#powerbased violence

[dailyadventureprompts]

Intrigue: Baroness  Magali Turcas, Lady of the Court and Daughter of The King’s justice.

“You know why I brought you here? Because you’re a nobody, and I admire that.  If you were a somebody around this court it invariably means that my father or his father tortured someone very important to you, and that means you’d be to intimidated by me to engage in conversation. Are you intimidated by me? Good, go and fetch us some drinks and I’ll tell you everyone’s dirty little secrets.”

All great courts employ torturers and executioners, but it’s only the cruellest of monarchs who have such need of these grim servants that they’d grant them lands and titles.

Such was the case for the Turcas family, simple but loyal jailers who found themselves elevated when during an attempted palace coup, their patriarch helped prevent the escape of the King’s leading political rival, thereby stifling the nascent rebellion, and preventing a civil war.

Magail Turcas grew up the beneficiary of her father’s windfall, educated along with the children of the court as befitted a young lady of nobility, but was continually excluded due to her family’s infamous reputation. Ever the outsider, Magali became a gossip and rumormonger, exposing the secret weaknesses of her rivals and dismantling reputations with the same vicious practicality that her forebears used to dismantle bodies.

Adventure Hooks

With the old king dying and an executioner sized ax to grind, Magali looks to cement her position as an indispensable fixture of the court, leveraging her web of informants and proxies into an actual spy network. Becoming master of whispers isn’t going to be easy, and she seeks competent agents who don’t mind digging up dirt or slinging mud on her behalf.

Having earned an enemy among the member of nobility, the party is approached by Baroness Magali after they’ve been backed into a corner: Bounties on their head, thrown into prison, assassins out for their blood. Magali offers to remove these obstructions, along with promises of financial and social assistance, provided they’re willing to help her destroy the antagonistic noble, and take public credit for their downfall.

Investigating a crime, the party comes across evidence that an otherwise inconspicuous servant was observing the proceedings and sending coded messages to an unknown benefactor. Breaking the code could provide vital information, but the servant is one of Magali’s loyal spies, and will not betray his mistress, even under threat of violence. IF the party wants this shortcut in their cimesolving escapades, they’ll need to broker a meeting with the would-be spymaster, and perhaps put themselves in her debt in exchange for some much needed clues.

Magali originally began as part of my court intrigue guide, but the total post was a bit bulky and I thought she deserved her own time in the limelight

Powerbase:

Versant (major): Nothing happens in the court, official or personal, that Magali does not have some inkling of. Nobles come to barter information from her, and in turn she ensnares them in her web of influence, favors, and not quite blackmail

Judicial (minor): The Turcas family have been royal jailers for decades, and though their heir may have moved on to “better” things, she still holds a strong influence over most houses of correction throughout the realm.

Covert (minor):  While she lacks the resources ( or authority) to run an official intelligence network, Magali’s many informants allow her reach to spread into many otherwise hidden places in the kingdom. If an elopement needs to be arranged, If a note needs to be left without witnesses, a whisper needs to be intercepted in an otherwise private meeting…. Magali is the woman to see.

[insanityclause]

Coriolanus is a strangely neglected and infrequently performed play, one without the speechifying and introspection that offer psychological insight into Shakespeare’s most popular protagonists. Yet, with its focus on the delusion of leadership, the importance of the mob and the brittle basis of populism, Coriolanus is truly a play for our times. A recent production starring Tom Bateman at the Sheffield Playhouse was truncated by the pandemic, so this is the perfect time to revisit the Donmar Warehouse’s extraordinary 2014 production showing this week via National Theatre at Home and starring Tom Hiddleston.

Six years on, this remains one of the most viscerally impressive productions of the last decade, a fascinating dissection of power, class and the enduring battle between military conquest and political protectionism that characterise Shakespeare’s Roman plays. Wars and conflicts occur across Shakespeare’s plays and, within the Histories especially, this involves many characters whose motivations and purpose in the story vary considerably as families, regions and nations contend for tangible forms of power.

In these plays, Shakespeare is particularly interested in the formation and decline of the warrior as an archetype, charting the dehumanisation process that rids the individual of personal weaknesses and emotion, transforming them into great and celebrated military leaders. The Henriad trilogy is the best example of this, following the reformation of Prince Hal from tavern-dwelling layabout to the principled and invincible monarch-conqueror. There are plenty of moments of hesitation, uncertainty and fragility along the way, but the steel that Henry V displays on the battlefield and in the rejection of his former companions denote the completion of his metamorphoses from fallible human prince to an idealised personification of glorious war.

Equally interesting is the post-war process in which the feted Hero-Warrior, unable to sustain their god-like form, must return to society – something Henry V escapes by dying unceremoniously in Shakespeare’s afterword. Now irreversibly changed or damaged by combat, the Hero-Warrior sets in motion a train of events that lead disastrously to their own destruction. Caius Martius who earns the moniker Coriolanus from his bloodthirsty endeavours takes this path through the play, the self-destruction of a hero unwilling to accept the confines of a society that built him and this becomes the major driver of Josie Rourke’s outstanding production.

Characteristics of the Hero-Warrior

Heroism is an intangible characteristic in many ways, requiring personality traits including decency, fairness, courage and bravery as well as deeds to demonstrate the hero’s prowess. There are several characters who begin one of Shakespeare’s plays already in the position of celebrated military hero – Coriolanus, Macbeth and Antony – all of whom return from garlanded battle with honours and political recognition, the discussion of which dominates the early section of these plays. Yet the very characteristic that made them also becomes their fatal flaw and pursuing it in peacetime takes them on a path to inevitable destruction and death.

In the Donmar’s Coriolanus, the audience is given a vivid picture of the protagonist’s battlefield strengths in an opening section where he descries the cowardice of his compatriots hiding in trenches rather than running into battle. He goes on to take the city of Corioli singlehanded, returning drenched in blood that runs into his eyes, covering his face and upper body entirely – a beautifully staged moment from Rourke and designer Lucy Osborne. Instantly we know that this is a man apart from others, one with superior fighting skills, incredible audacity and, crucially, an excess of bloodlust that make him part hero part madman.

What unfolds in the rest of the play suggests how fatally flawed this Hero-Warrior is, bred for the simplicity of soldiering, the life and death fundamentality of it all, and entirely unfitted for the grey, oleaginous world of politics. In Hiddleston’s remarkable performance, we see the effect of hubris and how clearly the very thing that made Coriolanus also breaks him – the love of his mother Volumnia. The intensity of their relationship, visible on his return to Rome is given physical form in the tenderness of the greeting between Hiddleston and Deborah Findlay, exceeding that for his wife and son. His reliance on her guidance is vital to understanding the path Coriolanus takes, his unyielding refusal to be other than what she made him even when the great prize of political office and power are offered. By the same extension, when he does finally succumb to her entreaties in the penultimate scene of this production and shows mercy to his former home, he places his mother above himself – it proves his undoing.

Shakespeare’s other Hero-Warriors experience a similar trajectory and while their motivation and downfall is conceived differently, both Macbeth and Antony suffer a rapid fall from grace, tumbling from invincible military hero supporting the dynastic sustenance of the state to its most pressing enemy. Macbeth’s ambitious belief in fate  becomes his fatal flaw which in the early part of the play summons his courage to take the Kingship he craves, while that self-same fate becomes a poisoned chalice as he tries to outmanoeuvre the destiny earmarked for him at the start of the play.

Antony, likewise, is in a solid position at the start of Antony and Cleopatra holding a third of the Roman Empire in his grasp while living with the woman he adores. Antony’s fatal flaw – lust – helps to build his powerbase before the play begins uniting two countries in mutual support, but as his strategic abilities are increasingly clouded by his attachment to Egypt, he foreshadows the series of military disasters that lead to his his military capitulation and death. All of these men experience the decline of the Hero-Warrior image during the course of the play, a status and easiness of mind held at the start which they will never know again.

The Military-Political Clash

One of the core themes of Coriolanus is the uneasy alliance between military action and the democratic process, an idea that recurs in Shakespeare’s Roman plays. States are reliant on the bravado of commanders to conquer territories and occupy land, but attempts to translate battlefield honours into consolidated political roles in peacetime society often in the role of Consul or Tribune, are treated with suspicion by the career politicians that pack the Senate. Julius Caesar is the best example of this as the predominantly civilian conspirators plot to destroy their overmighty colleague, the unspoken threat of the violence his legions could unleash on the city a driving force in his assassination and the recruitment of veteran Brutus to their cause.

In Coriolanus the sniping role of Tribunes Sicinia and Brutus played by Helen Schlesinger and Elliot Levy starkly exemplifies that division, adding a class angle between the rulers and the ruled as they both represent and manipulate the voice of the people, using political tactics to dispense with the military man they personal despise. The status of Hero-Warrior counts for remarkably little in the political arena, and Coriolanus struggles to accept the legitimacy of a government that requires the frequent sacrifice of his blood to protect it but not his person. And while the Hydra-like work of the Tribunes (a reference Shakespeare returns to throughout the play) makes them and their reasoning entirely unsympathetic, Coriolanus’s own disdain for democratic process and the people become equally problematic for him.

Dismissive of the facile rituals of political conduct, Hiddleston’s sneering warrior mocks the ceremony of installation into the Consular office, pulling at the robe and laurel crown and refusing to parade his war wounds in order to beg for ‘voices’. Encouraged by his mother to comply with conventions, Hiddleston shows the frustration of the solider forced to debase himself as he courts a popularity he believes should be his by right and contends with his own straightforward honesty (brutal though it is). The result is a bristling tension in this production as Coriolanus struggles to flatter the citizens he can barely hide his contempt for as the audience anticipates confrontation. Within the play there is a fundamental clash between the two mutually dependent arms of the state that find each other’s rituals and personnel distasteful, a conflict, Shakespeare suggests in the plays set later that is never entirely resolved.

