Perhaps the Rebbe even commenting in these blogs

Reuters - Ronen Zvulun

Y.Y. commenting to the mashichisten, you ain't seen nothing yet: Mashpia: You are one of the most honest Lubavitchers in a sea of (mostly)well meaning but very brainwashed individuals. Alas you are still an apologist. You blame the 'generals', the 'foot soldiers' but the Chief of Staff is left unscathed. My dear friend, those 'officers' and 'generals' were appointed by the Chief of Staff, the ambiguity could have easily been remedied by clear and UNAMBIGUOUS TALK. You are trying to eat your cake and keep it whole.

Mashpia responds: of course, I am apologetic. I am honest, but I do follow the Rebbe, and will try to defend his position. Of course, I don't expect people to suddenly see the light of the Rebbe, (or if they do, it won't be a result of my rhetoric and responses). I don't think that the Rebbe was some kind of ego-maniac, or someone who wanted to conquer the world. In fact, those who study the Rebbe�s life and the Rebbe�s talks would quickly realize that important fact.

Of course, those who aren't practicing Lubavitcher, but yet, had a negative experience or exposure to Lubavitch, would certainly want to blame the Rebbe for public miss-information; which is also much more sensible, should we blame thousands of individuals for going wrong, or should we blame the person whom they followed blindly. Your observation is true and correct, but you are missing some of the facts. Unfortunately, the Rebbe wasn't the only person that is followed blindly in Lubavitch (that would have been a good thing). But people who follow blindly, do so naturally, i.e. many who followed the Rebbe, didn't do so out of personal reverence and admiration of the Rebbe, recognizing his special qualities, or his ohr elokus... but rather because they needed someone to follow, they needed some meaning and direction in their lives. But since the notion of following the Rebbe had emanated from their personal need to stick to somebody, we can safely assume that their thirst wasn't quenched yet "a person does not die with more than half of his desires come true". Yes, these people didn't find it enough to follow the Rebbe, but they needed to follow other people, other generals, other commanders-in-chief, and once they will follow the generals, they will seek to follow someone who is lower in the food chain. That�s how some people work, not thinking for themselves, not really caring what it is, as long as their personal desire of "true meaning" is fulfilled.

So in truth, it wouldn't have helped, even if the Rebbe did speak about Moshiach in a different way, people would have taken it out of context. Yes, the Rebbe does hint himself as Moshiach, but regarding similar self-promotional comments from other tzadikim, ranging back to Moshe Rabbeinu, the Rebbe's subtle self promotion was cryptic at best. Why the Rebbe spoke about himself is unknown, but this is a characteristic found amongst many Jewish spiritual leaders. But getting back to my point, the Mashichisten would have found what they wanted, sooner or later. this can be proven by what we see by the Tzfatim, the T's have made the wackiest compilation of Sichos to prove that the Rebbe is walking around with us (perhaps even commenting in these blogs), and this belief is being accepted by many as "normal" or "just an opinion" (I think someone else spoke about this on this blog), whereas the truth couldn't be more opposite, the Rebbe had never ever hinted that the FR was alive bgashmius, and neither did people perceive it in such a manner, it was clear that the Rebbe was referring to certain hamshochos or chayus into this world. But yet, only 7 years after gimmel tammuz, when most people still remember the rebbe's talks and sichos, and this notion of the rebbe chay vekayam being condoned throughout lubavitch kana"l.

I must also object to your references of Lubavitch as a military hierarchy. It is not supposed to be like that, on the contrary, it were the Mashichisten who had coined the phrase, making everyone serve and accept the reign of the king, the chief, the general - kabbolas hamalchus and kabbolas oil, these are all heavily abused and cliche converted terms, in which the Mashichisten and the Tzfatim find great pleasure in. The Rebbe rarely ever showed leadership as a general or commander in chief, but rather as a caring and intellectual figure, sadly, the Mashichisten who are neither caring or intellectual, would rather ignore that aspect. Yes, people would listen and do things that the Rebbe had requested, even if they didn't understand, but that would only be as a last option, for the whole shitas chabad is only to understand what you are doing, that you - out of your own free will, should do the right thing.

So we can conclude that I am an apologist, but I am aware of the questions, and I am aware that these are difficult issues which must be dealt with. But I am an apologist for the Rebbe, since the Rebbe has appealed to me. The same way you would be an apologist for a close friend who might have erred, or for an actor who has played a very special meaning character, but yet has drug and murder charges behind him - you would still root for him (if their productions had greatly inspired you). Kol shekein v'kal v'chomer by the Rebbe. vd"l ---Mashpia.