Human Rights Watch and Their Analyst's 'Weird' Hobby

Pajamas Media ^ | Sept. 18 | Michael Weiss

[AJKauf]

One can measure the failures of the film American Beauty in so many ways, but perhaps the best is to realize that the screenwriter was so unsure of his audience’s ability to spot a creep that he had to make Kevin Spacey’s next-door neighbor not just a sadist and a closet case but also a collector of Nazi memorabilia. I bring this up because a fetish for the baubles of fascism is generally thought to be a good way of alienating civilized company. The auction house Christie’s refuses to sell the stuff. And whatever the interpretative fallacies of the late Susan Sontag, she was surely onto something when she spotted the correlation between this form of “collecting” and pornography.

So when Human Rights Watch first learned that Marc Garlasco, its senior military analyst and a former Pentagon official, moonlights on the internet as “Flak 88,” an obsessive buyer and chronicler of Nazi war paraphernalia, it might have understood right away that it had a public relations crisis on its hands. Instead, the NGO did what it always does when confronted with embarrassing questions about its personnel: it blamed supporters of Israel...

[GonzoGOP]

Depends on how you keep them. If they are looked upon as revered relics, then yes the person is a bit scary. But i knew a few WWII vets, both passed now, who had some bring backs that were regarded as hunting trophies.

[AnAmericanMother]

Depends entirely on the motivation, I agree.

I'm a little concerned about whoever it is that's buying "Collected Marching Songs of the SS" . . . and singing them, I suppose . . .

. . . but I know plenty of WWII memorabilia collectors (I happen to collect British militaria but I know plenty of guys who go after the German stuff) and I'd hate to think that they're all sadists, closet cases, and incipient Nazis. And of course my Dad brought back a ton of stuff, some of which we still have sitting around. He definitely thought of it as "spoils of war".

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“Garlasco wrote as if he had no idea his behavior could bemuse or offend anybody, going so far as to suggest that his after-hours hobby bolsters his work as a professional military investigator and analyst.”

So, the easily bemused or offended should decide everything?

There are many legitimate reasons for such a collection — the unsubstantiated assertion that collectors are NAZI sympathizers is just a smear.

Attack HRW on what they say and do — character assisnations, based on nothing but conjecture, are not justifiable. Even though HRW and their ilk may engage in such tactics; that doesn’t justify stooping to their level.

[GonzoGOP]

What about the guy in CA who is rebuilding a Panther tank. I mean if I had a few million dollars and a staff of expert metal workers I’d want one too.

[AnAmericanMother]

I'd probably rebuild a Matilda if I had the money (and could find one that hasn't rusted out).

Did you see Gunny Ermey's "Lock & Load" episode on tanks?

[GonzoGOP]

Did you see Gunny Ermey's "Lock & Load" episode on tanks?

Nope missed that one. Loved the tank overhaul series. That Hellcat tank destroyer looked like a riot to drive.

[AnAmericanMother]

I’d love to have something in the tractor shed that made people go, “What the *()^% was THAT?!?!?!??!”

[GonzoGOP]

I’d love to have something in the tractor shed that made people go, “What the *()^% was THAT?!?!?!??!”


Just imagine what that thing could do to a SmartCar. :)

[Caesar Soze]

There are many legitimate reasons for such a collection — the unsubstantiated assertion that collectors are NAZI sympathizers is just a smear.

This particular collector goes by the handle Flak88. If he's not a Neo-Nazi, or at least a Nazi fetishist, why would he use Neo-Nazi code for "Heil Hitler" in his username?

Maybe he's just pretending to be a Nazi so he can get good deals on militaria?

[AnAmericanMother]

Oh, dear!

And just THINK of the gallons per mile!

(Is that the Matilda converted for a mine-whacker?)

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

I thought that a Flak 8.8 was a German artillery piece — I don't know anything about neo-NAZIs, or their code words.

[AnAmericanMother]

The 88 is not, for a militaria collector, anything to do with "Heil Hitler" or the goofy numerology of the Neo-Nazis.

I'm sure he means the 88mm Flugzeugabwehr-Kanone (FLAK), the notorious anti-aircraft and anti-tank cannon of WWII.

My dad and his captain had a VERY close encounter with one on the national highway near Piacenza during the German retreat. Fortunately the shell passed harmlessly between them and exploded on down the road, but it startled them to say the least.

[AnAmericanMother]

You beat me to it. Either 8.8cm or 88mm.

To the American troops it was simply known as "the 88" or "that )(*(*&^ 88."

[tophat9000]

Flak88 IS a German artillery piece ... gees

FYI I am a WW2 aviation nut and was a bit of a Me109 expert...so bit of trivia...

The first fighter aircraft of the Israeli air force was a post war Czechoslovakia built version of the Nazi Germany Me109 ...

So interest in WW2 German weapons does not make you a Nazi fanboy

No more than interest in Soviet weapon make you a Communist (Think everyone with an AK knockoff)

[AnAmericanMother]

I think what's going on here is that Michael Weiss is using whatever stick is handy to beat Human Rights Watch with.

Unfortunately he's displaying his ignorance.

[AnAmericanMother]

My dad had a 1918 match part Luger that he picked up at the surrender of the XLV German Army Group in Italy.

Unfortunately he sold it long before I was born -- "Hey, $50 was a LOT of money in 1948!" and he needed a civilian suit.

[GonzoGOP]

Yep, Nothing like a flail tank to solve those pesky traffic jams.