http://www.slate.com/id/2244802

Unless you were German and picked up the hobby/interest from a family member who served in anti-aircraft artillery in WWII. You see only an English speaker would call it a Flak88, a German would have called it a FlaK 36 or more likely FlaK 37 (Flugzeugabwehr-Kanone) so as to distinguish it from the anti-tank PaK 88 (Panzerabwehr-Kanone). The Germans, like the British, didn’t name their guns after caliber, the Americans did. Germans used a Mark number (which was used by the Prussians) and the British used shell mass (17 pounder) dating back to the days of cannon.

Garlasco was employed on a professional basis to criticize Israeli actions. This is fact. He was revealed to have a slightly-more-than-passing interest in Nazi memorbilia, and HRW asked questions just as they would have if the head of a rape-crisis centre was found to have a slightly-more-than-passing interest in bondage and rough-sex.

Garlasco’s previous role was pertinent to his hobby, as implacable critics of Israel have a track-record of stumbling into antisemitic politics (and, as I recall, he was also disseminating suspect literature).

Sahgal’s qualifications in gender politics (or opposition to Gitmo) never have been questioned. The questions raised are purely managerial, and company loyalty rather than the universality of human rights.

Nice one turning it to those dead kids which the dastardly Zionists don’t care for. I mean, they can’t possible have dead kids of their own, can they? I admire the pacifist call for restraint when someone else’s kid is being attacked.

GG, I repeat, are you an idiot? Garlasco dealt with criticizing/documenting Israeli actions.

Here, perhaps, is the closest we’ll ever get to the heart of the matter. As soon as the issue becomes “human rights NGO” vs. Israel, the NGO will always, always get the shaft, regardless of whether it’s correct.

Did the Israelis bomb those civilians? Who cares, when HRW employ a goosestepping Nazi? Nazi, I tell you!

It’s the first rule of cheerleading the indefensible – make it all about the NGO, not the dead kids.

The Pistols never headed a professional organization criticizing Israeli actions, so this point is rather moot.

Yeah. I am not sure that is going to work as a defence.
I was answering that question.
Also they were anarchists Dickhead, because that was whole point of punk rock.

Are you an idiot? The only person saying that is you… and the Pistols were punks, not anarchists.

Anyone notice how those defending AI’s ethical right to suspend Sahgal are also implicitly denying those concerns HRW had over Garlasco’s conduct when they suspended

Actually, to be technical it is the name of a German Airforce artillery piece. But let’s not go there. After all I like to end on a note of agreement and having agreed that he did, in fact, have a Nazi handle is enough.

188. Golden Gordon – “He collects worlds war two memorabilia now he’s a Nazi, so anyone who buys an airfix kit or paints Waffen’s SS soldiers is automatically a Nazi.”

I don’t see anyone accusing him of being a Nazi. Just someone who is more than a little fascinated by them.

“Johnny Rotten ands pistols were Nazis , they wore some of that paraphernalia.”

Yeah. I am not sure that is going to work as a defence.

It’s the name of a German army – Nazi, if you prefer – artillery piece. If you want to hallucinate more than that, be my guest.

Thank you. But how about answering the question first? You have asserted that people like you are never neo-Nazis. You have asserted that people who are attacked by people whose politics you do not like are never neo-Nazis. Either that or you have made a few irrelevant comments with no value whatsoever. Care to defend either of these claims?

More specifically it is readily identifiable with Germany’s World War Two effort as the Bouncing Betty and the SS. Maybe more so than the former. Even though it was first used in Spain.

That is, it is a specific Nazi reference.

“I know all this because I’m a self-confessed geek who likes books, films and computer games – not even a military analyst, i.e. a total and utter war nerd.”

I would think this falls into the category of general knowledge but may be not. What is the relevance? Are you claiming that every single war nerd is definitely not a Nazi? The only way this can be relevant from where I sit is if you are claiming that the categories of war nerd and Naziphilliac are mutally exclusive. Is this what you’re claiming or is your comment irrelevant? Because if they are not mutually exclusive a war nerd who was also a Neo-Nazi might go looking for a name that incorporated, I don’t know, perhaps his love of the Nazi War machine and Adolf Hitler, wouldn’t he? Something with an 18 or an 88 in it perhaps? A piece of hardware no doubt. Something phallic even if he has issues.

“Look – the guy might be an out and out Nazi bastard of the Nth degree. I have no idea, and I strongly suspect that his accusers have no idea either.”

I have no problem with any of that. He might be. He might not be. I have seen HP’s investigation into his publications and postings and I think the evidence is a little stronger than you do. But what I do know is that you are in no position to assert he is not a Nazi and that his user name is not a Nazi name. Whether or not he is a secret Hitler fan.

