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Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 17:08:09 -0500
From: Keith Potter
Hi everyone. I'm tasked with doing a research paper on the Aum Shinrikyo cult for a college class on terrorism. I was wondering if anyone on the list could point me towards some good books or articles on them; reply to me in private email if you can.
By now, these guys are old news, though my initial researches have turned up some interesting facts about them (particularly from a DG-standpoint) which I didn't know before…
1. They sent a "mercy mission" to Africa in the early 90's to work with Ebola victims in Zaire. What they were actually doing was looking to get their hands on some Ebola samples to use for biological terrorism. Sleep well, everyone!
2. They actually released anthrax from a Tokyo building on two separate occasions, trying to trigger an outbreak. Nobody got sick though, thus underlining the unreliability of biological weapons (which does much to limit their usefulness to terrorists).
3. Aum's leader, Shoko Ashahara, claims to be a reincarnated ancient-Egyptian prophet (whose name escapes me right now, but it's one of the many that ends in "-hotep"). He says he was in on the construction of the Giza pyramids and everything.
4. Shoko Ashahara also traveled extensively throughout the Himalayas in his youth on a spiritual search for truth, consulting with crusty old gurus high up in the mountains for long periods of time, isolated from civilization, yada yada. Any old-school CoC player worth his salt will recognize this as the true sure-fire warning flag for Mythos experience in an NPC. Plus, given the location of his wanderings, Shoko could well have hooked up with the Tcho-tcho people or perhaps visited Leng to gain unwholesome knowledge. He may be in prison in our world, but perhaps he is a force to be reckoned with in the Dreamlands?
The Aum cult also has a cute little song about sarin gas, which is just too creepy for words. "Sarin, sarin, heroic poison gas…"
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 14:48:42 +1300
From: "Jeffrey Moeller"
Keith Potter remined me of my college terrorism seminar (1 hour a week on Wed. mornings, I remember it like it was yesterday). (I took mine at Miami of Ohio in the mid-80's, where are you at)? But this is a grand Delta Green list topic, so away we go.
According to *my* Terrorism prof, biological warfare is a great potential terrorism weapon, but the problem is that many terrorist organizations who have tried it have gotten too fancy about it (e.g., aerial anthrax release stories). Anthrax is too hard too handle, too volatile, etc. etc. But these terrorists like to go splashy.
One of the questions on my final exam was "if you were a terrorist with readily available materials, how would you destroy New York City? Explain your answer." The prof had spent a whole day on this scenario in the middle of the semester. His optimum model advocated(?) biological warfare, but of a different sort: our old friend cholera. In the water supply, of course. Cheap, readily accessible, multiplies fast, and those darn American guts just aren't very tolerant of it. That, plus a well-timed strike at the power grid and some selective terror at major escape routes, and you've got chaos on a shoestring budget.
ObDG: Why is it that cults in Mythos literature haven't been more proactive in bringing about the end of the world? With biological agents, poorly guarded nukes and the like, shouldn't they being trying harder? What do you guys think?
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 19:37:17 -0500
From: Graeme Price
According to *my* Terrorism prof,
You _actually_ have terrorism professors?! I can imagine the CV for that job: BA. Urban warfare (School of the Americas) MA. Guerilla action and insurgency (University of Honduras) PhD. Demolitions and Sabotage (University of Beirut) etc.
One of the questions on my final exam was "if you were a terrorist with readily available materials, how would you destroy New York City? Explain your answer." The prof had spent a whole day on this scenario in the middle of the semester. His optimum model advocated(?) biological warfare, but of a different sort: our old friend cholera. In the water supply, of course. Cheap, readily accessible, multiplies fast, and those darn American guts just aren't very tolerant of it. That, plus a well-timed strike at the power grid and some selective terror at major escape routes, and you've got chaos on a shoestring budget.
Cholera wouldn't be that much of a problem in the US. Once you know what's going on (which would be quickly, I assure you: Cholera is pretty dramatic) then you could treat it symptomatically whilst the vaccine is mobilised. The reason that cholera is so deadly in the developing world is that the infrastructure is non-existent - no sewage treatment or mains water.
Cholera is also killed by boiling. Except for the very young, the immunocompromised and the very old, cholera is not that likely to kill you if you know what to do (drink plenty of boiled water with sugar and salt added to offset the dehydration… and the disease becomes self limiting). As you point out, the biggest problems would be the overreaction from the general public in trying to get the hell out of there…
ObDG: Why is it that cults in Mythos literature haven't been more proactive in bringing about the end of the world? With biological agents, poorly guarded nukes and the like, shouldn't they being trying harder? What do you guys think?
