We would be happy to see a lowering of trade barriers for commercial goods passing into each other's ports. Strengthening ties among like minded powers is the best way to ensure protection and stability is maintained especially considering the disruption occurring in the middle east.
Private:
Northern Germany would willing to improve diplomatic and trade relations with greece and is curious on the matter of military drills, what do you have in mind for these matters?
We were thinking drills involving air units to improve cooperation and learn techniques from other pilots. Our officers would likewise provide crucial learning initiatives to one another in various forms of warfare that could benefit training guides and terrain knowledge for one another.
We were thinking drills involving air units to improve cooperation and learn techniques from other pilots. Our officers would likewise provide crucial learning initiatives to one another in various forms of warfare that could benefit training guides and terrain knowledge for one another.
Private
To: Greece
From: North Germany
This would be acceptable to us and would provide a more meaningful test of our blitzkrieg doctrine against another European nation.
Onto trade again was there anything specific in mind you had regarding a trade deal or just a general lowering of tariffs and such? im sure North Germany's great industrial capacity and our overall industrial goods civilian and military alike would be of interest to you.
Private
To: Greece
From: North Germany
This would be acceptable to us and would provide a more meaningful test of our blitzkrieg doctrine against another European nation.
Onto trade again was there anything specific in mind you had regarding a trade deal or just a general lowering of tariffs and such? im sure North Germany's great industrial capacity and our overall industrial goods civilian and military alike would be of interest to you.
Private:
To: Greece: that sounds doable though handing over our technology will not come cheap but we are willing to do so none the less is there any particular field of military technology you had in mind? Tanks? rifles?
We agree. We would be happy to sign a letter of cooperation stating our intent to work together publicly. We would be happy to work on cooperation between our respective air forces and have officers visit each other's nations and learn. We are likewise concerned about Serbian aggression, the loss of Russian power has emboldened others to try and fill that vacuum. Together we can ensure than any such provocation would be a failure.
We plan a restructuring of our armed forces soon, to coincide with a new government taking power in the next year. However to ensure our joint efforts bring results soon, our government agrees to publicly announce our cooperation. We leave it to you to draft such a document. Would this be public, or just between our governments?
Private:
To: Greece: that sounds doable though handing over our technology will not come cheap but we are willing to do so none the less is there any particular field of military technology you had in mind? Tanks? rifles?
We are interested in reviewing you armored vehicles. We have heard positive word about them and are interested in inspecting them ourselves if you would be so kind.
We are interested in reviewing you armored vehicles. We have heard positive word about them and are interested in inspecting them ourselves if you would be so kind.
Private:
Perhaps arranging a series of wargames would benefit this situation both in showing Germany's capabilities but also as we discussed earlier your desired learning in new military techniques. Perhaps following this a more in-depth collaborative discussion between our military officers to learn from one another and point out the flaws in each other and learn in a mutually productive manner.
Private:
Perhaps arranging a series of wargames would benefit this situation both in showing Germany's capabilities but also as we discussed earlier your desired learning in new military techniques. Perhaps following this a more in-depth collaborative discussion between our military officers to learn from one another and point out the flaws in each other.
From: Third Hellenic Civilization
To: Great Britain @Maugan Ra
Private
We have grown concerned by the Greek peoples living on the island of Cyprus. We would ask that your majesty consider allowing a referendum to take place among the people there to see if they would wish to return to Greece. British military bases would be more than acceptable on the island but the people of the island would be administered by the Greek government. We do not wish to challenge Great Britain but we want to ensure the best for our people.
A Prisoner of Conscience: Kentucky's Most Famous Dissident and the Revolution of 1991
-A painting of Caroline Arnett, presently under house arrest
The Commonwealth of Kentucky had an advanced dissident movement, greatly advantaged by the state's status as a border state which enabled dissidents to either formally or informally use the US as a safe haven. Radical dissident movements, namely that of the Communist Party of the Confederate States of America, had fairly poor standing in Kentucky. The Confederate government had intensely repressed any major leftist movements and jailed or executed dozens of communist organisers who attempted to establish chapters in Kentucky. Communists fared little better north of the border: and were typically heavily-scrutinised by the US government which did not lavish communist movements with support and funding the way it did with other dissident movements seeking the overthrow of Confederate rule. Moreover, Kentucky residents had a reputation of distrusting outside movements of any stripe. Out-of-state activists who attempted to foment unrest in Kentucky were often regarded poorly. In the words of an unknown dissident author writing in 1982: "They like to come in, stir up trouble, and then flee when they send in the National Guard. Kentuckians end up dead and they end up in New York celebrated as heroes as they drink champagne with the President." However, Kentucky had always been one of the more reluctant Confederate states, and its large base of Unionist sympathisers in the Northeast had been a natural recruiting ground for dissident movements. But, over a century of Confederate rule had drastically changed Kentucky and its dissident movements. Repeated attempts at uprisings and wars with the US had failed to return Kentucky to the Union. Thusly, the aim of Kentucky's dissident movements had changed. They sought to ultimately undermine the Confederate political system in Kentucky and also make sure that Kentucky's contribution to the CSA was minimal: acts of industrial and economic sabotage coupled with labour strikes and agrarian protests were some of the many ways that Kentucky's dissidents organised the state's people as a weapon against Confederate rule. Musicians also played a large role in resistance: with a great number of popular songs of 1970's and onward being either open or oblique criticisms of the Confederate government and society.
