleroma embodiment. Orgone is the twin that went to conservatory, graduated with honors, and holds an honorable performing chair, all while remembering its young love for death metal. Ingurgitating Oblivion, on the other hand, dropped out, spiraled into entheogenic dissociation, earns a living gigging at jazz clubs—also maintains its youthful lust for the clamoring riff and hammering blast. Maximalism oozes a frothing wonder in the hiss of distorted chatter and rhythmic mastery. An imperfect and breathing construction rises and falls in ethereal inhales and vision-spinning mantras. Ontology of Nought deserves each of its over-budget minutes. Invest time in the freedom that it promises… “and cease to be.”
#2. OU // 蘇醒 II: Frailty – The casualness of OU’s inception belies its profound leap into my necessary rotation. No incumbent love ever has a defined position in the halls of end-of-year accolades,5 and even more so when the act’s very presence rang suspicious in its finely-tuned invasion to my critical wiles. But, as I noted when I first blew my love for 蘇醒 II: Frailty over the pages of Angry Metal Guy, it’s OU’s “idiosyncratic atmosphere” that pulls from a “polyrhythmic hypnosis” and masterful “energetic flow” that continues to chart them deservedly high in the annals of ’20s progressive music. And while this collision of classically-minded, synth-addicted madness slowly expands its universe one OU release at a time, I’m content to sit here and yell their praises at anyone who will listen.
#1. Pyrrhon // Exhaust – You know you’re getting old when an album about modern burnout and the pains of traffic resonates with you all the way from frozen shoulder to radiating lower back to cold-groaning knee. But when Pyrrhon stealth-bombed my aging metalhead mind with a tech-dial riff barrage of noisy and shouting proportions, I had no choice but to surrender. Exhaust demands attention from its initial irony-laced lift-off to its closing brutalist clock-out, swinging skronk-enabled splatters and ache-addled vituperation around every faded line and pothole in its death metal architecture. Though Pyrrhon uses simpler blocks, their construction here defies convention at every step. One fine commenter summed up Exhaust in the most succinct manner in that regard: “Death Metal, Hardcore, Noise Rock, Technical Death Metal. It’s just mathcore.” Except they took away the wrong message from that distillation. The verdict, in fact, is fuck you.
Honorable Mentions:
- Inner Strength // Daydreaming in Moonlight – Another way you know you’re getting old is that you love an album that sounds like it should have released in 1995. Alas, here we are.
- Dysrhythmia // Coffin of Conviction – Instrumental progressive music should be as exciting as Dysrhythmia. Comes for the Martyr riffs. Stay for the Metheny floating.
- Beaten to Death // Sunrise Over Rigor Mortis – Beaten to Death is still the best grindcore band on the planet. They probably won’t ever release a better album than Dødsfest!, but that’s OK. Their discography is now about two hours total. Go listen to it if you haven’t.
- Stygian Crown // Funeral for a King – Doom should always have a guitar tone that feels equally powered by swords and beer alongside vocals that feel soft like bar-stained leather stools.
- Kollapse // AR – I didn’t know KEN mode had a Danish doppelgänger with a frightening, large pink face. But they do, and boy does Kollapse know how to yell and riff.
- Sleepytime Gorilla Museum // of the Last Human Being – Had I infinitely more listening time, I may have been able to parse better this deeply cinematic and wacky slab of no wave emboldened prog. Most don’t actually earn the avant-garde tag the way SGT does.
- Defying // Wadera – Hour-long albums based on old Polish werewolf stories and horror movies shouldn’t be this easy to repeat, but I find myself often falling into Wadera’s unbreakable spell.
- Arthouse Fatso // Sycophantic Seizures: A Double Feature – I didn’t have radically-minded industrial deathgrind about the frustrated escapades of a fictional Orson Welles life on my 2024 bingo, but here I am telling you to listen to it anyway.
- Concrete Winds // Concrete Winds – Just this. And shitloads of riffs.
Disappointments o’ the Year:
- Myrath // Karma – I love Shehili so much. My love for power metal isn’t what it used to be, but Myrath’s exuberance while staying rooted in both the trickier waters of prog and the anthemic cries of power metal gave me hope both that I’d continue to latch on to the kind of playful love it can offer. But the arrangements on Karma, despite Myrath’s still life-affirming messages, do absolutely nothing to bolster that same joy for me. Karma sinks my listening brain. And that hurts.
- Pallbearer // Mind Burns Alive – The continued non-success of Pallbearer and their sleepy-toned take on creaky prog rock hurts the Dolph who fell in love with their weepy doom classic (and still controversial to true doomsters) Heartless. And yet the general blogging population seems to praise them for trying to reinvent sadboi roots rock with worse lyrics. And, for my money, Pallbearer is sounding increasingly thin live. If a return to glory is in store for Pallbearer, it will begin with them finally playing a riff again.
- Polterguts // Nobody Likes You – Okay, this EP actually rips because Polterguts rips. Hard. But, Polterguts, if you’re reading this, please put it on Bandcamp so I can link the shit out of it and give you money. I am disappointed that I have no way to contribute currency to your cause. “Ricky Has a Knife2” is worth the price of admission alone.
Songs o’ the Year:
Why give you one when I can give you twenty-seven? Why twenty-seven? That’s my secret. Now, I’ve talked enough, go out there and enjoy some music, friends. And enjoy this photo of my dogs.
Coconut (left), Kiwi (right) in a stylish Adidog sweater.
Ferox
I worked way too much in 2024. I can’t complain; it was meaningful work that I chose to take on, and it got me that much closer to not having to work at all if I don’t want to. Still, that’s what I’ll think of when I think of 2024: lots and lots of work. That had a knock-on effect, especially when it comes to hobbies like lifting, getting out to national parks, and writing here. I did very little of any of that. I kept up with metal as best I could, and embarked on a big end-of-year listening push to have an accurate picture of what came out in 2024. I’m grateful that I got to do a list at all this year, so I took the responsibility seriously… but I’d be lying if I said I was buried in the scene all year.
One of the highlights of my 2024 was meeting a whole slew of staffers in person. I traveled a bunch this year, both for work and for my daughter’s ballet pursuits, and with that came the chance to hang with some of the people who make this place go. My body count of staffers met this year: Steel Druhm, Madam X, Cherd, Twelve, Dr. Wyrm, Thus Spoke, El Cuervo, Doom et al, and Holdeneye. It was a veritable orgy of almost entirely chaste fellowship, and only one (1) bad hang among the lot!6
I’m grateful to Steel Druhm and Angry Metal Guy for indulging my schedule, and for the real leadership they provide at my fake job. I found this unique community because it had the best music writing on the internet, and that remains true today thanks to the talented people who contribute their time and enthusiasm to keeping the machinery humming. I’m lucky to be a small part of it, and hopeful that 2025 will give me more time to spend in the Hall.
#ish. Mother of Graves // The Periapt of Absence – My “-ish” spot typically goes to an album that might have listed if I just had more time with it. That holds true of the sophomore effort from Indianapolis’s Mother of Graves, which landed on my radar by way of Carcharadon‘s excellent TYHMHM piece. This slab of classic sadboi death doom transcends any tribcore concerns through sheer quality of execution. From opener “Gallows” through final track “Like Darkness to a Dying Flame,” The Periapt of Absence guides the listener through the stages of grief with varied compositions that maintain a consistent mood throughout. Classic death doom is alive and well.
#10. Wormed // Omegon – Maddog‘s compelling rave for Omegon is my personal Review o’ the Year; fortunately, the prose was well spent on this efficient and brutal riff delivery system. Wormed has been creating slam-adjacent otherworldly death metal for a good while now, and Omegon is a distillation of everything the band has learned over the past two decades. 2024 is the year I realized I’ve been a brutal death metal guy all along. With songs like “Pareidolia Robotica” and “Virtual Teratogenesis,” Wormed took me by the hand and guided me through this journey of self-discovery… all while the people in the offices around me called in noise complaints.
#9. Ripped to Shreds // Sanshi – The already impressive Ripped to Shreds leveled up with Sanshi, a blast of aggressive but technically adept death metal that never left my rotation after its release. The guitar hero shredding plays like a release valve to the vicious and punky energy that Andrew Lee injects into his compositions. This cycle of tension and release makes for an addictive listen that feels like it ends mere moments after you hit play. The thrash elements of the R2S sounds are more prevalent on Sanshi, meaning the band now scratches the same itch for me that Horrendous did with their last killer slab.
#8. Scumbag // Homicide Cult – Scumbag! SCUUUMMMMBAGGGG. This nasty bit of business, with its deathgrind touches and morbid sense of humor (“Pure Adrenaline Hard-On,” “The Meating”), was tailor-made for the Ferox sensibility. Herein lie twenty-eight minutes of death metal that never slams but still walks the same line that Wormhole managed to last year: brutal but somehow cheerful, and stoopid without being remotely dumb. Dylan Cruz, of this band and Noxis, came out of nowhere to occupy a huge chunk of my limited listening time this year.
#7. Black Curse // Burning in Celestial Poison – With Burning in Celestial Poison, Black Curse stages a forty-five-minute takeover of your central nervous system. Eldritch Elitist captured the elemental power of these five compositions better than I ever could, but this album gave me exactly what I needed in a 2024 that was characterized by an extreme lack of work-life balance. Metal can provide a safe outlet for less-than-savory feelings, and Black Curse expressed a lot of things for me that I couldn’t express myself and stay employed. Lose yourself in these five tracks and emerge scoured but smarter.
#6. Spectral Wound // Songs of Blood and Mire – The hot streak continues; Songs of Blood and Mire, Spectral Wound’s fourth album, is their best effort yet. Carcharadon capably cataloged crisp new cross-currents in the band’s sound, but the song quality remains the same. Tracks like “At Wine-Dark Midnight in the Mouldering Halls” and Song o’ the Year “Aristocratic Suicidal Black Metal” showcase the band’s gift for coupling aggression with sweeping melody. In this way, Spectral Wound recalls Watain without so much distracting ooga-booga. Songs of Blood and Mire finds them continuing to refine their sound and grow in confidence.
#5. Endonomos // Endonomos II – Enlightenment – Endonomos carried the torch for doom in 2024. Enlightenment is a stately procession, its six long tracks blending influences from all across the doom spectrum. This is music that soars as it plods. Steel Druhm noted similarities to both Khemmis and Fvneral Fvkk. Those comps are perfect; not since Carnal Confessions has a doom album so effectively cut through the clutter of genre tropes to evoke genuine emotion.
#4. Pyrrhon // Exhaust – I hate it when the promotional push for an album ties a record too strongly to the narrative of its creation. It’s like the record company is trying to force a reaction that the album itself might or might not evoke. So when Exhaust arrived with heavy-handed descriptions of process and what Pyrrhon went through trying to make the album happen, I bristled and stopped reading. Fortunately, the music on Exhaust speaks for itself. This is a bitter and blistering record that finds the band raging against their rage’s inability to change even a single thing. I’ve always appreciated Pyrrhon, but I’ve never connected with their music as immediately as I did on Exhaust.
#3. Defeated Sanity // Chronicles of Lunacy – Defeated Sanity has had quite the AMG journey. They’ve gone from being brushed aside by a n00b named Potato Jim to being on the receiving end of a double-4.0 fellating from the tenured likes of Dolphin Whisperer and Maddog. Chronicles of Lunacy finds Defeated Sanity extending the Colin Marston-enabled peak that they hit on 2020’s The Sanguinary Impetus. It takes extreme skill to weaponize the base and the stoopid this effectively. Defeated Sanity is more than up for the job.
#2. Inter Arma // New Heaven – Here’s another band that could be wrestling with The Law of Diminishing Recordings by now, but instead persists with quality release after quality release. Inter Arma never repeats themselves, but each of their albums could only come from them. Hot take: Sky Funeral has remained my favorite Inter Arma album even as they’ve racked up an epic run of excellence. New Heaven makes a run at unseating it. This is a slab that rewards the many repeated listens I gave it in 2024; it sat in my top slot for much of the year until a late-breaking favorite pushed it aside.
#1. Noxis // Violence Inherent in the System – This is my third time publishing a list at AMG; each previous year, I had clear Album o’the Year winners in Immolation’s Acts of God and Afterbirth’s In But Not Of. 2024 marked the first Listurnalia that began with an opening for my top slot. But as I weeded through my favorite music of the year, I realized: Noxis drew me in with the bass flourish at the beginning of album opener “Skullcrushing Defilement,” and they still haven’t let go. The Pittsburgher in me hates to credit anything from Cleveland, but Noxis weeded out that deeply rooted prejudice with their inventive and fresh take on death metal. Every track on Violence Inherent in the System is a wild ride that alternately crushes, challenges, and tickles. The only break from the madcap pace comes on mid-album interlude “Excursion,” but that just prepares you for the utter barking lunacy of “Horns Echo Over Chorazim.” That song incorporates strange arrangements that include various woodwind instruments, and somehow they do it with zero pretension and abundant commitment to brutality. Listurnalia may have begun with a blank space atop my list, but it ended with Noxis firmly entrenched as the winner of 2024.
Honorable Mentions:
- Stenched // Purulence Gushing from the Coffin – This one-man outfit captured that elusive filthy magic and spewed out the annum’s premiere filthy wallow.
- Aborted // Vault of Horrors – These Belgian veterans, long under-appreciated in the Hall, finally found their champion in Grier. They hooked themselves up to the juvenation machine by leaning into the melodeath that has been creeping into their sound, and cranked out their best set in years.
- Vitriol // Suffer and Become – Here’s a mean and heavy slab that seemed to fade from the general consciousness as the year wore on, but remains worthy of note.
Disappointment o’the Year:
Ferox! I just didn’t have time to make a meaningful contribution here this year. It has been a pleasure to watch other members of my n00b class like Dolph and Maddog and Thus become AMG institutions, even as I mostly watch from the sidelines and come out to play when I can.
Song o’the Year:
Imagine being asked to name your favorite song of the year, and responding with a twenty-seven song playlist!7
#2024 #AFrameOfMind #Aborted #AR #ArthouseFatso #BeatenToDeath #BlackCurse #BurningInCelestialPoison #ChroniclesOfLunacy #CoffinOfConviction #ConcreteWinds #Dawnwalker #DaydreamingInMoonlight #DefeatedSanity #Defying #Dissimulator #Dysrhythmia #Endonomos #EndonomosIIEnlightenment #Exhaust #FuneralForAKing #GodsOverBrokenPeople #HomicideCult #Horrendous #IngurgitatingOblivion #InnerStrength #InterArma #JulieChristmas #Kalandra #Khemmis #Kollapse #Lists #Listurnalia #Listurnalia2024 #Lizzard #LowerFormResistance #Mamaleek #Mesh #MotherOfGraves #Myrath #NewHeaven #NobodyLikesYou #Noxis #OfTheLastHumanBeing #Omegon #OntologyOfNought #Orgone #OU #Pallbearer #Pleroma #Polterguts #PurulenceGushingFromTheCoffin #Pyrrhon #RidiculousAndFullOfBlood #RippedToShreds #Sanshi #SaveThisUtility #Scumbag #SleepytimeGorillaMuseum #SongsOfBloodAndMire #SpectralWound #Stenched #StygianCrown #SufferAndBecome #SunriseOverRigorMortis #SycophanticSeizuresADoubleFeature #ThePeriaptOfAbsence #TheUnknowing #VaultOfHorrors #VidaBlue #ViolenceInherentInTheSystem #Vitriol #Wadera #Watain #Wormed #蘇醒IIFrailty
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Dolphin Whisperer’s and Ferox’s Top Ten(ish) of 2024
By Dolphin Whisperer
Dolphin Whisperer
Every year, its end becomes more shocking and swift. Once, some guy told me, simply, “it only gets worse.” Not life though—attributing a better or worse or any sort of constant determination of our passage leaves a lot of room for falling into a void of enjoyment—life is, after all, a constant until its not. But time, or our sense of being in its too ever-present stream, flows at a rate that changes in ways to which we never quite catch up.
As such, there’s a comfort in knowing how much time an album, particularly one you enjoy will take. For the ten-to-twenty minutes it takes for grindcore proper to slap me silly or the forty-to-eighty minutes that it takes for my deepest progressive loves to wring out a moaning confession, I know where my attention lies, even if it’s only half there and half on a task at hand. Time and tasks, day to night, play to stop, music makes my world a better place. And entering my now third year at Angry Metal Guy, an institution that has been a fixture of my musical journey for even longer, I continue to hold a profound gratitude and excitement for another year of discovery.
2024 has had its challenges professionally and personally. 2025 will be no doubt the same, even if some trials we can see forming in the distance. But you want to know about the music, right? On that end, 2024 has yielded a heaping trove of great albums. Heck, even a Rodeö pick scratched at the rungs of an honorable mention. The below list barely scratches the surface of the breadth that the year has offered. Further down you will see Ferox‘s list, which captures a different collection equally rooted in joy. He might be more right than I am. But that matters little. Celebrate with us, your favorite collective of writers on the world wide web! Come hang with some of us on Discord too if you’d like. Most of the people there are certified flea-free. And don’t be too upset if 2025 doesn’t hit you the same at first. It’s just another year, and it’ll be over before you know it.
#ish. Kalandra // A Frame of Mind – At my core, I consider myself a Norwegian sad girl. Usually, this manifests in some sort of weepy, melancholy prog, the likes of Age of Silence or Madder Mortem.1 But Kalandra’s enfolkened an impassioned take on an artsy, progressive collection of empowering tunes hit me square in my aching heart from the moment I heard it. Most importantly, though, Kalandra knows that suffering is just a step on the path of growth and happiness, which is a message that inspires me every day.
#10. Dawnwalker // The Unknowing – The power to dream and envision a world driven by mysticism has an allure that’s hard to ignore. And while we know that more determinable laws guide the happenings of our daily lives, a glimpse of the unknown will always find its way into sequence. Dawnwalker putting this esoteric but ever-present concept into an atmospheric, genre-warped, playfully progressive package hardly surprises me, though. The British troupe has had my number since their unsung classic In Rooms,2 so I’m doing my last in continuing to love them despite Twelve‘s best efforts to underrate them.3
#9. Lizzard // Mesh – Lizzard’s 2021 opus Eroded is my favorite album of this decade so far. The French trio’s ability to warp deep, rhythm-tricky layers into driving and emotional rock songs his me at the core of my musical desire for cathartic hope expressed in an unassuming and lush framework. Mesh doesn’t present any differently in that regard. But its wrinkles on Lizzard’s timeless yet ’90s alternative-rooted oeuvre fuel Mesh’s inherent melancholy with a hope that’s jubilant, like a cracked smile on an overcast day.
#8. Dissimulator // Lower Form Resistance – [INCOMING TRANSMISSION.] “My name is Clyde, and I arrive from beyond with wonderful news. My good friend Ferox has survived this timeline after all, having learned to navigate the Lower Form Resistance assault of fast-twitch rhythms and slow-twitch death metal punctuation. His head, fully intact, sways wildly in its hairless glory—big dives for big skanking breaks, snappy rolls for whiplash accelerations. He may not be as rhythmically gifted in pit-galloping cadence as the virtuoso drum and bass duo that provides life to Dissimulator’s effortless strides, but Ferox is my everything nonetheless.” [END TRANSMISSION.]
#7. Mamaleek // Vida Blue – I couldn’t begin to tell you what has never landed about Mamaleek’s works before with a weird precision. As an act dedicated to sounding only like Mamaleek, their singular expression of tortured black(ish) metal warped by jazzy and slogging attitudes has manifested quite the take-it-or-leave-it musical experience. And while you, dear reader, may assume this is firmly up my alley, it has not been. At least not until Vida Blue served a bottom of the ninth heart-shaker as an ode to a departed friend.4 With a soulful swing, a tortured connection, and an exit velocity powered by equal parts loss and love, Mamaleek has clinched a campaign for my attention.
#6. Defeated Sanity // Chronicles of Lunacy – As an apex predator in the brutal death metal world, Defeated Sanity’s appearance arouses not questions of competency but rather calculations of the carnage wrought. Chronicles of Lunacy does not mark a turning point or novel twist in the Defeated Sanity timeline—its finely tuned lashings hit as inescapable all the same. When neither a beast’s reach, nor mass, nor attack speed goes contested, an exhibition of its might will flash with morbid glee. As such, Defeated Sanity need not surprise to strike mortal wound. Chronicles’ fangs glisten with an aged-imbrued tarnish, tearing at my flesh in every way I would expect. And I want more.
#5. Orgone // Pleroma – Meticulous and constructed as a master-work, Pleroma’s opening notes signal a trance. Acoustic twang and chamber instrument-fueled swoon build an atmosphere of wonder against a fervent and languished march of post-genre swells and death-fueled crescendos. Cycling through its many shades feels less like a fever dream and more of a trial-filled journey. Wielding a demure grandeur, Pleroma’s effortless realization of Orgone’s peerless vision never feels like the epic journey its runtime suggests. Were my time truly infinite, Pleroma would be even harder to rip away from the queue.
#4. Julie Christmas // Ridiculous and Full of Blood – A lady screaming bloody murder shouldn’t go down this smooth, but that’s always been the promise and success of Julie Christmas. Few vocalists leave me slack-jawed and ear-shaken in the wake of piercing cries, raw-throated shrieks, and impassioned lyrical slather. Yet, Ridiculous and Full of Blood cuts track after track out of sonic patterns that do exactly that, all while empowering a full band expression of alternative-laced grooves, post-informed climbs, and punk-tied sneer. The Christmas season sums a flurry of inspired performances under the banner of a madwoman. And I stand at the ready to fray my vocal cords in attempt to crack with the same battle-tested precision that Ms. Christmas has earned from a life hard-worn.
#3. Ingurgitating Oblivion // Ontology of Nought – Though born of minds unrelated, Ontology of Nought exists as an esoteric companion to the Pleroma embodiment. Orgone is the twin that went to conservatory, graduated with honors, and holds an honorable performing chair, all while remembering its young love for death metal. Ingurgitating Oblivion, on the other hand, dropped out, spiraled into entheogenic dissociation, earns a living gigging at jazz clubs—also maintains its youthful lust for the clamoring riff and hammering blast. Maximalism oozes a frothing wonder in the hiss of distorted chatter and rhythmic mastery. An imperfect and breathing construction rises and falls in ethereal inhales and vision-spinning mantras. Ontology of Nought deserves each of its over-budget minutes. Invest time in the freedom that it promises… “and cease to be.”
#2. OU // 蘇醒 II: Frailty – The casualness of OU’s inception belies its profound leap into my necessary rotation. No incumbent love ever has a defined position in the halls of end-of-year accolades,5 and even more so when the act’s very presence rang suspicious in its finely-tuned invasion to my critical wiles. But, as I noted when I first blew my love for 蘇醒 II: Frailty over the pages of Angry Metal Guy, it’s OU’s “idiosyncratic atmosphere” that pulls from a “polyrhythmic hypnosis” and masterful “energetic flow” that continues to chart them deservedly high in the annals of ’20s progressive music. And while this collision of classically-minded, synth-addicted madness slowly expands its universe one OU release at a time, I’m content to sit here and yell their praises at anyone who will listen.
#1. Pyrrhon // Exhaust – You know you’re getting old when an album about modern burnout and the pains of traffic resonates with you all the way from frozen shoulder to radiating lower back to cold-groaning knee. But when Pyrrhon stealth-bombed my aging metalhead mind with a tech-dial riff barrage of noisy and shouting proportions, I had no choice but to surrender. Exhaust demands attention from its initial irony-laced lift-off to its closing brutalist clock-out, swinging skronk-enabled splatters and ache-addled vituperation around every faded line and pothole in its death metal architecture. Though Pyrrhon uses simpler blocks, their construction here defies convention at every step. One fine commenter summed up Exhaust in the most succinct manner in that regard: “Death Metal, Hardcore, Noise Rock, Technical Death Metal. It’s just mathcore.” Except they took away the wrong message from that distillation. The verdict, in fact, is fuck you.
Honorable Mentions:
- Inner Strength // Daydreaming in Moonlight – Another way you know you’re getting old is that you love an album that sounds like it should have released in 1995. Alas, here we are.
- Dysrhythmia // Coffin of Conviction – Instrumental progressive music should be as exciting as Dysrhythmia. Comes for the Martyr riffs. Stay for the Metheny floating.
- Beaten to Death // Sunrise Over Rigor Mortis – Beaten to Death is still the best grindcore band on the planet. They probably won’t ever release a better album than Dødsfest!, but that’s OK. Their discography is now about two hours total. Go listen to it if you haven’t.
- Stygian Crown // Funeral for a King – Doom should always have a guitar tone that feels equally powered by swords and beer alongside vocals that feel soft like bar-stained leather stools.
- Kollapse // AR – I didn’t know KEN mode had a Danish doppelgänger with a frightening, large pink face. But they do, and boy does Kollapse know how to yell and riff.
- Sleepytime Gorilla Museum // of the Last Human Being – Had I infinitely more listening time, I may have been able to parse better this deeply cinematic and wacky slab of no wave emboldened prog. Most don’t actually earn the avant-garde tag the way SGT does.
- Defying // Wadera – Hour-long albums based on old Polish werewolf stories and horror movies shouldn’t be this easy to repeat, but I find myself often falling into Wadera’s unbreakable spell.
- Arthouse Fatso // Sycophantic Seizures: A Double Feature – I didn’t have radically-minded industrial deathgrind about the frustrated escapades of a fictional Orson Welles life on my 2024 bingo, but here I am telling you to listen to it anyway.
- Concrete Winds // Concrete Winds – Just this. And shitloads of riffs.
Disappointments o’ the Year:
- Myrath // Karma – I love Shehili so much. My love for power metal isn’t what it used to be, but Myrath’s exuberance while staying rooted in both the trickier waters of prog and the anthemic cries of power metal gave me hope both that I’d continue to latch on to the kind of playful love it can offer. But the arrangements on Karma, despite Myrath’s still life-affirming messages, do absolutely nothing to bolster that same joy for me. Karma sinks my listening brain. And that hurts.
- Pallbearer // Mind Burns Alive – The continued non-success of Pallbearer and their sleepy-toned take on creaky prog rock hurts the Dolph who fell in love with their weepy doom classic (and still controversial to true doomsters) Heartless. And yet the general blogging population seems to praise them for trying to reinvent sadboi roots rock with worse lyrics. And, for my money, Pallbearer is sounding increasingly thin live. If a return to glory is in store for Pallbearer, it will begin with them finally playing a riff again.
- Polterguts // Nobody Likes You – Okay, this EP actually rips because Polterguts rips. Hard. But, Polterguts, if you’re reading this, please put it on Bandcamp so I can link the shit out of it and give you money. I am disappointed that I have no way to contribute currency to your cause. “Ricky Has a Knife2” is worth the price of admission alone.
Songs o’ the Year:
Why give you one when I can give you twenty-seven? Why twenty-seven? That’s my secret. Now, I’ve talked enough, go out there and enjoy some music, friends. And enjoy this photo of my dogs.
Coconut (left), Kiwi (right) in a stylish Adidog sweater.
Ferox
I worked way too much in 2024. I can’t complain; it was meaningful work that I chose to take on, and it got me that much closer to not having to work at all if I don’t want to. Still, that’s what I’ll think of when I think of 2024: lots and lots of work. That had a knock-on effect, especially when it comes to hobbies like lifting, getting out to national parks, and writing here. I did very little of any of that. I kept up with metal as best I could, and embarked on a big end-of-year listening push to have an accurate picture of what came out in 2024. I’m grateful that I got to do a list at all this year, so I took the responsibility seriously… but I’d be lying if I said I was buried in the scene all year.
One of the highlights of my 2024 was meeting a whole slew of staffers in person. I traveled a bunch this year, both for work and for my daughter’s ballet pursuits, and with that came the chance to hang with some of the people who make this place go. My body count of staffers met this year: Steel Druhm, Madam X, Cherd, Twelve, Dr. Wyrm, Thus Spoke, El Cuervo, Doom et al, and Holdeneye. It was a veritable orgy of almost entirely chaste fellowship, and only one (1) bad hang among the lot!6
I’m grateful to Steel Druhm and Angry Metal Guy for indulging my schedule, and for the real leadership they provide at my fake job. I found this unique community because it had the best music writing on the internet, and that remains true today thanks to the talented people who contribute their time and enthusiasm to keeping the machinery humming. I’m lucky to be a small part of it, and hopeful that 2025 will give me more time to spend in the Hall.
#ish. Mother of Graves // The Periapt of Absence – My “-ish” spot typically goes to an album that might have listed if I just had more time with it. That holds true of the sophomore effort from Indianapolis’s Mother of Graves, which landed on my radar by way of Carcharadon‘s excellent TYHMHM piece. This slab of classic sadboi death doom transcends any tribcore concerns through sheer quality of execution. From opener “Gallows” through final track “Like Darkness to a Dying Flame,” The Periapt of Absence guides the listener through the stages of grief with varied compositions that maintain a consistent mood throughout. Classic death doom is alive and well.
#10. Wormed // Omegon – Maddog‘s compelling rave for Omegon is my personal Review o’ the Year; fortunately, the prose was well spent on this efficient and brutal riff delivery system. Wormed has been creating slam-adjacent otherworldly death metal for a good while now, and Omegon is a distillation of everything the band has learned over the past two decades. 2024 is the year I realized I’ve been a brutal death metal guy all along. With songs like “Pareidolia Robotica” and “Virtual Teratogenesis,” Wormed took me by the hand and guided me through this journey of self-discovery… all while the people in the offices around me called in noise complaints.
#9. Ripped to Shreds // Sanshi – The already impressive Ripped to Shreds leveled up with Sanshi, a blast of aggressive but technically adept death metal that never left my rotation after its release. The guitar hero shredding plays like a release valve to the vicious and punky energy that Andrew Lee injects into his compositions. This cycle of tension and release makes for an addictive listen that feels like it ends mere moments after you hit play. The thrash elements of the R2S sounds are more prevalent on Sanshi, meaning the band now scratches the same itch for me that Horrendous did with their last killer slab.