A Hard-Edged Vulnerability

The early scenes of the play are full of machismo as battles are fought and the posturing of victory informs the audience’s image of Coriolanus as an unyielding and statuesque figure. Hiddleston’s entrance sets the tone entirely as he captures both the commanding figure and personal charisma of a solider whose exploits are widely admired.  It is a very physical performance, his posture set in rigid military bearing with shoulders back and head held high even when lurking at the back of the stage when’s he out of the scene, creating a fearsome impression, using his posture and surety of step to dominate the stage. There is real danger in Hiddleston’s Coriolanus, a no man’s land between rational, strategic thinking and a psychotic madness that erupts into violence as he fights the Volscian’s led by Hadley Fraser. The menace and physical strength Hiddleston exudes ideally situates the fears of the political class as his return to Rome provokes suspicion and jeopardy for the city.

And while it would be easy to play him as a blustering bully or maniac, what made Hiddleston’s performance so memorable is the thread of vulnerability that runs throughout his characterisation, generating a degree of compassion for the ill-fated general. It is an interpretation that gets between the lines of Shakespeare’s text and colours-in some of the emotional and psychological substance absent from a play with no great speeches or underlying lyricism – at least Macbeth and Antony had soliloquies in which they could unpack their minds to the viewer and themselves.

Hiddleston is a very subtle actor on stage, eschewing expansive expressions or gestures in favour of almost imperceptible flickers of feeling that provide a far richer and deeper experience, particularly well suited to the supposed impassivity of Coriolanus. The emotion exudes from within the character, registering largely in the actor’s eyes as they convey the effect of betrayal to the audience. We see a light die in him as the hurts and taunts dispel any ideas he may have had of his homecoming, while the painful process of dressing-up to beg for votes is clearly an embarrassing affront to the Hero-Warrior ego.

But it is the penultimate scene where these vulnerabilities are so movingly represented, broken down by his mother’s appeal for mercy, Hiddleston brings great clarity to the struggle within Coriolanus between the right tactical response to ensure his victory over Rome as well as ensuring the faith of his new-found comrades, and surrendering the advantage to guarantee the life of his own family. Coriolanus must choose between the two sides of himself, Caius Martius and Coriolanus, the soldier and the politician, knowing the latter ensures his own death, a dilemma that is full of agony in this meaningful performance.

The Donmar’s production of Coriolanus is one of the great NT Live recordings, capturing the intimacy of the space and the intensity of the production. The play may lack the grand tragedy of Macbeth or Antony and Cleopatra but this production makes a fine case for its value as a study of the declining Hero-Warrior and its relevance to our current political climate. The impasse between deluded politicians shoring up their own span of power and those who lack the temperament for government but can accomplish great deeds is the essence of Coriolanus – Shakespeare shows us it was ever thus.

Coriolanus is freely available on the National Theatre at Home Youtube channel until 12 June along with a separate audio commentary version provided by Josie Rourke and Tom Hiddleston. Follow this blog on Twitter @culturalcap1 or Facebook: Cultural Capital Theatre Blog

[vihola]

“when was the last time you cried?” + Merkara because I love her and also pain

“Now, why would you ask something like this? Don’t you want to know what is my favorite wine, whether I use scented candles, or what happens to my enemies in prison? No?” She pouts mockingly and then shakes her head. “It’s difficult to remember, I don’t cry often. When you grow up in the environment of constant violence and dehumanization, all kinds of harrowing events just cease to impress you,” She explains lightheartedly, with an easy smile. “Maybe when Lana got me out of Zakuul and told me that five years of my life had been stolen from me along with my crew and powerbase? I had a little breakdown then. I think Lana remembers it too, she had to pat me on the shoulder and all.”

[wordywarriorwrites]

Chapter 7: Match

Masterlist: The Boss of Brooklyn A03 Story Link Author: @wordywarriorwrites Summary: When it comes to being The Boss, James Buchanan “JB” Barnes rules with an iron fist. For him, there’s no room for sentiment, and certainly no time for distraction, even if it is in the form of an old flame. Steve Rogers had bowed out of the life a long time ago, but a twist of fate brings him right back into the fold, and face-to-face with a man he once loved. When a game of cat and mouse turns into a matter of life and death, both will be forced to decide whether they’ll be loyal to the business, or faithful to each other. A/N: Bucky Barnes Mob Boss AU. Stucky. For: @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan Star’s Multi-Fandom Follower Celebration & @sherrybaby14 Sherry’s Fall Into You Challenge. Warnings: Language, violence, drug use, alcohol, smoking, explicit sexual content, illegal activities. *Re-blogs are welcome. Plagiarism isn’t. *

Bucky had Steve locked up in one of their off-the-books houses, and though a big obstacle had been put out of commission, he hadn’t been able to breathe any easier.

They’d taken more than liberal shots across the bow at each other, and all they had to show for the eyebrow-raising, tongue-wagging spectacle was a crumpled-up plane ticket and a well-worn passport. The cellphone would’ve given them more, but the prisoner stubbornly refused to give up the password, and the encryption had proved impossible to crack.

Eventually, Bucky had been forced to accept that no amount of persuasion, gentle or otherwise, could break a man whose loyalty was unwavering, and now, he had a choice to make: either pursue reconciliation, release him, or put forward a motion to vote him out.

None of the options satisfied, because to Bucky, forgiveness felt like submission, letting him go looked like weakness, and banishment after the fact appeared petulant. What he really wanted to do was wash his hands of all of it and put Steve down like a rabid dog, but given the optics, Bucky knew such drastic measures wouldn’t have been well-received.

Conducting business often meant walking a fine line between discipline and diplomacy. Bucky’s ruthlessness may have gotten those who answered to him to straighten up and fall in line, but a Boss who always went for the jugular never stayed in power for long. Slitting Steve’s throat would give him peace of mind, but wouldn’t resolve the underlying problem, and therein lied the rub.

Since Steve had never once betrayed the Families confidences, his offenses, though frowned upon, had been viewed by the others as worthy of only a slap on the wrist. They wanted a conciliatory verdict and Bucky’s indecisiveness on the matter had been noticed.

With no end to the stalemate in sight, Natasha asked for permission to do what she did best – find the head of the snake and either cut it off or charm it. As there hadn’t been a suitable alternative, Bucky had granted her leave.  

She’d had nothing but the plane ticket and passport to go on, but nevertheless, Natasha returned victorious a month later, and brought with her a proxy of the man Steve had been working for. The Families finally got their answers, and in addition, the representative for Nick Fury put forward a lucrative proposal – one that would merge their businesses and expand everyone’s horizons.

The Families had an unshakable foothold in the States. Nick’s team dominated the overseas market. Bucky and Fury would remain the respective leaders of their groups, but share territory, jobs, and information. Consolidation ensured survival, allowed them to expand their powerbases, and best of all, opened up untapped revenue streams.

Bucky had rather liked the idea, mostly because the possibilities seemed endless, but they wanted Steve released, and for him to be de-facto “ambassador” to both groups. To them, Steve was the optimal ��bridge,” as he had a keen insight into both operations, and could be trusted to see to the best interest of both parties. Bucky hadn’t liked it, but since the proposal hinged upon certain concessions, they’d come to an arrangement.

The Families agreed to release Steve into the custody of the proxy, but to make sure nobody got any bright ideas, one of the cops they had on their payroll slapped an ankle monitor on him that tracked his every move. Both sides agreed it would be removed after the deal was done, and The Families would accept Steve’s new role in the organization so long as it proved beneficial.

A handshake put a temporary seal on things, and forty-eight hours later, Fury and his associates touched down in New York. The first gathering had been nothing more than a gracious, overtly formal meet-and-greet, and though it was clear neither party trusted the other, they were all looking toward the future, and wanted to make the arrangement work.

They broke bread later that evening, and after several days of negotiation, managed to reach an agreement that satisfied everyone. It had taken their lawyers almost a week, but they finally finished drawing up the paperwork, and it awaited their signatures.  

When Bucky settled into bed the night before what would be the final sit down, he knew the next day would see him headed into uncharted territory, and the prospect both daunted and excited him. He didn’t open his eyes again until late afternoon, and if his cellphone hadn’t rung, he was sure he would have slept even longer.

Groggy and a bit disoriented, he rolled over, and retrieved his phone.

“Fury wants to chat before the dotted line is signed,” Natasha stated by way of greeting.

He sighed, tossed back the blankets, and got out of bed, “Should I be concerned?”  

“I don’t know,” she admitted quietly.

Bucky frowned, stepped into the bathroom, and turned on the shower. Speaking privately with a rival before a deal was done wasn’t unheard of, but it wasn’t exactly standard operating procedure, either, and if he refused, it could be misconstrued as an insult.

Unwilling to risk the payday, he set aside his apprehension, and told Natasha to make the arrangements. After he ended the call, Bucky discarded his boxers, and stepped beneath the spray. The hot water helped clear the bleariness, but it did little to settle his racing thoughts.

The last meet was supposed to take place later in the evening. A tenable location had been selected by a neutral third party and neither group would be given the address until an hour beforehand. Security, which had been carefully selected and pre-approved, would be on-hand to make sure nobody brought weapons or uninvited guests. Their attorneys would be present as witnesses, and though no court would ever see the paperwork, it would be legally binding nonetheless.

Everything had been painstakingly planned and he disliked this last-minute request for a chat. He was sure the impromptu discussion would not be a pleasant one, and a few hours later, he was proven right.

Fury showed up at his penthouse with both Steve and Natasha in tow. A stiff, albeit polite greeting; drinks served; seats taken on opposite sides of the dining room table. The tense silence was broken when Nick sat forward and pointed his index finger, first in Steve’s direction, and then, toward Bucky.  

“Is this going to be a problem?” he asked.

Bucky arched an eyebrow, “Excuse me?”

“We’re about to build a bridge and I don’t want anyone to be apprehensive about crossing it,” Fury went on bluntly. “So, I need to know – can I trust you both to let it go?”

The question and what it insinuated was an affront, but not wholly inappropriate, and if the situation had been reversed, Bucky would’ve wondered the same. After all, he and Steve weren’t just two men on the outs who had found themselves on opposing sides. They had a lifetime of unspoken, unaddressed issues between them, but Bucky had chosen to set it aside because it was what was best for the Families and for business.  

