Thoughts From the Citadel: The Spirit of War.

Day 2,404, 23:30 • Published in Israel Israel • by Xenophanes

Dear esteemed eIsraelis,

We are a diverse ePeople, not only of real-life Israeli descent and nationality but also from all corners of the world (the author lives in California, United States of America, literally on opposite end of the globe from Israel), and not unlike Israel in real-life, we are a stubborn, fiery people. The words "NEVER AGAIN" have been etched into our psyche, our very being, but the frustrating thing about this game is, "never again" keeps happening. It seems every six months or so, little eIsrael gets whacked by another eNation with a bout of bruised ego and perhaps a little real-life prejudice that conveniently seeps into the game. What are we to do against this?

CP NewSaver has gone a realistic and utilitarian approach in handling this current dilemma with eCyprus. Behind closed doors, however, the military veterans speak with disgruntled words, having been through siege after siege without surrendering. Watching their honor and the reputation of eIsrael being sullied for sake of a few monetary gains brings no amount of satisfaction to these players. I respect our CP and his course of action, even if I disagree with it. I'm very much an "all or nothing" sort of person in general and I compromise only when we're on the better side of it. To submit and call it compromise isn't compromise at all, but I will set aside my misgivings. I'm not the CP, nor am I any longer the General of the eIDF or MoD, as I was in the past. I'm just a soldier now but I've fought a lot of eWars (and real wars, having served in the 3rd ID as an Infantryman in the U.S. Army).

On a more personal note, my friends ask me: why did we (by 'we', they mean the U.S.A) lose in Iraq? I answer with a Stannis-the-Mannis (Game of Thrones reference, anyone?) -esque reply: we were not fully committed to total war. We had no overall and clearly defined objectives in Iraq and so we squabbled about playing a war of attrition with an enemy who far outnumbered us, a battle we were always destined to lose. Were I a 4-Star General in charge of the U.S. Armed Forces abroad, I would have flattened every city which resisted. I would have given them a warning, a threat, and only one. If they did not accept my terms and conditions for surrender, I would have flattened that city brick by brick, so that there would be nothing left. And I'd go from town to town in this way, until the remaining cities understood that my threats were absolute. Total war does not concern itself with collateral damage, infrastructure, and holy sites. It only concerns itself with absolute victory. The world would have been outraged, crying of war crimes, of atrocity, ad infinitum. Let them. Let them hate us, let them despise us. So long as they fear us. I am not concerned with hurt feelings or bruised egos, for the dead care not and the living will know their place. In the end, strength is only respected, not compromise or diplomacy (for those never last for long as history attests). eIsrael must be strong, strong in its passion, strong in its defiance, strong in its suffering, or no amount of our words or commitments will ever mean anything, not to our allies, and most importantly, not within ourselves.

Do we suffer a hollow existence for the sake of monetary gain? Or do we suffer together, unified by cause and the fire in our hearts? Only those who have suffered in brotherhood know the better course, because all must suffer inevitably. How will you choose to suffer? With brothers or with politicians?

Sincerely,
Xenophanes
Former General of the eIDF
Former MoD

PS: If anyone reading this wants to translate this into Hebrew, I would be very grateful! The more take the time to read and understand, the more will remember who and what they are.