#8. Scumbag // Homicide Cult – Scumbag! SCUUUMMMMBAGGGG. This nasty bit of business, with its deathgrind touches and morbid sense of humor (“Pure Adrenaline Hard-On,” “The Meating”), was tailor-made for the Ferox sensibility. Herein lie twenty-eight minutes of death metal that never slams but still walks the same line that Wormhole managed to last year: brutal but somehow cheerful, and stoopid without being remotely dumb. Dylan Cruz, of this band and Noxis, came out of nowhere to occupy a huge chunk of my limited listening time this year.
#7. Black Curse // Burning in Celestial Poison – With Burning in Celestial Poison, Black Curse stages a forty-five-minute takeover of your central nervous system. Eldritch Elitist captured the elemental power of these five compositions better than I ever could, but this album gave me exactly what I needed in a 2024 that was characterized by an extreme lack of work-life balance. Metal can provide a safe outlet for less-than-savory feelings, and Black Curse expressed a lot of things for me that I couldn’t express myself and stay employed. Lose yourself in these five tracks and emerge scoured but smarter.
#6. Spectral Wound // Songs of Blood and Mire – The hot streak continues; Songs of Blood and Mire, Spectral Wound’s fourth album, is their best effort yet. Carcharadon capably cataloged crisp new cross-currents in the band’s sound, but the song quality remains the same. Tracks like “At Wine-Dark Midnight in the Mouldering Halls” and Song o’ the Year “Aristocratic Suicidal Black Metal” showcase the band’s gift for coupling aggression with sweeping melody. In this way, Spectral Wound recalls Watain without so much distracting ooga-booga. Songs of Blood and Mire finds them continuing to refine their sound and grow in confidence.
#5. Endonomos // Endonomos II – Enlightenment – Endonomos carried the torch for doom in 2024. Enlightenment is a stately procession, its six long tracks blending influences from all across the doom spectrum. This is music that soars as it plods. Steel Druhm noted similarities to both Khemmis and Fvneral Fvkk. Those comps are perfect; not since Carnal Confessions has a doom album so effectively cut through the clutter of genre tropes to evoke genuine emotion.
#4. Pyrrhon // Exhaust – I hate it when the promotional push for an album ties a record too strongly to the narrative of its creation. It’s like the record company is trying to force a reaction that the album itself might or might not evoke. So when Exhaust arrived with heavy-handed descriptions of process and what Pyrrhon went through trying to make the album happen, I bristled and stopped reading. Fortunately, the music on Exhaust speaks for itself. This is a bitter and blistering record that finds the band raging against their rage’s inability to change even a single thing. I’ve always appreciated Pyrrhon, but I’ve never connected with their music as immediately as I did on Exhaust.
#3. Defeated Sanity // Chronicles of Lunacy – Defeated Sanity has had quite the AMG journey. They’ve gone from being brushed aside by a n00b named Potato Jim to being on the receiving end of a double-4.0 fellating from the tenured likes of Dolphin Whisperer and Maddog. Chronicles of Lunacy finds Defeated Sanity extending the Colin Marston-enabled peak that they hit on 2020’s The Sanguinary Impetus. It takes extreme skill to weaponize the base and the stoopid this effectively. Defeated Sanity is more than up for the job.
#2. Inter Arma // New Heaven – Here’s another band that could be wrestling with The Law of Diminishing Recordings by now, but instead persists with quality release after quality release. Inter Arma never repeats themselves, but each of their albums could only come from them. Hot take: Sky Funeral has remained my favorite Inter Arma album even as they’ve racked up an epic run of excellence. New Heaven makes a run at unseating it. This is a slab that rewards the many repeated listens I gave it in 2024; it sat in my top slot for much of the year until a late-breaking favorite pushed it aside.
#1. Noxis // Violence Inherent in the System – This is my third time publishing a list at AMG; each previous year, I had clear Album o’the Year winners in Immolation’s Acts of God and Afterbirth’s In But Not Of. 2024 marked the first Listurnalia that began with an opening for my top slot. But as I weeded through my favorite music of the year, I realized: Noxis drew me in with the bass flourish at the beginning of album opener “Skullcrushing Defilement,” and they still haven’t let go. The Pittsburgher in me hates to credit anything from Cleveland, but Noxis weeded out that deeply rooted prejudice with their inventive and fresh take on death metal. Every track on Violence Inherent in the System is a wild ride that alternately crushes, challenges, and tickles. The only break from the madcap pace comes on mid-album interlude “Excursion,” but that just prepares you for the utter barking lunacy of “Horns Echo Over Chorazim.” That song incorporates strange arrangements that include various woodwind instruments, and somehow they do it with zero pretension and abundant commitment to brutality. Listurnalia may have begun with a blank space atop my list, but it ended with Noxis firmly entrenched as the winner of 2024.
Honorable Mentions:
- Stenched // Purulence Gushing from the Coffin – This one-man outfit captured that elusive filthy magic and spewed out the annum’s premiere filthy wallow.
- Aborted // Vault of Horrors – These Belgian veterans, long under-appreciated in the Hall, finally found their champion in Grier. They hooked themselves up to the juvenation machine by leaning into the melodeath that has been creeping into their sound, and cranked out their best set in years.
- Vitriol // Suffer and Become – Here’s a mean and heavy slab that seemed to fade from the general consciousness as the year wore on, but remains worthy of note.
Disappointment o’the Year:
Ferox! I just didn’t have time to make a meaningful contribution here this year. It has been a pleasure to watch other members of my n00b class like Dolph and Maddog and Thus become AMG institutions, even as I mostly watch from the sidelines and come out to play when I can.
Song o’the Year:
Imagine being asked to name your favorite song of the year, and responding with a twenty-seven song playlist!7
#2024 #AFrameOfMind #Aborted #AR #ArthouseFatso #BeatenToDeath #BlackCurse #BurningInCelestialPoison #ChroniclesOfLunacy #CoffinOfConviction #ConcreteWinds #Dawnwalker #DaydreamingInMoonlight #DefeatedSanity #Defying #Dissimulator #Dysrhythmia #Endonomos #EndonomosIIEnlightenment #Exhaust #FuneralForAKing #GodsOverBrokenPeople #HomicideCult #Horrendous #IngurgitatingOblivion #InnerStrength #InterArma #JulieChristmas #Kalandra #Khemmis #Kollapse #Lists #Listurnalia #Listurnalia2024 #Lizzard #LowerFormResistance #Mamaleek #Mesh #MotherOfGraves #Myrath #NewHeaven #NobodyLikesYou #Noxis #OfTheLastHumanBeing #Omegon #OntologyOfNought #Orgone #OU #Pallbearer #Pleroma #Polterguts #PurulenceGushingFromTheCoffin #Pyrrhon #RidiculousAndFullOfBlood #RippedToShreds #Sanshi #SaveThisUtility #Scumbag #SleepytimeGorillaMuseum #SongsOfBloodAndMire #SpectralWound #Stenched #StygianCrown #SufferAndBecome #SunriseOverRigorMortis #SycophanticSeizuresADoubleFeature #ThePeriaptOfAbsence #TheUnknowing #VaultOfHorrors #VidaBlue #ViolenceInherentInTheSystem #Vitriol #Wadera #Watain #Wormed #蘇醒IIFrailty
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Interviews with Georges Ibrahim Abdallah
I. Inside the Mind of a Militant: An Exclusive Interview with Georges Abdallah September 13, 2025 https://youtu.be/aqJhFmjCs8k My name is Richard Medhurst. I’m here in Lebanon with Georges Abdallah, former prisoner, international revolutionary, Lebanese Marxist. Georges, how are you? And thank you for having us. Thank you for being here. I’m doing well, especially now that I’m free, after having spent quite some time behind bars. I’m in good physical shape. My country is doing well, and our Resistance is strong, so I’m in good spirits as well. It’s only been about three weeks since you were released. Yes. You have spent more time in prison than anyone else for your support of Palestine. 41 years. That makes you the longest-serving political prisoner in French and European history. Before we dive into the details of your case, how are you readjusting to civilian life? It must be hard after 41 years in captivity. I spent time in prison as a militant. I was surrounded by men and women dedicated to the cause who allowed me to keep resisting, by making my resistance part of the struggle against the genocide in Gaza. They gave me a permanent voice on the outside, allowing me to speak about the struggles of various peoples and other political prisoners. So, I wasn’t just a prisoner. I was a fighter who was in prison. I was a militant campaigning and fighting but who just happened to be behind bars in a very particular set of circumstances. Today, I am that same fighter who, again, just happens to be fighting in another set of circumstances. Having those dedicated comrades who kept me in the fight, made my life and my struggle behind bars easier. Let’s talk about the details of your case. I’ve reported extensively on your case in recent years and on other political prisoners. Walk us through the timeline of events. You were in Lyon with an Algerian passport on you. You walk into a police station, and that’s when they recognize you and figure out you were traveling under an assumed identity. So, it was issued by the Algerian government but under a different name to assist you. Initially, they lock you up for that, but then they find a weapons cache in Paris. Walk us through what happened. I was arrested in Lyon and charged with criminal conspiracy. I was tried by the French courts which sentenced me to several years in prison. A deal was made with the French government, under which a French official [Gilles Peyroles] was released from captivity [in Lebanon]. Normally, I should have been freed in exchange. France gave its word but went back on it. The United States joined the case as a civil party, and from that point on it was more or less the US that dictated my fate. If I could just rewind, when you entered the police station [in Lyon], it was because the Mossad was hunting you, right? Regarding the details of the arrest, that whole episode dragged on for quite a bit. I had been on the run for three days, before I got to the point where I decided to enter the police station [to seek refuge]. Okay. Because, I was wondering, how did you pick up on the fact you were being hunted? [The Mossad] had been hunting me since Milan. That pursuit lasted from Milan all the way to Lyon. I tried several things to try and throw them off my trail, but couldn’t in the end, and when all else failed I got arrested. Indeed, I had an Algerian passport. A real passport. But unfortunately it didn’t do me much good, because the French knew my real identity and arrested me. I was chased [by the Mossad] from Milan to Geneva and from Geneva to Lyon. And for two days in Lyon I tried to shake them off but couldn’t. How did you know that you were being hunted? That must be a terrifying experience. It wasn’t terrifying. I was just a fighter being pursued by an intelligence agency, one far more capable than that of the French or others. There were several [Mossad] teams that were hot on my trail. And ultimately I got captured. It wasn’t some great feat. I tried to throw them off my trail but didn’t succeed. My comrades couldn’t intervene in time, so they arrested me. Do you regret walking into that police station in order to shake them off? Since it led you down this whole path… No, because at that moment I was probably about to get captured anyway. I was supposed to go through the train station, and my comrades hadn’t showed up. And they were a few meters away from me. So rather than getting arrested there, I made a last-ditch attempt using the passport. I made up some story [to the police] and told them that someone was trying to rob me. But it was already too late by then. The ploy didn’t work out. My fate was sealed. You later discovered that your first lawyer, Jean-Paul Mazurier, was a spy. Something he later revealed in a book. Were you shocked? How much damage did he do? What kind of information do you think he passed onto the French intelligence service? It’s the French justice system that should have been shocked. And yet that wasn’t the case. That a lawyer is being paid off by the intelligence services… During the German occupation of France, even the Gestapo didn’t stoop that low. And then this country that lectures everyone about democracy and the separation of powers, etc. should find itself directly implicated in a scandal like this is apparently normal. Not one, not a single magistrate had anything to say about it. That’s the justice system for you in Western imperialist countries. It goes without saying that other countries aren’t any better. When the interests of any imperialist system are at stake, the bourgeoisie always disregards their own laws. This isn’t something unique to the French. All capitalist and imperialist states do this. Back in the day, Maître [Jacques] Vergès was quite famous, and considered one of France’s best lawyers. His reputation precedes him. He defended you as well. However, there was apparently something he didn’t do [after the Mazurier spying scandal]. Should Vergès have requested a review of the criminal court’s ruling? I was the one who refused. Maître Vergès was a great lawyer, but he was a great fighter as well. He was an exceptional militant of a calibre far greater than most alive today. And quite naturally, he accepted my decision, and he respected it. Why did you instruct him not to ask for a review? Better to have this misconduct forever stain the French justice system than to overturn the proceedings. So it was a strategic move. Quite naturally, quite naturally. It would be better for the face of the capitalist and imperialist justice system to be unmasked by real-world examples. And it was. And yet not a single magistrate had anything to say. There was also a series of bombings in France for which the media claimed you were responsible, yet the French intelligence services later said that you actually had nothing to do with it. So I wanted to put it to you directly. People all over the world try to take advantage of the struggle between the French state, and the countries it tried to extort. There was a war [1]. Naturally, I sided fully with those who resisted attempts by the French to coerce certain states in our region. So, it wasn’t simply the police that were scandalous. The police have always been a tool of the imperialist judiciary and therefore imperialism itself. That’s nothing new, and not the real scandal. What’s truly scandalous is the press who willingly spread whatever the police tell them. Make no mistake about it. The media didn’t hesitate to spread the police’s propaganda [about me and FARL], which the judges had asked them to do. You have an entire global network of judges, police, and media all working together. And these media outlets only serve a specific class. The justice system is also designed to serve that specific class. Aside from making this or that person pay up, the point of the courts––which most people didn’t even have access to until the 20th or 21st century––is so they can dole out lectures to everyone about morality. And as I said to the magistrate, it’s always lovely to hear a prostitute talk about the virtues of virginity. Better once the client has their clothes back on. I, however, wasn’t extended the courtesy, as I stood before this magistrate, who couldn’t figure out why I wouldn’t defend myself. “Why won’t you defend yourself? The prosecutor is asking for at least ten years? That’s all you have to say? A statement in support of the Palestinian people, then you just turn your back and walk away?” I said, “Look, I’m here to defend the Palestinian cause, not to defend the justice system of your country. That’s your job. And now you need to own it.” Including the fact that my lawyer turned out to be secretly working for the intelligence services…. “You had nothing to say? Even the Germans didn’t behave like that when they occupied your country.” Ultimately, none of this is out of the ordinary. Beneath the veneer, this is what the justice system and the media really are in imperialist countries. Of course, that doesn’t mean that progressive media outlets can’t exist here and there. But ultimately, most media outlets are the complete opposite, which is simply reprehensible. I was never actually charged with terrorism. I was put before a special tribunal for terrorism. There was no reclassification of the offense. That tells you everything you need to know about the justice system and its legal proceedings. These proceedings are a mockery of the legal system. Not just in my case, but with all prominent figures in the struggle. So they could slap on this label of “terrorist.” Yet, when they arrested me, “terrorism” wasn’t even a crime under the French legal system. But when I went before the tribunal, it was a special court that they set up just for that purpose. They didn’t even attempt to reclassify the charge. In other words, the whole thing was a sham. The entire justice system is crooked. Once again, I find your case incredible because it’s like entering another universe, yet it’s our universe. Yes, yes. French imperialist propaganda is very strong. Everywhere they go, they present themselves as champions of the separation of powers, democracy, etc. But really, they’re just like any other country, given everything we know: the close relationship between the justice system and the police, the class struggle. How would you define the word “terrorism”? Terrorism, in my opinion, is state terrorism. Terrorism is the use of violence against the masses. It is the use of violence against these who try to expose the underlying class struggle. Terrorism is the use of means and methods that put the masses in danger. Any government that represses its own people as a matter of policy is engaged in terrorism. I defended the actions of the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Faction [FARL]. I considered it a great honor to have those operations attributed to me, and I considered it a great honor to defend the legitimacy of those operations, yesterday, today, tomorrow, and the day after. FARL’s operations never targeted civilians or the general public. There were some criminals. They were hunted down. Then they were eliminated. This cannot be described as terrorism. If you look at Lebanon in 1982, that’s what terrorism is. When we talk about terrorism, we are talking about Sabra and Chatila. The Sabra and Chatila massacres aren’t something that just happened on the sidelines. The French, American, and Italian imperialists know this. Mitterrand personally guaranteed the security of Sabra and Chatila. Reagan personally guaranteed the security of Sabra and Chatila, as did the Italian government. The French sent 800 soldiers, the US 800 marines, and the Italians 400 troops. So, you had 2,000 soldiers there to protect the camps, on condition that we, the militants and fighters, leave the camp. Of course, back then, we were all young. We protested and cursed at everyone. But in the end, the leadership felt that France’s word, the word of two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council could be trusted, that there was nothing to be worried about. After all this was France, the land of human rights, the Resistance, and the separation of powers. “It would never abandon the camp!” And yet we had barely pulled out of the camp when the soldiers began to clear the minefield around the camp, meaning they removed the protective barriers we had put in place. And then they withdrew for four days, during which the massacres took place. Four days later, they returned to “investigate the facts.” Their facts. Not one single soldier was prosecuted. Naturally, these French, American, and Italian soldiers were not some ragtag militia of vagabonds. They were given orders to withdraw which they followed and were then ordered to return, which they did. One of the first journalists to arrive in Sabra and Chatila was Jacques-Marie Bourget who reported on the extent of the slaughter. And he talks about the French officers in a little book, The Sabra and Chatila Massacre, and the discussions that took place. It is a stain on France. But above all, it is a stain on the French justice system, which lectures others about terrorism. Meanwhile 4,000 corpses or so––because they couldn’t all be counted––weren’t killed by gunfire. They were killed using knives, swords, and axes. Apparently, that wasn’t terrorism to them. In fact, they even committed to never prosecute anyone. Every year in France, we commemorate the massacre of Oradour-sur-Glane. The Nazis burned about 700 people in a church. Seven or eight children. Sabra and Chatila had over 4,000 victims. Did none of them deserve an investigation into why the international force withdrew, then moved back into position? When you look at these facts, for example, in 1982 there were around 32,000 casualties, attacked with cluster bombs in Beirut and elsewhere. The Israelis attacked Lebanon under the pretext of [Operation] “Peace in Galilee.” Those 32,000 casualties were caused by American weapons. They used Beirut and Lebanon as a testing ground for their weapons. Cluster bombs and vacuum bombs were used for the first time in the Middle East. Of course, none of this is terrorism according to the imperialists. And then [the United States] goes and joins the case against me in Paris as a civil party. These aren’t people whose courts and judges can be taken seriously. The only thing you can do is turn your back to them. Let them go on pretending to be victims and spewing hatred against the struggling masses. And that’s what happened. I think that’s an excellent definition of what constitutes terrorism. You were accused of killing those two diplomats. Yes. The Israeli diplomat [Barsimantov], it turns out, was in fact… …the head of Mossad operations in Europe. Right, because their jobs are usually a cover. Yes, everyone knew [they were spies]. Even the prosecutors. And the American diplomat [Ray] was actually running CIA counterintelligence operations there. Those men were officers. And they got taken out nice and clean. Not a single civilian was harmed. Not even a hiccup. Because even revolutionaries can sometimes mess up. Not a single civilian was harmed. If justice had any meaning in France…. This is why the prosecutor asked for less than nine years. Usually he would have asked for much more. He asked for less than nine years, and yet I still got life. That tells you everything about this judicial farce. I don’t know if you saw this, a few weeks ago in the United States, two Israeli diplomats were… Yes. They were assassinated by Elias Rodriguez. By a militant who felt that in the face of the genocide taking place in Gaza it is the duty of every revolutionary to respond with the means at their disposal. He happened to have a pistol at his disposal, so he iced two Israeli agents. In my opinion, it was necessary and the right thing to do. People’s reactions may vary from one country to another, but, generally speaking, the massacres taking place in Gaza require a reaction commensurate with the situation in order to prevent things from becoming any worse. Naturally, like all revolutionaries, I’m against any operations that might hurt the masses. But when faced with the images coming out of Gaza of half-dead, starving children, when you see what the US, Israel, and the Zionist West are doing, you can’t stop people from reacting the way they do or expect them to always respond with politeness and restraint. If you care about preventing violence, or preventing more impassioned reactions, then it’s up to the European and American revolutionaries in the West to do their duty. It’s up to them, more than anyone else, to do what’s required. We have a genocide that’s been going on for over 200 days. For the first time in history, a genocide is being watched by millions of men and women every day. It is a scandal that we haven’t seen stronger reactions beyond the usual protests every week. Don’t get me wrong, the youth coming out and making their voices and their anger heard is huge. It’s invaluable and breathes new life into the Arab and global revolutionary movement. Nevertheless, when there is genocide, more is needed. We hope for much more than that. Today in the West and in Europe we’re also seeing social democracy being chipped away at, which is reminiscent of certain periods in the last century. Today capitalism is in crisis. It has exhausted whatever pretenses of social democracy it had. We are standing on the edge of another world war for the third time in a century with Western capital as the main catalyst. We all know that there’s only a couple of ways to prevent these wars. We need a revolutionary movement to prevent the masses in the West and elsewhere from ending up as cannon fodder. It is the duty of the proletariat, especially in the West, to take action. Naturally, that doesn’t absolve these in the outer rim of the capitalist system of their own duties in this struggle. They also have important work to do. And we hope to come through in a big way. If you look at the Resistance in Gaza and the West Bank, one can’t help but admire their strength and steadfastness. Even after 17 years of the siege on Gaza and all the destruction wrought on Gaza and the West Bank, the Resistance lives on. The Resistance is so impressive that it makes even the most seasoned revolutionaries blush, be they in Strasbourg, Vietnam, or elsewhere. You see the fighters literally climb on top of the tanks and plant bombs there with their bare hands. That takes guts. Those are the same fighters whose brothers, wives, children, and grandchildren are all starving to death with the direct complicity of Western imperialist forces. It is our right to ask European revolutionaries to also sacrifice for the cause and contribute in ways that will make a real difference. With that said, we can’t ignore the current rise of fascism in Europe. It is taking root right there, out in the open. And not just in France, Germany, Spain, etc. It isn’t just the AFD in Germany or Vox in Spain, or the National Front [in France], and so on. The rise of fascism isn’t just some naughty phrase. You even see it in the so-called Green and Liberal parties. Fascism is on the rise everywhere, and it’s getting worse by the day. It is very real and very dangerous and not just some naughty phrase. We’re talking about reactionary forces regrouping and organizing themselves. Hopefully, a force for humanity, that is to say, the anti-capitalist forces are up to the task of confronting this looming threat. To fight fascism, we need to unite people of various political backgrounds and struggles under one banner. Because the current model that we have under social democracy is only capable of responding to a handful of challenges, but not much else. Fascism today presents humanity with an almost insurmountable challenge. We are on the eve of yet another world war for the third time in the span of a century. This is capitalism. Capitalism today is nothing more than savagery. Nothing can come of capitalism except barbarism. We are at a critical juncture. It is up to every revolutionary to seize this moment and carry us forward into revolution. Only a revolution can stop the forces of capitalism from wreaking havoc on a global scale. Hopefully, there is a movement already out there taking shape, one that people can actually place their faith in. This effort is the only thing deserving of all our hopes and prayers. Such a movement is the only thing that can prevent an explosion of fascist, reactionary violence on a global scale. In England, around the same time that I was arrested under the Terrorism Act, and this crackdown on the press began, we also had the arrest and indictment of several activists from a group called Palestine Action. I don’t know if you’re familiar with them, but what they do is directly sabotage the weapons factories. What do you think of this strategy? Yes, it is very important and effective. It’s also critical in how it relates to the Global South. Every step forward one one side of the Mediterranean is a step forward on the other. We are all in this together. Either we will be victorious together or we won’t be victorious at all. All these actions and demonstrations taking place in Europe, the reason they’re important isn’t just because they undermine the bourgeoisie of your country. Their value is the extent to which they inspire others [to do the same] on the other side of the Mediterranean. When Egyptians look at England and see hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating in solidarity with Gaza, they cannot remain silent. It goes without saying, the state repression there is different from what it is in England, France, or elsewhere. But the more momentum there is for this struggle, the more engaged it makes revolutionaries everywhere, and the more effective it makes those in Egypt who are pushing for real change in the struggle against capitalism and imperialism. It’s thanks to these protests and actions that we can mature as a movement, just as much in the Arab world as in the West. In other words, it’s much easier for the leaders of the struggle in England to take up their role, knowing that their comrades in the Arab world, are also doing their part in the anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist movement and who take this capitalism crisis seriously. This is a global crisis. Any movement whose aim is to protect the masses from being turned into cannon fodder is a movement that is fighting for both sides of the Mediterranean, for Europeans and Arabs alike. We have an Arab world that stretches from the Atlantic to the Gulf. Change is coming at any moment now. All it takes is for a small spark to light a small twig in the field for the whole field to catch fire. We are closer today than ever before. Hopefully we see a united front. We need a joint effort with people on both shores of the Mediterranean working together. Only together will we emerge victorious. Only by working together will we we be able to establish a united front. A convergence of struggles is mandatory. We owe it to history. A convergence of struggles is necessary to prevent war. War is no joke. War is a poison that threatens to destroy the entire planet. The crisis we face today is much worse than the one at the beginning of the 20th century. There are new protagonists and actors involved. At the start of the 20th century, we didn’t have a climate crisis. Today, however, our planet faces an existential threat because of capitalism. Naturally, those at the forefront of the struggle must take this into consideration. Capitalism today is nothing short of total barbarism, death and destruction on every level. It is up to the leaders of the struggle to remember that and to work out a strategy to save us from this savagery. I saw that when you landed at Beirut airport, the first thing you did was to insult, and rightly so, the passive governments of the Arab world. What message do you have for them, if there is anything left to even say? The entire Arab bourgeoisie are directly involved in the genocide [in Gaza], every bit as much as the international bourgeoisie. They shall be swept away by the masses and all those itching for change and social reform in the same manner as the bourgeoisie were dealt with during other moments in history. Our fate and the fate of the entire human race is at stake here. Hopefully, time is on our side. Of course, we shouldn’t forget that the number of victims is rising by the minute. Nevertheless, hopefully we will have enough time to get our act together as a social bloc. The current [economic] system of reproduction and production, in the south of the Mediterranean, specifically in the Arab world, is incapable of providing the masses with basic subsistence. That means the collapse is near. So, hopefully we’ll be able to get organized in time before the collapse happens, so that we don’t end up with the same result as in 2011. In 2011 there was a seismic collapse. But we were not up to the task of leading as a social bloc, and unable to build on that momentum. Sure, there were some gains, but ultimately we failed to transform that revolution [the Arab Spring] into meaningful change that would have swept away all these crooks in power. Yes, we’ll circle back to that topic soon. I want to ask you, from a personal point of view as well, as I may end up in prison soon myself, what helped you stay strong in prison all those years? I’m not strong. I wasn’t strong. I was just a simple fighter who was fortunate to have the right men and women around me, who enabled me to keep resisting and to stay in the fight. Through them, I was able to be a fighter who just happened to be fighting in very specific conditions, rather than just a political prisoner. Being involved in the struggle in all these different capacities with its slogans, campaigning for this or that issue, whether for Palestine, for comrades imprisoned in Turkey or elsewhere, or with the liberation movement in Kanaky or elsewhere, allows you to still participate in the struggle as a militant, just in a unique set of circumstances. Today I am no longer in prison, therefore the conditions of the fight change once again. But I remain the same fighter. It doesn’t require superpowers. Everything hinges on the ability of your comrades outside of prison to integrate your resistance into the broader struggle. Everything depends on it. Naturally, you can’t expect all your allies to have the exact same beliefs, or to come from a single, partisan bloc. It’s through the convergence of struggles that these people find themselves together. Naturally, your family, friends, and comrades, will want to get you out of prison as quickly as possible. But it’s up to you as a fighter to put the cause first and not make concessions even if they seem trivial, things which you, as a militant, wouldn’t find that trivial anyway. Spending years in prison is hard, of course. There are many in that situation. It’s not easy to be locked up for years and to stand firm in your principles right up until the moment you walk out the gate. I was asked, for example, to make concessions that might seem trivial to an outsider. But it wasn’t trivial. I remember this little girl from Al Badawi, a small refugee camp in northern Lebanon, who wrote me a letter. A little girl who was about 7 or 8 years old. She said to me, “Uncle, I was with my mom and dad this morning, and saw a poster of you on the wall. My parents were drinking coffee and talking about you, and I understood that they want you to say nice things about Israel. Just tell them that you like Israel very much so that they free you, and once you’re out we can insult them.” That’s indeed the logic of a child. It’s a child’s logic, and it touches you deeply. But of course, that’s not an option. Some of the comrades, for example, told me, “Don’t make a big deal about the civil parties to the case [the United States]. Just say a few words, a little something to show that you’re thinking of the family of this soldier or that civilian.” And you’re on the brink of freedom. Because you know if you say what they want you to say, you can walk right out. And if you don’t, they’ll just keep you locked up. Naturally, giving in is not an option. Because what they call a “small gesture,” is no small gesture at all. To me, those acts of resistance were legitimate––today, tomorrow, and the day after. The whole reason they put me in prison, is precisely because I condone those acts of resistance. The imperialists act like the Resistance is some kind of violation of their sovereignty, meanwhile they trample on the sovereignty of our people all day long and no one bats an eye. I said that during the trial, and I said it yesterday too. The comrades had put some money together for me. They said, “Let’s just be done with it so Georges can leave. The important thing is that he gets out. Once he’s out he can insult them as he pleases,” just like that child said. The prison authorities came to me and said, “Here’s the money that was raised. How do you want to divide it up?” In other words, give this money to the Americans, to the families of the soldiers as compensation. Naturally, I refused. I didn’t ask for this money. This money wasn’t mine. All Americans, civilians and military alike, are implicated in the genocide in Gaza which is unfolding before the eyes of the world. I consider them, their families, their loved ones, their neighbors, and their entire country to be accomplices in the genocide of our children. So I told them, do whatever you like with that money, it’s not mine and I don’t want it. A few days later, more money arrived. They came to me and tried the same act again. And I gave them the same answer as before. Although I may have gotten a little carried away, because I thought it was quite rude to ask that of me after 41 years in captivity. Since the French and Americans felt I had disrespected them in some way, they went and told the president of the court. They said, “Look, he just won’t do it,” and so on. Finally, the president of the court goes, “It’s been 41 years, he hasn’t changed, and he’s never going to change. He’s told you the money isn’t his and he doesn’t want to dole it out.” By the way, I’m not allowed, legally speaking, to even give that money away. This is the “performative justice” I spoke of earlier. Under the law, I’m not allowed to collect money to compensate a civil party. But for the sake of making me capitulate, they made an exception. Under French law, I’m not allowed to raise money in order to pay compensation. According to the law, it’s forbidden. But to humiliate me and make me grovel, they were willing to allow it. Once I declined to compensate the civil parties, they lashed out by going to the Supreme Court. They asked the Supreme Court to block my release before a binding judgment to release me had even been made. They Court of Appeals said [in February], “We will discuss Mr. Abdallah’s fate on the 19th of June.” And the public prosecutor, meaning the French government, goes to the Supreme Court and appeals against a decree that wasn’t even a judgement yet. How can you go to the Supreme Court when there’s no final judgment to appeal against? Naturally, a few days later, they said the appeal was invalid, etc. And once the court ruled in favor of me, they immediately lodged another appeal. Meaning there’s still an appeal today in France against my release. But I’m here now. It’s this performative justice that every militant needs to be aware of. It’s got nothing to do with how nice or mean you are. That’s not what determines whether you get out of prison. The determining factor is how invested and active you are in the struggle. The more you play your part, the more the balance of power shifts in your favor. If the balance of power isn’t in your favor, you’re going to be stuck in prison. You need to be prepared to accept that. That is your role as a fighter. Nothing else. And once the balance of power finally shifts your way, the bourgeoisie will no longer be able to keep you locked up and will have no choice but to let you walk. And you come out