Kolovrat.

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Luke Skywalker again the Ukraine Conflict. This time Luke steps in it big time.

"Netizens Call Out Mark Hamill for Chatting With Ukrainian Militants Featuring 'Nazi Flag'"

From Sputnik ^ | 4/16/2023 | Andrei Dergalin the tip from Freeper.

"Hollywood star Mark Hamill, best known for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars saga, ended up committing quite a blunder after he participated in a video chat with members of Ukrainian armed forces."

Click on image to see an enlarged view.

"While many social media users praised Hamill for this act, quite a few netizens pointed at the flag that was seen in the video chat hanging behind Ukrainian militants."

"The red-and-black banner in question appeared to be the flag of the so-called Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), an infamous Ukrainian nationalist militant group that collaborated with the Nazis during World War II and perpetrated acts of ethnic cleansing against civilians of Polish and Jewish descent in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia."

See the video chat image the red-and-black flag the upper right corner. The kolovrat in the center: "A sun-shaped swastika with eight arms." 

The flag + the eight-armed symbol the source of controversy! 

See previous blog entries the topic Mark Hamill with further embedded links:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/03/skywalker.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/10/skywalker.html

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Shame!

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I neither judge yea or nay! I merely present!

Basic Principles of War Propaganda:

The validity of these "basic principles" I leave for the devoted reader to the blog to decide for themselves. Especially within context of the Ukraine Conflict.

Additionally with special emphasis given to item # 8:

"Sean Penn says US has to accept ‘level of shame’ for not arming Ukraine faster"

"Actor and filmmaker speaks out at premiere of his documentary about president Voldoymyr Zelenskiy"

From theguardian.com the article by Dan Sabbagh in Berlin | 18 Feb 2023.

"Sean Penn said the US has to accept 'a level of shame' for not helping Ukraine with weapons supplies quicker at the premiere of his documentary about president Voldoymyr Zelenskiy and the war."

See previous blog entry [with further embedded links] American actors their support for the Ukrainian cause undeniable and unreserved:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/10/skywalker.html

Sean and Mark speak! And we must all pay close attention?

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Skywalker.

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Yet one more American actor to the rescue, the Ukraine Conflict.

Luke Skywalker [Mark Hamill] does his bit.

"Mark Hamill sent 500 drones to Ukraine in past month"

From The Hill ^ | October 20, 2022 | OLAFIMIHAN OSHIN the tip from Freeper.

"Veteran actor Mark Hamill said in an interview that he has sent at least 500 drones to Ukraine through the country’s fundraising platform, as Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia enters its ninth month. During an appearance on Bloomberg Radio’s 'Sound On', Hamill, widely known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the acclaimed 'Star Wars' film franchise, told host Joe Mathieu that he only sent the equipment to Ukraine because they desperately need it. 'Very simply: Ukraine needs drones. They define war outcomes, they protect their land, their people, they monitor the border, they’re eyes in the sky,'” 

Within context of the Ukraine Conflict we haven't heard anything from the famous American actor Sean Penn in a while. For a short while Sean was in the news almost constantly his pronouncements provocative.

See previous blog entries Sean Penn:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/04/500m.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/03/s-penn.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/02/penn.html

coolbert.

Glory.

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As in 1930, as in 1975, as it is now in 2022. Yet one more cinematic adaptation of the Erich Maria Remarque novel "All Quiet on the Western Front".

Previous versions [both American] of "All Quiet" outstanding and I expect this most recent German production to be the same.

1. "Germany sends 'All Quiet on the Western Front' to Oscars"

 "A strong statement against war: Germany's candidate for the best international feature film Academy Award is Edward Berger's new adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's classic anti-war drama."

 2. "How 'All Quiet on the Western Front' ran afoul of Nazi film censors"

"Director Lewis Milestone's unsparing portrayal of WWI quickly encountered Nazi censorship after its November 21, 1930 premiere. Based on the German novel by Erich Maria Remarque, no one had ever seen anything like it. 

Consider too one more outstanding motion picture within the context of World War One:

3. Paths of Glory.

"Paths of Glory is a 1957 American anti-war film co-written and directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the novel of the same name by Humphrey Cobb."

"Set during World War I, the film stars Kirk Douglas as Colonel Dax, the commanding officer of French soldiers who refuse to continue a suicidal attack, after which Dax attempts to defend them against charges of cowardice in a court-martial."

Trench warfare The Great War in all gory detail, the French troops led by Kirk Douglas [playing Colonel Dax] waiting to go over-the-top and the certain death of maiming that awaits many of them. A suicidal attack ordered by the high command that Dax and every man with him knows is a futile assault. Such was quite often the case in WW1? Paths of Glory intended to be more of a court room drama than a war movie? Adolph Menjou I had always thought was born a European who became a famous actor in the USA. But Adolph was born and bred American.

