It Could Happen Here - CZM Book Club: Cool Zone 2054: General Lichterman

Episode Date: December 22, 2024

Margaret interviews the one and only General Lichterman about her decades as a revolutionary icon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Decisions Decisions, the podcast where boundaries are pushed and conversations get candid. Join your favorite hosts, me, Weezy WTF, and me, Mandy B. As we dive deep into the world of non-traditional relationships and explore the often taboo topics surrounding dating, sex, and love. Every Monday and Wednesday, we both invite you to unlearn the outdated narratives dictated by traditional patriarchal norms. Tune in and join the conversation. Listen to Decisions Decisions on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You should probably keep your lights on for Nocturne, Tales from the Shadow.

Join me, Danny Dreher, and step into the flames of fright. An anthology podcast of modern day horror stories inspired by the most terrifying legends and lore of Latin America. Listen to Nocturnal on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey everyone, it's John, also known as Dr. John Paul.

And I'm Jordan, or Joe Ho. And we are the Black Fat Film Podcast. A podcast where all the intersections of identity are celebrated. Oh, chat. This year we have had some of our favorite people on including Kid Fury, T.S. Madison, Amber Ruffin from the Amber and Lacey Show, Angelica Ross and more. Make sure you listen to the Black Fat Fam podcast on the iHeartRadio app. Have a podcast or whatever you get your podcast girl. Oh, I know that's right.

It's hard to read the news these days without asking yourself, how did we get here? Fiasco is a history podcast from the co-creators of Slow Burn. In our first season, Bush v. Gore, we examined an unmistakable turning point in American politics, the 2000 election, which resulted in a high-stakes stalemate, ended with one of the most controversial rulings in Supreme Court history. So if you're trying to make sense of the present moment, check out Fiasco, Bush v. Gore. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hey, I'm Gianna Perdenti.

And I'm Jeme Jackson-Gadsden. We're the hosts of Let's Talk Offline from LinkedIn News and iHeart Podcasts. If you're early in your career, you probably have a lot of money questions. So we're talking to finance expert Vivian Tu, aka Your Rich BFF, to break it down. Looking at the numbers is one of the most honest reflections of what your financial picture actually is. The numbers won't lie to you. Listen to this week's episode of Let's Talk Offline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple

Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. CoolZ Zone Media. Hello, and welcome to Cool Zone Media Book Club. Oh wait, I didn't do the chanting. Sophie, are you ready to do the chanting? I don't chant. I'm in charge. You just say it out of time with me. Book Club, Book Club, Book Club, Book Club.

There we go. That's the Book Club intro everyone wants. So, it's Cool Zone Media Book Club, club, club, club. There we go. That's the book club intro everyone wants. So it's Cool Zone Media Book Club only this month, as you probably are aware, instead of doing our regular book club. Well, we got sent missives from the future from Cool Zone Media 2054. And so here we are. Welcome to Cool Zone Media 2054, reports from the Dino War, your source for everything World War 3.5. I'm your host Margaret Killjoy, and today we've got something extra special for you.

Today we are talking to the Witch of Warcraft, the Mistress of Machnovia, the Conquering Queen. She's either the Prince of Portland or the Butcher of Beaverton, depending on who you ask. Today, we're talking to the one, the only General Sophie Lichterman. How are you today, Sophie? Well, all my dogs are good, so I'm good. All right. I've got a bunch of questions for you. Some are from me.

Some are listener recommended. And hey, if you want to ask our guest questions, anyone with a service card, civil or military, can send them along to us using the social media app of your choice. As always, we'll pick the best ones to ask our guests and no, we don't sort by rank. Privates and Generals, you're all equal here, just like you are in all the best militaries. But first, you might be asking yourself, dear listener, what if I haven't served in World War 3.5 yet?

What if you're looking for a way to get involved? Well, look no further, because it wouldn't be a Cool Zone Media podcast in the year 2054 if we weren't brought to you by our biggest sponsor, Dino Cadence. That's right, Dino Cadence, the world's premier fighting academy will get you off the couch and into the saddle. They teach trick shots, trick riding, and trick-or-treating. That not the last one. I made that one up. Tuition is free, but spots are limited. So apply today. Tell them Coolzone Media sent you and you still won't get special treatment because Dyno Cadence doesn't do special treatment. It's 2054, ride or die.