There was also a considerable component of resistance from within the Kentucky political system. Dissident figures would regularly stand for office despite the fact that there was no chance that they would be allowed to remain on the ballot. In the Northeast of Kentucky, it became something of a tradition to write-in the name of the US President on ballots. This became such a problem that the Commonwealth of Kentucky actually removed write-ins from official state ballots. Yet the greatest upset of all came from an unlikely source. In 20th-century Kentucky, one of the most respected families were the Arnetts. The Arnetts were staunch Confederate loyalists who originally came from Hamilton, Kentucky, which had been a prospering settlement in the early Confederacy. In the early 20th-century, the Arnett family had grown wealthy off of its whiskey distilleries and was widely-respected as part of Kentucky's high society. Caroline Arnett had been one of two children in her family, and had taken the rather unusual step of going into politics. Initially, Caroline Arnett was quiet, largely confining herself to charitable causes and other pursuits which were generally deemed acceptable for women of high society. However, Caroline's activism among the poor quickly exposed her to the real difficulties of impoverished Kentuckians and more poignantly those who had suffered at the hands of the Confederate government: which had routinely employed violence against even suspected sympathisers with dissident movements. Caroline was in a dangerous place: growing increasingly connected with communities that many Confederate elites considered to be subversive. However, her activities were simultaneously protected by her status as a woman of high society. In the Confederacy, a white person of the right family background tended to be trusted implicitly, and also was given a far wider degree of tolerance than others. Caroline recognised this and was able to successfully secure a number of concessions: a group of seven boys arrested on charges of "subversion" for throwing their empty soda cans at a statue of Jefferson Davis were freed after Caroline persuaded the Governor to pardon the boys. Caroline's activism also managed to secure the repeal of a 1930's-era statue that compelled the victim of a rape to marry her rapist. Caroline then used her considerable personal fortune to help pay the legal fees of women who were attempting to divorce abusive or neglectful husbands and secure custody of their children. While this political activism was regarded with suspicion by conservative elites, it was initially nothing threatening. Caroline Arnett was simply another in a tradition of wealthy philanthropists who concerned herself with the plight of the least fortunate but generally did not challenge the social order. But over the course of years, Caroline Arnett's views grew steadily more radical. She grew increasingly critical of government policies which did nothing to relieve debt and poverty among the lower class, and she increasingly attacked the limited franchise which denied the vote to large numbers of Kentuckians. But where she truly was seen as having irrevocably turned against the Confederate system was when she began calling for Afro-Confederate rights and more widely still for racial equality in the CSA.
Arnett's famous speech in Maysville where she declared "Let us all live together," was the final straw. Whereas in the past, she would have likely been harassed and given other forms of "correction" designed to remind her not to hold dangerous views, by the 1980's, Caroline Arnett was simply arrested outright. She was then tried on charges of subversion under the Confederate National Preservation Act and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment, which was commuted to 20 years' house arrest after major demonstrations erupted against her imprisonment.
Since her imprisonment in 1979, Caroline Arnett had been an enduring symbol of Kentucky's dissident movement. Her communication was heavily-monitored and she was forbidden access to a television. The conditions of her house arrest also forbade her from meeting with more than one person at a time. Yet she remained an enduring symbol of resistance and managed to keep her image alive throughout her imprisonment. Although the government of Kentucky sorely detested her and wished to move her to a federal prison, Arnett's popularity was such that any attempts to change her status or impose new restrictions were politically impossible. The state government even had to deploy state police to guard Arnett's home after she received multiple threats to her life and when shots were fired from the car of an unknown assailant through the front window of her home. Caroline Arnett survived the incident with unharmed. Thereafter, at least two police units were kept near her home at all times. The state which had imprisoned Caroline Arnett was now also keeping her alive, an irony she did not fail to note in her personal writings. The government of Kentucky knew she would be far more dangerous as a martyr than a captive, and so she was reluctantly given protection. Her family effectively disavowed her, and most would later flee the state along with the Confederate Army.
