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Thread: World War Three

  1. #1336
    Senior Member Emil El Zapato's Avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Wind View Post
    These are rather perilous times. USA is going against Russia and China while smaller European countries are used as pawns.
    Perhaps, or they are trying to make smaller countries more secure in the face of a madman. With ulterior motives, of course, the world is a chess game after all.

    The U.S. is not 'going after' China, they are just trying to keep the playing field level (after decades of letting China tilt it in their own favor). The U.S. didn't really give a 'flying' you know what about Russia until Putin decided he had to take over the world.
    “El revolucionario: te meteré la bota en el culo"

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  3. #1337
    Super Moderator Wind's Avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Chuckie View Post
    Perhaps, or they are trying to make smaller countries more secure in the face of a madman. With ulterior motives, of course, the world is a chess game after all.
    I don't think it's that black and white although Putin is what he is and many would be relieved to see him go.

    They are risking a bigger war though and that's not really a risk you want to take unless you're out of your rocker.

    The U.S. is not 'going after' China, they are just trying to keep the playing field level (after decades of letting China tilt it in their own favor).
    USA is having a real contester in China as a rising power. Why should USA try to control the world either?


    Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIJHTfjJBOU
    "The more I see, the less I know for sure." ~ John Lennon

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  5. #1338
    Senior Member Emil El Zapato's Avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Wind View Post
    I don't think it's that black and white although Putin is what he is and many would be relieved to see him go.

    They are risking a bigger war though and that's not really a risk you want to take unless you're out of your rocker.



    USA is having a real contester in China as a rising power. Why should USA try to control the world either?


    Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIJHTfjJBOU
    Honestly, they've done it for so long they have no other perspective... I think they believe it is their responsibility to protect the world, not control it, rather to stop those that want to control it. Power can be legitimately used and then there is not so legitimate.
    “El revolucionario: te meteré la bota en el culo"

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    Administrator Aragorn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Wind View Post
    These are rather perilous times. USA is going against Russia and China while smaller European countries are used as pawns.
    Yes, exactly. This is just another proxy war, as there have been so many already.

    Quote Originally posted by Chuckie View Post
    Quote Originally posted by Wind View Post
    These are rather perilous times. USA is going against Russia and China while smaller European countries are used as pawns.
    Perhaps, or they are trying to make smaller countries more secure in the face of a madman.
    I really don't understand how you can deliberately choose to remain so ostensibly naive about — or blind to — the USA's intentions. The history books — not the US American ones, but everyone else's — are full of evidence that the USA does not want to protect anything other than its own interests — which they are doing with an extreme degree of military paranoia — and that when push comes to shove, they will even bluntly and callously stab their own allies in the back, not to mention those very nations they are supposedly seeking to protect.

    And you don't even have to consult anybody's history books for that. It's all happening out in the open, right under everybody's nose. Anyone with a brain can see it. And yet you are willfully remaining blind to it.

    Quote Originally posted by Chuckie View Post
    The U.S. is not 'going after' China, they are just trying to keep the playing field level (after decades of letting China tilt it in their own favor). The U.S. didn't really give a 'flying' you know what about Russia until Putin decided he had to take over the world.
    Wrong. Putin was willing to play ball with the US, and for a while, things were going really well, internationally speaking. It wasn't until the second term of George W. Bush and his fellow neocons that things grew sour, because then the US war machine decided to expand NATO farther to the east, right on Putin's doorstep, and put up a missile barrier along the Russian border.

    That was completely without any provocation at all from Russia, and everything that has happened since then was only further saber rattling, right up until the USA started interfering with the internal politics of Ukraine and supporting the neo-Nazi factions there who had just committed a coup and ousted Ukraine's democratically elected president, Viktor Yanukovych. Because the USA just had to have their missile fence around Russia and they were hoping to recruit Ukraine into NATO.

    Bush Jr. started it, and Obama carried it forward.





    Quote Originally posted by Wind View Post
    USA is having a real contester in China as a rising power. Why should USA try to control the world either?
    I think the USA have already long shown the world what things will look like with them controlling the order of things. In other words, crypto-fascism, corporate rule, blind consumerism, exploitation, disregard for human rights, the needless continuation of the pollution of the environment, moral and intellectual decay, and the treatment of human life as a disposable commodity.