I told you years ago that it would take until the 2050s before I would do ad reads. Before I get into it with the questions, I've got to pretend like there isn't anyone in the audience who might not have heard of you. Just in case you were born yesterday, General Sophie Lichterman is of course one of the most decorated commanders in the internationalist forces. And I believe the only person alive who holds the rank of Brigadier General in three different armies. Four armies. Four?

Yeah, the Free Company of Louisiana just promoted me after last week's campaign. Four armies. The only person currently alive who holds the rank of Brigadier General in Four Armies. You are the woman of the hour, it seems like, jet setting and organizing forces everywhere in the world. Whenever a new internationalist force needs help getting up and off the ground, you're there. You're still on the board here at Cool Zone Media, of course, which you founded decades

ago at this point. But you've still got time to dog-mom two amazing pups. I think you've got more hours in the day than the rest of us. But on to the questions. You first rose to political prominence back in 2036 during the whole fight for the future thing, when you became a household name after a well-televised arrest. In your own words, what happened there? I mean, most of you have seen it, but yeah, so the fight for the future kicks off and we're covering it on a bunch of our shows. I didn't even mean to get more directly involved. I'd had my own podcast for a couple years, but already given up on it because I like

getting stuff done behind the scenes. I mean, always have. I love you all, but someone's gotta keep things organized, you know? Anyways, I made this offhand comment. February 24th, 2036, on It's Still Happening Here. That was our lead show at the time. Just a quick little, I hope someone kills that man. And then someone killed that man. Yeah. His own estranged son killed him. And like, how was I supposed to know that kid listened to our shows? And so later that day, you're just out

shopping. Yeah, I was just at the pet store the day after that asshole died and suddenly, there's the camera crew there. Drones everywhere, plus two actual talking heads. One from Fox and one from that garbage man media I think it was. That old right wing show that Jamie Loftus eventually drove into relevance. So these two men are there. They're sticking mics into my face and asking me about why I did it or whatever. Why I masterminded that assassination and I don't know, it's been a long day. I just wanted to go home to the dogs. And they're all, why do you hate innovation and why does Antifa support murder as a tactic and tried to get out the door,

but they were both just there and they weren't small men and I don't know. And so you pepper sprayed both of them. I pepper sprayed the shit out of both of them. But the cameras caught it all and I was arrested in the parking lot. It clearly planned the whole thing. The cops wanted to hold me in jail until trial too. Her words are more dangerous than a ghost gun, the judge said. Which is a compliment I guess, but I just wanted to go home, see my dogs. And I told the judge, and the camera saw. And yeah, I guess people listened because Fight for

the Future laid siege to the courthouse, and they brought the cake mortar and started caking everyone trying to get in and out of the building. And all the while, everyone is standing around with actual AR-15s chanting, let her see her dogs, let her see her dogs. It was a weird time. Fight for the Future was a weird movement. Still throwing pies at people, but defending ourselves with guns. And so the cops, they let you go? Yeah. Turns out the whole power concedes nothing without a demand thing is right.

The state of Oregon decided they'd be better off without a small army of protesters camped outside the courthouse. And I got to go home that night to see my dogs and I agreed to come back to trial, but with an escort of my choosing who would make sure I wouldn't go to jail unless I was convicted. And yeah, I don't know. It was a whole big thing. They wanted to get me on terrorism charges. And I was at some of these protests.

Jury of your peers found you not guilty, much to the judge's consternation. You laid low for a while, if you can call running a large podcast network, laying low, and then kind of came back on the scene during the war. Well, we used to call it the war, but now we're in another one, I guess. So, World War III. 2044 was wild. I mean, like a solid 10% of the Earth's population died, so there's that. But we were all underground the first half of the year, hiding out and broadcasting.

