Operation Nemesis: A tale of Assassination and Vengeance

[Joe (G.W.N.S.)]

Here is a great article from Claire Wolfe at the The Zelman Partisans.

Operation Nemesis: A tale of Assassination and Vengeance

Excerpt:

The men targeted for assassination weren’t innocent by any definition. They were officials who had already been condemned to death by an Ottoman Turkish military tribunal. Then when those death sentences proved unpopular with other Turks, the condemned men were allowed to escape to live their lives.

Normally I am against the “Targeted Killing*” of anyone not a direct threat to Personnel or Operations post event. However in this case these perpetrators were lawfully convicted as stated above then allowed to disappear.

Before continuing to my observations for Chapter 4 there are a few points I would like to make regarding my interpretation of the proper use of the *targeted killing of key OPFOR personnel in the as yet hypothetical FREEFOR operations.

As alluded to in the above statement, this Chapter starts getting into the details of the targeted killing of key OPFOR personnel.

First, these killings should not be about revenge or retaliation; they are about eliminating a legitimate threat to FREEFOR operations and personnel. Evil men who for whatever reason are no longer a threat should be dealt with post-event, assuming FREEFOR victory, with legitimate and fair War Crimes Trials.

Second, I am talking about the use of precision tactics that go to great lengths to avoid collateral damage. Not terrorist bombings or other WMD’s.

Third, the targeting of OPFOR family members, whose sole offense is being related to the target is never a legitimate option, not only for moral grounds, but the intense hatred and determination they instill in OPFOR. This is regardless of any similar crimes committed by OPFOR.

“The ends justify the means!” is utter folly. How we win is as important; if not more so, as is winning! When you fall into the trap of “winning at any cost,” this begins the first step into replacing one tyranny with another. Another major consideration is smoothing road to long term peace Post-Victory.

Above from the Thread The Squad: The Intelligence Operations of Michael Collins. posted in this “Intelligence Support to the Warfighter” subforum.

[Corvette]

More fuel for the ‘Power of Why?’

The late Professor Rummel at the University of Hawaii did much “Powerkills” research into democide and genocide which is preserved for posterity at:

https://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/welcome.html

“Dedicated to those who are not yet living in freedom, who suffer repression, regime-made famine, torture, gulags, and fear for their lives and those of their loved ones; and thanks to the internet, have reached this home page.”

[Joe (G.W.N.S.)]

Annual bump for new members.

[Joe (G.W.N.S.)]

Annual bump for new members.

[D Close]

All this requires some authorization by …? What constitutes legitimate authority? In a scenario of targeted killing, the very thing that allows FREEFOR to survive, namely independant cellular structure, will make this (authority) difficult to achieve in practice. I do not know the answer.
Shadow government seems to have worked in various resistance movements. I suspect that will be the likely choice.

[jim]

An article called The Pig Trap at a site called Taxicab Depressions has a few paragraphs on this *targeted killing. Good article throughout. Guys writes well.

[Lloyd]

An article called The Pig Trap at a site called Taxicab Depressions has a few paragraphs on this *targeted killing. Good article throughout. Guys writes well.

Thanks for reminding me of this article! After looking it up and getting into it, I remembered I’d read it when it was written a few years ago, but it was VERY interesting to read it again in the context of current events.

[Joe (G.W.N.S.)]

Targeted killing isn’t discussed very often, the example in the Operation Nemesis is quite different then the example from my quoted one.

While Operation Nemesis wasn’t legally justifiable it was (IMHO) morally justifiable.

Excerpt:

Remarkably, most of the assassins walked away from their crimes of vengeance unscathed and unpunished.

I believe above quote demonstrates this.

With this in mind when we consider D Close’s question.

All this requires some authorization by …? What constitutes legitimate authority?

The majority accepted the morality of Operation Nemesis and sort of confirmed a retro active legitimate Authority.

However when we consider it in light D Close’s follow on scenario regarding hypothetical FREEFOR use or my suggested clarification from the The Squad: The Intelligence Operations of Michael Collins.