with your principles intact. Walking out of prison still standing by your principles is a great victory. That’s what happened. And I’m happy with the outcome, despite the time spent in prison. It wasn’t so bad. There are hundreds of thousands of people who go up in smoke and I could have easily been one of them. But I’m still here. To be frank, wasn’t the balance of power more in your favor toward the beginning when they tried to free you through a hostage deal and with the bombing campaign, etc.? So why didn’t that result in you being freed? It was the pressure from the Americans. So despite all the pressure you put on the French, the Americans exerted even more? It wasn’t only the US. The French government also felt that they could get away with leaving me in prison and go back on their word [in the hostage deal] because of their interests in the region, because my name is Georges, etc. And because of how French claims to love Lebanon, and particularly people named Georges [i.e. Christians]. It behaved just as one would expect. France is in a very poor position to be doling out advice regarding our country’s resistance. Today, France, the US and others are pushing the Lebanese government to disarm the Resistance. To dissolve and disarm the resistance. These are the same people who a few months ago honored [Missak] Manouchian [2]. Manouchian was considered the figurehead of the so-called Affiche Rouge [FTP-MOI] by the “special section” of the Paris courts of the Vichy regime. The French basically resurrected this court in 2003 following the decision of the parole court in Pau to release me. The magistrate naively believed that he actually had any power as a judge. As soon as he decided to release me, Dominque Perben [then Minister of Justice] came to put him in his place, to remind him that a judge’s place in this capitalist country is to do what you’re told. The order to release me was overturned, effectively resurrecting the “special section” of Paris, because from that moment on, you had a magistrate doing the bidding of the Minister of the Interior in Paris, who dictates to the courts what to do with political prisoners, dubbed “terrorists” or otherwise. This is the justice system. Not just in France, but in all capitalist countries. It is the duty of every revolutionary to rip its mask off. It goes without saying, prison is tough. Life in prison is extremely challenging. But a fighter doesn’t shy away from difficult things. He does what it takes to fulfill his duty, especially if he is a communist. Why did the Americans want to keep you locked up in prison so badly? The Americans, like all imperialist powers, consider any affront against their interests, be they military personnel or otherwise… Ultimately what they care about is maintaining control of our country and the region. If getting rid of this or that person helps, then they’ll do it. Simply because they can? If they’re able to, they’ll simply do it. There’s nothing to it. [France’s Minister of Security] Robert Pandraud made an offer to CIA Director William Casey. The CIA Director came to Paris and told Pandraud, “If you ever release Abdallah, we’ll cut ties with France.” Pandraud replied, “Why don’t we release Abdallah and give you his whereabouts in Beirut? You’re a powerful nation, just eliminate him.” Those are their true colors. Their behavior says it all. This is how their justice system really functions. That’s the real takeaway from my case and the only silver lining. There was nothing heroic about it. I’m just a simple fighter who stays the course and was fortunate to have comrades devoted to the struggle who enabled him to keep resisting. With that said, prison is very difficult. A prisoner isn’t just some piece of meat. When you’ve got one kilo of meat, you can just put it in the fridge, and you know it won’t go bad. A fighter, however, is not a piece of meat. He needs to remain in the fight as a part of the actual struggle taking place outside on the ground. This is a real struggle, not some illusion. When we talk about the rise of fascism, this is a real, ongoing phenomena. When we talk about the genocide in Gaza, we’re talking about a literal ongoing genocide. Therefore, it all comes down to the ability of your comrades to provide you all avenues to keep fighting [from inside prison] and remain a part of the struggle. And that’s what happened. It’s no different or any more heroic than any other comrade taking part in the struggle on the outside. Moreover, it’s this mechanism that will shift the balance of power in your favor. In the beginning, there were 200-300 people protesting for my release. During the last demonstration which took place in Paris there were roughly 7,000. What did the magistrate who ordered my release say? She said the main reason for my release was that “Georges Ibrahim Abdallah in prison is a far greater threat to public order than Georges Ibrahim Abdallah outside of prison.” It’s up to the authorities to follow up on his activities outside prison. He’s no longer the justice system’s problem.” Meaning [it’s now up to] the intelligence services. The balance of power is the only thing that can get a militant out of prison, be they Georges Abdallah or anyone else. When the judge sad, “He poses a greater threat to public order from inside prison,” she’s referring to all the people that have come together to protest for my freedom, which in turn strengthens the broader struggle. You’ll recall that in France barely ten months ago wearing a keffiyeh was a crime. Carrying a Palestinian flag would get you prosecuted. Yet today there isn’t a single city in France or Europe that doesn’t have weekly protests full of Palestinian flags, full of keffiyehs, the symbol of freedom. This is the stuff that gets a militant out of prison. The campaign for their freedom serves as a bridge or vehicle to get people out in the streets and therefore for the broader struggle. And I must say I’m quite satisfied with the outcome. In my case, the police chief [of Hautes-Pyrénées] tried to ban the last protest, which was held outside the prison. However he couldn’t ban it directly, so he asked the mayor of Lannemezan to do it, who replied, “I won’t do it.” So he tried to do it himself. There was a whole administrative process that kicked off, but he couldn’t ban it ultimately. This brings us back to the issue of the rise of fascism. In France, the rise of fascism is characterized by a weakened central government, which may sound weird at first, because fascism usually involves an authoritarian, centralized government. But in this case the state is falling apart. The state has abdicated its duties towards the educational and health systems. Everything is crumbling. Instead, the state is busy asking police chiefs to suppress dissent among the people. In every region in France, each police chief has an entire police force at their fingertips. Each municipality can also sanction––call it what you like––a militia or auxiliary police force. There’s also an increase in organized vigilantism and “neighborhood watches,” who keep tabs on who’s coming and going, “That guy had long hair and wasn’t very white-looking,” etc. This is all part of the rise of fascism. Naturally, the Left in Europe and in France need to beware and get their act together in order to counter the growing threat of fascism. As I said at the beginning, the rise of fascism isn’t just some nasty phrase. It means heads are going to roll, and we and our comrades need to be ready to confront it. Georges, if I may move on to geopolitics. What was your reaction to the assassinations of [Hassan] Nasrallah and [Ismael] Haniyeh? Nasrallah, and all the leaders of the Resistance, were targeted by the imperialist and Zionist forces, with the full complicity of all the Empire’s intelligence services, who provided their whereabouts. Naturally, Nasrallah was not just the leader of the Resistance. He was an emblematic figure fully committed to the cause. Some may disagree with this or that issue, but no one can deny that he was the strategic mastermind of the Resistance, an unrivaled figure. To learn that he fell in battle, as a martyr, is naturally very painful, especially when you’re in prison. But at the same time, it’s bitter-sweet. Because when the leaders of the Resistance are willing to put their lives on the line and are martyred in battle, it invigorates and strengthens the entire Resistance. You can’t piss on the blood of martyrs. Today more than ever the Resistance stands firm in its principles. A resistance whose leaders give their lives in battle will never make concessions in vain or piss away the blood of their martyrs. You really have to be nuts, like some in my country’s government, to think that this Resistance, which has given its best people, is simply going to lay down its arms. I have full confidence in the ability of the Resistance, which is the sole legitimate authority. When you are under foreign military occupation, the legitimacy of the Resistance takes precedence over anything else. The Resistance protects the people’s very dignity and freedom. And only those involved in the struggle have the right to discuss what strategies the Resistance should adopt, not those on the sidelines, who stand idly by while the enemy tries to crush the Resistance. The only reason these traitors are allowed to run their mouths is by the grace of the Resistance. It is nothing more than a courtesy––a humanitarian gesture which some may even disagree with, as they probably don’t deserve it. But in any case the Resistance is strong and will emerge even stronger. It is the Resistance more than anyone else that wants us to have a strong national army that protects us. It has a greater interest more than anyone in the struggle to want a strong [Lebanese] state that respects its countrymen and the citizens of this country, regardless of religion or ethnicity, etc. The Resistance is the only way for us to prevent the Balkanization of the region. The region today is being carved up and divided. We all see what’s happening in Syria. The Americans, together with the Israelis and other Arab reactionaries, are destroying everything that we’ve achieved historically. The state itself is a construct that was won through hard-fought struggles. Instead, they are working to decimate this state and all its institutions, turning the region into chaos where ethnic groups, religious minorities, and barbarians devour each other while the Israelis and Americans sit back and decide which “human-animals” are worthy of their protection today and which ones will be sacrificed. Thanks to the Resistance, Lebanon is well-defended and far more capable than our enemies had hoped. The Resistance will not allow them to divide and Balkanize us. Lebanon and everyone in it will be victorious together. We all know that the only path to victory is together. The leaders of the Resistance are more qualified than anyone to bring everyone together under one tent, in order to unify the Lebanese people, strengthen their state, and build up their army. The Americans, French, and British keep telling us that they are Lebanon’s friends. They’re no friends of ours. We say to them, “If you’re truly our friends, then provide the Lebanese army with weapons.” That’s all we ask. Let them give the Lebanese army the jets and anti-aircraft missile it needs and we’ll be grateful. We’re not asking them to obtain weapons for us from [North] Korea, China, Russia, or elsewhere. If you’re really Lebanon’s friends, then arm the Lebanese Armed Forces, so we have a real national army instead of militias. Of course, the bourgeoisie and their political pawns are the enemies of our army. They do not want us to have a national army. They do not want us to have a nation state. They want a bunch of thugs and bandits running around that they can use to bring our people to their knees. Our people will never recognize the Zionist entity. The Zionist entity is on its last legs. Contrary to what they want you to believe, Israel today is living on borrowed time. The West that created this state––because the Zionist entity is nothing more than an organic extension of the imperialist West––there isn’t a single [Western] government out there today that can defend Israel in front of the masses. Not because any of them care about the Palestinians. On the contrary, they want the entity to hurry up and kill as many Palestinians as possible as quickly as possible. But in front of the European masses, they’re unable to portray the entity as a beacon of human rights and democracy, etc. They try to spin it nowadays by saying, “It’s not all Israelis, it’s just Netanyahu and a few bad apples.” Naturally, the European masses aren’t having any of it. No one is fooled. In fact, they’re coming out in even greater numbers. And our people are grateful to them for their mobilization, because it is very dear to us. Georges, as you know I am English through my father’s side and from my mother’s side, Syrian Christian. I was born in Syria. Syria fell when you were in prison and I know that you were also a member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party [SSNP]. What was your reaction to the fall of Syria? Looking back, it’s clear that there was a point when the Syrian bourgeoisie started to look after its own interests while destroying the people. Sure, the Syrian bourgeoisie developed the country in some ways, such as agrarian reform and by industrializing some parts of the country. They implemented some reforms in the health, education, and agricultural sectors, etc. They succeeded in establishing themselves as a state-bourgeoisie. However, once they normalized relations with the global capitalist system, this state-bourgeoisie fell into decline and became repressive against the people. And we, the progressive forces, were unable to turn it around. Instead, the darkest and most reactionary forces in our history took power, with the direct support of Israel, the US, and other players who then turn around and pretend to condemn terrorism. [President] Hollande and [Foreign Minister] Fabius told Al Nusra [Al Qaeda], “Great job!” as they set off bombs in Damascus. When the Bataclan was attacked, they called it terrorism, and yet, today, the French were among the first to recognize this [Syrian] government. The Syrian people have a very long history. And right now they are going through a difficult period. I have no doubt that progressive forces will emerge in Syria and rise to the challenge. Of course it won’t be easy. There will be widespread destruction and many martyrs. We in Lebanon have the means to fight back against such things, contrary to what the Americans and others think. We will not allow Lebanon to be Balkanized. The Resistance is strong enough to fight it. The various political factions in the country, from the communists to the socialists, Al-Mourabitoun, the Arab nationalists, and the Resistance [Hezbollah], etc. are capable of pushing back, and they will. They are up to the task, and our country will be victorious. Without a doubt. Georges, you come from a Christian background, as do I. Many leaders in the struggle against Zionism also come from a Christian background, like Georges Habash, Ghassan Kanafani, Antoun Saadeh, Bishop Capucci, Hanan Ashrawi, etc. who founded or helped lead many anti-Zionist and anti-imperialist political projects. Why do you think the West glosses over them and refuses to see this as a national struggle portraying it instead as a religious conflict? They don’t just see it as a religious war, they’re trying to provoke a religious war. It’s not by mistake. They know exactly what they’re doing and will go to any lengths to destroy the fabric of our society. That’s why they look for sellouts from our region to help them stir up religious hatred and provoke massacres that weaken our communities. Because they always say it’s “Jews vs Muslims,” instead of saying it’s an anti-colonial struggle. It’s not about Jews vs Muslims. Israel isn’t a Jewish issue either. If you look at the United States today, roughly 30-35% of the Jewish youth are out protesting, wearing keffiyehs, and saying that the Zionist entity is a greater enemy to Judaism than Palestinians. So, no, this is not a religious conflict. Otherwise the Saudis and the Gulf would be at the forefront of the struggle instead of being complicit in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. This conflict is not sectarian. Israel is an organic extension of the imperialist West. People need to have the courage to see the West for what it is. That it has a history of wiping out entire peoples. When we talk about Western imperialism, look at how North America became the United States, for example. The United States was built on the corpses of 20-25 million Native North Americans. When you look at so-called “Latin” America, or Central and South America, in what way are the Mayans and others “Latin”? The Latinization of South America, meaning the death and destruction of the native population, claimed the lives of millions of men and women. This is the legacy and foundation of the imperialist West. When you look at Australia, Aboriginal Australians, the indigenous people of Australia, are the earth’s oldest continuing civilization. They were decimated. Today all that’s left are few tourist sites. This is Western imperialism. Western imperialism, however, did not succeed in our legion [in the Levant] despite a century of Zionists trying to colonize our land, which began in the period between the late-19th century and mid-20th century, and was fully supported by all the great powers of the imperialist West. What happened? The Palestinians remained. In 1949 the Palestinian population was barely 1 million. Despite a century of Zionist colonization, the Palestinian population today in historical Palestine is 7,300,000 and counting. While the Israeli settlers who’ve been pouring in for over a century number around 7,200,000. That means there are fewer Zionist settlers than there are Palestinian natives. On top of that you’ve got all the Palestinians in the diaspora and neighboring countries who were driven out of their homes in the Nakba. That means the Palestinians today number around 14 million in total. This is a people who in spite of the permanent genocide waged against them have fought back, multiplied several times over, and number around 14 million today. They have failed in their attempts to erase the Palestinian people. With that said, Israel should not be considered peaceful or harmless. It is incapable of peace. Israel has always been and still remains a fascist country. And it grows more fascist by the day. The global rise of fascism that we see today is a natural extension of the imperialist West. You see this phenomena everywhere in the West. You’ve got the AFD in Germany, the National Front in France, Vox in Spain, and in Portugal it’s even worse. This is all happening out in the open. And when it comes to the Empire’s outposts, their fascist nature sticks out even more. You see it in the way the Israel treats native Palestinians as human animals and openly describe them as such. Even the Nazis didn’t go so far as to openly say it. Even if they behaved the same way, they didn’t proudly announce it. Today, Israel is on its last legs. It has nothing to lose anymore. So it is hitting the Palestinians with all its cruelty and everything its got. But the Palestinian people are not alone. Just next door there are 400 million Arabs who share the same food, the same prayers, the same wedding ceremonies, and the same history, etc. The Palestinian people will not be eliminated. The Palestinian people will be victorious. The Palestinian people and their struggle are the driving force behind the Arab revolution. Palestine isn’t just an area of 27,00 square kilometers. Palestine is the driving force of the Arab revolution from the Atlantic to the Gulf. Make no mistake, the Arab revolution will succeed thanks to the heroic resistance of the Palestinian people and others. I was in France, I believe, at the same time that you were released. I visited the museum of the French Resistance. As you know I grew up idolizing figures like Jean Moulin, [Massik] Manouchian, etc. and this whole culture of the resistance, as I believe you and many others did as well. How is it that the French recognize they were under German occupation and were able to identify a military occupation and to fight it. But when it comes to this struggle against Zionism they change positions? I don’t think they really changed. If you look at France today, those who support Palestine are no small minority. Take for example the stance of the French Communist Party or Le France Insoumise (LFI). That’s not insignificant. If you look at French Parliament, Le France Insoumise have 80 MPs who stand fully with the Palestinians. Same with the communists, anarchists, Revolution Permanente (RP), and other groups. Obviously that’s not the case in the imperialist media, which is to be expected. They lie and obfuscate, that’s what they do. It’s no conspiracy theory to say that. The imperialist media are doing what they do, which is to justify the unjustifiable. Capitalism in this country can only bring death. Resistance in its various forms can only fuel the momentum of revolution, whether in France or elsewhere. Of course, this is no walk in the park. Capitalism is in crisis on a global scale. It is up to the leaders of the struggle to unite people of various backgrounds and struggles under one banner and use that momentum in order to lead the revolution to victory, whether in Europe or in the Arab world. And hopefully victory is near. Georges what message would you give to this generation and future generations of revolutionaries? Firstly, I salute and commend the European youth for rising to the occasion for taking to the streets and standing firm in support of Palestine and against the genocide in Gaza. This is the most important and potent political stance of our time. I say to the youth of today, be careful. Fascism is on the rise. This is a very real criminal undertaking that is happening in real time. You need to be ready, because it’s up to you to confront it. Do not waver. You can do this and you have the numbers and the strength for it. Greetings to all the comrades and activists who helped make the Palestinian liberation movement so bright and powerful. Palestine has never been more relevant and important than it is today, and it is thanks to the youth who are out in the streets all across Europe. Georges Abdallah, thank you for your time and for receiving me to conduct this interview It is to you, your comrades and your viewers that I extend my heartfelt congratulations and thanks. II ‘No Heaven without Gaza’: A Palestine Chronicle Exclusive Interview with Lebanese Revolutionary Georges Abdallah, by Samaa Abu Sharar August 14, 2025 https://www.palestinechronicle.com/no-heaven-without-gaza-a-palestine-chronicle-exclusive-interview-with-lebanese-revolutionary-georges-abdallah/ ‘Prison Does Not Change Fighters’ We all know George Abdallah as an international activist who dedicated his life to just causes, most notably the Palestinian cause and the fight against colonialism in all its forms. How would you present yourself? I am a fighter amongst our Arab fighters, a fighter of the Palestinian revolution, and a fighter of the Lebanese resistance against imperialist and Zionist oppression. Our activism stems from our assessment that the Zionist entity is an organic extension of Western imperialism. We consider that this entity has currently reached the final chapter of its existence, and, therefore, it will unleash all its barbaric and murderous reserves on our people. The masses of our people must prepare for this stage, keeping in mind that they will prevail over this entity. What you say is completely in line with how many people view you: as an icon of resistance who represents the correct compass of our great struggle. So there is no difference between how Georges Abdallah sees himself and how people see him. Our people have great confidence in the Palestinian resistance, so any expression of resistance is highly esteemed. Our people are prepared to provide a lot of support and facilitate the struggle. What is happening in Gaza and the West Bank today confirms this. As an ordinary fighter in the ranks of the resistance, historically, I see that our people are steadfast. There are loopholes, as always happens in revolutions, but this does not stop us. The masses in Gaza embrace their emaciated children, continue to resist, and refuse to raise the white flag. Thus, we can say that the resistance is in great shape despite all the subjective and objective problems. Did prison change you? Prison does not change fighters. In reality, prison helps shape sound positions if the required solidarity from resistance forces is available, and this is what happened with me. This means that Georges Abdallah, who was imprisoned 41 years ago, came out of prison the same man? An older fighter, with more experience and more willingness to give. How did you relate to time while in prison? In fact, time in prison for fighters and activists is a framework within which life’s priorities are organized. If the activist has found solidarity—in other words, if he has a group of people who make solidarity a practical expression within the daily struggle of our nation’s masses—then the imprisoned activist is simply a fighter doing what he must under exceptional circumstances. Time becomes tight, as he doesn’t have enough time to do whatever he deems appropriate to support the struggle, whether in terms of reading, interventions, or other things. This applied to me. So, time was tight for you in prison? Time was not sufficient to do what is required of fighters and activists. I did all I could within my modest capabilities. You said in your interview with Al Mayadeen that your day in prison was very organized and that you had a daily schedule that involved much reading of the mail you received. With whom did you correspond while in prison? With fighters and activists who were in prison or remained in prison, with my family, and with friends. This is normal, considering there were facilities that were secured through the struggle of the masses in this country or that. In French prisons, a telephone was made available to call whomever you wish, provided you gave the number to the relevant authorities. Accordingly, you could contact anyone you wished. Books were provided by comrades, so you had ample opportunities for reading and doing other things. However, it takes a lot of time to read everything that needs to be read and to participate in the ongoing debate on these matters. Were you one of the people who made many phone calls? One of the people who did what he had to do. Were the phone calls more with friends or family members? The family was certainly within the circle of communication. There is a continuum, so to speak, that extends from home to the arena of struggle. The concerns of the homeland are an essential part of my life, so communication is constant through family, friends, loved ones, and all other expressions of struggle present in our country and abroad. I did not feel alienated in this regard. Were you subjected to any psychological or physical violations while in prison? I was subjected to everything fighters and activists are subjected to. I can say that all the procedures didn’t constitute a problem for me. In other words, from a personal perspective, I wasn’t subjected to any particular pressure, and from an objective perspective, I had plenty of resources that were made available by my numerous comrades. There were a large number of comrades, and they alternated so they could all come to see me in prison. Therefore, I never experienced the feeling of alienation or isolation. The solidarity movement is part of the daily struggle; therefore, there was no personal anguish in that sense. There is a struggle with time. I wanted to use all of this time to enhance my readings and interventions for as long as possible. However, there are limits to this time because of life’s priorities. What did you miss most while in prison, besides freedom, of course? In reality, I missed all aspects of life and all its expressions. Such as? Everything. It’s not easy to say what I missed most: family, loved ones, the stars, the trees, and the animals. You miss the comrades, you miss your discussions with them; there is no set priority. If you could go back in time, is there anything you would have done differently in your struggle? I am not currently engaging in self-criticism of my struggle. Throughout my struggle, I have done everything I consider appropriate for the path of struggle. Certainly, as with everyone else, there are successes and failures, and there is the possibility to improve this or that. However, overall, I am satisfied with my path of struggle. Despite its modesty, it is acceptable as any other fighter or activist of our people within the framework of the available popular base. ‘The Resistance is in Great Shape’ Let’s talk about Palestine and Lebanon. You said in more than one interview that solidarity with Georges Abdallah was equal to, or part of, solidarity with Palestine. Solidarity with Georges Abdallah only takes on meaning when it falls within the framework of the struggle against the war of genocide in Gaza. This is within the path of struggle that falls under the issues of solidarity, not outside this framework or parallel to it. It falls within this framework, and I think it was very effective. In your opinion, if it weren’t for the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation, would you be among us today? The “Al Aqsa Flood” is a very important operation. However, my case does not fall within this framework without going into details of the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation. The “Al Aqsa Flood” operation is very good in terms of its timing and effectiveness. Although we may find a loophole here or there, we are not in a position to beat ourselves up; we are in a position to evaluate the operation itself. This operation came at the right time, is very appropriate, and has moved the struggle forward, placing new responsibilities on the shoulders of those who carried it out and lived it. I hope that the comrades within the framework of the Palestinian revolution will succeed in examining the national program of the Palestinian revolution. We know that there is a historical impasse facing the Palestinian national program. Certainly, the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation has a role to play in clarifying some aspects and correcting some deviations. However, without resolving the crisis of the Palestinian national project, we will remain stuck and pay a heavy price. It is the responsibility of all forces in the Palestinian arena to work on overcoming this crisis because it is a crisis, not a matter of national or non-national unity. The crisis is deeper than that, and it is the responsibility of all active forces to do what they must to deserve to be part of the Palestinian national liberation movement. What is this crisis? The crisis affects all aspects of the entire Palestinian national project. Israel is an organic extension of Western imperialism. Israel is not a colony or merely a settlement. It is an organic extension of this imperialist West. Therefore, confronting this imperialist West requires confronting the crisis of the imperialist system in its capitalist form. Those who confront this organic extension must stand on a ground hostile to capitalism. Therefore, the leadership of the Palestinian bourgeoisie, in its various expressions—Islamic, nationalist, semi-nationalist, state-oriented, etc.—faces a problem in this regard. And the Palestinian left is in a very embarrassing situation, having so far been unable to build a national unity to confront this organic extension and failed to affirm national unity. Of course, these are great responsibilities that fall on everyone’s shoulders. Nevertheless, the resistance is in great shape. The masses of our people continue to confront the Zionist enemy with great and advanced effectiveness, although the children of Gaza are emaciated and in dire need of a glass of milk. However, Gaza will not raise the white flag, and this is a very important issue. As for how we move forward, that is a matter for the Palestinian leadership to determine. But we are keen to hear what you have to say in this regard! Everyone is concerned, but the actual leaders of the Palestinian revolution know best and are required to answer a number of questions. They are required to provide an answer on the crisis of this national project, the Oslo crisis, the crisis of the Palestinian Authority, the crisis of the division between Fatah and Hamas, the crisis of the dispersion of Palestinian forces, the crisis of the retirement of entire organizations that have been transformed into names without titles, the crisis of the mother of the Palestinian revolution, Fatah. Where is Fatah and what is Fatah now? Where is Fatah and where is Hamas? What are they both doing? The crisis is complex and has numerous aspects. The Palestinian people have the intellectual, organizational, and resistance abilities to address this crisis, but a lot is required on all levels. It is not acceptable that there are around 60,000 full-time fighters with the Palestinian Authority whose task is limited to security coordination with Israel. And when we speak of national unity, which national unity are we talking about? A unity in which 60,000 fighters chase the Fedayeen (freedom fighters-PC) and hand them over to Israel, versus those who see their children dying of hunger and are still holding the flag! We all certainly know the dangers of a civil war, but the dilemma of the national project remains. The leaders of all Palestinian organizations agreed on something at the Beijing conference, but what was its result? The result was the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh. Why assassinate Haniyeh? Because he was part of the wing in Hamas who called for unity. This does not mean that the Palestinian Authority welcomed the call. This is the crisis of the national project. Those who bear the responsibility are those in Palestine and outside of Palestine; they are the resistance fighters in Gaza and the West Bank, and even those who are part of the Palestinian Authority and inside the Israeli prisons. It is certainly a major crisis, but I am sure that the active members of Palestinian society will be able to overcome it. ‘No Heaven without Gaza’ You spoke briefly about the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation. Were you surprised when you first heard about it? The “Al Aqsa Flood” operation surprised everyone, and that in itself is an issue and falls within the scope of the crisis of the national project. This certainly does not undermine its value. “Al Aqsa Flood” marked a turning point in the history of the conflict with Israel, but it also imposes enormous responsibilities on everyone. The enemy is well aware that it is now in the final chapter of its existence; it is not a matter of a military setback. The “Al Aqsa Flood” operation is the first step in determining the priorities of this final chapter. Everyone must rise to this responsibility, especially those in charge of the priorities of the struggle in Palestine and outside Palestine. The Arab street also bears a responsibility, and those in charge of the national project must ask the question: why this abandonment on the part of the Arab street? The Palestinian leadership is no stranger to this abandonment. When Egypt and the UAE are playing the roles of mediators, how can we expect the Egyptian masses to apologize for not being at the forefront of the struggle? This is a tremendous crisis. The value of the Palestinian revolution lies in its role as a lever of the Arab revolution. It is the historical lever of the Arab revolution, but it is no longer playing its role for several reasons. The Palestinian leadership must answer why it abandoned this role. I see Qatar, which hosts the main base of American imperialism, as a mediator. The question is: a mediator between whom and whom? I also see Egypt, with a population of 120 million Arabs, as a mediator. The same question applies. Egypt is Al Azhar (considered the largest Islamic institution in the Arab World-PC), and Al Azhar is not a tourist agency; it is a civilized institution that encompasses all the values of this nation with people of different colors. Eighty million people consider Al Azhar their (moral) authority. Where are the eighty million? Who is responsible for their inaction? Al Azhar is the one responsible for them. What has it done, and what is the role of the Palestinian revolution in this context? It suffices that one of the eighty million, meaning one million, move toward Rafah and perform prayers there. They are not required to carry a gun and offer it to Hamas or the Popular Front (for the Liberation of Palestine – a socialist organization-PC) or any other faction; all they have to do is offer a cup of water or a cup of milk to the children of Gaza. Al Azhar is responsible for this inaction. It must know that its prayers are not accepted if they are not held at the crossing to Gaza. It must also be known that there is no path to heaven for all believers in Egypt because the children of Palestine have occupied all the roads while they are ascending to heaven. Those who wish to enter heaven must come to Gaza; otherwise, there is no heaven for them. Al Azhar, along with the Sheikhs of Palestine and the leaders of the Islamic movements, know this all too well. They are the ones to determine whether Egypt is a mediator or a partner in this genocide. They also know whether Saudi Arabia and Mohammad Bin Abdallah are playing their role or not. The Kaaba of Mohammad Bin Abdallah is not an antique vessel; it embodies everything this nation has. Where is it in all this? Do you agree with those who say that the Arab people are powerless, ruled by dictators and agents of the Israeli entity? This is utterly unacceptable. The Arab regimes are not agents; they are actually participating in the ongoing genocide, and this is certainly not up for discussion. What I see, however, is that not a single person in Egypt was killed in the street while demonstrating, simply because they did not demonstrate. Where are they from young Greta, who came all the way from Sweden to raise a glass of water in solidarity with Gaza? Where are they from Rima Al Hassan, who came from Belgium and raised a glass of milk in solidarity with Gaza? Where are the sailors of Egypt? These activists came in a boat not even fit to carry fish, and the sailors of Egypt watch like “monkeys.” Where is the Palestinian revolution in all this? Betrayal is in the entire Arab world; a demonstration in Yemen or in other Arab cities is not enough. Where is Jordan? Where are the masses of Jordan? Where are the 60% of the people of Amman who are originally Palestinians? Certainly, all this falls within the crisis of the national project, because these forces are responsible for national action. The Palestinian national action either works to elevate Palestine as a revolutionary lever for the entire Arab nation or works to shield these regimes. Following the atrocities in Gaza, many who were believers in the resistance project have stopped being so. What do you say to that? I