    Quote Originally posted by Chuckie View Post
    Quote Originally posted by Wind View Post
    USA is having a real contester in China as a rising power. Why should USA try to control the world either?
    Honestly, they've done it for so long they have no other perspective... I think they believe it is their responsibility to protect the world, not control it, rather to stop those that want to control it.
    You cannot possibly believe that. That's not just naiveté, that's a willfully blind loyalty to the phony ideals that your government indoctrinated you with as a child.

    You are living a lie, my friend. Time to wake up. The USA are not called "The Land of Make-Believe" for no reason.
    = DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR =

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  9. #1340
    Senior Member Emil El Zapato's Avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Aragorn View Post
    Yes, exactly. This is just another proxy war, as there have been so many already.



    I really don't understand how you can deliberately choose to remain so ostensibly naive about — or blind to — the USA's intentions. The history books — not the US American ones, but everyone else's — are full of evidence that the USA does not want to protect anything other than its own interests — which they are doing with an extreme degree of military paranoia — and that when push comes to shove, they will even bluntly and callously stab their own allies in the back, not to mention those very nations they are supposedly seeking to protect.

    And you don't even have to consult anybody's history books for that. It's all happening out in the open, right under everybody's nose. Anyone with a brain can see it. And yet you are willfully remaining blind to it.



    Wrong. Putin was willing to play ball with the US, and for a while, things were going really well, internationally speaking. It wasn't until the second term of George W. Bush and his fellow neocons that things grew sour, because then the US war machine decided to expand NATO farther to the east, right on Putin's doorstep, and put up a missile barrier along the Russian border.

    That was completely without any provocation at all from Russia, and everything that has happened since then was only further saber rattling, right up until the USA started interfering with the internal politics of Ukraine and supporting the neo-Nazi factions there who had just committed a coup and ousted Ukraine's democratically elected president, Viktor Yanukovych. Because the USA just had to have their missile fence around Russia and they were hoping to recruit Ukraine into NATO.

    Bush Jr. started it, and Obama carried it forward.







    I think the USA have already long shown the world what things will look like with them controlling the order of things. In other words, crypto-fascism, corporate rule, blind consumerism, exploitation, disregard for human rights, the needless continuation of the pollution of the environment, moral and intellectual decay, and the treatment of human life as a disposable commodity.



    You cannot possibly believe that. That's not just naiveté, that's a willfully blind loyalty to the phony ideals that your government indoctrinated you with as a child.

    You are living a lie, my friend. Time to wake up. The USA are not called "The Land of Make-Believe" for no reason.
    Are we talking about the right or left. Right yes, Left no. The American right has no self limitations and paranoia is the name of the game, the American left not so much and the history books are replete with events that substantiate that. I'm not naive about it, but perhaps our language of debate is not precise enough? Today's American right is completely hostile to government because it doesn't suit there subconscious needs...right/left it is all the same to them because it is neither fascist or autocratic enough.
    “El revolucionario: te meteré la bota en el culo"

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  11. #1341
    Senior Member Emil El Zapato's Avatar
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    For me most governmental things have never even been on my radar of concerns, but for the rest of you, do you really believe we are looking at a happier world with either Putin or Xi Jinping as the unopposed leader of the world. Now think 'fully' about what that would mean. Ok, let's concede that the U.S. is itself an autocratic fascist son-of-a-bitch. Are Putin/Jinping 'benevolent'. Seriously, Putin steals children for sacrifice.
    “El revolucionario: te meteré la bota en el culo"

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    Quote Originally posted by Chuckie View Post
    The American right has no self limitations and paranoia is the name of the game, the American left not so much and the history books are replete with events that substantiate that.
    Then I would suggest you start reading some non-American history books and consulting some non-American news media, because all of America's history books and news media exist only so as to glorify the USA and its founders in the name of Manifest Destiny.





