Image is of the King of Morocco meeting with John Kerry (a species of demon that plagued Hexbear in the misty past).
This preamble comes courtesy of @LargePenis@hexbear.net:
Morocco (Al Maghrib), or more officially the Kingdom of Morocco (Al Mamlaka al Maghribiya), is a country located in the northwestern edge of the African continent. The name Morocco comes from the Spanish name Marruecos, which itself comes from the name of the city of Marrakesh. In Turkish for example, Morocco is known as Fas, mainly because Turks knew the land of Morocco through the city of Fes. Morocco is regarded as part of the Arab World and Arabic is the main language amongst the population, with French and Berber languages also widely spoken in the country.
Morocco was the home of mostly Berber tribes until the Muslim conquest and the subsequent Arab migrations in the 700s under the Umayyads drastically changed the character of the country. A Berber commander, Tariq ibn Ziyad, would later cross the Strait of Gibraltar (Jabal Tariq) from the northern shores of now-Morocco and conquer Andalusia, which remained under Muslim rule for nearly 800 years. The country emerged as a significant regional power during the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties in the medieval period, known for their contributions to architecture, philosophy, and trade across North Africa and southern Europe. The current ruling dynasty of Morocco, the Alaouite dynasty, came to power in the late 1600s. The Alaouites claim descent from the Prophet Muhammad through his grandson Hasan ibn Ali, giving them religious legitimacy and political authority in the region. Despite the Shia-coded claim to legitimacy, the Moroccan royal family and the population mostly follow the Maliki school of Sunni Islam.
In the early 20th century, the Treaty of Fez (1912) created the French Protectorate of Morocco, negotiated largely without input from the Moroccan people. Moroccan lands were completely divided under French and Spanish zones, with thousands of colonists pouring into the country. The royal family frequently collaborated with colonial powers, suppressing local resistance movements and prioritizing European interests. Prominent anti-colonial uprisings, like the Rif War (1921–1926), were met with brutal crackdowns, enabled by Western-backed forces. Post-independence in 1956, Morocco maintained close ties with its former colonizers, fostering economic dependence on France and Spain. The monarchy’s alignment with Western geopolitical interests often undermined Pan-African and Arab unity movements.
During the Cold War, Morocco positioned itself as a staunch ally of the West, marginalizing leftist and nationalist factions within the country. The Green March of 1975 was a Moroccan state-organized movement to assert control over Western Sahara, a territory decolonized from Spanish rule but still awaiting self-determination. This march, supported by Western powers, particularly the United States, is often criticized as a colonial expansion disguised as a popular movement. By settling Moroccans in the disputed territory, the march disregarded the Sahrawi people's right to sovereignty. U.N. resolutions on Western Sahara have seen limited enforcement, largely due to Morocco’s Western alliances shielding it from accountability. Western-backed security and intelligence partnerships continue to be the cornerstone of Morocco’s repressive nature towards any anti-colonial and leftist movements. In 2021, Algeria again severed diplomatic ties with Morocco, citing hostile actions and concerns over Morocco's ties with Israel, which Algeria views as a betrayal of pro-Palestinian solidarity. The two countries have mostly clashed over the issue of Western Sahara other than a short war in the 60s over a border dispute, with Algeria continuing to support the Sahrawi independence movement.
Morocco's relations with Israel have historically been discreet but significant, rooted in the presence of a large Moroccan Jewish diaspora in Israel. Former King Hassan II played a significant behind-the-scenes role in fostering covert ties between Morocco and Israel during his reign. King Hassan II is reported to have allowed Israeli intelligence access to critical information from a meeting of Arab leaders in Casablanca in 1965, which may have helped Israel prepare for the Six-Day War in 1967. His government provided a platform for discreet diplomatic exchanges and intelligence-sharing, including Morocco’s facilitation of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s visit to Israel in the 1970s. In 2020, Morocco formally normalized ties with Israel through the Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States, in exchange for U.S. and Israeli recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Diplomatic and trade relations have since deepened, with agreements in fields like defence, agriculture, and technology. Despite official ties, Moroccan public opinion remains largely sympathetic to Palestinians, but such opinions are rarely considered by the royal family.