Yeah, can't stop the signal. I don't think most of our listeners are old enough to appreciate that reference. I'm sure the little don't call me AI robot in their ears can help them get a Firefly reference. Plus, of course, they're listening to this in one of the shielded territories on vinyl. Hey, ad pivots are my job. Well then go ahead. You know, sometimes I look around this world and think to myself, the Industrial Revolution and its consequences might just have been a disaster for the human race. We used to be able to say at least it

increased our life expectancy, but in this era of war, we can't even say that. It seems like the Industrial Revolution and its consequences have destabilized society, have made life unfulfilling, have subjected human beings to indignities, have led to widespread psychological and physical suffering and have inflicted severe damage on the natural world. It seems like the continued development of technology might just worsen the situation. When I'm thinking that way, I just book myself a vacation in Helsingborg, Sweden, the largest de-electrified region in the world. With its Vishnu Shield always activated. You know for certain no one can reach you, because if you bring your phone into the city, it'll be completely destroyed.

Come on down to Helsingborg, where the stars shine at night. Helsingborg, come on over. Ironic paraphrasing of industrial society and its future is not intended to convey sympathy for the actions of Ted Kaczynski. Do not consider visiting a Vishnu Shielded area if you rely on a pacemaker or other electrical aids. All tourists to and temporary guests of the Scandinavian Federation are required to spend at least six hours per week in a volunteer position. Not all volunteers are able to pick their form of service. Not all volunteer service is considered safe. Offline life within an otherwise industrial world not proven to mitigate climate change, environmental degradation, or human impact upon the ecosphere. There is no such thing as a climate haven and natural disaster can

strike anywhere in the world. This podcast is brought to you by the Council for Unbroken Spaghetti. The Council for Unbroken Spaghetti would like to remind you that you should not break your spaghetti. You just put the spaghetti into boiling salted water, wait a few seconds, then push the softened spaghetti into the rest of the pot. To do otherwise is an insult to the nearly 250,000 Italians who have died already in the Dino War and their so far successful fight to keep their peninsula from falling once again into the hands of fascists. In fact, Mussolini, the original fascist, banned pasta. So eat pasta, respect pasta, don't break your spaghetti. Remember, only Nazis break noodles.

Welcome to Decisions Decisions, the podcast where boundaries are pushed and conversations get candid. Join your favorite hosts, me, Weezy WTF, and me, Mandi B, as we dive deep into the world of non-traditional relationships and explore the often taboo topics surrounding dating, sex, and love. That's right. Every Monday and Wednesday, we both invite you to unlearn the outdated narratives dictated by traditional patriarchal norms. With a blend of humor, vulnerability, and authenticity,

we share our personal journeys navigating our 30s, tackling the complexities of modern relationships, and engage in thought-provoking discussions that challenge societal expectations. From groundbreaking interviews with diverse guests to relatable stories that'll resonate with your experiences, Decisions Decisions is going to be your go-to source for the open dialogue about what it truly means

to love and connect in today's world. Get ready to reshape your understanding of relationships and embrace the freedom of authentic connections. Tune in and join in the conversation. Listen to Decisions Decisions on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome. I'm Danny Trejo. Won't you join me at the fire and dare enter.

Nocturnal, Tales from the Shadows, presented by iHe Heart and Sonora. An anthology of modern-day horror stories inspired by the legends of Latin America. From ghastly encounters with shapeshifters... ...to bone-chilling brushes with supernatural creatures. natural creature. No. Take a trip and experience the horrors that have haunted Latin America since the beginning of time. Listen to Nocturne Tales from the Shadows as part of my cultura podcast network available on the iHeart radio app Apple

podcast or wherever you get your podcast. Hey everyone, it's John also known as Dr. John Paul and I'm Jordan or Joe Ho and we are the black fat film podcast, a podcast where all the intersections of identity are celebrated. This year we have had some of our favorite people on, including Kid Fury, T.S. Madison, Amber Ruffin from the Amber and Lacey Show, Angelica Ross, and more. Make sure you listen to the Black Fat Fam podcast on the iHeartRadio app, have a podcast, or whatever you get your podcast, girl.