    Quote Originally posted by Chuckie View Post
    For me most governmental things have never even been on my radar of concerns, but for the rest of you, do you really believe we are looking at a happier world with either Putin or Xi Jinping as the unopposed leader of the world.
    Who says the world needs a single nation as its leader? Why does it have to come down to a choice between three evils? That's just as retarded as G.W. Bush's "If you're not with us, then you're against us" rhetoric.

    After the fall of the Soviet Union, the world was multipolar, and there was a balance. But that's not what the US of America wants. The US of America wants a monopolar world, in which the US of America is the leader. The USA wants to westernize the whole world, albeit that it will want to preserve some smaller non-assimilated regions as an enemy, even if only because the Pentagon's needs for bloodshed through sophisticated weaponry have to be met, and you cannot legally invade anything anymore if the whole world is on the same page. So it'll want to preserve some "pariah" nations, just for the sake of having an enemy they can occasionally bully.

    Besides, as I've said before, the USA isn't even morally equipped to be the world's leader — neither are Xi nor Putin, for that matter — because the USA thrives on shallowness, appearances, blind consumerism, shameless exploitation and social inequality, and it has a serious knee-jerk problem whenever the word "socialism" is thrown on the table. That's why the American left fucked Bernie Sanders over — not once but twice — because Bernie is a socialist and socialism goes in against the ego-driven American Dream™.

    Europe is old — not necessarily wise, but old enough to have learned from its mistakes. Russia is old. China is old. India is old. Japan is old. The USA has only been around for less than three centuries, has made all of the mistakes in the book — including genocide, both with and without nuclear weapons — and still continues to make all of those very same mistakes over and over again. It hasn't even learned anything from its experiences, because being a narcissistic and self-righteous brat, it doesn't have the mental acuity or wisdom to do so. The USA isn't fit to be the leader of the world, because it knows nothing of the world, given that it's way too busy masturbating to its own reflection in the mirror.

    I for one don't want the USA to be the leader of the world. I don't want any nation to be the leader of the world. Nations are artificial constructs anyway. I want wisdom and harmony to lead humanity, because some exceptions notwithstanding, almost every human being has the capacity to attain wisdom, and through it, to establish harmony.

    To hell with nationalism, and to hell with the agendas of political elites, power brokers and lobbyists.


    "You cannot solve a problem with the same level of thinking as what created it."

    (Albert Einstein)
    = DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR =

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  15. #1343
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    Quote Originally posted by Aragorn View Post
    Then I would suggest you start reading some non-American history books and consulting some non-American news media, because all of America's history books and news media exist only so as to glorify the USA and its founders in the name of Manifest Destiny.







    Who says the world needs a single nation as its leader? Why does it have to come down to a choice between three evils? That's just as retarded as G.W. Bush's "If you're not with us, then you're against us" rhetoric.

    After the fall of the Soviet Union, the world was multipolar, and there was a balance. But that's not what the US of America wants. The US of America wants a monopolar world, in which the US of America is the leader. The USA wants to westernize the whole world, albeit that it will want to preserve some smaller non-assimilated regions as an enemy, even if only because the Pentagon's needs for bloodshed through sophisticated weaponry have to be met, and you cannot legally invade anything anymore if the whole world is on the same page. So it'll want to preserve some "pariah" nations, just for the sake of having an enemy they can occasionally bully.

    Besides, as I've said before, the USA isn't even morally equipped to be the world's leader — neither are Xi nor Putin, for that matter — because the USA thrives on shallowness, appearances, blind consumerism, shameless exploitation and social inequality, and it has a serious knee-jerk problem whenever the word "socialism" is thrown on the table. That's why the American left fucked Bernie Sanders over — not once but twice — because Bernie is a socialist and socialism goes in against the ego-driven American Dream™.

    Europe is old — not necessarily wise, but old enough to have learned from its mistakes. Russia is old. China is old. India is old. Japan is old. The USA has only been around for less than three centuries, has made all of the mistakes in the book — including genocide, both with and without nuclear weapons — and still continues to make all of those very same mistakes over and over again. It hasn't even learned anything from its experiences, because being a narcissistic and self-righteous brat, it doesn't have the mental acuity or wisdom to do so. The USA isn't fit to be the leader of the world, because it knows nothing of the world, given that it's way too busy masturbating to its own reflection in the mirror.