“I suspect he’s just a dork like me with a bit more money to throw around. I’d buy all kinds of stupid shit if I had the cash, although probably not Nazi kit.”

Not only money but time to publish. But you would not buy Nazi kit. He did. Odd that isn’t it?

“The point I’m making is that calling yourself Flak88, Messerschmidt, Luger or Nebelwerfur on a WWII memorabilia site is as controversial as calling yourself JimmyJohnstone on a Celtic FC forum or AssBandit32 on a gay porn site.”

Again, unless you’re asserting that no neo-Nazi wannabes are also WW2 collectors I don’t see the point. You mean that people fascinated by the Nazis are tolerant of other people fascinated by the Nazis? You don’t say. You think that perhaps maybe they ought to be less tolerant of the neo-Nazis within?

A very good point to make to the Judges who’ve just (yet again!) put a misconceived notion of human rights for terrorists before our national security.

Amnesty International have an alliance with the Al Qa’eda propaganda group Caged Prisoners for one very simple reason: It is riven with pathological anti-Americans for whom there is no form of evil they will not side with against the United States.

Jesus, I didn’t notice that first time around. I reproduce it for posterity.

I know all this because I’m a self-confessed geek who likes books, films and computer games – not even a military analyst, i.e. a total and utter war nerd. I can run you through the best guns in the PS3 game Killzone 2 and the situations where they’re most useful, if you need proof – shotguns in corridors, M82 rifle at mid-range, StA11 SMG for all-round performance.

Look – the guy might be an out and out Nazi bastard of the Nth degree. I have no idea, and I strongly suspect that his accusers have no idea either. I suspect he’s just a dork like me with a bit more money to throw around. I’d buy all kinds of stupid shit if I had the cash, although probably not Nazi kit.

The point I’m making is that calling yourself Flak88, Messerschmidt, Luger or Nebelwerfur on a WWII memorabilia site is as controversial as calling yourself JimmyJohnstone on a Celtic FC forum or AssBandit32 on a gay porn site. It proves bugger all, unless of course you want it to prove something – for instance, maybe you want it to prove that HRW institutionally hates the Israelis and wants to make them look bad. I throw it out there, for consideration.

It’s obviously just a coincidence that I strongly believe that this was the case with that particular Decent campaign against HRW, as it happens – 100% certain, as it happens. Others were even less justifiable than that.

I am sorry but his on-line psuedonym was Flak88. Last I checked Flak was an acronym derived from the German Fliegerabwehrkanone. More specifically, derived from the German used in the period 1932-1945. It is not a term used for Western Anti-Aircraft units. Nor for Soviet ones. Nor for German ones before 1931 or for German ones after 1945. It was solely used for German Anti-Aircraft units during the Nazi period. By all means, tell us how this is a common word commonly used in English that has nothing to do with the Nazis at all.

And as everyone here at LC knows, 88 is commonly used by neo-Nazis. Because H is the Eighth letter of the alphabet. 88 being HH. As in Heil Hitler for instance.

Now I am sure you know this. I am pretty sure Garlasco knew this. That may not have been his motivation. His motivation might have been the slightly more innocent love of the German 88 mm gun. But only slightly more innocent.

So by all means, tell us how he was not using a Nazi handle. I am sure you will be able to follow that up with an explanation of why Combat18 and Prussian Blue are not Nazi names either.

The double standard here at LC is interesting. When Tancredo mentions civics tests everyone denounces him for wanting to bring back Segregation. But when someone who criticises Israel (and is probably not on the Left) uses a name like this, people on LC defend him. Not very liberal really.

“War nerds are well known for collecting weird and fucked-up war memorabilia. The vast majority of the people who joined in the pile-on on HRW were rabid right wing lunatics.”

I assume you are trying to imply that there are no neo-Nazi war nerds? If not what relevance does that comment have?

And are you seriously making the claim that partisan politics shapes your world to such an extent that you think anyone attacked by the Right *must* *be* innocent or at least defended? Otherwise what relevance does it have whether rabid right wing lunatics piled into him or not? A lot of rabid right wing lunatics did not like Stalin either. You think he is innocent?

Followed immediately by:

>> I just think it’s worth pointing out to those who wouldn’t realise themselves [...]

Go away, you loonie. But not until you’ve atoned for this:

>> The fact that the first people you cite to rebut this claim are Glavin and Coates – Jesus, practically NVA infantry, them!

The nadir has been reached. You contemptible fuck.

PS Coates??????