He’d traded personal animosity for profit, previously asserted the past would remain in the past, and conceded Steve was and would continue to be off-limits. He was poised to reiterate his position on the matter, but when he observed the cagey, hardened expression on Nick’s face, he suddenly understood why the man had wanted to meet at the eleventh hour. If Fury was inquiring about matters that had already put to rest, he wasn’t really on board, and the reason was so glaringly obvious that Bucky felt rather stupid for not seeing it sooner.

He’d done his homework and knew Fury was not a sentimental man. He had a history of plugging potential leaks with bullets and did so ruthlessly without qualm. The fact that his organization had gone through so much trouble to secure Steve’s release, instead of seeing him silenced, meant he was far more valuable than Bucky originally thought. He knew the two men weren’t sleeping together, which ruled out love as a reason, and that left Bucky with only one, viable conclusion.

The idea of a peaceful union most likely had not come from the man in charge; if that was the case, it meant Nick’s own people may have shifted their allegiance, and that explained why Steve hadn’t been present to provide his input during in their initial meetings. He’d been made a glorified babysitter because he had somehow threatened Nick’s authority; he knew too much, but was too well-liked to be eliminated, and therefore, needed to be kept out of sight and out of mind.

Given Steve’s propensity for honesty, he’d also likely disclosed that he and Bucky had been more than friends. Fury wanted them to be cordial, but didn’t want them to get too close, or rekindle the past. If they still had feelings for each other, or ever decided to rejoin forces, there would be a shift in the balance of power, and that would be disastrous for Fury.  

The word coup sprang to mind and fuck if it didn’t make Bucky hard just thinking about it…

“Well?” Nick prompted impatiently.

Pulled out of his thoughts, Bucky cleared his throat, and leveled Fury with a hard stare.

“Steve Rogers is a business associate and nothing more,” he asserted lowly. “And I will not repeat myself on this matter ever again. Is that understood?”

Before Fury could offer up an agreement or speak another word, Bucky polished off his drink, pushed back his chair, and got to his feet. It was his way of silently declaring the conversation was over, and Fury had little choice but follow suit, or else risk being seen as issuing further insult.

Nick promptly stood and extended his hand, “I meant no disrespect.”

“I took no offense,” Bucky lied smoothly as they shook. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few more things to attend to before this evening. Natasha will see you out.”

They parted ways, and just after sunset, they met again for what Bucky hoped would be the final time. Everyone put pen to paper, Steve included, and right afterward, Fury and the rest of his crew promptly departed for the airport. With the deal done, the ankle monitor was removed, and though Steve had been invited to celebrate with the Families, he’d declined, and that hadn’t surprised Bucky in the slightest.

Good food, top-shelf booze, and a windfall the likes of which the Families had never seen before had erased any and all doubts. Bucky was congratulated for the accomplishment and many hours of partying and back-slapping passed before he made it home again.  

When he arrived back at the penthouse, Natasha was standing just outside his door, and had a bottle of Cristal in each hand. After the corks were popped, they settled down side-by-side on the couch, and enjoyed the obscenely expensive bubbly sans flutes.

“To a job well done,” Bucky toasted.

“I’ll drink to that,” Natasha sighed as she kicked off her heels,

“You need to take some time off,” he insisted. “And when you return, we’ll discuss the future.”

She giggled and shook her head, “The ink hasn’t even dried, and you’re already planning a takedown, aren’t you?”

“Perhaps.”

“You play a dangerous game, Boss.”

Bucky chuckled and tapped the neck of his champagne bottle lightly against hers, “Yes, and in this game, it’s winner-take-fuckin’-all.”

Chapter 8: The Fall

Everything: @jennmurawski13​ @nerdy-bookworm-1998​

Steve Rogers: @patzammit @hearttoearth​ The Boss of Brooklyn: @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan​ @jamesbarnesappreciationsociety @captain-rogers-beard​ @lilliannaansalla

[krinsbez]

My Transformers Fancon, Part XVI

Even though the Autobot-Decepticon alliance is kaput, both parties have reached critical mass; they take a brief hit, but they're still both going strong. Meanwhile, Zeta Prime is taking a new tack WRT solving the energon crisis. He announces that the space colonization program will be expanded. In the long-run this will result in a more stable energon supply than trade alone. In the short-run, however, it requires significant investment of resources, which means more shortages. It also provides an escape valve for people who aren't happy with the way things are going on Cybertron. For this reason, it is opposed by both Megatron and Proteus, as their powerbases both rely on large numbers of angry, desperate people. Not wanting to give the impression that their agreement on this issue indicates some kind of conciliation, they both up their rhetoric considerably. As a result, the violence between their followers escalates even further. Not only are spontaneous fights happening more frequently, but organized Functionist and Decepticon paramilitary groups start forming and warring in the streets. Both Megatron and Proteus decry the violence, of course, but neither is really doing anything about it. Naturally, the Autobots start forming their own militias, albeit more self-defense oriented. Orion Pax is having none of it. Unlike Proteus and Megatron, however, he's doing something about it. He declares that anyone found engaging in criminal violence will be summarily ejected from the Autobot Alliance; if an Autobot feels he needs to do more to put an end to the violence consuming Cybertron, he should apply to join the police or the Primal Vanguard. And to drive the point home, Orion does the latter. This is a bold move, because the laws enacted by Guardian Prime bar members of the Vanguard from holding political office (asides from the Prime, of course) to ensure that organization's neutrality.

[ao3feed-mythology]

Namira's heart | Hel in Skyrim

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3GcnJXa

by Sithence

Hel, Queen and Goddess of the underworld of the same name - having broken her binds and destroyed her former prison for good, she casts herself beyond the realms in reach of Æsir and Vanir. Finding herself awakening in an entirely new plane of existence she realises she may be more at home than ever before, and perhaps not so alone.

A Namira & Hel semi-dark romance and powerbase building (Because y'know, death, cannibalism, daedric worship, that kinda thing)

Words: 1602, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Norse Religion & Lore

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: F/F

Characters: Namira (Elder Scrolls), Original Female Character(s), Female Dovahkiin | Dragonborn, Hircine (Elder Scrolls), Hermaeus Mora, The Companions (Elder Scrolls), Daedra Character(s) (Elder Scrolls), Hel | Hela (Norse Religion & Lore)

Relationships: Namira (Elder Scrolls)/Original Female Character(s), Namira (Elder Scrolls)/Original Character(s)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Norse Religion & Lore, Mythology References, Shapeshifting, Cannibalism, Nine Divines (Elder Scrolls), Aedra (Elder Scrolls), Daedra (Elder Scrolls), Daedric Princes (Elder Scrolls), Daedric Quests (Elder Scrolls), Daedric Artifacts (Elder Scrolls), Assassins & Hitmen, Alternate Universe - Gods & Goddesses, Markarth (Elder Scrolls), Whiterun (Elder Scrolls)

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3GcnJXa

[rassilon-imprimatur]

The Rival Presidency of Drornid...

Skagra relinquished his place at the controls. “You are familiar with the planet Drornid?” he said stiffly.

Romana nodded. “It was the scene of an incident in Gallifreyan history.”

“An incident,” said Skagra. He tilted his head to one side. “I admire your understatement. It is an excellent quality.”

“Thank you,’ said Romana. “Many thousands of years ago there was a schism in the College of Cardinals on Gallifrey. Cardinal Thorac fled to Drornid, declared himself President of the Time Lords, and established a rival court there.”

“Where he became known as the Heresiarch of Drornid,” Skagra continued. “Eventually Thorac returned to Gallifrey.”

Romana nodded, thinking back to her history lessons. “The High Council forced him to return by simply ignoring him.”

Skagra’s eyes narrowed. “And do you know what happened on Drornid, Time Lady, both during and after the reign of the Heresiarch?”

Romana searched her memory. “There was no mention of that on my history syllabus at the Academy.”

“Skagra grunted, and his hands flew over the controls. The holo-screen shifted to show another image. “Then it is time for me to expand your learning. This was Drornid during the reign of the Heresiarch.”

The holo-screen showed the wide vista of a city that nestled in a large valley. Towering over the buildings was an enormous statue of a hook-nosed man in the robes of a Time Lord President. “The Heresiarch controlled the planet from the statue. He set up a pacification beam from his court within, quelling any unrest or resistance from the native populace.”

The image shifted again as Skagra manipulated more controls. Now Romana saw the crowded streets of the city from ground level, with the statue looming down from on high. The citizens of Drornid shambled happily along the streets, dumb smiles on their faces. 

“Drornid at this time was an advanced civilisation, late level nine, early level ten,” continued Skagra. “But the day came, after several hundred years, when Thorac, as you say, left to return to Gallifrey.”

The screen now showed an aerial view of the city. Tiny figures teemed through the streets. “The pacification ray was switched suddenly off,” said Skagra. “The people of Drornid suffered a severe psychic feedback. The centuries of quiet subservience were over, and all the accumulated aggression and unrest spilled back into their minds. They tore their own planet apart.”

- Shada, Gareth Roberts 

Dronid’s first disastrous contact with the Great Houses was long before the War Era, in the period following the Imperator Presidency when various intervention groups on the Homeworld were beginning to demand greater involvement in the affairs of the outside universe. In these “difficult” times several of the more active groups attempted to make aggressive, highly-politicised statements to the ruling Houses. One of the more successful efforts was undertaken by the Grandfather of House Paradox: while one of the least successful was a minor rebellion in the ranks of the ruling Houses themselves. A small clique from the elite bloodlines announced, with great pomp and ceremony, that the Homeworld was no longer fit to do its job and that a new Homeworld should be created inside the Spiral Politic itself… right under the noses of the lesser species. The members of this cabal simply turned their backs on the Presidency, and removed themselves to a world where they felt the locals would treat them as the beings of wisdom and status they so obviously were. The site they choose was Dronid, then a world in its early industrial era, divided into autonomous city-states but with a rapidly-expanding system of trade and technology.

