The concept of a xenophobic EMpire is a really EU based idea though with little rooting in anything but that one Officer's line which was pretty "broad".  Originally it was written in that Luke was sort of "awed" by the sight of Chewbacca actually, and acted alittle less than politically correct.

However, the point stands I think that the German Army in WW2 utilized people from nations it considered hostile...  France, Holland, Balkan Nations, etc., etc... 

The way I look at it then is that while the Germans would not have accepted a Jew into their ranks, the Empire wouldn't accept certain species into theirs...  Wookiees for example.  Many were viewed with disdain and hatred, and really all alien species weren't viewed with any level of comradery, but the Empire would've needed cooperation from some alien worlds I think...  Actually I think the majority of worlds would've supported the EMpire on one level or another for any number of reasons...  From corruption and political backscratching to actually appreciating the budding Empire's ideals.  The Senate is really loud in support of Palpatine's declaration of political change, so the alien support is there...

I view the xenophobic nature of the Empire then as something subdued.  Something the core members of the Empire harbor in hopes of someday eradicating the aliens from their lives.  They blame the Aliens for this or that (it'd be easy to blame them for the Clone Wars even), and the Empire lets that hatred grow, but only in noteably human circles.  IE: they're covering it up a lot, but within the Imperial core organizations there is open anti-alien sentiment...  Recruitment of humans is key/reinforced, etc., etc...

At the same time though, they utilize Aliens in an effort to create an IMperial-controlled military on specific planets (Say Nemoidia just for kicks), and the Neimoidian government maybe is a puppet government that supports the Empire...  Empire exploits Nemoidia, but at the same time they control the governing bodies/military and the Neimoidians aren't necessarilly mistreated either so they accept the Imperial rule and are generally happy to do so...  Empire keeps Neimoidians working, keeps order and structure...  They accept it with perhaps only a small splinter group wanting to resist (but which, like all rebel cells on all planets, is rooted out as best as the Imperial military can).  If the resistance grows the Military presence of more "traditional" Imperial troops may be called in but if the natural population can handle it they're let do so...

It's a pretty common thing in Earth terms throughout history but there's a problem when discussing alien worlds/people because they obviously don't look like humans (at least in SW terms). 

I think it could definitely have happened...  I think it actually would've been common and necessary.  It would've been "the norm" for the majority of the worlds within the core where rebelliion wasn't as widespread perhaps. 

And while the Empire exploits some worlds/people that way, they also have more brutal instances such as the WOokiee situation where they control that species with martial law, enslavement, etc.

The thing about the Empire, even though I've always viewed them as incredibly powerful and really capable of military subjucation across the galaxy, they still have to have some means of control through manipulation of each government on each planet...  Some will openly support the Empire, some will reluctantly support the Empire, some will openly rebel, some will quietly rebel...  I think the majority, based on the roars of the Senate in E3, are supportive on one level or another, so they don't need a firm hand to control them, but rather their people need somehow assimilated.

The whole thing really comes down to the complexities/logistics of galactic control/conquest.  It's really pretty mind-boggling to think about.  The idea that the Empire is totally xenophobic and shuns alien races just doesn't make sense to me though.  There has to be some kind of diplomacy even if it isn't sincere...  Stormies aren't eradicating species on the streets of Mos Eisley afterall so they're not TOO xenophobic.  They need the aliens even if they hate them.

If you want to draw on even other instances, the Jewish populations of ghetto's and camps in WW2 were even organized into controllable societies by the Nazi's.  And there were people pulled from the population to work for the Nazi's, even though it was obviously not that they were being assimilated into the German culture of the time...  They were led to believe they were at times though. (Not to demean the subject matter of the holocaust, of course, but rather just in an effort to cite historical precedent respectfully for the discussion)

Brad soiled himself...  It's happened before and we're sick of it so his suspension was warranted.  The smell in our secret club house was over-powering really.

Incidentally, what is the difference between Suspended and Banned?

Suspended means we are tolerating someone because we like them enough to keep them around and want them around on some level...  I guess.  Banned means you don't know when to STFU even after we've been more than cordial and fair with you, and we just roll your ass out the door.  There's some guys out there who make it their hobby to get banned at websites.  Our own banned list is a bit of a "who's who" when you look at it.

In short, the only real difference is the staff's judgment/conclusions we come to after we talk about the "situation" for a while.  Banned really takes a certain level of behavior that we just aren't left with other options.  What can we say, other than "we care" about this place.

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Thanks guys.   Definitely appreciate the thoughts...  Seems a concensus is forming between knee articulation and a good gun being this figure's requirements for a "knock-out".

Kind of like the way the AT-RT Driver got a nice gun and that big hulking "thing" nobody wants. 

I would never watch that show in a million years, but seeing those previews really, really tempted me.

It's really not that bad actually...  Not bad at all.  And this is from someone who HATES reality TV.  I really don't get into all this crap, but seeing these families swap their wives for a week or two is really comical.  They're always mis-matched.

I only ever got into these kinda shows and the nanny shows.  The nanny ones are great because I like seeing how inept people are who supposedly have their lives together...  The wife swap type shows though are just trainwrecks.  Lots of crying, people losing it...  Fatty McToothless was only one of many freaks that have been traded.  I'm surprised her family didn't move while she was gone.

I'd agree with that...  It does seem the line's popularity has wained.  The movie blitz is done, the people are dropping off.  I think there's still some life, but it's noticeably less...  At least it seems that way to me.

I am sure the line's still more popular now than it was 3 years ago though.   Saga '02/'03 was such a dismal time...  And a lot of what's out there in droves is bound to move slowly but surely.

Watching a lot of Vet's Day things on TV, and just thinking about other military history instances, and then seeing the cover of the latest "Empire" Comic...  I had a thought.

Does anyone think there could be "Home Guard" Divisions of Imperial Troops comprised of the species native to any specific planet?

Perhaps not decked out in Stormtrooper armor like the character on the comic's cover, but perhaps in the Army Regular uniform like the AT-ST Driver's, or some such?

The German army utilized special divisions made up of foreign soldiers during World War II.  Actually many of the troops defending the Atlantic Wall at Normandy were not German or Axis power nationals but were rather people drafted from countries taken by Germany/Italy.

This trend is common in warfare though...  A series I love on the Military Channel is on Tuesdays and it's simply about World War I.  It's amazing to see the diversity of troops "drafted" by other countries.  Africans in German uniforms were something I considered, or there was an African French division that actually fought IN France during World War I, drafted from French colonies in Africa.

It made me wonder if the Empire would resort to a Neimoidian division...  Or other species that aren't declared "hostile" maybe, like I couldn't see a Wookiee division (based on my own opinion of Wookiee's during the Classic Trilogy Era being almost like Jews under the thumb of the Axis powers), but like I could see species that are either indifferent to the Empire or who serve the Empire in some capacity being assimilated into the Imperial military, but still being kept separate entirely of what the Empire considers its main military body.

Any opinions on this?  For customizers, that could make some REALLY cool custom options...  Like a Neimoidian in an Imperial uniform...  Maybe even a Neimoidian Liason Officer...  I could even see them being given "human" CO's as a means of watching them...  akin to the black regiments during the American Civil War who were commanded by white Officers.

Maybe it's just late and I'm thinking way too hard. 

For the record I was at 2 KM's tonight and saw nada...  They're the 2 closest to me but I thought I'd check since I was out and about.