Morocco's future is split between ambitious global aspirations and permanent domestic issues. The country’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal is seen as a significant opportunity to showcase its shiny infrastructure and global presence. However, these achievements are often overshadowed by criticisms of its political culture, including the monarchy's ceremonial practices, such as the humiliating tradition of publicly kissing the crown prince's hand. Allegations surrounding King Mohammed VI's personal behavior, including incidents of public drunkenness and alleged homosexuality continue to be a hot topic within opposition circles.
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Israel-Palestine Conflict
Sources on the fighting in Palestine against Israel. In general, CW for footage of battles, explosions, dead people, and so on:
UNRWA reports on Israel's destruction and siege of Gaza and the West Bank.
English-language Palestinian Marxist-Leninist twitter account. Alt here.
English-language twitter account that collates news.
Arab-language twitter account with videos and images of fighting.
English-language (with some Arab retweets) Twitter account based in Lebanon. - Telegram is @IbnRiad.
English-language Palestinian Twitter account which reports on news from the Resistance Axis. - Telegram is @EyesOnSouth.
English-language Twitter account in the same group as the previous two. - Telegram here.
English-language PalestineResist telegram channel.
More telegram channels here for those interested.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Sources:
Defense Politics Asia's youtube channel and their map. Their youtube channel has substantially diminished in quality but the map is still useful.
Moon of Alabama, which tends to have interesting analysis. Avoid the comment section.
Understanding War and the Saker: reactionary sources that have occasional insights on the war.
Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don't want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it's just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.
Simplicius, who publishes on Substack. Like others, his political analysis should be soundly ignored, but his knowledge of weaponry and military strategy is generally quite good.
On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists' side.
Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.
Pro-Russian Telegram Channels:
Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.
https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR's former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR's forces. Russian language.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.
https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.
https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster's telegram channel.
https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator.
https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps.
https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a 'propaganda tax', if you don't believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.
https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.
Pro-Ukraine Telegram Channels:
Almost every Western media outlet.
https://discord.gg/projectowl ~ Pro-Ukrainian OSINT Discord.
https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.
Romanian parliamentary elections today. So, now I'm gonna give an overview of the contenders and place them in three main blocs: the Establishment, the Liberal opposition and the Reactionary opposition. Also important to mention today is Romania's national day, 105 years since the "Great Union" where the state of Romania achieved it's greatest territorial extent. Next week will be the second round of the presidential elections and the end of the election season for us. I think I'll put together a smaller post giving a more concise view of the two candidates. No predictions about the results of this one, seeing as the last time I tried my hand at predicting outcomes we had a complete overturning of the traditional electoral system. I would suggest having Romania as the COTW after the election season is over, so 9-15 December, so we can have a more holistic overview of what went on after the dust has settled. That being said, let's start with the overview.
The Establishment
PSD: Social Democratic Party
The biggest political force of post communist Romania, this party has its origins in Ion Iliescu's FSN (Front of National Salvation) formed after the coup against Ceaușescu in 1989. Basically all the big movers and shakers in Romanian politics are in this party or had dealings with it. The face of the establishment in Romanian politics for over 30 years, it has little in common with the common conception of social democrats, basically being a center right party made up of former communist elites who parceled out the country between themselves. Now is in a crisis due to this being the first time since 1989 that they did not manage to get their candidate in the second round of the presidential elections. Has not backed either Lasconi or Georgescu, the theory is they're waiting to back Lasconi after the parliamentary elections are done so as to not look bad, seeing as she is the candidate of the party that started the Liberal opposition to the establishment.
PNL: National Liberal Party
The other face of the establishment, this is the even more center right counterpart to PSD, which is a "historical party", basically they exited prior to communism. The modern party was formed by a merger between the party reestablished by political prisoners who were members of the party prior to communism and emigres who came back, who was against the FSN in the 90s and the right splinter of the FSN, the PD (Democratic Party), which took place in 1992. Second strongest force in modern Romanian politics, fell off hard after they formed a coalition government with PSD in 2021, which stands until today. The reason this fucked them hard was because they always positioned themselves against the PSD. They won in the previous elections, in 2019 and formed a cabinet with USR, the beginners of the Liberal opposition. After it fell apart in 2021, this was seen to be a stab in the back by the people and now they are being relegated to below third place. Still licking their wounds after the disastrous results for their candidate in the first round of the presidential elections, they're backing Lasconi unconditionally.