don’t see such people. I see parents in Gaza watching their children trembling as skeletons and still raising the red flag, not the white flag. Gaza has not yet raised the white flag, and the masses of Gaza will not leave Gaza. There is no time to self-flagellate or claim that morale has collapsed. In Gaza, there are heroes. There are no people on this planet like those in Gaza. Gaza has been hit three times more than what hit Hiroshima was. 17,000 tons of explosives in Gaza, while Dresden in Germany was hit with 5,000 tons. Gaza did not surrender while Dresden fell. Today, there isn’t a single city in Europe that does not raise the Palestinian keffiyeh, the symbol of freedom. The Palestinian revolution has historically never been as prominent on the global stage as it is now. The problem remains in our national project, in our national leadership. The masses of the world, all over the planet, stand with Gaza. Do our leaders really stand with Gaza? When 30 to 35 percent of the Jewish youth in America raise the Palestinian keffiyeh and the Palestinian flag and declare that this Zionist entity is the enemy of the Jewish people and of Palestine, what does this mean? It means that the countdown to Israel’s existence has started. Where are our leaders in all this? It’s not enough for leaders to be martyred or chased after. They need to pinpoint the energy of the masses and be able to invest in it. Again, this is not happening because this is part of the crisis we spoke about. Let us not forget that over 50 percent of the prisoners of the Palestinian revolution in Israeli jails are from Fatah, but it is also Fatah that brokered the Oslo Accords, and it is the one that caused the crisis of the national project. Nonetheless, Fatah remains the mother of martyrs, the mother of the revolution, and the mother of prisoners. This is the dilemma of the national project. How do we explain that over 50 percent of Fatah members are in Israeli captivity, while there are 60,000 Fatah fighters who are mercenaries under the command of (PA President Mahmoud) Abbas and others? This embodies the national project crisis. These issues need to be addressed by the leadership of the Fatah movement. It is a reality we must confront. How will they confront it? The forces that lead the Palestinian struggle everywhere must answer these questions. They should also provide an answer regarding the status of our camps outside of Palestine and their fate. The Palestinian revolution is a revolution of camps. The Palestinian people are a people of camps. There are no Palestinian people without camps. Camps are the Palestinian identity. Where are our camps today? What is Sabra and Shatila today? What is the percentage of Palestinians inside the camp? What is their future? The relevant leaders must answer. These places are semi-liberated in principle and are not places of security chaos as we are told. They are semi-liberated because they bear all the characteristics of the liberation of Palestine; they are not hubs that bear the characteristics of prostitution, drug smuggling, etc. Who bears the responsibility for the camps? Again, this is the crisis of the national project. What will the scene in Palestine be like after the genocide in Gaza? The genocide in Gaza will not continue. The genocide will not succeed, and Gaza and the West Bank will triumph as Israel witnesses the last chapter of its existence, and this is not a poetic speech. You have repeated this in more than one interview. I am not the only one to repeat it. We have to understand that Israel has never been through what it is currently going through; this is why it will use its entire barbaric stockpile on us. This will translate into intensifying its killing machine to the maximum. Israel will throw all its unexploited barbarism at our masses in the coming days, weeks, and months. What are the leaders of the national project going to do in light of this? How will those who planned the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation face this? These are questions that require answers from all factions. When a leader like Yehya Sinwar falls as a martyr and not a fugitive in a shelter in Qatar or somewhere else, his resistance is bound to triumph. Our people’s resistance will triumph. It will triumph because of people like Sinwar and Haniyeh who neither fled nor sought ‘peace’. These leaders and their resistance cannot be defeated. Our people are aware of this and will not raise the white flag, neither in Gaza nor anywhere else. Accordingly, the responsibility of the current leaders is immense to find solutions for the national crisis. These solutions will inevitably come, although we surely regret that they are delayed because the human cost is immense. Resolving the Left-Islamic Dilemma Could the Gaza genocide kick-start a world revolution? It is bound to happen, if not today, then tomorrow. The greatest responsibility falls on the shoulders of the leaders of the revolution; they are the ones to anticipate the next stage, not me. How do you view the Islamic revolutions in the Arab world? Your approach seems to be different from many leftists. We have the impression that you view the issue from an operational perspective rather than an ideological one. Is this accurate? We are not engaged in an ideological competition; we have Arab masses, the majority of whom are Muslim. This is the organic makeup of our nation. This is not an ideological choice. These people resist with whatever is at their disposal, be it the Quran, a scientific analysis, or a missile. It is the responsibility of those in charge of the struggle to determine what is at the disposal of the Arab masses. When the Egyptian plays the mediator and the Qatari hosts the biggest American base, what message am I giving to the Arab masses? Do I expect that meeting with Egyptian intelligence, so they can coordinate with Qatari and American intelligence, will find me a way out of the revolution crisis or the national project crisis? I doubt it. All these actions contribute to the impasse we find ourselves in, including the inaction of the Arab masses. Do you think there can be a meeting point between the left and the current Islamic revolutions? All liberation movements have established a national project within which all societal actors work. Wherever a revolution triumphs, it does so through national unity. But that unity is not that of one person meeting with another; it actually entails the meeting of the entire popular bloc together to champion a project. Let’s take Al Azhar again. As any Arab or activist connected to Palestine, I don’t view it in light of the relationship between Marxist ideology and Islamic ideology, but rather in view of its objective position within the framework of our people’s movement. The same applies to Mecca. I don’t look at it from an ideological perspective but rather from its significance to Muslims around the world. What have those in charge of the national project done with their ‘Qiblah’ to incite the masses of the world to move toward Palestine? I don’t say this because I’m a communist or because I’m a believer; I say this as any person with the slightest connection to the conflict who looks at this matter and says, this is simply inconceivable. Lebanon: Resisting vs ‘Watching’ Moving to Lebanon, away from slogans, how do you see the situation there? The situation is delicate, but it is also good. The resistance has sacrificed the best of its leaders as martyrs. But there is a deep division in the country. What we have in Lebanon is not different from any other country in the world. In all the resistance movements of the world, you will find people who will sacrifice themselves in defense of their country and cowards who simply watch. In the entire world, there isn’t a country where the resistance enjoys the support of all the people. Sectarian affiliation is another issue, but I ask: who is behind the project that defends Lebanon’s identity and dignity? The resistance. There is an occupation; thus, the resistance is the initial response. Outside of the resistance, there is no solution with a national character. You can say all you want about this resistance—that it needs to represent all the Lebanese people, or it needs to be this or that. However, for you to have the right to speak, you must be on the side of the resistance, not the occupation. If you are on the side of the occupation, then you have no right to speak or even exist. When your country is under occupation, whoever stands with the enemy, regardless of their status or justifications, has no right to even exist. So, what do we do with these people? This is the responsibility of the resistance and the resistance masses: to figure out how to isolate the forces that cooperate with the enemy and open up to the masses of these forces. I did not spend a lifetime in captivity, nor did the martyr who sacrificed his life for the country, just to be labeled in the end as not representing the sovereignty of this country. Those who defend the homeland are the sovereignty of this country, not those who are ready to welcome Israel. To say that there is a contradiction between the army and the resistance is wrong. In my opinion, as with any resistance fighter, our duty is to build a very strong national army to eliminate the justification for the existence of any resistance. This is our ambition. Our ambition is for a soldier to receive a decent salary—not twenty dollars per month—to be able to support his or her family and defend the country. The leadership of the resistance should have the courage and clarity to open up to everyone with all its capabilities to build a national state that isolates all those who fail to fulfill their responsibility of sovereignty and defending the homeland for us all. A homeland in which we are all safe; otherwise, we will all lose, and no party will triumph over the other. So, until we build such an army, do you believe that the resistance should remain? Certainly, what do we do otherwise? All over the world, resistance is the first response to any aggression. I hope we succeed at building a strong army able to defend us and one that replaces all resistance. But until this happens, do I remain naked in the face of Israel? Do I face Israel with a statement here and a statement there? I want an army that considers Israel the enemy. Our soldiers are honorable; they are not members of a mafia. They are from all over Lebanon but they need to be well-trained and equipped to be able to defend the country and us. They tell us the US, France, and Britain are our friends. Brilliant, let them provide our army with weapons. But to come and tell me the US is our friend while it comes and asks us to surrender our weapons and recognize Israel, or otherwise Israel will slap you—this is unacceptable. I will continue to resist with all the means I have. The resistance should not have allowed itself to welcome the American envoy or anyone else. We, the people of this country, should meet and determine how to resist the enemy, not how to submit to the enemy. We meet to determine how to confront, not how to normalize. Everyone is well aware of what is required of Lebanon today. Lebanon is asked to abandon its Arab identity, and particularly to abandon the issue of Palestine, and live in peace with the Zionist enemy. There will be no coexistence with this enemy, not today, not tomorrow, and not the day after. If someone stands with this normalization, the resistance will fight him. If a party stands with this normalization, it will also fight it. If a sect stands with normalization, the resistance will also fight it. Whoever wants to gamble can do so, but normalization will not happen because our people will not accept it, and our people are a resistant people. The existing resistance might have certain flaws, and we might have certain reservations towards it. Go ahead and get me a better resistance. But to come and tell me this resistance is not good and that you’ll bring me an Israeli soldier instead—then I will fight you and the Israeli soldier. It is as simple as that, despite the complexities of the situation in Lebanon. We have a model meters away from us in Damascus, where the resistance project is being struck, and so is the state and society. They want Lebanon to turn into sects and tribes! They want to strike the state and the army and turn us into fighting militias, before America and Israel come to the rescue and tell each sect, “I will protect you from the other.” What is being proposed in Lebanon is the same as what is happening in Syria. This will be fought by our masses of the resistance. You want better resistance? Work on building a better one. But to come and tell me that you have to submit to Israel for the sake of the sovereignty of Lebanon—this is absurd. Sovereignty is not a suit; sovereignty is operational measures to protect the country. Israel occupies part of the Lebanese soil; what should I do? Some say you have to submit to it and you will live in peace. I tell them no, our people have historically offered millions of martyrs and have not and will not accept an alliance with this entity. Finally, do you fear for your life? No, I do not fear anything. Georges Abdallah is an ordinary citizen like all others and is not courageous, by the way. How do you spend your time nowadays? As you can see, I spend it between interviews and welcoming friends. Later on, I want to visit the camps and see my friends and find out the whereabouts of my people. Links to zines: print-imposed: https://ia800605.us.archive.org/1/items/georges-abdallah-interviews-imposed/georges-abdallah-interviews-imposed.pdf read only: https://ia800605.us.archive.org/1/items/georges-abdallah-interviews-imposed/georges-abdallah-interviews-read.pdf Received by email.https://abolitionmedia.noblogs.org/?p=22318
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Interviews with Georges Ibrahim Abdallah
I. Inside the Mind of a Militant: An Exclusive Interview with Georges Abdallah September 13, 2025 https://youtu.be/aqJhFmjCs8k My name is Richard Medhurst. I’m here in Lebanon with Georges Abdallah, former prisoner, international revolutionary, Lebanese Marxist. Georges, how are you? And thank you for having us. Thank you for being here. I’m doing well, especially now that I’m free, after having spent quite some time behind bars. I’m in good physical shape. My country is doing well, and our Resistance is strong, so I’m in good spirits as well. It’s only been about three weeks since you were released. Yes. You have spent more time in prison than anyone else for your support of Palestine. 41 years. That makes you the longest-serving political prisoner in French and European history. Before we dive into the details of your case, how are you readjusting to civilian life? It must be hard after 41 years in captivity. I spent time in prison as a militant. I was surrounded by men and women dedicated to the cause who allowed me to keep resisting, by making my resistance part of the struggle against the genocide in Gaza. They gave me a permanent voice on the outside, allowing me to speak about the struggles of various peoples and other political prisoners. So, I wasn’t just a prisoner. I was a fighter who was in prison. I was a militant campaigning and fighting but who just happened to be behind bars in a very particular set of circumstances. Today, I am that same fighter who, again, just happens to be fighting in another set of circumstances. Having those dedicated comrades who kept me in the fight, made my life and my struggle behind bars easier. Let’s talk about the details of your case. I’ve reported extensively on your case in recent years and on other political prisoners. Walk us through the timeline of events. You were in Lyon with an Algerian passport on you. You walk into a police station, and that’s when they recognize you and figure out you were traveling under an assumed identity. So, it was issued by the Algerian government but under a different name to assist you. Initially, they lock you up for that, but then they find a weapons cache in Paris. Walk us through what happened. I was arrested in Lyon and charged with criminal conspiracy. I was tried by the French courts which sentenced me to several years in prison. A deal was made with the French government, under which a French official [Gilles Peyroles] was released from captivity [in Lebanon]. Normally, I should have been freed in exchange. France gave its word but went back on it. The United States joined the case as a civil party, and from that point on it was more or less the US that dictated my fate. If I could just rewind, when you entered the police station [in Lyon], it was because the Mossad was hunting you, right? Regarding the details of the arrest, that whole episode dragged on for quite a bit. I had been on the run for three days, before I got to the point where I decided to enter the police station [to seek refuge]. Okay. Because, I was wondering, how did you pick up on the fact you were being hunted? [The Mossad] had been hunting me since Milan. That pursuit lasted from Milan all the way to Lyon. I tried several things to try and throw them off my trail, but couldn’t in the end, and when all else failed I got arrested. Indeed, I had an Algerian passport. A real passport. But unfortunately it didn’t do me much good, because the French knew my real identity and arrested me. I was chased [by the Mossad] from Milan to Geneva and from Geneva to Lyon. And for two days in Lyon I tried to shake them off but couldn’t. How did you know that you were being hunted? That must be a terrifying experience. It wasn’t terrifying. I was just a fighter being pursued by an intelligence agency, one far more capable than that of the French or others. There were several [Mossad] teams that were hot on my trail. And ultimately I got captured. It wasn’t some great feat. I tried to throw them off my trail but didn’t succeed. My comrades couldn’t intervene in time, so they arrested me. Do you regret walking into that police station in order to shake them off? Since it led you down this whole path… No, because at that moment I was probably about to get captured anyway. I was supposed to go through the train station, and my comrades hadn’t showed up. And they were a few meters away from me. So rather than getting arrested there, I made a last-ditch attempt using the passport. I made up some story [to the police] and told them that someone was trying to rob me. But it was already too late by then. The ploy didn’t work out. My fate was sealed. You later discovered that your first lawyer, Jean-Paul Mazurier, was a spy. Something he later revealed in a book. Were you shocked? How much damage did he do? What kind of information do you think he passed onto the French intelligence service? It’s the French justice system that should have been shocked. And yet that wasn’t the case. That a lawyer is being paid off by the intelligence services… During the German occupation of France, even the Gestapo didn’t stoop that low. And then this country that lectures everyone about democracy and the separation of powers, etc. should find itself directly implicated in a scandal like this is apparently normal. Not one, not a single magistrate had anything to say about it. That’s the justice system for you in Western imperialist countries. It goes without saying that other countries aren’t any better. When the interests of any imperialist system are at stake, the bourgeoisie always disregards their own laws. This isn’t something unique to the French. All capitalist and imperialist states do this. Back in the day, Maître [Jacques] Vergès was quite famous, and considered one of France’s best lawyers. His reputation precedes him. He defended you as well. However, there was apparently something he didn’t do [after the Mazurier spying scandal]. Should Vergès have requested a review of the criminal court’s ruling? I was the one who refused. Maître Vergès was a great lawyer, but he was a great fighter as well. He was an exceptional militant of a calibre far greater than most alive today. And quite naturally, he accepted my decision, and he respected it. Why did you instruct him not to ask for a review? Better to have this misconduct forever stain the French justice system than to overturn the proceedings. So it was a strategic move. Quite naturally, quite naturally. It would be better for the face of the capitalist and imperialist justice system to be unmasked by real-world examples. And it was. And yet not a single magistrate had anything to say. There was also a series of bombings in France for which the media claimed you were responsible, yet the French intelligence services later said that you actually had nothing to do with it. So I wanted to put it to you directly. People all over the world try to take advantage of the struggle between the French state, and the countries it tried to extort. There was a war [1]. Naturally, I sided fully with those who resisted attempts by the French to coerce certain states in our region. So, it wasn’t simply the police that were scandalous. The police have always been a tool of the imperialist judiciary and therefore imperialism itself. That’s nothing new, and not the real scandal. What’s truly scandalous is the press who willingly spread whatever the police tell them. Make no mistake about it. The media didn’t hesitate to spread the police’s propaganda [about me and FARL], which the judges had asked them to do. You have an entire global network of judges, police, and media all working together. And these media outlets only serve a specific class. The justice system is also designed to serve that specific class. Aside from making this or that person pay up, the point of the courts––which most people didn’t even have access to until the 20th or 21st century––is so they can dole out lectures to everyone about morality. And as I said to the magistrate, it’s always lovely to hear a prostitute talk about the virtues of virginity. Better once the client has their clothes back on. I, however, wasn’t extended the courtesy, as I stood before this magistrate, who couldn’t figure out why I wouldn’t defend myself. “Why won’t you defend yourself? The prosecutor is asking for at least ten years? That’s all you have to say? A statement in support of the Palestinian people, then you just turn your back and walk away?” I said, “Look, I’m here to defend the Palestinian cause, not to defend the justice system of your country. That’s your job. And now you need to own it.” Including the fact that my lawyer turned out to be secretly working for the intelligence services…. “You had nothing to say? Even the Germans didn’t behave like that when they occupied your country.” Ultimately, none of this is out of the ordinary. Beneath the veneer, this is what the justice system and the media really are in imperialist countries. Of course, that doesn’t mean that progressive media outlets can’t exist here and there. But ultimately, most media outlets are the complete opposite, which is simply reprehensible. I was never actually charged with terrorism. I was put before a special tribunal for terrorism. There was no reclassification of the offense. That tells you everything you need to know about the justice system and its legal proceedings. These proceedings are a mockery of the legal system. Not just in my case, but with all prominent figures in the struggle. So they could slap on this label of “terrorist.” Yet, when they arrested me, “terrorism” wasn’t even a crime under the French legal system. But when I went before the tribunal, it was a special court that they set up just for that purpose. They didn’t even attempt to reclassify the charge. In other words, the whole thing was a sham. The entire justice system is crooked. Once again, I find your case incredible because it’s like entering another universe, yet it’s our universe. Yes, yes. French imperialist propaganda is very strong. Everywhere they go, they present themselves as champions of the separation of powers, democracy, etc. But really, they’re just like any other country, given everything we know: the close relationship between the justice system and the police, the class struggle. How would you define the word “terrorism”? Terrorism, in my opinion, is state terrorism. Terrorism is the use of violence against the masses. It is the use of violence against these who try to expose the underlying class struggle. Terrorism is the use of means and methods that put the masses in danger. Any government that represses its own people as a matter of policy is engaged in terrorism. I defended the actions of the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Faction [FARL]. I considered it a great honor to have those operations attributed to me, and I considered it a great honor to defend the legitimacy of those operations, yesterday, today, tomorrow, and the day after. FARL’s operations never targeted civilians or the general public. There were some criminals. They were hunted down. Then they were eliminated. This cannot be described as terrorism. If you look at Lebanon in 1982, that’s what terrorism is. When we talk about terrorism, we are talking about Sabra and Chatila. The Sabra and Chatila massacres aren’t something that just happened on the sidelines. The French, American, and Italian imperialists know this. Mitterrand personally guaranteed the security of Sabra and Chatila. Reagan personally guaranteed the security of Sabra and Chatila, as did the Italian government. The French sent 800 soldiers, the US 800 marines, and the Italians 400 troops. So, you had 2,000 soldiers there to protect the camps, on condition that we, the militants and fighters, leave the camp. Of course, back then, we were all young. We protested and cursed at everyone. But in the end, the leadership felt that France’s word, the word of two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council could be trusted, that there was nothing to be worried about. After all this was France, the land of human rights, the Resistance, and the separation of powers. “It would never abandon the camp!” And yet we had barely pulled out of the camp when the soldiers began to clear the minefield around the camp, meaning they removed the protective barriers we had put in place. And then they withdrew for four days, during which the massacres took place. Four days later, they returned to “investigate the facts.” Their facts. Not one single soldier was prosecuted. Naturally, these French, American, and Italian soldiers were not some ragtag militia of vagabonds. They were given orders to withdraw which they followed and were then ordered to return, which they did. One of the first journalists to arrive in Sabra and Chatila was Jacques-Marie Bourget who reported on the extent of the slaughter. And he talks about the French officers in a little book, The Sabra and Chatila Massacre, and the discussions that took place. It is a stain on France. But above all, it is a stain on the French justice system, which lectures others about terrorism. Meanwhile 4,000 corpses or so––because they couldn’t all be counted––weren’t killed by gunfire. They were killed using knives, swords, and axes. Apparently, that wasn’t terrorism to them. In fact, they even committed to never prosecute anyone. Every year in France, we commemorate the massacre of Oradour-sur-Glane. The Nazis burned about 700 people in a church. Seven or eight children. Sabra and Chatila had over 4,000 victims. Did none of them deserve an investigation into why the international force withdrew, then moved back into position? When you look at these facts, for example, in 1982 there were around 32,000 casualties, attacked with cluster bombs in Beirut and elsewhere. The Israelis attacked Lebanon under the pretext of [Operation] “Peace in Galilee.” Those 32,000 casualties were caused by American weapons. They used Beirut and Lebanon as a testing ground for their weapons. Cluster bombs and vacuum bombs were used for the first time in the Middle East. Of course, none of this is terrorism according to the imperialists. And then [the United States] goes and joins the case against me in Paris as a civil party. These aren’t people whose courts and judges can be taken seriously. The only thing you can do is turn your back to them. Let them go on pretending to be victims and spewing hatred against the struggling masses. And that’s what happened. I think that’s an excellent definition of what constitutes terrorism. You were accused of killing those two diplomats. Yes. The Israeli diplomat [Barsimantov], it turns out, was in fact… …the head of Mossad operations in Europe. Right, because their jobs are usually a cover. Yes, everyone knew [they were spies]. Even the prosecutors. And the American diplomat [Ray] was actually running CIA counterintelligence operations there. Those men were officers. And they got taken out nice and clean. Not a single civilian was harmed. Not even a hiccup. Because even revolutionaries can sometimes mess up. Not a single civilian was harmed. If justice had any meaning in France…. This is why the prosecutor asked for less than nine years. Usually he would have asked for much more. He asked for less than nine years, and yet I still got life. That tells you everything about this judicial farce. I don’t know if you saw this, a few weeks ago in the United States, two Israeli diplomats were… Yes. They were assassinated by Elias Rodriguez. By a militant who felt that in the face of the genocide taking place in Gaza it is the duty of every revolutionary to respond with the means at their disposal. He happened to have a pistol at his disposal, so he iced two Israeli agents. In my opinion, it was necessary and the right thing to do. People’s reactions may vary from one country to another, but, generally speaking, the massacres taking place in Gaza require a reaction commensurate with the situation in order to prevent things from becoming any worse. Naturally, like all revolutionaries, I’m against any operations that might hurt the masses. But when faced with the images coming out of Gaza of half-dead, starving children, when you see what the US, Israel, and the Zionist West are doing, you can’t stop people from reacting the way they do or expect them to always respond with politeness and restraint. If you care about preventing violence, or preventing more impassioned reactions, then it’s up to the European and American revolutionaries in the West to do their duty. It’s up to them, more than anyone else, to do what’s required. We have a genocide that’s been going on for over 200 days. For the first time in history, a genocide is being watched by millions of men and women every day. It is a scandal that we haven’t seen stronger reactions beyond the usual protests every week. Don’t get me wrong, the youth coming out and making their voices and their anger heard is huge. It’s invaluable and breathes new life into the Arab and global revolutionary movement. Nevertheless, when there is genocide, more is needed. We hope for much more than that. Today in the West and in Europe we’re also seeing social democracy being chipped away at, which is reminiscent of certain periods in the last century. Today capitalism is in crisis. It has exhausted whatever pretenses of social democracy it had. We are standing on the edge of another world war for the third time in a century with Western capital as the main catalyst. We all know that there’s only a couple of ways to prevent these wars. We need a revolutionary movement to prevent the masses in the West and elsewhere from ending up as cannon fodder. It is the duty of the proletariat, especially in the West, to take action. Naturally, that doesn’t absolve these in the outer rim of the capitalist system of their own duties in this struggle. They also have important work to do. And we hope to come through in a big way. If you look at the Resistance in Gaza and the West Bank, one can’t help but admire their strength and steadfastness. Even after 17 years of the siege on Gaza and all the destruction wrought on Gaza and the West Bank, the Resistance lives on. The Resistance is so impressive that it makes even the most seasoned revolutionaries blush, be they in Strasbourg, Vietnam, or elsewhere. You see the fighters literally climb on top of the tanks and plant bombs there with their bare hands. That takes guts. Those are the same fighters whose brothers, wives, children, and grandchildren are all starving to death with the direct complicity of Western imperialist forces. It is our right to ask European revolutionaries to also sacrifice for the cause and contribute in ways that will make a real difference. With that said, we can’t ignore the current rise of fascism in Europe. It is taking root right there, out in the open. And not just in France, Germany, Spain, etc. It isn’t just the AFD in Germany or Vox in Spain, or the National Front [in France], and so on. The rise of fascism isn’t just some naughty phrase. You even see it in the so-called Green and Liberal parties. Fascism is on the rise everywhere, and it’s getting worse by the day. It is very real and very dangerous and not just some naughty phrase. We’re talking about reactionary forces regrouping and organizing themselves. Hopefully, a force for humanity, that is to say, the anti-capitalist forces are up to the task of confronting this looming threat. To fight fascism, we need to unite people of various political backgrounds and struggles under one banner. Because the current model that we have under social democracy is only capable of responding to a handful of challenges, but not much else. Fascism today presents humanity with an almost insurmountable challenge. We are on the eve of yet another world war for the third time in the span of a century. This is capitalism. Capitalism today is nothing more than savagery. Nothing can come of capitalism except barbarism. We are at a critical juncture. It is up to every revolutionary to seize this moment and carry us forward into revolution. Only a revolution can stop the forces of capitalism from wreaking havoc on a global scale. Hopefully, there is a movement already out there taking shape, one that people can actually place their faith in. This effort is the only thing deserving of all our hopes and prayers. Such a movement is the only thing that can prevent an explosion of fascist, reactionary violence on a global scale. In England, around the same time that I was arrested under the Terrorism Act, and this crackdown on the press began, we also had the arrest and indictment of several activists from a group called Palestine Action. I don’t know if you’re familiar with them, but what they do is directly sabotage the weapons factories. What do you think of this strategy? Yes, it is very important and effective. It’s also critical in how it relates to the Global South. Every step forward one one side of the Mediterranean is a step forward on the other. We are all in this together. Either we will be victorious together or we won’t be victorious at all. All these actions and demonstrations taking place in Europe, the reason they’re important isn’t just because they undermine the bourgeoisie of your country. Their value is the extent to which they inspire others [to do the same] on the other side of the Mediterranean. When Egyptians look at England and see hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating in solidarity with Gaza, they cannot remain silent. It goes without saying, the state repression there is different from what it is in England, France, or elsewhere. But the more momentum there is for this struggle, the more engaged it makes revolutionaries everywhere, and the more effective it makes those in Egypt who are pushing for real change in the struggle against capitalism and imperialism. It’s thanks to these protests and actions that we can mature as a movement, just as much in the Arab world as in the West. In other words, it’s much easier for the leaders of the struggle in England to take up their role, knowing that their comrades in the Arab world, are also doing their part in the anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist movement and who take this capitalism crisis seriously. This is a global crisis. Any movement whose aim is to protect the masses from being turned into cannon fodder is a movement that is fighting for both sides of the Mediterranean, for Europeans and Arabs alike. We have an Arab world that stretches from the Atlantic to the Gulf. Change is coming at any moment now. All it takes is for a small spark to light a small twig in the field for the whole field to catch fire. We are closer today than ever before. Hopefully we see a united front. We need a joint effort with people on both shores of the Mediterranean working together. Only together will we emerge victorious. Only by working together will we we be able to establish a united front. A convergence of struggles is mandatory. We owe it to history. A convergence of struggles is necessary to prevent war. War is no joke. War is a poison that threatens to destroy the entire planet. The crisis we face today is much worse than the one at the beginning of the 20th century. There are new protagonists and actors involved. At the start of the 20th century, we didn’t have a climate crisis. Today, however, our planet faces an existential threat because of capitalism. Naturally, those at the forefront of the struggle must take this into consideration. Capitalism today is nothing short of total barbarism, death and destruction on every level. It is up to the leaders of the struggle to remember that and to work out a strategy to save us from this savagery. I saw that when you landed at Beirut airport, the first thing you did was to insult, and rightly so, the passive governments of the Arab world. What message do you have for them, if there is anything left to even say? The entire Arab bourgeoisie are directly involved in the genocide [in Gaza], every bit as much as the international bourgeoisie. They shall be swept away by the masses and all those itching for change and social reform in the same manner as the bourgeoisie were dealt with during other moments in history. Our fate and the fate of the entire human race is at stake here. Hopefully, time is on our side. Of course, we shouldn’t forget that the number of victims is rising by the minute. Nevertheless, hopefully we will have enough time to get our act together as a social bloc. The current [economic] system of reproduction and production, in the south of the Mediterranean, specifically in the Arab world, is incapable of providing the masses with basic subsistence. That means the collapse is near. So, hopefully we’ll be able to get organized in time before the collapse happens, so that we don’t end up with the same result as in 2011. In 2011 there was a seismic collapse. But we were not up to the task of leading as a social bloc, and unable to build on that momentum. Sure, there were some gains, but ultimately we failed to transform that revolution [the Arab Spring] into meaningful change that would have swept away all these crooks in power. Yes, we’ll circle back to that topic soon. I want to ask you, from a personal point of view as well, as I may end up in prison soon myself, what helped you stay strong in prison all those years? I’m not strong. I wasn’t strong. I was just a simple fighter who was fortunate to have the right men and women around me, who enabled me to keep resisting and to stay in the fight. Through them, I was able to be a fighter who just happened to be