Yet the “renegade Presidency” is now only a footnote in history, nowhere near as well-remembered as greater rebellions like the Imperator Presidency. Why? The main reason is just that this new attempt at defying the ruling Houses was stupid, infantile and badly-planned. The renegades believed themselves to be following in the footsteps of the Imperator, doing something cutting-edge and revolutionary, but while the Imperator had been ambitious, bloody-minded and utterly ruthless, the new rebels were polite academicians and deluded bureaucrats who in truth knew next to nothing about concepts like ”warfare”, “conquest” or even “violence”. They simply didn’t believe that the ruling Houses would hurt them, and besides, they’d seen how confused and helpless the Houses had been after the Imperator’s rebellion. Surely, they told themselves, we’ll be safe from our cousins back Home?

They were, of course, hopelessly wrong on both counts. Following the Imperator crisis the ruling Houses had become distinctly paranoid, terrified that a second Imperator might make their problems even worse. These new rebels might have been hopeless time-wasters, but the Houses didn’t feel it was worth taking any risks. They elected to deal with the breakaway ”Presidency” in the most damning way imaginable: by ignoring it.

This is far worse than it sounds. As has been documented elsewhere, the Houses created and maintained the entire framework of history. To this day they see the Homeworld as the great ”eye” which observes that framework, keeping all its causal connections and time-structures in check. If this “eye” should fail to see some part of the Spiral Politic, then the effect on that world would be catastrophic. Ungoverned by the certainty of history, the world would be torn apart by the random probability-forms of the unformatted universe. There may have been House members on Dronid to try to keep time stable, but the renegades now had no link to the Homeworld, nobody to acknowledge that they even existed.

The result was a cataclysm, a front of protospace and anti-history which not only tore the renegades’ powerbase to shreds but ate its way through the culture of the world’s local population. The city-states of Dronid became terrified, insular communities, the inhabitants hiding behind their siege walls as neighbouring states were ripped apart by the colliding time-states. Once the attack of ignorance was over, and the Houses saw fit to re-connect the world to the rest of the Spiral Politic, the face of Dronid had been changed beyond recognition. An early-industrial society had been turned into a world of fallen nations and paranoid anxiety, while most of the original renegades were nowhere to be found. (Having a certain resistance to alter-time effects, it’s generally thought that they must have escaped the world before being consumed by the storm. Though the leaders of the clique were returned to the Homeworld, the others have never been heard of since, but if any of them survive then they’re hardly likely to pose any kind of threat in future.)

- The Book of the War, edited by Lawrence Miles, Appendix I: The Rival Homeworld 

[...]

Mr Gabriel reached for the Blue Dog. “So, you want to get yourself off Drornid while you’ve still got all your legs?”

Mr Qixotl felt like hissing. He hated people who did that. Technically, this planet was supposed to be called “Drornid”; that was the name the locals had always used, anyway. But there’d been a typo in the first edition of Bartholomew’s Planetary Gazeteer, so the rest of the universe called it “Dronid”, including the off-worlders who came to make a living/killing here. And, as the off-worlders were at the heart of the planet’s economy, most of the natives went along with them. Some people always had to be picky, though.

- Alien Bodies, Lawrence Miles

(Obviously the contradiction between the Shada novelization account and The Book of the War/War in Heaven account is that most of Gareth Roberts’ expansions are his own invention... to my knowledge, Douglas Adams hadn’t actually developed the history of Dro(r)nid that deeply, other than the idea that a renegade Time Lord had set up shop and then got ignored by Gallifrey. This contradictory gap is a really fascinating spark of theorizing/headcanoning; how can the Rival Homeworld be a millennia-old event taught in Academy history, while only being a result of the Morbius’ Crisis, which, according to The Book of the War, a mere few years before the Doctor left Gallifrey? War propoganda? Rewriting of Gallifrey history to hide the unpleasantness? You decide!) 

[politicoscope]

Pervez Musharraf Biography and Profile

New Post has been published on https://www.politicoscope.com/pervez-musharraf-biography-and-profile/

Pervez Musharraf Biography and Profile

Pervez Musharraf was born in Delhi in August 11, 1943. His family emigrated to Pakistan during the partition of the Indian sub-continent. His rise through the ranks came despite the fact that he does not belong to the predominantly Punjabi officer class of the Pakistani army – but to an Urdu-speaking family in Karachi. He began his military career in 1964.

Early on, he reportedly commanded artillery and infantry brigades before going on to lead various commando units. He reportedly underwent two spells of military training in the UK and was appointed director-general of military operations by the now-exiled former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, before taking full charge of the armed forces.

Who is Pervez Musharraf?

General Musharraf rose to the top job in 1998 when Pakistan’s powerful army chief, General Jehangir Karamat, resigned two days after calling for the army to be given a key role in the country’s decision-making process.

It was the first time an army chief of staff has ever stepped down and many observers took it as a sign that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s political power had become strong enough to secure the long-term future of civilian administrations.

Some independent commentators suggested that General Musharraf’s promotion came precisely because he did not belong to the Punjabi officer class. They say the Prime Minister believed that Musharraf’s ethnic background would leave the general unable to build a powerbase.

Kashmir Crisis During the Kashmir crisis in 1998, General Musharraf was regularly seen briefing the media and making appearances on state television. But while he said that Pakistan-backed militants were preventing Indian gains, he and other senior generals were reportedly increasingly angry at the prime minister’s attempts to find a diplomatic way out of the crisis.

Mr Sharif’s moves led to speculation that the military did not have the full political backing of the government and he eventually ordered a full withdrawal. General Musharraf was the first senior figure to acknowledge that Pakistani troops had entered the Indian-administered sector during the fighting.

Previously, Pakistan had said that the forces had all been Islamic militants determined to take territory from the other side of the Line of Control. Following the order to withdraw, Gen Musharraf told the BBC that the crisis had been a “great success” for Pakistan.

In contrast, India’s ruling BJP party sought to make electoral capital out of what it saw as a great military victory.

While being credited as one of the principal strategists behind the Kashmir crisis, General Musharraf also made clear he did not oppose efforts to ease tension with India. But any hopes that his takeover in a coup might herald a stabilisation in ties with India – or even a new start – appeared displaced in the first 20 months of his rule.

Tension on the sub-continent initially increased markedly – with both sides adopting hostile positions. The hijack of an Indian Airlines plane to Afghanistan in 1999 – which India blamed on Pakistani-backed groups – and a rising tide of violence in Kashmir plunged relations to a new low.

In July 2001, General Musharraf held his first summit meeting with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Agra – but failed to make much headway in the Kashmir dispute. Before going to India, he had named himself president in a bid to consolidate his grip on power.

General Musharraf has also firmly resisted outside pressure to move quickly to restore civilian rule. After the coup he suspended the national assembly. He has said there can be no question of elections until October 2002 – the deadline set by Pakistan’s Supreme Court.

Pervez Musharraf Quick Facts

Personal:

Birth date: August 11, 1943

Birth place: New Delhi, India

Birth name: Pervez Musharraf

Father: Syed Musharraf Uddin, career diplomat

Mother: Begum Zarin Musharraf

Marriage: Sehba Musharraf (December 1968-present)

Children: Ayla (daughter); Bilal (son)

Education: Pakistan Military Academy, 1961; Military Academy of Kakul, 1964

Religion: Muslim

Timeline:

1947 – Musharraf’s family moves to Pakistan when British India is divided into India and Pakistan. The family settles in Karachi.

1949-1956 – Spends his early childhood in Turkey due to his father’s assignment in Ankara.

1964 – Is commissioned second lieutenant in an artillery regiment in the Pakistani Army.

1965 – Is awarded Imtiazi Sanad (medal) for gallantry during the 1965 India-Pakistan war.

1971 – Is a company commander in a commando battalion during the India-Pakistan war.

1991 – Is promoted to major general.

October 7, 1998 – Is appointed chief of army staff with the rank of general.

April 9, 1999 – Is appointed chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

October 12, 1999 – Leads a coup against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and becomes head of government. Sharif had fired Musharraf after the army’s failed invasion in Kargil, in Indian-held Kashmir.

June 20, 2001 – Appoints himself president of Pakistan while remaining the head of the army.

April 30, 2002 – A referendum is held on whether Musharraf will hold office for another five years; it passes by a wide margin.

August 2002 – Implements 29 amendments to the constitution, granting himself the power to dissolve parliament and remove the prime minister.

December 14 and 25, 2003 – Two assassination attempts on Musharraf’s life fail.

January 1, 2004 – A vote of confidence in parliament allows Musharraf to remain in power until 2007. He gains the two-thirds of votes in parliament that he needs by promising to step down as head of the army at the end of 2004.

September 25, 2006 – Musharraf releases his autobiography, “In the Line of Fire.”

October 6, 2007 – An unofficial vote count indicates Musharraf has won by a landslide in a presidential election. A number of parliamentarians boycotted the vote in both houses.

November 3, 2007 – President Musharraf declares a state of emergency in Pakistan. He suspends the country’s constitution, postpones January 2008 elections, and imposes restrictions on the media. Government authorities arrest 1,500 people who protest the state of emergency.

November 28, 2007 – Steps down as leader of Pakistan’s army, the day before he is scheduled to be sworn in as president.

November 29, 2007 – Takes the presidential oath of office for the third time.

December 15, 2007 – The state of emergency is lifted.

February 18, 2008 – In parliamentary elections, Musharraf’s party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, finishes third in voting, behind the PPP, party of the late Benazir Bhutto, and the Pakistan Muslim League-N, party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

August 18, 2008 – Announces his resignation as president of Pakistan.

July 22, 2008 – Pakistan Supreme Court issues notice that Musharraf is to defend himself on charges of violating the constitution by unlawfully declaring emergency rule on November 3, 2007.

July 31, 2009 – The Pakistan Supreme Court rules that Musharraf did violate the constitution on – November 3, 2007. The court gives him seven days to appear and defend himself.

August 6, 2009 – Refuses to answer the charges against him and flees Pakistan for Great Britain.

August 11, 2009 – Pakistani officials announce that Musharraf faces arrest if he returns to Pakistan.

March 16, 2010 – Opposes US President Barack Obama’s plan for US troops to pull out of Afghanistan by July 2011. He believes the troops should stay until the Taliban is defeated.

May 21, 2010 – Musharraf announces on CNN that he plans to re-enter Pakistan politics.