The anniversary of Caroline Arnett's trial was May 2nd and it never failed to be an occasion of dissent and unrest. Every day since 1979, Kentuckians marked the occasion with demonstrations. Initially in front of Caroline's own home, the police took to closing off the entire street on May 2nd, but it only moved the protests elsewhere. Mothers and sisters with missing relatives protested in parks and city squares, students walked out of classes and protested at universities, and teachers walked out of their classes. No matter how many arrests were made or demonstrations repressed by the police, they always happened again the next year. In 1991, a chance announcement was made. Governor Buxton, fearing that his government was vulnerable, announced that the government of Kentucky was officially considering a commutation of Caroline Arnett's sentence: her house arrest would be shortened by six years to a release date in 1993, and she until then she would be granted a period of supervised release around the holidays. She would also be free to meet with members of the public but would be forbidden from talking to journalists or being either filmed or recorded. For Arnett's supporters who had routinely demanded her release, this seemed a hollow offer at best. It stopped short of the unconditional release demanded by most Kentuckian dissidents, and continued to impose limitations on the life and actions of a woman who many Kentuckians viewed as a political prisoner. Moreover, to those who had been involved in the dissident movement, this rare concession from a public official signaled that the Buxton government was weakening. To accept Buxton's offer would not only legitimise him, but it would also be to pass up a major opportunity. Thusly, no response was made to the Governor's offer, demonstrations were planned as scheduled for May 2nd.
The focal point of the May 2nd demonstrations was the city of Lexington. Lexington was possessed of a strong tradition of university education and also had been historically been a hotbed of dissent against the CSA, with university students in particular often contributing to demonstrations against the government. When demonstrations started, they grew massively in number over a period of mere hours. The Lexington police were quickly growing outnumbered as student ranks were bolstered by middle-class workers still wearing their suits and ties. For days, demonstrators grew ever bolder and appeared to be gaining the upper hand. However, this possibility had been anticipated and the Chief of Police formally requested the deployment of the Kentucky National Guard. Elements of the Kentucky National Guard had been kept at the ready and Lexington was seen as of top importance. Governor Buxton believed, as did many of his colleagues, that if the protests were broken at Lexington that they could be broken anywhere. But for the first few days, even the National Guard suffered constant setbacks against students. The deployment of the National Guard to suppress a protest also shook the morale of the Lexington police: some of whom actually joined the demonstrators when the National Guard began attacking protesters with police batons. Defections were fairly rare, but some officers turned in their badges and a considerable number of off-duty officers conspicuously failed to report for duty. Most of the department remained loyal but their numbers were increasingly meaningless against the growing tide of popular unrest.
On the fateful fourth day of the demonstrations, the order most viewed as inevitable came down: the National Guard was ordered to be equipped with live ammunition. Carbines and ammunition had been taken from police armouries to be issued to National Guard soldiers. A period of roughly a day passed before the order subsequently came from Governor Buxton himself to repress the demonstrations with "All necessary force." But instead of setting the resolve of the National Guard, it had the exact opposite effect. The Kentucky National Guard, like many other parts of the erstwhile Confederacy, had become an institution of repression. Although the Kentucky National Guard had never been regarded as having the same reliability as units from the Deep South, the fact remained that many Kentucky National Guardsmen or military personnel had been deployed against domestic insurrection elsewhere in the Confederacy. National Guard troops had extremely high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. The order to fire into the crowd: the crowd which to many Guardsmen contained their friends, their relatives, and innocent people who had never done them harm... it was too much to contemplate. And this started a dangerous line of thought. Almost to a man, the troops of the Kentucky National Guard realised that they were not going to obey their illegal and inhumane orders. As they could face severe penalties up to and including execution for insubordination, it was realised that to merely refuse to obey orders was not enough. They also realised that in the absence of the Confederate Army, that the National Guard was the last line of defense for the government. And that if the government lost control of the National Guard, it could no longer hold power. And once that realisation came, well... that was the end.
When demonstrators confronted the National Guard, initially, it was little different from previous days' protests where loyalist National Guard units fought protesters with batons and riot shields. However, these politically-reliable units were in the minority, and many were abruptly arrested or even subdued by their own fellows. Those units which refused to participate in the repression then stood aside and allowed the demonstrators to pass. Initially, state media sources refused to report on the demonstrations, but word of mouth coupled with smuggled footage and constant US broadcasts into Kentucky meant that state censorship was futile. News began to spread of what had happened at Lexington, and other cities experienced similar collapses of National Guard loyalty in the face of orders to repress the demonstrations. The last major holdout was the state capital at Frankfort, which was staffed by the most loyal units with the most extensive armament. The National Guard troops at Frankfort did something strange: they initially failed to obey the Governor's directive, but nor did they simply stand aside, instead, barricades were constructed to simply block the demonstrators' progress. The National Guard consolidated a defensive perimeter around the city centre and most of the major government offices. A tense standoff ensued, but it was doomed from the beginning. By now, knowledge of what had happened elsewhere in Kentucky was widespread, and protesters outside the defensive perimeter routinely broadcast "Radio Free America" which provided up-to-date reports on how city after city had crumbled and Frankfort was increasingly a lone ship in a revolutionary storm. Large numbers of National Guardsmen either deserted or simply refused to continue fighting. Finally, after a further week, their commander, George Cunningham, formally ordered his men to stand down. The demonstrators poured in to the rest of Frankfort and cut down the Confederate stars-and-bars from the Kentucky General Assembly.