fighting in very specific conditions, rather than just a political prisoner. Being involved in the struggle in all these different capacities with its slogans, campaigning for this or that issue, whether for Palestine, for comrades imprisoned in Turkey or elsewhere, or with the liberation movement in Kanaky or elsewhere, allows you to still participate in the struggle as a militant, just in a unique set of circumstances. Today I am no longer in prison, therefore the conditions of the fight change once again. But I remain the same fighter. It doesn’t require superpowers. Everything hinges on the ability of your comrades outside of prison to integrate your resistance into the broader struggle. Everything depends on it. Naturally, you can’t expect all your allies to have the exact same beliefs, or to come from a single, partisan bloc. It’s through the convergence of struggles that these people find themselves together. Naturally, your family, friends, and comrades, will want to get you out of prison as quickly as possible. But it’s up to you as a fighter to put the cause first and not make concessions even if they seem trivial, things which you, as a militant, wouldn’t find that trivial anyway. Spending years in prison is hard, of course. There are many in that situation. It’s not easy to be locked up for years and to stand firm in your principles right up until the moment you walk out the gate. I was asked, for example, to make concessions that might seem trivial to an outsider. But it wasn’t trivial. I remember this little girl from Al Badawi, a small refugee camp in northern Lebanon, who wrote me a letter. A little girl who was about 7 or 8 years old. She said to me, “Uncle, I was with my mom and dad this morning, and saw a poster of you on the wall. My parents were drinking coffee and talking about you, and I understood that they want you to say nice things about Israel. Just tell them that you like Israel very much so that they free you, and once you’re out we can insult them.” That’s indeed the logic of a child. It’s a child’s logic, and it touches you deeply. But of course, that’s not an option. Some of the comrades, for example, told me, “Don’t make a big deal about the civil parties to the case [the United States]. Just say a few words, a little something to show that you’re thinking of the family of this soldier or that civilian.” And you’re on the brink of freedom. Because you know if you say what they want you to say, you can walk right out. And if you don’t, they’ll just keep you locked up. Naturally, giving in is not an option. Because what they call a “small gesture,” is no small gesture at all. To me, those acts of resistance were legitimate––today, tomorrow, and the day after. The whole reason they put me in prison, is precisely because I condone those acts of resistance. The imperialists act like the Resistance is some kind of violation of their sovereignty, meanwhile they trample on the sovereignty of our people all day long and no one bats an eye. I said that during the trial, and I said it yesterday too. The comrades had put some money together for me. They said, “Let’s just be done with it so Georges can leave. The important thing is that he gets out. Once he’s out he can insult them as he pleases,” just like that child said. The prison authorities came to me and said, “Here’s the money that was raised. How do you want to divide it up?” In other words, give this money to the Americans, to the families of the soldiers as compensation. Naturally, I refused. I didn’t ask for this money. This money wasn’t mine. All Americans, civilians and military alike, are implicated in the genocide in Gaza which is unfolding before the eyes of the world. I consider them, their families, their loved ones, their neighbors, and their entire country to be accomplices in the genocide of our children. So I told them, do whatever you like with that money, it’s not mine and I don’t want it. A few days later, more money arrived. They came to me and tried the same act again. And I gave them the same answer as before. Although I may have gotten a little carried away, because I thought it was quite rude to ask that of me after 41 years in captivity. Since the French and Americans felt I had disrespected them in some way, they went and told the president of the court. They said, “Look, he just won’t do it,” and so on. Finally, the president of the court goes, “It’s been 41 years, he hasn’t changed, and he’s never going to change. He’s told you the money isn’t his and he doesn’t want to dole it out.” By the way, I’m not allowed, legally speaking, to even give that money away. This is the “performative justice” I spoke of earlier. Under the law, I’m not allowed to collect money to compensate a civil party. But for the sake of making me capitulate, they made an exception. Under French law, I’m not allowed to raise money in order to pay compensation. According to the law, it’s forbidden. But to humiliate me and make me grovel, they were willing to allow it. Once I declined to compensate the civil parties, they lashed out by going to the Supreme Court. They asked the Supreme Court to block my release before a binding judgment to release me had even been made. They Court of Appeals said [in February], “We will discuss Mr. Abdallah’s fate on the 19th of June.” And the public prosecutor, meaning the French government, goes to the Supreme Court and appeals against a decree that wasn’t even a judgement yet. How can you go to the Supreme Court when there’s no final judgment to appeal against? Naturally, a few days later, they said the appeal was invalid, etc. And once the court ruled in favor of me, they immediately lodged another appeal. Meaning there’s still an appeal today in France against my release. But I’m here now. It’s this performative justice that every militant needs to be aware of. It’s got nothing to do with how nice or mean you are. That’s not what determines whether you get out of prison. The determining factor is how invested and active you are in the struggle. The more you play your part, the more the balance of power shifts in your favor. If the balance of power isn’t in your favor, you’re going to be stuck in prison. You need to be prepared to accept that. That is your role as a fighter. Nothing else. And once the balance of power finally shifts your way, the bourgeoisie will no longer be able to keep you locked up and will have no choice but to let you walk. And you come out with your principles intact. Walking out of prison still standing by your principles is a great victory. That’s what happened. And I’m happy with the outcome, despite the time spent in prison. It wasn’t so bad. There are hundreds of thousands of people who go up in smoke and I could have easily been one of them. But I’m still here. To be frank, wasn’t the balance of power more in your favor toward the beginning when they tried to free you through a hostage deal and with the bombing campaign, etc.? So why didn’t that result in you being freed? It was the pressure from the Americans. So despite all the pressure you put on the French, the Americans exerted even more? It wasn’t only the US. The French government also felt that they could get away with leaving me in prison and go back on their word [in the hostage deal] because of their interests in the region, because my name is Georges, etc. And because of how French claims to love Lebanon, and particularly people named Georges [i.e. Christians]. It behaved just as one would expect. France is in a very poor position to be doling out advice regarding our country’s resistance. Today, France, the US and others are pushing the Lebanese government to disarm the Resistance. To dissolve and disarm the resistance. These are the same people who a few months ago honored [Missak] Manouchian [2]. Manouchian was considered the figurehead of the so-called Affiche Rouge [FTP-MOI] by the “special section” of the Paris courts of the Vichy regime. The French basically resurrected this court in 2003 following the decision of the parole court in Pau to release me. The magistrate naively believed that he actually had any power as a judge. As soon as he decided to release me, Dominque Perben [then Minister of Justice] came to put him in his place, to remind him that a judge’s place in this capitalist country is to do what you’re told. The order to release me was overturned, effectively resurrecting the “special section” of Paris, because from that moment on, you had a magistrate doing the bidding of the Minister of the Interior in Paris, who dictates to the courts what to do with political prisoners, dubbed “terrorists” or otherwise. This is the justice system. Not just in France, but in all capitalist countries. It is the duty of every revolutionary to rip its mask off. It goes without saying, prison is tough. Life in prison is extremely challenging. But a fighter doesn’t shy away from difficult things. He does what it takes to fulfill his duty, especially if he is a communist. Why did the Americans want to keep you locked up in prison so badly? The Americans, like all imperialist powers, consider any affront against their interests, be they military personnel or otherwise… Ultimately what they care about is maintaining control of our country and the region. If getting rid of this or that person helps, then they’ll do it. Simply because they can? If they’re able to, they’ll simply do it. There’s nothing to it. [France’s Minister of Security] Robert Pandraud made an offer to CIA Director William Casey. The CIA Director came to Paris and told Pandraud, “If you ever release Abdallah, we’ll cut ties with France.” Pandraud replied, “Why don’t we release Abdallah and give you his whereabouts in Beirut? You’re a powerful nation, just eliminate him.” Those are their true colors. Their behavior says it all. This is how their justice system really functions. That’s the real takeaway from my case and the only silver lining. There was nothing heroic about it. I’m just a simple fighter who stays the course and was fortunate to have comrades devoted to the struggle who enabled him to keep resisting. With that said, prison is very difficult. A prisoner isn’t just some piece of meat. When you’ve got one kilo of meat, you can just put it in the fridge, and you know it won’t go bad. A fighter, however, is not a piece of meat. He needs to remain in the fight as a part of the actual struggle taking place outside on the ground. This is a real struggle, not some illusion. When we talk about the rise of fascism, this is a real, ongoing phenomena. When we talk about the genocide in Gaza, we’re talking about a literal ongoing genocide. Therefore, it all comes down to the ability of your comrades to provide you all avenues to keep fighting [from inside prison] and remain a part of the struggle. And that’s what happened. It’s no different or any more heroic than any other comrade taking part in the struggle on the outside. Moreover, it’s this mechanism that will shift the balance of power in your favor. In the beginning, there were 200-300 people protesting for my release. During the last demonstration which took place in Paris there were roughly 7,000. What did the magistrate who ordered my release say? She said the main reason for my release was that “Georges Ibrahim Abdallah in prison is a far greater threat to public order than Georges Ibrahim Abdallah outside of prison.” It’s up to the authorities to follow up on his activities outside prison. He’s no longer the justice system’s problem.” Meaning [it’s now up to] the intelligence services. The balance of power is the only thing that can get a militant out of prison, be they Georges Abdallah or anyone else. When the judge sad, “He poses a greater threat to public order from inside prison,” she’s referring to all the people that have come together to protest for my freedom, which in turn strengthens the broader struggle. You’ll recall that in France barely ten months ago wearing a keffiyeh was a crime. Carrying a Palestinian flag would get you prosecuted. Yet today there isn’t a single city in France or Europe that doesn’t have weekly protests full of Palestinian flags, full of keffiyehs, the symbol of freedom. This is the stuff that gets a militant out of prison. The campaign for their freedom serves as a bridge or vehicle to get people out in the streets and therefore for the broader struggle. And I must say I’m quite satisfied with the outcome. In my case, the police chief [of Hautes-Pyrénées] tried to ban the last protest, which was held outside the prison. However he couldn’t ban it directly, so he asked the mayor of Lannemezan to do it, who replied, “I won’t do it.” So he tried to do it himself. There was a whole administrative process that kicked off, but he couldn’t ban it ultimately. This brings us back to the issue of the rise of fascism. In France, the rise of fascism is characterized by a weakened central government, which may sound weird at first, because fascism usually involves an authoritarian, centralized government. But in this case the state is falling apart. The state has abdicated its duties towards the educational and health systems. Everything is crumbling. Instead, the state is busy asking police chiefs to suppress dissent among the people. In every region in France, each police chief has an entire police force at their fingertips. Each municipality can also sanction––call it what you like––a militia or auxiliary police force. There’s also an increase in organized vigilantism and “neighborhood watches,” who keep tabs on who’s coming and going, “That guy had long hair and wasn’t very white-looking,” etc. This is all part of the rise of fascism. Naturally, the Left in Europe and in France need to beware and get their act together in order to counter the growing threat of fascism. As I said at the beginning, the rise of fascism isn’t just some nasty phrase. It means heads are going to roll, and we and our comrades need to be ready to confront it. Georges, if I may move on to geopolitics. What was your reaction to the assassinations of [Hassan] Nasrallah and [Ismael] Haniyeh? Nasrallah, and all the leaders of the Resistance, were targeted by the imperialist and Zionist forces, with the full complicity of all the Empire’s intelligence services, who provided their whereabouts. Naturally, Nasrallah was not just the leader of the Resistance. He was an emblematic figure fully committed to the cause. Some may disagree with this or that issue, but no one can deny that he was the strategic mastermind of the Resistance, an unrivaled figure. To learn that he fell in battle, as a martyr, is naturally very painful, especially when you’re in prison. But at the same time, it’s bitter-sweet. Because when the leaders of the Resistance are willing to put their lives on the line and are martyred in battle, it invigorates and strengthens the entire Resistance. You can’t piss on the blood of martyrs. Today more than ever the Resistance stands firm in its principles. A resistance whose leaders give their lives in battle will never make concessions in vain or piss away the blood of their martyrs. You really have to be nuts, like some in my country’s government, to think that this Resistance, which has given its best people, is simply going to lay down its arms. I have full confidence in the ability of the Resistance, which is the sole legitimate authority. When you are under foreign military occupation, the legitimacy of the Resistance takes precedence over anything else. The Resistance protects the people’s very dignity and freedom. And only those involved in the struggle have the right to discuss what strategies the Resistance should adopt, not those on the sidelines, who stand idly by while the enemy tries to crush the Resistance. The only reason these traitors are allowed to run their mouths is by the grace of the Resistance. It is nothing more than a courtesy––a humanitarian gesture which some may even disagree with, as they probably don’t deserve it. But in any case the Resistance is strong and will emerge even stronger. It is the Resistance more than anyone else that wants us to have a strong national army that protects us. It has a greater interest more than anyone in the struggle to want a strong [Lebanese] state that respects its countrymen and the citizens of this country, regardless of religion or ethnicity, etc. The Resistance is the only way for us to prevent the Balkanization of the region. The region today is being carved up and divided. We all see what’s happening in Syria. The Americans, together with the Israelis and other Arab reactionaries, are destroying everything that we’ve achieved historically. The state itself is a construct that was won through hard-fought struggles. Instead, they are working to decimate this state and all its institutions, turning the region into chaos where ethnic groups, religious minorities, and barbarians devour each other while the Israelis and Americans sit back and decide which “human-animals” are worthy of their protection today and which ones will be sacrificed. Thanks to the Resistance, Lebanon is well-defended and far more capable than our enemies had hoped. The Resistance will not allow them to divide and Balkanize us. Lebanon and everyone in it will be victorious together. We all know that the only path to victory is together. The leaders of the Resistance are more qualified than anyone to bring everyone together under one tent, in order to unify the Lebanese people, strengthen their state, and build up their army. The Americans, French, and British keep telling us that they are Lebanon’s friends. They’re no friends of ours. We say to them, “If you’re truly our friends, then provide the Lebanese army with weapons.” That’s all we ask. Let them give the Lebanese army the jets and anti-aircraft missile it needs and we’ll be grateful. We’re not asking them to obtain weapons for us from [North] Korea, China, Russia, or elsewhere. If you’re really Lebanon’s friends, then arm the Lebanese Armed Forces, so we have a real national army instead of militias. Of course, the bourgeoisie and their political pawns are the enemies of our army. They do not want us to have a national army. They do not want us to have a nation state. They want a bunch of thugs and bandits running around that they can use to bring our people to their knees. Our people will never recognize the Zionist entity. The Zionist entity is on its last legs. Contrary to what they want you to believe, Israel today is living on borrowed time. The West that created this state––because the Zionist entity is nothing more than an organic extension of the imperialist West––there isn’t a single [Western] government out there today that can defend Israel in front of the masses. Not because any of them care about the Palestinians. On the contrary, they want the entity to hurry up and kill as many Palestinians as possible as quickly as possible. But in front of the European masses, they’re unable to portray the entity as a beacon of human rights and democracy, etc. They try to spin it nowadays by saying, “It’s not all Israelis, it’s just Netanyahu and a few bad apples.” Naturally, the European masses aren’t having any of it. No one is fooled. In fact, they’re coming out in even greater numbers. And our people are grateful to them for their mobilization, because it is very dear to us. Georges, as you know I am English through my father’s side and from my mother’s side, Syrian Christian. I was born in Syria. Syria fell when you were in prison and I know that you were also a member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party [SSNP]. What was your reaction to the fall of Syria? Looking back, it’s clear that there was a point when the Syrian bourgeoisie started to look after its own interests while destroying the people. Sure, the Syrian bourgeoisie developed the country in some ways, such as agrarian reform and by industrializing some parts of the country. They implemented some reforms in the health, education, and agricultural sectors, etc. They succeeded in establishing themselves as a state-bourgeoisie. However, once they normalized relations with the global capitalist system, this state-bourgeoisie fell into decline and became repressive against the people. And we, the progressive forces, were unable to turn it around. Instead, the darkest and most reactionary forces in our history took power, with the direct support of Israel, the US, and other players who then turn around and pretend to condemn terrorism. [President] Hollande and [Foreign Minister] Fabius told Al Nusra [Al Qaeda], “Great job!” as they set off bombs in Damascus. When the Bataclan was attacked, they called it terrorism, and yet, today, the French were among the first to recognize this [Syrian] government. The Syrian people have a very long history. And right now they are going through a difficult period. I have no doubt that progressive forces will emerge in Syria and rise to the challenge. Of course it won’t be easy. There will be widespread destruction and many martyrs. We in Lebanon have the means to fight back against such things, contrary to what the Americans and others think. We will not allow Lebanon to be Balkanized. The Resistance is strong enough to fight it. The various political factions in the country, from the communists to the socialists, Al-Mourabitoun, the Arab nationalists, and the Resistance [Hezbollah], etc. are capable of pushing back, and they will. They are up to the task, and our country will be victorious. Without a doubt. Georges, you come from a Christian background, as do I. Many leaders in the struggle against Zionism also come from a Christian background, like Georges Habash, Ghassan Kanafani, Antoun Saadeh, Bishop Capucci, Hanan Ashrawi, etc. who founded or helped lead many anti-Zionist and anti-imperialist political projects. Why do you think the West glosses over them and refuses to see this as a national struggle portraying it instead as a religious conflict? They don’t just see it as a religious war, they’re trying to provoke a religious war. It’s not by mistake. They know exactly what they’re doing and will go to any lengths to destroy the fabric of our society. That’s why they look for sellouts from our region to help them stir up religious hatred and provoke massacres that weaken our communities. Because they always say it’s “Jews vs Muslims,” instead of saying it’s an anti-colonial struggle. It’s not about Jews vs Muslims. Israel isn’t a Jewish issue either. If you look at the United States today, roughly 30-35% of the Jewish youth are out protesting, wearing keffiyehs, and saying that the Zionist entity is a greater enemy to Judaism than Palestinians. So, no, this is not a religious conflict. Otherwise the Saudis and the Gulf would be at the forefront of the struggle instead of being complicit in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. This conflict is not sectarian. Israel is an organic extension of the imperialist West. People need to have the courage to see the West for what it is. That it has a history of wiping out entire peoples. When we talk about Western imperialism, look at how North America became the United States, for example. The United States was built on the corpses of 20-25 million Native North Americans. When you look at so-called “Latin” America, or Central and South America, in what way are the Mayans and others “Latin”? The Latinization of South America, meaning the death and destruction of the native population, claimed the lives of millions of men and women. This is the legacy and foundation of the imperialist West. When you look at Australia, Aboriginal Australians, the indigenous people of Australia, are the earth’s oldest continuing civilization. They were decimated. Today all that’s left are few tourist sites. This is Western imperialism. Western imperialism, however, did not succeed in our legion [in the Levant] despite a century of Zionists trying to colonize our land, which began in the period between the late-19th century and mid-20th century, and was fully supported by all the great powers of the imperialist West. What happened? The Palestinians remained. In 1949 the Palestinian population was barely 1 million. Despite a century of Zionist colonization, the Palestinian population today in historical Palestine is 7,300,000 and counting. While the Israeli settlers who’ve been pouring in for over a century number around 7,200,000. That means there are fewer Zionist settlers than there are Palestinian natives. On top of that you’ve got all the Palestinians in the diaspora and neighboring countries who were driven out of their homes in the Nakba. That means the Palestinians today number around 14 million in total. This is a people who in spite of the permanent genocide waged against them have fought back, multiplied several times over, and number around 14 million today. They have failed in their attempts to erase the Palestinian people. With that said, Israel should not be considered peaceful or harmless. It is incapable of peace. Israel has always been and still remains a fascist country. And it grows more fascist by the day. The global rise of fascism that we see today is a natural extension of the imperialist West. You see this phenomena everywhere in the West. You’ve got the AFD in Germany, the National Front in France, Vox in Spain, and in Portugal it’s even worse. This is all happening out in the open. And when it comes to the Empire’s outposts, their fascist nature sticks out even more. You see it in the way the Israel treats native Palestinians as human animals and openly describe them as such. Even the Nazis didn’t go so far as to openly say it. Even if they behaved the same way, they didn’t proudly announce it. Today, Israel is on its last legs. It has nothing to lose anymore. So it is hitting the Palestinians with all its cruelty and everything its got. But the Palestinian people are not alone. Just next door there are 400 million Arabs who share the same food, the same prayers, the same wedding ceremonies, and the same history, etc. The Palestinian people will not be eliminated. The Palestinian people will be victorious. The Palestinian people and their struggle are the driving force behind the Arab revolution. Palestine isn’t just an area of 27,00 square kilometers. Palestine is the driving force of the Arab revolution from the Atlantic to the Gulf. Make no mistake, the Arab revolution will succeed thanks to the heroic resistance of the Palestinian people and others. I was in France, I believe, at the same time that you were released. I visited the museum of the French Resistance. As you know I grew up idolizing figures like Jean Moulin, [Massik] Manouchian, etc. and this whole culture of the resistance, as I believe you and many others did as well. How is it that the French recognize they were under German occupation and were able to identify a military occupation and to fight it. But when it comes to this struggle against Zionism they change positions? I don’t think they really changed. If you look at France today, those who support Palestine are no small minority. Take for example the stance of the French Communist Party or Le France Insoumise (LFI). That’s not insignificant. If you look at French Parliament, Le France Insoumise have 80 MPs who stand fully with the Palestinians. Same with the communists, anarchists, Revolution Permanente (RP), and other groups. Obviously that’s not the case in the imperialist media, which is to be expected. They lie and obfuscate, that’s what they do. It’s no conspiracy theory to say that. The imperialist media are doing what they do, which is to justify the unjustifiable. Capitalism in this country can only bring death. Resistance in its various forms can only fuel the momentum of revolution, whether in France or elsewhere. Of course, this is no walk in the park. Capitalism is in crisis on a global scale. It is up to the leaders of the struggle to unite people of various backgrounds and struggles under one banner and use that momentum in order to lead the revolution to victory, whether in Europe or in the Arab world. And hopefully victory is near. Georges what message would you give to this generation and future generations of revolutionaries? Firstly, I salute and commend the European youth for rising to the occasion for taking to the streets and standing firm in support of Palestine and against the genocide in Gaza. This is the most important and potent political stance of our time. I say to the youth of today, be careful. Fascism is on the rise. This is a very real criminal undertaking that is happening in real time. You need to be ready, because it’s up to you to confront it. Do not waver. You can do this and you have the numbers and the strength for it. Greetings to all the comrades and activists who helped make the Palestinian liberation movement so bright and powerful. Palestine has never been more relevant and important than it is today, and it is thanks to the youth who are out in the streets all across Europe. Georges Abdallah, thank you for your time and for receiving me to conduct this interview It is to you, your comrades and your viewers that I extend my heartfelt congratulations and thanks. II ‘No Heaven without Gaza’: A Palestine Chronicle Exclusive Interview with Lebanese Revolutionary Georges Abdallah, by Samaa Abu Sharar August 14, 2025 https://www.palestinechronicle.com/no-heaven-without-gaza-a-palestine-chronicle-exclusive-interview-with-lebanese-revolutionary-georges-abdallah/ ‘Prison Does Not Change Fighters’ We all know George Abdallah as an international activist who dedicated his life to just causes, most notably the Palestinian cause and the fight against colonialism in all its forms. How would you present yourself? I am a fighter amongst our Arab fighters, a fighter of the Palestinian revolution, and a fighter of the Lebanese resistance against imperialist and Zionist oppression. Our activism stems from our assessment that the Zionist entity is an organic extension of Western imperialism. We consider that this entity has currently reached the final chapter of its existence, and, therefore, it will unleash all its barbaric and murderous reserves on our people. The masses of our people must prepare for this stage, keeping in mind that they will prevail over this entity. What you say is completely in line with how many people view you: as an icon of resistance who represents the correct compass of our great struggle. So there is no difference between how Georges Abdallah sees himself and how people see him. Our people have great confidence in the Palestinian resistance, so any expression of resistance is highly esteemed. Our people are prepared to provide a lot of support and facilitate the struggle. What is happening in Gaza and the West Bank today confirms this. As an ordinary fighter in the ranks of the resistance, historically, I see that our people are steadfast. There are loopholes, as always happens in revolutions, but this does not stop us. The masses in Gaza embrace their emaciated children, continue to resist, and refuse to raise the white flag. Thus, we can say that the resistance is in great shape despite all the subjective and objective problems. Did prison change you? Prison does not change fighters. In reality, prison helps shape sound positions if the required solidarity from resistance forces is available, and this is what happened with me. This means that Georges Abdallah, who was imprisoned 41 years ago, came out of prison the same man? An older fighter, with more experience and more willingness to give. How did you relate to time while in prison? In fact, time in prison for fighters and activists is a framework within which life’s priorities are organized. If the activist has found solidarity—in other words, if he has a group of people who make solidarity a practical expression within the daily struggle of our nation’s masses—then the imprisoned activist is simply a fighter doing what he must under exceptional circumstances. Time becomes tight, as he doesn’t have enough time to do whatever he deems appropriate to support the struggle, whether in terms of reading, interventions, or other things. This applied to me. So, time was tight for you in prison? Time was not sufficient to do what is required of fighters and activists. I did all I could within my modest capabilities. You said in your interview with Al Mayadeen that your day in prison was very organized and that you had a daily schedule that involved much reading of the mail you received. With whom did you correspond while in prison? With fighters and activists who were in prison or remained in prison, with my family, and with friends. This is normal, considering there were facilities that were secured through the struggle of the masses in this country or that. In French prisons, a telephone was made available to call whomever you wish, provided you gave the number to the relevant authorities. Accordingly, you could contact anyone you wished. Books were provided by comrades, so you had ample opportunities for reading and doing other things. However, it takes a lot of time to read everything that needs to be read and to participate in the ongoing debate on these matters. Were you one of the people who made many phone calls? One of the people who did what he had to do. Were the phone calls more with friends or family members? The family was certainly within the circle of communication. There is a continuum, so to speak, that extends from home to the arena of struggle. The concerns of the homeland are an essential part of my life, so communication is constant through family, friends, loved ones, and all other expressions of struggle present in our country and abroad. I did not feel alienated in this regard. Were you subjected to any psychological or physical violations while in prison? I was subjected to everything fighters and activists are subjected to. I can say that all the procedures didn’t constitute a problem for me. In other words, from a personal perspective, I wasn’t subjected to any particular pressure, and from an objective perspective, I had plenty of resources that were made available by my numerous comrades. There were a large number of comrades, and they alternated so they could all come to see me in prison. Therefore, I never experienced the feeling of alienation or isolation. The solidarity movement is part of the daily struggle; therefore, there was no personal anguish in that sense. There is a struggle with time. I wanted to use all of this time to enhance my readings and interventions for as long as possible. However, there are limits to this time because of life’s priorities. What did you miss most while in prison, besides freedom, of course? In reality, I missed all aspects of life and all its expressions. Such as? Everything. It’s not easy to say what I missed most: family, loved ones, the stars, the trees, and the animals. You miss the comrades, you miss your discussions with them; there is no set priority. If you could go back in time, is there anything you would have done differently in your struggle? I am not currently engaging in self-criticism of my struggle. Throughout my struggle, I have done everything I consider appropriate for the path of struggle. Certainly, as with everyone else, there are successes and failures, and there is the possibility to improve this or that. However, overall, I am satisfied with my path of struggle. Despite its modesty, it is acceptable as any other fighter or activist of our people within the framework of the available popular base. ‘The Resistance is in Great Shape’ Let’s talk about Palestine and Lebanon. You said in more than one interview that solidarity with Georges Abdallah was equal to, or part of, solidarity with Palestine. Solidarity with Georges Abdallah only takes on meaning when it falls within the framework of the struggle against the war of genocide in Gaza. This is within the path of struggle that falls under the issues of solidarity, not outside this framework or parallel to it. It falls within this framework, and I think it was very effective. In your opinion, if it weren’t for the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation, would you be among us today? The “Al Aqsa Flood” is a very important operation. However, my case does not fall within this framework without going into details of the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation. The “Al Aqsa Flood” operation is very good in terms of its timing and effectiveness. Although we may find a loophole here or there, we are not in a position to beat ourselves up; we are in a position to evaluate the operation itself. This operation came at the right time, is very appropriate, and has moved the struggle forward, placing new responsibilities on the shoulders of those who carried it out and lived it. I hope that the comrades within the framework of the Palestinian revolution will succeed in examining the national program of the Palestinian revolution. We know that there is a historical impasse facing the Palestinian national program. Certainly, the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation has a role to play in clarifying some aspects and correcting some deviations. However, without resolving the crisis of the Palestinian national project, we will remain stuck and pay a heavy price. It is the responsibility of all forces in the Palestinian arena to work on overcoming this crisis because it is a crisis, not a matter of national or non-national unity. The crisis is deeper than that, and it is the responsibility of all active forces to do what they must to deserve to be part of the Palestinian national liberation movement. What is this crisis? The crisis affects all aspects of the entire Palestinian national project. Israel is an organic extension of Western imperialism. Israel is not a colony or merely a settlement. It is an organic extension of this imperialist West. Therefore, confronting this imperialist West requires confronting the crisis of the imperialist system in its capitalist form. Those who confront this organic extension must stand on a ground hostile to capitalism. Therefore, the leadership of the Palestinian bourgeoisie, in its various expressions—Islamic, nationalist, semi-nationalist, state-oriented, etc.