Ooh, I know that's right. Whenever you get your podcast, girl. Ooh, I know that's right. Hey, I'm Gianna Predenti. And I'm Jeme Jackson-Gadsden. We're the hosts of Let's Talk Offline, the early career podcast from LinkedIn News and iHeart Podcasts. One of the most exciting things

about having your first real job is that first real paycheck. You're probably thinking, yay, I can finally buy a new phone. Mm-hmm. But you also have a lot of questions. Like, how should I be investing this money? I mean, how much do I save?

And what about my 401k? Well, we're talking with finance expert Vivian Too, AKA Your Rich BFF, to break it all down. I always get roasted on the internet when I say this out loud, but I'm like, every single year, you need to be asking for a raise of somewhere between 10 to 15%. I'm not saying you're going to get

15% every single year, but if you ask for 10 to 15 and you end up getting eight, that is actually a true raise. Listen to this week's episode of Let's Talk Offline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. and culture in the new iHeart podcast, Sniffy's Cruising Confessions. Sniffy's Cruising Confessions will broaden minds and help you pursue your true goals. You can listen to Sniffy's Cruising Confessions, sponsored by Gilead, now on the iHeart radio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

New episodes every Thursday. ["Snowflakes"] And we're back! Alright, so take us back to World War III. It's the end of May, and the first schematics for the Vishnu Shield are making the rounds. You and I are living with a bunch of dogs and podcasters in the f***ing bunker, but the hunter-killer robots of the U.S. Counterterrorism Force are getting closer to our undisclosed location in eastern Washington every week. You and me and Mia are binging old reality TV shows.

The two of you trying to explain to me who Mecca Ariana Grande is and why she's a sports figure now, while **** and **** are talking about how they're going to start a machete cult once it's all over. Yeah, it wasn't the best. Once we got the plans for Vishnu Shield, we printed a few up on our 3D printer. We couldn't test them in the bunker, of course, because we needed our electronics. So we started sneaking out at night and testing them out in the woods. Once we had them dialed in, we started telling everyone. And that's when you knew we couldn't stay underground anymore.

Fuck no. People needed to know. AWPs were killing literally millions of people. The only sides that mattered in that war was people versus drone. If you ask me, I guess all of this is in the history books, but we did that walk from Castle Rock to Portland with all the defectors. All these people have been quietly rebelling in the ranks with tactical EMPs first day There were a hundred of us couple drones tried to take us out

But we shut them down second day or a thousand of us once people realized They wouldn't just get hunter killed when we walked into Portland in June there were 10,000 people walking with us on bikes and horses and then you uh Blew up Portland. That's not how I put it. But yeah, look, don't cut yourself out of the story. Magpie, you were there too.

We got together and talked it over with people from all over the city. Work with hospital crews to get everyone who relied on electronics for life support to get them out of the blast radius. Everyone had plenty of time. It was all very coordinated. And yet, 24 hours later, we took out the power in Portland. We weren't the only people doing it.

It sounds so bad out of context. And don't vish you new un-consenting populations. And that's how I became a folk hero. I never set out to be a folk hero. I just think some of you all aren't so good at organizing. I mean, like someone had to get it done. And so we were the first major metropolitan area on the west coast of the US to Vishnu. But we weren't even one of the first hundred places in the world to do it.

And soon enough, another 3,000 places threw up shields from cities to villages to military bases to actual battlefields. The war ground to a halt with no machines to fight it and yeah, people started calling you the Prince of Portland. What was your like life after that? Two times the folk hero. Oh I tried to return to podcasting I even still do it sometimes. Nothing with my name or voice on it anymore though because people just don't know how to handle themselves. I kind of had a long dark night of the soul after the end of the war. The way people talked

about me it was all too much. And after the war, everywhere in the world, it was like either the big revolution kicked off right away or everything kind of went into a funk for a while. The US went into a funk. After the armistice, we all thought, this is it. This is the revolution. Like it was Palestine in Western Africa

and Scandinavia in China, but nope, not the US. Everyone just went back to work. It was surreal. Yes, I was depressing. I was depressed. But then... But then 2048 happened. The Baltimore Commune got going and the Cooperative Movement found its teeth. The Magnista and Zapatista revolts stopped respecting national borders and the whole southwest was on fire. Not just metaphorically at this point, it was one of those bad summers down there for wildfire.