    I for one don't want the USA to be the leader of the world. I don't want any nation to be the leader of the world. Nations are artificial constructs anyway. I want wisdom and harmony to lead humanity, because some exceptions notwithstanding, almost every human being has the capacity to attain wisdom, and through it, to establish harmony.

    To hell with nationalism, and to hell with the agendas of political elites, power brokers and lobbyists.



    "You cannot solve a problem with the same level of thinking as what created it."

    (Albert Einstein)
    You have entirely missed the point...that is why the U.S. does what it does. Talk about naivete...U.S. has on occasion tried to go 'quiet' and all hell breaks loose. Americans ignored Russia when it wasn't causing global issues (which is extreme in its rarity) Remember everyone laughing when 'what's his face' said Russia was America's biggest challenge in the 21st century. The United States was more than willing to work with Russia, Putin wanted to join western economic unions but felt slighted because he was told to wait in turn. The biggest baby on the planet (next to Orange Jesus) couldn't wait his turn so decided to go global conqueror.

    Personally, I would be happy if Belgium took the U.S. place, but I guarantee you by the word of history that if someone doesn't do it, we all will be checking into our cells at night and coming out during the day to do whatever labor has been assigned.

    "I for one don't want the USA to be the leader of the world. I don't want any nation to be the leader of the world. Nations are artificial constructs anyway. I want wisdom and harmony to lead humanity, because some exceptions notwithstanding, almost every human being has the capacity to attain wisdom, and through it, to establish harmony.

    To hell with nationalism, and to hell with the agendas of political elites, power brokers and lobbyists."


    Who the f*ck doesn't feel that way, but this I guarantee you, (Since we're on the subject) it ain't happenin' today or tomorrow.
    “El revolucionario: te meteré la bota en el culo"

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    Quote Originally posted by Chuckie View Post
    You have entirely missed the point...
    Physician, heal thyself.

    Quote Originally posted by Chuckie View Post
    The biggest baby on the planet (next to Orange Jesus) couldn't wait his turn so decided to go global conqueror.
    What has Putin conquered that wasn't already being infested with CIA operatives in an attempt to recruit it into NATO? Again: read something other than that US American propaganda that you call "history books", and listen to something other than your corporately owned US-specific news media.

    Putin was simply minding his own business until Bush Jr.'s second term, but minding one's own business is something the USA itself has never been capable of ever since the end of World War II — just like the British Empire before it, and we've all seen where that led.
    = DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR =

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    Senior Member Emil El Zapato's Avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Aragorn View Post
    Physician, heal thyself.



    What has Putin conquered that wasn't already being infested with CIA operatives in an attempt to recruit it into NATO? Again: read something other than that US American propaganda that you call "history books", and listen to something other than your corporately owned US-specific news media.

    Putin was simply minding his own business until Bush Jr.'s second term, but minding one's own business is something the USA itself has never been capable of ever since the end of World War II — just like the British Empire before it, and we've all seen where that led.
    lol, ok
    “El revolucionario: te meteré la bota en el culo"

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    "The more I see, the less I know for sure." ~ John Lennon

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    Quote Originally posted by Wind View Post
    They also intend to supply depleted uranium/radioactive waste shells for their Challenger tanks.

    U.S and U.K have poisoned battlefields of the Earth for about three decades now with these munitions. So they claim it is standard procedure.

    It might not be such a small thing, this time.
    "To learn who rules over you simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize" -- Voltaire

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    So what's with this peace deal China supposedly brokered between Saudi Arabia and Iran?
    That feels like the beginning of shift towards an eastern monetary power doesn't it?
    Have a great day today

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    Senior Member Emil El Zapato's Avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Catsquotl View Post
    So what's with this peace deal China supposedly brokered between Saudi Arabia and Iran?
    That feels like the beginning of shift towards an eastern monetary power doesn't it?
    That is the speculation and the fear of the west, primarily the U.S. as the de facto leader of the economic western powers. With proper behavior it could/should represent a forced 'balance of power'. The East wants it, the West wants it. To make a long story short it can be modeled by the Hegelian Dialectic...Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis. Everybody desires primacy which results in the classic Roman Triumvirate of power sharing. I personally believe that would be the ideal, as in the classic Greek perspective ...
    “El revolucionario: te meteré la bota en el culo"

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    Now look at what we have done! Ahh, that great overpowering need for control of the autocratic, authoritarian rightist, what a salve to soothe the savage breast of existentially fraught humanity. In the end we all go to hell in a handbasket.