Mostly because that sort of thing wouldn't actually end the world. Cause inconvinience and kill lots of people, yes. But not actually end it. Besides, it depends on your motives as a cultist. If you want to Revel in the Glory of the Great Old Ones then perhaps mass destruction is an option.
But why not just summon Azathoth and cut out the hassle of trying to break into the local nuke store? If your motive is to gain personal power/immortality/whatever in the service of the GOO's, then does destroying the world actually benefit you? It's just a matter of perspective.
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 16:17:30 +1300
From: "Jeffrey Moeller"
You _actually_ have terrorism professors?! I can imagine the CV for that job: BA. Urban warfare (School of the Americas)
If I remember correctly, he had done some time with the CIA. Most of these sorts of programs are taught as seminars in the political science departments of respectable universities everywhere.
As to the cholera, you're right that it is easily treatable given Western European infrastructure. My prof's idea was that you dumped a bunch of cholera in the water supply and then isolated the city by surgical strikes on the infrastructure, thereby cutting off such nuisances as the CDC and their ilk. (But that's right, you're from a well-run country :-)) It's the infrastructure attacks that lay the proverbial smack down and let the little Vibrio guys do their thang.
Obviously, they could not be cut off forever by a limited band of terrorists, but with the power grid down, a key bridge or two blown, an airport or two undergoing a hostage situation, maybe you could get some nice riots and looting going and rack up some decent casualties. Anyhow, his idea, not mine.
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 21:34:44 EST
From: Mark McFadden
I was thinking about this sort of stuff just the other day. One random thought that cropped up was this: It's not necessary to actually have a ABC weapon to cause panic and disrupt the infrastructure, it's only necessary for everyone to believe you have the weapon.
Consider: convince the public (and the officials) that you do indeed have a McGuffin. Publicly announce that it will go off in Manhattan at precisely yada yada on yada yada. Then kick back and watch the fun. Let the Feds stomp all over the Constitution as the deadline approaches and the bomb still hasn't been found. Enjoy the gridlock and Blue Flu. The looting and road rage. Think Wall Street will react, maybe? Think they'll be on the job on the appointed day?
Of course, giving a lot of lead time and then taunting the hunters by videotape (film at 11) will keep them harassed by the Press and public. Trying to tell the public BEFORE the date that there is no bomb will simply convince the public that the government doesn't care about them. Which, being true, will be hard to deny in a believable manner.
The beauty of this is that the government is put in the position of having to prove a negative. Always a losing proposition.
Of course, when no bomb goes off, you lose all credibility.
On the other hand, after you've cried wolf and pissed everyone off, you come back within a week and plant the real bomb. But this time no one believes you and no one evacuates.
Or not.
Just trying to maximize the mayhem on a shoestring budget.
How about using a skywriting plane to write "SARIN GAS" or somesuch overhead at noon? About 1 hour after you've delivered your videotaped ultimatum to CNN.
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 00:07:30 EST
From: Mark McFadden
In a message dated 3/11/99 3:53:41 PM Pacific Standard Time, moc.walmmika|msj#moc.walmmika|msj writes:
According to *my* Terrorism prof, biological warfare is a great potential terrorism weapon, but the problem is that many terrorist organizations who have tried it have gotten too fancy about it
Yep. Frank Herbert's introduction to his "White Plague" emphasizes that biologicals are the best bang for the buck, and the easiest to develop if you don't care about being able to put down what you call up. And remember, the sticker price for lab equipment and electron microscopes and such is much, much, much lower on the black market. And also remember, the medical lab equipment black market isn't as provocative as the arms and explosives black market.
And of course, if you really are an offshore hospital the transaction could even be winked at. Feds have bigger fish to fry.
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 16:59:03 +0200 (SAST)
From: Nightgaunt
The Aum cult also has a cute little song about sarin gas, which is just too creepy for words. "Sarin, sarin, heroic poison gas…"
Any chance that you can post all the words for that?
Just curious, of course :)
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 17:02:55 +0100
From: Davide Mana
You _actually_ have terrorism professors?!
I'll cover the fact that a lot of Italian terrorists were actually University Teachers (called "Cattivi Maestri", bad teachers, in the post-'70s slang) in another post, maybe.
This one is just to let know all those of you out there that do not have a terrorism/terrorist professor but can read French that a short course is available.