So when the California cooperative really got going, I went back down to help. Okay, and so that brings us up to right around the start of World War 3.5, two years ago now. You've been a major figure, both behind the scenes and on mic, ever since. What was the transition from folk hero to brigadier general like? Look, I'm the first to admit I was kind of grandfathered in. That's how I came out the gate high rank. I started going to meetings of what became the California Cooperative

before we even picked the name. And I was on the ground organizing support for the True Master Vault. going to meetings of what became the California Cooperative before we even picked the name. And I was on the ground organizing support for the Trumash revolt. So I was kind of like, I said, grandfathered in. But the council didn't just say, okay, you're an organizer. You can be in charge of the military or anything. Most people don't notice, but I actually spent most of 2044 to 2048 studying military strategy with the Democratic Confederatist International. Like, formally, I got a master's in strategic studies. About half the classes were online and half in person all over the world. And when the California

Cooperative got started, I started mentoring directly under some internationalist revolutionary leaders in Myanmar and elsewhere. And still, look, I'm a general, that's true, but Brigadier General is the lowest rank of general. I heard you turned down three different promotions. That's true. I don't need the stress. I want to spend more time with my dogs. I also heard you turned down a demotion. Yeah, the brass, well, the higher brass wasn't too happy when we all refused orders in the spring of 2051. The Fresno incident.

They told me I was demoted. I told them they could tell that to the troops. They decided I wasn't demoted after all. Eat shit. So this next question is from a listener. Rocky Road Rebel asks, Hi Sophie, big fan, been following your work since the fight for the future days. But then the Corvallis Offensive really saved me and my family's asses in the fall of 52. I just wanted to ask, there were towns falling left and right to the nine angry armies at the start of the war. Why did you start with us in Corvallis? I mean, I'm glad you did.

Thanks for the question. Honestly, the biggest part of it, when Georgie Washington, not its real name, but whatever, set fire to the research library in OSU, it just, well, it pissed a lot of people off. The brick burning spectacle, you just don't burn books, you know. We didn't have the numbers up in Oregon yet for a major offensive, not without a lot of risk. But if some assholes get in a bunch of literal zombies to set a bunch of books on fire in a public square, then like we can recruit around that. We can coalition build. There was a lot of folks, centrists, even right-wingers, who weren't going to take that lying down. And enough of those folks had farm dinos and rifles.

You had old school Antifa members fighting side by side along the very activists who fought for Prop 899, riding those Utah rappers that were popular in the cities and farm tractor stegosaurus alike. The nine armies didn't stand a chance. And that seems like as good a place as any for us to go into our last ad break. This podcast is brought to you by the Smaller Problems Council. The complexity of community organizing got you down. Suddenly aware of the fact that you're organizing with people and people are all kind of fuck-ups no matter what ideology they profess.

Thinking about redirecting your organizing to shift the blame from fascists to people who are on your side but never do the dishes and just sort of expect that you'll do the dishes. It's like they didn't even realize that someone does the dishes, that they just assume that somehow the dishes just sort of get done on their own. The Smaller Problems Council is here to help. Call the Smaller Problems Council's free hotline today and one of our experts will help you de-escalate your conflict that isn't with the enemy. Remember, they're not off the hook.

They're just not one of the people we need to shoot with guns. The Smaller Problems Council would like to remind you that we are in a shooting war for the future of human and non-human life on this planet. We are not saying the smaller problems don't matter. We're just saying they matter less. This podcast is brought to you by Gorgeous Gidas, Gorgeous Gear. Are you tired of sacrificing fashion for function? Do you want to fight fascists and look good doing it?

Gorgeous Gidas is the outfitter for you. Every one of our products has been designed with aesthetics in mind without sacrificing functionality. And our team of anti-fascista fashionistas is more than willing to work to customize products for your unit. There's no point in wading through a river of Nazi blood if your waders don't look good while you're doing it. Talk to your unit's commander or assembly

if you're in a non-hierarchical unit today about what gorgeous Gita can do for you. Remember, if it ain't gorgeous, it's just gear. [♪ Music playing. The Gita Show Theme Music. Welcome to Decisions Decisions, the podcast where boundaries are pushed and conversations get candid. Join your favorite hosts, me, Weezy WTF, and me, Mandy B.