Governor Buxton, whose car was stopped en route to Tennesse (whereupon he probably intended to flee either to Virginia or further south to the Confederacy) was taken into custody, meanwhile Caroline Arnett was released from hers and driven to the Kentucky governor's mansion. Whereupon she took the oath of office as the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The entire state stood on and watched. Confederate rule had crumbled in Kentucky and now so too had the regime of its successors. Caroline Arnett was the first woman governor in Kentucky history and, had she been a Confederate governor, would have been the third state in CSA history to have a female governor after Alabama and Georgia.
It was not clear what this upset meant for Kentucky's future. As a "border state" with a small population and no access to the sea, Kentucky's prospects as an independent state were nearly nonexistent. The collapse of Confederate rule all but completely forestalled any hope of rejoining the CSA... and so instead Kentucky's future would most likely remain with one of its neighbours.
-Caroline Arnett, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, 1991-Present
To: The United States of America
From: Caroline Mabel Arnett, Governor of The Commonwealth of Kentucky
May I presume that the recent events in my home state are of interest to the US and that your government would like to discuss them?
To: The Commonwealths of Virginia
From: Caroline Mabel Arnett, Governor of The Commonwealth of Kentucky
As Governor of Kentucky, it is my obligation to report that the Commonwealth of Kentucky has decided against joining the Commonwealths of Virginia. The people of Kentucky are faced by a great number of issues in the pursuit of a better future and the reclaiming of our state from over a century of Confederate rule. If I am to be most forthright, I must admit that I am skeptical about the ability of the Commonwealths to provide for the needs of Kentuckians while also rebuilding its own economy and bringing those guilty of crimes in the former CSA to justice.
I do not know what future the Commonwealths' government plans for its people, but as we all come from states which suffered greatly as a result of Confederate tyranny, I hope that the Commonwealths intends to move past the damaging legacy of the Confederacy. Your state continues to maintain its inhumane black codes which I shall swiftly abolish here in Kentucky. Although I recognise that my statements on this matter may tempt you to harden your hearts to such appeals, it is the simple truth that your state shall never move past the poisonous Confederate past so long as it continues to hold to its ideals. The Confederacy is dead, let its beliefs die with it.
----------------------
Quick Announcements by the Australian Foreign Ministry
"If we hadn't been fully clear already, the Foreign Ministry of the Confederation of Australia would like to publicly extend recognition of the new Provisional Governments heading the former Confederate States of Kentucky and Virginia and express our hopes that our fellow English speaking brothers can bring peace and stability to those areas. The Australian Government is willing to offer assistence and our Companies would be glad to help the new nations that rise from the ashes of the old Confederacy. @Heavy W. Guy, @DonFitz
On another note the Australian Government condemns the terrorist attacks carried out by the Islamic Extremists against the people of the Philippines. Such acts should not go unpunished. The Filipino Government can be rest assured said terrorists will not be welcomed here and shall be detained if they attempt to enter our country. " @ChaoticGenius
British units with their regiment colors marching on towards Baghdad, the inspiration for the refrain of a pop song inspired by Welsh-folk tunes that dominated the world music rankings for months to come. Already at home, students have taken akin to marching in front of 10 Downing Street, protesting the decision to go to war: "Peace with Honor means No Britons in Mesopotamia" one sign declared.
"Welcome to the special report by the Commonwealth News Network live from London on the War in Mesopotamia, a particular action that has the eyes of many a Briton in this day and age. The first large military action since the end of the Great Game, we all wait with bated breath to witness the results on this sixth day of operations.
"I am your host, Marshall Chambers. We currently have reporters on standby in the event of-- what's that? MacGregor, do we have feed of that? Put it on, now.
"It appears that the attack has begun, initiated on the city of Baghdad, the Republic of Mesopotamia's capitol, with British and allied forces, mainly those of the Commonwealth, and other participatory nations, such as the Arabian and Iranian forces, making large strides in land with little to no resistance. Tell us, Mr. Reynolds, what might explain this patent failure of the Mesopotamian armed forces?"
"Thank you, Mr. Chambers. I'd like to note that it was when the military cabal that now rules the ostensible Republic in the historical cradle of civilization toppled the Hashemite royalty did the current president begin his purges of the armed forces, specifically the officer corps, in the name of 'loyalty', which heavily weakened them.
"Furthermore, the sanctions placed on them severely limited their access to the global arms trade save through the most discrete back channels. These reports are verifiable, really, by looking at the progress made on the map here.
"As you can see, our boys are marching from Arabia to surround Mesopotamian forces illegally occupying Kuwait here, taking airfields and depots along the way, most likely. In the mean time, Arabian troops are launching a mass offensive along the border, aiming to take territory and oil fields.
"All this while Iranians, although they have done nothing thus far, intend march into the Khuzestan province, which they lost so long ago to the Mesopotamian Republic. With pressure like this, it is impossible to see how the cabal in charge of Mesopotamia will be able to continue prosecuting the war when they are currently being so thoroughly defeated."
"We appreciate your input as always, Mr. Reynolds, and look forward to having you back on the show to explain more to us as we get a little more information on the goings on of this war."