And a movie highly controversial in many quarters. It was not for a period of decades that Paths of Glory [remember an American film 100 %] was allowed to be shown in France!!

coolbert.

$500M.

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From the BBC Live reporting yesterday [1 April] the Ukraine Conflict.

Sean Penn again! Damnit gadfly, just go away.

Posted at 14:46 [2 P.M.]

"Ukrainian Air Force thanks Sean Penn for billionaire rallying cry"

Billionaires of the world unite!

You may recognise the name Sean Penn from award-winning movies such as Mystic River or Milk.

But the California-born actor has also become well-known for his political and social activism, from befriending Hugo Chavez to secretly interviewing drug-kingpin-on-the-lam El Chapo.

Most recently, Penn has exhaustively advocated for the US to provide more support to Ukraine than it already is.

He has met with President Zelensky, pushed for a Nato-imposed no-fly zone, and even threatened to melt down his Oscar if Zelensky was not invited to speak at the Academy Awards.

Melt down his Oscar. That will get their attention.

In his latest exploit on Thursday, Penn called on billionaires to step up and buy military aircraft to help Ukraine, laying out how much it would cost. The tweet prompted a response from Ukraine's air force.

Better [?] to hired some of the warplanes and pilots of some of these DACT private miliatry contractor concerns. Mercenaries of the sky. Fly F-16 and Mirage 2000 somewhat antiquated warplanes but with very experienced and talented pilots at the controls. See my blog entry with many additional embedded links the DACT PMC connection.

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/07/f-16-dact.html

Personally I consider this Sean to be insufferable! See previous Sean Penn topic blog entries:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/03/s-penn.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/02/penn.html

coolbert.

S. Penn.

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Please gadfly, just go away. Fast too!

"gadfly: noun - - 2: a person who stimulates or annoys other people especially by persistent criticism"

"Sean Penn Calls for Oscars Boycott if Ukraine’s Zelensky Not Allowed to Speak"

In this corner we have Oliver Stone [Russia]. In the other corner we have Sean Penn [Ukraine].

From Breitbart ^ | 03/27/2022 | Pam Key the tip from Freeper.

"Actor Sean Penn said Saturday on CNN’s 'Newsroom' that the Academy Awards should be boycotted if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited to speak virtually. Acosta said, 'The Oscars are tomorrow night. Do you want to see President Zelensky speak at the Oscars via some sort of video link?'"

Hollywood loves the cause célèbre. Cinematic stars posing as pseudo-intellectuals trying to influence public opinion often with outrageous behavior.

"A cause célèbre . . . is an issue or incident arousing widespread controversy, outside campaigning, and heated public debate. The term continues in the media in all senses. It is sometimes used positively . . . and more often negatively for infamous ones, whether for scale, outrage, scandal, or conspiracy theories."

And to all this Jane Fonda would say?

See previous blog entry, Sean Penn and his Ukrainian sojourn:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/02/penn.html

coolbert.

Penn.

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We are saved by golly! Yes indeed by golly!

The American actor Sean Penn enters the fray in Ukraine.

From the "Daily Mail" and thanks to same. Typical tabloid material. Superficial and sensational material. [Click on image to see an enlarged view]

Sean even got a personal audience with the President of the Ukraine! Damn!

"Hollywood to the rescue! Actor Sean Penn sits in front row of Ukrainian government press briefing after flying to Kyiv to film war documentary for VICE"

* "Sean Penn has been filming a documentary about the escalating tension in Ukraine since November last year" * "On Thursday, he visited the Ukrainian Government's offices and spoke with military leaders" * "The actor sat front row in a press briefing, wearing sunglasses and a beige bomber jacket"  * "He is being lauded by the Ukrainian Government, which said he has the courage 'Western leaders lack'"  * "Putin launched airstrikes at 5am on Thursday local time; thousands are now trying to flee the region Biden has vowed not to send American troops into the conflict" 

I highly commend the "Daily Mail" for their coverage of the war. Without reservation or qualification.

coolbert.

Eddie.

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All courtesy here You Tube and the trip from Freeper!

Eddie Heimberger American naval officer comporting himself with courage during the Battle of Tarawa. Yeoman duty literally his leadership unmistakable.

Eddie Heimberger the actor. Better known as Eddie Albert. Famous for his Hollywood cinematic roles. Eddie one of a number of Hollywood personalities volunteering for duty during the Second World War and seeing combat action. Combat action such as at Tarawa of an almost unparalleled nature.

Even more and to the point some items as discussed in the You Tube video concerning Tarawa.

* Fighting at Tarawa about THIRTY TIMES AS INTENSE as during the Guadalcanal Campaign. My figure based on number of ground force dead for the period of time.