October 1, 2010 – Launches a new political party, the “All Pakistan Muslim League.”

February 12, 2011 – A warrant for Musharraf’s arrest is issued by a Pakistani court, in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

May 24, 2011 – In an interview on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, Musharraf condemns the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. He says, “No country has a right to intrude into any other country… Actually, technically, if you see it legally, it’s an act of war.”

January 8, 2012 – Musharraf pledges to return to his country later in the month, despite word from authorities that he will be arrested in connection with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto when he does so.

January 27, 2012 – A senior leader in Musharraf’s party says that Musharraf has postponed his return from exile until the political situation in Pakistan and the court cases against him are resolved.

July 25, 2012 – Vows in an interview on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight to return to Pakistan even though his life may be at risk. “I believe that there always is a time that comes when there’s a cause bigger than self. And this is the situation in Pakistan.”

March 16, 2013 – Musharraf announces his plans to return to Pakistan to lead his party in the upcoming elections.

March 23, 2013 – The Pakistani Taliban says that it will assassinate Musharraf if he returns to the country.

March 24, 2013 – Musharraf returns to Pakistan after four years in exile. He is granted bail in advance of his arrival in Pakistan, so he is not arrested upon return.

April 18, 2013 – A Pakistani court rejects Musharraf’s request for a bail extension and orders his arrest in a case he is facing over the detention of judges in 2007. Pakistani media reports that Musharraf has been placed under house arrest.

August 20, 2013 – A Pakistani court indicts Musharraf, charging him with murder in the death of the country’s first female prime minister, Benazir Bhutto.

March 31, 2014 – A Special Court in Pakistan charges Musharraf with high treason — a crime that carries the death penalty or life imprisonment.

April 3, 2014 – A bomb detonates a few minutes after Musharraf’s convoy passes through an intersection in Islamabad as he is being transported home from a military hospital. Pakistani police say it is an assassination attempt against Musharraf. No one is injured.

January 18, 2016 – Musharraf and two other former officials are acquitted by an anti-terrorism court in the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader.

February 11, 2016 – After experiencing breathlessness, Musharraf is rushed to Pakistan Navy Ship Shifa Hospital to undergo testing. He receives treatment in an intensive care unit for complications related to a heart condition, according to his spokeswoman.

March 16, 2016 – Pakistan’s Supreme Court lifts a travel ban on Musharraf allowing him to leave the country while he awaits trial for treason. Two days later Musharraf leaves Pakistan in order to seek medical treatment in Dubai.

August 31, 2017 – A court in Pakistan names Musharraf a fugitive from justice in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Musharraf has been living in self-imposed exile in Dubai since 2016.Pervez Musharraf was born in Delhi in August 11, 1943. 1947 – Musharraf’s family moves to Pakistan when British India is divided into India and Pakistan. The family settles in Karachi. 1949-1956 – Spends his early childhood in Turkey due to his father’s assignment in Ankara. Pervez Musharraf Biography and Profile.1947 – Musharraf’s family moves to Pakistan when British India is divided into India and Pakistan. The family settles in Karachi.

1949-1956 – Spends his early childhood in Turkey due to his father’s assignment in Ankara.

1964 – Is commissioned second lieutenant in an artillery regiment in the Pakistani Army.

1965 – Is awarded Imtiazi Sanad (medal) for gallantry during the 1965 India-Pakistan war.

1971 – Is a company commander in a commando battalion during the India-Pakistan war.

1991 – Is promoted to major general.

October 7, 1998 – Is appointed chief of army staff with the rank of general.

April 9, 1999 – Is appointed chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

October 12, 1999 – Leads a coup against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and becomes head of government. Sharif had fired Musharraf after the army’s failed invasion in Kargil, in Indian-held Kashmir.

June 20, 2001 – Appoints himself president of Pakistan while remaining the head of the army.

April 30, 2002 – A referendum is held on whether Musharraf will hold office for another five years; it passes by a wide margin.

August 2002 – Implements 29 amendments to the constitution, granting himself the power to dissolve parliament and remove the prime minister.

December 14 and 25, 2003 – Two assassination attempts on Musharraf’s life fail.

January 1, 2004 – A vote of confidence in parliament allows Musharraf to remain in power until 2007. He gains the two-thirds of votes in parliament that he needs by promising to step down as head of the army at the end of 2004.

September 25, 2006 – Musharraf releases his autobiography, “In the Line of Fire.”

October 6, 2007 – An unofficial vote count indicates Musharraf has won by a landslide in a presidential election. A number of parliamentarians boycotted the vote in both houses.

November 3, 2007 – President Musharraf declares a state of emergency in Pakistan. He suspends the country’s constitution, postpones January 2008 elections, and imposes restrictions on the media. Government authorities arrest 1,500 people who protest the state of emergency.

November 28, 2007 – Steps down as leader of Pakistan’s army, the day before he is scheduled to be sworn in as president.

November 29, 2007 – Takes the presidential oath of office for the third time.

December 15, 2007 – The state of emergency is lifted.

February 18, 2008 – In parliamentary elections, Musharraf’s party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, finishes third in voting, behind the PPP, party of the late Benazir Bhutto, and the Pakistan Muslim League-N, party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

August 18, 2008 – Announces his resignation as president of Pakistan.

July 22, 2008 – Pakistan Supreme Court issues notice that Musharraf is to defend himself on charges of violating the constitution by unlawfully declaring emergency rule on November 3, 2007.

July 31, 2009 – The Pakistan Supreme Court rules that Musharraf did violate the constitution on – November 3, 2007. The court gives him seven days to appear and defend himself.

August 6, 2009 – Refuses to answer the charges against him and flees Pakistan for Great Britain.

August 11, 2009 – Pakistani officials announce that Musharraf faces arrest if he returns to Pakistan.

March 16, 2010 – Opposes US President Barack Obama’s plan for US troops to pull out of Afghanistan by July 2011. He believes the troops should stay until the Taliban is defeated.

May 21, 2010 – Musharraf announces on CNN that he plans to re-enter Pakistan politics.

October 1, 2010 – Launches a new political party, the “All Pakistan Muslim League.”

February 12, 2011 – A warrant for Musharraf’s arrest is issued by a Pakistani court, in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

May 24, 2011 – In an interview on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, Musharraf condemns the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. He says, “No country has a right to intrude into any other country… Actually, technically, if you see it legally, it’s an act of war.”

January 8, 2012 – Musharraf pledges to return to his country later in the month, despite word from authorities that he will be arrested in connection with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto when he does so.

January 27, 2012 – A senior leader in Musharraf’s party says that Musharraf has postponed his return from exile until the political situation in Pakistan and the court cases against him are resolved.

July 25, 2012 – Vows in an interview on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight to return to Pakistan even though his life may be at risk. “I believe that there always is a time that comes when there’s a cause bigger than self. And this is the situation in Pakistan.”

March 16, 2013 – Musharraf announces his plans to return to Pakistan to lead his party in the upcoming elections.

March 23, 2013 – The Pakistani Taliban says that it will assassinate Musharraf if he returns to the country.

March 24, 2013 – Musharraf returns to Pakistan after four years in exile. He is granted bail in advance of his arrival in Pakistan, so he is not arrested upon return.

April 18, 2013 – A Pakistani court rejects Musharraf’s request for a bail extension and orders his arrest in a case he is facing over the detention of judges in 2007. Pakistani media reports that Musharraf has been placed under house arrest.

August 20, 2013 – A Pakistani court indicts Musharraf, charging him with murder in the death of the country’s first female prime minister, Benazir Bhutto.

March 31, 2014 – A Special Court in Pakistan charges Musharraf with high treason — a crime that carries the death penalty or life imprisonment.

April 3, 2014 – A bomb detonates a few minutes after Musharraf’s convoy passes through an intersection in Islamabad as he is being transported home from a military hospital. Pakistani police say it is an assassination attempt against Musharraf. No one is injured.

January 18, 2016 – Musharraf and two other former officials are acquitted by an anti-terrorism court in the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader.

February 11, 2016 – After experiencing breathlessness, Musharraf is rushed to Pakistan Navy Ship Shifa Hospital to undergo testing. He receives treatment in an intensive care unit for complications related to a heart condition, according to his spokeswoman.

March 16, 2016 – Pakistan’s Supreme Court lifts a travel ban on Musharraf allowing him to leave the country while he awaits trial for treason. Two days later Musharraf leaves Pakistan in order to seek medical treatment in Dubai.

August 31, 2017 – A court in Pakistan names Musharraf a fugitive from justice in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Musharraf has been living in self-imposed exile in Dubai since 2016.

Pervez Musharraf Biography and Profile

[2whatcom-blog]

Libya disaster Islamic State group says it attacked Haftar camp

Islamic State group militants say they have been behind a Saturday assault on a coaching camp for the forces of Libyan navy strongman Khalifa Haftar. Hospital officers mentioned 9 folks have been killed within the assault in Libya's southern metropolis of Sabha. Gen Haftar's japanese forces took management of key areas within the oil-rich south throughout a January offensive. They're now concentrated within the north west, the place they're battling for management of the capital, Tripoli. In a press release posted on-line, the Islamic State group mentioned it had killed or wounded 16 folks within the Sabha assault, in addition to liberating inmates from a jail. A navy supply confirmed to Reuters jail contained in the camp had been stormed however gave no additional particulars. Hamed al-Khaiyali, head of the native municipality, advised the information company that one soldier had been beheaded within the assault, whereas seven others have been "slaughtered" or shot. Sabha Medical Centre later launched a press release placing the demise toll at 9. Gen Haftar has his powerbase within the east of the nation the place he's allied to one in all two rival governments. He launched an offensive along with his Libyan Nationwide Military (LNA) on the south in January, saying he needed to purge the world of "terrorists and criminal groups". Then final month, Gen Haftar ordered his forces to advance to Tripoli, the place they're now embroiled in a battle with fighters allied to the nation's UN-backed and internationally recognised Authorities of Nationwide Accord. Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj has vowed to defend the capital and has accused Gen Haftar of launching a coup. Libya has been beset by violence and political instability since long-serving ruler Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011. Read the full article

[toldnews-blog]

New Post has been published on https://toldnews.com/world/libya-crisis-islamic-state-group-says-it-attacked-haftar-camp/

Libya crisis: Islamic State group says it attacked Haftar camp

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Members of the Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by Khalifa Haftar, have been making advances

Islamic State group militants say they were behind a Saturday attack on a training camp for the forces of Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar.