"Of course."
"I am just now receiving reports that the Republic of Turkey's military is currently invading from the northern frontier of Mesopotamia, aiming, in all likelihood, for Lake Van, where claims of protection of Turkic ethnics in the area has been their casus belli to stand with the hastily formed coalition against the Mesopotamian Republic. Again, little to no resistance. I, as I am sure many of our audience, will be astounded as to the casualty rate of this war, what seems to be a quick one. But we can only pray that this is brought to a peaceful conclusion, not just for us, but for those Mesopotamians.
"Tonight we bring a particular voice who has been outspoken in their opposition to these military actions, Ms. Gladstone of the minor 'Labour' movement. Ms. Gladstone, glad to have you with us, what do you have to say thus far at what looks like the apparent success of these combined operations?"
"Well, Mr. Chambers, I'll have you know that while this may be a success, it certainly isn't one for the citizens of the Mesopotamian Republic. Now not only having to face starvation and destruction of their homes, they will be under a foreign occupant force of imperialist powers that aim to expand their borders, the United Kingdom among them and in no way absolved of guilt unless we unilaterally hand over dominion to the people who deserve their right to self-rule."
"Surely, Ms. Gladstone, you agree that the president of the unstable republic was a dictator, no? And that he was murdering his own people with chemical weapons, an abhorrent tool against fellow people?"
"I do not dispute that the man is a vile and blatant violator of human rights. What I dispute is that the British Empire, with its place in history, will offer much better. After all, there is n--"
"Ms. Gladstone, I'm going to have to stop you there. Breaking news coming in from Aleppo: the Revolutionary Islamic Republic of Egypt has invaded the Syrian State, and according to live feed, is attempting to move naval forces to land troops in Kuwait, only to be silently and stoically blocked by the British aircraft carriers already sitting outside the port city.
"Do we have footage, MacGregor? We do. Okay, the following is live footage of the unprecedented and completely shocking Egyptian invasion of the Syrian State, beginning with a coastal invasion and relatively rapid gains as the Syrian military has been caught completely off-guard by this attack.
"Word has it that a heated discussion between the Egyptian and British consuls is occurring at the moment. This is...an extreme action, taken by the Egyptians. Any commentary on that, Mr. Reynolds?"
"I...I simply don't have words for it. It seems as if the Egyptian Republic believed it would be welcomed by a coalition of mainly hostile nations in its efforts to take opportunity over the chaos erupting in the Near East. But this will only cause a worsening of the situation diplomatically, especially as the Syrian State was already set to blow. There are so many new factors that will come from this engagement by the Egyptians that honestly it is only logical to watch it unfold."
"Thank you for your comments, Mr. Reynolds. That is what you are here for, after all. Please hold with us as we learn more on this developing situation...this report, and by some association, this war, is not over."
Quick Announcements by the Australian Foreign Ministry
"If we hadn't been fully clear already, the Foreign Ministry of the Confederation of Australia would like to publicly extend recognition of the new Provisional Governments heading the former Confederate States of Kentucky and Virginia and express our hopes that our fellow English speaking brothers can bring peace and stability to those areas. The Australian Government is willing to offer assistence and our Companies would be glad to help the new nations that rise from the ashes of the old Confederacy.
While the Commonwealth and its people are grateful for such kind offers from Australia, it would not be appropriate for Kentucky to officially accept aid directly provided by a foreign state, as to do so would imply Kentucky is an independent nation. Should Australia or any state wish to aid the people of Kentucky, it may do so through donations to private charities, humanitarian aid organisations, and philanthropic causes.
Furthermore, we must caution Australia against upsetting the delicate situation in North America and urge it not to extend recognition to post-Confederate states until such a time as a treaty can be signed to clarify the situation of North America after the fall of the Confederacy. For Australia to recognise nations which have not yet been recognised by treaty between American states will only weaken the progress of peace and liberty in the former Confederacy.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky clarifies that it is not an independent state and will not establish relations with any foreign entity.
A rare B.B.C. clip of interview in the Congo Administrative Zone with a local citizen. The temperature in the Congolese jungles is distinctively 'hot', but the politics of the zone are hotter as warlords dominate the country and the main 'safe' areas are that of European soldiers occupying the populated cities, much to the consternation of the local natives.
"This is live footage from Kinshasa, of the Congo Administrative Zone. I am here with the B.B.C. as an on-the-ground reporter, meant to take a critical eye to the international issues from a more grounded perspective, so to speak. I'm your host, Aadam Woods, with this special look at how the conglomerate of forces in the Congo Administrative Zone aim to end the chaos that has been a point of contention for international politics for so long.
"We're here today with the Portugese deputy consul to the C.A.Z., Mr. Rúben Gama, for a unique discussion as to what the armed might of the Commonwealth, the Portugese, the Cisplatineans, even the Japanese, aim to do to in order to prevent a furtherance of the shattered land that is the Congo, and, maybe even reduce it?