As we dive deep into the world of non-traditional relationships and explore the often taboo topics surrounding dating, sex, and love. That's right. Every Monday and Wednesday, we both invite you to unlearn the outdated narratives dictated by traditional patriarchal norms. With a blend of humor, vulnerability, and authenticity, we share

our personal journeys navigating our 30s, tackling the complexities of modern relationships, and engage in thought-provoking discussions that challenge societal expectations. From groundbreaking interviews with diverse guests to relatable stories that will resonate with your experiences, Decisions Decisions is going to be your go-to source for the open dialogue about what it truly means to love and connect in today's world. Get ready to reshape your understanding of relationships and embrace the freedom of authentic connections.

Tune in and join the conversation. Listen to Decisions Decisions on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome. I'm Danny Trejo. you get your podcast. by the legends of Latin America. From ghastly encounters with shape-shifters to bone-chilling brushes with supernatural creatures. Take a trip and experience the horrors that have haunted Latin America since the beginning of time.

Listen to Nocturnaal Tales from the Shadows as part of My Cultura podcast network available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey everyone, it's Jon, also known as Dr. John Paul and I'm Jordan or Joe Ho and we are the Black Fat Film Podcast, a podcast where all the intersections of identity are celebrated. Oh, chat. This year we have had some of our favorite people on including Kid Fury, T.S. Madison, Amber Ruffin from the Amber and Lacey show, Angela Carrasso and more. Make sure you listen to the Black Fat Fam podcast on the iHeart Radio app, Alpha podcast, or whatever you get your podcast, girl.

Ooh, I know that's right. Hey, I'm Gianna Perdenti. And I'm Jeme Jackson-Gadsden. We're the hosts of Let's Talk Offline, the early career podcast from LinkedIn News and iHeart Podcasts. One of the most exciting things about having your first real job is that first real paycheck.

You're probably thinking, yay, I can finally buy a new phone. Mm-hmm. But you also have a lot of questions like how should I be investing this money? I mean, how much do I save? And what about my 401k? Well, we're talking with finance expert Vivian Too, aka Your Rich BFF, to break it all down. I always get roasted on the internet when I say this out loud, but I'm like, every single year you need to be asking for a raise of somewhere between 10 to 15 percent.

I'm not saying you're going to get 15 percent every single year, but if you ask for 10 to 15 and you end up getting 8, that is actually a true raise. Listen to this week's episode of Let's Talk Offline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Curious about queer sexuality, cruising, and expanding your horizons? Hit play on the Sex Positive and Deeply Entertaining podcast, Sniffy's Cruising Confessions. Join hosts Gabe Gonzalez and Chris Patterson-Rosso as they explore queer sex, cruising, relationships, and culture in the new iHeart podcast, Sniffy's

Cruising Confessions. Sniffy's Cruising Confessions will broaden minds and help you pursue your true goals. You can listen to Sniffy's Cruising Confessions, sponsored by Gilead, now on the iHeartRadio app, or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday. And we're back. Okay, this next question, xGrendelX asks, what's your favorite comfort food when you get back home after a campaign? Honestly, just like a big bowl of popcorn and a hard cider. Oh, that makes sense. That's a good one. So this next one, I don't think you're going to answer it.

Our lawyer has advised us that we shouldn't air any answer to it anyway. But if I don't ask it, people will never leave us alone in the comments. Six different listeners have asked some form of the question, what's going on with That's my family no comment. All right. And finally, look, this is the hardest question to ask. I am not a hardball reporter and you're one of my best friends. So I warned you I was going to ask you this before we hit record.