—faces a problem in this regard. And the Palestinian left is in a very embarrassing situation, having so far been unable to build a national unity to confront this organic extension and failed to affirm national unity. Of course, these are great responsibilities that fall on everyone’s shoulders. Nevertheless, the resistance is in great shape. The masses of our people continue to confront the Zionist enemy with great and advanced effectiveness, although the children of Gaza are emaciated and in dire need of a glass of milk. However, Gaza will not raise the white flag, and this is a very important issue. As for how we move forward, that is a matter for the Palestinian leadership to determine. But we are keen to hear what you have to say in this regard! Everyone is concerned, but the actual leaders of the Palestinian revolution know best and are required to answer a number of questions. They are required to provide an answer on the crisis of this national project, the Oslo crisis, the crisis of the Palestinian Authority, the crisis of the division between Fatah and Hamas, the crisis of the dispersion of Palestinian forces, the crisis of the retirement of entire organizations that have been transformed into names without titles, the crisis of the mother of the Palestinian revolution, Fatah. Where is Fatah and what is Fatah now? Where is Fatah and where is Hamas? What are they both doing? The crisis is complex and has numerous aspects. The Palestinian people have the intellectual, organizational, and resistance abilities to address this crisis, but a lot is required on all levels. It is not acceptable that there are around 60,000 full-time fighters with the Palestinian Authority whose task is limited to security coordination with Israel. And when we speak of national unity, which national unity are we talking about? A unity in which 60,000 fighters chase the Fedayeen (freedom fighters-PC) and hand them over to Israel, versus those who see their children dying of hunger and are still holding the flag! We all certainly know the dangers of a civil war, but the dilemma of the national project remains. The leaders of all Palestinian organizations agreed on something at the Beijing conference, but what was its result? The result was the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh. Why assassinate Haniyeh? Because he was part of the wing in Hamas who called for unity. This does not mean that the Palestinian Authority welcomed the call. This is the crisis of the national project. Those who bear the responsibility are those in Palestine and outside of Palestine; they are the resistance fighters in Gaza and the West Bank, and even those who are part of the Palestinian Authority and inside the Israeli prisons. It is certainly a major crisis, but I am sure that the active members of Palestinian society will be able to overcome it. ‘No Heaven without Gaza’ You spoke briefly about the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation. Were you surprised when you first heard about it? The “Al Aqsa Flood” operation surprised everyone, and that in itself is an issue and falls within the scope of the crisis of the national project. This certainly does not undermine its value. “Al Aqsa Flood” marked a turning point in the history of the conflict with Israel, but it also imposes enormous responsibilities on everyone. The enemy is well aware that it is now in the final chapter of its existence; it is not a matter of a military setback. The “Al Aqsa Flood” operation is the first step in determining the priorities of this final chapter. Everyone must rise to this responsibility, especially those in charge of the priorities of the struggle in Palestine and outside Palestine. The Arab street also bears a responsibility, and those in charge of the national project must ask the question: why this abandonment on the part of the Arab street? The Palestinian leadership is no stranger to this abandonment. When Egypt and the UAE are playing the roles of mediators, how can we expect the Egyptian masses to apologize for not being at the forefront of the struggle? This is a tremendous crisis. The value of the Palestinian revolution lies in its role as a lever of the Arab revolution. It is the historical lever of the Arab revolution, but it is no longer playing its role for several reasons. The Palestinian leadership must answer why it abandoned this role. I see Qatar, which hosts the main base of American imperialism, as a mediator. The question is: a mediator between whom and whom? I also see Egypt, with a population of 120 million Arabs, as a mediator. The same question applies. Egypt is Al Azhar (considered the largest Islamic institution in the Arab World-PC), and Al Azhar is not a tourist agency; it is a civilized institution that encompasses all the values of this nation with people of different colors. Eighty million people consider Al Azhar their (moral) authority. Where are the eighty million? Who is responsible for their inaction? Al Azhar is the one responsible for them. What has it done, and what is the role of the Palestinian revolution in this context? It suffices that one of the eighty million, meaning one million, move toward Rafah and perform prayers there. They are not required to carry a gun and offer it to Hamas or the Popular Front (for the Liberation of Palestine – a socialist organization-PC) or any other faction; all they have to do is offer a cup of water or a cup of milk to the children of Gaza. Al Azhar is responsible for this inaction. It must know that its prayers are not accepted if they are not held at the crossing to Gaza. It must also be known that there is no path to heaven for all believers in Egypt because the children of Palestine have occupied all the roads while they are ascending to heaven. Those who wish to enter heaven must come to Gaza; otherwise, there is no heaven for them. Al Azhar, along with the Sheikhs of Palestine and the leaders of the Islamic movements, know this all too well. They are the ones to determine whether Egypt is a mediator or a partner in this genocide. They also know whether Saudi Arabia and Mohammad Bin Abdallah are playing their role or not. The Kaaba of Mohammad Bin Abdallah is not an antique vessel; it embodies everything this nation has. Where is it in all this? Do you agree with those who say that the Arab people are powerless, ruled by dictators and agents of the Israeli entity? This is utterly unacceptable. The Arab regimes are not agents; they are actually participating in the ongoing genocide, and this is certainly not up for discussion. What I see, however, is that not a single person in Egypt was killed in the street while demonstrating, simply because they did not demonstrate. Where are they from young Greta, who came all the way from Sweden to raise a glass of water in solidarity with Gaza? Where are they from Rima Al Hassan, who came from Belgium and raised a glass of milk in solidarity with Gaza? Where are the sailors of Egypt? These activists came in a boat not even fit to carry fish, and the sailors of Egypt watch like “monkeys.” Where is the Palestinian revolution in all this? Betrayal is in the entire Arab world; a demonstration in Yemen or in other Arab cities is not enough. Where is Jordan? Where are the masses of Jordan? Where are the 60% of the people of Amman who are originally Palestinians? Certainly, all this falls within the crisis of the national project, because these forces are responsible for national action. The Palestinian national action either works to elevate Palestine as a revolutionary lever for the entire Arab nation or works to shield these regimes. Following the atrocities in Gaza, many who were believers in the resistance project have stopped being so. What do you say to that? I don’t see such people. I see parents in Gaza watching their children trembling as skeletons and still raising the red flag, not the white flag. Gaza has not yet raised the white flag, and the masses of Gaza will not leave Gaza. There is no time to self-flagellate or claim that morale has collapsed. In Gaza, there are heroes. There are no people on this planet like those in Gaza. Gaza has been hit three times more than what hit Hiroshima was. 17,000 tons of explosives in Gaza, while Dresden in Germany was hit with 5,000 tons. Gaza did not surrender while Dresden fell. Today, there isn’t a single city in Europe that does not raise the Palestinian keffiyeh, the symbol of freedom. The Palestinian revolution has historically never been as prominent on the global stage as it is now. The problem remains in our national project, in our national leadership. The masses of the world, all over the planet, stand with Gaza. Do our leaders really stand with Gaza? When 30 to 35 percent of the Jewish youth in America raise the Palestinian keffiyeh and the Palestinian flag and declare that this Zionist entity is the enemy of the Jewish people and of Palestine, what does this mean? It means that the countdown to Israel’s existence has started. Where are our leaders in all this? It’s not enough for leaders to be martyred or chased after. They need to pinpoint the energy of the masses and be able to invest in it. Again, this is not happening because this is part of the crisis we spoke about. Let us not forget that over 50 percent of the prisoners of the Palestinian revolution in Israeli jails are from Fatah, but it is also Fatah that brokered the Oslo Accords, and it is the one that caused the crisis of the national project. Nonetheless, Fatah remains the mother of martyrs, the mother of the revolution, and the mother of prisoners. This is the dilemma of the national project. How do we explain that over 50 percent of Fatah members are in Israeli captivity, while there are 60,000 Fatah fighters who are mercenaries under the command of (PA President Mahmoud) Abbas and others? This embodies the national project crisis. These issues need to be addressed by the leadership of the Fatah movement. It is a reality we must confront. How will they confront it? The forces that lead the Palestinian struggle everywhere must answer these questions. They should also provide an answer regarding the status of our camps outside of Palestine and their fate. The Palestinian revolution is a revolution of camps. The Palestinian people are a people of camps. There are no Palestinian people without camps. Camps are the Palestinian identity. Where are our camps today? What is Sabra and Shatila today? What is the percentage of Palestinians inside the camp? What is their future? The relevant leaders must answer. These places are semi-liberated in principle and are not places of security chaos as we are told. They are semi-liberated because they bear all the characteristics of the liberation of Palestine; they are not hubs that bear the characteristics of prostitution, drug smuggling, etc. Who bears the responsibility for the camps? Again, this is the crisis of the national project. What will the scene in Palestine be like after the genocide in Gaza? The genocide in Gaza will not continue. The genocide will not succeed, and Gaza and the West Bank will triumph as Israel witnesses the last chapter of its existence, and this is not a poetic speech. You have repeated this in more than one interview. I am not the only one to repeat it. We have to understand that Israel has never been through what it is currently going through; this is why it will use its entire barbaric stockpile on us. This will translate into intensifying its killing machine to the maximum. Israel will throw all its unexploited barbarism at our masses in the coming days, weeks, and months. What are the leaders of the national project going to do in light of this? How will those who planned the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation face this? These are questions that require answers from all factions. When a leader like Yehya Sinwar falls as a martyr and not a fugitive in a shelter in Qatar or somewhere else, his resistance is bound to triumph. Our people’s resistance will triumph. It will triumph because of people like Sinwar and Haniyeh who neither fled nor sought ‘peace’. These leaders and their resistance cannot be defeated. Our people are aware of this and will not raise the white flag, neither in Gaza nor anywhere else. Accordingly, the responsibility of the current leaders is immense to find solutions for the national crisis. These solutions will inevitably come, although we surely regret that they are delayed because the human cost is immense. Resolving the Left-Islamic Dilemma Could the Gaza genocide kick-start a world revolution? It is bound to happen, if not today, then tomorrow. The greatest responsibility falls on the shoulders of the leaders of the revolution; they are the ones to anticipate the next stage, not me. How do you view the Islamic revolutions in the Arab world? Your approach seems to be different from many leftists. We have the impression that you view the issue from an operational perspective rather than an ideological one. Is this accurate? We are not engaged in an ideological competition; we have Arab masses, the majority of whom are Muslim. This is the organic makeup of our nation. This is not an ideological choice. These people resist with whatever is at their disposal, be it the Quran, a scientific analysis, or a missile. It is the responsibility of those in charge of the struggle to determine what is at the disposal of the Arab masses. When the Egyptian plays the mediator and the Qatari hosts the biggest American base, what message am I giving to the Arab masses? Do I expect that meeting with Egyptian intelligence, so they can coordinate with Qatari and American intelligence, will find me a way out of the revolution crisis or the national project crisis? I doubt it. All these actions contribute to the impasse we find ourselves in, including the inaction of the Arab masses. Do you think there can be a meeting point between the left and the current Islamic revolutions? All liberation movements have established a national project within which all societal actors work. Wherever a revolution triumphs, it does so through national unity. But that unity is not that of one person meeting with another; it actually entails the meeting of the entire popular bloc together to champion a project. Let’s take Al Azhar again. As any Arab or activist connected to Palestine, I don’t view it in light of the relationship between Marxist ideology and Islamic ideology, but rather in view of its objective position within the framework of our people’s movement. The same applies to Mecca. I don’t look at it from an ideological perspective but rather from its significance to Muslims around the world. What have those in charge of the national project done with their ‘Qiblah’ to incite the masses of the world to move toward Palestine? I don’t say this because I’m a communist or because I’m a believer; I say this as any person with the slightest connection to the conflict who looks at this matter and says, this is simply inconceivable. Lebanon: Resisting vs ‘Watching’ Moving to Lebanon, away from slogans, how do you see the situation there? The situation is delicate, but it is also good. The resistance has sacrificed the best of its leaders as martyrs. But there is a deep division in the country. What we have in Lebanon is not different from any other country in the world. In all the resistance movements of the world, you will find people who will sacrifice themselves in defense of their country and cowards who simply watch. In the entire world, there isn’t a country where the resistance enjoys the support of all the people. Sectarian affiliation is another issue, but I ask: who is behind the project that defends Lebanon’s identity and dignity? The resistance. There is an occupation; thus, the resistance is the initial response. Outside of the resistance, there is no solution with a national character. You can say all you want about this resistance—that it needs to represent all the Lebanese people, or it needs to be this or that. However, for you to have the right to speak, you must be on the side of the resistance, not the occupation. If you are on the side of the occupation, then you have no right to speak or even exist. When your country is under occupation, whoever stands with the enemy, regardless of their status or justifications, has no right to even exist. So, what do we do with these people? This is the responsibility of the resistance and the resistance masses: to figure out how to isolate the forces that cooperate with the enemy and open up to the masses of these forces. I did not spend a lifetime in captivity, nor did the martyr who sacrificed his life for the country, just to be labeled in the end as not representing the sovereignty of this country. Those who defend the homeland are the sovereignty of this country, not those who are ready to welcome Israel. To say that there is a contradiction between the army and the resistance is wrong. In my opinion, as with any resistance fighter, our duty is to build a very strong national army to eliminate the justification for the existence of any resistance. This is our ambition. Our ambition is for a soldier to receive a decent salary—not twenty dollars per month—to be able to support his or her family and defend the country. The leadership of the resistance should have the courage and clarity to open up to everyone with all its capabilities to build a national state that isolates all those who fail to fulfill their responsibility of sovereignty and defending the homeland for us all. A homeland in which we are all safe; otherwise, we will all lose, and no party will triumph over the other. So, until we build such an army, do you believe that the resistance should remain? Certainly, what do we do otherwise? All over the world, resistance is the first response to any aggression. I hope we succeed at building a strong army able to defend us and one that replaces all resistance. But until this happens, do I remain naked in the face of Israel? Do I face Israel with a statement here and a statement there? I want an army that considers Israel the enemy. Our soldiers are honorable; they are not members of a mafia. They are from all over Lebanon but they need to be well-trained and equipped to be able to defend the country and us. They tell us the US, France, and Britain are our friends. Brilliant, let them provide our army with weapons. But to come and tell me the US is our friend while it comes and asks us to surrender our weapons and recognize Israel, or otherwise Israel will slap you—this is unacceptable. I will continue to resist with all the means I have. The resistance should not have allowed itself to welcome the American envoy or anyone else. We, the people of this country, should meet and determine how to resist the enemy, not how to submit to the enemy. We meet to determine how to confront, not how to normalize. Everyone is well aware of what is required of Lebanon today. Lebanon is asked to abandon its Arab identity, and particularly to abandon the issue of Palestine, and live in peace with the Zionist enemy. There will be no coexistence with this enemy, not today, not tomorrow, and not the day after. If someone stands with this normalization, the resistance will fight him. If a party stands with this normalization, it will also fight it. If a sect stands with normalization, the resistance will also fight it. Whoever wants to gamble can do so, but normalization will not happen because our people will not accept it, and our people are a resistant people. The existing resistance might have certain flaws, and we might have certain reservations towards it. Go ahead and get me a better resistance. But to come and tell me this resistance is not good and that you’ll bring me an Israeli soldier instead—then I will fight you and the Israeli soldier. It is as simple as that, despite the complexities of the situation in Lebanon. We have a model meters away from us in Damascus, where the resistance project is being struck, and so is the state and society. They want Lebanon to turn into sects and tribes! They want to strike the state and the army and turn us into fighting militias, before America and Israel come to the rescue and tell each sect, “I will protect you from the other.” What is being proposed in Lebanon is the same as what is happening in Syria. This will be fought by our masses of the resistance. You want better resistance? Work on building a better one. But to come and tell me that you have to submit to Israel for the sake of the sovereignty of Lebanon—this is absurd. Sovereignty is not a suit; sovereignty is operational measures to protect the country. Israel occupies part of the Lebanese soil; what should I do? Some say you have to submit to it and you will live in peace. I tell them no, our people have historically offered millions of martyrs and have not and will not accept an alliance with this entity. Finally, do you fear for your life? No, I do not fear anything. Georges Abdallah is an ordinary citizen like all others and is not courageous, by the way. How do you spend your time nowadays? As you can see, I spend it between interviews and welcoming friends. Later on, I want to visit the camps and see my friends and find out the whereabouts of my people. Links to zines: print-imposed: https://ia800605.us.archive.org/1/items/georges-abdallah-interviews-imposed/georges-abdallah-interviews-imposed.pdf read only: https://ia800605.us.archive.org/1/items/georges-abdallah-interviews-imposed/georges-abdallah-interviews-read.pdf Received by email.https://abolitionmedia.noblogs.org/?p=22318
#antiImperialism #georgesAbdallah #lebanon #resistancePalestine #solidarityPalestine #westAsia
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Canada’s tumble in Olympic medal table could be sign of things to come
Me: Invest in sports and health, instead of the CF-XXX/F-35
https://montreal.citynews.ca/2026/02/23/canada-winter-olympics-2026-milan-analysis-medals/
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La dégringolade du Canada au tableau des médailles Olympiques pourrait être signe des choses à venirMoi: Investissez en sports et santé, au lieu des CF-XXX/F-35
// Article en anglais //
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do you know that the Nigerian investment Market will make you richer than the US market this year alone Nigerian Market has returned about 30% that’s the Stock Market and US market S&P 500 about 16% listen I’m not trying to do a comparison between the two
countries this one is better or the other one is better no I just want you to know the kind of money you can make investing in Nigerian market and in this CashNews.co I’m going to show you five different Investments we can make with as little as 100,000 naira whether you a
Nigeria living in diaspora or a Nigerian living in the country this CashNews.co is for you people are making good passive Income invested in here in Nigeria you are going to be one of them shortly and number three please watch to the third one because that is one you can start
right a week just you can do it in few minutes I am Financial Jennifer a accountant an investment banker a stock Broker when it comes to investment passive Income call me and in this community we make money moves only I bring to you the worth of knowledge and
experience I have got that advising the top 1% on their Portfolio I’m giving you all of that for free just one request could you please support this ministry by liking this CashNews.co yeah a thumbs up thank you so much it means so much to me have you done that I’m so
glad you’re part of this community and if you are new hit that subscribe button I promise you you are going to love it here our comment section is Vibes the money moves that happened here mindblowing so hit that subscribe button right away welcome to the community the first investment you can
make with 100,000 naira is fgn Savings bond what is fgn Savings bond this is like an investment initiative by the government in fact with as little as 5,000 naira you can do it if you not put 100K inside almost enjoyment will finish you right so with FJ Serv B it
happens once every month in fact I did a recent CashNews.co on the one for this month because on this channel whenever the new one comes up I notify us so if you’re not yet a member of this channel just hit the Subscribe button so you don’t miss out on any investment opportunity the
beautiful thing about this is a great way to end passive Income because with FJ Savings bond you invest once and that’s your investment you can do 2 years or three years but it should be paying you interest four times in a year right so interest are paid
quarterly let’s assume that you invest 100K and your interest is like 20,000 that means that 20,000 they will divide it into four first quarter you get 5K second quarter you get 5K just like that and it will happen like that for the first year second year third year at the end of the etal you
get back your Capital with investment you can eat your cake and have it again and that is the beautiful thing here and it is with the Nigerian government so the risk level is low C people canot see your 100,000 I run away because of it now right so this is a great investment
especially people looking for passive Income I have one of my clients she’s still she’s schooling abroad she does this what she needs to what she use it for she knows that each month it’s like paying herself salary she doesn’t even use it for herself mostly
she used it to tackle some of the bills you know her siblings that are billing her here so as the Income is going and she’s using it to settle them right so this is an amazing investment for you how do you key in so like I said before each month the subscription form comes
out the last CashNews.co I did I put the subscription link for you to follow because wherever you are you don’t need to be in Nigeria you can so why you f the form but you need a St a Broker account I have done a CashNews.co before on a Brokerage account all
you have to do is to download one of their app personally I use a investor 2.0 so once you download a invest 2.0 and sign up on it a invest automatically becomes your Broker right so whenever the offer is out they even used to send email with the link you follow the link you fill
up the subscription form you make your payment to your Brokerage account and that is that so yeah if you’re looking for a low risk investment that will pay you quarterly FG Savings bond is for you like I said just um be on the lookout on this channel put the
notification Bell on so that whenever it comes out every month I notify you oh before I forget um that if you’re not sure let’s say you have you have a particular amount you want to invest 1 million 5 million 20,000 naira you want to know how much interest it can pay you I know on the
past CashNews.co I have done on this I’m going to leave it in the description I shared my screen I showed you the calculator that a calculator we use all you have to do is just insert the amount you want to invest and then you see what is going to be but it’s so easy to calculate if the
interest rate is like 10% oh right now the interest rate is really very high I think the last one paid as high as 18% I remember when I joined Investment Bank and that times you can get like 7% 5% but now is really attractive right so all you just have to do is 18% 18% of your amount because
it’s like a full year you check it divide it into four that is what you’ll be getting the second investment you can make with $100,000 Nair is Treasury bill Treasury bill is like you lending money to the government but on the short term the previous one
I say you can do for 2 years or 3 years with Treasury bill is has to be less than one year you can do 3 months you can do do six months you can do seven months right the turn has to be less than one year and the interest rate right now is also very attractive in fact you can end as
high as 20% or even more right so with Treasury bills there are two ways you can go about it number one is for the those of you the do here that have up to 50 million right so with 50 million you can invest in the primary Market that is you are buying direct from the government you
can just reach out to any of your bank most commercial Banks run this but if you have less than um 50 million if you have $100,000 Na and above now all you have to do is go through your Brokerage and if you have a investor 2.0 app on the app you can just buy it seamlessly from the
platform right on my previous CashNews.co I shared the screen I showed you how to do it step by step I’m going to link it on the description as well listen on this channel we they talk I they show you I’m not one of those people that just tell you go and do this and I don’t tell
you how no and that’s the interesting thing about being an investment banker because these are things we do for our clients day on day right so I’ve done a tutorial CashNews.co step by step just if I’m repeating it here now it will be me repeating my myself but just go to the
description follow the um Treasury B CashNews.co and see how you can do it with your a investor app and like I tell you once to download a investor from Play Store Google Play Apple Store sign up automatically they become your Broker so yeah for um
Treasury bill when you invest it’s in bug on like s b they will split it no they’re not splitting anything if you invest 100K and they tell you your interest is 15,000 that means at the end of the T you get 115,000 money you didn’t work for okay basically your
money worked for you right that’s how was and actually there’s an interesting PA you could get the money ahead up front so you can decide to invest 100,000 today and you want the interest paid today that 15K you want to resist it today you can do that perfectly all you have to do is to
let them know that you are taking your interest up front so you just give 100k with them take your 15,000 naira and go away at the end of the 10 you come back for your invested Capital so yeah why not go get a investor or reach out to your Broker if you already
have one the third investment you can make with 100,000 naira is on a ptech platform so we have so many F platforms here in Nigeria we have Optimus we have um piggy vest we have cow wise there so many of them in fact ah God Jennifer you don’t do plenty things of this community so I have a
CashNews.co where I did a comparison like more like a review of the top seven and ftech platforms you can use to save and invest here in Nigeria I also link it in the description see if you’re on a money journey and in this community you have everything you need tell your people to pull up
okay so yeah any of the fch platform this is their rates are really competitive personally I use Optimus Optimus by aest and right now on Optimus you can get as high as 20% 20% so what it means is that money you’re living in the bank push it to your Optimus account so when you create account
on Optimus right you will get a dedicated bank account I think it used to be a womma bank so when you get this send money to it okay and automatically it will reflect on your Optimus account now on Optimus there are different ways that you can save there’s the one of lock you can lock the
funds for like one year 6 months 3 months each one has its own interest rate the longer you lock it the more interest ratees you’re going to get right so when you lock it just going to relax at the end of the 10 or you choose you come back pick your money and your interest or if you leave it
in Flex that’s also I think Flex right there is like 133% as as at the time of this CashNews.co right so you don’t have to do anything this is the one that is so easy to do as you even watching this CashNews.co you can be downloading the app Optimus by afro invest in fact I leave the
download um link so that because that think there so many optimos on the Play Store I will leave the download the Cor download link on the description download it sign up as simple as that when get your dedicated bank account move money to it in less than 5 minutes you are done and the money will
start earning interest for you passive Income in fact some months like this when they pay like because every month they would um act your interest it’s compounds monthly there sometimes I can get as high as 60,000 50,000 100,000 depending on the amount you have there and this
is money that could be in my bank I do but now you are earning an interest on top of it right so yeah I think someone has also asked me to do a tutorial CashNews.co on optimal have I think I the one I did in the past was on stock how to buy stock on a on Optimus but I’m going to do another
one to show you the different things you can do on Optimus the mutual fund the dollar Savings the N Savings all of it I’m going to do that but for the purpose of this CashNews.co just know that you can save on Optimus app and ear as high as 20% even same with
piggy I think piggy you can ear more than 12% many of them just pick the one you trose so many of them just take the one you are you have confidence in like Optimus now is owned by a invest who is one of the best investment Banks here in Nigeria investment banker typically are usually more
comfortable with platforms that are backed by Investment Bank right so that is another way you could end passive Income investing here in Nigeria with as little as 100,000 fact it’s Optimus 1,000 you can put 5,000 you can put there okay the four investment you can do with
100,000 is Money Market mutual fund please could you like the CashNews.co if you’ve not and if you if you’ve liked it already thank you so much you are the reason why we are here the channel is growing oh my God we are almost at 10,000 if not like I don’t know
what this CashNews.co is going to go live but at the time of this recording we are like 9,000 something the channel is blowing up and I know I got serious here this like one month ago thank you so much to everyone that’s been a part of this community it’s really encouraging like to see
that young people like I are really interested in Finance a lot of people don’t care about these things but here you are Financial person like you thank you for being
here and then talking of Money Market that is the number four investment you can do Money Market is a type of mutual fund right so when I say mutual fund it’s like people coming to together here in this our financial Community now we can decide okay Jenny I
have 100K you you have 20K somebody has 5 million someone have 10 million we can come together put the money together give it asset managers okay handle this money for us so with that money they will take it some can go and invest in stock so can go invest in like fix uh Income uh
instrument like Treasury bills commercial papers so money Markets is the ones that invest in Money Market instrument like Treasury BS and
you know Treasury B is a lowrisk investment why a lot of people love Money Market mutual fund is because with Money Market mutual fund your Capital can never go below right other mutual fund like Equity M fund that
invest in stock you know Stock Market moves up and down but with Treasury bill it’s like you take your you invest you come back and take your money it can never go below it right the only thing that the interest rate will just be climbing I think right now is
actually for track I know that St Bic Money Market right now is more than 20% right on on Optimus the Money Market fund there is um Pluto APF that should be at about 18% or there about right now so by the virtue of you just moving your money going to a platform
there are so many um platforms you can do mutual fund that is the Optimus of course that is cry wise you can even reach out to your bank stand b car so with Optimus if you use Optimus already you can just go and check APF that is Money Market mutual fund in fact Minon is 5,000 you
I’m even saying 100,000 but with 100,000 you can invest comfortably and be getting your Income so I think they pay every quarterly they acre the interest and pay back to you and you can terminate any time you want any day you decide you need your money back you just go and
liquidate it immediately it doesn’t take time so yes please your money is better invested in money Mar your bank you’ve left it idle for so long and the fifth investment you can do is investing in text-decoration: none;">ETFs right so I know you probably heard about investing in stock maybe Nigerian stock like the bank Zenit MTN ETF okay but talking about ETF let me say the truth I actually prefer us text-decoration: none;">ETFs to Nigerian ETFs I’m not lie because because here in Nigeria I’m not really sure what the ETS performance has been like is costly and I’m not
really sure this is I shouldn’t be saying this because I’m a CH stock Broker here in Nigeria but on this community I don’t hide anything from you personally me I don’t have any ETF in the Nigerian Market most of my ETF are you know in us um in US
href="https://cashnews.co/markets" style="font-weight: bold; color: #1a73e8; text-decoration: none;">Markets like the vo vgt so what is ETF ETF is a basket of different stock you know the way you can invest in individual company maybe let’s say you want to invest in Apple Amazon Facebook
right instead of investing in individual stock you can invest combined right let me illustrate with one of the top ETFs vo so vo is an ETF that tracks the top 500 companies in the US right so if
you invest in vo that means you’re getting a tiny stake of all those top companies don’t get confus I’m here to simplify it so let me also break it down further let’s use small chops for example so small chops is made of of w the king of small chops and maybe beef and Samosa
all of those right I can de to just eat pu puff and go and sleep or I can eat Samosa and go and sleep or I can decide that no I want a bit of everything can you mix it together and that is a small chop so I’m eating here small here small puff puff small this small that right that is like ETF
instead of just buying apple and go buy Tesla and go you can decide to like all of them combined the Beautiful thing with ITF is that the risk level is low right because that is it’s hard for all those 500 companies talking of VO we go down the same time no highest if one messes up move away
now another one will replace it right that is a beautiful thing about investing in ETFs so how do you invest in ETF I use any platform you use to invest in stock I have different CashNews.cos on
how to invest in stock here on this channel I also link it on the description so any platform you can invest in stock you can also invest in ETF it’s the same way it work go there search for the so some of the top text-decoration: none;">ETFs you can check you can set for vo last year vo returned more than 20% that is vgt um the information technology VT is the companies that ETF that invest in information technology companies there is vti vti invest in all of them like it tracks all of them right so
that is ETF for you so any platform you use for stock just go don’t t for ETF you not see anything so instead of just searching ETF just search V vgt search the particular ETF you want and trust me this is an interesting way your money could make money for you because although it’s low
risk some can return more than 20% average is like 10 12% but a lot of years they do way more than that and there you have it my money buy the five Investments you can do with 100,000 what I need you to do now please this is not the channel where we listen and we go no we listen to
these CashNews.cos we watch it and we practice if you ready to start practicing immediately go on the description I’m going to list different CashNews.cos you like if there’s any particular one I mentioned now I have dedicated CashNews.co for it so check the description if you want to
Treasury view there CashNews.co on Treasury view where I Shar my screen and show you click here click here there’s one on Savings bond next month when the Savings B is available I’m going to notify you so subscribe to
the channel if you’ve not so you don’t miss it turn on the notification Channel Jennifer notification button I what do they call it turn on the notification Bell so that you don’t miss it even the one for stock and E I’m going to link it in the description so go and watch it
right way so that you get better detailed understanding download the apps you need to download I’m going to link um Optimus on the description download the one you need to download because on this channel you see this bag we must secure it
Now that you’re fully informed, check out this insightful video on How To Start Investing For Beginners in Nigeria (Investment Banker Explains). With over 112896 views, this video deepens your understanding of Finance.CashNews, your go-to portal for financial news and insights.