"Hello, Mr. Gama. Perhaps you would like to answer that?"
"Yes, yes, of course. I offer you a ride through the city of Kinshasa as my goodwill, and I will talk to you en length.
"Now that we are in a more comfortable position, allow me to be the first to say: this battle is one of 'hearts and minds', Senhor Woods, and I believe we are winning it in the Congo. Look at how comfortably the people here live, a situation I say would be quite untenable without our presence here."
"Mr. Gama, are there any, erm, specific, policies, that the peacekeeping forces aim to implement to ensure local cooperation with these 'hearts and minds' measures you describe?"
"Senhor Woods, I simply repeat myself: 'hearts and minds'. Our diplomats are crafting the finest of agreements with the local government and they are very eager to be welcomed once again into the world of civilization, but that requires a slight push against the warlords who terrorize peace and order in the Congo."
"And what do you mean by 'a slight push'? Are negotiations on the table, or will absolute military force be used liberally, as some fear?"
"There is simply no need to fear. Your British government and our close ally is supplying us with the most elite of assistance, and the peacekeepers from around the world have been helpful in pacifying any threat these warlords pose."
"What about the Congo Administrative Zone government? We have sources that report extreme cases of corruption, tipping off raids and strikes that causes wastes of money in setting up and executing operations on prominent warlords in the country. Do the peacekeepers, or perhaps the Portuguese government, have an opinion on that?"
"I do not believe I am in a position to discuss the policy of my government other than to ensure you and those people watching at home that all is well. The Congo is under control, and will soon be brought once again onto the world stage with other developed African nations that have come into the light of Western civilization."
"One final question, if you will. Exactly how harsh has been backlash from the natives and their warlords in the interior of the C.A.Z.? Multiple accounts suggest the possibility of unification, a sort of decentralized force, forming around some popular figure, potentially funded by the Ethiopian or Kenyan governments. Can you speak on how likely this might be and how strong such a for--...are those jets?
"Jets! JETS! Ian, get a shot of that treeline, now!"
The Hashemite Kingdom of Arabia expresses great concern at the recent invasion of Syria by Egyptian forces. This blatant disregard of international law and the sovereignty of the Syrian State is an act of undeniable belligerence on the behalf of the Egyptian Republic against both peace in the Middle East and against the interests of the Kingdom of Arabia. We ask that Egyptian forces cease their illegal and unprovoked invasion of Syria, so that peace may reign once more in the Middle East.
- Rashad Abdullah Al Nuami, Foreign Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Arabia.
Private Missive to the Republic of Palestine (@ChaoticGenius ): The Arabian government believes that there a need for cooperation against the extremist and warlike Egyptian nation. Is it not obvious that the Egyptians hunger to expand their nation at the expense of other nations in the Middle East? After the fall of Syria, where else would they go after next other than Palestine? I offer to the Palestinian government an opportunity for an alliance with Arabia in the face of heightened tensions with Egypt. United front would do well to deter Egyptian aggression in the opinion of Arabia.
Private Missive to Oman and Yemen (@ChaoticGenius ): The rise of radical Islam in the Middle is a threat to all good, moderate Muslim nations in the region. This development is clearest in Syria, where radical Egyptians have made an unprovoked attack on the Syrian government. The spread of this radical and extreme ideology in the Middle East is threat to our governments. In the face of such terrible agents of terror, a united front ought to be formed to deter any advance of religious and revolutionary extremism against moderate Islamic nations. I offer to your government an opportunity for an alliance with Arabia in the face of the obvious threat that radical Islam is against our nations and our governments.
The Russian government expresses outrage at the blatant lies the spineless Hashemite Arabs spit towards its stalwart ally, surely, the Hashemite Kings forget they are AT WAR with Syria, who valiantly fought against them and Egypt, and that they should be supporting the Egyptian war effort if they truly wished peace in the Middle-East.
Furthermore, President Taskhalov expressed publicly that should the situation in the Middle-East become bogged with political quagmire, that Russia would be forced to send a peace-keeping mission as a representative for the World Congress, in spite of Britain's willful ignorance of human rights.
While the Commonwealth and its people are grateful for such kind offers from Australia, it would not be appropriate for Kentucky to officially accept aid directly provided by a foreign state, as to do so would imply Kentucky is an independent nation. Should Australia or any state wish to aid the people of Kentucky, it may do so through donations to private charities, humanitarian aid organisations, and philanthropic causes.
Furthermore, we must caution Australia against upsetting the delicate situation in North America and urge it not to extend recognition to post-Confederate states until such a time as a treaty can be signed to clarify the situation of North America after the fall of the Confederacy. For Australia to recognise nations which have not yet been recognised by treaty between American states will only weaken the progress of peace and liberty in the former Confederacy.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky clarifies that it is not an independent state and will not establish relations with any foreign entity.
The Australian Foreign Ministry thanks the Kentucky State Representatives for clerification on it's status. We will though establish optional aid for any of our citizens that wish to help and support the people of Kentucky during this foreseable crisis via our US Embassy in New York. We are sure they will be able to contact your State to transport said aid.
