Genghis John Rides Again

Tribunie-Review (suburban Pittsburgh) ^ | 11 December 2005 | Dimitri Vassilaros

[Vigilanteman]

Sen. John Kerry's appearance last Sunday on "Face the Nation" suggests he's mastered the nuanced finesse of betraying his contempt for American soldiers without accusing them of behaving in a fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan.

The Massachusetts Democrat has come a long way since 1971.

[Vigilanteman]

Goood read by the Trib's libertarian columnist.

[indcons]

Jean Kerry is wrong about Genghiz Khan as he is wrong about everything else______________

"Although Genghis Khan (more properly known as Chinggis Khan), is mainly thought of in negative terms in the West, he is one of history's more charismatic and dynamic leaders. During his lifetime, he conquered more territory than any other conqueror, and his successors established the largest contiguous empire in history. Even today his legacy continues in Asia, for without Genghis Khan there would not be a Mongolia.

The fact that Genghis Khan was able to command a place in history is perhaps more amazing than the deeds that earned him fame as much of his life prior to 1200 was fraught with hardship. Born to the noble family of Yesugei and Ho'elun, Genghis Khan was first called Temuchin. At an early age, he was betrothed to Borte who belonged to another tribe. After leaving Temuchin with Borte's family, Yesugei was returning to his own camp when he was poisoned by Tatars. After his father died, Temuchin returned to his family, still a boy. According to the primary source of information on Temuchin's life, The Secret History of the Mongols, he endured many hardships, including the kidnapping of his wife Borte, but slowly recruited supporters and assumed a mantle of leadership among the Mongols.

After rising to power in 1185, Temuchin experienced numerous setbacks and, eventually, victories. A key to his success was an alliance with his father's anda or blood brother, Toghril Ong-Khan, Khan or King of the Keraits, which were another tribe. With Toghril's support, Temuchin regained Borte and slowly became the paramount power in the steppe. Eventually, relations between Temuchin and Toghril soured and led to a war that left Temuchin victorious. By 1206 Temuchin dominated Mongolia and received the title Genghis Khan (thought to mean Oceanic Ruler or Firm, Resolute Ruler). The years between 1185 and 1206 were, without doubt, the most difficult years for this feared and respected man.

Although Genghis Khan now ruled Mongolia and had united the various tribes into one tribe (the Mongols), he was not content to remain there. Scholars have proposed several reasons why Genghis Khan embarked on a career of conquest, including the demand for booty, revenge for past offenses and megalomaniacal greed for territory and riches. However, as with most wars, there was never a single reason; and, certainly, a variety of factors came into play.

In 1207, the Mongols began operations against Xi-Xia, which comprised much of northwestern China and parts of Tibet. This campaign lasted until 1210 with the Xi-Xia ruler submitting to Genghis Khan. During this period, the Uighurs also submitted peacefully to the Mongols and became valued administrators throughout the empire.

Peace did not last long. In 1211, after a great quriltai or meeting, Genghis Khan led his armies against the Chin Dynasty that ruled northern China. War continued against the Chin until 1234, well after Genghis Khan's death. Perhaps he would have succeeded against them, but he was pulled away from the campaign because of an incident in central Asia. In 1219 a caravan under the protection of Genghis Khan had been massacred in Otrar, a city of the Khwarazm Empire, which consisted of all or parts of modern Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.

With his armies engaged in China, Genghis Khan attempted to find a peaceful solution, but Muhammad Khwarazmshah, the ruler of the Khwarazm Empire, forced the issue, unaware of the might of Genghis Khan. After the execution and humiliation of his envoys, Genghis Khan left a trusted general, Muqali, to battle the Chin while he led an army to central Asia. Mongol armies had clashed with those of Khwarazm earlier in 1218 when Genghis Khan's son Jochi and a general (Jebe) completed the conquest of Qara-Kitai, which was to the northeast of Khwarazm.

From 1219 to 1222, the Mongols waged a war in central Asia and destroyed the Khwarazmian Empire. Striking from several directions, Genghis Khan-accompanied by his four sons: Jochi, Ogodei, Chaghatai, and Tolui-carried out a campaign that remains strategically remarkable. Though a few Khwarazmian princes escaped, the defeat was complete; but Genghis Khan still had a matter of revenge to settle.

The ruler of Xi-Xia, who had submitted in 1210, had not provided troops for the campaign. Although this act of rebellion gravely insulted Genghis Khan, for the time being the defeat of Muhammad Khwarazmshah was much more important. After the conquest of the Khwarazmian Empire, however, Genghis Khan turned his armies once again against Xi Xia.

In 1226, his armies invaded Xi-Xia. During the campaign, Genghis Khan fell from his horse when it startled while the emperor hunted. Although he eventually died from internal injuries as a result of the fall, he did not allow his followers to halt the campaign. They continued the siege of the capital of Xi-Xia even after his death. When the conquest was complete, Genghis Khan was buried in a secret location that remains a mystery although several modern expeditions have attempted to find it.