* Guadalcanal campaign: "Marines lost 1,592 men" killed in action. Additionally: "Army divisions lost 550" killed in action. Guadalcanal campaign last six months. Tarawa the battle lasting three days!!

* Comparing Guadalcanal to Tarawa: "The 2nd Marine Division suffered 894 killed in action . . . while an additional 84 of the wounded survivors later succumbed to what proved to be fatal wounds."

* Even beyond the ground force casualties at Tarawa add those killed in action from the sinking of the USS Liscome Bay. Escort carrier torpedoed and blown to bits the result catastrophic casualties.

Recognize also that Eddie Albert only one of many American heroes at Tarawa. "Uncommon valor was a common virtue on Iwo Jima". As it was at Iwo Jima so it was it previously at Tarawa.

coolbert.

Oddball.

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Here yet with one more instance of Hollywood personalities involved in "business" with an actual military dimension.

A rare occurrence the last time prior to Lara Croft/Angelina Jolie Clint Eastwood and William Shatner participants.

Think Kelly [Kelly's Heroes] and Captain Kirk [Star Trek].

 "Left Behind: Cinematic Revisions of the Vietnam POW"

II.   REAGAN OPENS DISCUSSION /RAMBO RESPONDS

"Starting in 1979 and continuing into the early 1980's, POW films would revisit Vietnam and the POW image in super-hero rescue films."

Super-hero rescue films. Such as might have been Lara Croft as played in the cinema by Angelina Jolie!

"One military officer attempted to find out first hand if POWs remained. In 1982, Special Forces Colonel James 'Bo' Gritz organized a search and rescue team with donated money from Clint Eastwood and William Shatner among others, to go into Laos. Eastwood wanted the movies rights if the mission proved successful."

MISSION TO LOCATE OR RECOVER AND REPATRIATE AMERICAN PRISONER-OF-WAR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA UNSUCCESSFUL. BUT THE IDEA AND INTENTION AND FINANCING WERE THERE!!

coolbert.

Lara Croft.

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"The name is Jolie, Angelina Jolie."

Life imitates art! Or is it art imitates life? These concepts are confusing to me.

Haven't heard anything like this for at least almost forty years!

Please place in the strange but true category? That hunt for the African warlord and accused international criminal Joseph Kony including a Hollywood actress offering herself as "bait"?

"Angelina Jolie Reportedly Offered to Help Capture Warlord Joseph Kony by Offering to Take Him to Dinner"

Thanks to the article by PHIL BOUCHER•@PHILIPBOUCHER AND PETER MIKELBANK•@PMIKELBANK

"In a case of the truth being far stranger than even Hollywood fiction can create, the Salt actress once came perilously close to taking part in some real-life espionage on behalf of the International Criminal Court (ICC)."

"A hoard of 40,000 ICC documents leaked to the French investigative website Mediapart reveals that Jolie once offered to act as human bait in a trap to arrest brutal Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony."

Joseph and his followers now more or less a nuisance? We would like to think Joseph was finally going to be run to ground and brought to justice. Apparently this is not going to happen!

PERSONALLY TOO I DOUBT TOO JOSEPH WOULD HAVE FALLEN FOR THE TRAP WITH ANGELINA OFFERING HERSELF AS BAIT!

coolbert.

Flynn.

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I had thought there had been resolution here but that is not the case.

Remains thought to be that of Sean Flynn, son of the famous actor Errol Flynn, had been found in Cambodia and positively identified. As was originally reported over a year ago now! But this is most unfortunately NOT so! Sean is still body not recovered [BNR].

"Searchers: Remains of Errol Flynn's son found"

"Photographer Sean Flynn disappeared during Cambodian War"

"PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Forensic tests will be conducted on what two searchers believe are the remains of photographer Sean Flynn, son of Hollywood star Errol Flynn, who disappeared during the Cambodian War 40 years ago, the U.S. Embassy said Monday."

Sean and his colleague last seen on motorbikes in Cambodia seeking out the fighting between the government forces and the Khmer Rouge! Captured by the "Vietnamese Communist forces" and later dealt with summarily - - executed - - BNR!

 "Although it is known that they were captured by Vietnamese Communist forces, it has been suggested that they died in the hands of 'hostile' forces. Citing various government sources, the current consensus is that he (or they) were held captive for over a year before they were killed by Khmer Rouge in June 1971."

"Tests results on the human remains found at the grave site in eastern Kampong Cham province, Cambodia were released on June 30, 2010 and they were found not to be the remains of Sean Flynn."

Sean Flynn had an interesting career going for himself when he met his untimely death. Was NOTED for images, photojournalism of the most sensational type, Sean actively seeking out dangerous situations that quite often make for the most dramatic photographs. "Exceptional" what they are referred to as!