We still express our wishes that the situation in the Former Confederate Territories can reach a peaceful conclusion so that people can resume there lives and peace comes to North America.
The turn of events in Kentucky was regarded by the Virginian gentry with open revulsion. Caroline Arnett was of course not unknown to them -- the sprawling constellation of Southern aristocracy tended to keep tabs on one another -- and she was viewed more with pity than disdain: a respectable woman clearly in the thrall of a uniquely feminine hysteria. Virginia indeed had had her own share of impressionable young belles influenced by Arnett's work. As a rule they ended up in the finest sanitariums Virginia had to offer.
Virginia had few ptions which lay before her. The Arnett administration obviously could not be taken as legitimate, the woman had simply declared herself Governor by dint of her sympathisers having captured the actual freely-elected Governor. The fact that Buxton had been favourably pro-Virginian after the collapse of Montgomery didn't hurt either. With Arnett's disavowal of Kentuckian sovereignty and refusal to enter the Commonwealths it was abundantly clear that she would seek annexation into the United States; a disaster which would greatly increase the Virginian-American border. Something would have to be done.
Ms. Arnett,
The Greater Virginian government must strongly protest your illegitimate seizure of power and deposition of the legitimately-elected government of Andrew Buxton. The Commonwealths of Greater Virginia refuse in any fashion to recognise you as Governor of Kentucky, and will not suffer the continuance of your junta on our borders.
Therefore it is my sad duty to inform you of the following: if you do not release Andrew Buxton and allow him to seek asylum within the Commonwealths, step down within the next 72 hours, and organise free elections within the Commonwealth of Kentucky -- one which would allow the people of Kentucky to decide their government, as opposed to the seizure of power by a despotic Zenobia -- the Greater Virginian government will be forced to authorise a peacekeeping mission in Kentucky to ensure the stability of our borders.
Brooklyn, New York. In a blistering press conference today, Rep. Samantha Langdon laid into what she called the "crisis of leadership" facing the Yankee government. Rep. Langdon, who currently leads what's informally referred to as the "Preservationist" bloc in Congress, spoke at length about the "repeated and systemic failures of the Nilson administration to address the ongoing problems along the Southern border". While the official start to the Presidential campaign is still months away, many in the Chicago politico circle are viewing this as the unofficial start of Rep. Langdon's campaign for the Ivy House. "We have refugees flooding the Caribbean, an attempt to re-start the Confederacy right on our doorstep, and what does the President do? He gives false re-assurances and turns to outdated institutions like the World Congress. Look at what the British are doing in Mesopotamia; they recognized a problem and took decisive action."
The Representative's office was quick to clarify that Langdon's comments, seemingly in praise of the controversial Commonwealth intervention in Mesopotamia, did not express support for "military action against the former Confederate states, nor the rump Confederate government currently occupying Havana". First Secretary Charles Rucker, increasingly under pressure from both the Restorationists and the GOP, released a simple statement criticizing the broader sweep of Langdon's comments without mentioning her specific points. Rucker is widely expected to step down regardless of who wins in '92, though a clear front runner for the position has yet to emerge.
Tune in later this week for the third episode of the critically acclaimed documentary "The Civil War", by director Raymond Elliot. Chronicling the history of the Southron Treason from both sides of the war, the series has already won acclaim for its in depth perspective that depicts the war from both the halls of power and the efforts of the common soldiers. This weeks episode, "Team of Rivals", explores the failures of the Harrison Presidency to contain the escalating political crisis, and how the divided cabinet fell to personal infighting instead of presenting a unified political front.
In 1991, construction was begun on a massive infrastructure project, an vital artery or trade between Angola and Mozambique, a monument to Portuguese ambition.
The Beira–Lobito Highway. It is a Trans-African Highway being built by Portugal, the Global Investment Bank (GIB), and Zambia, Malawi and Katanga. The route has a length of 3,523 km (2,189 mi) crossing Angola, Katanga, Zambia, Rhodesia, and central Mozambique, while the planned extension would also cross Malawi.
The route links mining areas of Katanga, Zambia and Rhodesia and agricultural production areas of Angola, Zambia and Rhodesia to the Atlantic port of Lobito and the Indian Ocean port of Beira. The route will also served by a rail link running parallel to it for the entirety of its length
While local labour of the countries is used where convenient, a lot of skilled labour is also brought in from Mozambique and Angola, where much experience was gained from the many infrastructure projects over the last decades. Indeed, there is often no alternative but to bring in Portuguese sourced architects and foremen to oversee construction.
The grand road and rail project projected to take several years to complete. Over the years, as the transportation construction finishes, many of these workers choose to stay within the interior lands of the project, having become familiar with them, and possible settled down with local wives, causing the creation of Portuguese communities within these nations.