Hospital officials said nine people were killed in the attack in Libya’s southern city of Sabha.

Gen Haftar’s eastern forces took control of key areas in the oil-rich south during a January offensive.

They are now concentrated in the north west, where they are battling for control of the capital, Tripoli.

In a statement posted online, the Islamic State group said it had killed or wounded 16 people in the Sabha attack, as well as freeing inmates from a prison.

A military source confirmed to Reuters that a jail inside the camp had been stormed but gave no further details.

Hamed al-Khaiyali, head of the local municipality, told the news agency that one soldier had been beheaded in the attack, while seven others were “slaughtered” or shot.

Sabha Medical Centre later released a statement putting the death toll at nine.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionThe battle for Tripoli

Gen Haftar has his powerbase in the east of the country where he is allied to one of two rival governments.

He launched an offensive with his Libyan National Army (LNA) on the south in January, saying he wanted to purge the area of “terrorists and criminal groups”.

Then last month, Gen Haftar ordered his forces to advance to Tripoli, where they are now embroiled in a battle with fighters allied to the country’s UN-backed and internationally recognised Government of National Accord.

Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj has vowed to defend the capital and has accused Gen Haftar of launching a coup.

Libya has been beset by violence and political instability since long-serving ruler Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011.

[nightbringer24]

Seeing posts where white people alive today get blamed for the actions that white people committed centuries or decades before so many of us were born confuse the fuck out of me.

So white people can blame all of the Arabs alive today for the Moorish Conquest of Spain, the conquest of North Africa, the Ottoman Empire and the Arab Slave Trade? We can blame Mongolians alive today for the role the Mongol Empire had in completely fucking up almost the entire Middle East and Eastern Europe, and we can also blame the Japanese people for the way their ancestors treated the Koreans, both in the Middle/Renaissance era and World War 2? If we’re also bashing people because of their ancestry, over which they have ZERO control, we can also blame modern Africans, and by extension the African diaspora in the West, for all of the wars and violence that the various African kingdoms inflicted on each other, along with THEIR part in facilitating the European and Arab slave trade by launching wars solely for the gathering of slaves and also for the various groups that sided with the European Colonial powers solely to advance their own powerbases.

If any of what I wrote above comes across as being stupid to you, FUCKING GOOD!

NO-ONE alive today is at fault for the actions of anyone who died centuries before they were born, regardless of race. This whole culture of bashing white people for the horrible things committed in the past while completely ignoring the horrible acts committed by other groups in the world is just fucking lunacy. And it needs to fucking stop before it reaches a point where it facilitates something dangerous.

[krinsbez]

GI Joe: Remixed, Cobra-La

Let's talk Cobra-La.

First off, it's not actually called that; "Cobra-La" was simply a codephrase that a Siegie stationed in Tibet was waiting for, upon receipt of which he was him to open the sealed orders that instructed him to make contact with Golobulus. However, as human vocal apparatus has difficulty pronouncing the Cobra-Lan language in general, and the name for their civilization (naturally, they have more than just one city up there) in particular, it stuck. Somewhat similarly, "Golobulus" is a mispronunciation, although upon assuming leadership, he took it as his new name for symbolic reasons that will make more sense in a bit. "Nemesis Enforcer" and "Pythona" are rough translations; note that the former is actually a title.

OK, with that out of the way, the Cobra-Lans are a species of sapient reptilian humanoids. They did not in fact evolve from snakes, and honestly have no more taxonomic relationship to them then they do to any other reptile; however, they are big into snakes culturally and have been since their earliest history. They are older than anatomically modern humans, and prefer the use of biological to mechanical technology, and have over millennia honed their mastery of bioengineering to a degree human science can barely even dream of. They have long lifespans, do not reproduce as often as humans, and in general are more content to stay in one place and do things the same way than humans are. Their civilization grew to it's greatest heights during the last Ice Age. Unfortunately, they mostly lived in low-lying coastal areas, which of course proceeded to drown when the Ice Age ended and the glaciers melted, for which reason the survivors decamped to the Himalayas and refused to come back down.

Their first contact with humans was in the mid-'70s, via Joe Colton and the Adventure Team, who found them to be peaceful, well-meaning people, who just wanted to be left alone. A subsequent discussion over whether to initiate contact with the wider human world predictably ended with a decision to retain the status quo. Joe and Co. respected that wish and kept their existence secret. But not everyone was happy with this. Observing the effects of human industrial civilization on the planetary ecosystem, some Cobra-Lans noted the threat of climate change, and theorized that it could well force humans to do what their own ancestors did and flee to higher ground, potentially threatening their security. Some further argued that Something Should Be Done to prevent this threat from becoming reality. The leader of this movement was a young Golobulus, who's advocacy eventually passed over the line into militancy, and so alarmed the authorities that they attempted to detain him. He escaped arrest, and took the unprecedented move of fleeing to the outside world, disguised as a human.

On the off-chance that he would be pursued, Golobulus set ought to put as much distance between himself and his homeland as possible, and so traveled to North American, where, by chance he encountered a young Cobra Commander. At this time, Cobra was still at the MLM/Cult stage, but CC had already begun formulating more ambitious plans. Golobulus was impressed by the charismatic masked demagogue and chose to reveal his true nature. CC shrewdly took the young exile under his wing, encouraging him to try something radical. Together, they devised a plan to take control of Golobulus' people, and then traveled to the Himalayas to do so. Golobulus fleeing in the first place was a scandal that made the leadership look bad and made him a cause celebre', and so when he came back they treated him with kid gloves, as he built a powerbase, gathering a small army of followers. Some of whom had supported him prior to his fleeing, others he'd won over since his return with the speeches CC wrote for him. What happened next succeeded in large part due to being an Out-of-Context-Problem, because the idea of political violence was completely alien to Cobra-Lan society previously and the opposition didn't even realize what was happening, much less how to respond to it, until it was too late:

Using old Soviet hardware obtained by CC, Golobulus devastated the entire capital in an engineered disaster he would go on to claim was brought on by human negligence. After which, his faction moved in to provide relief and "restore order". Golobulus declared himself Primarch (see below), as it was his forces that restored order in the capital, but it was not a popular move with some of the city-states, who saw this as a naked power grab (though they remained unaware that he was responsible, again, it being unthinkable that a Cobra-Lan would or even could do something like this on purpose). This led to a civil war, between Golobulus' supporters, and the dissident city states. Eventually, after a relatively short conflict, Golobulus won, and established full control over Cobra-La. Following which CC returned to America, keeping in his back pocket that a secret civilization of super-advanced snake-people owed him a favor.

When CC's conflict with Serpentor broke out into a Cobra Civil War, and the war then turned against him, CC called in that favor, and in response Golobulus reinforced his old partner's flagging forces with Cobra-Lan troops and technologies, under the command of Pythona and Nemesis Enforcer. But Golobulus had formed his own plans in the intervening years, and predictably eventually turned on CC and made his won play for global domination. Fortunately, with assistance from Joe Colton, the Joes had found the secret cities and made contact with some of his old friends, setting of an uprising against Golobulus' tyrannical rule...

Random notes:

-Cobra-La's government was organized as follows:

High Council: The leaders of their entire civilization, a council of (insert number here, preferably odd number to serve as a tie-breaker), whom serve for life, or retirement. Each Councilor is in charge of a specific sphere; Civil Infrastructure, Biosciences, Education, Military, etc. One of their number is elected as Primarch, a first-among-equals post that has a ten-year long rotation before going up for election again. Councilors are chosen from the assembly.

High Assembly: Elected representatives of the various Cobra-La city-states. Each representative serves for a twenty year term, and each city has about twelve representatives. The leader of the Assembly is the Archon, who also serves on the High Council

Each individual city-state follows the Council-Assembly model, just at the local level, except the head of a city council is called governor.

-Mind you, this was before Golobulus and his militant faction took over, with Cobra Commander tagging along. After the violent overthrow of the High Council and the Assembly, Golobulus revived the old title of 'Serpent King,' and instituted a new order. Cities are now ruled by Viceroys, who maintain their control through the military, each city now their own personal fiefdom. Essentially, Cobra-La was turned into a psuedo-feudal society.

-All Cobra-Lan soldiers are bioengineered for superior combat performance, and are further equipped with gear vastly superior to that of any conventional human military. Whether they clear the bar for "super-soldiers" is a matter of debate. However, the Enforcers (of whom Nemesis Enforcer is in command) definitely do.

-Cobra-La's forces include Yetis.

-Cobra-Lan sexual behavior is one of many ways in which they differ from humans; females only experience sexual arousal when in estrus, and males only when in the vicinity of a female in estrus. Or at least, that's how it goes in nature. Given their proclivity for bioengineering, it should be no surprise that the Cobra-Lans have hacked this, allowing them to induce sexual arousal at will, and thus making recreational sex possible. That said, in general, they remain considerably less libidinous than humans.

-Cobra-Lans do not give birth and do not nurse young; Pythona's breasts and curves are the result of cosmetic bioengineering, partially to make liasing with Cobra easier, partially as a personal aesthetic choice.

-Golobulus' snake-tail is the result of grafting, and required removal of his existing lower body, which means that he's technically a eunuch. This used to actually be a standard thing for leaders of Cobra-La, demonstrating their commitment to the people by removing their ability to have children, etc. Of course, Cobra-Lan science eventually advanced to a point where genitalia were unnecessary to produce offspring, and this became a purely symbolic gesture, and by the modern day it had fallen into disuse. But many Cobra-Lans are big on tradition, and given how Golobulus' position as leader comes entirely from throwing many traditions out the window, he needed to appease the traditionalists somehow, so he revived it.

[codexanathema]

T is for Teferi

A brilliant temporal archmage who has sacrificed his spark, Teferi is specialized in Time Magic.

