On the surface, the War game version of Kick Me is two-handed. During World War II, 120,000 Japanese were in American detention camps after the Pearl Harbor attack. The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan as retaliation for the attack despite World War II being effectively over. This was an act of “asserting America’s military supremacy.” Therefore, arrogance and supremacy drive these fanatical War games, e.g., Israel’s game with the Palestinian people, that are meant to get rid of Others. A “final solution”.

The two-sided perception in the conflict finds one in the Persecutor role (e.g., Hamas), which is a concealed motivation for White (e.g., Israel) as they play the Victim role. For example, in February of 2022, Western media proclaimed that Russia (bad) was Persecuting Ukraine (good) for the illegal invasion, i.e., Ukraine is in the Victim role. This dichotomy was presented repeatedly instead of questioning when the conflict actually started (U.S.-backed coup in 2014) or who was benefitting from the war, i.e., the various military-industrial complexes, e.g., Russia, U.S. The push for green energy was interrupted because the war became “a profit center for the hydrocarbon and arms industries.” Coal plants and the modernization of old weapons systems were prioritized over the food supply, education, health care, etc.

This Media game narrative, Good vs. Evil, is what manufactures consent for the U.S.-led NATO proxy war against Russia (“Bye bye Nordstream 2 pipeline!”). The Media deception and ulterior motive is understood based on what is left out: the chapter on the 2014 U.S. coup of Ukraine and the NATO encroachment of Russia. From the perspective of Russia (in the Victim role), the Special Military Operation was a means and ends to denazification and a push-back to U.S.-led NATO encroachment (Persecutor role).

Left out is that the Russia-Ukraine war is at least a three-handed game: the U.S. is a proxy operating in the Connection role, i.e., the source of supply, with the military-industrial-complex. In Berne’s “Alcoholic” game, the Connection supplies the liquor or elicit substance to the Alcoholic or Addict role. The Connection does this without chastisement of the “Alcoholic.” As the Connection role in a three-handed game, the U.S. militarily arms White or Black with bombs and propaganda to ensure White and Black battle. In the original “Alcoholic” game, the Connection—as liquor store clerk or bartender—knows when to stop serving White:  “The difference between the Connection and the other players is the difference between professionals and amateurs in any game: the professional knows when to stop. At a certain point a good bartender refuses to serve the Alcoholic, who is then left without any supplies unless he can locate a more indulgent Connection.”

In contrast, the U.S. military is unprofessional in its role of indulgence for warmaking. They do not know when to stop serving White (Israel) or Black (Ukraine). Provocation and accusation are the moves in the War game that allow for indulgence in the sweet nectar of violence and profits.

At the nation-state level, this “justified” retaliation is used to authorize permanent wars, overturning democratically elected governments, and the promotion of regime change (War games). For example, the Israeli government and security forces provoke attacks by Hamas. Recall, Hamas is the political group Israel funded to split the vote with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Israel needs Hamas to Kick them back to justify the NIGYSOB! response. Israel wears a T-shirt that reads, “Please Do Kick Me.” The Kick from Black appears to be an act of “terrorism” if one does not understand that White maintains the initiative by occupying Black. This authorizes Israel to play NIGYSOB! in the name of “self-defense” based on a security or “intelligence failure.” The Media game is to rhetorically ask about subjectivity; “What is a ‘proportional’ response?”

Additionally, the Israeli government has played the Victim role despite stealing and occupying the Palestinian land, which places them in an offensive position, not defensive. If two men are in a fight and one pulls a knife it seems “unjustified”. However, if one knows that the knife-wielder had his wife taken and violated by the fighter then the retaliation is understood if not defended. In this context, the U.S. handed the violator a gun and decried the actions of the knife-wielder: “If it weren’t for them…” Additionally, the Media aided in false claims of Hamas beheading babies as well as mass rape and torture of women. The fact that the Israeli Defense Force (IDF)—operating the Hannibal Directive—killed a significant number of the 1,200 casualties originally attributed to Hamas allows Israel to switch from the Victim to the Persecutor role and rage “war” against an occupied, sovereign-less, and relatively defenseless people. The Hamas attack was closer in line with a prison riot than an act of “terrorism.”

The Media equates the state of Israel and Zionism with Judaism, so anything critical of Israel or the Israeli regime is framed as “anti-Israel” (aka supportive of Palestinians). This is blanketly deemed “antisemitism.” Classic Kick Me game: The state of Israel, which is the occupying force, i.e., enforced symbiosis (Persecutor) says they are the “victim” despite being in a superior position to Hamas. The Media conflates “Hamas” (defined as terrorist organization) with Palestine and Palestinians as if they have a place. The Media Rescues Israel and says, “How could they not?” and psychologically, “Hamas are all savages anyway” justifying their actions (free bombing without guilt). Now I’ve Got You, You SOB!

Recorded 11/08/2023

References

Berne, E. (1964). Games people play: The psychology of human relationships. New York, NY: Grove Press, Inc.

Guerin, D. (1939/1973). Fascism and big business. Pathfinder Press: New York.

Han, B.C. (2011/2018). Topology of violence. Translated by Amanda Demarco. The MIT Press: Massachusetts.

Han, B.C. (2017). Psychopolitics: Neoliberalism and new technologies of power. Verso: New York.

Napoleoni, L. (2024). Technocapitalism: The rise of the new robber barons and the fight for the common good. Seven Stories Press: New York.

Parenti, M. (1997). Blackshirts and reds: Rational fascism and the overthrow of communism. City Lights Books: San Francisco.