    How the First Triumvirate change ancient Rome


    The First Triumvirate a secret political alliance between three politicians during the late Roman Republic. It was created in 60 BC by Gaius Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (known as Pompey 'the Great'), and Marcus Licinius Crassus.

    This alliance was designed to allow these three individuals to control the entire Roman political system in order to help each other achieve their own, individual, aims.

    In this article, we will explore the motivations and goals of each man and see what made the First Triumvirate such a powerful force in Roman politics.

    Background: Rome in the 1st century BC

    The Roman Republic in the 1st century BC was in trouble. Since the time of Tiberius Gracchus in 133 BC, the political system of the Roman Republic became increasingly under the power of wealthy and violent politicians.

    The Senate had been split into two competing factions. On one side were the optimates, who were interested in maintaining the power traditional ruling class of Rome, who were the wealthy elites. On the other side were the populares, who championed the causes of the common people.

    However, when one of these factions gained dominance in political elections or gained a majority in the Senate, the other side would resort to powerful individuals who would resort to murder, violence, and even military invasions of the city of Rome itself, to swing the power balance back the other way.

    In the 50 years before the First Triumvirate was formed, each side had enjoyed dominance in the Senate at different times. The populares had seen influence under the general Marius, while the optimates had recently gained control of the Senate as a result of the reforms by the general Sulla.

    However, by the beginning of 60 BC, two powerful Roman politicians seemed to be strongly on the side of the populares, and they were Pompey and Caesar. The optimate majority were concerned that they were about to lose power again and actively worked to limit the influence that these two men had in Roman politics.

    When Pompey and Caesar began to realise that they were being openly opposed by the Senate, they realised that unless they could find a solution to their problems, they would never be allowed to progress their political careers any further.

    Pompey the Great's aims
    In 60 BC, Pompey the Great was the most experienced and beloved military general alive. Having risen to prominence during the time of the Social War and under Sulla's dictatorship, Pompey had rocketed to fame and power through a series of remarkable military achievements.

    He had saved the city of Rome from the rebel consul Lepidus' revolt in 77 BC, defeated another rebel called Sertorius in the province of Spain in 73 BC, and had even helped crush the last elements of the Spartacus slave revolt in Italy in the same year. He became consul in 70 BC, cleared the Mediterranean of pirates in 67 BC, and had defeated the long-time enemy of Rome, Mithridates VI of Pontus in 64 BC. While on this campaign in Asian Minor, in the eastern Mediterranean, Pompey had even managed to absorb Judaea into the Roman republic's sphere of control.

    So, when Pompey arrived back at Brundisium in Italy in 62 BC, he led an experienced army that was loyal to him alone. The Senate wondered whether he would copy the example of Sulla when he had marched his army on Rome in 83 BC to seize power for himself.

    Surprisingly though, Pompey dismissed his army and travelled to Rome as a private citizen, not as a conquering commander. Once in the city, the Senate awarded him another triumph the third of his life, for his eastern campaigns.

    However, as part of these celebrations, Pompey shared some of his new wealth with the common people by investing in new buildings and paid each of his loyal veteran soldiers 6000 sesterces (a Roman coin), which was worth over twelve years of wages. Pompey's generosity made him even more popular with the people of Rome and made the Senate even more worried about his real motives.

    Therefore, when Pompey approached the Senate to get their official approval for his decision made during the campaign against Mithridates and Judaea, the Senate was looking for any opportunity they could to limit his power.

    The Senate pointed out that Pompey had acted beyond the original instructions given to him: he hadn't had any authority to capture new territories or create new provinces in the east, all of which Pompey had done.

    What concerned Pompey the most was that he had promised his soldiers farmland when they retired. However, since Pompey had technically acted outside of his authority, the Senate refused to grant these lands to Pompey's men. As a result, Pompey now had thousands of disappointed and angry soldiers on the streets of Rome who had trusted him to fulfil his promise.

