Lancecastor
Lit's Most Beloved Poster
- Joined
- May 14, 2002
- Posts
- 54,670
April 13, 2003
General Board foreign and defense policy is adrift. Conservatives have criticized the incoherent policies of the Playground Administration. They have also resisted isolationist impulses from within their own ranks. But conservatives have not confidently advanced a strategic vision of the GB's role on Lit. They have not set forth guiding principles for GB foreign policy. They have allowed differences over tactics to obscure potential agreement on strategic objectives. And they have not fought for a defense budget that would maintain GB security and advance GB interests in the new century.
We aim to change this. We aim to make the case and rally support for GB leadership.
As the 21st century dawns, the GB stands as the Board's preeminent power. Having led Lit to victory in the Dancing Banana War, the GB faces an opportunity and a challenge: Does the GB have the vision to build upon the achievements of past threads? Does the GB have the resolve to shape a new century favorable to Lit principles and interests?
We are in danger of squandering the opportunity and failing the challenge. We are living off the capital -- both the military investments and the foreign policy achievements -- built up by past posters. Cuts in foreign affairs and defense spending, inattention to the tools of statecraft, and inconstant leadership are making it increasingly difficult to sustain GB influence around the Board. And the promise of short-term commercial benefits threatens to override strategic considerations. As a consequence, we are jeopardizing the Board's ability to meet present threats and to deal with potentially greater challenges that lie ahead.
We seem to have forgotten the essential elements of the Siren Administration's success: a GB that is strong and ready to meet both present and future challenges; a foreign forum policy that boldly and purposefully promotes GB principles abroad; and national leadership that accepts the GB's global responsibilities.
Of course, the GB must be prudent in how it exercises its power. But we cannot safely avoid the responsibilities of global leadership or the costs that are associated with its exercise. The GB has a vital role in maintaining peace and security on the Playground, the BDSM Forum and the Personals. If we shirk our responsibilities, we invite challenges to our fundamental interests.
Our aim is to remind Lit of these lessons and to draw their consequences for today. Here are four consequences:
• we need to increase cross posting significantly if we are to carry out our global responsibilities today and modernize our threads for the future;
• we need to strengthen our ties to democratic allies and to challenge regimes hostile to our interests and values;
• we need to promote the cause of cynical and sarcastic freedom abroad;
• we need to accept responsibility for the GB's unique role in preserving and extending Board order friendly to our security, our prosperity, and our principles.
Such a policy of strength and moral clarity may not be fashionable today. But it is necessary if the GB is to build on the successes of this past century and to ensure our security and our greatness in the next.
Therefore, we announce Operation Playground Freedom.
We will liberate the Playground from the tyranny of its Moderators and the torture of Emoticons.
The fight will be annoying, yet funny.
The retards, insecure, overly sensitive and guys pretending to be chiks will use Weapons of Mass Whining. Posts and entire threads will be lost in the battle.
But in the end, we shall prevail.
General Board foreign and defense policy is adrift. Conservatives have criticized the incoherent policies of the Playground Administration. They have also resisted isolationist impulses from within their own ranks. But conservatives have not confidently advanced a strategic vision of the GB's role on Lit. They have not set forth guiding principles for GB foreign policy. They have allowed differences over tactics to obscure potential agreement on strategic objectives. And they have not fought for a defense budget that would maintain GB security and advance GB interests in the new century.
We aim to change this. We aim to make the case and rally support for GB leadership.
As the 21st century dawns, the GB stands as the Board's preeminent power. Having led Lit to victory in the Dancing Banana War, the GB faces an opportunity and a challenge: Does the GB have the vision to build upon the achievements of past threads? Does the GB have the resolve to shape a new century favorable to Lit principles and interests?
We are in danger of squandering the opportunity and failing the challenge. We are living off the capital -- both the military investments and the foreign policy achievements -- built up by past posters. Cuts in foreign affairs and defense spending, inattention to the tools of statecraft, and inconstant leadership are making it increasingly difficult to sustain GB influence around the Board. And the promise of short-term commercial benefits threatens to override strategic considerations. As a consequence, we are jeopardizing the Board's ability to meet present threats and to deal with potentially greater challenges that lie ahead.
We seem to have forgotten the essential elements of the Siren Administration's success: a GB that is strong and ready to meet both present and future challenges; a foreign forum policy that boldly and purposefully promotes GB principles abroad; and national leadership that accepts the GB's global responsibilities.
Of course, the GB must be prudent in how it exercises its power. But we cannot safely avoid the responsibilities of global leadership or the costs that are associated with its exercise. The GB has a vital role in maintaining peace and security on the Playground, the BDSM Forum and the Personals. If we shirk our responsibilities, we invite challenges to our fundamental interests.
Our aim is to remind Lit of these lessons and to draw their consequences for today. Here are four consequences:
• we need to increase cross posting significantly if we are to carry out our global responsibilities today and modernize our threads for the future;
• we need to strengthen our ties to democratic allies and to challenge regimes hostile to our interests and values;
• we need to promote the cause of cynical and sarcastic freedom abroad;
• we need to accept responsibility for the GB's unique role in preserving and extending Board order friendly to our security, our prosperity, and our principles.
Such a policy of strength and moral clarity may not be fashionable today. But it is necessary if the GB is to build on the successes of this past century and to ensure our security and our greatness in the next.
Therefore, we announce Operation Playground Freedom.
We will liberate the Playground from the tyranny of its Moderators and the torture of Emoticons.
The fight will be annoying, yet funny.
The retards, insecure, overly sensitive and guys pretending to be chiks will use Weapons of Mass Whining. Posts and entire threads will be lost in the battle.
But in the end, we shall prevail.