The latest Backstab (already mentioned "trendy" French RPG mag) has a dossier on terrorism in RPG - covering Theory & Practice, History, Ideologies, Medical Emergencies after Terrorist Strikes, and suggestions for running Terrorist-oriented Science-Fiction and Fantasy campaigns.
All very Franco-centric, I fear.
The same magazine also has a short piece covering the origins of IRA - lightweight (and probably none too accurate, judging from past articles) but nice to give a smattering to your players.
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 08:31:21 -0800
From: Christian Conkle
Of course, giving a lot of lead time and then taunting the hunters by videotape (film at 11) will keep them harassed by the Press and public. Trying to tell the public BEFORE the date that there is no bomb will simply convince the public that the government doesn't care about them. Which, being true, will be hard to deny in a believable manner.
Ah, but don't forget, you'll have Bruce Willis as atough-as-nails-yet-flawed police detective rampaging all over New York with his sidekick, Samuel L. Jackson. They'll figure out that it's a hoax, find you, and kill you by dropping you out of a helicopter or jet or something.
So be prepared for the "suprise" assault on your secret base (freighter, warehouse, abandoned building, basement, whatever) and when you catch him, JUST SHOOT HIM, no tying him to a real bomb or delegating your minions to do it, just get it over with.
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 17:11:02 GMT0BST
From: Robert Thomas
So be prepared for the "suprise" assault on your secret base (freighter, warehouse, abandoned building, basement, whatever) and when you catch him, JUST SHOOT HIM, no tying him to a real bomb or delegating your minions to do it, just get it over with.
reminds me of the letter of advice published in Viz magazine a few years ago:
Megalomanics bent on World domination? If when you have captured James Bond, revealled the secret plan, shown him the destruct button and a method of escape and then had him locked up by your 'loyal' female assistant in an Escher like contraption, Don't look surprised when everything goes wrong, he escapes and kills you in a dramatic manner.
Just hancuff him to the nearest radiator and shoot him several times in the head.
ObDG The UK Armed Forces standard weapon the Enfield IW has been discovered to be prone to jamming in extreemly hot dry conditions. What a wonderfull design still may be of use to someone on the list.
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 18:58:53 +0100
From: Davide Mana
The Aum cult also has a cute little song about sarin gas, which is just too creepy for words. "Sarin, sarin, heroic poison gas…"
They did manga too - some in the "join the cult and get superpowers just like Asahara"-vein, others on more realistic subjects ("how I joined the cult and why I love it" sort of stuff, that is).
Very professional looking, too - ISBN code and all that.
Frederik L. Schodt excellent study "Dreamland Japan" (ISBN 1-880656-23-X) includes a piece on the author's search for "AUM Comics" in 1995 - in the aftermath of the Sarin fiasco - and his reflections on the phenomenon. Interesting reading indeed - expecially the bit about manga being the best vector for the cult's ideals among the Japanese and an used-manga dealer's comment "We wouldn't touch them under any condition".
And what about the following bit:
"[…] on the back page, an ad for the latest cult publication - a book claiming that all of Japan was under a form of mind-control from believing the cult had used nerve gas and that the opposite was true, that the cult was the victim, presumably of a plot by the government and the U.S. military."
[MKULTRA? Shans? NRO Speedwagon? Delta Green?]
Schodt covers three different lines published by the cult in-house production staff, including one that presents manga-versions of true-life stories about cult members and how they saw the light, and one that covers the life and adventures of Asahara himself.
Hope this is of some interest.
| Continued in Evil Overlords discussion. |
Note on Australian presence, Tesla connection
By Landon Winkler, post 10,991 to DGML
This reminds me of a bit about Aum Shinrikyo and Tesla. According to some reports Aum spent very little time recruiting from their New York branch and a whole lot of time researching Tesla. Looking through records, buying anything that wasn't nailed down, and visiting relevant museums constantly.
The weirdness climaxes in the Australian outback with them testing Sarin on a whole herd of sheep, an earthquake in an area that hadn't seen one in recent history, and reports from local aborigines of balls of light that slowly moved through the air and noiseless explosions.
Of course, its probably all plate tectonics and ball lightning, but the idea of Aum testing a Tesla-derived earthquake superweapon is too good to resist. To say nothing of the fact that those floating lights could have been any number of mythos entities, summoned by Tesla-tech or a massive ritual involving simultaneously gassing a herd of sheep for maximum energy release.
Aum, since reformed under the name Aleph, is still around today, so it should be easy to pull them into a DG campaign without so much as fudging history.