    Consequently, Pompey had to find a solution to get the land he had promised to his men despite the fact that the Senate was hostile to the idea.

    Crassus' aims
    The second person who would make up the First Triumvirate was Marcus Lucinius Crassus. In 60 BC, he was about 55 years and was the richest individual in Rome. While Crassus had had some military roles during his career, he spent most of his time in the business world, making a financial profit.

    Crassus made a lot of wealth during the proscriptions of Sulla, where, it was rumoured, that he had put names of his personal enemies on the list of names, and then had them killed in order to seize their assets. Using his sudden influx of wealth, Crassus then manipulated the sale of houses and buildings in Rome, forcing people to sell them for less than they were worth.

    During this time, Crassus was able to form powerful connections with other Roman businessmen, from the equites class, who relied upon him for personal and business loans. Some of these men were tax-collectors. They had gotten themselves in trouble by bidding too high on government tax contracts and they were suddenly unable to pay money back either to the Senate or to Crassus.

    These men approached Crassus and asked for help. Crassus wanted his money back and refused to free them from their debts to him. However, as long as the Senate also refused to let them get out of their tax contracts, these men would never be able to pay Crassus either. As a result, Crassus approached the Senate to ask for the tax contracts to be reduced.

    Just as the Senate was worried about Pompey's popularity, it was also worried about Crassus economic power. And, just as they actively opposed Pompey, they also opposed Crassus and refused to honour his request.

    So, in 60 BC, Crassus was looking for some way to get around the Senate's refusal to cooperate. He ideally wanted someone in the Senate who would support his request: someone with enough power and influence to overturn their hostility to him.

    Julius Caesar's aims
    In 60 BC, Gaius Julius Caesar was the youngest of the three men, at about 40 years old. He had just had just returned to Rome from a successful military campaign in Spain. Caesar had achieved the requirements to celebrate his first triumph. However, he was also seeking to be elected as one of the consuls for the next year 59 BC.

    The Senate, who was worried that he was another populares politician who could cause them concern gave him an ultimatum: either have a triumph or stand for election. This was an unfair demand, but the Senate assumed that Caesar would take the triumph, as Romans went their entire careers in the hope of getting just one triumph. However, Caesar shocked the Senate by giving up the triumph and choosing to contest the consular election instead.

    However, Caesar knew that his chances of becoming consul were small because he did not have the same level of popular with the people of Rome as other potential candidates. Caesar needed to work hard to convince the citizens to vote for him. In Roman political terms, this usually required a lot of bribery: offering monetary incentives for people to vote for him over his rivals.

    While bribery is considered a form of corruption in modern political terms, it was entirely acceptable in ancient Rome. In fact, most people seeking election in Rome often went into significant debt to be elected, knowing that by gaining a position could mean making enough money to pay back their debts.

    Caesar himself did not have enough money to pay the amount required to bribe enough voters. In order to raise the funds necessary, he had to find a financial supporter. Before he had begun his previous campaign in Spain, Caesar had relied upon a loan from Crassus, so it was natural that he might turn to him again in this instance.

    How was the alliance formed?
    Each of the three men faced unsurmountable challenges that could not be resolved alone. Their difficulties were public knowledge and there was significant tension in Rome about what would happen. However, it was Julius Caesar who realised that the three men could actually use their individual strengths to help each other out.

    In 60 BC, Caesar invited Crassus and Pompey to a secret meeting. Since this discussion was secret, the exact details of what was decided is unknown. However, based upon what would happen over the next two years, historians can confidently identify the terms of their agreement.

    Caesar promised that, if he became consul, he would ensure that legislation would be enacted that would solve both Crassus' and Pompey's problems. In return, he needed Crassus' money to pay for votes and Pompey's soldiers to intimidate voters on the day to ensure Caesar won.

    The most difficult part of this agreement was the fact that Pompey and Crassus hated each other. Ever since Pompey had unfairly stolen Crassus' triumph at the end of the Spartacus revolt, the two men had been direct opponents. However, Caesar was able to encourage the two to overlook their personal animosities in order to work together.