#Start #Investing #Beginners #Nigeria #Investment #Banker #Explains#1a73e8 #333 #Banker #Beginners #EXPLAINS #finance #Investing #Investment #Nigeria #START
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Okay, #FalloutTVSeries. One of the main reasons I wanted to watch you was that you showed me #MichaelEmerson in the trailer. And now I'm two episodes in, and you're telling me he's only in one episode? His character is *so* vastly more interesting than this unlikely "ghoul" you're asking me to invest in.
I'll keep watching, but I am less impressed by the moment. 🤬
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Okay, #FalloutTVSeries. One of the main reasons I wanted to watch you was that you showed me #MichaelEmerson in the trailer. And now I'm two episodes in, and you're telling me he's only in one episode? His character is *so* vastly more interesting than this unlikely "ghoul" you're asking me to invest in.
I'll keep watching, but I am less impressed by the moment. 🤬
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Okay, #FalloutTVSeries. One of the main reasons I wanted to watch you was that you showed me #MichaelEmerson in the trailer. And now I'm two episodes in, and you're telling me he's only in one episode? His character is *so* vastly more interesting than this unlikely "ghoul" you're asking me to invest in.
I'll keep watching, but I am less impressed by the moment. 🤬
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I didn't know about the #nurseStrike in #nyc until today
But I was at the Farmers market and all of a sudden I saw these red capped red scarves people walking down the street and it was clear they were going somewhere and my buddy told me
So I gave them a solidary fist as they passed by
And then I had a nice conversation with someone who was complimenting my dog
He told me it was because at least in part due to AI and then saying it is taking their jobs which it probably is because hospital administrators are fucking sociopaths that don't care if more people die
It's like saying yes AI will definitely help medicine So here let me invest in all of these cars
What they're calling AI and the AI that will be helpful in medicine are two different types of AI and the type of AI that they are advocating ((yeah get that f****** b****)Sorry I'm watching the Nazi genocide blonde in #andor get dragged by the mob... This is a good show to be watching in these times)
Anyway the AI that they are justifying getting rid of people for is exactly the wrong AI it's the AI that gives wrong answers half the time
The AI that will help medicine will actually need more people not less and to conflate the two is literally genocide itself removing the possibility of healthcare from anyone unless there's lots of money involved
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I picked up Into the Odd, Remastered when it was first released by Free League back in 2022. I read it right away but, at the time, I felt the game might be almost too rules lite. But that was a couple years ago and my tastes have changed. So I decided to revisit Into the Odd for Independent Role-Playing Game Month this year. I’m glad I did! Let’s take a look.
Core Mechanics
Into the Odd‘s core mechanic is the save. Players roll a d20 and attempt to roll equal to or under the most appropriate attribute for the check. A 1 is always a success and a 20 is always a failure.
Whenever a situation arises where a normal check isn’t appropriate, such as when a party makes a ruckus in a dangerous area, the Referee can make a luck roll using a d6. High rolls favor the players and low rolls trigger some sort of bad luck determined by the Referee. Checks for wandering encounters are a special form of luck roll. Whenever a party moves from one area to another in a populated region, such as a dungeon or wilderness, the Referee rolls a d6. A 1 triggers a random encounter, while a 2 gives a hint at a potential nearby encounter. I enjoy this mechanic, as it allows the dice to build up tension as a party explores.
Combat in Into the Odd is interesting because every attack hits. When an attack is declared the attacker rolls damage, from which the target subtracts their current armor score. If a character has not rested, or had either food or water, all attacks are impaired and damage is reduced to d4 damage no matter what weapon is being used. The reverse can also happen. When a character uses an attack the target is weak against the attack is enhanced and the damage is increased to a d12.
Hit Points are a character’s first pool of damage, for both PCs and NPCs. Once HP is reduced to 0 further damage is taken from a character’s Strength, and is considered a wound. Whenever a character takes damage to their Strength they must also make a Strength save or suffer Critical Damage. Characters in such a state must take a short rest and be tended to by an ally. If this is not done within one hour the character dies. Some creatures, however, can do horrific things to a PC if they ever suffer critical damage during combat–most of which present “colorful” ways to suffer an instant death. Combat is dangerous, and if it can be avoided, it is a wise option.
About Characters
Into the Odd may have the most simple character creation processes which has ever been devised for a tabletop role-playing game. Each character has three attributes–Strength, Dexterity, and Willpower. These scores are determined by a 3d6 roll, and applied to the attributes in the order listed. Each PC also begins play with 1d6 Hit Points.
Starting equipment is determined by taking a character’s highest attribute score and, using a table found on pages 10-11, comparing it to their starting Hit Points. Players see where the two values converge and write the equipment down on their sheets, adding any relevant information from the equipment list found on pages 12-13, and mark down any identifying characteristics which appear in the kit description. That’s it. If players would like, they can use the “Oddpendium” tables found in the back of the book to generate a character name, profession, and key capability. But it’s not necessary.
Characters advance by meeting one of the milestones listed on page 37. When a milestone is reached the player rolls a d20 for each attribute. If the result is greater than the current score, that attribute increases by one. Advancing characters also gain d6 hit points.
About Arcanum
Arcanum are the most sought-after items in the game, and are often the catalyst for any expeditions into the unknown. There are three levels of arcanum–normal, greater, and legendary–and both the powers and hazards associated with the arcanum increase with level. Some arcanum can be carried, while some legendary arcanum can be the size of a room.
These are also not simple “magic swords.” The abilities arcanum possess are unique, and are meant to be weird. There’s a list of arcana inside the book, but the “Oddpedia” includes two d100 tables for generating new arcanum on pages 134 and 135.
I like this design. It makes special items both weird and ripe with potential danger, and that is excellent flavor.
Beyond Delving
Into the Odd excels at exploration and dungeon crawling, but it also has some rules for what characters can do in-between expeditions.
As the characters advance their reputations will also increase, which will cause NPCs to treat them as “known figures”–though the type of treatment the PCs receive will depend on both their actions and the faction with which they’re interacting. If the party snatched a rare arcana from the grasp of a well-financed organization, for example, their “known” status may create enemies with which they’ll need to deal. A character’s reputation may also draw people who desire to apprentice with them. These are NPCs who are rolled up as characters and advance just like a PC does. In worst case scenarios, the apprentice becomes a nice back up PC if a player’s main character meets their demise. Depending how the main character perishes, it can also give the apprentice some motivations a player can use as role-playing fodder!
In addition to their reputation, characters may also invest money to start a new enterprise which can earn them profit. Enterprises cost 10 Guilders to establish and generate 1d4 Guilders income per month 1. The income is not automatic, however, as an enterprise will also suffer a threat which inflicts a 1d4 Guilder loss on the business if it’s not dealt with. If the loss is ever greater then an enterprise’s profit the business collapses, along with whatever money was invested in it. The nature of these threats isn’t specified in the rulebook, which gives a Referee a wide open space to create urban adventures as characters struggle to deal with whatever is threatening their business. Enterprises can also grow. Each month a business makes a profit their die type for both profit and loss increases one step–up to a d12. Threats to an enterprise can make for some wonderful adventure hooks!
If a party doesn’t want to be limit themselves to being small-business owners, they can further extend their influence by establishing detachments. Like enterprises, these cost 10 Guilders to establish, as well as 1d6 Guilders in upkeep each month. A detachment is treated as a single entity, and their base numbers can be increased by spending money on weapons and armor–for twenty times the listed equipment cost. Detachment attacks on individual targets are enhanced, doing d12 damage to their target, and they are immune to individual attacks unless they are explosive or “suitably large scale.” The rules for detachments are interesting, but could use a bit more fleshing out. Not much, as that would undermine the simplicity of the game’s design, but an example of play on how one might use detachments would be helpful.
Referee Stuff
Page 42 of Into the Odd is filled with materials for the Referee, what the game calls the Game Master. It begins with simple advice for running the game, including the basic duties of a Referee and how the save mechanic is meant to be used. It also includes advice for treasure, hazards, and designing encounters.
There’s also some bare bones advice on how to create creatures, followed by a few example monsters. When I first read the book I was a bit confused by the lack of a bestiary, but the more I have pondered the game the more I appreciate the design decision. Into the Odd is meant to be… odd…and providing too many typical tropes would have constrained the Referee from leaning into the oddness. Creating creatures is a simple process, and the example monsters serve as useful tutorials. They are more than enough to get started.
After the general advice Into the Odd has several pages on the game world, all described with its signature terse style. Each region in the world, including the main city of Bastion, is described much like an NPC. The flavor of the place is what matters, not the exact locations which can be found in each. This helps give some scaffolding for Referees to build their campaign, while also keeping the world open for them to develop as a result of play.
The final section in the book is the “Oddpedia,” which contains a number of tables a Referee can use to help resolve ways the game world responds to the character’s actions, but the tables are also a great resource for any other game a GM may want to run.
The Adventure
Pages 62-115 contain a sample adventure which functions as both an introduction for players and as an adventure creation tutorial for Referees. The adventure introduces a new town the PCs can spend time in, Hopesend, as well as a nice sized hex crawl which a party may traverse. The Sunken Marsh is a dangerous place, containing a number of mini-dungeons, is ripe with rumors, filled with potential random encounters, and descriptions for each hex.
The final part of the adventure, The Iron Coral, is a three level dungeon with sixty rooms to explore! Not only are the rooms presented using Into the Odd‘s terse style, they also include arrows pointing in the direction of the room’s exits and features. The dungeon’s maps are not a classic grid. Rather, they are presented in a hand-drawn style which indicates some of the basic contents of each room. It’s a beautiful design.
Between the intrigues of Hopesend, the hidden secrets of the Fallen Marsh, and the depths of the Iron Coral Into the Odd presents a wonderful sandbox for a starter campaign. It makes me want to run the system.
Layout
Into the Odd‘s interior design is unusual compared to other TTRPG books I’ve read. Margins are wide, which reduces the amount of text space on each page. This necessitates brevity for the throughout the book, which makes the game’s rules glanceable and allows the game to be easy to pick up and run. The few times this brevity works against the game, as with the rules for detachments, don’t out-weigh the benefits of this design choice.
The body text is a clean serif font while chapter titles are a decorative serif font with glyphs that are both tall and skinny. I’m a fan of the title font, it’s distinct and attractive.
I’m not certain how to describe the book’s artwork as anything other than “odd.” Most images seem to be composites of various elements, including photographs, which have been edited to share a similar color palette. Nothing feels quite “settled,” which is a perfect way to depict the game’s world. The more I examine the book the more I appreciate it.
There is only one heading level inside the book, their presentation contributes to the uniqueness of Into the Odd‘s layout. Headers are a bold san-serif font which are right-justified along the left page margin, and are presented with a significant amount of white space between it and the section above. The body text “below” the header it is set about 1/3 of the way across the page, beginning in-line with its heading, which makes tracking a topic’s beginning and end points easy. It also necessitates making rule descriptions even more terse than was already required due to the increased margin-size. Looking at the page, it seems almost as if the rules are laid out in a borderless table, with headings in one column and the associated text in another. I appreciate the bold design choice, and the skill it took to keep such terse descriptions useable for players and referees alike.
Book Design
Into the Odd is an A5 “digest” size book, weighing in at 146 pages. It’s a stitched binding hardback, so the book is durable. It’s also printed on flat paper and includes a book ribbon. All told, Into the Odd is a well-designed product with a great look and feel.
Conclusion
Is Into the Odd still too rules-lite for me? Not at all. The more I explore rules lite games the more I appreciate the concept. I’m bringing this game to a table as fast as I can because it’s dead simple and flavorful. If you want some old school danger with a fresh take on mechanics Into the Odd, Remastered is a great addition to your shelf!
Into the Odd Remastered can be purchased as a print book/PDF combination from Free League for $41.80 or as a PDF alone for $14.99 from DriveThru RPG. Check this one out.
In case you were wondering. 100 Pennies make a Shilling, 100 Shillings make Guilder. A Guilder is a lot of money. ↩
https://dmtales.com/2024/07/03/into-the-odd/
#dd #DMing #DnD #DungeonsDragons #dungeonsAndDragons #GMing #IndieRPGMonth #NSR #OSR #Review #RolePlayingGame #RPG #TTRPG
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New: Abu Dhabi investment fund MGX says “compliance history” was among the factors in using $2B of USD1 to invest in Binance.
Trump’s stablecoin had just launched.
me, for @Forbes
#news #uspol #trump #usd1 $usd1 #crypto #tech
1/
#news #crypto #usd1 #binance #tech #uspol #trump
https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacheverson/2025/10/02/mgx-usd1-binance-trump-stablecoin-world-liberty-financial/ -
Please get on Fanbase! Invest in it.
https://Startengine.com/fanbase
Fanbase is Black-owned social media and you can monetize on the platform, founded by Isaac Hayes III.
Join me: https://Fanbase.app/popcornreel
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What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 136
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.
Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Parasite Eve Revisited– If you were fortunate enough to have played the horror-themed Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) Parasite Eve on PlayStation in 1998, be thankful you did because there is no certainty that the Parasite Eve franchise of games will be revived anytime soon due to legal obstacles and disagreements between Square Enix and PE’s creator Hideaki Sena. That said, I found this in-depth and extensive retrospective video about the 1998 game and I encourage you all to watch it.
https://youtu.be/D_4aWG6TTfo?si=yuYqhLuoaMEwLRm6
#2 Food Courts In Japan Getting Fancy – Have you ever tried eating in a food court while visiting Japan? While food courts in many countries have the typical set-up of chairs and tables with many food/beverage joints present and ready to sell something affordable to customers, there are a few food courts of Japan getting fancier and more unique. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.
https://youtu.be/84sGQUFEJoM?si=YcUDnGbhV6M2D0dz
#3 The 1995 Mortal Kombat Animated Feature Revisited – In the mid-1990s, live-action film adaptations of popular fighting games were released in cinemas. While the movies of Street Fighter and Double Dragon failed in the cinemas, the live-action Mortal Kombat movie of 1995 succeeded commercially and was mostly approved by the fans. But before the MK film was released, there was actually a prequel animated movie titled Mortal Kombat: The Journey Legends released straight to video in April 1995. If you want to discover the animated Mortal Kombat without having to invest anything on it, go watch the GoodBadFlicks retrospective video of it below. It’s an entertaining watch!
https://youtu.be/gehcSV6funo?si=D_xH_1SA0MYuVib6
#4 Another Batman Returns Retrospective By Minty Comedic Arts – Minty Comedic Arts made another retrospective video about a version of Batman Returns that most people have not seen. This one covers the original plans of having Robin in the 1992 movie, the casting shifts and scenes that were edited or removed entirely from the film’s theatrical release. If you are a fan of the movie, or a Batman fan or you simply enjoy superhero movies, then this video is a must-see!
https://youtu.be/UucIAhvpqQ0?si=Poi-mmsm1zaYWHHc
#5 Assorted Blade Runner Reaction Videos – Have you ever seen the 1982 science fiction detective movie Blade Runner starring Harrison Ford? I did and it definitely is not the thrilling adventure that the movie’s official poster made people think it would be. It’s more of suspense, intrigue and atmosphere, and the movie was deliberately paced between slow and medium speed to effectively tell its story. For some people, it is a futuristic-looking crawler while others admired it. Not only that, there are multiple versions of the movie released. Considering its reputation, it is not surprising that Blade Runner was featured in many movie reaction videos and I found the ones that are entertaining to watch. Watch the videos below.
https://youtu.be/OE0axQrlOmk?si=FvcT2iOFwoSblUuC
https://youtu.be/bgsFHMzfRFQ?si=zAFt_g36–_AM-Ma
https://youtu.be/zDWUX9DsWBc?si=mzPlOC4Oo_67N7JG
https://youtu.be/yZ6fBDv-sWM?si=MX3vFQAKdQBts5Or
https://youtu.be/kBJV4n8VpG8?si=k8Nj8x9R7fEO0f-H
https://youtu.be/_0IMyu1fogE?si=7rFWrh4dZxquxbQ2
https://youtu.be/ouSt3Xi7O0s?si=Ykzo1-ysuzquKGEk
#6 Ranting For Vengeance Slams Upcoming Resident Evil Movie – Let us be very clear here. Resident Evil is one of the most popular video game franchises of all time with many of its games ending up as commercial and critical blockbusters. When it comes to live-action movie adaptations of Resident Evil, those films ended up as action-packed vehicles of Milla Jovovich with selected Resident Evil characters like Jill Valentine, Claire Redfield, Chris Redfield and Leon Kennedy ending up as token characters on the big screen. Now there is a new Resident Evil live-action movie coming up and it clearly is not faithful to the games and its bad quality production values are dead giveaways. Recently Ranting For Vengeance posted a video slamming the new RE movie and I encourage you to watch it now.
https://youtu.be/dfM1I44hPx4?si=ypC-H9gj_Uq9sHuR
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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
#1980s #1990s #amusement #animation #Asia #assassin #AyaBrea #Batman #BatmanReturns #BladeRunner #Blog #CarloCarrasco #Catwoman #ChatGPT #ChrisRedfield #CineBinge #cinema #ClaireRedfield #comicBook #comicBooks #comics #comicsBlog #crossover #entertainment #entertainmentBlog #Facebook #fightingGames #film #food #foodCourt #fun #geek #GoodBadFlicks #Google #GoogleSearch #HarrisonFord #HideakiSena #horror #Inclusion #Instagram #Japan #JapaneseRPGJRPG #JillValentine #LeonKennedy #MillaJovovich #MintyComedicArts #MortalKombat #MortalKombatTheJourneyBegins #movies #mustSee #mustWatch #Nippon #NipponTV #nostalgia #onlineVideos #ParasiteEve #PlayStation #PopcornInBed #RantingForVengeance #reboot #ResidentEvil #RetroGaming #Reviews #rolePlayingGameRPG #RPG #sciFi #scienceFiction #socialMedia #SquareEnix #superhero #TBRSchmitt #The1980s #The1990s #TotallyWhatever #Tumblr #Twitter #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmericaUSA #USA #video #videoBlog #videoGames #videos #Vigilante #VKunia #WhatToWatchOnYouTube #woke #WordPress #WordPressCom #YouMeAndTheMovies #YouTube #YouTuber #YouTubers -
“The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence – it is to act with yesterday’s logic”*…
Jennifer Pahlka— the founder and long-time leader of Code for America, the former US Deputy Chief Technology Officer, the author of Recoding America, and the cofounder and board chair of the Recoding America Fund— has dedicated her life to improving governance and government services. Here, she reflects on a core lesson that she has learned…
I got into government reform sixteen years ago, though I didn’t think of it as reform at the time. I thought of it as just trying to make a few specific things work better. Since then I’ve worked at the local, state, and federal levels, on benefit delivery, on national defense, on a handful of things in between. I’ve worked alongside a lot of people whose own paths in this work have run the gamut. Collectively we’ve seen a lot. I think we’ve learned a lot about what we often call the operating model of government.
But the government we have — the operating model it runs on, the rules and structures and assumptions that shape how it hires, procures, and delivers — was built for a world that no longer exists, and the distance between that world and this one is growing. We are approaching the kind of moment when that gap stops being a management problem and becomes a true legitimacy crisis. (Many will say that moment has already come.) It’s time to start asking whether the theory of change most of us have been operating under — incremental improvements off a pretty poor baseline — was ever going to get us to a government capable of meeting fast-changing needs. It hasn’t yet, and if we don’t do something differently, it won’t.
Kelly Born at the Packard Foundation recently shared with me a framework called the Three Horizons, originally developed by Anthony Hodgson and adapted widely in systems-change work. In it, Horizon 1 is the currently dominant system. It’s functional enough to persist but failing in critical ways, especially for people with less power. Horizon 3 is the future system you’re working toward, already visible in patches of practice that embody different values and different ways of working, but far from the norm. Horizon 2 is the turbulent middle where change agents work.
But the key insight is that not all Horizon 2 work is the same. Some H2 innovations genuinely create the conditions for the new system to emerge. Call those transforming H2, or H2+. Others, however inadvertently, extend the lifespan of the failing system by relieving the pressure that might otherwise force structural change. Call those sustaining H2, or H2-. Both feel like reform, but they have very different long-term implications.
H2- work is attractive because it usually produces real value in the short run. H2+ work can take a long time to pay off, and the path is rarely clear. In a stable environment, you can get away with a lot of H2-. In an environment where the underlying system has become truly untenable, the difference between the two starts to matter a great deal. I think that’s where we are now…
[Jen describes a few projects that illustrate patterns that play out over and over in the category of H2-, the work that sustains the status quo…]
… The H2- work I’m describing has been done in good faith by people. I am one of those people. Code for America, which I founded and where I spent more than a decade, is in important respects capacity substitution. USDR, which I also helped start, is as well. The healthcare.gov rescue (which I didn’t actually work on but tried to provide moral support for) was the rescue-and-rebuild cycle. For much of the past fifteen years, the H2- path was arguably the right call. When there was no political space for structural change, demonstrations were a good way to build the evidence base and develop the field.
I think we are in a different moment now. This moment is defined by disruption. I count three kinds.
Contingent disruption — pandemics, climate events, geopolitical shocks, financial crises — is unpredictable in its specifics but very predictable in its category: large, fast-moving, high-stakes demands that fall disproportionately on government. COVID was not an anomaly. The next version won’t look the same.
The most recent disruption to federal government, however, was political. Whatever the cost of its methods, DOGE made the brittleness of the current operating model impossible to ignore and created political openings for structural arguments that previously had no traction. The reform field did not create this moment. But it can shape what comes out of it.
AI brings structural disruption. This is a transformation already underway in the material conditions of work, economy, and administration. AI creates dramatic change in both the needs and conditions government must respond to and the ways in which it can respond at the same time. Yes, I certainly mean a social safety net not nearly fit to handle the levels of unemployment that are likely coming our way, and yes, I mean possible upsets in the balance of power between agencies and the vendors they rely on, but that’s barely scratching the surface.
AI is not only an exogenous shock that government will have to absorb. It is also moving the bar on what counts as acceptable service in the first place. People are already using AI to understand their medical bills, navigate insurance denials, and draft appeals for benefits they were wrongly denied. Soon they will expect to apply for SNAP or file their taxes by uploading a paystub and answering a few plain-language questions, not by filling out even the best-designed web form. The forty-page PDF used to feel intolerable. The well-designed web form will start to feel that way too, and faster than the last transition did.
And service delivery is only the most visible piece. The same expectation shift is going to hit regulation, permitting, enforcement, how quickly an agency can respond to a new problem, how a legislature decides whether a law is working. If a small team with the right tools can map a regulatory regime in a week, the timelines we have now, in which rulemaking takes several years–or even multiple presidential terms–become indefensible. If an advocate can stress-test a policy against thousands of edge cases before it gets enacted, the standard for what counts as due diligence in lawmaking starts to move. The bar is rising on the whole surface of what government does, not just on the forms people fill out.
Not everyone wants this shift to happen. Public sector unions have secured laws in several states forbidding the use of AI in service delivery, won contracts requiring union consent before autonomous vehicles can operate, and pushed legislation mandating staffing levels that the work no longer requires — as my colleagues Robert Gordon and Nick Bagley have documented. The concern for workers caught in this transition is legitimate. But blocking government’s transformation while the world around it moves on is not a strategy for protecting those workers. It exacerbates public frustration with government, weakens the case for investing in it, and leaves the people who most depend on public services with a system increasingly unfit to serve them.
So the gap we have been measuring, between what government delivers and what the public considers a basic level of competence, is widening from both ends at once. The system is straining to clear the old bar at the same moment the bar is rising.
In this environment, the benefits systems that struggled to scale during COVID will be asked to scale again. The regulatory processes that can’t move quickly will be asked to respond to developments they weren’t designed to anticipate. The civil service system that can’t attract the people it needs now will need to attract people with skills that didn’t exist a decade ago.
If I had to pick, it’s AI that drives this disruptive moment. But I don’t have to pick. You could just as easily imagine climate shocks, or the next pandemic, or an escalation of the current war. Truly, some combination of all the above is not that unlikely. Reasonable people may disagree about the size and shape of the disruption AI will bring, but betting against disruption generally seems deeply unwise at the moment.
If you buy that argument, then we must acknowledge that a reform field largely dedicated to H2- work is not what the moment calls for. In a stable environment, H2- work that buys time for a failing system might be much-needed, and might be a missed opportunity for transformation. In an environment where disruptions of all kinds are accelerating, it becomes a compounding liability. Extending the lifespan of a brittle system just means the system eventually fails more spectacularly. More people get hurt. More people look for alternatives to democracy.
That doesn’t mean we need to throw everything out and start over. For the reform ecosystem, it means existing actors need incentives to align their work toward structural transformation, new actors with adjacent expertise need to be welcomed into the fold (especially advocates and lobbyists, given how little influence muscle the field has today), and connections need to be made both upstream and downstream of where we’ve been focused. It means articulating competing H3 visions from a wide range of ideological and practical perspectives and debating them among, including the project that sparked this line of thinking, which Kelly funded and FAI and New America are currently working on. It means designing funding and partnership structures that reward structural ambition while staying grounded in meaningful near-term progress. Funders and grantees share responsibility for creating the conditions under which a diverse set of actors can aim higher by working together, and connecting the dots upstream.
For this to work, it can’t be a zero sum game. Government capacity is wildly neglected in philanthropy despite its high leverage. (Good luck naming an issue philanthropists care about that doesn’t benefit from increased government capacity.) Could the field stop doing some H2- work? Sure. That would free up some existing resources for more H2+ work, which has been too little of the field’s mindshare and resources to date. But that is not the path forward — it wouldn’t get us where we need to be. We need more resources, full stop. We need to make the case to philanthropy for greater investment in the entire field (that’s part of what Recoding America Fund is trying to do) and make the case to government leaders, including electeds, to invest in better plumbing, so that the investment in H2+ work isn’t coming at the expense of the essential life support…
[Jen outlines some of the key principles that animate H2+ efforts, then ponders “doing different things differently”…]
… I realized early last year that while I’d spent the bulk of my career trying to drag government into the Internet Era, that work has to change now. We are entering a new era, and if those of us who fought the last fight don’t adapt to the conditions and expectations of this one, we’ll make exactly the mistake the people who resisted internet-era ways of working made. We’ll become the blockers — the ones holding on to old ways of working because that is what we are used to and that is what we are good at.
None of which means rescue work should stop, or that demonstrations are worthless, or that capacity substitution isn’t helpful and needed. Some H2- work, done deliberately and named honestly, is best understood as experimentation: we’re running it inside the failing system precisely because that’s where we’ll learn what a new operating model has to do. That’s a different kind of work from rescue that produces learning incidentally, but both can be valuable.
But the field needs a shared frame clear-eyed enough to ask, with each investment: does this move the system toward H3, or does it prolong H1? That question should be driving how resources, talent, and attention get allocated now, not because the prior work was mistaken but because the moment is different and the cost of extending the status quo is too high. There will have to be work that sustains the status quo, but what tradeoffs are we willing to make?
But insisting we ask the question does not mean that answering it is easy: there is no objective set of criteria that distinguishes one from the other. What may look like H2+ to some may seem like H2- to others, and part of that depends on your particular vision of that third horizon (more on that in the coming weeks.) Some may see work as contributing to a transformation, and therefore H2+, but towards an undesired H3 state. Grappling with how to answer this question is work we all need to be doing…
… Some things haven’t changed. The community is still full of good, smart people with enormous insight into a very difficult problem. We’ve just run out of time to do it the way we’ve been doing it. A brittle system that gets propped up through manageable shocks will eventually meet a shock it can’t survive, and we are moving into a period where the shocks are neither manageable nor hypothetical. Every H2- intervention that returns the system to “good enough” is now a bet that good enough will hold. It’s a bet I no longer think we can afford to make.
The window for H2+ work has not been open like this before. It will not stay open indefinitely.
Eminently worth reading in full.
What DOGE coulda, shoulda been: “A Three Horizons Framework for Government Reform,” from @pahlkadot.bsky.social.
* Peter Drucker
###
As we face forward, we might recall that it was on this date in 1970 that President Richard Nixon formally authorized the commitment of U.S. combat troops, in cooperation with South Vietnamese units, against North Vietnamese troop sanctuaries in Cambodia.
#Cambodia #culture #future #government #governmentReform #history #Nixon #politics #RichardNixon #VietnamWarSecretary of State William Rogers and Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird, who had continually argued for a downsizing of the U.S. effort in Vietnam, were excluded from the decision to use U.S. troops in Cambodia. Gen. Earle Wheeler, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, cabled Gen. Creighton Abrams, senior U.S. commander in Saigon, informing him of the decision that a “higher authority has authorized certain military actions to protect U.S. forces operating in South Vietnam.” Nixon believed that the operation was necessary as a pre-emptive strike to forestall North Vietnamese attacks from Cambodia into South Vietnam as the U.S. forces withdrew and the South Vietnamese assumed more responsibility for the fighting. Nevertheless, three National Security Council staff members and key aides to presidential assistant Henry Kissinger resigned in protest over what amounted to an invasion of Cambodia.
