Global Liberation Army

The Global Liberation Army, (Arabic: جيش التحرير العالمي Jaysh al-Tahrir al-Alami, abbreviated GLA) was a violent non-state actor formed in the 21st century, in opposition to the hegemony of the United States of America and China. The highly decentralized organization incorporated various groups of insurgents, terrorists, self-styled freedom fighters, members of the criminal underground and other people supportive of their cause under the common banner.

The GLA's rapid expansion and aggression triggered a global conflict with the nations it opposed. GLA leaders did not abide by rules of military conduct and routinely targeted civilian populations, up to and including terror attacks utilizing weapons of mass destruction.

## Base of Operations

The GLA has bases scattered across the globe. Over a period of several years, the GLA steadily built up their strength and support in the Third World, mainly within the Middle East and Central Asia. While the group possessed a number of 'main' bases, their destruction did little to halt the GLA's spread of influence. For this reason, it is debatable whether or not the organization possessed a 'nerve center' at all. In the First GLA War, the GLA's main base of operations is in Akmola of Kazakhstan and was destroyed by a Sino-American force during Last Call.

In the war of 2013, The GLA empire has stretched to:

* Iran
* Kazakhstan
* Germany
* Iraq
* China
* Aldastan
* Egypt
* Russia
* Turkey
* Libya
* Yemen
* Crete
* Somalia

## Resources

The GLA began with a financial injection from a number of shadowy, wealthy backers (many of whom, such as Prince Kassad who would go on to become GLA generals), and gained much of its funding hence from raiding resources, such as the United Nations' foreign aid supplies. They also had ties with the Black Market which brought them a steady cash flow as well as access to relatively advanced weapons.

The GLA was highly resourceful, raiding old Soviet weapon dumps and employing ex-Soviet scientists and even scavenging spare parts from the battlefield. While GLA vehicles could not match their more modern counterparts on the battlefield, GLA commanders were highly devious and unscrupulous, but many American and Chinese generals underestimated them at their peril.

## Political structure

The GLA is known to be highly decentralized. This is one of the reasons UN attempts at negotiation have failed so miserably. Their leaders are scattered across many countries and divided themselves into different factions. At times, with a skilled and strong leader at the helm, the GLA is capable of operating as a somewhat cohesive entity. With the absence of an effective leader, however, infighting is not uncommon.

Relations between GLA factions is thus a complex web of alliances, deals, betrayals and power struggles. When prominent GLA researcher and leader Dr. Thrax was killed, a power struggle ensued between General Mohmar "Deathstrike" and Prince Kassad. Defections by GLA splinter cells to either the Americans or the Chinese even occurred.

### Ideology

The goals and motives of the GLA are, even now, unclear, such is the secretive nature of the organization. Their ideology can be summarized as aggressive pseudo-religious populist anti-imperialism.

The GLA is seemingly opposed to anything they deem exploitative, imperialist or immoral, whatever they are. The GLA is opposed to the superpowers having any involvement in the affairs of lesser nations, as they perceive their involvement (including humanitarian support) as neo-colonialist acts. GLA leaders have referred to the Americans and Chinese as the 'scourge of humanity', characterizing China as 'The Dragon', USA as 'The Killer Falcon' and even referring to their enemies as 'infidels'. For example, General Mohmar referring to the rogue Prince Kassad and his forces as 'infidels'.

The aspiring freedom fighters and desperate fanatics who made up its ranks often truly believed they are standing up for the downtrodden peoples of the world, in spite of the fact that they often killed civilians who got in their way. During its existence, the GLA succeeded in inspiring a great fanaticism among its considerable number of followers, to the point where many were willing to kill themselves for the cause.

### Political influence

The GLA managed to gain the support of many of the world's disenfranchised peoples. Its splinter cells are scattered around the world. In certain areas, the GLA acted as the de facto government (as was the situation in Mogadishu, Somalia). The GLA also used the media to spread their propaganda - ARC News is allegedly funded by the GLA or one of their backers, and it is through this channel that the GLA leadership issues official statements.

### Notable/known leaders in the First GLA War

* Dr. Thrax
* General Mohmar (Commander-in-chief of the GLA/Also known as "Deathstrike")
* Prince Kassad †
* General Juhziz (unknown)
* Jarmen Kell (presumably survived)
* Anonymous GLA General (GLA Field Commander/Second-in-command of the GLA, outranked only by Deathstrike) (unknown)