But it's been three months without a comment from you and people want to know. In September of this year you were involved in the campaign in Poland. It didn't go well, not for anyone. A cavalry unit of 613 pterosaur riders was dispatched to take out an entrenched force of the new Soviet Red Army who we will continue to remind our listeners is in fact a nationalist force that has recuperated Soviet imagery for nationalist socialist purposes. 473 of those rioters died to Russian guns. Only 84 made it back. The other survivors are currently held in POW camps if we're lucky, but Russian propaganda

films have begun to leak across the web of writers being tortured and executed and then resurrected to fight in the army of the dead. A lot of people are comparing the whole thing to the Charge of the Light Brigade when in 1854 a force of 600 British cavalry received a miscommunicated order and attacked a heavily fortified position. Lord Tennyson wrote a poem called The Charge of the Light Brigade. And the event has been a cultural touchstone of the futility of war ever since.

So what happened in Poland? I think you actually wrote down this answer ahead of time for us, right? Yeah, and I've been silent on it because I'm not a media spokesperson. I'm a heartbroken old soldier. I've got a lot to say about the charge of the Light Brigade. I'll take it as a name.

It was a horrible mistake made by all of us, including soldiers themselves, who had just as much information as the rest of us and agreed to the offensive. Think about a doctor. A doctor makes decisions every single day that saves lives, and they make decisions all the time that get people killed. Their job is life and death, and there is no perfect with a war. It's just the whole other level beyond that. I'm a brigadier general, responsible on any given day for about 5,000 people's lives. Yeah, we've got a lot more flattening of hierarchy

and militaries than we used to. At the end of the day, when a quick call needs to be made by someone or a group of people, it gets people killed. On a good day, I get dozens or hundreds of people I care about killed. I accept that, it's not easy, but I accept that. What I don't accept is any position that the war is futile.

What is the futility of war? If I'm walking down the street with my friends and someone runs up and attacks one of us, is it futile if I intervene? Or if I'm attacked, if I fight back? Because the other option here is just letting someone attack my friends or me. The majority of Poland is currently a free country. It's free because hundreds of thousands of people have fought to keep it that way,

because tens of thousands of people have died or suffered fate still worse to keep it that way. Their deaths have not been futile, even if sometimes an individual death might look futile. If you zoom all the way in, you've got to zoom out. The Leibnkin attack was a fiasco, but there wasn't a miscommunication about orders. The Council of Poland felt it was necessary to attack that position, which best available information suggested would only be moderately defended. Our terror team, as they called themselves, volunteered.

They knew the risks, and they thought it would be a hard and bloody fight and they'd come out on top. The Polish Army, like many internationalist armies, every soldier at every level can refuse any mission until they've committed. Once they've committed, they are not free to say, for example, show fear in the face of enemy. As far as I'm concerned, every one of those writers is a hero and fuck everyone who says otherwise. You know what? Fuck everyone who tries to take their agency away from them by blaming me and other generals too. That all makes sense to me. I mean, the point of Russia releasing those videos is to make us give up hope. Morale is a terrain of struggle. I know it, you know it, Cool Zone Media knows it. The enemy, the nationalists, the fascists, the necromancers, they want us to give up.

Why? Because they know that when we organize and we fight all together, not one-off attacks here and there, when we fight we win. We're winning all over the globe. There's never been a worldwide civil war because there's never been a worldwide revolution, and worldwide revolution has always been our best chance at building a better world. We're building that world right now. Are we building it out of bones? Yeah, we are. But one day all the dead will just be compost and memories. Two of the most valuable things in the world. That's all any of us will end up as compost and memories. That's what we use to build a better world. There are free territories everywhere now,

and there are going to be more until everyone is free. Well, it would be hard to follow that up with like some lighthearted question about your favorite color. So I want to thank you for your time and thank you for breaking the silence on that. For sure. Anyway, thank you so much for coming on the show. Of course. Do you have anything you want to plug? Yeah, just don't fall for a nationalist propaganda and pet your dog or diner or whatever animal

keeps you company. Also, support your local mutual aid groups. All right, thank you so much. That has been General Sophie Lichterman. It could happen here as a production of Cool Zone Media. For more podcasts from Cool Zone Media, visit our website, coolzonemedia.com, or check us out on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can find sources for It Could Happen Here, updated monthly, at coolzonemedia.com slash sources. Thanks for listening.

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