When Nixon publicly announced the Cambodian incursion on April 30, it set off a wave of antiwar demonstrations. A May 4, protest at Kent State University resulted in the killing of four students by Army National Guard troops. Another student rally at Jackson State College in Mississippi resulted in the death of two students and 12 wounded when police opened fire on a women’s dormitory. The incursion angered many in Congress, who felt that Nixon was illegally widening the war; this resulted in a series of congressional resolutions and legislative initiatives that would severely limit the executive power of the president.
– source
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It never made sense to me that the Mac Pro “had” to change away from this general design. A well-designed computer can be respected as art, but its primary purpose is still to be a computer. An all-in-one box that can be thrown in the car between gigs. Just plug in a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and your audio inputs, cameras, whatever it is you do with it. No fiddly external devices needed. The only complaints I ever heard are that it’s a bit heavy and the handles dig into your hands.
Post-Steve Jobs comeback Apple was able to pull off making their towers an art piece *and* a functional workhorse. Why did Tim Cook-era Apple overlook and fail to make this balance? They killed the market for the product and only just started to win some of those customers back with Apple Silicon, but not without making a mess of the driver infrastructure, and making discrete GPUs impossible. This is after they broke the cadence of yearly Mac Pro refreshes to make way for 6 years of the Thermal Corner™ cylinder model, making a bet (dual GPUs with custom cooling) that wasn’t that useful to its customers, and would overheat and die.
Why spend more to invest in the Mac platform when Dell would love to sell you a boring Windows tower that’s unopinionated and does what you need?
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ARE YOU SURROUNDED BY ATTITUDES AND IDIOTS? | LANCESCURV
Understanding the Nature of Idiots
You ever notice how some people just seem to exist to test your patience? Whether it’s a coworker with an overinflated ego, a driver who cuts you off only to blame you, or even a family member who drains your energy just by being in the room—idiots are everywhere. You’re not imagining things. The world is full of them, and they thrive in environments that reward ignorance, arrogance, and negativity.
For the Black community, dealing with these people takes on an extra layer of stress. We already face societal challenges, systemic oppression, and cultural struggles—so adding unnecessary fools to the mix only makes life harder. The question isn’t whether you’ll encounter them but how to keep their foolishness from stealing your peace. If you don’t manage them properly, their energy can wear you down, robbing you of your focus, success, and even your health.
The real danger of idiots isn’t just the frustration they cause in the moment. It’s the long-term damage they do to your mind and spirit. They can destroy your confidence, kill your productivity, and turn even the best environment into a battlefield of drama and negativity. Worse, their toxicity is contagious. Spend enough time around them, and you might find yourself thinking, speaking, and acting in ways you never intended.
So, how do you protect yourself? How do you keep them from infecting your mind, ruining your day, and stealing your joy? More importantly, how do you survive in a world that seems to be designed to test your limits at every turn? The solution isn’t just to complain about them—it’s to develop a strategy. You need the mental tools to recognize them, neutralize them, and keep them from having any real impact on your life.
This discussion/advice segment is about survival. Not just dealing with idiots, but thriving despite them. If you’ve ever walked away from an argument feeling drained, lost sleep replaying foolish conversations in your head, or felt your energy sucked away by a toxic person, then this is for you. It’s time to learn the tactics that will keep your peace intact, no matter who tries to shake it.
Recognizing the Idiots in Your Life
The first step to protecting yourself is identifying the idiots around you. They come in many forms—the loudmouth who always has an opinion but never any wisdom, the manipulator who twists words to make themselves look good, the drama magnet who thrives on chaos, or the subtle energy drainer who leaves you feeling exhausted after every conversation.
A good rule of thumb: If someone consistently makes you feel small, drained, or anxious, they might be an idiot. Pay attention to how you feel after dealing with them. Are you questioning yourself? Feeling irritated for no reason? If their presence changes your mood in a negative way, they’re likely a problem.
Idiots can be dangerous to your mental health. Studies show that constant exposure to toxic environments raises stress levels, increases blood pressure, and can even shorten life expectancy. These people aren’t just annoying—they’re harmful. Their negativity isn’t harmless background noise; it’s a slow poison.
Another problem with idiots is their ability to manipulate situations. They make themselves seem like the victim, twist conversations to suit their narrative, and make you question your own perception of reality. The more you entertain their nonsense, the more they gain control over your emotions and thoughts.
Worse, they spread their foolishness like a virus. When you’re constantly around people who are negative, dramatic, or combative, you start adopting their energy without realizing it. You might find yourself becoming more defensive, irritated, or emotionally exhausted. That’s why identifying them early is key—it allows you to cut them off before they take up too much space in your life.
Survival Tactics: Protecting Your Peace
The most powerful weapon against an idiot is calculated indifference. They thrive on reactions—anger, frustration, engagement. The moment you stop feeding them, they lose power over you. Not every battle is worth fighting. Ask yourself, Does this person deserve my energy? Most of the time, the answer is no.
Another key strategy is emotional control. Idiots want to provoke you into reacting emotionally. But when you stay calm and composed, they don’t know how to handle it. Instead of engaging, take a deep breath, respond only if necessary, and do so in a way that’s calm and direct. Nothing disarms an idiot more than realizing they failed to shake you.
When you can’t avoid a toxic person, build a psychological shield. Think of them as a predictable character in a bad TV show—same drama, same behavior, different day. This mental trick helps you detach emotionally so their words and actions don’t have the same sting. Instead of thinking, They’re attacking me, shift to Here they go again with the same nonsense.
In cases where avoidance isn’t possible, set clear boundaries. Be direct and leave no room for misinterpretation. Say things like, I don’t entertain these kinds of conversations, or If you continue, I won’t engage. Never get sucked into debates—idiots twist words to keep you trapped in their foolishness.
And sometimes, the best move is simply walking away. No salary, friendship, or obligation is worth sacrificing your mental and emotional well-being. If a situation is consistently toxic, remove yourself from it. There is no shame in protecting your peace.
Sealing the Deal: Keeping Idiots Out of Your Life
Now that you know how to deal with idiots, the final step is ensuring they don’t keep creeping back into your life. Protecting your peace isn’t just about avoiding negativity—it’s about creating an environment where negativity has no space to exist.
Start by being mindful of who you allow in your circle. Surround yourself with people who uplift you, support you, and encourage your growth. When your life is filled with positivity, the presence of an idiot becomes obvious and unacceptable.
Next, learn to let things go. Some arguments aren’t worth winning. Some people will never change. You don’t need to prove yourself to fools. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is walk away and let them drown in their own stupidity.
Also, reclaim your mental energy. How much time have you wasted replaying conversations with toxic people? How many nights have you spent thinking about things you should’ve said? Take back that energy. Focus on your goals, your growth, and your well-being. The less attention you give idiots, the less power they have.
Finally, make peace a non-negotiable priority. Set boundaries, choose your battles, and refuse to let toxic people have any say in your happiness. True power isn’t about winning arguments—it’s about controlling where you invest your energy.
So, ask yourself: Who in your life is draining your energy? And more importantly, how can you start taking that power back today?
#AREYOUSURROUNDEDBYATTITUDESANDIDIOTSLANCESCURV #avoidDrama #BlackEmpowerment #dealingWithNegativity #emotionalControl #emotionalIntelligence #handlingDifficultPeople #idiotsAtWork #keepingYourSanity #LanceScurvin #LanceScurv #MentalHealth #PersonalDevelopment #PersonalGrowth #personalPower #Positivity #protectYourEnergy #protectYourPeace #reclaimingYourPeace #Scurv #selfCare #SelfRespect #settingBoundaries #stayAwayFromNegativity #stressManagement #stressFreeLife #TheLanceScurvShow #theLancescurvShowPodcast #ThenLanceScurvPodcast #ToxicPeople #ToxicRelationships #workplaceToxicity
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On the Blank Page and Time Spent Thinking
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe more I read about AI generating blog posts and other content, the more I feel that we should write for ourselves, rather than our readers. I noticed, recently, that no one is reading my posts. There could be three reasons for that. The first is that what I’m writing interests no one. The second is that when I disconnected Jetpack I broke integration. The third possibility is that posts are being read, but because they are federated I get no feedback on audience.
Inconsequential
Whether I find readers or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that I invest time in thinking, and in elaborating ideas on a daily basis. I write about projects I am working on. It’s also about looking at a blank page, and trying to find something to elaborate on and write about.
This morning I saw an article about how human writing is hard to distinguish from AI.
WordPress wants AI to generate posts but humans are already overwhelmed with content. We’re so overwhelmed with content that people use clickbait to emotionally blackmail us into following links. With AI that problem will be made worse, rather than better. In the age of content farming for books, blog posts, and articles we’re heading towards an age where the fediverse is more important than ever, and where word of mouth is key.
Humans as Authenticators
Galaxus have an article about an AI female creation and my reaction to this is that in the age of algorithm driven antisocial media feeds AI can boil to the surface and remain there. It is for this very reason that antisocial media no longer has any value. In an environment where AI creations rise to the top there is a profound and chronic social disconnect. That social disconnect is why antisocial media companies like TikTok, Instagram, Threads and others are undercutting their own niche, rather than increasing interest.
I see value in social media, while they are social networks. Once they stop being social networks, as is the case with FB, Threads, Twitter and even BlueSky, they stop having value for my desired use case. I use these sites to connect with people. If I feel no connection, then I have no reason to stick around.
In a healthy social network, AI “personalities” would be a curiousity, without followers. In an unhealthy antisocial network people follow an AI bot.
If you don’t expect a social connection with the accounts you follow then you are missing out. I want lively conversations, not unrewarding scrolling. I stopped scrolling for conversations during the pandemic, when I realised that conversations are dead.
Doesn’t the Context Make Blogging Absurd?
That’s the key. AI generated blog posts, that no one will read are abusrd, but human written that no one will read do make sense. I’ve invested my time into developing and expressing my ideas. I’ve invested my time in thinking an idea through. I’ve also invested my time in not wasting it.
If you scroll on Facebook, it will pause your scrolling for five seconds to show an advert, as will Instagram. Both of them are pushing me to scroll through content I have no social or emotional connection with, to show ads for products I never intend to buy. I gave my time to social media because there was a social reward. Before the pandemic that social reward was, gone, and it’s even worse now. Without a social reward social media is dead.
Scaled Up To Novel Proportions
Now, if Instagram is a waste of time, for showing a ninety second video, and twitter is a waste for showing 140 characters (number used for the sake of the argument) then what motivates us to invest half an hour to an hour listening to an AI generated podcast, or six or seven hours reading an AI generated book? The answer is ‘nothing.’
And Finally
If I had asked an AI agent to write a blog post today, I would have provided two to five prompts and it would spit out an answer within seconds. In contrast it took me hours. The key difference, and this is painfully clear, when code pairing with Gemini, is that AI doesn’t understand what it’s doing.
To be specific, Gemini wrote a test, and then it re-wrote eleventy.js. The code that was optimised for the test, broke the logic that Eleventy relied on to work. Gemini was happy to have me try the same thing 20 times. Gemini is like Number Five from Short Circuit. It just runs programmed.
This applies to a blog post, an article, videos, or a novel in that AI can generate a photo, or video, or text, but it has matched patterns and used probability. It doesn’t understand what it has created. It doesn’t feel.
Garmin Connect+ illustrates this with the most recent summary. I found myself wishing that I could write to offer more context that is relevant, but because I can’t it gives general feedback, rather than context based feedback.
That’s why the blank page, and human creativity have value. We’re slow, but the result is based on human perception, rather than machine learning.
#blank #creative #process #thinking #writing -
On the Blank Page and Time Spent Thinking
Reading Time: 3 minutesTable of Contents- Inconsequential
- Humans as Authenticators
- Doesn’t the Context Make Blogging Absurd?
- Scaled Up To Novel Proportions
- And Finally
The more I read about AI generating blog posts and other content, the more I feel that we should write for ourselves, rather than our readers. I noticed, recently, that no one is reading my posts. There could be three reasons for that. The first is that what I’m writing interests no one. The second is that when I disconnected Jetpack I broke integration. The third possibility is that posts are being read, but because they are federated I get no feedback on audience.
Inconsequential
Whether I find readers or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that I invest time in thinking, and in elaborating ideas on a daily basis. I write about projects I am working on. It’s also about looking at a blank page, and trying to find something to elaborate on and write about.
This morning I saw an article about how human writing is hard to distinguish from AI.
WordPress wants AI to generate posts but humans are already overwhelmed with content. We’re so overwhelmed with content that people use clickbait to emotionally blackmail us into following links. With AI that problem will be made worse, rather than better. In the age of content farming for books, blog posts, and articles we’re heading towards an age where the fediverse is more important than ever, and where word of mouth is key.
Humans as Authenticators
Galaxus have an article about an AI female creation and my reaction to this is that in the age of algorithm driven antisocial media feeds AI can boil to the surface and remain there. It is for this very reason that antisocial media no longer has any value. In an environment where AI creations rise to the top there is a profound and chronic social disconnect. That social disconnect is why antisocial media companies like TikTok, Instagram, Threads and others are undercutting their own niche, rather than increasing interest.
I see value in social media, while they are social networks. Once they stop being social networks, as is the case with FB, Threads, Twitter and even BlueSky, they stop having value for my desired use case. I use these sites to connect with people. If I feel no connection, then I have no reason to stick around.
In a healthy social network, AI “personalities” would be a curiousity, without followers. In an unhealthy antisocial network people follow an AI bot.
If you don’t expect a social connection with the accounts you follow then you are missing out. I want lively conversations, not unrewarding scrolling. I stopped scrolling for conversations during the pandemic, when I realised that conversations are dead.
Doesn’t the Context Make Blogging Absurd?
That’s the key. AI generated blog posts, that no one will read are abusrd, but human written that no one will read do make sense. I’ve invested my time into developing and expressing my ideas. I’ve invested my time in thinking an idea through. I’ve also invested my time in not wasting it.
If you scroll on Facebook, it will pause your scrolling for five seconds to show an advert, as will Instagram. Both of them are pushing me to scroll through content I have no social or emotional connection with, to show ads for products I never intend to buy. I gave my time to social media because there was a social reward. Before the pandemic that social reward was, gone, and it’s even worse now. Without a social reward social media is dead.
Scaled Up To Novel Proportions
Now, if Instagram is a waste of time, for showing a ninety second video, and twitter is a waste for showing 140 characters (number used for the sake of the argument) then what motivates us to invest half an hour to an hour listening to an AI generated podcast, or six or seven hours reading an AI generated book? The answer is ‘nothing.’
And Finally
If I had asked an AI agent to write a blog post today, I would have provided two to five prompts and it would spit out an answer within seconds. In contrast it took me hours. The key difference, and this is painfully clear, when code pairing with Gemini, is that AI doesn’t understand what it’s doing.
To be specific, Gemini wrote a test, and then it re-wrote eleventy.js. The code that was optimised for the test, broke the logic that Eleventy relied on to work. Gemini was happy to have me try the same thing 20 times. Gemini is like Number Five from Short Circuit. It just runs programmed.
This applies to a blog post, an article, videos, or a novel in that AI can generate a photo, or video, or text, but it has matched patterns and used probability. It doesn’t understand what it has created. It doesn’t feel.
Garmin Connect+ illustrates this with the most recent summary. I found myself wishing that I could write to offer more context that is relevant, but because I can’t it gives general feedback, rather than context based feedback.
That’s why the blank page, and human creativity have value. We’re slow, but the result is based on human perception, rather than machine learning.
#blank #creative #process #thinking #writing -
On the Blank Page and Time Spent Thinking
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe more I read about AI generating blog posts and other content, the more I feel that we should write for ourselves, rather than our readers. I noticed, recently, that no one is reading my posts. There could be three reasons for that. The first is that what I’m writing interests no one. The second is that when I disconnected Jetpack I broke integration. The third possibility is that posts are being read, but because they are federated I get no feedback on audience.
Inconsequential
Whether I find readers or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that I invest time in thinking, and in elaborating ideas on a daily basis. I write about projects I am working on. It’s also about looking at a blank page, and trying to find something to elaborate on and write about.
This morning I saw an article about how human writing is hard to distinguish from AI.
WordPress wants AI to generate posts but humans are already overwhelmed with content. We’re so overwhelmed with content that people use clickbait to emotionally blackmail us into following links. With AI that problem will be made worse, rather than better. In the age of content farming for books, blog posts, and articles we’re heading towards an age where the fediverse is more important than ever, and where word of mouth is key.
Humans as Authenticators
Galaxus have an article about an AI female creation and my reaction to this is that in the age of algorithm driven antisocial media feeds AI can boil to the surface and remain there. It is for this very reason that antisocial media no longer has any value. In an environment where AI creations rise to the top there is a profound and chronic social disconnect. That social disconnect is why antisocial media companies like TikTok, Instagram, Threads and others are undercutting their own niche, rather than increasing interest.
I see value in social media, while they are social networks. Once they stop being social networks, as is the case with FB, Threads, Twitter and even BlueSky, they stop having value for my desired use case. I use these sites to connect with people. If I feel no connection, then I have no reason to stick around.
In a healthy social network, AI “personalities” would be a curiousity, without followers. In an unhealthy antisocial network people follow an AI bot.
If you don’t expect a social connection with the accounts you follow then you are missing out. I want lively conversations, not unrewarding scrolling. I stopped scrolling for conversations during the pandemic, when I realised that conversations are dead.
Doesn’t the Context Make Blogging Absurd?
That’s the key. AI generated blog posts, that no one will read are abusrd, but human written that no one will read do make sense. I’ve invested my time into developing and expressing my ideas. I’ve invested my time in thinking an idea through. I’ve also invested my time in not wasting it.
If you scroll on Facebook, it will pause your scrolling for five seconds to show an advert, as will Instagram. Both of them are pushing me to scroll through content I have no social or emotional connection with, to show ads for products I never intend to buy. I gave my time to social media because there was a social reward. Before the pandemic that social reward was, gone, and it’s even worse now. Without a social reward social media is dead.
Scaled Up To Novel Proportions
Now, if Instagram is a waste of time, for showing a ninety second video, and twitter is a waste for showing 140 characters (number used for the sake of the argument) then what motivates us to invest half an hour to an hour listening to an AI generated podcast, or six or seven hours reading an AI generated book? The answer is ‘nothing.’
And Finally
If I had asked an AI agent to write a blog post today, I would have provided two to five prompts and it would spit out an answer within seconds. In contrast it took me hours. The key difference, and this is painfully clear, when code pairing with Gemini, is that AI doesn’t understand what it’s doing.
To be specific, Gemini wrote a test, and then it re-wrote eleventy.js. The code that was optimised for the test, broke the logic that Eleventy relied on to work. Gemini was happy to have me try the same thing 20 times. Gemini is like Number Five from Short Circuit. It just runs programmed.
This applies to a blog post, an article, videos, or a novel in that AI can generate a photo, or video, or text, but it has matched patterns and used probability. It doesn’t understand what it has created. It doesn’t feel.
Garmin Connect+ illustrates this with the most recent summary. I found myself wishing that I could write to offer more context that is relevant, but because I can’t it gives general feedback, rather than context based feedback.
That’s why the blank page, and human creativity have value. We’re slow, but the result is based on human perception, rather than machine learning.
#blank #creative #process #thinking #writing -
A film everyone must see
On Monday, 27th April, I visited STC, formerly known as St Thomas’ Church, Crookes, for a Community screening of the National Emergency Briefing film. There was a good-sized audience of around 60 people, but I’m guessing most were already quite knowledgeable about the climate and nature emergencies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaI-dHgh65Q
The 50-minute film combines authoritative scientific content from the Westminster briefing in November last year, with reactions from members of the public and some more familiar faces, such as Jennifer Saunders and Deborah Meaden, which help audiences process the information on a more human level. It delivers the frank facts about the threats, but also the enormous benefits if the Government leads genuine emergency action.
The film features scientific evidence from experts such as Professor Tim Lenton on tipping points and Professor Paul Barran on food security. It covers climate impacts on national security, health, and the economy.
As a teacher, I always used to try to avoid tipping points. Kids would love to lean back in their chairs, and inevitably, they would occasionally go past the tipping point and end up on the floor. Climate tipping points are events that could radically change the global climate, such as the death of a rainforest, the collapse of an ice sheet, or the failure of an ocean circulation system, leading to rising sea levels and catastrophic changes in temperatures.
People who have seen the film have commented that although the facts are alarming, they felt a sense of optimism about confronting the challenge together and seeing a pathway to a better future.
Lucy Gavaghan was quoted in’Now Then, calling the film “…a masterclass in public communications… Somehow, it’s peppered with hope without feeling glib, occasionally witty without being gimmicky, and harrowing without leaving you fully numb…This film’s brilliance lies in the simple fact that it is harder to ignore than it is to respond to.”
Sarah Daly wrote in LinkedIn, “This film isn’t designed to sow fear, it is about hope. It’s about knowledge as power and the opportunity for grown-up conversations so that our political leaders can no longer pretend it’s business as usual, bow to industry lobbyists and vested interests and kick the can on decisions that affect our very survival through this decade and beyond. “
The film was conceived and developed by Ben Carey and Henrik Delehag at Climate Comms Lab Utopia Bureau.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ihBP0_zEO0
After the film, we split into small group discussions. Some audience reactions included Dave’s, who said, “The bulk of the responsibility does lie with the Government. We need to force the Government to tell the truth and to act.” Matthew had been impressed with the success of Sheffield’s Green Bonds, which very quickly raised £1million to purchase solar panels for school roofs. He wanted a national bond that people could invest in, so that the proceeds could be used to solve the climate and nature crises. Anne said she would spread the word in her local WhatsApp group and Book Group, because the film is very powerful.
Ideally, everyone needs to see this film, especially decision makers like MP’s and Councillors, Business leaders, Educationalists, Bankers, Health Executives, Generals – there isn’t a role that is not affected by the climate and nature emergencies and people in every walk of life need to be aware of what the experts are saying and how we can best meet the challenges. I’m pleased to say that following my question at the end of the meeting, the two Councillors present, Minesh Parekh and Ruth Milsom, were able to say that a showing would be organised for all the Sheffield Councillors at the Town Hall. Perhaps you could help organise a showing of the film in your local community, workplace or place of worship.
The idea is to build up a big community of activists who have seen the film, to pressure the BBC and other broadcasters to show it on prime-time television. During COVID, we had regular Emergency Briefings. We now need these for Climate and Nature.
The Government should launch a science-led national emergency response to climate and nature breakdown, showing the same leadership and determination as in World War 2. This should include emergency legislation to drive a rapid reduction in emissions whilst investing to adapt to a more dangerous climate. Evidence shows that such action will create jobs and improve lives.
International climate conferences have failed to deliver the scale of global action needed. By taking these steps, the UK can establish the credibility required to help lead by example to drive the global action that people across the world are calling for.
Teams of volunteers are organising showings all over Sheffield and inviting MP’s and the public to see it. There have already been showings at Stannington, Sheffield University, Broomhall and the Energy Centre on Cambridge Street. The next showings are
The Light Wed 20th May 19.30
Sheffield Hallam University 16 July
Dr Cathy Rhodes, the Diocesan Environment Officer, helped organise this screening with the local Eco Church group, made up of people from 4 congregations. She said, “The Climate and Nature Emergency is accelerating and becoming really critical. We need to wake up and hear our call to care for God’s creation, vulnerable people, and address climate injustice. We’re hoping that, in showing the film in churches throughout the Diocese, and indeed to all denominations throughout the country, we will raise awareness, give opportunities to people to listen and learn, come together and begin to take action. The Church of England and Green Christians have some excellent resources that can be made available. Contact us via the diocesan website.
Please write to your MP to invite them to the 16th July screening
Please use this template to invite your MP to the screening on 16th July.
Dear [MP’s Name],
I am writing as your constituent to invite you to attend a local screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing film.
The UK faces a growing climate and nature emergency, but most people have never been fully briefed on what it means for our lives, our economy and our future. This new film from the National Emergency Briefing sets out the risks facing the nation – and the credible, positive responses available.
Location: Adsetts Centre, SHU City Campus, City Centre, S1 1WB (Arundel Gate entrance)
Date: 16 July
Time: 19:00 (Door open at 19:00 for a prompt start at 19:15)Over 200 Sheffield residents are expected to attend, so this will be a great chance for you to engage with your constituents.
The film features footage from last November’s National Emergency Briefing, which brought together leading UK experts in climate science, food security, health, economics, national security and nature. It presents a clear, measured overview of how the climate and nature crisis is affecting everyday life in Britain – and what the evidence says about the risks and the responses needed.
The film exists to give the public the same information Parliament received in November, helping people understand the challenges before us.The initiative is explicitly non-partisan, and the events are designed as open community conversations rather than political platforms. It has support from a wide range of organisations, including the National Trust, the Church of England, Exeter University, the Royal Meteorological Society, WWF, the National Education Union, and many more.
Following the 45-minute film, we will host a 45-minute structured discussion on what this means for our local community, and it would be great if you could attend and join the conversation. Your presence at the event, as a participant in the discussion or just engaging with constituents, would demonstrate how important this issue is to all of us.
I appreciate that you have many draws on your time, but it would be so valuable if you could attend. I will be going to the event – please let me know if you are able to join us.
With best wishes,
[Your Name]
[Address / Postcode/ Tel No/ email – MPs often ask for these details to check you are a constituent before reading and responding to emails].
Here is a list of Sheffield MP email addresses.[email protected] (Brightside & Hillsborough)
#BBC #ChrisPackham #climateChange #DeborahMeaden #DrCathyRhodes #EcoBureau #environment #Film #JenniferSaunders #NationalEmergencyBriefing #news #politics #SheffieldCityCouncil #SheffieldDiocese #TippingPoints #UtopiaBureau
[email protected] (Central)
[email protected] (Hallam)
[email protected] (Heeley)
[email protected] (Sheffield South East)
[email protected] (Penistone & Stocksbridge) -
omg look at all these zines by @taichara. I love flipping through game systems manuals and bestiaries and good ruminations, augh zines are so GOOD okay
Printing these tho made me realize that if I'm gonna keep doing this, I am gonna need to invest in some nice scissors and a stapler that will reach the spines of these fold-up zines, haha
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omg look at all these zines by @taichara. I love flipping through game systems manuals and bestiaries and good ruminations, augh zines are so GOOD okay
Printing these tho made me realize that if I'm gonna keep doing this, I am gonna need to invest in some nice scissors and a stapler that will reach the spines of these fold-up zines, haha
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omg look at all these zines by @taichara. I love flipping through game systems manuals and bestiaries and good ruminations, augh zines are so GOOD okay
Printing these tho made me realize that if I'm gonna keep doing this, I am gonna need to invest in some nice scissors and a stapler that will reach the spines of these fold-up zines, haha
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omg look at all these zines by @taichara. I love flipping through game systems manuals and bestiaries and good ruminations, augh zines are so GOOD okay
Printing these tho made me realize that if I'm gonna keep doing this, I am gonna need to invest in some nice scissors and a stapler that will reach the spines of these fold-up zines, haha
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omg look at all these zines by @taichara. I love flipping through game systems manuals and bestiaries and good ruminations, augh zines are so GOOD okay
Printing these tho made me realize that if I'm gonna keep doing this, I am gonna need to invest in some nice scissors and a stapler that will reach the spines of these fold-up zines, haha
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"Since the Seventies, America’s deficits have provided East Asia (first Japan, then China) and Europe (primarily Germany) the demand for their factories’ manufactures. In return, the European Union, Japan and later China sent their accumulated profits to Wall Street to be recycled into US private and public debt, some equities, and real estate. A Chinese official once described this mechanism to me as a “dark deal”. “Our Dark Deal with the Americans,” the official explained, “turns on the US trade deficit, which keeps demand for our manufactures high. In return, our capitalists invest the bulk of their dollar superprofits into America’s FIRE”. (The acronym stands for “Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate.”) “Once this process got underway, America shifted much of its industrial production to our shores.”
The problem with this global recycling mechanism was that, to function smoothly, it had to generate larger and larger imbalances: greater trade deficits for the US and more accumulated savings for Northern Europe and East Asia. But there are limits to how large imbalances can grow. Ruptures are inevitable. The longer they are delayed, the greater the pain they inflict — a truth that centrists never acknowledged, not even when it was tearing down their houses.
Trump’s greatest strength comes from asking the pressing question that the centrists refuse to countenance: what comes after the Dark Deal? What comes after the imbalances built on the US trade deficit have proven unsustainably massive? Scott Bessent, Trump’s Treasury Secretary, put it succinctly in a recent speech at the IMF: “Everywhere we look across the international economic system today, we see imbalance… This status quo of large and persistent imbalances is not sustainable… The persistent over-reliance on the United States for demand is resulting in an evermore unbalanced global economy.”"
https://unherd.com/2025/05/the-centrist-comeback-wont-last/
#Centrism #Liberalism #USA #Trump #FreeTrade #PoliticalEconomy #TradeDeficit #PublicDebt
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Can someone explain to me that with the multi milions of EUR that we sent to russia each week..
Why don't we instead invest them in an alternative heating solutions that do not require gas, oil and coal?
Like hydrogen and insta-heaters (which are significantly more energy efficient in comparison to a boiler)Feels like we could make the transition within 2 weeks with that kind of funding
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Little does Isa know they are what pushed me to give #mastodon another chance. I was on the fence about if it was worth it to invest my time here and in pops a DM asking to book with me. I took it as a sign.
So thank you for not only patroning me, but convincing me to keep pushing to make a cyber home here.
#review #tarot #services #astrology #birthchart #blackmastodon #blackfedi #smallbusiness -
Little does Isa know they are what pushed me to give #mastodon another chance. I was on the fence about if it was worth it to invest my time here and in pops a DM asking to book with me. I took it as a sign.
So thank you for not only patroning me, but convincing me to keep pushing to make a cyber home here.
#review #tarot #services #astrology #birthchart #blackmastodon #blackfedi #smallbusiness