    Once the agreement had been reached, the three men knew that what they were doing was considered highly illegal in Roman politics and the three men swore to keep their arrangement secret for as long as they could.

    Caesar's consulship
    The First Triumvirate was successful in achieving their goals. The first order of business for the First Triumvirate was to get Caesar elected as consul. This was accomplished by bribing the voters and using Pompey's military strength to intimidate anyone who opposed their candidate.

    Caesar was successfully elected as consul for 59 BC, and he used his position as consul to pass a series of laws that increased his own power and weakened the Senate. As promised, Caesar passed laws that gave him some public land to Pompey's veterans and arranged tax breaks for Crassus' wealthy friends.

    The secret agreement had been a success and the three men were able to control Roman politics for an entire year. However, people began to work out what had happened, and the Senate became suspicious.

    The end of Caesar's consulship
    When Senators began calling for the three men to be held accountable for illegally manipulating Roman politics, Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus had to find some solutions.

    Caesar used his position as consul to pass a law that gave him command of Rome's armies in Gaul. This meant that he would be away from Rome for five years, which suited Pompey and Crassus just fine. They did not want Caesar around while they worked on consolidating their power. It also meant that Caesar could not face legal proceedings for illegal actions during his consulship. He was immune from this until his military command expired.

    Crassus and Pompey continued to use their political power and money to put their allies in the consulships for the next year, on the understanding that they would also be kept safe from any legal charges.

    Things begin to unravel
    Pompey and Crassus had different visions for Rome's future, and they soon began to clash. Pompey wanted to maintain the status quo, while Crassus wanted to increase his own power. This led to tension between the two men, which was made worse by Caesar's continued absence.

    Caesar had spent the years away in Gaul, conquests which had made him even richer and more powerful. By 54 BC, he quickly realized that Pompey and Crassus were no longer allies but had returned to their old rivalries.

    To restore the power of the alliance, the three men met again in 56 BC, at the down of Luca, and renewed their political arrangement. This time, Caesar was promised an extra five-year command in Gaul to keep him safe from being charged for his activities in 59 BC. Pompey and Crassus wanted military commands over different provinces. Pompey got Spain and Crassus got the east, which put him in a position to win military glory against the Parthians.

    Once the new deal had been finalised, the three men went their separate ways: Caesar back to Gaul, Pompey to Rome and Crassus to the east. In May of 53 BC, Crassus was defeated at the Battle of Carrhae while leading Roman forces against the Parthians. It was said that the Parthian king had Crassus killed by pouring molten-hot gold into his mouth as a way of punishing him for his immense greed.

    This left Pompey and Caesar as the only members of the First Triumvirate still alive. Pompey began switching his political allegiance to the optimates faction and began openly opposing Caesar's actions in Gaul. When Caesar's final command began to expire at the end of 50 BC, the Senate warned him that he was going to be dragged before the court. Caesar reached out to Pompey for further help but was rejected.

    Realising that he was running out of options, Caesar knew that the either accepted his fate at the hands of the Roman legal system and the optimates that controlled it, or choose a more drastic action.

    Feeling like he had no other option, in January of 49 BC, Caesar marched his armies across the Rubicon River from Gaul and into Italy with the declared aim of capturing Rome and expelling the optimates. This was an act of war against Rome itself, and it meant that Caesar would have to fight Pompey and his allies to seize control.

    The Civil War between Caesar and Pompey lasted for just two years and Caesar emerged victorious. He would go on to become dictator of Rome and change Roman politics forever.

    Summary
    Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar were three very different men who came together to achieve their own goals. They were successful in controlling Roman politics for a time, but their different visions for Rome's future led to tension and eventually conflict.


    What made the First Triumvirate so important is that it showed that just three people had the ability to control the entire Roman political system. Once Rome realised this, it would then be copied again later by three more men: Octavian, Lepidus, and Mark Antony. Their alliance would be dubbed the Second Triumvirate and it would finally destroy the Roman republic forever.


    As a result, it could be argued that the First Triumvirate was indirectly responsible for destroying republican Rome.
    “El revolucionario: te meteré la bota en el culo"

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    Octopus Garden (23rd March 2023)

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