UDMR: Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania
Hungarian minority big tent party, have an agreement with PSD where PSD does some electioneering and sends some votes their way to get them into parliament and they enter coalitions with PSD. Called the Hungarian branch of the PSD.
Splinters: Parties that split from them, formed by people who were kicked out after corruption scandals or political power games, hold similar ideology and are very connected with the establishment
PSDU: United Social Democratic Party
Small splinter, not really relevant, did a weird Tik Tok campaign about education reform where the party head responded to kid's comments and urged them to tell their parents to vote. No real ideology, probably only exists so that people who don't really look at their ballots vote for them accidentally.
PSDI: Independent Social Democratic Party
Another small splinter, formed by Geoană, world class loser, who lost to Băsescu in the Bucharest mayoral elections in 2004 and then again in 2009 at the presidential elections. Party mainly composed of those who were kicked out of PSD for corruption and were friends with Geoană or his partner in crime, Vanghelie. Backing Georgescu.
FD: Force of the Right
Formed in 2021, by the former Prime Minister of Romania, Ludovic Orban, it basically is the party made up of those who split form the PNL on the basis of refusing to enter into a coalition with PSD and some other minor conservative parties who shacked up with them. Backs Lasconi.
PNCR: National Conservative Party
Right-PSD splinter, the head of the party is the guy who asked for a recount of the first round of the parliamentary elections. Also, he's a double citizen, and a registered member of the actual motherfucking Republican Party in California. Similar rhetoric to Georgescu.
ANC: National Christian Alliance
Another Right-PSD splinter. From what I have seen, they have a similar rhetoric to the German CDU. Unclear if the whole party backs Georgescu, but one member did.
Reactionary opposition
AUR: Alliance for the Unification of Romanians
The flagship party of the current iteration of the reactionary opposition, formed in 2019, this very day, on the centennial of the Unification, it is a Euroskeptic, but pro-NATO gaggle of the worst people imaginable, anti-LGBTQ, hardline pro-religion and with an overcurrent of leigionarism. Has come back to its radical roots after moderating its discourse after 2021. Anti-vax, they were the vanguard of the hogs who refused to wear masks during the pandemic in our country. Wants to reunify with Moldova, anti-Ukraine, the leader of the party is banned from entering both Moldova and Ukraine. Pro Georgescu.
S.O.S Romania
Pro-Russian splinter from AUR in 2021, as a result of them moderating their discourse, now being the second more recognizable face of the reactionary opposition due to their party leader, Diana Șoșoacă being a very bombastic and boisterous person, as well as being a serial poster. Currently big mad at Geogescu for taking the wind out of their sails, they oscillate between endorsing him and denouncing him.
POT: Party of the Young People
Newcomer, supposedly Georgescu's own party, may see a big rise in the elections today due to them being aligned with him. Reactionary, as the last two, also filled with cranks who deny basic science, anti-vax.
Smaller parties
POC: Party of Faithful People
Obscure reactionary party, only notable thing is that the leader said he's the most faithful believer in the whole country.
PPR: Romanian Patriots Party
Small reactionary party, fascists who chant legionary slogans and champion their rhetoric. Backing Georgescu.
UGT: Geto-Dacian Union
Crank party, want to restore Dacia. yes, you heard that correctly, they want to restore the ancient pre-Roman conquest kingdom of Dacia. representative of crank ideological current started by Ceaușescu, which places undue importance on the Dacian part of the Romanian ethnogenesis, going as far as claiming the Romans were descended from Dacians and that the Dacians created civilization. Ceaușescu started this because of his weird nazbol cultural policies that sought to distance Romanian identity from the Slavs and the Romans, who were perceived to be foreign invaders during his tenure.
PNR: New Romania Party
Obscure reactionary party, its leader created a site for conspiracy theories.
LAN: League of the Nationalist Action
Another obscure reactionary party, apparently some connections to some people who were in the secret services.
ADN: Alternative for National Dignity
Small reactionary party, their presidential candidate was the daughter of the owner of a television station.
Uncertain
Small parties, that can't be placed in the other categories.
PRA: Romania in Action Party
Geoană's party. Political leftovers.
DREPT: Justice and Respect in Europe for All Party
USR splinter. Political leftovers, ties with AUR.
