I know this is outside the "Classical Liberal paradigm" but the more I understand about the reality of the Spanish Civil War, the more I can understand why Franco won....
Imagine if Spain had gone Communist and then pushed into France....
It’s a part of history I really don’t know that much about. But I stumbled on that story which I thought was incredible. They would give their gold to Stalin rather than have OTHER Spaniards with a different world view have it, even if it was rightfully theirs
Dominic, do you think both Socialists and Capitalists look on people as just interchangeable economic units and that blinds them to national identity/ any group identity?
Crazy! Eh? Almost as crazy as the guy who gave away the Chagos islands to Mauritius, who didn't really want them, and actually PAID them to accept the deal!!
I can't wait to read this, but alas I am in the U.S. and need to wait much longer than U.K. residents to get my greedy hands on it. I guess alternatively I could just come to England to pick up a copy.
Another great article from @Dominic Frisby anf can’t wait to get the book! I wonder if the Russians still have those piles of gold sovereigns or if they were melted down / used to make purchases by the Russians. I guess we will never know.
Quite probably! Peter Hitchens in either his book Phoney War or in an interview I listened to (possibly both) talks of how Britain also shipped crates of gold to the US during WW2 which he said contained piles of gold guineas as well as the gold coins piled up from the days of Francis Drake plus sovereigns too in order to pay the US for war materials. There’s that war being expensive issue again!
Great article Dominic. On Orlov's role in the shipment of the Spanish Republic's gold to the Soviet Union see also Chapter 6: 'Spanish Gold' in Edward P. Gazur's fascinating book 'Secret Assignment: The FBI's KGB General' on Orlov's incredible career [apparently Orlov exaggerated his rank and may only have been a NKVD colonel; Orlov has been shown to have produced a number of false claims to elevate his status and importance in the eyes of his debriefing officials]. Gazur was the FBI agent assigned to protect, befriend & debrief Orlov in 1971. His book is based upon his conversations with Orlov in the period before his death in1973.
There's an order to things. Preexisting rhythm. Music. Subversion of that solid wall of sound, supplanting it with out of order & artificial tracks, occupies many.
And then there's lyrics. That's all many ears can hear. And for too many of those hearing is believing.
So when they hear, & recite, "leader" it feels real & too often "real good," too.
Correct the lyric "leader" to "user" tho & those ears go deaf. Or what's between those ears doesn't like what it hears, & goes to the barricades.
Hear-whores bedded by lyrical "geniuses." It's the oldest gig.
The naivety of the Western Left never ceases to amaze me.
I know, right? It’s incredible even then.
I know this is outside the "Classical Liberal paradigm" but the more I understand about the reality of the Spanish Civil War, the more I can understand why Franco won....
Imagine if Spain had gone Communist and then pushed into France....
It’s a part of history I really don’t know that much about. But I stumbled on that story which I thought was incredible. They would give their gold to Stalin rather than have OTHER Spaniards with a different world view have it, even if it was rightfully theirs
There are a lot of parallels with today
Dominic, do you think both Socialists and Capitalists look on people as just interchangeable economic units and that blinds them to national identity/ any group identity?
I would say anything that involves top down planning at the government level as a tendency to revert to this
Crazy! Eh? Almost as crazy as the guy who gave away the Chagos islands to Mauritius, who didn't really want them, and actually PAID them to accept the deal!!
Indeed
I can't wait to read this, but alas I am in the U.S. and need to wait much longer than U.K. residents to get my greedy hands on it. I guess alternatively I could just come to England to pick up a copy.
Many thanks, Michael. It’s a shame that the dates aren’t better coordinated but such as the way with publishing.
Another great article from @Dominic Frisby anf can’t wait to get the book! I wonder if the Russians still have those piles of gold sovereigns or if they were melted down / used to make purchases by the Russians. I guess we will never know.
Thank you
Long since melted down, I reckon
Quite probably! Peter Hitchens in either his book Phoney War or in an interview I listened to (possibly both) talks of how Britain also shipped crates of gold to the US during WW2 which he said contained piles of gold guineas as well as the gold coins piled up from the days of Francis Drake plus sovereigns too in order to pay the US for war materials. There’s that war being expensive issue again!
Yes, it was an incredible shipment that we sent over to the US over 1000 tons.
You could buy it on Amazon.co.uk and pay the shipping. A little less than flying to the uk… it’s what I did.
Ordered a copy on audible. Sounds great!
Thank you
Ordered a copy on audible. Sounds great!
Looking forward to the book.
Thanks, Charlie
Can’t wait to read the book!
Thank you!
Just pre-ordered 👍
I hope you enjoy it
Thank you Dominic. A wonderful tale of greed, fear and opportunism
Thanks, Simon indeed
Reassuring to know that Gordon Brown was not the only fool when it comes to giving away a country's gold reserves.
Great article Dominic. On Orlov's role in the shipment of the Spanish Republic's gold to the Soviet Union see also Chapter 6: 'Spanish Gold' in Edward P. Gazur's fascinating book 'Secret Assignment: The FBI's KGB General' on Orlov's incredible career [apparently Orlov exaggerated his rank and may only have been a NKVD colonel; Orlov has been shown to have produced a number of false claims to elevate his status and importance in the eyes of his debriefing officials]. Gazur was the FBI agent assigned to protect, befriend & debrief Orlov in 1971. His book is based upon his conversations with Orlov in the period before his death in1973.
There's an order to things. Preexisting rhythm. Music. Subversion of that solid wall of sound, supplanting it with out of order & artificial tracks, occupies many.
And then there's lyrics. That's all many ears can hear. And for too many of those hearing is believing.
So when they hear, & recite, "leader" it feels real & too often "real good," too.
Correct the lyric "leader" to "user" tho & those ears go deaf. Or what's between those ears doesn't like what it hears, & goes to the barricades.
Hear-whores bedded by lyrical "geniuses." It's the oldest gig.
Here's the gig I used in boyhood:
https://www.agrisupply.com/images/xxl/60248.jpg
For frogs & such.