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Posted September 20, 2001
Bactria
I
have been reading [Nebojsa Malic and Justin Raimondo]
for quite long time and I appreciate very much the behind
the scene views, not only about Macedonia but about everything
you write.
I
would like to point one fact regarding Afganistan which
I have not yet seen on any news service. It has been pointed
to the defeat of the Russians there in the 1980's and
the British in the 1800's, but it is interesting to point
out that Alexander
the Great also had the hardest time subduing Bactria
(modern name Afganistan). The Macedonians spent 2 full
years fighting the Bactrians (Afghani's) and lost more
soldiers there then in any part of the world they conquered.
In one single ambush 2,000 Macedonians were massacred
and when Alexander learned about their fate, he exploded
in rage, ordering his generals not to whisper a word about
it, beyond their camp, under the penalty of death.
Spitamenes, the Bactrian leader never gave up and probably Alexander would have not conquered Bactria (or at least he would have spent many more years there), had it not been for Spitamenes' wife. Tired of running away and fighting guerilla war, she cut off her husband's head while he was asleep, and brought it to Alexander. The Bactrian resistance fell apart and Alexander marched his Macedonians into India, leaving a massive Greek and Macedonian garrisons behind to secure Bactria. After his death, the Greeks in Bactria rebelled against the Macedonians, but when the Macedonians retaliated, 23,000 Greeks were killed, as the ancient Greek historian Diodorus wrote.
Nebojsa Malic replies:
Historically, it appears that certain lands, like Afghanistan and the Balkans, are literally the boneyards of empires. Each attempting conqueror tells himself, "This time, it will be different." But it never is, is it?
American Citizen
I have recently become an
American citizen and I feel it's my duty to do something
good for my country. So, Mr.
Harry Browne, how does one become a member of the
Libertarian Party?
Count on my vote if you or your friends run for any office.
~ Ms. Irena S.
National Unity
The events of Tuesday September 11 are ... far and away the lowest, most disgraceful hour of failure in the military history of our country, as our homeland and people were utterly and completely undefended.
But I have no illusions. No one will be fired; no one will resign. The media will ask no feather-ruffling questions in these days of “National Unity.” And nothing will change, because America can do no wrong.
In a better time, we might have remembered a couple of things our Lord taught us. One is found in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican, which, according to St. Luke, “…Jesus spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others….”
He also taught us that we should pray for our enemies, a sentiment not on the radar screen today, given the shrieks for blood.
~ James P. Hunter, Director, The Rockford Institute
War Prayer
[Regarding Justin Raimondo's column of September 14, "War Hysteria Addles the Brain":]
"That isn't the spirit of justice, or of the America I love, and, if this be treason, then make the most of it."
Right f*cking on , Raimondo. Keep kicking butt and taking names. Now would be a good time to reprint Mark Twain's "The War Prayer."
~ Michael Giesbrecht
P.S. I'm sending you 50 bucks. I hope your traffic increases such that you need it.