Portugal also funds the creation of business to increase the exploitation of the minerals and other natural resources located along the Lobito-Beira route, often drawing upon these local Portuguese for workers, and bringing in more from outside. And while the local governments do indeed receive a sizeable portion of the profits from these businesses, one cannot help but notice that the lion's share always seems to end up in Portuguese coffers...
Still, the project is, or will, definitely be an economic boon to all the involved nations.
Elisabethstad, one of the mining hubs of the project.
French soldiers on a routine drill within a compound in Algiers; colonial garrisons have been strengthened by the Kingdom in recent years
France 'contemplating' intervention in the Congo
Following the continued escalation of the crisis within the C.A.Z, France has redoubled the policy of consolidation within the French Dominions; the large number of French soldiers recently seen operating in the Gabon and Cameroon's border regions with the troubled Portguese possession indicates that the French government has committed fully to Portguese warnings about the potential for the crisis to spill into the French African possessions. Defence minister Jean-Pierre Chevènement, speaking to reporters outside the Chamber of Deputies, said of the African theatre; "The government is considering all possible measures for the containment of unlawful elements within the Congo. We are in negotiations with the Portguese government in regards to the type and scale of aid they may require."
This follows news that the French government has taken up a stake in the British Dominion of South Africa, following the former colony's native Boer population's assertions of autonomy from the British crown. When asked about the nature of the relationship of the controversial South African government with the Kingdom, the Minister refused to comment further than to say; "The Kingdom and His Majesty's government are committed to the long-term stability of French possessions in Africa. This often means strategic partnerships must be forged on the ground to strengthen our ability to protect those millions of French subjects."
The prospect of a foreign adventure in conjunction with the events in the Middle East, which has seen France take a stridently anti-British line even as their troops close around Baghdad, has lead Socialist members of the Chamber to accuse the Prime Minister of hypocrisy. Addressing the chamber, Leader of the Opposition François Mitterrand cautioned against; "A government which is at once eager to play itself up as a defender of oppressed peoples, yet at once will also eagerly pivot to defend colonial conquests at the point of a gun." Monsieur Mitterrand also demanded that Prime Minister Chirac should; "Clarify the nature of our relationship with the despicable practitioners of Apartheid," in South Africa.
Responding to the allegations, the Prime Minister suggested that Monsieur Mitterrand; "Would sooner see France retreat from the mantle of a world power and give way to terror and barbarism in Africa," than face up to the "real obligations" that the French government owes "each and every one of its subjects, from Algiers to the Gabon."
With rhetoric escalating in the Chamber, it remains to be seen whether the current mood in the French government will translate to meaningful action in Africa.
The Greater Virginian government must strongly protest your illegitimate seizure of power and deposition of the legitimately-elected government of Andrew Buxton. The Commonwealths of Greater Virginia refuse in any fashion to recognise you as Governor of Kentucky, and will not suffer the continuance of your junta on our borders.
Therefore it is my sad duty to inform you of the following: if you do not step down within the next 72 hours and organise free elections within the Commonwealth of Kentucky -- one which would allow the people of Kentucky to decide their government, as opposed to the seizure of power by a despotic Zenobia -- the Greater Virginian government will be forced to authorise a peacekeeping mission in Kentucky to ensure the stability of our borders.
I do not fear the democratic process, and indeed it is my intent to run for Governor of Kentucky in a legitimate election. Elections which, I will note, my "legitimately-elected" predecessor was quite happy to subvert and distort. Elections which, moreover, actually excluded a large portion of Kentucky's population from the franchise. Your pretensions of legitimacy and restoration of democracy are simply a naked attempt to maintain Confederate rule by another name in your "Commonwealths" and, apparently, also in Kentucky.
If you actually value the exercise of democratic rights in Kentucky, then I urge your government to allow the people of Kentucky to hold an election to vote for candidates of their choosing, without the interference and base threats you have already made. Just so that it is abundantly clear, you speak in favour of Robert Buxton, a man who personally ordered his troops to use lethal force on peaceful protesters. So tell me, by what definition is that democracy? Or is democracy solely the term used to describe regimes you think will be more amenable to your interests? If so, you truly are quite a capable heir to the proud Confederate legacy.
As to your threats of a peacekeeping mission, I was not imprisoned by one tyrant so that I may one day submit to the rule of another. I categorically reject your demands and call upon the people of Kentucky to resist your invasion and occupation forces through any means at their disposal.
Private:
For an establishment of a proper date and to allow preparation would it be possible to have these exercises coincide with a visit from the crown prince and future Kaiser after his coronation in '92?
General Statement
From: The 3rd Republic of the United States
The United States condemn's the nakedly aggressive actions of the Commonwealth of Virginia and views them as a direct threat to the peace and stability of North America. The United States government also recognizes Gov. Arnett as the legal head of government for the State of Kentucky, and extends provisional recognition of her government, until such time as a formal settlement regarding the status of Kentucky can be made. We would strongly suggest that the Virginian government back down from its present course, and advise that any military action by Virginia against Kentucky will be met with a proportional military response.
We did not live to see the death of the Confederacy so that we may see it reborn right on our doorstep.