…these killings should not be about revenge or retaliation; they are about eliminating a legitimate threat to FREEFOR operations and personnel. Evil men who for whatever reason are no longer a threat should be dealt with post-event, assuming FREEFOR victory, with legitimate and fair War Crimes Trials.

Targeted killing is being utilized as a form of self-defense to a direct potential threat posed, though not necessarily as an active in the moment threat as is commonly accepted in normal self-defense that we see regularly today.

So the authorization could be from a small group within an “post rule of law situation” or it it could be a more formal governing body.

But does this constitute legitimate authority?

The factors ultimately comes down to…

1.) Who wins conflict.

2.) What form of Trial reviews cases of “Targeted Killing” at the conclusion of conflict.

3.) Can a successful “moral” justification be made.

So depending on the point of view, one mans legitimate authority is another mans war crime.

My recommendation would be as a diverse a group as available/possible be appointed to sanction such actions with the knowledge that at some point it will most likely be reviewed again by whoever is victorious.

[jim]

@shooter
Welcome. I too enjoyed re-reading it.

[jim]

Consider,
Mr/Ms. CNNCBSABCNBC talking head, propaganda mouthpiece, sidewalk, bad breath distance.

You sir/ma’am are the enemy of this Constitutional Republic.

.410 to the chin.

Sounds like a big empty cardboard box dropped flat on the floor. NYC street noise, who hears it? Meat sack in a power suit collapsed. 3 or 5 people notice initially. 3 to 5 seconds to disappear into the pedestrian throng.

Maybe Mr/Ms blowhard stops in at starbucks or wherever like clockwork every single day. Patterns are patterns, right?

As was said, who picks? Who authorizes? Who judges?

Who cares?

Of course, all this was rhetorical, right?

[Joe (G.W.N.S.)]

Well in this hypothetical I would argue that while propaganda is a threat, it is not a direct threat so it is outside the moral use of targeted killing.

The various socialist/communist groups have historically used targeted killing against public individuals that countered their efforts, to include media opposition.

For example the Nazis and we see what became of them. Additionally many of the so-called media (propagandists) of that time in Germany latter faced trial in Nuremberg for their efforts. Many were hung for their crimes, these trials I would consider the proper course of action when subjected to the moral requirement.

Historically many have justified their actions through various arguments, particularly “the ends justify the means.” This leads to a corruption of what may otherwise be a morally justifiable cause.

Without maintaining such moral high ground, many atrocities have been the historical result. Winning at any cost is the surest way to exchange one tyranny for another.

As was said, who picks? Who authorizes? Who judges?

The factors ultimately comes down to…

1.) Who wins conflict.

2.) What form of Trial reviews cases of “Targeted Killing” at the conclusion of conflict.

3.) Can a successful “moral” justification be made.

So depending on the point of view, one mans legitimate authority is another mans war crime.

My recommendation would be as a diverse a group as available/possible be appointed to sanction such actions with the knowledge that at some point it will most likely be reviewed again by whoever is victorious.

Eventually there will be a price to be paid, whether by the individual or the cause it was committed for. Evil actions regardless if justified in the name of good will always lead to more evil.

Such is the danger of targeted killing, hence if used at all, needs to be a carefully considered action not to be taken lightly.

[Joe (G.W.N.S.)]

Things to consider!

[Joe (G.W.N.S.)]

Yearly bump!

[Incipient]

So I tried to pick up one of the books listed for kindle.. and it won’t let me for some reason. Anyone else have this issue?

In an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop.

[Joe (G.W.N.S.)]

Incipient wrote:

Anyone else have this issue?

Which one?

[Incipient]

In an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop.

[Joe (G.W.N.S.)]

I am not sure what the problem is, I tried downloading the sample and it isn’t working. Says its there, but it doesn’t download. Try customer service.

I know “The Squad: The Intelligence Operations of Michael Collins.” isn’t available on Kindle anymore even though that is the version I have.

[Author]

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