This is something a lot of people commenting on current conflicts need to hear (especially some Russian commentators on various Telegram channels). Stop assuming that you know better than the people actually conducting the war. You probably don't.
this post was submitted on 10 Apr 2026
27 points (96.6% liked)
GenZedong
5173 readers
85 users here now
This is a Dengist community in favor of Bashar al-Assad with no information that can lead to the arrest of Hillary Clinton, our fellow liberal and queen. This community is not ironic. We are Marxists-Leninists.
See this GitHub page for a collection of sources about socialism, imperialism, and other relevant topics.
This community is for posts about Marxism and geopolitics (including shitposts to some extent). Serious posts can be posted here or in /c/GenZhou. Reactionary or ultra-leftist cringe posts belong in /c/shitreactionariessay or /c/shitultrassay respectively.
We have a Matrix homeserver and a Matrix space. See this thread for more information. If you believe the server may be down, check the status on status.elara.ws.
Rules:
- No bigotry, anti-communism, pro-imperialism or ultra-leftism (anti-AES)
- We support indigenous liberation as the primary contradiction in settler colonies like the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Israel
- If you post an archived link (excluding archive.org), include the URL of the original article as well
- Unless it's an obvious shitpost, include relevant sources
- For articles behind paywalls, try to include the text in the post
- Mark all posts containing NSFW images as NSFW (including things like Nazi imagery)
founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
The "advance and retreat" part is really important. Don't assume that a retreat means defeat. Don't assume that an advance means a conflict is over. Evaluate it in its entirety, not only based on the current step.
Even when we are not talking about explicit hot war, expect action and reaction. Think about and observe what actions cause what reactions in a certain context and why. Liberation forces must be prepared to suffer setbacks and work through the problems that arise. Likewise, they must be prepared to seize on strategic gains and build upon them, without overextending or growing arrogant in their current position. The answers to where the lines are will come from experience, study, and adjustment in context because the landscape is often shifting and contextual; there is not a universal, static answer key.
Lenin also explained how "advance and retreat" even applies more broadly to a revolutionary party:
The revolutionary parties had to complete their education. They were learning how to attack. Now they had to realise that such knowledge must be supplemented with the knowledge of how to retreat in good order. They had to realise—and it is from bitter experience that the revolutionary class learns to realise this—that victory is impossible unless one has learned how to attack and retreat properly.
Of all the defeated opposition and revolutionary parties, the Bolsheviks effected the most orderly retreat, with the least loss to their “army”, with its core best preserved, with the least significant splits (in point of depth and incurability), with the least demoralisation, and in the best condition to resume work on the broadest scale and in the most correct and energetic manner.
The Bolsheviks achieved this only because they ruthlessly exposed and expelled the revolutionary phrase-mongers, those who did not wish to understand that one had to retreat, that one had to know how to retreat, and that one had absolutely to learn how to work legally in the most reactionary of parliaments, in the most reactionary of trade unions, co-operative and insurance societies and similar organisations.
The Principal Stages in the History of Bolshevism
In war as in politics, retreats are not always a sign of defeat, they can be necessary tactical maneuvers on the road to victory.
Great article on it! Lenin with the insight as often.
Khomeini =/= Imam
Khomeini = Ayatollah
Imam can also be used as a term for leader generally, though Ayatollah is descriptor of "rank" for Ulema (scholars).
Though, honestly just "Sayyed" is usually enough.