Teferi is a Jamuraan mage who studied at the Tolarian Academy and a planeswalker who lost and later regained his spark. He is an accomplished wizard specializing in time magic. He eschews violence and will attempt to deal with opposition via the control of its allies and the eventual removal of its powerbase.

“We define the boundaries of reality; they don’t define us.”

Born in the nation of…

[thisdaynews]

Breaking News: Farmer-herder conflict sparks Nigeria stability fears

New Post has been published on https://www.thisdaynews.net/2018/07/26/breaking-news-farmer-herder-conflict-sparks-nigeria-stability-fears/

Breaking News: Farmer-herder conflict sparks Nigeria stability fears

Worsening violence between farmers and herders could hit Nigeria’s general election and “destabilise” the country, according to a new report published Thursday.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) said the long-running battle for land and resources, fuelled by pressures from an increasing population, was now “Nigeria’s gravest security threat,” outstripping the peril from jihadism.

At least 1,500 people have been killed in clashes between nomadic herders and sedentary farmers in central states since September last year, the thinktank said.

Of these, more than 1,300 occurred between January and June this year, it added.

This is at least six times higher than the number of people estimated estimated by the UN to have been killed by Boko Haram in the same period.

The ICG said some progress had been made in tackling the crisis but more needed to be done ahead of elections, which typically heighten the risk of ethnic, religious and political tensions.

“It (the conflict) is exacting an ever deadlier toll and, with elections looming in 2019, could destabilise the country if the government and other actors fail to contain it,” it added.

The first half of this year was the deadliest six months since the crisis worsened in 2014, it said in the report, “Stopping Nigeria’s Spiralling Farmer-Herder Violence”.

The overstretched police and military were unable to cope and with attacks largely unpunished, communities had taken matters into their own hands.

But much of the tit-for-tat violence has become more planned and involved increasingly well-armed and organised militia.

In the deadliest attack, 11 villages were attacked last month in the Barakin Ladi area of Plateau state, in which more than 200 people from farming communities were killed.

Human and political cost

The ICG said “scorched-earth” campaigns had made more than 300,000 people homeless, with the displaced forced to stay with family and friends or in overcrowded, unsanitary camps.

Local aid agencies were overwhelmed but there was very little help available elsewhere because of the humanitarian crisis sparked by the nine-year Boko Haram insurgency, it added.

Mass displacement has had an affect on food production and was likely to drive up prices, as farmers were unable or unwilling to work the land because of fear of fresh attacks.

President Muhammadu Buhari has been accused of failing to act against the herders because, like him, they are ethnic Fulani and Muslim.

The ICG said that argument was “unsustainable”, as Buhari had equally been unable to stop a rise in banditry and cattle rustling against Fulani Muslims in some northern states.

But the perception had increased anti-Fulani and anti-Muslim sentiment in a country where communal tensions are rarely far from the surface and frequently boil over into violence.

On the election, the researchers said the unrest could affect the ability of people to register to vote and political campaigning.

Buhari, who was elected in 2015 on a pledge to defeat Boko Haram and improve security across the country, could equally see an erosion in support in central states, they added.

He may still be able to rely on widespread support in his northern powerbase but his security record could hurt him elsewhere, they added.

[politicoscope]

Pervez Musharraf Biography and Profile

New Post has been published on https://www.politicoscope.com/pervez-musharraf-biography-and-profile/

Pervez Musharraf Biography and Profile

Pervez Musharraf was born in Delhi in August 11, 1943. His family emigrated to Pakistan during the partition of the Indian sub-continent. His rise through the ranks came despite the fact that he does not belong to the predominantly Punjabi officer class of the Pakistani army – but to an Urdu-speaking family in Karachi. He began his military career in 1964.

Early on, he reportedly commanded artillery and infantry brigades before going on to lead various commando units. He reportedly underwent two spells of military training in the UK and was appointed director-general of military operations by the now-exiled former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, before taking full charge of the armed forces.

Who is Pervez Musharraf?

General Musharraf rose to the top job in 1998 when Pakistan’s powerful army chief, General Jehangir Karamat, resigned two days after calling for the army to be given a key role in the country’s decision-making process.

It was the first time an army chief of staff has ever stepped down and many observers took it as a sign that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s political power had become strong enough to secure the long-term future of civilian administrations.

Some independent commentators suggested that General Musharraf’s promotion came precisely because he did not belong to the Punjabi officer class. They say the Prime Minister believed that Musharraf’s ethnic background would leave the general unable to build a powerbase.

Kashmir Crisis During the Kashmir crisis in 1998, General Musharraf was regularly seen briefing the media and making appearances on state television. But while he said that Pakistan-backed militants were preventing Indian gains, he and other senior generals were reportedly increasingly angry at the prime minister’s attempts to find a diplomatic way out of the crisis.

Mr Sharif’s moves led to speculation that the military did not have the full political backing of the government and he eventually ordered a full withdrawal. General Musharraf was the first senior figure to acknowledge that Pakistani troops had entered the Indian-administered sector during the fighting.

Previously, Pakistan had said that the forces had all been Islamic militants determined to take territory from the other side of the Line of Control. Following the order to withdraw, Gen Musharraf told the BBC that the crisis had been a “great success” for Pakistan.

In contrast, India’s ruling BJP party sought to make electoral capital out of what it saw as a great military victory.

While being credited as one of the principal strategists behind the Kashmir crisis, General Musharraf also made clear he did not oppose efforts to ease tension with India. But any hopes that his takeover in a coup might herald a stabilisation in ties with India – or even a new start – appeared displaced in the first 20 months of his rule.

Tension on the sub-continent initially increased markedly – with both sides adopting hostile positions. The hijack of an Indian Airlines plane to Afghanistan in 1999 – which India blamed on Pakistani-backed groups – and a rising tide of violence in Kashmir plunged relations to a new low.

In July 2001, General Musharraf held his first summit meeting with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Agra – but failed to make much headway in the Kashmir dispute. Before going to India, he had named himself president in a bid to consolidate his grip on power.

General Musharraf has also firmly resisted outside pressure to move quickly to restore civilian rule. After the coup he suspended the national assembly. He has said there can be no question of elections until October 2002 – the deadline set by Pakistan’s Supreme Court.

Pervez Musharraf Quick Facts

Personal:

Birth date: August 11, 1943

Birth place: New Delhi, India

Birth name: Pervez Musharraf

Father: Syed Musharraf Uddin, career diplomat

Mother: Begum Zarin Musharraf

Marriage: Sehba Musharraf (December 1968-present)

Children: Ayla (daughter); Bilal (son)

Education: Pakistan Military Academy, 1961; Military Academy of Kakul, 1964

Religion: Muslim

Timeline:

1947 – Musharraf’s family moves to Pakistan when British India is divided into India and Pakistan. The family settles in Karachi.

1949-1956 – Spends his early childhood in Turkey due to his father’s assignment in Ankara.

1964 – Is commissioned second lieutenant in an artillery regiment in the Pakistani Army.

1965 – Is awarded Imtiazi Sanad (medal) for gallantry during the 1965 India-Pakistan war.

1971 – Is a company commander in a commando battalion during the India-Pakistan war.

1991 – Is promoted to major general.

October 7, 1998 – Is appointed chief of army staff with the rank of general.

April 9, 1999 – Is appointed chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

October 12, 1999 – Leads a coup against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and becomes head of government. Sharif had fired Musharraf after the army’s failed invasion in Kargil, in Indian-held Kashmir.

June 20, 2001 – Appoints himself president of Pakistan while remaining the head of the army.

April 30, 2002 – A referendum is held on whether Musharraf will hold office for another five years; it passes by a wide margin.

August 2002 – Implements 29 amendments to the constitution, granting himself the power to dissolve parliament and remove the prime minister.

December 14 and 25, 2003 – Two assassination attempts on Musharraf’s life fail.

January 1, 2004 – A vote of confidence in parliament allows Musharraf to remain in power until 2007. He gains the two-thirds of votes in parliament that he needs by promising to step down as head of the army at the end of 2004.

September 25, 2006 – Musharraf releases his autobiography, “In the Line of Fire.”

October 6, 2007 – An unofficial vote count indicates Musharraf has won by a landslide in a presidential election. A number of parliamentarians boycotted the vote in both houses.

November 3, 2007 – President Musharraf declares a state of emergency in Pakistan. He suspends the country’s constitution, postpones January 2008 elections, and imposes restrictions on the media. Government authorities arrest 1,500 people who protest the state of emergency.

November 28, 2007 – Steps down as leader of Pakistan’s army, the day before he is scheduled to be sworn in as president.

November 29, 2007 – Takes the presidential oath of office for the third time.

December 15, 2007 – The state of emergency is lifted.

February 18, 2008 – In parliamentary elections, Musharraf’s party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, finishes third in voting, behind the PPP, party of the late Benazir Bhutto, and the Pakistan Muslim League-N, party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

August 18, 2008 – Announces his resignation as president of Pakistan.

July 22, 2008 – Pakistan Supreme Court issues notice that Musharraf is to defend himself on charges of violating the constitution by unlawfully declaring emergency rule on November 3, 2007.

July 31, 2009 – The Pakistan Supreme Court rules that Musharraf did violate the constitution on – November 3, 2007. The court gives him seven days to appear and defend himself.

August 6, 2009 – Refuses to answer the charges against him and flees Pakistan for Great Britain.

August 11, 2009 – Pakistani officials announce that Musharraf faces arrest if he returns to Pakistan.

March 16, 2010 – Opposes US President Barack Obama’s plan for US troops to pull out of Afghanistan by July 2011. He believes the troops should stay until the Taliban is defeated.

May 21, 2010 – Musharraf announces on CNN that he plans to re-enter Pakistan politics.

October 1, 2010 – Launches a new political party, the “All Pakistan Muslim League.”

February 12, 2011 – A warrant for Musharraf’s arrest is issued by a Pakistani court, in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

May 24, 2011 – In an interview on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, Musharraf condemns the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. He says, “No country has a right to intrude into any other country… Actually, technically, if you see it legally, it’s an act of war.”