" In a search for exceptional images, he attached himself to Special Forces units and even irregulars operating in remote areas."

Sean did in real life what his father only did in the movies? NOT ONLY doing what he did, but doing it well!

coolbert.

Phantom!

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Again, from the cast of the famous war movie: "The Guns of Navarone", we have another famous British actor playing a part for which he was ideally suited.

David Niven, playing the role the English commando Corporal Miller [an explosive expert with a very irreverent attitude toward the military], joins the English behind-the-lines mission to destroy the German coastal artillery guns of Navarone.

Niven, as was Anthony Quayle, totally familiar with the military and dangerous duty - - serving with panache during the Second World War [WW2]!

"pa·nache  - – noun 1. a grand or flamboyant manner; verve; style; flair"

"James David Graham Niven . . . known as David Niven, was a British actor and novelist, best known for his roles as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and Sir Charles Lytton, a.k.a. 'the Phantom,' in The Pink Panther."

"Niven joined what became known as the Hollywood Raj, a group of British actors in Hollywood." [this in the period of the 1930's, prior to the outbreak of WW2!]

David Niven - - serving in the British Army unit known as "Phantom"! Better known as GHQ Liaison Regiment!

"GHQ Liaison Regiment (known as Phantom) was a special reconnaissance unit first formed in 1939 during the early stages of World War II"

"It had its origins as the No 3 British Air Mission in France, 1939 . . . its role was to report back information about the allied forward positions . . . to the Advanced Air Striking Force HQ so as to pinpoint the changing locations of 'bomb lines'. These were the battle areas not occupied by Allied troops, and therefore suitable targets for bombs and shells."

"Phantom" - - locating and marking enemy targets suitable for air bombardment. And also marking the locations of friendly units as well. Preventing "friendly fire" incidents!

The "skill-sets" of troops and officers assigned to "Phantom" being eclectic.

"ec·lec·tic  - – adjective 1. selecting or choosing from various sources. 2. made up of what is selected from different sources."

"Phantom recruited men with various skill-sets – linguists, drivers and mechanics and undertook rigorous training in wireless communication and cipher"

Officers of "Phantom" drawn in large measure from the upper-crust of English society. Men of education, bearing, nobility, etc.

"Famous Phantom officers included actors Major David Niven (who initially commanded A Squadron) and Tam Williams; MPs Jakie and Michael Astor, Sir Hugh Fraser, Sir Carol Mather, Peregrine Worsthorne, Maurice Macmillan and Christopher Mayhew. Sir Robert Mark became Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police whilst others excelled in other arenas – academia, athletics, horseracing (Sir Gordon Richards and John Hislop)."

[It is worth noting that the English upper-class does not eschew military service. Serve proudly and with even flair when called upon! David Niven obviously being one such person!!]

"Niven took part in the Invasion of Normandy, arriving several days after D-Day. He served in the 'Phantom Signals Unit', which located and reported enemy positions, and kept rear commanders up to date on changing battle lines"

I was vaguely aware that David Niven had performed admirable military service during WW2. Thought to be however NOT a combat veteran and man of valor.

I STAND CORRECTED!! Excuse me David Niven!

coolbert.

Quayle.

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Those of you who have seen the outstanding movie: "The Guns of Navarone" will remember the character of Major Franklin. British army officer tasked with an impossible but essential war-time mission, World War Two [WW2]:

"Small group of British and Greek commandos, led by Major Franklin (played by Anthony Quayle) is sent to land on the island, contact the local partisans and, using their help, sabotage the guns before the evacuation convoy gets near Kheros."




Major Franklin, the partisan fighter, as played in the movie by the excellent English actor, director, thespian of the highest order, Anthony Quayle.

Anthony Quayle playing a part in a movie for which he was most suited, the man having fought during WW2 as a partisan, as a member of the British Special Operations Executive [SOE]!

"Anthony Quayle, whose real life WW2 adventures actually resembled those of his character [Major Franklin]"

Quayle, having fought in Albania during the war, hesitant to speak of his war-time exploits

"During the Second World War he was an Army Officer . . . he joined the Special Operations Executive and served as a liaison officer with the partisans in Albania (reportedly, his service with the SOE seriously affected him, and he never felt comfortable talking about it). He described his experiences in a fictionalised form in 'Eight Hours from England'."

[I can recall very well an interview Quayle had on American TV during which he was asked about his WW2 exploits. The man was hesitant to speak and totally down-played his mission, his role, his war-time adventures. Anthony WAS NOT comfortable in talking about the war!]

Originally trained as a partisan and would have commanded English guerrilla units in case of a German invasion of England!

"Auxiliary Units were the 'stay-behind forces' put in place in UK in case of a German invasion"

In the case of Anthony Quayle, art imitated life, and not the other way around.

coolbert.