Even today the legacy of Genghis Khan remains impressive. His wars were often a matter of retaliation as well as bids for territory or riches. As an organizational and strategic genius, Genghis Khan created one of the most highly-disciplined and effective armies in history; this same genius also gave birth to the core administration that ruled it. Even after he died on campaign in 1227, the Mongol armies dominated the battlefield until the empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean to the Adriatic Sea.

His non-military achievements include the introduction of a writing system based on the Uighur script (still used in Inner Mongolia today), the idea of religious tolerance throughout the empire, and the achievement of tribal unity among the Mongols. Genghis Khan's greatest accomplishments, however, cannot be counted in terms of territory or victories, but in the presence of a Mongol nation and culture. Mongols today venerate him as the founding father of Mongolia."

Dr. Timothy May
Assistant Professor of History
Young Hall
North Georgia College and State University

[Aussie Dasher]

Run, John, Run!!!!!

[USS Alaska]

jean pee-air kerrie, that french looking gal from boston, has hoof and mouth disease. He has no moral compass and no control over the bile that spews from his mouth.

[Brett66]

[indcons]

LOL....nice caption

[isthisnickcool]

KHAN! KHAN!

[FreedomFarmer]

Sen. John Kerry's appearance last Sunday on "Face the Nation" ...

The Nation would be a far better place if this coward and traitor Faced The Music.

[njpa]

kerry AND I'm cute

[Candor7]

Thank you for your informative post. The history you describe is the reason why I was quite elated at President Bush's visit to Mongolia. I hope that Mongolia becomes a close ally to our country both for philosophical reasons and strategic ones. Containing China is on our menu. The mythology of Mongolia includes that of Gesar of Ling which is an interesting story, which predicts an alliance with Ameriuca, some say. The Mongolian in this photo with President Bush strikingly resembles Gesar as we know him from various tankhas, right up to the trident on top of his helmet. This fact should not be lost on those who examine the symbolism of such diplomacy, for the myth itself predicts that Gesar will lead an army to defeat the Muslims lead by a Muslim leader callded "Rudrachakra". I thought you and others might be interested in this.

[InsureAmerica]

john kerry - the CHIN dynasty. the FOREHEAD dynasty. random thoughts on this talking head..that's all he is now. Can't listen to his ramblings anymore, the election is over, stop acting like it isn't...

[InsureAmerica]

'Gesar of Ling' bump for future reference.

[easonc52]

'Gesar of Ling' bump for future reference.

Ditto.

[RightWingAtheist]

[StAnDeliver]

Kerry has decided he would rather jack with President Allen than be ignored, marginalized and forgotten under Hillary.

[Candor7]

Yours Re: Ghengis Khan

---

President Bush's visit to Mongolia was significant to millions of people around the world, yet nothing has been said or written about that fact.This significance lies in the traditional belief in a prediction across Asia from the Kalachakra Tantra that is over a thousand years old: That there will be a Global War between Muslims and the West in which the Muslims will be defeated, ushering in an unprecedented era of peace in the world. Mongolia is one of the places which has this strong Shambala tradition.

Note that I have nothing else to say about it, other than the myth exists and that it is very , very powerful.

---

In furtherence of my last post about the destruction of the Muslim anti-Christ:

Re the Kalachakra ( this writing is ancient) Mythology:

(Free Membership Required for the whole document,198 pages)

http://www.american-buddha.com/shadow.dalai.htm#THE SHADOW OF



"The Kalchakra Tantra invokes a global war between the Islamic and the non-Islamic world in which the followers of Mohammed are presented as the principal enemies of the Buddhists. The original text refers to Mecca, where the "mighty, merciless idol of the barbarians" lives as a "demonic incarnation" (Shri Kalachakra I. 154).

Murderous super-weapons possessed by the Buddhist Shambhala Army and employed against "enemies of the Dharma" are described at length and in enthusiastic detail in the Kalachakra Tantra (Shri Kalachakra I. 128 – 142). Modern Lamaist interpretations of these military arsenal fantasies indulge in spectacular comparisons to the weaponry of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The Buddhist art of war in the Shambhala battles is obviously at odds with basic human rights, and is instead described in the original text as "merciless" and "cruel". "The supremely ferocious [Buddhist] warriors will cast down the barbarian horde" and "eliminating" them "together with their followers". (Shri Kalachakra I. 163/165)."

[InsureAmerica]

This absolutely has my mind in a spin. Need to check into this, I'm a fanatic about things past, present and future and how they connect... Sometimes I think the future has already happened and we are re-living it...

[Candor7]

"Sometimes I think the future has already happened and we are re-living it..."

Deja Vu all over again! (LOL)

History does seem to repeat itself in a spiral helix pattern.

My thinking about the Kalachakra Tantra and Shambhala Mythology along with Gesar of Ling was prompted by this list. I thought the Mongolia Trip symbology powerful enough
to drop a line to the White House and V.P. Cheny about it. I hope their staff takes notice of it.

I will look forward to seeing if we have more close ties with Mongolia in the future!

Freeper Fi!

[Seadog Bytes]

Some things never change...