January 8, 2012 – Musharraf pledges to return to his country later in the month, despite word from authorities that he will be arrested in connection with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto when he does so.

January 27, 2012 – A senior leader in Musharraf’s party says that Musharraf has postponed his return from exile until the political situation in Pakistan and the court cases against him are resolved.

July 25, 2012 – Vows in an interview on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight to return to Pakistan even though his life may be at risk. “I believe that there always is a time that comes when there’s a cause bigger than self. And this is the situation in Pakistan.”

March 16, 2013 – Musharraf announces his plans to return to Pakistan to lead his party in the upcoming elections.

March 23, 2013 – The Pakistani Taliban says that it will assassinate Musharraf if he returns to the country.

March 24, 2013 – Musharraf returns to Pakistan after four years in exile. He is granted bail in advance of his arrival in Pakistan, so he is not arrested upon return.

April 18, 2013 – A Pakistani court rejects Musharraf’s request for a bail extension and orders his arrest in a case he is facing over the detention of judges in 2007. Pakistani media reports that Musharraf has been placed under house arrest.

August 20, 2013 – A Pakistani court indicts Musharraf, charging him with murder in the death of the country’s first female prime minister, Benazir Bhutto.

March 31, 2014 – A Special Court in Pakistan charges Musharraf with high treason — a crime that carries the death penalty or life imprisonment.

April 3, 2014 – A bomb detonates a few minutes after Musharraf’s convoy passes through an intersection in Islamabad as he is being transported home from a military hospital. Pakistani police say it is an assassination attempt against Musharraf. No one is injured.

January 18, 2016 – Musharraf and two other former officials are acquitted by an anti-terrorism court in the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader.

February 11, 2016 – After experiencing breathlessness, Musharraf is rushed to Pakistan Navy Ship Shifa Hospital to undergo testing. He receives treatment in an intensive care unit for complications related to a heart condition, according to his spokeswoman.

March 16, 2016 – Pakistan’s Supreme Court lifts a travel ban on Musharraf allowing him to leave the country while he awaits trial for treason. Two days later Musharraf leaves Pakistan in order to seek medical treatment in Dubai.

August 31, 2017 – A court in Pakistan names Musharraf a fugitive from justice in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Musharraf has been living in self-imposed exile in Dubai since 2016.Pervez Musharraf was born in Delhi in August 11, 1943. 1947 – Musharraf’s family moves to Pakistan when British India is divided into India and Pakistan. The family settles in Karachi. 1949-1956 – Spends his early childhood in Turkey due to his father’s assignment in Ankara. Pervez Musharraf Biography and Profile.1947 – Musharraf’s family moves to Pakistan when British India is divided into India and Pakistan. The family settles in Karachi.

1949-1956 – Spends his early childhood in Turkey due to his father’s assignment in Ankara.

1964 – Is commissioned second lieutenant in an artillery regiment in the Pakistani Army.

1965 – Is awarded Imtiazi Sanad (medal) for gallantry during the 1965 India-Pakistan war.

1971 – Is a company commander in a commando battalion during the India-Pakistan war.

1991 – Is promoted to major general.

October 7, 1998 – Is appointed chief of army staff with the rank of general.

April 9, 1999 – Is appointed chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

October 12, 1999 – Leads a coup against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and becomes head of government. Sharif had fired Musharraf after the army’s failed invasion in Kargil, in Indian-held Kashmir.

June 20, 2001 – Appoints himself president of Pakistan while remaining the head of the army.

April 30, 2002 – A referendum is held on whether Musharraf will hold office for another five years; it passes by a wide margin.

August 2002 – Implements 29 amendments to the constitution, granting himself the power to dissolve parliament and remove the prime minister.

December 14 and 25, 2003 – Two assassination attempts on Musharraf’s life fail.

January 1, 2004 – A vote of confidence in parliament allows Musharraf to remain in power until 2007. He gains the two-thirds of votes in parliament that he needs by promising to step down as head of the army at the end of 2004.

September 25, 2006 – Musharraf releases his autobiography, “In the Line of Fire.”

October 6, 2007 – An unofficial vote count indicates Musharraf has won by a landslide in a presidential election. A number of parliamentarians boycotted the vote in both houses.

November 3, 2007 – President Musharraf declares a state of emergency in Pakistan. He suspends the country’s constitution, postpones January 2008 elections, and imposes restrictions on the media. Government authorities arrest 1,500 people who protest the state of emergency.

November 28, 2007 – Steps down as leader of Pakistan’s army, the day before he is scheduled to be sworn in as president.

November 29, 2007 – Takes the presidential oath of office for the third time.

December 15, 2007 – The state of emergency is lifted.

February 18, 2008 – In parliamentary elections, Musharraf’s party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, finishes third in voting, behind the PPP, party of the late Benazir Bhutto, and the Pakistan Muslim League-N, party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

August 18, 2008 – Announces his resignation as president of Pakistan.

July 22, 2008 – Pakistan Supreme Court issues notice that Musharraf is to defend himself on charges of violating the constitution by unlawfully declaring emergency rule on November 3, 2007.

July 31, 2009 – The Pakistan Supreme Court rules that Musharraf did violate the constitution on – November 3, 2007. The court gives him seven days to appear and defend himself.

August 6, 2009 – Refuses to answer the charges against him and flees Pakistan for Great Britain.

August 11, 2009 – Pakistani officials announce that Musharraf faces arrest if he returns to Pakistan.

March 16, 2010 – Opposes US President Barack Obama’s plan for US troops to pull out of Afghanistan by July 2011. He believes the troops should stay until the Taliban is defeated.

May 21, 2010 – Musharraf announces on CNN that he plans to re-enter Pakistan politics.

October 1, 2010 – Launches a new political party, the “All Pakistan Muslim League.”

February 12, 2011 – A warrant for Musharraf’s arrest is issued by a Pakistani court, in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

May 24, 2011 – In an interview on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, Musharraf condemns the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. He says, “No country has a right to intrude into any other country… Actually, technically, if you see it legally, it’s an act of war.”

January 8, 2012 – Musharraf pledges to return to his country later in the month, despite word from authorities that he will be arrested in connection with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto when he does so.

January 27, 2012 – A senior leader in Musharraf’s party says that Musharraf has postponed his return from exile until the political situation in Pakistan and the court cases against him are resolved.

July 25, 2012 – Vows in an interview on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight to return to Pakistan even though his life may be at risk. “I believe that there always is a time that comes when there’s a cause bigger than self. And this is the situation in Pakistan.”

March 16, 2013 – Musharraf announces his plans to return to Pakistan to lead his party in the upcoming elections.

March 23, 2013 – The Pakistani Taliban says that it will assassinate Musharraf if he returns to the country.

March 24, 2013 – Musharraf returns to Pakistan after four years in exile. He is granted bail in advance of his arrival in Pakistan, so he is not arrested upon return.

April 18, 2013 – A Pakistani court rejects Musharraf’s request for a bail extension and orders his arrest in a case he is facing over the detention of judges in 2007. Pakistani media reports that Musharraf has been placed under house arrest.

August 20, 2013 – A Pakistani court indicts Musharraf, charging him with murder in the death of the country’s first female prime minister, Benazir Bhutto.

March 31, 2014 – A Special Court in Pakistan charges Musharraf with high treason — a crime that carries the death penalty or life imprisonment.

April 3, 2014 – A bomb detonates a few minutes after Musharraf’s convoy passes through an intersection in Islamabad as he is being transported home from a military hospital. Pakistani police say it is an assassination attempt against Musharraf. No one is injured.

January 18, 2016 – Musharraf and two other former officials are acquitted by an anti-terrorism court in the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader.

February 11, 2016 – After experiencing breathlessness, Musharraf is rushed to Pakistan Navy Ship Shifa Hospital to undergo testing. He receives treatment in an intensive care unit for complications related to a heart condition, according to his spokeswoman.

March 16, 2016 – Pakistan’s Supreme Court lifts a travel ban on Musharraf allowing him to leave the country while he awaits trial for treason. Two days later Musharraf leaves Pakistan in order to seek medical treatment in Dubai.

August 31, 2017 – A court in Pakistan names Musharraf a fugitive from justice in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Musharraf has been living in self-imposed exile in Dubai since 2016.

Pervez Musharraf Biography and Profile

[philosophypanther]

@Regrann from @ladywindjamer - William O'Neal, the FBI informant who infiltrated the Black Panthers, responsible for the assassination of Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton. Mourners pass by the coffin of Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton at his memorial service on Dec. 9, 1969, at the First Baptist Church of Melrose Park. Hampton was murdered during a police raid on Dec. 4, 1969. In late 1968, the Racial Matters squad of the FBI's Chicago field office brought in an individual named William O'Neal, who had recently been arrested twice, for interstate car theft and impersonating a federal officer. In exchange for having his felony charges dropped and a monthly stipend, O'Neal agreed to infiltrate the BPP as a counterintelligence operative. He joined the Party and quickly rose in the organization, becoming Director of Chapter security and Hampton's bodyguard. By means of anonymous letters, the FBI sowed distrust and eventually instigated a split between the Panthers and the Rangers, with O'Neal himself instigating an armed clash between the two on April 2, 1969. The Panthers became effectively isolated from their powerbase in the ghetto, so the FBI went to work to undermine its ties with other radical organizations. O'Neal was instructed to create a rift between the Party and SDS, whose Chicago headquarters was only blocks from that of the Panthers. The Bureau released a batch of racist cartoons in the Panthers' name, aimed at alienating white activists, and launched a disinformation program to forestall the realization of the Rainbow Coalition. In repeated directives, Hoover demanded that the COINTELPRO personnel destroy what the [BPP] stood for and eradicate its 'serve the people' programs. Documents secured by Senate investigators in the early 1970s revealed that the FBI actively encouraged violence between the Panthers and other groups. In early October, Hampton and his girlfriend, Deborah Johnson (now known as Akua Njeri), pregnant with their first child (Fred Hampton, Jr.), rented a four-and-a-half room apartment on 2337 West Monroe Street to be closer to BPP headquarters. O'Neal reported to his superiors that much of the Panthers' provocat