PV: Green Party
Don't let the names of this party and the next one confuse you, "green" parties in Romania have nothing in common with the green parties ion the west, instead being made up of irrelevant political leftovers who use some environmentalist rhetoric. Currently rudderless and without any real leadership.
PER: Ecologic Romanian Party
Same as above, collaborated with PSD.
Liberal opposition
USR: Save Romania Party
Face of the liberal opposition, started in 2016, formed from the USB (Save Bucharest Union) which had a big boost in that period due to the Colectiv nightclub fire of 30th of October, the deadliest nightclub fire in Romanian history and the corruption scandals around Liviu Dragnea, the then PSD prime minister. Entered government in 2019 in a coalition with the liberals, got kicked out in 2021, broke into multiple pieces, and now the corpse of the party is puppeteered by neoliberal Democrat party style libertarians.
REPER: Renewing Romania's European Project
USR splinter, hardline Eurocrats, often accused of being technocratic Bruxellesist suits, even more EU-pilled than USR is.
SENS: Health, Education, Nature, Stability
USR splinter, only vaguely leftish political party, European socdem and Bernie Sanders coded. My progressive friends are voting for them, and I would have too, had I not been away from my city. Most progressive party, but still disappointingly pro-EU and NATO, but confusingly pro-Palestine.
Leftovers
PCR: Socialist Romanian Alliance
Fringe Marxist-Leninist party, socially regressive, basically a couple of pro-Ceaușescu boomers.
I again used the video made by Silviu Faiar as a guide, adding some of my own knowledge. Link: https://youtu.be/7WX_50BzJFg?feature=shared
Edit: accidentally deleted lmao
Anyway, here's the song of the day: https://youtu.be/bJ7gdKHR4U8?feature=shared
Wow, and I thought America's bourgeois decadence of having two ruling parties was excessive.
Romania conquering a portion of Ukraine in the name of a kingdom from Total War was not a possibility I expected, I thought ciecescu was just the bunker guy.
No,that's Hoxha,he's the actual existing Nazbol guy
National Communism is such a weird ideology and Ceausescu is also weird. I think even the Church was on his side during a period. He visited pretty much all the countries in the world and was friendly towards the US. But during the late 1980's, I guess the US was angry that he wouldn't reform Romania to Neoliberalism so they did a bloody coup against Ceausescu.
Also the fact that pizza guy ensured communism in EE had to go
Still,very idiosyncratic guy and did more harm to communism in Romania than good
Also,he did the monumentally stupid thing of banning abortion and created a generation of neglected kids who were snatches up by the westerners after the revolution
It's such a fucking shame that no AES Eastern European state survived the fall of the USSR. I guess it was impossible for them to resist the pressure the US, EU and Russia was doing on them. At least Cuba survived it. I wonder how things could have been if Gennady Zyuganov somehow managed to win the 1996 Russian elections, maybe he could have pushed for a new left-leaning block in the Eastern Europe region (with the socdem parties that succeded the communist ones), or at least preserve Yugoslavia for some years.
At the most he would have kept Russia and Belarus,maybe Ukraine into a common bloc
Yugoslavia was a lost case at that point,with the ethnonationalist Milosevic and his genocidal separatists duking it out with the other Croatian genocidal separatists
I think had that happened,the most that would have changed is the EU and NATO not expanding into the east as much,with the current easternmost EU members being the equivalents of pre 2014 Ukraine
Also,the "socdem" parties were made up of the traitors that sold out communism in those countries,they would never be pro soviet
Yeah...honestly don't know much about cold war romania.
Basically things were fine,then BAM!, Kim family type personality cult with no material basis like it was in Korea, cozying up to the west, IMF loan after IMF loan and rehabilitating anti Soviet nazis like Antonescu to really stick it to the Soviets
This goes about as well as one might think, culminating in actual breadlines caused by austerity in order to pay the loans, pays them off months before he is couped and shot
I just wonder what exactly caused the PCR to devolve into such a state as to allow Ceaușescu to gain control, was the party compromised from the start or was it some combination of unfortunate circumstances and conditions that led to him? If you perhaps know of a good book about the internal workings of the PCR please let me know.
I don't,sadly
I think it was just a symptom of the party not having a strong base and being imposed by the soviets,coupled with the reactionary sentiment that wasn't fully dealt with after 1945
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy: