From john.penta at gmail.com  Tue Apr  1 09:23:11 2008
From: john.penta at gmail.com (John Penta)
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 09:23:11 -0400
Subject: [War] US: Yeah, and?
Message-ID: <ab8370d40804010623k474fc6ebnc8901e75a1ccf806@mail.gmail.com>

"Yeah, and?"
Pres. John Williams
USA
===============
<Washington>

   Well, the Chinese had temporarily seemed to gain a march.

   The Gang of Eight was meeting again, in 30 minutes. But before
that, Williams was in his private office in the Residence, looking at
a different wall. One that had two pictures on it, now.

   The feelings in his head were familiar. Guilt, An aching sadness. A
self-doubt he tried not to show.

   A knock on the door.

   "Enter," Williams called brusquely.

   Secretary Abbot walked in...joined by Senator Obama? Curious.

   "Come to ask for my resignation?" Williams asked. "My
responsibility, Hong's right there."

   "No. Your pistol, Ioannes." Abbot replied. "Now."

   "What pistol? You think the Secret Service would let me have one?"

   "The one you keep in your desk with the other locked stuff."

    "I'm not going to use it, dammit."

    "I'm not taking the chsnce, adelphos. Your sidearm. Weapon to me,
ammunition to the Senator. You'll unload and clear it in front of us."

    "Will I ever get it back?"

     "Maybe. Ioannes, the black dog is bitin' hard right now, eh?"

     "Eh."

      "As I suspected."

      With that, Williams opened the first drawer to the right, first
from the top, with a key from around his right wrist, under his shirt
cuff. Drawer opened, out came a pistol, a , and an extra clip of
ammunition, which was handed to Senator Obama. The pistol was pointed
downwards, unloaded with a finger press, the ammunition handed to
Obama, and the empty chamber cleared with another motion. Then, the
gun was handed, grip-first, to Abbot, who placed it all in a case.

      "For the record, Mr. President, the Democratic party will not
accept your resignation,so don't offer it." Obama noted. "We approved
it too, remember."

      "Nor will your cabinet," Abbot added. "I know you feel guilty.
Just like how we both did after ops that went bad. But you aren't the
type to give up." Pause. "If you haven't, now would -"

      "Be a good time for him to take his meds? Yeah, I grabbed em
from Kay," Obama noted.

      "When the fuck did you find out, and from who?" Williams asked
suspiciously.

      "It's not hard to guess. Though, John...You should tell the
country, sometime." That from Kay, who walked through the door and
hugged her husband. "Not now, but sometime."

      "Why, so they and the world think me as incompetent as I feel,
probably am?"

      "No, because you talking about it would make it okay to talk
about, to get treatment for," noted John McCain, newly the Senate
Republican leader after Ted Stevens resigned to face corruption
charges in Alaska.

      "Enough about me. No more fucking Emo," Williams noted gruffly.
"Kay, if you'll leave us so the Covert Ops Committee can meet?"

      "Go to hell, John." Kay could be direct sometimes. Why he loved
her. Even when she made his life painful, he adored her honesty with
him. They'd broken up 3 times while they were dating, but had gotten
back together every time. "Not today."

       Glances showed....nobody else disagreed with her.

       As Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the group, including Hillary
Clinton as Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Armed Services
Committee, gathered, Williams poured coffee for everyone. "So.
Options?"

       "Unless you want to start World War 3, a breakout isn't one of
them," Abbot noted.

       "There may be merit to admitting it. Aggressively," Obama replied.

       "And nuke our image internationally?" Williams replied.

       "They tortured our guys," McCain noted. "You can tell - they
were subtle, but you can tell by the pics."

        "They'll deny, deny, deny on that," Pelosi responded.

        "Just like Hanoi did," McCain replied. "The families?"

        "Notified as soon as we suspected capture," replied DNI Nick
Manfredi. "They're vehemently *against* negotiations, surprisingly."

        "Thought: Admit it, very matter-of-factly. Yes, we did. Just
like the Chinese supplied Vietnam, we intend to bleed them dry,"
Secstate Chris Hill offered.

         "And spark World War 3," Williams replied.

         "No, Eeyore. Not if we spin it right."

         "We've seen how bad I am at that, right?"

         "Only in your head. I'll do the spinning with assistance from
Congress."

          "Give us our people, alive, or face a trade embargo. We can
source from other Asian countries. India can pick up the slack," Nancy
Pelosi suggested.

          "I'll head to Asia, try to convince others to join in,"
noted John McCain.

          "I'll handle Europe," Clinton offered.

          "I'll handle Eastern Europe," Abbot noted.

          "I'll take Latin America," noted Nancy Pelosi.

          "I'll do Africa," offered Chris Hill.

          "No trade in PRC goods, no sales to the PRC, no shipping on
PRC ships or aircraft," Pelosi offered. "We'll let Commerce decide
where they're most vulnerable."

          "Oh, also. Taiwan gets another billion in arms sales
authorized, cash and carry basis," suggested Hillary Clinton.

          "And we'll have Congressional support for all that?" Williams asked.

           "Yeah. You agree to meet with Pastor Wilson?" asked Pelosi.

            "I already invited him for the 6th." Williams replied.

            "Then, deal. Anybody who speaks against it will run
against the party."

             "Both parties," clarified McCain.

             "Ladies and gentlemen, a toast? To our captured
comrades." Williams decided.

             "Our captured comrades."
----
Actions:
1. US Response: Yup, we did it. Just like you supplied the Viet Cong.
2. Leaders as above to travel the world to get support for trade
embargo vs PRC, until they withdraw from North Korea and return our
guys - ALIVE!
3. Taiwan, you had an arms request? Well, you got the money, we got
the gunny. Cash and carry, please. All checks payable to the US
Treasury, certified checks only.
4. John McCain to remind the world of the possibility of torture by the PRC.
5. What specifically gets embargoed to be decided by Commerce Dept.
6. Explain to the American people: There are some things more
important than low prices. Principles and our people are among them.
It'll not be fun, but this is what is sometimes required.


From michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com  Tue Apr  1 10:16:58 2008
From: michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com (Michael Downey)
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 11:46:58 -0230
Subject: [War] Russia: "A Candid Letter"
Message-ID: <6b6ab8a70804010716q6bc2408djc364587af95f63a2@mail.gmail.com>

"A Candid Letter"
President Leonid Nemerenko
Russian Federation
5 March 2014
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

It was a rare thing for Nemerenko to be nervous. Annoyed, dismayed, even
fretful. But this feeling that he had now was a genuine inkling of fear. Of
uncertainty about the future and what was going to happen. Not just to
Russia, but to the entire world.

"And over what," he cursed quietly, resisting the urge to slam his fist onto
his desk. Good leaders let themselves be guided by logic and pragmatism, not
unbridled emotion. That was a key lesson his Sensei had taught him. Still,
he could not help but feel an immense amount of frustration. Who honestly
cared about North Korea? Maybe when they had been a rogue state with nuclear
weapons, but now they were just another war-ravaged, dirt poor nowhere. No
threat to Russia, no threat to world stability. Or at least that should have
been the case. He cast an angry look at the phone on his desk. Nemerenko had
picked it up twice with the intent of calling Williams and let that
irrational pretender to the Oval Office have an earful. You never heard
cursing until you heard Russian expletives.

You made a fatal error Ivan, thought Nemerenko. And now you are too proud,
stupid or both to give up and go home and are making the situation worse.

An embargo on China! What utter idiocy! To simply cut off all trade with the
second largest economy on Earth and expect it will make everything better!
That lull after the fall of the Soviet Union truly had made America arrogant
beyond measure. This was not some pissant Arab state that could be smacked
around with some choice sanctions and a few F-16s buzzing airfields, this
was a superpower! A *nuclear* superpower!

A disruption in trade between China and America would cause severe economic
loss for both, which would in turn affect Europe and Asia and in turn affect
Russia. The Soviet Union had been a completely different economic bloc than
the USA, but the Americans and Chinese operated within the same market
system. This... lunacy was the start of a global recession. And if they were
unlucky, it might turn into something even worse.

And Russia had terrible luck.

He began to type.

---
To: President John Williams, USA
From: President Leonid Nemerenko, Russian Federation
[Encrypted, Moscow/Washington Protocol]

Ivan,

Please allow me to be candid in this letter. I write to appeal to you, one
leader to another, to end this mad fiasco before the fallout has severe
consequences for the people of America, Russia, Korea and the world as a
whole.

Let us be honest, this is not about freedom for North Korea. This is not
about you protecting the world from some sort of new Soviet Empire, this
isn't about democracy versus communism (if there is such a thing anymore).
This is about fear. Fear and pride. You are afraid of China as a potential
rival on the global stage, a nation that can openly defy the United States
after nearly a decade of the world being your playground. And pride over the
fact that your reckless scheme in North Korea has been uncovered and that
you have been caught.

Make no mistake, I believe the Chinese. Even before your own public
admission of guilt, the GRU had confirmed the authenticity of the PRC's
information. What you have done is a gross violation of international law
and the sovereignty of China.

You attempts to hold China to some sort of standard are foolish and
hypocritical. America is responsible for just as many atrocities as China.
Or Russia, for that matter. How many Iraqis did you butcher? A hundred
thousand? A hundred and fifty thousand? I believe the death toll in Vietnam
was over two million. And despite the adamant denials of your government I
and every other world leader with even a second-rate intelligence agency
knows about the incidents of torture and illegal detention your government
carried out during that farce you called the 'War on Terror.' So much for
democratic decency. You also gave Saddam Hussein the means to produce
chemical weapons that he used to massacre hundreds of thousands of Iranians
and Kurds, supported the Shah and his SAVAK killers, ignored human rights
abuses by Israel (and post-Soviet Russia) that were just as inhumane as
anything China has ever done.

Ah, and let us not forget when America was funding the operations of Mr. Bin
Laden against my countrymen. Not that I deny our own atrocities in
Afghanistan, but so long as Bin Laden's murderous rhetoric was directed at
Russia and not America you had no problem getting into bed with that madman.
I'm sure you recall how that turned out in the end.

I can sympathize with attempts to undermine a rival. This is politics, after
all. But to so blindly pursue this confrontation with China while pretending
that America is something that it is not, namely a nation that cares about
the right, lives and decency of anyone other than its own citizens, is
irrational and irresponsible. If this was just about power and balancing the
scales against China, you would have cut your loses and moved on. Pursuing
this is dangerous to global stability. China will not back down. This
embargo and escalation of tension will only hurt the American economy and
economy of the world. It is unfortunate that your men will be executed by
the Chinese, but both you and they knew the risks when you (illegally) sent
them to carry out this operation.

Do not bore me with transparent outcrys of 'democracy' and 'human rights.' I
will let your country's records speak for itself. And do attempt to dismiss
my warnings as irrelevant based on the past atrocities of my predecessors. I
am well aware of the crimes Russia stands guilty of and I have taken care to
learn from that. Perhaps you should as well.

The world tolerated the arrogant and irresponsible behavior of America in
the post-9/11 world because your actions only affected smaller nations. Now
you have angered a superpower with nuclear weapons and possesses a critical
role in the world economy. Your CIA operation in North Korea was
irresponsibly foolish and your embargo on China is as well. End this now,
Ivan, before it becomes worse. And I can assure you, it will become much,
much worse.

With regards and hope,
Leonid
---

Actions:
1) Russia thinks the American embargo of China is a bad idea
2) Send a rather scathing private letter to President Williams
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From michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com  Tue Apr  1 10:35:34 2008
From: michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com (Michael Downey)
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 12:05:34 -0230
Subject: [War] US: Yeah, and?
In-Reply-To: <ab8370d40804010623k474fc6ebnc8901e75a1ccf806@mail.gmail.com>
References: <ab8370d40804010623k474fc6ebnc8901e75a1ccf806@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <6b6ab8a70804010735l5564825cw9da1c88c5a1da411@mail.gmail.com>

Wait a minute, Obama, Clinton... McCain.... agreeing....

What day is it today?

On Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 10:53 AM, John Penta <john.penta at gmail.com> wrote:

> "Yeah, and?"
> Pres. John Williams
> USA
> ===============
> <Washington>
>
>   Well, the Chinese had temporarily seemed to gain a march.
>
>   The Gang of Eight was meeting again, in 30 minutes. But before
> that, Williams was in his private office in the Residence, looking at
> a different wall. One that had two pictures on it, now.
>
>   The feelings in his head were familiar. Guilt, An aching sadness. A
> self-doubt he tried not to show.
>
>   A knock on the door.
>
>   "Enter," Williams called brusquely.
>
>   Secretary Abbot walked in...joined by Senator Obama? Curious.
>
>   "Come to ask for my resignation?" Williams asked. "My
> responsibility, Hong's right there."
>
>   "No. Your pistol, Ioannes." Abbot replied. "Now."
>
>   "What pistol? You think the Secret Service would let me have one?"
>
>   "The one you keep in your desk with the other locked stuff."
>
>    "I'm not going to use it, dammit."
>
>    "I'm not taking the chsnce, adelphos. Your sidearm. Weapon to me,
> ammunition to the Senator. You'll unload and clear it in front of us."
>
>    "Will I ever get it back?"
>
>     "Maybe. Ioannes, the black dog is bitin' hard right now, eh?"
>
>     "Eh."
>
>      "As I suspected."
>
>      With that, Williams opened the first drawer to the right, first
> from the top, with a key from around his right wrist, under his shirt
> cuff. Drawer opened, out came a pistol, a , and an extra clip of
> ammunition, which was handed to Senator Obama. The pistol was pointed
> downwards, unloaded with a finger press, the ammunition handed to
> Obama, and the empty chamber cleared with another motion. Then, the
> gun was handed, grip-first, to Abbot, who placed it all in a case.
>
>      "For the record, Mr. President, the Democratic party will not
> accept your resignation,so don't offer it." Obama noted. "We approved
> it too, remember."
>
>      "Nor will your cabinet," Abbot added. "I know you feel guilty.
> Just like how we both did after ops that went bad. But you aren't the
> type to give up." Pause. "If you haven't, now would -"
>
>      "Be a good time for him to take his meds? Yeah, I grabbed em
> from Kay," Obama noted.
>
>      "When the fuck did you find out, and from who?" Williams asked
> suspiciously.
>
>      "It's not hard to guess. Though, John...You should tell the
> country, sometime." That from Kay, who walked through the door and
> hugged her husband. "Not now, but sometime."
>
>      "Why, so they and the world think me as incompetent as I feel,
> probably am?"
>
>      "No, because you talking about it would make it okay to talk
> about, to get treatment for," noted John McCain, newly the Senate
> Republican leader after Ted Stevens resigned to face corruption
> charges in Alaska.
>
>      "Enough about me. No more fucking Emo," Williams noted gruffly.
> "Kay, if you'll leave us so the Covert Ops Committee can meet?"
>
>      "Go to hell, John." Kay could be direct sometimes. Why he loved
> her. Even when she made his life painful, he adored her honesty with
> him. They'd broken up 3 times while they were dating, but had gotten
> back together every time. "Not today."
>
>       Glances showed....nobody else disagreed with her.
>
>       As Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the group, including Hillary
> Clinton as Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Armed Services
> Committee, gathered, Williams poured coffee for everyone. "So.
> Options?"
>
>       "Unless you want to start World War 3, a breakout isn't one of
> them," Abbot noted.
>
>       "There may be merit to admitting it. Aggressively," Obama replied.
>
>       "And nuke our image internationally?" Williams replied.
>
>       "They tortured our guys," McCain noted. "You can tell - they
> were subtle, but you can tell by the pics."
>
>        "They'll deny, deny, deny on that," Pelosi responded.
>
>        "Just like Hanoi did," McCain replied. "The families?"
>
>        "Notified as soon as we suspected capture," replied DNI Nick
> Manfredi. "They're vehemently *against* negotiations, surprisingly."
>
>        "Thought: Admit it, very matter-of-factly. Yes, we did. Just
> like the Chinese supplied Vietnam, we intend to bleed them dry,"
> Secstate Chris Hill offered.
>
>         "And spark World War 3," Williams replied.
>
>         "No, Eeyore. Not if we spin it right."
>
>         "We've seen how bad I am at that, right?"
>
>         "Only in your head. I'll do the spinning with assistance from
> Congress."
>
>          "Give us our people, alive, or face a trade embargo. We can
> source from other Asian countries. India can pick up the slack," Nancy
> Pelosi suggested.
>
>          "I'll head to Asia, try to convince others to join in,"
> noted John McCain.
>
>          "I'll handle Europe," Clinton offered.
>
>          "I'll handle Eastern Europe," Abbot noted.
>
>          "I'll take Latin America," noted Nancy Pelosi.
>
>          "I'll do Africa," offered Chris Hill.
>
>          "No trade in PRC goods, no sales to the PRC, no shipping on
> PRC ships or aircraft," Pelosi offered. "We'll let Commerce decide
> where they're most vulnerable."
>
>          "Oh, also. Taiwan gets another billion in arms sales
> authorized, cash and carry basis," suggested Hillary Clinton.
>
>          "And we'll have Congressional support for all that?" Williams
> asked.
>
>           "Yeah. You agree to meet with Pastor Wilson?" asked Pelosi.
>
>            "I already invited him for the 6th." Williams replied.
>
>            "Then, deal. Anybody who speaks against it will run
> against the party."
>
>             "Both parties," clarified McCain.
>
>             "Ladies and gentlemen, a toast? To our captured
> comrades." Williams decided.
>
>             "Our captured comrades."
> ----
> Actions:
> 1. US Response: Yup, we did it. Just like you supplied the Viet Cong.
> 2. Leaders as above to travel the world to get support for trade
> embargo vs PRC, until they withdraw from North Korea and return our
> guys - ALIVE!
> 3. Taiwan, you had an arms request? Well, you got the money, we got
> the gunny. Cash and carry, please. All checks payable to the US
> Treasury, certified checks only.
> 4. John McCain to remind the world of the possibility of torture by the
> PRC.
> 5. What specifically gets embargoed to be decided by Commerce Dept.
> 6. Explain to the American people: There are some things more
> important than low prices. Principles and our people are among them.
> It'll not be fun, but this is what is sometimes required.
>
> _______________________________________________
> War mailing list
> War at esteroic.com
> http://esteroic.com/mailman/listinfo/war_esteroic.com
>
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From vampi.digitalwytch at gmail.com  Tue Apr  1 10:57:44 2008
From: vampi.digitalwytch at gmail.com (Vampi Digitalwytch)
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 08:57:44 -0600
Subject: [War] US: Yeah, and?
In-Reply-To: <6b6ab8a70804010735l5564825cw9da1c88c5a1da411@mail.gmail.com>
References: <ab8370d40804010623k474fc6ebnc8901e75a1ccf806@mail.gmail.com>
	<6b6ab8a70804010735l5564825cw9da1c88c5a1da411@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <e245f8830804010757q6d17dd57gddc1c49f56d5cde2@mail.gmail.com>

I was actually wagering on seeing the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
heading down San Mateo on my way in to work.

2008/4/1 Michael Downey <michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com>:
> Wait a minute, Obama, Clinton... McCain.... agreeing....
>
> What day is it today?
>
>

-- 
--I know there are no lifeguards in the gene pool, but damn, there
ought to be at least a few sharks in the water.


From john.penta at gmail.com  Tue Apr  1 11:46:52 2008
From: john.penta at gmail.com (John Penta)
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 11:46:52 -0400
Subject: [War] US: Yeah, and?
In-Reply-To: <e245f8830804010757q6d17dd57gddc1c49f56d5cde2@mail.gmail.com>
References: <ab8370d40804010623k474fc6ebnc8901e75a1ccf806@mail.gmail.com>
	<6b6ab8a70804010735l5564825cw9da1c88c5a1da411@mail.gmail.com>
	<e245f8830804010757q6d17dd57gddc1c49f56d5cde2@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <ab8370d40804010846r2cbac56cie30fb71025151c2f@mail.gmail.com>

Only today, and only 6 years in the future, could I pull that off.:)

John

On Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 10:57 AM, Vampi Digitalwytch
<vampi.digitalwytch at gmail.com> wrote:
> I was actually wagering on seeing the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
> heading down San Mateo on my way in to work.
>
> 2008/4/1 Michael Downey <michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com>:
> > Wait a minute, Obama, Clinton... McCain.... agreeing....
> >
> > What day is it today?
> >
> >
>
> --
> --I know there are no lifeguards in the gene pool, but damn, there
> ought to be at least a few sharks in the water.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> War mailing list
> War at esteroic.com
> http://esteroic.com/mailman/listinfo/war_esteroic.com
>


From john.penta at gmail.com  Tue Apr  1 14:55:44 2008
From: john.penta at gmail.com (John Penta)
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 14:55:44 -0400
Subject: [War] US: "Tell me your troubles"
Message-ID: <ab8370d40804011155n4bfa3dc3iea675fafbea301c5@mail.gmail.com>

"Tell me your troubles"
4 March 2014
Pres. John Williams
USA
================
<Washington>

     As they walked towards the press for the obligatory photo op,
Williams looked apologetically towards Rev. Joshua Wilson, pastor of
the First Baptist Church, and the other representatives of the
riot-hit areas in Detroit.

    "I hate to subject people to these things," Williams noted.

    "Cardinal Flores had -told- me you were a fish out of water,"
noted Rob "Dogbone" Watson, a heavily-tattooed ex-ganger, cause of
Secret Service heart attacks....and a respectable community leader
since getting out of prison 15 years ago. "Most pols love these."

    "I am not most politicians, sir," Williams replied with a grin.

     Later, they were in the Oval Office, and Williams was in a chair,
Wilson, Watson, and the others in chairs of their choice.

     "Before you aim and fire, let me lay out something. There's only
so much I, at the federal level, can do. You might not like that, but
federalism protects you at all levels; the trade-off is that you don't
get to have the federal government tell Michigan, or Detroit, what to
do on a day-to-day basis, even when you want us to. Or when *we* want
to. But within that limit, and I'll tell you when it applies, you have
an open set of ears. Tell me your troubles. Vent. But let's try to
work together."

      And so they did. Long, vehement venting, with Williams defending
his actions with equal vigor. Polite, yet candid. Frank, yet friendly.

     And all behind closed doors.

     Exactly how a good venting should be.
---
Actions:
1. Williams....listens. Come and vent, Detroit. No promises, but he
does take copious notes.
2. Defend welfare policy: I'm not an asshole, there's good intentions here.
3. Ask Detroit community reps to help smack China for sticking its
nose in American "family issues". We may argue, but this ain't for
China to comment on! Shaddap, you!:P


From Chazenesq2b at aol.com  Tue Apr  1 21:46:22 2008
From: Chazenesq2b at aol.com (Chazenesq2b at aol.com)
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 21:46:22 EDT
Subject: [War] China:  "The Trial"
Message-ID: <bda.25f39878.35243f6e@aol.com>

OOC:  This is set a few days after John's last post, the intent being  to 
remind the US China does not accept threats.
 
"The Trial"
 
President Xia Hong
The People's Republic of China
March 8, 2014
===================================
 
(The Executive Mansion)
 
All it had taken was one phone call from Xia's desk to seal the fate  of the 
two men abandoned by their home government.  The call had been made  at 2:30 
PM local time, and lasted all of 45 seconds.
 
They would live.
 
The Minister of Justice had reported the jury's findings as he was  obliged.  
The Grand Jury had given the indictment... the trial lasted a  couple of days 
as the evidence was presented, a jury selected, and a verdict  reach.  They 
had been found guilty on all charges despite what the ICJ  specialists had 
determined was a fair and rigorous defense by well trained legal  professionals.  
Their evidence after all was 'that' strong.
 
It hadn't been an easy decision to reach.  The Hardliners had backed  her the 
entire way in seeking the death penalty, and to hear of her  compassionate 
move now could very much cause them to yap noisily before they ran  for their 
respective rocks again.  Part of her, the old soldier, wanted to  see them pay 
for the murder of Chinese soldiers likely caused by their  presence... and 
their cowardice in not bearing a uniform and standing to  fight.  But that was 
overshadowed by the pragmatic leader, and the mother,  who saw their faces and 
couldn't help but think of her own son.  It was  revolting really... the 
Americans 'should' have been supporting them, not  undermining them.  Williams, she 
decided, was an ass.
 
On the Television behind her the Xinhua 'breaking news' flash played,  
declaring that President Hong in "a gracious show of compassion for the  families" 
of the captured men, commuted their sentence to life  imprisonment.  In 
reality, as soon as either the North Korean insurgency  was defeated and power 
returned to it's rightful government, or it so suited  China, the two men would be 
pardoned and released.  Per the Japanese  request, she opened up to the IRC the 
medical centers established in North  Korea, and ordered the Ministry of 
Health to cooperate.  It was rare when  China could boast being morally superior 
to the US... after all had they been in  America, and it was her spies who were 
captured, they very likely could have  been put to death.
 
Ultimately, it was a situation unfair to everyone, and Xia knew this.   
Already her government was countering allegations of torture by replying that  the 
IRC had full access to the prisoners and had determined they were being  
treated humanely... another bitch slap to the American propaganda machine.   While 
the Chinese markets dipped sharply on the news of a possible economic  
sanction, American markets came within a hairsbreadth of crashing... and  
international support from those who had opted to speak so far clearly followed  China's 
way of thinking.  
 
She had fought the 800 pound global Gorilla, and had thoroughly kicked his  
hairy ass.  
 
It should have been a time for celebration, but the North Korean situation  
was really just one aspect of China's problems.  On the other side of  
Beijing's parallel was Tibet.  Although the riots had calmed some now, the  fact that 
the very agencies tasked by her to carry out her orders had failed to  comply 
irritated her to no end.  The last report from the MoJ said 102  officers and 
89 soldiers were under investigation.  Of this, they could  already 
substantiate claims for 76 individuals.  30 of those had cases  pending already, and the 
rest would be filed by week's end.  She would  likely see to it that this was 
discretely forgotten, the officers punished with  five to ten years in jail, 
longer if they killed someone, and deprived of their  pensions and benefits.  
God help them if they continued the unnecessarily  harsh tactics, however.
 
She poured herself a glass of upscale Vodka, courtesy of the  Russians.  She 
certainly could use it, and now understood why so many  Russian Presidents had 
drinking issues... dealing with the Americans made you  drink.  Especially as 
they were 'now' trying to escolate things by arming  the Taiwanese, going 
embargo, and outright slander.
 
There was a simple, one line letter sent to the Department of State under  
diplomatic courier from her desk intended to be delivered straight to  Williams. 
 It read simply "Remember this."
==========================================
 
Actions
 
1.  The lives of the two American CIA operatives captured in North  Korea 
will be spared, irregardless of America's non-compliance.  China  again will be 
taking the high-road.
 
2.  Another PR bitch slap to America, the IRC says we're not  torturing.  Is 
this another WMDs in Iraq thing?
 
3.  Chinese Military clear to conduct readiness drills.  Increase  
international naval patrols, particularly around Taiwan, but care is to be  taken.  
Remind the world that despite China's moves of peace, the United  States continues 
to war monger.  Do you want to stand idly by while the US  leads you to the 
path of Armageddon, or will you do the responsible thing and  remain neutral... 
or better yet, support us?
 
4.  Military hardware sales authorized to Cuba and Venezuela.   Free-trade 
overtures to be made to the European Union, all African and American  nations 
(the US included for formality's sake), and the Middle East.   Encourage Middle 
Eastern powers to cut the oil line to the US hard, sell to  China instead.
 
5.  Remind the Americans China controls untold billions in American  
currency.  Screwing with us economically will guarantee the end of 'Pax  Americana'.
 
6.  Clear and hard message to the Americans.  We do not tolerate  terrorism, 
not from insurgents, not from nations.  You continue down the  path of making 
demands as if you had control of the situation, you do so at your  own peril.



**************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL 
Home.      
(http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15&ncid=aolhom00030000000001)
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From john.penta at gmail.com  Tue Apr  1 23:10:20 2008
From: john.penta at gmail.com (John Penta)
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 23:10:20 -0400
Subject: [War] US: An explanation
Message-ID: <ab8370d40804012010k380dd409nb1d1a5df11ad901@mail.gmail.com>

"An Explanation"
5 March 2014
Pres. John Williams
USA
===============
<Washington>

Breathe in, breathe out.

*Relax. You've done this...A handful of times before.*

*Inner voice, you are Not Helping.*

"Ioannes, your mind is arguing with itself again, isn't it?" Piper
asked. "Your face always looks so haunted when that happens."

"Yes, and I write this speech over and over again and it is not working."

"Relax, breathe, and channel your predecessors. Fortunately for you,
they suck less than most of mine."

A chuckle at that.

"See? You can laugh at least."

"Yeah, but 2 good men may well be dead by now because of me."

"Or they'd have died in some random, petty, pathetic way. Stop blaming
yourself, Wolf. Unworthy of you, and unbecoming."

"Point on their deaths."

"If they're dead. If."

"Shut up and help me write the damn speech."
---
<2 hours later>

Makeup on, Lights shining in his eyes...

"Guys, seriously. Must the light shine straight in my eyes?"

Presidential complaint addressed. Check on the TV. Mmmhm.

All is green.

"My fellow Americans, and people of the world," Williams said with a grave face.

"I speak to you tonight about the exposure of a covert operation of
this government on the Korean Peninsula, and the capture of two
American personnel in connection with this operation.

"First, I wish to speak to the purposes and intents of this operation
and its scope. Second, I wish to speak as to recent events.

"Firstly: This operation was planned and conducted on a limited basis.

"The objectives were as follows:

"One: Find and make contact with Korean partisan groups.
"Two: If found, insert intelligence operatives to supply medical
supplies and communications gear. No weapons, period.
"Three: Encourage the Korean partisan groups to form a united political force.

"These objectives, until the capture of our personnel under
circumstances still to be investigated, were, for the most part, going
quite well." Point three was like herding cats on meth, but did that
need to be said publicly? No, not really, Williams had decided.

"No involvement of American military forces was at any time planned or
ordered, or would ever be. Such was my decision in coordination with
the Congressional leadership at the time we began our assistance, and
that would not have changed. The fight for the Korean peninsula is
Koreans' to fight, was Koreans' to fight, and always will be primarily
Koreans' to fight; If they didn't want a free government, not undrr
Chinese influence, nothing we could do to convince them would. If they
didn't want a united Korea under a democratic government, we could
never convince them they did.

"Second, I would like to address recent events.

"Bluntly, I place no trust in Chinese justice. All too often, Chinese
activists have themselves demonstrated that, while China's justice
system is free and fair, or at least not that bad in regular cases, it
is all too often easily influenced by political considerations, to an
extent which, in nations with more established justice systems, would
be utterly unacceptable. In the United States, to influence cases as
is generally regular in China would get any executive official
impeached - if not ripped limb from limb by an angry mob.

"This case is political to the utmost. Thus, responsibility for its
outcome rests with President Hong. If they live, I want them home,
transferred to American soil within 48 hours. If they die, then the
blood will be on her hands.

"Now, to address the accusations of torture: It doesn't look to me as
though our personnel were tortured. However, should we ever find out
that they may have been, physically or mentally...Then, the People's
Republic of China will be held responsible.

"To address the sanctions controversy: As President, I reserve the
right to declare sanctions. In this case, I will exercise my
discretion based on the following factors:

"One: have our personnel been returned alive, unharmed, and in the
same health in which we sent them away within five days?
"Two: Within thirty days, have all Chinese forces and persons
withdrawn from Korea - and have free elections, monitored by the UN
and the OSCE, been scheduled for not later than one year hence?

"If those two points are met, then sanctions will not be imposed. Period.

"My fellow Americans, people of the world.

"In times of tension, it seems at times as though tension is the order
of things, particularly between major powers.

"I assure you...this time of tension, too, shall pass."
---
Actions:
1. Speech to the planet.
2. No, I don't think China tortured anybody.
3. Dun mean I believe Hong though.
4. Appeal for support.
5. Explain objectives in Korea.
6. Player needs more naps!


From michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com  Wed Apr  2 09:57:08 2008
From: michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com (Michael Downey)
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2008 11:27:08 -0230
Subject: [War] Russia: "An Appeal to China"
Message-ID: <6b6ab8a70804020657w1fe2bc8fv4379bc6c8f34e47@mail.gmail.com>

"An Appeal to China"
President Leonid Nemerenko
Russian Federation
6 March 2014
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

To: President Xia Hong, People's Republic of China
From: President Nemerenko, Russian Federation
[Open Letter]
---

President Hong,

Let me begin by saying that I find the actions of certain units within the
PLA peacekeeping force in North Korea to be highly unacceptable. My
government has come to expect a high level of professionalism within the
Chinese military and the inhumane acts of a minority of your soldiers
towards the civilians of North Korea very disconcerting. I trust your
government is sincere in the punitive steps it has begun.

The recent troubles between your country and the United States of America
are very troubling. It had been my intent to remain neutral but recent
actions undertaken by the American government has forced me to step in. The
operations undertaken by the CIA, verified by the GRU and SVR to be genuine
thanks to the evidence you supplied, is a gross violation of national
sovereignty and a complete violation of international law. I am sure you
know as well as I do that the Americans would be absolutely furious if they
had caught SVR or MSS operatives giving aid to insurgents in Iraq. Clearly I
condemn their actions.

Worse still, this ill-planned embargo that President Williams had threatened
your country with will clearly destabilize the global economy. If all of the
nations on earth are suffering through a recession, I fail to see how it
will help the already-desperate economic situation in North Korea.

So clearly my concern is great. I do not want this conflict to endanger the
stability of the Far East or the world. For that reason I would like to
inquire if you would be interested in attending a summit I wish to hold in
Vladivostok, with the leaders of America, Japan, and if they will attend
South Korea. You are the first foreign leader I have asked and I do not have
commitments from President Williams, Myung-bak or Prime Minister Sato.

Lastly, while the regrettable security situation in North Korea has force me
to withdraw our aid workers, the flow of food and medical aid from Russia to
the IRC in North Korea will continue.

With Regards,
Leonid Nemerenko,
President of Russia
---

Actions:
1) Give China a light slap on the wrists over PLA actions towards North
Korea civilians so Russia doesn't seem only concerned about the world
economy
2) Indicate that Russia is not pleased with the American threats of an
embargo or the gross violation of the principle of sovereignty
3) Ask if President Hong would be interested in a Russia-chaired summit
between Japan, America and China in Vladivostok
4) While Russia will no longer have aid workers on the ground, it will
continue to send food and medical aid
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From john.penta at gmail.com  Wed Apr  2 10:11:41 2008
From: john.penta at gmail.com (John Penta)
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2008 10:11:41 -0400
Subject: [War] US: We'll take it
Message-ID: <ab8370d40804020711x4a5f1dd4h119674b239f3a2cc@mail.gmail.com>

"We'll take it"
9 March 2014
Pres. John Williams
USA
===============
(OOC: A quick post. A really quick post. Why? Cuz our fridge just
broke and we're doing a run to the backup fridge.)
<Washington>

Perhaps not meant by the Chinese, but what the hell.

Williams decided...Take the free-trade offer. Offer a free-trade pact
to the entire Pacific Rim in return.

But there was a catch. Williams would start very, very high.

If Hong was sincere, she'd bargain him down, he figured.

However...

"Presidente Calderon? Presidente Williams. Hola...."

If he could get Central America to lock arms with him, could they resist China?
---
Actions:
1. Take Hong's free-trade offer....And offer a free-trade area to the
whole PacRim.
2. If Hong's sincere, she'll bargain him down from harsh terms. If not, well.
3. Try to get Central America to join the US side in the trade talks.
4. Offer to everybody but China: We'll hold the WTO suit in
abeyance...if you support us against them.


From pbuck11 at aol.com  Fri Apr  4 11:08:29 2008
From: pbuck11 at aol.com (Patrick B)
Date: Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:08:29 -0600
Subject: [War] NEWS FLASH: US-China War of words
Message-ID: <47F6446D.8010508@aol.com>

The latest conflicts beteween the war of words beteween the US and China
has resulted in an upswing in insanity.

The Chinese revelations in the UN resulted in Venezuela introducing a
resolution in the UN Security Council calling for an international
condemnation of the United States, Which resulted in the UK delegation
filing a protest against several 'dissapearances' in the Venezuelan
government.

The news cycle was live with arguments and at one point the O'Riley
Factor started to resemble Geraldo when Cynthia Mckinney threw a chair 
at Ann Coulter which nearly started a brawl and required Richard 
Marcinko to break the two of them up.

The internet blogs were alive with argument, on popular news site
fark.com a poster named bob ondeeznutz compared Wiliams' actions to
Stalin and the proxy wars. A poster named bigpimpinwillie argued that 
every country had done proxy wars, at that point the thread devolved in 
to cat macros, accusations of internet toughguying, pictures of Jessica 
Alba, Salma Hayak, and other female celebs, and links to a video of Rick 
Astley singing Never gonna give you up.

Protests on both sides sprung up nearly overnight, Some calling for 
Williams to resign, some calling for the use of nukes on China until the 
  prisoners are returned.

In China hardliners are upset the president didn't execute them and 
there have been scattered protest, Student groups are more upset at the 
threatened embargo which has been met with skeptical but lukewarm 
support in the United States. Unions however strongly support the 
boycott and are calling for it to continue, seeing the increased jobs 
that should be coming their way.

Actions:

1) Fox news hires a bouncer for The Factor, O'Riley has a broken nose.
2) Basic how things look on the media.



From martellian at hotmail.com  Fri Apr  4 13:01:10 2008
From: martellian at hotmail.com (Ian)
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2008 10:01:10 -0700
Subject: [War] Japan: Just Say No
Message-ID: <BAY141-DAV456D8E576472241D73B32C6F60@phx.gbl>

"Just Say No"
Prime Minister Shunchi Sato
Japan
10 March 2014

------------------------------------


Minister Hashimoto and Minister Jonouchi appeared in the PM's office in the Diet building promptly after the latest session. Sato was already there sitting with his tie undone shoes off and a scotch in his hand. He waved them in like the old friends (and occasional rivals) they were.

They smiled as they walked in and set down their attache cases and Hashimoto went to the sideboard to pour them both some scotch. "Long session," the Finance minister commented as he returned with the drinks.

Sato nodded. "Yes," he said. While in Japan the questions asked by the opposition at question period were published and listed before they were asked, it could still be grueling spitting out prepared answers time and time again. "But it's over."

"So where do we stand with the American's offer?" he asked.

Hashimoto frowned. "Well as I said when you first asked the department of finance to look into it, there may be a slight net benefit to some industries by accepting an American free trade agreement but we will see a world wide recession as a result of a successful sactioning of Chinese trade, in addition, our food prices will soar."

Sato nodded. No surprises there. "Likely diplomatic ramifications?" he asked Jonouchi.

"Hard to say, Williams acts somewhat erratically and so to does his government," he replied. "However I belive it is safe to say we will see a cooling of relations."

Sato nodded. "America's favorite tune: you're either with us or against us."

Jonouchi nodded. "Yes," he said. "The Cabinet is fully behind refusing the Americans, and the majority of the media have also pointed out the flaws in the President's plan."

He knew he'd take a little flak from the industries which would have benefitted with the free trade agreement and the end to this ridiculous law suit, but he'd live with it, he wouldn't be much of a leader if he embraced ecconomic ruin for the sake of little less criticism.

"Then we will let Senator McCain know when he arrives that we regretfully cannot accept the US's offer," Sato said. 

Jonouchi nodded. "And our Southeast Asian allies?" he asked.

"Well most of them can count so I do not think they will have a problem in determining what will happen if they boycott China, but if they are dithering on the subject our decision will bolster their confidence. But if you want to send them quiet word of our intentions, then go ahead, but nothing public until we tell the US ourselves, we owe our allies that much."

Jonouchi nodded.

"What about the UN?" asked Hashimoto.

"Venezuela's resolution?" asked Jonouchi. "It's going to fail."

Sato agreed. "Yes, we are going to vote no, and be done with it."

The other ministers nodded, looking relieved. 

"Anything else?" the Prime Minister asked.

The men shook their heads. "Then let's take a break," Sato said. "The Senator isn't due to arrive for a few hours."

Actions:

1. Say no to the US sanctions, politely, but firmly. It's bad for the world's ecconomy.
2. Quietly let our Asian allies know what we're doing so they feel more comfortable saying no. (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Phillipines)
3. Vote no on the resolution to condem the US.





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From michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com  Fri Apr  4 16:03:38 2008
From: michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com (Michael Downey)
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2008 17:33:38 -0230
Subject: [War] Russia: "Dose the Flames"
Message-ID: <6b6ab8a70804041303u50edbdbdr2ac786dea5d8d143@mail.gmail.com>

"Dose the Flames"
President Leonid Nemerenko
Russian Federation
10 March 2014
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The Kremlin had been up in arms about the threat of embargo. Before
Nemerenko was happy to sit on the sidelines and let China and AMerica settle
their differences on their own. But the White House's threat of an embargo
had drastically changed the situation and forced the President's hand. Now
he had to become involved, because he already was. He had trouble seeing
genuine morality in the actions of either America or China, but the Chinese
were definitely the less reckless of the two and decisively winning the PR
war. Japan, America's closest regional ally, had voiced opposition to the
embargo. Russia.... well, Nemerenko's letter to Williams had probably given
the White House a clear enough picture of where Russia stood. Adding to the
fact that the Kremlin had refused to give Julius Abbot an audience on his
Eastern European tour to promote this half-baked scheme eliminated any
public doubts as to where Russia stood.

"You never received a reply from Williams," noted Denemetov. "I warned you
that the wording was far too harsh. American Presidents do not like to be
brought down of their high horse. Assailing him so harshly when his
government in backed into a corner might have cost us their attention."

Nemerenko shrugged. He had badly overestimated the competence of his
American counterpart and was actually rather cross with Williams for his
incompetence. If you were going to play games like the ones the CIA had in
China, you had to prepare to get caught. Laws had been broken and China was
within its rights to detain and prosecute the two operatives. Had they been
caught in Russia the situation would have been much more direct; an SVR
agent would have walked into the room after the men had been sufficiently
interrogated for information and promptly blow both their brains out with a
Makarov. No trial, no spectacle. Just quick and clean spy justice. The
corpses would have been returned to Langley through back channels.

"He's desperate," observed Oleg Tretiak, the new Russian Prime Minister
since Koretsky had retired a few months ago. "The erratic behaviour of his
government and his person all point to extreme panic."

"Which is tremendously dangerous," continued Denemetov. "What if the
Americans threaten military action? What then?"

"Congress is supporting Williams because they want to look like they care
about the lives of the two captured CIA agents," said Nemerenko. "And as
economic woes become worse in America and the population becomes more upset,
their support for him will fade. They will not even consider war as an
option." Indeed, the very threat of an embargo had caused markets across the
world to dip. It was an unforgivably stupid mistake on Williams' part. If
you wanted to ween yourself of China's cheaps goods, this was totally not
the way to do it. "You said we received word back from China, Irena?"

"Yes. Hong has agreed to attend a summit at Vladivostok provided an
invitation is also extended to the North Korean government."

That got a smirk from Nemerenko. It was a logical step. Hong would have to
drag along some puppet to spew China's orders to make at least the
appearance of democracy in the PRC's new client state. It was a good
strategy, one Russia had used quite often, and Nemerenko didn't find the
idea morally offensive in the slightest.

"Of course we'll give the North Korean government an invitation. Now that
China has agreed, the first major hurdle has been overcome. Have the Foreign
Ministry begin making preparations and send the relevant invitation to the
remaining states."

"If Williams refuses to attend?" asked Tretiak.

"He can't afford not to," said Nemerenko. Or at least that's what the
Russian President hoped. "Especially if I can convince Japan to attend as
well. Refusing to sit down and settle this in a civilized manner will only
shift world opinion even further in China's favor. The time has long passed
when the United States can just ignore the desires of the international
community."
---

Actions:
1) The Kremlin refuses to see Secretary Abbot on his Eastern European tour
to get support for the American embargo.
2) Russia is publicly against the embargo.
3) Extend invitation to Japan, South Korea, North Korea and the United
States to attend a summit in Vladivostok after Hong agrees to attend in a
private communication that has been sent to Russia.
4) The reckless and erratic behavior of the American government is beginning
to noticeably anger the Kremlin
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From martellian at hotmail.com  Fri Apr  4 17:07:32 2008
From: martellian at hotmail.com (Ian)
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2008 14:07:32 -0700
Subject: [War] Japan: "Living Under the Sword"
Message-ID: <BAY141-DAV1FD7FCA45E5E0344A5195C6F60@phx.gbl>

"Living Under the Sword"
Prime Minister Shunichi Sato
Japan
10 March 2014
----------------------------------

Sato had just about finished for the day when the phone on his desk rang without a word from his secretary. Few people could do that, so he picked it up at once.

"Sato," he said.

"It's Jonouchi," replied the Foreign Minister.

"You really should just move to my office," Sato joked. "What is going on?"

"The Russians have contacted us, they're inviting us to a summit to discuss the North Korea situation, apparently the Chinese and North Koreans are coming."

Sato smiled. "You're repeating yourself."

Jonouchi chuckled. "Yes, I suppose I am."

"Very well and the other players?"

"No word on the US or South Korea."

Sato leaned back, that was interesting, without either of them this was going to be nothing more than what was the American word? Bitching session and if attended by Japan would only widen the gulf between the mad superpower and the land of the rising sun.

"Call our Ambassadors in Seoul and Washington, see if they can discover the American's and the South Korean's intent. I don't want to be the only one there representing 'our side'; or we will end up branded as on 'their side'."

Jonouchi made an agreeing noise. "I think we should also speak to Moscow and let them know our position and our willingness to help resolve this matter in any way possible."

Snorting a laugh Sato replied. "Yes of course, but what an odd world we live in, Japan and Russia are trying to hold the world togeather, while China speaks of democracy and justice and the US pushes the world to the brink of disaster. In the old days I'd have to write a haiku."

Jonouchi laughed. "The winds of spring blow cold. A rain of steel threatens us. All the world is ill."

"Very good," Sato joked. "Lets be glad you are a good minister, you'd make a horrible poet."

They shared a laugh despite the fact the joke was not that funny nor was their situation. They had been doing that more often, laughing, Sato figured it was what the Samurai had called, living under the sword, accepting one's situation, good or bad, and enjoying both.

"Call the Cabinet," he instructed the Foreign Minister. "Anyone who is free can come to the Kantei for drinks, we need to laugh Jonouchi-kun, our friends and enemies aren't but we need to."

Jonouchi chuckled. "Of course," he said and they hung up and got ready to relax.

Actions:

1. Check on the US and South Korean's see that they are attending the summit.
2. Given John's ooc post, Japan will attend.
3. Contact the Russians and relay, yeah, we're scared too, lets work togeather in navigating this mess.





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From michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com  Sat Apr  5 07:11:41 2008
From: michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com (Michael Downey)
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2008 08:41:41 -0230
Subject: [War] Russia: "Keeping the Peace"
Message-ID: <6b6ab8a70804050411v3b46e9acw25a0e4d4a9868869@mail.gmail.com>

"Keeping the Peace"
President Nemerenko,
Sergeant Taminova,
Russian Federation
9 March 2014
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Despite it still being early March the weather was fairly pleasant in
Sukhumi, regional capital of the breakaway Georgian province of Abkhazia.
Sergeant Taminova attributed it to the city's South Caucasus location,
proximity to the Black Sea and global warming. Russian, Japanese and EU
soldiers with bored looks on their faces hung out by APCs under a lazy
orange sun, smoking their issued cigarettes and exchanging bootleg Dutch
porn for bootleg Jap hentai.

Tamin hadn't been too pleased when his unit, the 76th Motor Rifle Regiment
out of the 205th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade, had been pulled out of
training with the Ukrainians to be assigned PK duty here in Abkhazia. He was
looking forward to some leave, use some of the money he'd saved thanks to
his greatly-increased NCOs pay to rent a room and watch the Olympics in
Sochi. Now he was stuck in some crummy little renegade state down near the
ass of the Caucasus. Even those assholes in the 19th MRD would get to see
some of the Olympics with their unit assigned to Sochi for security duty.

*Security duty*. He snorted and took another drag off his cigarette. The
first few days had been intense once Moscow had decided that meddling in the
dispute between Georgia and Abkhazia really wasn't worth the effort and
pretty much blackmailed the two sides and sitting down and talking. Most
Abkhazians were 'Russians of convenience,' clinging to their dual
citizenship not out of loyalty to Mother Russia but to use it as leverage to
gain their eventual independence. When that crutch had evaporated and the
Abkhazians realized they'd have to actually solve their own problems like
adults, they hadn't been too pleased with the newly-arrived 76th MR
Regiment. Garbage, stones, bags of cow feces. One idiot had even tried to
toss a Molotov Cocktail at a passing BMP but just gotten himself burned to
death when the bottle exploded in his hand.

They'd all had a good laugh at that.

When the Abkhazians realized the men of the 76th weren't the Russian Army
troops they were used to, dedovshchina morons drunk from hitting their vodka
ration to hard, the yokels had begun to smarten up a bit. And when EU troops
started moving in and later the Japs, it had become quite clear to the
population that things were quite different now. Oh, there was still the odd
incident of violence but given that Abkhazia exited as a de facto
independent state purely on the good grace of the Federation, incidents were
now few and far between.

The occasional Havoc attack helicopter buzzing overhead helped too.

"Comrade Sergeant," said Lieutenant Kaminev, approaching Taminova. The
Sergeant gave his CO a curt nod but didn't salute, as was standard practice
when you were in your BDUs. "I take it all goes well?"

"Da, Comrade Lieutenant," replied Taminova. "Taxi drivers flipping us the
bird as they go by and dirty looks from the local cops are about the worst
problems we've had today."

"Good. I wanted you to tell your men-"

Kaminev didn't get a chance to finish his sentence. All Taminova heard was a
loud 'crack' and then the side of the LT's head exploded in a spray of red
mist that stained Taminova's face and his uniform.

"SNIPER!"

Taminova had known what had happened the moment Kaminev had gone down. "To
the East! To the East!" He shouted over his radio even as he ran for cover.
All around him PK soliders were doing the same while civilians screamed in
terror and raced off in every direction. Taminova heard more and more
gunshots, that hideous crack and echo, but didn't see or hear anyone else
get shot. That meant the sniper was an amateur; a trained marksman could
take down targets even in the mad confusion the market Sukhumi market square
had become.

Finding (he hoped) safety behind a low cement wall, Taminova tried to assess
the situation. Barking over his radio, he got a report back that no other PK
soldiers had been killed but two civilians had been shot, probably dead. *
Shit*. This was bad. Snipers, even bad ones, could make life miserable for
whole companies of troops for hours and hours on end. They couldn't safely
search the area without getting shot at. The only effective way to deal with
a sniper was either another sniper or to just bomb the whole area. Option
one seemed better than option two.

"Sergeant Taminova?" crackled a voice over his radio. The speaker's grasp of
Russian was pretty good, tinted by what Taminova suspected was an English
accent which probably meant it was one of the Royal Marines. "This is
Sergeant Doyle here. I'm about six hundred meters West of your position. I
think I've got you in my sites, tap your rifle on the ground if it is."

Taminova tapped the butt of his AEK on the hard asphalt and heard a grunt of
acknowledgment over the radio.

"Jolly good. Right, I think our sniper is in that apartment building just
East of you, about a hundred meters. Thing is, I don't know what window the
bugger is snipping from. I need you to get up and run across the street so
he'll come forward more to take his shot. Then I'll get him."

What? Taminova made a sour expression, hoping that Limey jackass was still
watching. Just run out as bait in the hopes the Royal Marine could see the
sniper to counter-snipe him, all in the hope that Taminova wouldn't get shot
first. *Shit*. Then again, what choice did Taminova have? Royal Marines were
like VDV, supposed to be very good at what they did.

"One the count of three," said Taminova over his radio. "One.... two....
THREE!" Leaping over the wall, he ran down the axis of the market square as
fast as he could. Like most Russians, the Sergeant was not a religious man.
But if there was a God, Taminova hoped he was watching. He feet hitting the
ground like artillery shells as he ran, Taminova couldn't help but wince
fearfully as another loud crack echoed through the air. It was quieter, more
distant. The Limey, it must have beem.

"I got him," came the voice over his radio. Taminova breathed a heavy sigh
of relief.
---

"A sniper attack," said Nemerenko, reading over the report. The incident had
killed three people, one Russian Army officer and two Abkhazian civilians,
plus the sniper himself.

"The man was an Abkhazian ultra nationalist," said Yevgeni, Nemerenko's
chief of staff. "Oleg Ushkavil. Did a stint with the Redy Army in
Afghanistan but not actually trained as a sniper. Was part of a Abkhazian
militia group during the Georgian civil war in the 1990s. Probably wanted
revenge against us for forcing negotiations."

"So for the moment we can comfort ourselves with the idea that this was the
act of a lone madman," said the President, although he was not very
comforted himself. "Yevgeni, see to it that none of our soldiers try and
take revenge upon any civilians for this. Utter control and professionalism
at all times. Tell the COs that this comes straight from me."

"I will," nodded Yevgeni. "Is this going to affect negotiations?"

"If it is the act of a lone madman, then no," said Nemerenko. "But I do want
our delegation at the Hague to emphasize to both the Georgians and the
Abkhazians that a peaceful settlement to their problem is critical. I'll try
and get the EU mediators to emphasize the same. In the meantime, have the
GRU start paying closer attention to known extremist groups in Abkhazia."

Such terrible things nationalism could drive people to do. If it went on
long enough, people started to forget what it was all about to begin with,
simply 'us' against 'them.' Russia needed stability in the Caucasus. Russia
needed peace. Especially now with the rest of the world tumbling into chaos.

---

Actions:
1) Russia emphasizes to both Abkhazia and Georgia that a peaceful resolution
to their conflict is critical to the future of all three nations
2) Have the GRU pay closer attention to any groups in Abkhazia that might
pose a problem to the Russian/Japanese/EU PKF
3) Tell the Russian soldiers good job; you've been acting controlled and
professional, make sure you keep it up.
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From martellian at hotmail.com  Sat Apr  5 14:55:54 2008
From: martellian at hotmail.com (Ian)
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2008 11:55:54 -0700
Subject: [War] Japan: "Headaches"
Message-ID: <BAY141-DAV2DA2D03A94E7C14A18623C6F10@phx.gbl>

"Headaches"
Prime Minister Shunichi Sato
Japan
March 11 2014

------------------------------

Sato squeezed the bridge of his nose and leaned his head back letting out a pant of exaustion and then drank the full glass of water down in a gulp. It only provided temporary relief from the sticky cottony feeling in his mouth and did nothing at all for the pounding behind his eyes. He was no longer a young man it seemed, and a night of drinking, even with other old men, had it's price. 

He smiled ruefully as he sat in his darkened office in the Kantei and waited for his appointment. Minister Hashimoto his new Minister of Finance. His old one, had been one of those following the DPJ's success in last summer's election to learn just how vulnerable their cabinet posts really were. Hashimoto, was Sato's man, a professor of ecconomics at Tokyo University before he had been tapped by Sato to run in the Upper House elections. He had won of course, and in the afterglow of the party's victory, no one had minded when he had been raised to the Cabinet. Fewer still minded now having proven himself a voice of reason and an able politician. 

The door to Sato's office opened and Hashimoto smiled seeing the Prime Minister sitting pained behind his desk.

"Looked like I missed a fun evening," he said as he closed the door softly behind him and made his way to the Prime Minister's desk and sat down. 

Sato kept from nodding but smiled. "Fun evening, yes, morning, no fun at all."

Hashimoto smiled sympathetically. "Should we postpone?" he offered.

Sato shook his head and then regretted it and flinched with pain. "Ow... no, we'll carry on."

Hashimoto nodded. "Very good," he said and got his notes from his attache case.

"I have looked at our situation Sato-kun, with reguards to the population issue, and I think none of the programs we have in place our reasonable in a cost-benefit sense."

"None?" Sato asked.

"Yes," replied Hashimoto. 

"Why?" 

"We are trying to buy our way out of what is essentially a social issue, day care, child-incetives and so forth will only push those who are thinking of having children to do so sooner, but those women who are dedicated to their careers will not change their minds for a little bit of money."

"Are you sure?" Sato asked.

"We need to stop thinking of working Japanese women as we normally think of women of our generation, and think of them like men, if your wife did not stay at home, would you have stopped your career to raise your children?"

Sato frowned. "No, of course not."

"Neither will they," Hashimoto explained.

Sato chewed that over. Akemi, his only daughter was very much one of those women and he knew it was true.

"What do you suggest we do then?" asked Sato.

"We prepare to be a less populous nation, or we embrace immigration."

Sato smiled. Perhaps Hashimoto was not as astute a politican as he thought. "Neither is going to work, not politically."

Hashimoto nodded. "I know, but they our choices. Either that, or stall as other governments have done."

Sato frowned and revised his assesment of Hashimoto again, that had been right out of the DPJ platform, no more stalling and offering real solutions.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Depends on which way you want us to go, Mr. Prime Minister."

"We both know we could never sell immigration," Sato replied.

"Preparing for the worst then," Hashimoto said. "Well firstly we need to review how the government spends it's money, and streamline accordingly, we don't need to worry so much about the job losses, there are plenty of civil service jobs that will be unfilled with people retiring, but we must manage things respectfully, remove jobs the occupants retire, we do not want to simply throw civil servants on to the street."

"There would be riots if we tried."

"Yes, and I think if we do attempt this, it needs to be internal, a board of senior civil servants who review the civil service and report to the Cabinet."

"That will make the cuts less deep," Sato observed. What was that quote he had heard from the British, oh yes: reorganizing the civil service is like dragging a knife through a bowl of marbles. He imagined Japan's entrenched bureaucracy would simply side step most of the deep cuts and the little cabal they chose would support those in the service who they were close to. But it was better than nothing he supposed.

"Alright," he said. "What else?"

"We need to improve Japan's overall ecconomic health, which means, running balanced budgets and reducing our debt loads."

Sato flinched and not because of his hang-over. The last budget was finally back to 2008 numbers and only 100 billion dollars over what they'd earned. Deficit was practically a way of life for Japan's government and the debt, the debt was massive.

"What sort of timeline?"

"Ten years, and keep in mind as our population retires, we will have less revenue."

Sato sat back. "Alright, what else?"

"We need to look at our future workforce and what direction it will take, do we want to allow immigrants into the country to do jobs there are no longer Japanese workers to do, do we put our efforts into helping companies automate those jobs, do we help companies move jobs overseas to China or a restored North Korea?"

Sato knew it was nessisary. He had been thinking along the same lines when he had gotten involved in North Korea. He had just not voiced those thoughts out of fear that saying it would somehow make it more true. 

"I know," he confessed. "What else?"

"We need to pursue free trade agreements with greater effort, especially in the countries rising from third-world status, who's middle class will soon want the products we produce."

Sato nodded. "There is a great deal more isn't there?"

"Yes," Hashimoto said.

He layed out a dizzying array of plans, projections, charts and other things which all more or less amounted to tightening Japan's belt, expanding her trade partnerships and securing her place ecconomically and diplomatically in Asia before the worst of the ecconomic effects of the falling population hit.

"So what do we do in the short term?" he asked.

Hashimoto smiled. He knew Sato meant, what do we do now, to show the voters we're doing something.

"If you're looking for a political solution, put forward the Population Minister's plan to offer tax breaks to seniors who look after children," he said. "But I'd have a look at our immigration polices; offer amnesty to those already in the country and perhaps loosen restrictions on those who want to come in and work for a short period of time. But make sure they are paying taxes."

Sato frowned. "I'll speak to the concerned ministers," he said.

Hashimoto nodded. "Let me know what you decide and we can work on these other things as well."

The Finance Minister rose up and walked out of the office quietly leaving Sato to his thoughts. It was about an hour before Sato moved again and picked up the phone. "Yurika, please get the Minister of Justice on the phone, I'd like to discuss immigration with him."

Actions:

1. Approve a 50,000 Yen (aprox $500usd) per child tax credit for seniors who provide daycare in their community.
2. Begin an internal review of the civil service with the goal of reducing the civil service's size in step with reduction of population and retirement of existing civil servants, make it very, very clear, we're not talking layoffs, we're looking at phasing out positions as people are retrained or retired out of them.
3. Begin discussing amnesty for existing illegal immigrants in Japan with the Cabinet and the Caucus, and float the idea of a guest worker program to the same.
4. Arrange a leak from 'sources close to the Ministry of Justice' that suggests that there may be a review of immigration policy and a fesibility study on a guest worker program.













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From john.penta at gmail.com  Sat Apr  5 15:41:46 2008
From: john.penta at gmail.com (John Penta)
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2008 15:41:46 -0400
Subject: [War] US: Wo henhao
Message-ID: <ab8370d40804051241m39cc0513n505c83765d5f18d3@mail.gmail.com>

"Wo Henhao"
8 March 2014
President John Williams
USA
==================
<Washington>

It had taken a long two years, but John Williams had finally cracked
the code of Mandarin. Or so the language had seemed to the President.

Finally, though, something had cracked during his last few sessions
with the teacher from the State Department, and now he was watching
everything he could from either side of the Taiwan Strait, and reading
what he could in Chinese - a much harder endeavor.

But he'd pulled it off, and he listened closely to CCTV. His own
pronunciations were hardly perfect, but his accent had decreased from
Thick to Moderately Hong Konger, reflecting the background of his
teacher.

The tests had rated him at Speaking 3, Listening 3, Reading 2, Writing
2 last time, about 3 months ago. Not bad. But this time, he actually
felt like he *knew* the language.

Now to prepare for the summit in Vladivostok. Thus, the murder board
in 10 minutes...

A sigh, as Luke cried and Kay went to get him.

Some days, he didn't want to be President, just a dad. A husband. Normal.

Oh, that'd never happen. Back to summit prep!
---
Actions:
1. Williams cracks Mandarin...albeit with an accent.
2. Summit prep.
3. Player whimpers in pain.


From dylandv at gmail.com  Sat Apr  5 23:30:52 2008
From: dylandv at gmail.com (Dylan de Valk)
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2008 20:30:52 -0700
Subject: [War]  Canada: Stepping Up to the Plate
Message-ID: <763946e70804052030l72936749qbfe0b3ab6aac9dc5@mail.gmail.com>

'Stepping up to the Plate'
Dec.13/2013
Prime Minister James McColl
Canada

---------------

The atmosphere in Ottawa these days was one of both triumph and despair.  On
one hand, you have thousands of grit supporters who can't wait to see, in
their eyes, the most reviled former Prime Minister Harper get out of
office.  On the other hand, you have the conservative supporters, who are
already wailing about how horrible the Liberals will be.

However, James McColl was oblivious to the atmosphere as he walked down
Sussex Drive from his official residence at number 24.  Never mind the RCMP
and CSIS agents, he wanted to go for a walk, on his own, one last time.
Before he got stuck with the security teams...

At the moment, McColl wasn't thinking about that, he actually thinking about
how his new job would be affecting his family, namely his wife Jennifer and
their two children, Anna and Eric.  Like everywhere around the world, so
many people put their jobs ahead of family and friends here, and he wanted
to be able to say that he had managed to balance the two.

Yesterday he had been sworn in as Prime Minister of Canada by Governor
General Michelle Louise Jenkins.  Although McColl was not really sure how he
felt about the monarchy, he had enjoyed the ceremonies nonetheless, and his
acceptance speech was buoyed by an overwhelmingly positive crowd.  Maybe
further enlightenment would come to him on the issue as time progressed.

James McColl had many plans that he wanted implemented.  The problem was, he
probably couldn't have them all, and definetly not right away.  He was one
of those political types who wanted to rule for the benefit of the country,
not for personal enrichment; he actually despised those who were corrupt in
the bureaucracy.  He may or may not introduce legislation for government
accountability, but that would a long term thing.  He did resent the fact
that the Tories had campaigned on that platform in 2006, and then had
promptly forgotten everything they'd promised and then done what they wanted
instead.

He wanted to see young people going to university, and then coming out
without $40,000 debts, he wanted to see more hospitals built to accommodate
the extra patient loads of an aging population.  Granted, the Medicare
system needed a major overhaul, having been more or the less the same since
the 1960's.  He wanted to see old age pensions and security for those
without disposable income rise, so that poorer people could have a
comfortable retirement.  They needed to find a way to stimulate the
birth-rate, and opening up immigration to the levels of the early 2000's [an
annual immigration rate of nearly 300,000/year!] was not an option.  The
list went on and on.

There was also the issue of appeasing increasingly active nationalists, who
wanted to see the US go down the drain.  McColl knew that would never
happen, but he did see the merit in a more assertive, and less passive
foreign policy with the Americans.  He didn't want relations with the US to
be cold, but nor did he want them to be warm and cuddly, like under Harper.
He also saw the merit in protecting some key Canadian industries from total
American domination, even if that meant risking the yanks' displeasure.  But
there were ways around that.

Probably the most pressing problem the grits had at this point in time was
finding funding for everything they wanted to do.  With the economy still
struggling to get out of the hole from the recession a few years back, the
balanced budget was very balanced indeed, with barely a billion dollars in
surplus for the April.1-March.31 2013/2014 fiscal year.

But never mind that, "But never you mind now," as his great grandmother
would have said in her heavy Polish accent.  James McColl was descended on
his mother's side from the Polish farmers that mass-immigrated to Canada in
the 20th century, and on his father's side of the Scottish McColl clan, some
of whom emigrated to Canada in the 19th century after Confederation.
Interestingly, many people in his family were no longer regularly practising
religion, though on days such as Christmas and Easter they did make an
effort to appear.  Most people didn't have a problem with this, and he
respected them for that, but there some Catholic revisionists in Quebec who
had a heckled more than a few of his campaign stops.  His strong
Presbyterian work ethic had done a lot for him, but as it stands, James
McColl was among the agnostic members of his family.  Along with that, he
was also young, being 48 years old, and thus one of the youngest Prime
Ministers to date...

McColl was, overall, hopefull about his prospects.  Canadians viewed him as
a refreshing change, being young, from the status quo; he wanted to do some
good for the country, which so badly needed it after the right-wing neglect
the conservatives had overseen, calling it in their usual speech
'non-interventionist'.  He was also glad, that Quebec and Western separatism
at this time were fading a little.  Quebec and Alberta had made many a
federal politician lose coherence and break down, and he was thankful that
he might get away with relatively little squabbling with the provinces.

Over the next few days he would be meeting with his Ministers [which the PM
appoints], and he hoped to have some good, solid talks with them.  He was,
of course, more than a little nervous with his first meeting with a foreign
leader, but he decided not to think about that for the time being.  Prime
Minister-ship would be a hard, lonely job, but if he wanted to do it
properly, now was the time to step up to the plate and take his place.

----------------

March.8th, 2014
Prime Minister James McColl
Canada

The last few months had been uneventful, as the new government settled it,
and Parliament resumed its Winter Session in late January.  Relations were
amicable with Canada's allies, and Canada was more or less forgotten by the
rest of the world for moment as attention was still fixed on what the
Chinese would do with North Korea.  The government's attention was more or
less taken up by the upcoming Spring Budget for 2014.  This morning, the PM
had a meeting with his Minister of Finance, to discuss the various details
of the budget.

Eric van der Werden, Minister of Finance, and one of McColl's closest
political allies, knocked softly, and entered, shutting the door behind
him.  "James, its always good to see you."

"Likewise, Eric."  The PM got right down to business: "So Eric, you must
know that a balanced budget is extremely important, we HAVE to run a
surplus, otherwise the critics will be screaming at us for the rest of the
term for departing the balanced budget policy of the last 18 years."  He
paused, then, "Although, I have been tempted to run a deficit just to piss
them off."  McColl grinned.  "I never got a chance to say this, but I'm
really glad you accepted my offer for Minister."

"Thanks bud, I'm glad too."  Eric opened his dossier which was chalk full of
papers, notes, assessments and other assorted documents.  He looked around,
the beautiful old wooden paneling, the antique lamps and curiously modern
computer clashed.  "Well, let's get down to business shall we?  I do confess
that looking at the policies you promised the electorate, I was rather
discouraged at how we were going to pay for it all.  I'm glad you were
looking more at the long term for many of them, because there is no way we
can afford large spending this year unless we raise taxes or cut social
spending, neither of which we are prepared to do.  However, we can afford to
start stimulating the economy but cutting corporate taxes as well as
earmarking funding for research and development in some fields.  What were
your ideas?

The PM looked thoughtful, "Well, I think that if we cut corporate taxes, we
need to make up the funding shortfall in other areas.  I have precisely the
idea, to trade off those corp taxes by instituting a national carbon tax to
help start modernizing our industries.  They HAVE been falling behind in the
last few years of our greenhouse gas emissions targets, so this will help
towards that.  Remember what BC did back in 2008?  They introduced a carbon
tax, but kept it revenue neutral by offsetting it with other tax cuts, thats
what I'd like to do here."

"Hmmm, I'm not sure that would stimulate the economy so much, but we could
try it." van der Werden paused, then, "Maybe we should revise the financial
rules to allow for more freedom in the stock market, that might generate
more revenue, in a big way, and also appease many business people."

"Yea that sounds good, we need to explore as many options as we can, so keep
working on ways to increase our revenue this year while not pissing off too
many people.  At any rate, I want to go over all the options, bend some
rules, and squeeze some more money out of the budget.  Make things work."
McColl smiled disarmingly, then continued on, "However, if possible, I'd
like to increase funding for post-secondary institutions.  Over the next
five years I'd like to make it progressively cheaper for people to attend
university and college.  The standard tuition rate for many universities is
$7000 per year, not to mention residence and extras.  Maybe we could bring
that number down to $2000 by 2019?  There is another issue I'd like to talk
about, how are we going to get the military going again?"

"Weeelll... I'm not sure we would be able to do that this year, with our
kind of funding.  Why don't we see if General Girard and Minister Ansdale
are available for a spontaneous meeting?"  Lieutenant General Girard was the
Chief of General Staff, while Ansdale was the Minister for Defense.

"Sure, hey Sarah, can you put in a call and see if Girard and Ansdale are
available for a meeting with me in 5 minutes?"  Sarah was the PM's personal
secretary.

..... 10 minutes later both Girard and Ansdale were in the office, having
been in the centre block for a meeting.  McColl was in his element, "First
of all I want the three of you to work on Defense initiatives.  Currently,
we are in need of money, and then equipment, and then soldiers, am I not
correct?"

Girard spoke up, "You are indeed sir, the army is desperately short of new
recruits, and needs new vehicles, helicopters, and ground transport.  The
air force needs new recruits, new planes, and more variation in what
aircraft types we have, while the navy needs new ships and new personnel.
All the services need money."

The whole cabinet had done briefings, and the PM was well aware of what the
military needed.  "Very well general, as I said before, I want the three of
you to work together, as money and the military go hand in hand.  I want you
to draft a wish list of everything that is needed, and then we can proceed
from there, ok?"

Contrary to what military types thought of a centre-left PM, McColl was not
adverse to the needs of the military, and supported them, as his brother and
cousin were both officers.  The two ministers and general all concurred.
The conversation went on for another couple of minutes, with Ansdale voicing
some concerns about the capabilities of the military to defend the country.

"Very well, you may go.  I'm glad the three of us had a chance to chat in
private."

Three echoes of "Thank you, sir." and the two ministers and general filed
out.  McColl wondered if the general would take his order to heart, and
actually write everything he thought they needed down.  "Ah well..." he
sighed.  More meetings... today was going to be a long day, he still had to
meet with Foreign Affairs, Industry, and Transportations among others.
Maybe he would schedule a general meeting for all the Ministers so they
could get on the same page.

"Hey Sarah, Could you by chance..."
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From dylandv at gmail.com  Sun Apr  6 00:09:02 2008
From: dylandv at gmail.com (Dylan de Valk)
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2008 21:09:02 -0700
Subject: [War]  Canada: Stepping Up to the Plate
Message-ID: <763946e70804052109o308e1aa4p7c6ecf8356ec71f6@mail.gmail.com>

[OoC: Sorry people, forgot to put the actions in, just delete the last one.]



'Stepping up to the Plate'
Dec.13/2013
Prime Minister James McColl
Canada

---------------

The atmosphere in Ottawa these days was one of both triumph and despair.  On
one hand, you have thousands of grit supporters who can't wait to see, in
their eyes, the most reviled former Prime Minister Harper get out of
office.  On the other hand, you have the conservative supporters, who are
already wailing about how horrible the Liberals will be.

However, James McColl was oblivious to the atmosphere as he walked down
Sussex Drive from his official residence at number 24.  Never mind the RCMP
and CSIS agents, he wanted to go for a walk, on his own, one last time.
Before he got stuck with the security teams...

At the moment, McColl wasn't thinking about that, he actually thinking about
how his new job would be affecting his family, namely his wife Jennifer and
their two children, Anna and Eric.  Like everywhere around the world, so
many people put their jobs ahead of family and friends here, and he wanted
to be able to say that he had managed to balance the two.

Yesterday he had been sworn in as Prime Minister of Canada by Governor
General Michelle Louise Jenkins.  Although McColl was not really sure how he
felt about the monarchy, he had enjoyed the ceremonies nonetheless, and his
acceptance speech was buoyed by an overwhelmingly positive crowd.  Maybe
further enlightenment would come to him on the issue as time progressed.

James McColl had many plans that he wanted implemented.  The problem was, he
probably couldn't have them all, and definetly not right away.  He was one
of those political types who wanted to rule for the benefit of the country,
not for personal enrichment; he actually despised those who were corrupt in
the bureaucracy.  He may or may not introduce legislation for government
accountability, but that would a long term thing.  He did resent the fact
that the Tories had campaigned on that platform in 2006, and then had
promptly forgotten everything they'd promised and then done what they wanted
instead.

He wanted to see young people going to university, and then coming out
without $40,000 debts, he wanted to see more hospitals built to accommodate
the extra patient loads of an aging population.  Granted, the Medicare
system needed a major overhaul, having been more or the less the same since
the 1960's.  He wanted to see old age pensions and security for those
without disposable income rise, so that poorer people could have a
comfortable retirement.  They needed to find a way to stimulate the
birth-rate, and opening up immigration to the levels of the early 2000's [an
annual immigration rate of nearly 300,000/year!] was not an option.  The
list went on and on.

There was also the issue of appeasing increasingly active nationalists, who
wanted to see the US go down the drain.  McColl knew that would never
happen, but he did see the merit in a more assertive, and less passive
foreign policy with the Americans.  He didn't want relations with the US to
be cold, but nor did he want them to be warm and cuddly, like under Harper.
He also saw the merit in protecting some key Canadian industries from total
American domination, even if that meant risking the yanks' displeasure.  But
there were ways around that.

Probably the most pressing problem the grits had at this point in time was
finding funding for everything they wanted to do.  With the economy still
struggling to get out of the hole from the recession a few years back, the
balanced budget was very balanced indeed, with barely a billion dollars in
surplus for the April.1-March.31 2013/2014 fiscal year.

But never mind that, "But never you mind now," as his great grandmother
would have said in her heavy Polish accent.  James McColl was descended on
his mother's side from the Polish farmers that mass-immigrated to Canada in
the 20th century, and on his father's side of the Scottish McColl clan, some
of whom emigrated to Canada in the 19th century after Confederation.
Interestingly, many people in his family were no longer regularly practising
religion, though on days such as Christmas and Easter they did make an
effort to appear.  Most people didn't have a problem with this, and he
respected them for that, but there some Catholic revisionists in Quebec who
had a heckled more than a few of his campaign stops.  His strong
Presbyterian work ethic had done a lot for him, but as it stands, James
McColl was among the agnostic members of his family.  Along with that, he
was also young, being 48 years old, and thus one of the youngest Prime
Ministers to date...

McColl was, overall, hopefull about his prospects.  Canadians viewed him as
a refreshing change, being young, from the status quo; he wanted to do some
good for the country, which so badly needed it after the right-wing neglect
the conservatives had overseen, calling it in their usual speech
'non-interventionist'.  He was also glad, that Quebec and Western separatism
at this time were fading a little.  Quebec and Alberta had made many a
federal politician lose coherence and break down, and he was thankful that
he might get away with relatively little squabbling with the provinces.

Over the next few days he would be meeting with his Ministers [which the PM
appoints], and he hoped to have some good, solid talks with them.  He was,
of course, more than a little nervous with his first meeting with a foreign
leader, but he decided not to think about that for the time being.  Prime
Minister-ship would be a hard, lonely job, but if he wanted to do it
properly, now was the time to step up to the plate and take his place.

----------------

March.8th, 2014
Prime Minister James McColl
Canada

The last few months had been uneventful, as the new government settled it,
and Parliament resumed its Winter Session in late January.  Relations were
amicable with Canada's allies, and Canada was more or less forgotten by the
rest of the world for moment as attention was still fixed on what the
Chinese would do with North Korea.  The government's attention was more or
less taken up by the upcoming Spring Budget for 2014.  This morning, the PM
had a meeting with his Minister of Finance, to discuss the various details
of the budget.

Eric van der Werden, Minister of Finance, and one of McColl's closest
political allies, knocked softly, and entered, shutting the door behind
him.  "James, its always good to see you."

"Likewise, Eric."  The PM got right down to business: "So Eric, you must
know that a balanced budget is extremely important, we HAVE to run a
surplus, otherwise the critics will be screaming at us for the rest of the
term for departing the balanced budget policy of the last 18 years."  He
paused, then, "Although, I have been tempted to run a deficit just to piss
them off."  McColl grinned.  "I never got a chance to say this, but I'm
really glad you accepted my offer for Minister."

"Thanks bud, I'm glad too."  Eric opened his dossier which was chalk full of
papers, notes, assessments and other assorted documents.  He looked around,
the beautiful old wooden paneling, the antique lamps and curiously modern
computer clashed.  "Well, let's get down to business shall we?  I do confess
that looking at the policies you promised the electorate, I was rather
discouraged at how we were going to pay for it all.  I'm glad you were
looking more at the long term for many of them, because there is no way we
can afford large spending this year unless we raise taxes or cut social
spending, neither of which we are prepared to do.  However, we can afford to
start stimulating the economy but cutting corporate taxes as well as
earmarking funding for research and development in some fields.  What were
your ideas?

The PM looked thoughtful, "Well, I think that if we cut corporate taxes, we
need to make up the funding shortfall in other areas.  I have precisely the
idea, to trade off those corp taxes by instituting a national carbon tax to
help start modernizing our industries.  They HAVE been falling behind in the
last few years of our greenhouse gas emissions targets, so this will help
towards that.  Remember what BC did back in 2008?  They introduced a carbon
tax, but kept it revenue neutral by offsetting it with other tax cuts, thats
what I'd like to do here."

"Hmmm, I'm not sure that would stimulate the economy so much, but we could
try it." van der Werden paused, then, "Maybe we should revise the financial
rules to allow for more freedom in the stock market, that might generate
more revenue, in a big way, and also appease many business people."

"Yea that sounds good, we need to explore as many options as we can, so keep
working on ways to increase our revenue this year while not pissing off too
many people.  At any rate, I want to go over all the options, bend some
rules, and squeeze some more money out of the budget.  Make things work."
McColl smiled disarmingly, then continued on, "However, if possible, I'd
like to increase funding for post-secondary institutions.  Over the next
five years I'd like to make it progressively cheaper for people to attend
university and college.  The standard tuition rate for many universities is
$7000 per year, not to mention residence and extras.  Maybe we could bring
that number down to $2000 by 2019?  There is another issue I'd like to talk
about, how are we going to get the military going again?"

"Weeelll... I'm not sure we would be able to do that this year, with our
kind of funding.  Why don't we see if General Girard and Minister Ansdale
are available for a spontaneous meeting?"  Lieutenant General Girard was the
Chief of General Staff, while Ansdale was the Minister for Defense.

"Sure, hey Sarah, can you put in a call and see if Girard and Ansdale are
available for a meeting with me in 5 minutes?"  Sarah was the PM's personal
secretary.

..... 10 minutes later both Girard and Ansdale were in the office, having
been in the centre block for a meeting.  McColl was in his element, "First
of all I want the three of you to work on Defense initiatives.  Currently,
we are in need of money, and then equipment, and then soldiers, am I not
correct?"

Girard spoke up, "You are indeed sir, the army is desperately short of new
recruits, and needs new vehicles, helicopters, and ground transport.  The
air force needs new recruits, new planes, and more variation in what
aircraft types we have, while the navy needs new ships and new personnel.
All the services need money."

The whole cabinet had done briefings, and the PM was well aware of what the
military needed.  "Very well general, as I said before, I want the three of
you to work together, as money and the military go hand in hand.  I want you
to draft a wish list of everything that is needed, and then we can proceed
from there, ok?"

Contrary to what military types thought of a centre-left PM, McColl was not
adverse to the needs of the military, and supported them, as his brother and
cousin were both officers.  The two ministers and general all concurred.
The conversation went on for another couple of minutes, with Ansdale voicing
some concerns about the capabilities of the military to defend the country.

"Very well, you may go.  I'm glad the three of us had a chance to chat in
private."

Three echoes of "Thank you, sir." and the two ministers and general filed
out.  McColl wondered if the general would take his order to heart, and
actually write everything he thought they needed down.  "Ah well..." he
sighed.  More meetings... today was going to be a long day, he still had to
meet with Foreign Affairs, Industry, and Transportations among others.
Maybe he would schedule a general meeting for all the Ministers so they
could get on the same page.

"Hey Sarah, Could you by chance..."

--------------

Actions:

1: Introduce new characters.
2: Go over some parts of the platform and current political problems.
3: Make sure people know the new government is aware of the importance of a
strong military.
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From martellian at hotmail.com  Mon Apr  7 14:03:08 2008
From: martellian at hotmail.com (Ian)
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2008 11:03:08 -0700
Subject: [War] Japan: "The Strangers Amoung Us"
Message-ID: <BAY141-DAV724DD4032E282D6574B9CC6F30@phx.gbl>

OOC: Changing the date of "Headaches" to 10 March, and keeping it in the this WR. This post follows.

"The Strangers Amoung Us"
Prime Minister Shunichi Sato
Japan
10 March 2014
----------------------------

Japan was a hard country to live in if you weren't Japanese; and unlike the West where you could be American or Canadian just by crossing the border filling out some form and jumping through some hoops, to be Japanese, you had to be born of Japanese parents, who were in turn born of Japanese back until your neighbours forgot, otherwise you were Gaijin.

Sato had grown up with that and was fine with it really, in some ways he was even proud; while the rest of the world became a melting pot had Japan retained it's identity. However he was also aware that the countries who survived were like bamboo, they bent in the wind. So he too was willing to bend.

To that end he met with the Minister of Justice Matsumoto and Minister of Education Sekihara to discuss plans for the future of Japan's non-native populations, and it's one non-Japanese native one.

Sato sat down with the Ministers at his conference table just off of his office and nodded as tea was served. "I know these are troubling subjects so let us start with the easiest things first," he said.

The men nodded gratefully and the Justice Minister began.

"The Burakumin," he began speaking of Japan's untouchable class who traditionally worked as butchers, leather workers and undertakers who by the standards of Shinto were unclean due to their contact with death. "We were discussing making looking into a person's family background illegal for employers."

Sato nodded. "Yes," he said. "And firing Burakumin if their history is discovered after employment."

The Justice Minister inclined his head. "Yes."

Sato knew as well as the others this would be only a token gesture and would effect only the most low level jobs, senior jobs, management and so on would always involve some inquiry into the applicant's family history, however under the law it would now have to be unofficial.

Sekihara who came from the party's far-left asked. "What about marriage arrangments?"

Matsumoto shook his head. "Impossible to legislate, families will always want to know who their children are marrying and we have no right to interfere with it."

"Yes, but if these people are denyed marriage we are effectively committing genocide."

Sato knew this was going to go on for a bit if he didn't step in. "Sekihara-san, the Justice Minister is correct, we cannot interfere with the actions of families."

Sekihara frowned but nodded. "Yes, Mr. Prime Minister."

Genocide? Sato thought as he sat back and listened to the Justice Minister spin out his proposal for the bill introduction, a touch over-dramatic, Burakumin married all the time, yes, often to their own kind, but then it was only a responsible for a parent to prevent their children marrying one of their kind, what good would that do their children? His mind came back to the present.

"Have you informed the business community about our intent?" Sato asked Matsumoto.

"Yes, I mentioned it to a number of my aquaintances, it will be widely known by now."

Good, the last thing they needed was to raise the ire of buisiness over such a token law. "When do you see us moving ahead with this?"

"We will introduce it for it's first reading next week there is likely to be no opposition."

Sato nodded. "Good, next then I suppose," he checked the agenda. "The Ainu."

Japan's indiginous population. Again you could lay their problems at the door of Shinto, which claimed that the O-Kami created Japan and the Japanese people; another people being here first somewhat complicated that belief. Sato for his part was perfectly fine reconciling his faith in Shinto with the facts of science. The texts were works of men, the Kami, were a matter of faith.

Sekihara took over. "We're adding to April's budget, with the approval of the Finance Ministry, a billion yen for the preservation of the Ainu language and special grants to schools in the Hokkaido region who provide classes in the language to their Ainu students over the next three years."

Sato nodded. It was past due, the Ainu language was all but extinct and no matter what the Kojiki might say, he felt the Ainu were part of his Japan and worthy of preservation.

Matsumoto added. "They will also be allowed to be added to the Family Registry without modification of their names," he said. 

The Family Registry was how you were counted in Japan, it was a census, record of your birth, marriage, death and property all in one, and under the existing laws you needed to have a Japanese name writeable in Kanji to be added, meaning it had to be Japanese. 

"Very good," he said.  "The next subject, the foreign residents."

"Well I think the amensity will be accepted by the people but we will have a hard time of naturalizing the foreign communities in Japan. They are either too different in the case of Westerners and the South Americans, or they are too distrusted in the case of the Chinese and Koreans."

Sato frowned, this from the party who had four members of the Diet who were foreigners born in Japan. 

Matsumoto continued. "In particular the Koreans are a concern, the Korean Residence Union and the Association of Korean Residents in Japan have both been stirring up problems of late with the conflict in North Korea."

The Korean Residence Union or Midran as it was called for short primarily supported the South Korean side of the penninsula's dispute, and actively supported it's people keeping their Korean identity while living in Japan; the Association of Korean Residents or Chosen Soren was depending on who you ask either strongly allied to, or a front for the government of old North Korea. Both groups were actively lobbying for Japan to oppose the Chinese mission in North Korea, for once in their organizational lives agreeing on something. However a couple of violent protests had coloured them poorly in the country's perception.

"I see what you mean," Sato said. 

Matsumoto nodded. "Yes, and in reguards to Chosen Soren, Koancho wanted permission to quietly contact the Chinese intelligence community about any information they might have on Chosen Soren's activities during the Kim regime."

"They have it, to what end though?"

"We have an opportunity here to prove if they had anything to do with the abductions of Japanese citizens and arrest foreign intelligence assets on Japanese soil."

Sato nodded. "Let's approach the North Korean's too, bribe them if nessissary, I am sure some of the members of the Provisional Government would have access to the information we're after."

Matsumoto grunted his agreement. "I'll make sure Koancho begins looking into this. Now, are we going ahead with these changes for the foreigners currently living in Japan?"

Sato sat back and then shook his head. "No, not yet, we'll see how our leak to the media plays with the public. If there seems to be support we'll move forward, if not, then we'll put it on a shelf for a while. However unless there is strenuous objection from your ministry or the cabinet, I'd like to allow non-Japanese spouses of Japanese citizens on the Family Registry, with kana-ized names. 

Matsumoto made another agreeing noise. "I do not think anyone in the ministry will disagree to that, however the family registry is managed at a local level, I would appreciate if we could speak with the local governments before there is any public announcement of our plans."

Sato nodded. "Of course."

He turned to Sekihara. "And you had one last intitiative for in reguards to language?"

The Minister nodded. "Yes, my Ministry would like to support classes in the languages of the Ryukyu islands in schools in that region."

Sato nodded. He'd read the report, it was sound, support for in class studies of those languages and funds for after school programs as well, all for around three billion yen over five years. Expensive yes, but culturally important. "I approve, we'll introduce it in the budget."

Shortly after the meeting ajourned.

note: billion yen aprox 10 million USD


Actions:

1. Propose a bill that makes looking at a person's family history illegal for perspective employers, the same bill also proposes to make firing a Burakumin an offence. Both crimes will be punishable with fines of $10,000 USD. The Japanese business community will be given advance warning as not to blind side them.

2. Add 1 billion yen (10 million USD) over three years to the budget for classes in the Hokkaido region aimed at teaching the Ainu the Ainu languange. Additionally a bill will be proposed to add the Ainu to the Family Registry without requiring them to choose a Japanese name.

3. Continue to debate naturalization of Japan's foreign residents.

4. Allow foreign spouses of Japanese citizens to be entered into the Family Registry without needing to choose Japanese names. (Currently foreign spouses are added as a footnote and any children are listed as illegitimate)

5. Add 3 billion yen (30 million USD) over five years to the budget for classes to teach the languages of the Ryukyu's in the Okninawa prefecture.







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From michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com  Mon Apr  7 15:20:57 2008
From: michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com (Michael Downey)
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2008 16:50:57 -0230
Subject: [War] Russia: "The Truth Will Set You Free"
Message-ID: <6b6ab8a70804071220j1b889b6bq3bda807102f32de5@mail.gmail.com>

"The Truth Will Set You Free"
President Leonid Nemerenko
Russian Federation
10 March 2014
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Knowledge was the most powerful weapon any state or individual could
possibly possess. Knowledge shook empires, crippled armies and deposed
tyrants. The Soviets had been keenly aware of this fact and gone to great
lengths to control all information within their empire down to the last word
printed in every book. Nemerenko recalled how astounded he had been at the
easy access Japanese students had to things like photocopiers and
typewriters; such equipment had only recently been tightly controlled in
Russia.

Of course the control of information was in no way a purely Soviet
innovation. The Americans too had been aware of its power. That was why FDR
had persuaded major manufacturing and media companies to delay the
widespread introduction of the television until after the Great Patriotic
War, or 'World War Two' as the Amerikanski called it, had been concluded.

A question that ate at Nemerenko was simple: was Russia different now in
terms of freedom of thought and information as it had been under the
Soviets? Many would say no. Thanks to Putin, Russia had slid to 147th out of
168 in terms of press freedom in 2005. Though that had been ten years ago
and Russia's leaders since, Severov and now Nemerenko himself, did not feel
the need to thuggishly impose their will on the nation by force, the scars
of Putin's failed neo-authoritarian regime were still present.

"If Russia is to continue the path towards become a true, First World
democracy then the free flow of information and the protection of people's
right to think for themselves must be safeguarded," said the President as he
poured a glass of Bavarian lager. Vodka was the national drink of Russia but
'bourgeois' beer had been one of the most widely-embraced novelties of the
post-Soviet Russia, previously unavailable unless you could smuggle it in
from the West or knew someone who was brewing in the basement of their
house. "That we are once again emerging as the most powerful country in
Europe and become recognized again as a power on the world stage should not
be overshadowed by our lacklustre record of media freedom."

"I certainly agree, Comrade President," said Feodor Rushigan, Minister of
Culture and Mass Communications. "I remember so many of my colleges being
beaten, imprisoned and even killed while Putin was still in power."

"Colleges like Politkovskaya," said Nemerenko. Anna Politkovskaya had been
one of the most respected and famous journalists in Russia and an outspoken
critic of the Kremlin at the time. She'd been murdered in 2006, no doubt by
someone in the government who had been threatened by her determination to
write about the truth. To date her death remained unsolved. "Just because
this government does not see the need to browbeat the press for our own gain
like the Putin administration did does not mean there are not problems,
because there are."

"That is why my Ministry wished to call our proposed bill to the Assembly
the 'Politkovskaya Act,'" explained Rushigan. "A comprehensive law that
would do a number of things. First, it would reaffirm the commitment to the
freedom of speech outlined in the Federation Constitution. Second, any act
of violence or intimidation that has the express act of harming or impeding
the press, media and the principle of freedom or information will carry an
automatic prison sentence of five years."

"I suppose you'll want me to add onto the budget of our police and security
services to impose that part," sighed Nemerenko.

"Such is the price we must pay, Comrade President," replied Rushigan dryly.
"Perhaps two billion rubles?" That was about a hundred million US Dollars,
not an unreasonable sum.

"Alright," agreed the President. While he was at it Nemerenko would have a
very long chat with Interior Minister Kalugin. It had been groups like he
MVD, FSB and local militia that had done much of the suppressive acts again
the media, after all. Kalugin had that cunning and ruthless touch that could
impress upon the security services that such behaviour would be frowned
upon.

"On a related note, I'm removing all the bans placed upon NGOs that Putin
had put in place. For obvious reasons he didn't want organizations like
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International snooping around looking at his
dirty laundrey. Since we are actually committed to the ideas of liberty,
democracy and the rule of law, such bans are unseemly." And who knew? Maybe
the NGOs would snoop out some problems that Nemerenko couldn't always see.

"A wise idea," agreed Rushigan. Putin's ban on NGOs had been a clear sign to
both Russians and the world that the deposed president had been sliding the
Federation further and further towards a renewed dictatorship. Abolishing
the laws that Putin had enacted to limit activity of such groups would
demonstrate to the world how committed the new Russia was towards liberty.

Liberty. Such a difficult goal to realize. Even very free nations like the
United States, enemy, rival and friend to Russia, struggled, to preserve
freedom and liberty. How easy it was for supposedly 'democratic'
institutions like the Assembly or even the American Congress to pass
thoroughly anti-democratic pieces of legislation in direct opposition to
provisions within their own constitutions. The Patriot Act for the US
and...... well, Nemerenko could write a list ten miles long on what the
Assembly had passed in the last few years of Putin's reign. Government was
more often than not the plague of liberty, but in this particular instance
it would be the cure.

---

Actions:

1) Introduce the Politkovskaya Act to the Federal Assembly. Guarantee the
freedom of the media and press in Russia. Make the use of violence and other
criminal acts to intimidate the media and limit freedom of the press a
criminal offence.
2) Authorize the spending of 2 billion rubles (100 million USD) to enforce
the criminal section of the Politkovskaya Act.
3) Have a long chat with Minister Kalugin to have him impose onto the
Russian police and security services that the illegal repression of the
press and media will no longer be tolerated. This is counterproductive to
liberty, democracy and Russia's new commitment to the rule of law.
4) Russia will no longer impose bans on NGOs like Amnesty International and
Human Rights Watch as Putin did. All anti-NGO laws passed by Putin will be
abolished.
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From dylandv at gmail.com  Mon Apr  7 15:54:13 2008
From: dylandv at gmail.com (Dylan de Valk)
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2008 12:54:13 -0700
Subject: [War]  Canada: Neglected no More
Message-ID: <763946e70804071254m3790431eg7787f857bee62a5@mail.gmail.com>

[OoC: I borrowed equipment stats from the September 2007 post called 'The
Proposal' as I liked the way you did it and I was going to do it anyways.
Thanks for the template.  Hope you don't mind.]



'Neglected no More'
March.12th/2014
Prime Minister James McColl
Canada

------------------

McColl was surprised at how fast Girard and Ansdale got back to him on the
military 'wish list' he had set them.  The list was huge understandably, but
it was in keeping with Canada's doctrines.  The PM had called for a meeting
of the most important cabinet members and general staff for March. 12th.

Finance Minister van der Werden was quite successful in wracking up
necessary funds for the university and military initiatives, earmarking
nearly $15 billion for this year alone.  He had also managed to increase the
surplus by cutting some unnecessary government initiatives.

Among the people attending the meeting were the Finance Minister, Defense
Minister John Ansdale, Foreign Affairs Minister Julia Bachman, Industry
Minister Jacques le Mieux, and Public Works Minister Perrin Gassou.  The top
military brass were all present, including Jean Pierre Girard, the Chief of
Defence Staff and various other Admirals and Generals.

The PMO had developed a healthy and respectful working relationship with the
various arms of the government over the last few months, and that included
the Defence Staff.  McColl had wanted to be sure that his image as a
slightly centre-left politician was not tarnished by people who stereotyped
lefties as anti-military.  Already, critics were working on the government,
but they had so far managed to avoid the worst of it.

McColl had arrived 15 minutes early, and greeted everyone as they came
through the doors.  The guards saluted everyone as they came through, and
then they all sat at a round table in the room.  The meeting room was in the
Centre Block on Parliament Hill, so they were right at the heart of
government.  The people assembled in this room represented the leadership of
the nation.

McColl began with general greetings and news from around the world, and then
the real work began.  He handed the show over to the Chief of the Defence
Staff, Girard.  Lieutenant General Jean-Pierre Girard had made the army his
career.  At age 72, he sat on the pinnacle of the armed forces, and was
still going strong.  A driven man, he had fought in Korea, peacekept [as an
officer] in Yugoslavia and Lebanon, and had, for the last 3 years, served as
CoDS.

He began with an update of the current state of military expenditures.
"Well gents, I'm sorry to say I wish I could have a little more pride in our
armed forces.  The state of the military is not so great as an
understatement.  To start with, we only spend 1.6% of our GDP on defence, so
in that regard, we have been behind all our allies for nearly three
decades.  The United States spends in the 4% category, while the Europeans
and Australians are at the 2% mark.  I suggest we increase our spending to a
minimum of 2%, which will amount to about $30 billion per year, up from $22
billion-ish.  This should give us a good boost in our ability to defend the
nation if it comes under attack as well as giving us a little more power to
project overseas to peacekeeping and other duties."

At that point the PM spoke up, "Sorry to interrupt, Eric, do we have enough
this year and for the coming years to incorporate that increase in the
budget?"

"That we do, sir.  In fact, if we needed to, theres room in the budget for
another $5 billion on top of that.  A warning though, that cuts the surplus
right down to the hundreds of millions."

"Alright, Eric, I want you to give the military a $12billion increase per
year from now on, so that puts us at what? $34 billion now.  That seems to
be a better number, that way, you can keep a healthy surplus of a couple
billion.  You may continue General."

"Thank you sir.  Now that we have that sorted out, I'd like to move on the
matter of equipment procurement.  General Voyeux has details on the air
force, if you please General."

Voyeux was a long-time air force man.  As head of Air Command, he probably
knew it better than anyone else here.  "Thank you general.  The air force
has two overarching problems at this point.  Firstly, our aircraft are
ancient.  The CF-18's are nearing the end of their operational lifespans in
the next few years.  I suggest we phase them out and start replacing them
with F-35's.  The F-35 is a multipurpose fighter aircraft developed in the
last 10 years by a coalition of western nations, us included, in the Joint
Strike Fighter program.  It has comparable performance to the new Sukhoi's,
Eurofighter Typhoon, and Dassault Rafale.  We actually only have 60 combat
operational aircraft, and that number will decrease as time goes on.  The
rest are either for training or useless.
We need ideally 200 aircraft to completely cover our entire airspace."

"That's not to mention of course our transport aircraft, which are actually
5 years past the end of their service lifetimes.  We MUST acquire more of
them.  The ability to transport troops, supplies, and equipment is crucial
to any military operation, whether inside Canada or overseas.  For too many
years, we have relied on the Americans for transport, I believe it's time we
took matters into our own hands, which will needless to say make things
easier for us."  He paused.  Everyone seemed to digest this quietly.

"I agree completely," that was Minister Ansdale, "I'm sure it's not only the
Americans who are tired of ferrying us around.  Our own troops and logistics
are constantly complaining that they have to work around the yanks'
schedules."

"That is, of course, what happens when you neglect heavy lifting capacity
for as long as we have." said Voyeux.  "If I may continue?" Nods around the
table. "Very well.  Airbus has the A400 strategic lift aircraft, which will
supplement the four C-17 Globemasters we currently operate quite nicely.  It
is a newer aircraft, and has a more capable performance.  That being said,
they are slightly more expensive.  The air force has had its eye on the A400
since it came out in 2009, and we would need 15 to cover all our needs."
Another pause.  When no one spoke up, he continued.

"Mobility is another crucial point for the 'forces.  I propose we acquire
heavy and medium transport helicopters for battlefield and logistics
transport.  The Americans are now using the latest design of their famous
'Black Hawk' helicopter, which is the UH-60M utility helicopter.  The
Europeans are now using the NH90-TTH heavy lift; both of these designs in
the right quantities will give the army the lifting capacity it needs.  The
Defence Staff proposes that we acquire 150 UH60's and 25 NH-90's.  These
will replace the Griffons we are currently using, which is a design that
first went into production in 1981.  All the aircraft will give us equipment
lasting for a good 20-25 years.  The other major problem we have is a lack
of service personnel.  No one really wants to go into the air force unless
you're going to be a pilot.  We need more people.  Thank you gentlemen."
Voyeux sat as everyone looked thoughtful, the politicians among them
wondering how much this would cost, and the military types that they
couldn't believe this was finally happening.

"Thank you, Pierre."  That was PM.  "I agree as I'm sure everybody else does
that the Air Force, and not only them but the whole service, has been
neglected for the last 25 years.  This is a great thing that we're sitting
down and doing something about the problems the CAF face.  However, please
realize that these changes will take up to several years to materialize.
Girard, on the army, if you please?"

Girard stood up and went to the projected screen at the front of the room,
which changed from the air force presentation to that of the army.  "The
situation of the army is not so bad as that of the air force.  The time the
conservatives spent in office did not completely go to waste.  The current
Regular Force stands at 85,000 active duty troops and the Army Reserve is at
40,000.  First off: I propose we increase our troops levels to 100,000 Reg
Force troops and leave the Reserves where they're at.  That could be
partially accomplished from converting Reserve units into Reg Force,
although that would only account for 5,000 of the 15,000.  We could then
recruit more for the reserves, as they are a popular side-job for young
people, that shouldn't be too hard."

"Secondly, our small arms are getting out of date, with the C7 rifle the
most pressing.  It is based off the M16A2, and entered production back in
1982.  We need a more modern rifle.  I recommend we start developing our own
new rifle, compatible with NATO standards of course and that we give the
contract out to domestic defense manufacturers.  We should start from
scratch, so that we have a completely unique design, which we could then
market out to other countries."

"For vehicles, our C2 Leopard Main Battle Tanks are based off the Leopard
1A5, which were developed, again, in the 1980's.  The French have an
excellent design called the GIAT Leclerc MBT.   It has been in production
since 1991.  It has a larger calibre main cannon and an auto-loading system,
which we like.  It compares quite well to our current Leopard 2's and other
modern armour.  We'd be looking at 250 to supplement our current Leopard
2's, of which we have 100.  That would give us a very respectable armoured
force, and we'd be ordering directly from the manufacturer, not second hand,
so they will last us for quite a long time.  Modern armour design has not
changed much since the 1990's, so the apparent age of the design should not
be a problem.  The Leclerc is part of a newer generation of armour."  Girard
took a drink from his glass of water.  Julia Bachman took the opportunity to
share a joke, and everyone laughed.

He continued on gamely, "Regarding our APC's and secondary vehicles.  The
LAV-III's we have right now are good vehicles, but again, we lost so many in
Afghanistan, the 550 or so we currently have just aren't enough.  We need to
get back to pre-Afghanistan levels, which means ordering new ones.  Seeing
as they entered service in 1999, we wont be needing to replace them for a
long time, although perhaps initiatives to update and create variants might
be started.  General Motors still has the capacity to build more, so I
recommend we buy another 200.  The Germans and Dutch have developed a new
APC called the Boxer MRAV, or multi-role armoured vehicle.  Those can
replace our old M113's and AVGP's.  As for our support vehicles, they too
need replacing.  Many of them are 40 or 50 years old, and obviously are long
obsolete."

At that point, the meeting was interrupted for a washroom and
stretch-the-legs break.  Five minutes later, they were all back at the
table, ready and focussed.

Admiral Matthew Charpentier took over from the CoDS for the Navy briefing.
"Alright everyone, onto the Navy." He grinned, and they all smiled knowing
smiles.  "The Navy has three overwhelming problems confronting it.  A: A
lack of personnel, B: An AGED fleet, and C: Major funding shortfalls.  I'll
go through each point starting with A of course.  Many of our ships leave
port with only a 4/5 complement.  That is needless to say a danger both to
them and the ships.  A lack of properly trained crew means they are
overworked, and means more things can go wrong.  We need enough crew to
operate our vessels without multi-tasking.  I've seen this first hand."

Charpentier paused, and took a quick sip of water.  "B.  I'm not sure if it
ever occurred to anyone in the old government, but our ships are *OLD*.  The
Protecteur class of supply ship entered service in 1969!"  He sounded
incredulous that politicians had let this go unnoticed.  "Our Iroquois Class
destroyers entered service in 1972, and the Victoria Class subs that we
bought off the Brits were built in the 1980's.  The most modern ships we
have are the Orca Class training vessels for our cadets and new recruits,
being 2006.  Our Halifax Class frigates are excellent ships no doubt, but
they are nearing 20 years of age as well, coming into service from 1992 to
1996."

"So what exactly are you getting at, Admiral?"  That was Foreign Affairs
Minister Julia Bachman, who was beginning to wonder why she had been invited
to this meeting.

"What I'm getting at, Minister," and he put a look into his eye as he said
it, "is that we should be acquiring new ships.  Maritime Command has come up
with plans, with the cooperation of the Public Works and Industry
ministries, to jump-start our faltering national ship-building business with
naval construction and acquisitions.  We'd like to replace the Protecteur
Class as soon as possible, with four new ships, which we call the 'Saguenay
Class' for preliminary purposes.  One of them ideally would be winter
ice-capable for use in the Arctic."

That got a set of raised eyebrows from Foreign Affairs Minister Bachman, but
nothing more.  Charpentier continued without noticing.  "To replace the
three Iroquois destroyers, we are proposing a revisionary 'Tribal II Class'
as tribute to those who sacrificed for the country in the Second World War.
This would be a 6 ship class, of which 2 would again be winter-ice capable
for Arctic uses.  As for our frigates, we would like to acquire 4 more,
winter-ice capable of course for as you might guess, use in the Arctic.  We
do have ideas for a cruiser type vessel, but nothing concrete at this time."

That again got raised eyebrows from Bachman, and also from Eric van der
Werden, who hadn't known anything about this before-hand.

"Rest assured," Charpentier had picked up on van der Werden and Bachman that
time, "these are longer term plans.  If we do at all go for cruisers, it
won't be for some time to come."  He did have a wishful look in his eyes
when he said that.  "Talking about funding.  Over the last few years,
funding has been either siphoned off to other projects or maintenance
duties.  That means that ships are leaving port less and less often.  That
also means our crews are getting less sea time, and that has led to an
erosion of our recruiting efforts, as well as crew and team building
experience.  Hopefully with the new budget, we can rectify these problems.
Thank you for listening ladies and gents."  The admiral sat.

Eric van der Werden spoke at that moment with a strained voice.  "So, how
the hell am I expected to pay for all this?  Hmmm?  It will cost billions.
The largest defense acquisitions made at one time probably ever in Canadian
history.  Not to mention the pubic will freak.  This is appalling."

Industry Minister Jacques le Mieux just smiled grimly and said in his heavy
Quebecois accent, "Well Eric, you're going to have to do whatever you can.
Cut any unnecessary programs, like advertisements and such.  Start phasing
out positions in the bureaucracy that will become no longer needed fairly
and in timely fashion.   My department is willing work with Finance to
initiate industrial policies.  I know we campaigned on attracting some heavy
industry back to Canada, and that will undoubtedly stimulate the economy.
My best advice would be to stagger the payments over the next few years so
its in manageable chunks."  le Mieux had been the opposition finance critic
a few years back, as well as a professor of economics at Concordia
University in Montreal.  Van der Werden was new to the post after a cabinet
shake-up after the election.

"What are the costs of this modernization initiative going to be?  We also
need to come up with a name for it so we can refer to it.  Undoubtedly the
Americans among others will be wondering what the hell happened to make us
do something like this, so I'm going to have to do some explaining."  There
were the raised eyebrows of Foreign Affairs Minister Bachman again.

Admiral Charpentier laughed darkly.

Girard garnered the attention at that point.  He said, "I got my staff to
run some cost analyses," Van der Werden snorted derisively.  "We've come to
a consensus on the cost and a name for the project: The CAF Modernization
Initiative. Here's the numbers."  His staff passed out a dossier several
pages thick to each person at the table.

The numbers were:

Army-

250 Leclerc MBT's: $1.075 billion.
200 LAV-III's: $200 million
500 Boxer MRAV: $2 billion
Development of new standard rifle: $500 million
Replacement of support vehicles: $500 million

Navy-

4 'Saguenay' Class Supply ships: $2 billion
4 new ice-capable frigates: $800 million
6 'Tribal II Class' destroyers: $5billion
3 Virginia Class nuclear attack submarines: $6 billion

Air Force:

200 F-35 A's and B's: $8 billion
25 NH-90's: $475 million
150 UH-60M's: $750 million
15 Airbus A400's: $2billion

Army Cost: $4.275 billion
Air Force Cost: $11.225 billion
Naval Cost: $13.8 billion

Total Cost: $29.3 billion

"Tabernac!  Is it just me, or am I seeing 'Virginia Class nuclear attack
sub' on this sheet?  What the frick?!?!"  That was Public Works Minister
Perrin Gassou.

At that point, the attention went back to McColl, who was sitting quietly
with his head bowed and fingers pressed to his forehead.  Everyone knew what
that meant.  After a few moments he felt their eyes and looked up.  Smiling
weakly as he rose, McColl then walked to the front of the room.

"My friends, as we have all just seen, our military forces are in
all-together desperate straights.  Thanks to 35 years of declining or static
funding, not even keeping up to inflation, it has most unfortunately fallen
to us to fix all these problems."

"Faced with the rise of China, recent events in the Far East," which of
course was referring to North Korea, "and increased Russian activity in the
Arctic, we are given the options of either rebuilding our armed forces or be
increasingly marginalized in the world at large.  We can expect continued
violations of our Arctic waters by Russian and American nuclear submarines,
a further loss of face with the Americans and other militarily powerful
countries, and a loss of influence in international affairs if we fail in
this regard."

"Of course, the Canadian military also faces a loss of face with our own
citizens as well.  The group we have in this room are the most influential
people today in Canada.  Canadians have, in the last few years, become less
afraid of harnessing nuclear than they have in the past.  I have talked this
over with MARCOM, and they agree with me that it is time Canada acquired
both nuclear submarines and began a project in cooperation with Sweden in
stealth destroyer technology."

Julia Bachman's mouth dropped, and the rest of the room went very still.
Everyone stared at the Prime Minister.  They could not believe what they had
just heard, especially coming from someone like James, who was anti-nuclear
proliferation.

"I know, I know.  This is sounding ridiculous to you all.  I'm also far from
happy myself."  He smiled disarmingly.  "But, and the head of CSIS concurs,
it is time that we, accept our destiny as a part of the Western world, with
defense obligations to the free world.  But you also need take no further a
look than at what nuclear submarines can do.  Because the navy has
experience with the Victoria Class we bought from the UK, we can more easily
integrate that into our Arctic sovereignty program.  The American Virginia
Class can stay underwater for months at a time, and is one of the most
advanced of its type.  They would primarily be used for the Arctic and would
not leave Canadian waters, at least for the first few years."

McColl paused for a second to sip some water, as his voice was getting
raspy.  "Of course, we would most certainly NOT be equipping them with
nuclear missiles.  That would be against everything we stand for.  Instead,
we would be using them for close in shore insertions, tracking within
territorial waters, and deterrent with conventional cruise missiles.  As for
the stealth destroyer program, this is early days yet.  Nothing is set in
stone.  I wanted to throw the idea out into the open for our minds to churn
over.  I haven't even talked to Sweden yet."

"There is one other thing I'd like to mention.  I want Public Works,
Industry, and the Navy to cooperate on placing a hydrophone and underwater
sensor system in our Arctic waters.  I think its time we showed the world
Canada is serious about our Arctic territory.  They need to stop trespassing
and go through us if they need to pass through."

"I never thought I would personally have to deal with a situation like
this.  Our left wing voters will not be happy, and a reaction from the
public is obviously to be expected.  I want our people out there, mixing
with the population, answering their questions, giving truthful, fair, and
reasonable answers, and being visible.  The last thing we need is to be
secretive.  I want this to be an open process, transparent.  Understood?"

Everyone acknowledged.  "Alright everyone, thanks for coming, and
listening.  This had to be done, regardless of whether we wanted to or not.
Time is up, and every moment we waited would have cost more.  This meeting
is adjourned."

He sighed.

---------------------

Actions:

1: introduce new characters
2: character development
3: ascertain exactly how badly the CAF is doing
4: look at options
5: decide that now is the time to act, authorizing equipment acquisitions
across a broad spectrum and increase the military budget
6: show the world that Canada once again means business
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From john.penta at gmail.com  Mon Apr  7 17:28:14 2008
From: john.penta at gmail.com (John Penta)
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2008 17:28:14 -0400
Subject: [War] US: The Old Alliance
Message-ID: <ab8370d40804071428y5a2d137bt2cd63a79d5a181bd@mail.gmail.com>

"The Old Alliance"
SECDEF Julius Abbot
USA
=============
<Washington>

Ensconced back in Washington as his boss fought diplomatic battles in
Siberia (well, Vladivostok was cold enough), and with his State
Department colleague alongside POTUS, Julius Abbot was looking over
the morning reports from US military commands around the world.

Canada rose to the top of their list...well, instantly.

The new Canadian rifle program posed a threat to the US-UK
Next-Generation Rifle project...Indeed, the project's central goal was
a NATO-standard rifle, or as close as they could get. In addition, the
idea of Canadian Virginia-class subs had raised eyebrows at the
Pentagon.

However, the note he was writing would leave aside the second topic,
instead focusing on the first.
---
Fr: Abbot, SECDEF
To: Ansdale, MND Ottawa
[Wolfe encryption]

Minister Ansdale,

    I saw the Globe and Mail today. Have kicked your request on the
subs to the White House. President Williams will start the decision
process when he returns from Vladivostok. Navy says they would cost
$2.17 Billion per unit - no lower.

    I must express my department's confusion in regards to your new
rifle project. Canada, like all NATO members, has had a standing
invitation to join in the Anglo-American Next Generation Rifle
project. Given the benefits of a common infantry weapon to Canadian
logistics and procurement, we wonder as to the wisdom of a competing
rifle in NATO service, particularly having two different rifles in
North American defense.

    Finally, I welcome your government's recommitment to the F-35.
Your decision will help costs for the entire F35 team, and contribute
greatly to improved North American air defense.

   Allow me to extend, Minister, my continued assurance of my highest regards.

   Iulius Abbot
   Secretary of Defense
---
Actions:
1. Quietly leak concern from "Senior Pentagon Sources" as to the new
Canadian Rifle project and its effect on North American defense.
2. Approve of the Canuck F35 buys.
3. Kick the Canadian VA class SSN buy request upstairs.


From dylandv at gmail.com  Mon Apr  7 19:40:04 2008
From: dylandv at gmail.com (Dylan de Valk)
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2008 16:40:04 -0700
Subject: [War]  Canada: Commitment
Message-ID: <763946e70804071640r79e8812sbaf70c13c8e8967c@mail.gmail.com>

'Commitment'
Prime Minister James McColl
Minister of National Defence John Ansdale
Minister of Foreign Affairs Julia Bachman
Canada

The PMO:

Bachman grinned, "Well they certainly got back to us fast.  We haven't even
contacted them regarding the subs, and already they're paranoid."

"Julia, you have to remember it's their business to know everything nearly
instantly.  Anything less would make them seem... less capable?"  That was
Ansdale, he grinned too.

"At any rate, I suppose we should get back them.  John, you should really
get back to Abbot as soon as you can."  "Mmmm, true Julia, true.  Alright,
I'll go do that now."

After Ansdale cleared out, McColl and Bachman started discussing the public
reaction.  "They reacted no differently than we expected.  This is obviously
creating controversy."

"Like you said, we never expected anything less."  She smiled, "Did you read
the Globe and the National Post?  Two completely different articles.  The
Globe wasn't really sure what to think, they just sort of laid out what John
announced.  The National Post though warmly endorsed our initiative."

"But I think overall the Americans like the idea.  It's about time we pulled
up our socks and got down to business.  We did know though that they
wouldn't be too happy about the new rifle project.  I think we should invite
their cooperation and input, because they do have a lot of experience
designing weaponry after all."

"Yea I agree Julia.  They would be hopefully somewhat appeased by that.  We
could just offer them a stake in the project, that way they could decide
which they like better when its all said and done."

"You're right, we could.  But would they take it, and they would probably
just go and take over the project anyways.  We should proceed cautiously on
that note."

"Mmhmm.  Well I suppose you have some work to do, I won't keep you."

"Alright, thank you sir."  "No problemo, oh, and by the way, lend me your
Globe once you're done, mine didn't come today."

A half hour later, Ansdale was in his office reading over Abbot's
correspondence.

--------

From: John Ansdale, MND Canada
To: Iulius Abbot, SECDEF USA
Regarding your Previous Correspondence.

Mr Secretary,

Please allow to me extend my warmest greetings.  I know that we have not
corresponded much in the last few months of my term, so let us rectify this
beginning now.

We are, of course, aware of the United States' concern over our rifle
project, and we didn't enter into it lightly.  At this time, we view it as
within our interests to design our own rifle, that we may incorporate
changes as we see necessary without needing to cater to other nations'
needs.  However, that being said, we do invite the cooperation of the United
States to our project in an observer and possibly technical sense if you so
desire.  We are aware that the US has much more experience in weaponry
design than we do.

As to the nuclear submarine issue, let me assure you that Canada remains as
committed as ever to North American defense.  That is why we propose to
acquire the Virginia class.  Because the Chinese, and to a lesser extent the
Russians, have in recent years increased their submarine activity, we have
realized that Canada needs its own boats too, to the mutual benefit of the
United States and our own nation.  We do understand that your government may
be leery, and are fully willing to accept the $170 million increase per
boat.  We are also willing to work with the US to alleviate any concerns you
may have over this issue.

If your government authorizes the sale, we most definetly will *NOT* be
equipping them with nuclear deterrent.  We are also fully prepared to accept
that you may not be willing to authorize such a sale, and we wish that this
does not affect the current working relationship our two governments have.
Please let me know of any changes.

My highest regards,

John Ansdale
Minister for National Defence

----------

Actions:
1: reassure the US of Canada's good intentions regarding the rifle project
2: reassure the US of Canada's good intentions regarding the nuclear subs
3: invite the US to participate in the rifle project in a limited capacity
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From michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com  Tue Apr  8 08:52:17 2008
From: michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com (Michael Downey)
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 10:22:17 -0230
Subject: [War] Russia: "Always the Quiet Ones"
Message-ID: <6b6ab8a70804080552u4211799fm77dfe3daf60adc30@mail.gmail.com>

"Always the Quiet Ones"
Defence Minister Yoselev
Russian Federation
11 March 2014
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Yoselev was a very stern man. During his military career people
described him as a perfect stereotype for a Red Army General; cold,
emotionless, ruthless and demanding perfect performance and efficiency
from everyone. It was exactly that type of tenacity that had convinced
President Nemerenko to make the former Chief of the General Staff the
new Defence Minister when Dimitri Lentulov had stepped aside for
health reasons. To carry out the extensive military reforms planned by
the Nemerenko administration, a hard hand would be required.

It was a position that agreed with Yoselev. Finally he had the power
to make the changes he had so desperately wanted for the armed forces.
Somewhat to his chagrin, Nemerenko had made Yoselev give up his
military rank and become 'suit.' He was not the first civilian defence
minister in recent history but it was still a minority, with the
majority since Stalin being uniformed officers. It was a small price
to pay.

"So the Canadians are joining the nuclear club, eh?" said Yoselev as
he looked over the GRU report detailing the recent military activities
of the United States' younger brother. An arms build up on the scale
being proposed by Ottawa would certainly earn the scrutiny of any
military intelligence agency, especially since the Canadians shared an
attic with Russia.

"A little bit of a exaggeration, Comrade Minister," replied General
Amir Rezakaev with one of those charmingly false smiles the new
General Staff chief could produce on command. "The Canadians are
saying that they are committed to never acquire nuclear arms, and that
their acquisition of nuclear attack subs is purely meant for defensive
purposes."

"Defence against us," added in Yoselev. Who else would they need
nuclear weapons to defend against? China maybe, but it was Russia that
was competing with the Canadians for supremacy in the Arctic.

"We have no reason to think this is a sign of hostility on the part of
Canada," noted Rezakaev. "There's still a lot of distrust of us out
there because of everything that Putin did and we *have* gone a little
too far into Canadian territorial waters with our own nuclear boats."

There was something about Rezakaev that Yoselev didn't like. The
former commander of the Far East Military district was capable and
competent, no denying that, but he had a 'boyish charm' that rubbed
Yoselev the wrong way. That and he was Kazkah by birth and the son of
a Muslim, though maintained he was an atheist like most Russians, did
not sit well with  the Defence Minister.

"No matter how polite or docile a nation may seem, the moment they
start make eyes at our Arctic territory they are hostile, General
Rezakaev," said Yoselev sternly. Rezakaev simply smiled back
pleasantly.

"Well, regardless it will take time for the acquisition of such
advanced weapons such as Virginia-class submarines to be approved by
Congress. That and the heightened cost that the Americans are asking
will have to be approved by the Canadian House of Commons will take
time as well. Admiral Jorganov would be able to give you a more
accurate assessment, but I would guess at least a year before all the
political wrangling allows the deal to go ahead and at least another
five before General Dynamics can complete the order. By the way, how
is production of the Yasen-class proceeding?" The Yasen-class SSNs,
also know as Project 885 or 'Graney-class' among the NATO nations was
the newest Russian nuclear attack sub design.

"Three ships fully operational, a fourth entering sea trials in a few
months, and the hulls have been laid down for the remaining three,"
replied the Defence Minister.

"Seven to Canada's three," mused Rezakaev. "I think numbers are in our favour."

"Yes," replied Yoselev. "Unless the Americans should decide that
maybe, just maybe, they might, oh, I don't know, honor the *mutual
defence treaty* they have with the Canadians in the event that we
every went to war. It is the US Navy that has the largest arsenal of
nuclear attack subs in the world, right? Either them or Sweden.
Sometimes I get confused."

Rezakaev merely shrugged and maintained that sly little smile. Yoselev
felt like smashing a bottle of Vodka over the man's head but decided
such a move might be unprofessional.

"This thing in North Korea is going to be eating up a lot of the
President's time, but if everything blows over after Vladivostok I'm
going to ask the President to have a chat with Washington about this."

"If you say so, Comrade Minister," nodded General Rezakaev. He was a
solider; he did not make policy, he carried it out. "That's all I
really have to discuss at the moment."

Yoselev dismissed him with a wave. "Go, keep me updated if there is
anything new to report. And Rezakaev?"

"Yes Comrade Minister?"

"Make sure none of our subs get caught in Canadian waters anymore?"

"Of course Comrade Minister."
---

Actions:
1) Russia is a bit concerned over Canada trying to acquire nuclear
attack submarines but will hold its tongue for the moment
2) Russia will avoid sending subs into Canadian Northern territorial
waters, for the moment. Not that we ever did before, because we
didn't. *cough*


From dylandv at gmail.com  Wed Apr  9 00:33:06 2008
From: dylandv at gmail.com (Dylan de Valk)
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 21:33:06 -0700
Subject: [War]  Canada: Big Ideas
Message-ID: <763946e70804082133q46c7605bqcf9d9fa3d6266dc7@mail.gmail.com>

'Big Ideas'
March.14/2014
Prime Minister James McColl
Canada

-------------

The Harper government had never lived up to its promises in general, and
that included their promise of developing Arctic and general
infrastructure.  The new McColl liberals were determined to rectify that.
The PM had scheduled a meeting in one of the conference rooms in the Centre
Block of the Finance, Public Works, Defense, Transportation, and Northern
Economic Development Ministers, as well as the respective heads of the
Defense Staff.

Everyone sat down at their seats, tea was served, and they all got down to
business.  McColl began.

"Good to see you all again." Nods around the table.  "To go hand in hand
with our CAF Modernization Initiative that we announced two days ago, the
time has come to begin developing our Arctic.  There will be, of course,
environmental groups and the other usual detractors, but I think this
project will go over well with Canadians.  People see the need to do this,
not only because of the security benefits for the far north, but also
because of the social and economic benefits.  The last century has seen the
southern part of the country develop exponentially, with the relative
exclusion of the north.  This is why we created the new position of Northern
Economic Development as a part of the cabinet."

"Miss Dion, if you would please take it away."  McColl smiled.

"Sure thing.  Part of the reason our northern territories are so sparsely
populated is because of the climate, but the other part is that no real
effort has been put into development.  That is why I am here.  The reason
why the military brass are here," and she said that with an amicable glance
to Girard, "is because military and security infrastructure is often the
primary reason development begins in a region.  We have a plan that will be
implemented over the next few years that will effectively change the far
north."

"First of all, the new naval acquisitions are going to need a base.  We want
to build a naval station in either Iqualuit or to the north of Inuvik.  We
like these two locations because Iqualuit has an airport and a small harbour
already, while Inuvik has the Dempster Highway.  It wouldn't take much to
continue the highway north from the town.  We want to make sure that any
military presence we establish be accompanied by substantial economic
benefits for the locals."

"We also want to create an air force and infantry base by expanding our
current complex in Yellowknife, which we would rename CFB Yellowknife, from
the current CFNA Yellowknife.  There is also a proposal to create a Northern
Warfare Training Centre, similar to what we have at Gagetown, but for
northern and winter warfare.  It would be used by all the services.  Girard
has told me the armed forces would like to base 3,000 regular troops with
room for volunteer reservists there year round, with rotations occurring
every four months."

"To supply this, we would like to build a paved highway with special
engineering practices we've developed for the permafrost.  Rail would also
work, and preferably we would do both.  There is an existing line from
Edmonton north to Hay River, and we'd like to extend that around the lake to
Yellowknife.  There is also an existing line to Fort McMurray, which is
where the oil sands developments are (taking place).  That could be extended
north to Fort Chipewyan, Fort Smith, and then on to Hay River.  That would
bring a lot of economic activity into the region, revitalize its economy,
and expand its population.  Another rail line extends north through the BC
Cariboo region to Fort Nelson, we think extending that line into Whitehorse
would do a world of good for the Yukon.  As well as the construction, the
influx of people and goods would do a lot to make Whitehorse and Yellowknife
major northern centres, which would thus encourage development of the
territories as a whole."

"Thanks, Louise.  Now, there is another issue I'd like to discuss with you
all.  That is a national high-speed rail network.  Any thoughts?"

It turned out they were all highly in favour, although wary of the
potentially prohibitive costs.  Public Works Minister Perrin Gassou chose
that moment to chuckle.  "It will probably cost more than $100 billion to
connect all the major cities.  That being said, I think it's an excellent
idea.  We should be encouraging rail travel to get more vehicles off the
roads.  We should learn from Europe; they have always encouraged mass
transit and rail travel over vehicles.  I think we would do well to learn
from that and get people taking the train more.  We would start with the
Edmonton-Calgary corridor and the
Windsor-London-Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal-Quebec City route.  Once we get those
running smoothly, we could put routes extending from Calgary to Vancouver
and Regina, and from Edmonton to Saskatoon and then on to Regina.  Once
that's complete we would connect the west and east via Winnipeg and put a
line through New Brunswick to Halifax."

"Whoa, now that's ambition if I've ever heard it.  What about Victoria and
St. John's?  I know they're on islands, but eventually we will need to
connect them to rest of the country.  I remember there was a proposal to
build the CPR through the BC interior, down the Bute Inlet and then across
the various Upper Gulf Islands and then down the east coast of Vancouver
Island to Victoria.  That would have ensured Victoria's position as a major
Pacific port, but Vancouver was chosen because it was cheaper.  We could win
a lot of votes on the west coast.  Victoria is not an insignificant city
anymore, there are 10 ridings on Vancouver Island now, and the population is
growing rapidly.  And we now have the technology to make that a feasible
plan.  Any ideas for St. John's?"  Transportation Minister Sidney Crompton
was MP for Victoria-Centre, so he had a lot to gain from that idea, but it
was still a good one nonetheless.

"Hmmm, good call on that, though I'm assuming you were talking conventional
rail for the Victoria route?  I don't think even now we could put a high
speed route through there.  Getting it to Vancouver will be bad enough."
McColl had that look so many politicians get when they conspire for votes.

"Yea, sorry I didn't clarify that.  The route would have to connect via the
BC interior, probably through Prince George."  "No problem."  The PM looked
disappointed at what he was thinking, and then decided to voice his
thoughts.  "Honestly, I don't see how St.John's could be connected to the
mainland.  The Straight of Belle Isle is just too wide, not to mention the
sea-ice, and extreme currents."

"At any rate, could VIA Rail run such an operation?  We would do everything
through them, so we would need to make sure that they are up to par for it.
However, I am optimistic.  The Commons will be happy about this, as all the
provinces stand to gain except for PEI and Newfoundland, which are not so
important anymore.  Hopefully the provinces will be happy about this too.
We should encourage all of them to work together on this project.  On that
note, we need a name, and looking at this dossier here, it seems the budget
would be $96 billion spread over 15 years starting next fiscal year.  Can we
make that work Eric?"

The Finance Minister had been pretty quiet throughout, but he piped up now.
"Yes we can, I've made room by shuffling a number of things to side; we will
be able to pay for this at the rate of $6.4billion per year with no
problems.  Just don't ask for any new major spending initiatives this year,
or I might bludgeon you."  He grinned.

Everyone had a good laugh, and then Crompton said, "I've just thought of a
good name, the 'High Speed Rail and Infrastructure Initiative'.

"Haha, so be it, the HSRII, not bad, could be better.  I propose for the
northern project that we call it the 'Northern Economic Development
Initiative'.  Heh, needee.  The pundits will start thinking that all that
ever comes out of Ottawa anymore are initiatives and equalization payments."
More good laughs courtesy of Gassou.

"Great work everyone.  Let's start drafting the proposals, enlisting
provincial help and getting things rolling.  We should have no problem with
the Spring Budget this year, seeing as we have a solid majority."

All of them filed out except for Crompton.  He turned to McColl, "The
Americans will want in on the project.  I bet you $50 they want to connect
our system to theirs by the time of the next federal election."

James grinned, "Done Sidney, you've got yourself a bet.  We'll deal with
them when the time comes."  They shook hands.

--------------------------

Actions:

1: get a major conventional rail expansion underway
2: start rolling out the plans and dough for the national high speed train
network
3: distract voters from the major provinces with the infrastructure goodies,
then they won't be as focused on the military purchases.  after all, when
the economy is rolling, and times are good, who cares?
4: seal a wager :D
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From michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com  Sat Apr 12 07:20:22 2008
From: michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com (Michael Downey)
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:50:22 -0230
Subject: [War] The Korea Six: "The Vladivostok Conference- Part I"
Message-ID: <6b6ab8a70804120420n4b9438b2s2584da61c29b8cc9@mail.gmail.com>

"The Vladivostok Conference"
Assembled Leaders of the Korea Six
15 March 2014
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-

Security at the  convention site in Vladivostok was beyond tight. This
wasn't some friendly  get-together to discuss trade and global warming.
This was a top-level  meeting meant to prevent a growing crisis in the
Far East from spiraling into  an armed conflict between the world's two
superpowers. Thus, there were many  forces of extremism and chaos that
would desperately want to see this  conference fail. For Allah, for
communism, for the environment or whatever  bizarre ideology people
like that followed. Armed guards at every corner, no  cars near the
building itself save for Army vehicles and the cars of the  invited
delegates, and a three kilometer no-fly zone.

Denemetov had  spuriously suggested the Vladivostok Conference might be
Nemerenko's ticket  to a top spot in the history books. The man who
prevented the Second Cold  War. He knew she had been joking, of course,
but even that rubbed him the  wrong way. He wasn't doing this for
himself, for some sort of legacy. He was  doing this because war was
bad for business. War was bad for Russia.  Especially a war, covert or
overt, between China and the United  States.

Pragmatism. Always pragmatism.

Two guards pushed open the  double wooden doors of the opulent
conference room, a releic of the Romanov  era that had a certain
decadence that suited the Soviets, with crisp salutes  as Denemetov
lead the delegates into the room with the utmost courtesy. There  was
no media, no photographers or microphones. The sensitivity of  the
talks and the security demands of the involved governments  prevented
that. Besides, the media was always a hinder in situations like  this.
The news would get what they needed to know after the  fact.

"Assembled leaders, honored guests," said the Russian President  once
everyone had been seated and the doors closed by the guards.  Earpieces
had been provided for each delegate which were connected to a  hardwire
audio system on the other end of which were a slew of SVR  translators.
Nemerenko spoke in Russian for political reason. Only Sato  spoke
Japanese and speaking English might be interpreted as a slight  by
Hong, favoritism towards the Americans. "I thank you all for  attending
this conference here in Vladivostok, capital of the Russian Far  East.
It is unfortunate that we must meet under the circumstances that  we
do, but it is my belief we can leave this conference with a  better
understanding of our respective nations at the conclusion.

"Let  me state the objectives of this conference: stability in the Far
East,  stability in North Korea and a normalization of relations
between the United  States of America and the People's Republic of
China. How and when we come to  realize these objectives is not for me
to say, but for this council of  nations to decide. With that, I would
invite each one of you to give an  opening statement outlining the
position of your government. We will go by  alphabetical order,
starting with the People's Republic of  China."

President Williams had come in low-profile: VC-25 to  Elmendorf,
followed by a Cessna Citation to Vladivostok. In his memory, as  he
looked out the window as the plane came in for a landing, he had  mused
over how unlikely this would have been even 15 years  before.
Vladivostok had, until 1992, been a closed city. It was still  the
Russian Pearl Harbor...Just, colder.

Now, he was seated in the  conference hall, and he subtly turned his
earpiece on as President Hong began  to speak. The interpreters were
good, but he preferred to do it himself if he  could. Quietly, he took
notes for review later, listening intently to  Hong...Well, her
translator, but anyway.

Sato listened to the his  translator and not for the first time since
taking
office wished he had  learned Mandarin. His arrival had been
wonderfully low
key, he flew
in by a  small military VIP transport plane and was pleased to see
there were
no
ceremonies or cameras waiting as he descended the gang way.  Simply an
official from the
Russian government who shook his hand and rode with him to  the summit
site.
If only more
summits were like this things might actually  get done.

Xia had found it funny that, given her country's name was technically
'People's Republic of China' that she, and not Prime Minister Sato,
was  beginning,
but figured Nemerenko had used the shortened versions either to
specifically
put China first, or simply to facilitate discussion.   Whichever, she
doubted
there would be much in the way of progress made  here.  "Thank you
President
Nemerenko for the honor of the invitation, and  I would like to
personally
thank the respective representatives from each nation  for coming.
The position
of China has been iterated and reiterated  repeatedly since the first
evidence
of American involvement in North Korea  became available.  Stability
in Asia
is, and of right ought to be of  paramount concern at this
conference.  It was
the reason behind Chinese  intervention in North Korea, and is the
reason we
are turning over control  of operations on the northern half of the
peninsula
slowly but surely to a still  organizing North Korean Army.  When the
time is
right, China  will happily withdraw her forces from the peninsula all
together
if so  requested from it's legitimate government..." she stopped here
and
noticed  everyone looking around at their translators.  With an inward
chuckle she
 decided just to go with English, switching from a native Mandarin to
a clean
 Californian non-accent in less time than it took to snap your
fingers.  "As
I was saying, China is a firm believer in the international  principle
of
sovereignty, and it was a sober decision to make with regards to  Korean
intervention... but I could not watch more than twenty-million kill
themselves and
each other in a Civil War knowing that I had at my disposal the
capability to
prevent it.  This takes us to the issue of stability in North
Korea... in the
one year that Chinese forces have been in country, a formal
governmental body
has been created, peace made between rival war lords, and the  rule of
law
instituted, and elections are being planned for January to finalize  a
North
Korean governing Constitution and solidify a permanent government.
The NKA and
it's other armed forces are rising in strength and numbers, and  massive
humanitarian aid projects unlike any the world has ever seen are
ongoing  to
provide the nation with the capacity to stand on it's own.  Key
infrastructure is
being repaired, and capitalist markets established.  I  bring all this
up to
make it clear what exactly the American government put at  risk simply
to kill
brave PLA soldiers.  By giving those orders Mister  President..." at
this point
she stared directly at Williams.  "You've done  far more than take the
lives
of innocent men tasked with bringing peace to North  Korea.  You've
done far
more than eliminate family lines for several  families, but by actively
supporting and organizing an illegal resistance you've  spat in the
face of
International Law, and put at risk the very achievements you  'claim'
to be in support
of.  As we speak, the American Navy is conducting  'drills' off
Chinese soil,
and selling arms to a rogue province which is 'still'  under Chinese
autonomy.
 Despite repeated reassurances that your captured  spies will receive
a fair
trial and be treated humanely, in your ignorant  righteousness you've
moved to
embargo Chinese goods necessary to your own  people, and have pushed
this
world to the brink of economic disaster.  And  then, rather than
apologize and
correct these 'glaring' misjudgments in policy,  you opt to go on a
world wide
propaganda campaign based on lies and  insinuation.  Nations have gone
to war
for far less grievous actions Mister  President, and I strongly urge
you to
reconsider making any 'demands' of  China."

She then turned her attention back to addressing the room.  "The
following
are pre-conditions for a 'normalization' of relations with the United
States.
One, President Williams himself will make a public apology to the
world for
all the outlined failures of his policy, and accept full
responsibility for
their consequences.  Two, the baseless accusations  raised at the
World Trade
Organization are to be dropped.  Three, the  United States will begin
negotiations with North Korea to formally recognize  it's existence as
an independent,
sovereign nation in the form of a treaty  ratified accordingly.  Four,
the
United States will recall 'all' of it's  forces currently operating
off the
shores of the Province of Taiwan and  immediately issue via executive
decree or
whatever such means are available, an  apology for violating Chinese
territorial
sovereignty.  Five, any agents of  the Chinese government, currently in
American custody, will be released.   Likewise China will
reciprocate.  Six, the
United States will agree and  commit to negotiations regarding a non-
aggression
treaty with the People's  Republic.  Seven, the idiotic embargo
unlawfully
placed on Chinese goods be  rescinded immediately.  Eight, the United
States will
immediately reimburse  the People's Republic for all costs relating to
the
benefits to be paid out, and  burial of, those troops confirmed killed
in action
as a direct result of it's  unlawful actions in North Korea.  Nine,
the United
States will immediately  cease all covert operations in Asia, period.
And
Ten, the United States  will agree in principle that it's forward
deployment of
troops in Asia 'should'  be a temporary measure aimed at allowing the
nations
of Asia to build their own,  independent, means of defense... and that
upon
determination that the nations  where American troops 'are' deployed are
sufficiently capable of defending  themselves as made by the United
Nations General
Assembly, will withdraw these  forces."

Nemerenko nodded in acknowledgment of Hong's statement. Harsh demands
from China, a predictable outcome given the circumstances. He just
hoped there wouldn't be any Khrushchev-like antics from anyone. It
would be bad forum to bang one's shoe on such a lovely table.

"Thank you President Hong. I would next like to invite Prime Minister
Sato to speak."

Sato rose and bowed a deep respectful bow to the Russian President.
"Thank you," he said in English as he put on his glasses and took a
glance at his index cards on which his notes were on, shook his head
slightly and put them in his pocket. He left the glasses on though,
they made him look somewhat grandfatherly, which was fitting he was
the oldest man in the room.

"Thank you President Nemerenko," he said in slightly accented English.
"I sit here and look around the table and see the 'usual suspects' of
Asian instability. Over the last century or so, we have all warred
against one another and suffered for it. Now we stand again on the
verge of a new war, perhaps a cold one, but a war all the same, and I
hope we can find the wisdom today to avert that.

"Japan is not innocent in these recent events, we have done our part
out of fear of our old enemies, to tear down what was in the end a
positive change because we did not trust those who were behind it. For
that, Japan begs forgiveness. However, tainted as we may be by
deception and fear, Japan's position is that we must set aside our
distrust of one another and embrace compromise or we shall find
ourselves locked in the same dance, that has held us for over a
century, and as usual, when the song ends, we shall find ourselves
weaker for it. I hope that we are not alone in this desire.

"So while Japan has no specific objectives at this meeting but that we
resolve this matter and come away from it at peace, we do put forward
as a suggestion, that all members of this summit put their names to a
non-aggression treaty that will at the very least stop us from
pursuing this matter into the insanity of open war. I thank you all."

He bowed deeply to the assembled leaders and then sat down putting his
glasses away in his coat pocket as he did.

"Thank you Prime Minister," said Nemerenko. Sato's goals were not all
that dissimilar from Nemerenko's; stability in the Far East and an end
to the constant squabbling between the same nations over and over. The
idea of a non-aggression pact between China and the United States
seemed a bit far-fetched to the Russian leader, but you never knew. "I
would now invite the representative from North Korea to speak."

"Thank you Mister President."  The North Korean leader, fairly
youthful but with subtle scars of a veteran of the NKA, smiled to the
assembled leaders.  "Let me begin by first saying I deeply appreciate,
and admire, all gathered here to discuss the future of my nation.  I
am happy to see the world community take such an interest in us
finally, and hope that this may be the start of a new page in North
Korean history.  One of international openness.

This being said, your concerns are needless.  Since the Civil War has
ended, law and order has been established.  Once empty streets are now
brimming with traffic, bike traffic mainly, but traffic."  He smiled.
"Stores are opening, and for once North Koreans have the basic frame
work of an economy.  We have a military and police force being
re-trained in new, fantastic ways to provide for the common security,
and hospitals, schools, universities, and government services are
being restored.  I am not naive enough to believe that my words will
sway anyone here, as it seems rather obvious that your decisions
regarding my people's fate have already been made.  However the fact
remains that without the intervention of China, the Civil War would
have caused catastrophic problems.  Imagine trails of millions of
refugees swarming across the Yalu, or even the DMZ?  Would either
China, or South Korea, have the capacity to care for so many newcomers
in their condition?  By taking a pre-emptive action, China has guarded
against this possibility.  My people now receive what they need, and
dare I say what they want, on their own soil.  The insurgency as it
stands, were it not for well-meaning but misguided American
intervention, would be ended by now.  it is composed mainly of
criminals and out laws bent on their own thirst for power, rather than
working in the framework of the transitional government now
established.  I respect the American Administration's desire to see
positive improvements in North Korea, and welcome the American
government to being an open partner in the distribution of economic
and humanitarian aid.  During the border crisis, it was American ships
working in conjunction with Chinese soldiers and North Korean agents
that alleviated one of the greatest disasters ever faced by man
kind... that is the kind of results I would like to see those here
channel their collective resources towards.

I will add before turning the floor over, that it is the opinion of my
government that Chinese support will be needed for the immediate
future.  There is a lot of work that must be done, and I trust
President Hong when she says Chinese troops will leave when the
mission is complete.  I do not intend to ask for much, simply that my
people be given the chance to develop, free of 'hostile' international
intervention, into a flourishing member of the international
community."

Moderate words from the North Korean representative. Was he a Chinese
puppet? Nemerenko would wait and see before casting his final
judgement. "I thank the North Korean representative. President Lee, I
believe it is now your turn to speak."
- Hide quoted text -

President Lee of the Republic of Korea, stony faced, whether out of
determination or a stomach ailment, began to speak.

"I would like to thank President Nemerenko for convening and hosting
this summit in an attempt to head off a most urgent and dangerous
crisis.  It is the hope of my government that a peaceful arrangement
may be reached.

"The honorable President of the People's Republic of China has, as is
her nation's right, stated her stance.  The Republic of Korea can not,
however, agree with either her interpretation of events or with her
demands of my government's ally, the United States of America.

"She states that the People's Republic could not sit by and watch the
populace of the northern Korean peninsula destroy itself in a civil
war.  Such a statement is fundamentally flawed.  And while I can not
doubt that the Chinese government made a most serious and 'sober'
decision to *invade* the northern Korean peninsula, such a decision
was made not only in contravention to international law, but also I am
quite certain with less than admirable intentions.

"As to the latter, though the so-called Democratic People's Republic
of Korea was no doubt a troublesome regime to all her neighbors from
time to time, there is no doubt in the minds of the government and
people of the Republic of Korea that from the Chinese perspective the
*existence* of North Korea was and is seen as a buffer and client
state, one of the few the Chinese could claim and, thanks to their
invasion, can continue to claim with a high degree of truth.  The
existence of North Korea is I am sure a strategic and political
imperative for the Chinese government.  Moral decency and compassion
do not enter into this analysis.

"Moreover, despite your attempts to portray American actions in
northern Korea as spitting in the face of international law, it is the
Chinese government, more than all others who have willfully and
wantonly disregarded international law.  First and foremost, no matter
what the conditions, the tragedy, or the horror which may or may not
exist in any given state, that state's sovereignty may not be
abrogated on the whim or decision, no matter how compassionate, of any
other state.  Such internal disorder may only be subject to
intervention by international forces when and only when such disorder
has been determined to be a threat to the peace between nations, and
that such a threat has been recognized as such by the United Nations.
And, having made such a determination, it is up to the United Nations
to organize and command such measures as are thought to be necessary
to ensure that international peace and stability can be maintained, if
necessary by intervention in the affairs of a sovereign state.

"Certainly this latest intervention by the People's Republic of China
had no such authorization.  The Chinese government, so often and so
outspokenly in the past an opponent of intervention in the internal
affairs of other states, such as the recent case of the Darfur crisis
in the Sudan, has turned completely to a willingness to violate the
sovereignty of a state because it suits its own purposes and agenda,
whatever these may be.  The difference between China's rhetoric and
its actions, clear enough already in the past, is now stark.

"Having invaded Korea, the Chinese government has decided that it, and
it alone, has the right to determine northern Korea's future.  It has
excluded all others from the reconstruction process, both physical and
legal, of the north excepting those states willing to pass no
judgement, and to not interfere, on the actions of the Chinese
government and the course that the Chinese government, and the Chinese
government alone, has decided for northern Korea.  The Chinese
government has not only invaded northern Korea, it has illegally
established a security presence counter to the interest of the Korean
people, and with no international legal standing.

"Indeed, it has prevented the United Nations Command in Korea,
established under United Nation Security Council Resolution 84 in
1950, a resolution still in force, from exercising its mandate to
restore peace and security in Korea, following the unlawful aggression
of those in control of northern Korea at that time.  This resolution,
indeed, followed United Nation Security Council Resolution 82 which
expressed the never refuted interest of the United Nations to restore
the unity of the Korean state, and that the Republic of Korea was, to
the extent of the United Nations' ability to determine, the *only*
lawful government in and of Korea.  That the so-called Democratic
People's Republic of Korea was, in light and in spite of this, allowed
to exist owes not to any concession by my government, but to
unalterable realities on the ground.

"The intervention of vast numbers of Chinese military forces in
northern Korea also contravenes the armistice ending the war between
the so-called Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United
Nations Command in Korea.  The armistice provided that neither side
would be allowed to quickly send troops into the Korean peninsula.
While the People's Republic of China technically has or had no
official involvement in said conflict, these forces were certainly not
troops of either the forces of northern Korea or of the Army of the
Republic of Korea, and were not and are not under the command of the
United Nations Command in Korea, which by standing United Nation
resolutions is under United States leadership.  Thus, as neither a
force welcome to either the Republic of Korea or, as part of or in
conjunction to, the United Nations Command in Korea, it can only be
inferred that the Chinese army's intervention was an intervention on
the behalf of the so-called Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Additionally, while the People's Republic of China never had any
*official* interest or stake in the "Korean War", it is beyond doubt
that many of the People's Republic's citizens fought on the side of
the forces of northern Korea, though perhaps not in any manner which
could be incontestably determined to be officially sanctioned by the
government of the People's Republic of China, though the possibility
remains.

"Furthermore, Madam President, you claim that the American activities
in northern Korea, of which my government has no direct involvement,
are in and of themselves a great tragedy, and threaten your
government's attempts to build a paradise for the "grateful" people of
northern Korea.  I would point out that no insurgency can exist
without great dissent from the authorities that the insurgency is
attempting to overthrow.  The provision of supplies or weapons to such
insurgents might make their work easier, but it does not in and of
itself make their work.  If citizens of northern Korea are striking
out at your forces, it is not because they have been cajoled into
doing so, it is because they will it.  It is because they desire it.
It is because they *wish* to resist your army of occupation that they
have gladly accepted the freely offered assistance of the United
States of America.  Even if the United States were to cease all
involvement, Chinese soldiers would die because oppressed Koreans,
finding themselves in an occupied northern Korea, would find a way to
kill them.

"I would here give pause to the President of the People's Republic of
China.  For if China would seek to refute the Republic of Korea's
claim to be the rightful government of northern Korea, citing perhaps
the lack of effective control over said territory over the past few
decades despite the maintenance of said claims, how could the world
look on China's own claims with regard to the island of Taiwan.
Korea's disunity is a historical artifact of the Cold War, and the
Republic of Korea has ever and always looked forward to the day when
Korea and more importantly the Korean people would cease to be
divided, that the forced and intolerable disunion forced upon Korea by
outside forces should end.  All of my government's, and the
governments' of my predecessors, actions with regard to the so-called
Democratic People's Republic of Korea were made with a view towards
eventually reestablishing the historical and popular unity of the
Korean people, whether the tactics employed were accommodating or
unaccommodating.

"Madam President, you are at the moment in a position of might.  But
might does not make right, and you are certainly not in the right.
You have invaded and occupied my nation with a view towards making yet
another client state in the territory of the Republic of Korea.  My
government, and for almost the past seventy years, has been forced to
accept the disunion of our country.  We can perhaps wait longer still,
but we will not condone or cooperate in acts, proposals, or threats
which extend the period of disunion of my nation."

Williams listened to the statements attentively, taking notes to lock
his memory.

*Thank you, President Lee. Good to know I have -some- friends. Wish I
could have hid the bags under my eyes, though. Thank God the press
isn't around.*

Speaking into his microphone in English, he didn't bother to do more
than glance at his notes.

"As with my counterparts, I offer my thanks to President Nemerenko for
inviting all of us to this summit.

"This is decidedly not the occasion or circumstances under which I
would prefer to be in Vladivostok, but today is not about the city in
which we sit.

"Much of what President Lee said had merit. In fact, this is a key
point to many Americans. This situation, inevitably, brings echoes of
iraq."

"Today is not about Iraq, a war I carry a round from under my skin. I
did not agree with it; I thought it was badly timed and badly planned.
With the exception of courageous countries such as the Republic of
Korea, most of the world refused to help in any way, in peace or war -
speaking as the
soldier I was then, I thought the hint should have been obvious when
our allies were generally believing it to be a bad idea.

"Speaking as the President I am now, I cannot help but note the irony.
Almost despite itself, Iraq turned out to be at least minimally
successful.

"Was it a mistake to go in, though? Yes. We pulled out a semblance of
a victory, but
going in was a mistake. We won by valor and no small amount of luck.
Has the United States rightly been reminded of
it, again and again, by friends and rivals alike? Yes, though perhaps
rather redundantly by now. And yet, I'd like to think that for nations
as well as individuals, mistakes can be redeemed. That even those who
have erred can find redemption.

"But enough about Iraq.

"Madam President, we both are parents. My son is rather too young as
of yet, but how often did you tell yours 'two wrongs don't make a
right'? Often, I bet.

"And yet, that is what you claim. I will not. My reaction to your
intervention was considered through the fog of misinformation, the
crushing pressure of domestic audiences to do *something*.

"I have killed, Madam President. I have lost friends, brothers really,
to war. It has made me deaf to protestations of innocence from
politicians such as us.

"Nobody in this room is innocent. The first tank to start its engines,
the first soldier to board a vehicle, the first unit to cross the Line
of Departure. That is when we all failed. The blood of every person to
have died in the months since...My hands are bathed in it. President
Hong, your hands are bathed in it. The hands of every person in this
room is bathed in the blood of those who have died to Chinese or
Korean bullets.

"Others may bring forth legal arguments. I will not. I cannot. For
when the first man under my command died in combat in Iraq, to a
sniper a day before we were supposed to go home, I escorted his
remains home. I helped to bury his casket.

"Everyone in this room killed this past year. Through action or
inaction. To then presume to bargain as though lives are commodities
in a Baghdad souk does not make us statesmanlike; It makes us monsters.

"For all these reasons, for the many reasons enumerated by my
counterpart from the Republic of Korea, I cannot accept the demands of
the Chinese side.

"My counteroffer is simple: Status Quo Ante. Remove foreign persons
between the Yalu and the DMZ. Release all prisoners to their
homelands. A five-power authority will prepare for a North Korean
plebiscite with two options: Reunion with the South, or independence
and neutrality. China will be able to walk the long, hard road of
redemption, as we have.

"And, I pray, the guns will fall silent. I have seen enough of war."

And now the conch passed full circle, back into the hands of
Nemerenko. He gave careful consideration to what he was going to say.
No one was going to leave here with everything they wanted, that much
was for sure. Even Russia and Japan, who merely wanted regional
stability and had no immediate military or territorial objectives,
would be satisfied. Of that much he was sure.

"Before I begin, I will emphasize that I am merely a moderator and no
way an arbiter," said Nemerenko. "The truth of this situation is that
no state present can be forced to do anything. Save by force of arms,
but that is a scenario no one at this table wants. To begin, President
Williams," he turned to face the American leader. "Whatever your
reasons, whatever China may or may not be responsible for, the actions
taken by the CIA are unacceptable. What you have done is a reckless
and irresponsible agitation of a dangerous situation. China has
violated no international law by arresting your operatives, while you
have violated the principles of state sovereignty by dispatching them
to begin with. The reality is that if you did not desire your men to
face a Chinese firing squad or prison term, you should not have
dispatched them to arm insurgents fighting the PLA. Your meddling has
made this situation worse, and compromised the legitimacy of American
involvement in any resolution."

He then turned to regard Hong. "President Hong, and to your North
Korean college, I must find fault with any assertion that the
insurgency in North Korea is purely an American product. Not that the
actions of the United States have not prolonged the insurgency, they
have. But it is my opinion that the critical factor driving North
Korean citizens to fight the PLA is the exceedingly poor behavior of
the Chinese military in regards to its treatment of the North Korean
populace. That these actions are not ordered or sanctioned by you,
President Hong, is immaterial. Your government is responsible for the
actions of its soldiers. And your soldiers have behaved like animals.
You have promised resolution to this yet the latest reports from both
the world media and our own respective intelligence agencies-" he cast
a look around the table to all others present, "indicates that human
rights education among your troops is still a totally foreign concept.
China may have prevented a bloody civil war that could have killed
many millions. Still immaterial. To sit here and say that China is the
Saviour of North Korea and the rest of the world should just mind its
own business while your men brutalize its population as we speak now
in this very room compromises your legitimacy as well."

He leaned back and folded his hands on the table, letting the two
leaders absorb what he had just said. Both were proud, stubborn, maybe
even a bit paranoid. And their relationship with Russia was complex.
Both saw Russia as a potential ally, source of resources for their
hungry economies, and both also saw Russia as an potential enemy. That
would certainly color their reaction.

"The opinion I offer is as follows: one, the United States of America
must affirm that it will no longer conduct any covert actions aimed at
arming insurgent groups in North Korea or take any other action that
will sow chaos and instability in North Korea, and furthermore agree
to take no punitive actions against China for the arrest of the two
CIA operatives arrested by Chinese authorities. Two, the People's
Republic of China should accept a UN-sanctioned monitoring group
attached to the regional PLA command in North Korea to observe the
activities of Chinese forces and ensure no further human rights
violations are carried out by Chinese soldiers." Nemerenko paused once
again to let the translators work and for the leaders to think. "I
would invite Japan and South Korea to voice their views before we here
the viewpoints of America, China and North Korea."
---

End of Part I


From john.penta at gmail.com  Mon Apr 14 17:21:06 2008
From: john.penta at gmail.com (John Penta)
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:21:06 -0400
Subject: [War] US: "Taming the Procurement Beast"
Message-ID: <ab8370d40804141421h11864b80t77eb65e844e7936f@mail.gmail.com>

"Taming the Procurement Beast"
11 March 2014
Pres. John Williams
USA
=========================
Procurement had always been one of John Williams's pet issues during
his legislative (and now executive) service.

Well, okay. Maybe that was the wrong phrase.

Some called it a passion. Some, an obsession. Some called it the
wonkiest focus of a President in years.

He had to agree with the last; it was rather wonky.

But even his critics generally acknowledged honorable motives. He did
try to make the system better.

Sometimes it just...didn't survive first contact.

But it was a credit to...persistence? Insanity? Whatever...Fact was,
it was an unending project.

It was how government spent a large chunk of taxpayer dollars; buying
stuff, designing stuff, building stuff.

Thus the following memo, from the POTUS to all acquisition authorities
in the DOD, since they were the worst offenders.
---
Subject: Some guidelines on the procurement process (Or "Taming the beast")

We've done a lot to reform the procurement system of the DOD, but not
enough. Namely, there seems to be a chronic inability on the part of
procurement authorities to make up their mind.

So I'm going to force the issue.

Effective now, this is how DOD will handle requirements.

One: By the start of SDD, you will have definitive requirements set.
The system to exit SDD must meet those requirements. Milestone review
authorities get one shot, -one- shot, to modify requirements during
SDD without the approval of the Defense Acquisition Board, which will
rarely be granted. Yeah, unless you want to get slow-roasted, *decide
what you want*.

Two: No more than three Engineering Change Orders per project without
DOD approval. NAVSHIPS, this includes you. We noticed.

Three: Requirements should be no more specific than absolutely
required. Ship construction and other major projects are horrible
here, and should be wary of the habit. Don't specify the bolts to use,
specify what the system the bolts hold in should do.

Four: Design to the *current* SOTA. Just allow for line replacement as
the SOTA advances.

Five: Tell the truth. It shouldn't have to be mentioned, but the
constant overoptimism and promising more than can be delivered is
infuriating. People will lose their jobs if this keeps up. If Congress
doesn't like reality, take a stand: They have to accept reality.

There will be Presidential support for that...But not for the usual lies.

Any questions, ask.
---

Such was how reform happened. Slow, gentle nudges mixed with hard smacks.
---
Actions:
1. New regime at DOD, yup. To encourage the rest of government.
2. Rule 1: Make Up Your Goddamn Mind. Seriously.
3. Rule 2: See rule 1.
4. Rule 3: Quit overspecifying.
5. Rule 4: You do not have the money to drive SOTA anymore. Build to
current SOTA, leave room to upgrade.
6. Rule 5: Tell the truth, even when it hurts. Or go home.


From michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com  Fri Apr 18 11:08:51 2008
From: michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com (Michael Downey)
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:38:51 -0230
Subject: [War] Drinking in Congress
Message-ID: <6b6ab8a70804180808g24b36b89kc2e6e80062128d9a@mail.gmail.com>

This may sound like a strange question, but can you drink in Congress?


From michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com  Fri Apr 18 13:26:22 2008
From: michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com (Michael Downey)
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:56:22 -0230
Subject: [War] The Korea Six: "The Vladivostok Conference- Part II"
Message-ID: <6b6ab8a70804181026j6929429bt78a83fdf0830644a@mail.gmail.com>

"The Vladivostok Conference-  Part II"
Assembled Leaders of the Korea Six
15 March 2014
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-

Sato had listened quietly to the words of his his fellows around this table
showing no reaction to any of their words but watching the reactions of others.
He found himself amused as usual. Everyone here, with the possible exception
of himself and their host, thought they were right. However it seemed
by the word
and reactions of others that a common understanding was not being reached. He
sighed inwardly as he stood to speak and reminded himself, his objective here
today was simply that all the involved parties attended the Russian summit. The
rest, he told himself, would come in time.

"I agree with President Nemerenko on this matter," Sato announced. "However,
I would like to add that Japan would like assurances of non-aggression between
the Republic of Korea and China, so that we are simply back here in a month,
discussing a new crisis. That said, there is one observation I would
like to make
before I hand over the floor to my Korean colleague. We have no mutually agreed
upon understanding of North Korea's status and I think that is something we must
come to to form a lasting peace. I do not propose we settle this
contentious issue
now, but, I put it forward as something to think about."

With that, Sato sat back down again. Curious about what the others would say.

"Thank you Prime Minister," said Nemerenko. Japan could be useful as
an leg of moderate thinking to stand upon, thought Nemerenko to
himself. That was something to keep in mind. "President Lee?"

President Lee, still stony faced, began his second address to the
assembled leaders.

"President Nemerenko, my country sincerely respects and appreciates
your country's mediation and opinion.  However, my government can not
countenance or condone any course of action which will in practical
effect, if not intended design, consign North Korea to be a puppet of
the People's Republic of China, to speak nothing of denying the
possibility of the rightful reunion of the Korean peninsula under one
free, sovereign government.

"As has been stated, the Chinese invasion and occupation of northern
Korea is illegal.  An unavoidable, and undesirable, fact of the
situation on the ground it may be, but accommodated it can not be.  If
the Chinese government wishes to remedy the illegal standing of it's
occupation, the only route is through thorough and complete
internationalization of the security and reconstruction of northern
Korea.  It is not sufficient nor acceptable that the role of the
United Nations be one of supervision, it must necessarily be one of
command and control.  Only then can freedom be guaranteed to northern
Korea, including specifically the right of the Korean people to
choose, if they so desire, reunification after almost seventy years of
enforced disunion.

"Madam President, you complain that your troops are being killed by
those who you believe are mere puppets of the United States and who I
say simply do not want you in our country.  If you are that concerned
for the blood of your troops, then internationalize the force.  If no
one else, the Republic of Korea is ever willing and ever ready to come
to the assistance of our northern brothers.  My government does not
seek conflict with your nation, but we *insist* that northern Korea
not be a puppet of your government, and as such remain and continue to
be sundered from the remainder of the Korean people.  My government
has no faith, and has never been given any cause to believe, that the
Chinese government has any interest in a free northern Korea,
nonetheless a reunited Korea.

"You have tried to paper over your government's illegal acts with
measures of charity designed to
appeal to those in the free nations of the world who might be swayed
by such a facade.  You build
roads, and say that they have begun to fill with traffic.  Yet where
can they go if they are not
free?  You say that there are now jobs for the people of the north to
work.  Yet what do they work
for if they are not free?  You say there are schools to teach the
young to live, and hospitals to
heal the sick?  But what is there to live for if they are not free?

"The issues of the conditions in northern Korea, either past or
present, are irrelevant to this fundamental imperative.  No people can
prosper under occupation, no matter how benign.  Economic liberty can
not survive long without political liberty, and this will never exist
in any puppet state created under the auspices of the Chinese
government.

"Freedom, soveriegn and democratic freedom, can never follow
prosperity.  No commerce can truly
and permanently thrive without a stable and trusted government.
Government, liberty, and
sovereignty must necessarily *precede* true economic progress, for it
is stable and free
government which provides the necessary environment for a people to
prosper.  And it is precisely
this which your government can not provide on its own.  The Chinese
government, by establishing
yet another puppet regime in northern Korea, will doom the people
there to further decades of
misery.

"Neither I nor my countrymen can understand what your government
thinks it can accomplish, what
benefit for either the people of northern Korea or indeed for the
government and people of China
you think will arise from the present occupation.  Your people have
paid and will continue to pay
in blood and treasure for aims which to the best of my or anyone else
outside of China's knowledge
are entirely political.  What do you seek to accomplish, what hope do
the Chinese people see in
northern Korea which is worth the blood and embarassment you have and
will continue to suffer?

"Continued attempts by the Chinese government to dominate and subdue
northern Korea will never pay dividends, and will only result in great
misery for your country.  The only remedy for your transgression of
international law and peace, the only route out of the quagmire which
you now surely find yourself trapped in, is internationalization."

Lee here turned to face the representative from northern Korea
directly, looking at him.  It was
the most he had moved since the beginning of the procedings.

"As to the remarks of the gentleman representing the Chinese puppet
government of northern Korea, you speak of a security apparatus being
trained in 'new, fantastic ways to provide for the common security'.
Might I ask if these are the same new and fantastic ways that the
Chinese train their own security forces?  I should hope not, if recent
events in China proper are any evidence of the manner of security that
the Chinese security apparatus, if not the Chinese government,
chooses.  What worth are stores, are goods, hospitals, schools, and
services if one is not free to enjoy them as one sees fit.

"As one Korean to another, as a man to a long lost brother, you are
being tempted with false gifts, gifts which must necessarily turn to
dust at the first encounter with difficulty.  You ask whether the
Republic of Korea would have had the capacity to cope with, and
effectively assist in the alleviation of, the suffering in the north
should the crisis which the Chinese invasion interrupted had become
more acute.  I do not know what my nation would have accomplished, but
I assure you, I guarantee to you and to all Koreans living north of
the De-Militarized Zone that the people and government of the Republic
of Korea would have done all within their power to help.  Even through
the years of the dictatorship of the Kims, the south has been ever
hopeful of reunion, even when the cost of such a reunion climbed as
the prosperity of our sundered people diverged.  You say the price
would have been, and even now is and will be, high.  I say that the
Republic of Korea is willing to pay that price, and to make the
sacrifices necessary for our northern brethren."

At the end of this, Lee paused to resume his former position and
recompose himself.  His comments
to the north Korean had clearly been deeply felt.  If Lee had been a
charismatic man, they would
have been very moving.  Yet, aside from a bit of color in his face, he
ramined stony faced
throughout.  Lee would never have made it in Hollywood.

"To these ends, my government makes the following proposal.  First,
that the responsibility for
security and reconstruction in northern Korea be transfered to the
command and control of a United
Nations force, backed by appropriate resolutions.  The possibility, or
perhaps probability, that
the Chinese government and Chinese security forces may continue to
play a key, though no longer
controlling, role in northern Korea under the auspices of the United
Nations is, of course, open.
Should an acceptable and reasonable scheme along these lines be agreed
to through the decision
making bodies of the United Nations, the Republic of Korea would be
more than happy to assist.

"Second, that it be agreed, again preferably through the action of the
appropriate decision making
bodies of the United Nations, that the people of northern Korea should
have the free and
unfettered choice of the form and makeup of their own government,
including specifically the
possibility of reunion with the Republic of Korea.  The current puppet
regime may remain in place,
then, only until such time that a United Nations mission has been
established in northern Korea
which might then begin steps towards this goal in a manner which does
not play into the hands of
*foreign* powers.

"Third, that if appropriate United Nations resolutions are adopted for
the formation of a United
Nations mission in northern Korea for the purposes as I have proposed,
that all parties agree to
work in good faith towards the end of the rebellion in northern Korea.
 Such work might include
ending arms shipments and other support towards supporting a violent
rebellion, while also
including moves towards pushing all members of northern Korean
society, particularly including the
rebels, towards a reconciliation and the beginning of open, free, and
sovereign democratic
processes.  Such acts may, as parties decide, begin before the
appropriate enabling resolutions
but should only be seen as required upon the passage and
implementation of such resolutions.

"Fourth and finally, that the various bilateral issues which have
arisen due to complications of
events in northern Korea should be resolved by bilateral negotiations."

"Thank you Mr. President," said Nemerenko with a nod. It was of no
surprise that the South Koreans were unwilling to accept the permanent
separation of the two countries. This could complicate matters.
"President Hong, we eagerly await your response, followed by the North
Korean delegate and finally President Williams after which I will
offer another mediative suggestion based upon what has been said.
Madam President?"

"Rejected."  The North Korean leader said flatly as he rose from his  seat,
casting a venomous glance to the South Korean President.  "You should  be more
honest with the world, you want North Korea for yourself and your  imperialist
designs are betrayed by your tactless language.  Mark my words,  if one South
Korean soldier crosses the border, I will see you dragged from  Seoul in
chains."  And with that the North Korean delegation moved.

Xia sighed.  Granted the man was right about the South Koreans, but  there
were greater things at stake here than 'just' Korea.  She had to make  a
decision... support an ally or continue on with international
diplomacy.   It was a
tough decision, not made any easier by the belligerent language tossed  around,
particularly from but not exclusively by South Korea.  "I must say,  the
South Korean position is striking for it's ignorance of events in it's own
region, and arrogance of it's policy makers.  I am afraid I must join my  North
Korean counterpart in dismissing this conference.  Thank you for your  time and
gracious effort President Nemerenko, I fear it may have been in vain,  however."
 And with that, China followed North Korea's lead.

Sato's frown cut deep lines in his face that weren't entirely hidden
by his facial
hair as he watched the Chinese delegation leave. He looked to Williams, Lee, and
Nemerenko. "Someone should try to convince them to stay," he commented.

On the American side, President Williams kept his poker face.
Negotiating with Afghan tribal elders had taught him *something*,
anyway.

How to ad-lib when things went to hell. At the moment, though, he was
tired and pissed off.

"Let them. Four million dead first day of war, for the record. As a
bare minimum. Apparently, they don't mind such a high stack of
corpses."

Nemerenko tried to keep a neutral face as Hong and the North Korean
left, but in the end could not help but shoot Williams a somewhat
scornful look at the man's inane comment. It seemed that neither side
was interested in any sort of reconciliation or compromise. "If they
had any true intention of negotiating then they would have stayed. We
are not even half an hour into our discussions. To retreat now gives
no doubt as to the course of events," Nemerenko offered to Sato. So
much for a place in the history books.

"I greatly appreciate the attendance of all parties involved here."
The reality was that this conference as a disaster, a stillborn mess
that had only hardened the resolve of the opposing sides, but he had
to give some sort of high-note end. "That we were able to at least sit
and talk, if but for a moment, hints at some future progress."
Bullshit. The Second Cold War had just officially started in this
room. Not to mention a recession, those were always fun. "Thank you
for your words, opinions and ears."

President Lee stood up woodenly, but the more observant among those
still present detected a sadness and a resignation in him.  He walked
wearily over to President Nemerenko, and offered his hand.

"I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for doing as much as you
have here today.  My country appreciates the fact that you tried to be
an honest broker in this den of lions."

A distant look appeared in Lee's eyes as he continued to speak.

"The Chinese, and perhaps others, will certainly note my harsh words
with at least a facade of indignation, and perhaps more truly
satisfaction at this result.  But I hope that you understand that
reunification has been the dream driving my country since the Korean
people were divided nearly seventy years ago.  There have been
disagreements about how to approach the issue, but never a doubt that
the Korean people should one day be reunited as one nation and one
country.  Some may call it imperialism.  But it is more base, more
guttural than that for us.  Given this, I had to try.

"I have no doubt now that the Chinese government will do as it pleases
in northern Korea.  Another regime, beholden to Beijing, will arise.
The separation will continue.  There might be prosperity of a sort in
the north now, but there will be no freedom, and reunification will
not occur, not yet.  Again, forces beyond the control of those in
Korea will hold sway.  If the Chinese had been willing, my government
would have done much to at last achieve reunification.

"It is a disheartening result.  There will be much soul searching, but
I have no doubt as to the outcome.  We have waited for seventy years.
If need be, we will wait for many more.  Our hope, the hope of the
Korean people, will not here perish."

At this point, for some reason, the...Israeli national anthem went
through POTUS's head as a soundtrack to Lee's words. His face,
meanwhile, held a look of concern.

"President Lee...What are you thinking?"

Then, "President Nemerenko, I must echo the compliments of my fellows.
You tried hard here. But it seems that we were dealing with another
Mideast: Any concessions would be a defeat, I suppose the Chinese saw
it as." Williams looked sad at this.

"I have a feeling the Chinese, the North Koreans...-want- a war, the bastards."

A sigh, as he reached into a pocket, pulled out a stress ball, and
just *squeezed* it.

"President Lee, I think we're all out of options. Annoys me that
option C has failed, B the Chinese rejected, and A is insane. And that
there seems to not be an option D."

"A war that my country will have no part of," said Nemerenko,
standing. "For either side." He hoped the point was made clear to
Williams and Lee. Russia had tried to bring a peaceful end to this.
Now all Nemerenko could do was stay out of the line of fire. "It was
nice to see you again, Ivan. And you, President Lee, I hope to
continue a positive dialogue with your nation." If East Asia still
existed in the next few days. He began pacing towards the door, the
guards pushing them open and saluting as the President left. "Good
luck," he said over his shoulder, some parting words. "You'll need
it."
---

Actions:
1) The Vladivostok Conference fails, with no progress made.


From pbuck11 at aol.com  Sun Apr 20 16:37:48 2008
From: pbuck11 at aol.com (Patrick B)
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:37:48 -0600
Subject: [War] World Report volume 4
Message-ID: <480BA99C.5000807@aol.com>

AR: World Report

- For all actions since Volume 2, advancing the timeline to April 13-18 2014

United Nations Security Council (Permanent Members): United States,
United Kingdom, France, China, Russia

United Nations Security Council (Non-Permanent Members):
Until September, 2007:  India, Egypt, Norway, Mexico, Venezuela
Until October, 2007:  Canada, Chile, Italy, South Africa, Japan

Pending UN Security Council Actions: None
Pending UN General Assembly Actions: None
United Nations Secretariat: No news.
==============
Ok here we go another WR, welcome our new Canadaian player, In world 
news the Vladivastok peace conference has collapsed with the US and 
CHina accusing each other of breaking treaties, Media pundits have 
commented on how 'tired and stressed' president williams looked.

The Olymipic games started with their ususal fanfare and the events will 
be ongoing through out the day.
===============================================

ACTION RESPONSES
=============================

CHINA (PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF)

Population Approval: 55%
Government Approval: 57%
International Favor: 45%
Economic Growth: 9.7%, high
Inflation: 3.0%
Unemployment: 10.1%

The Chinese government has has a hell of a week, the warfare in North 
Korea continues to bog down troops, and the Vladivastok conference was 
chaos especially with South Korea wanting the reunificiation.

Internally the Chinese Police are starting to get the message on human 
rights, and the last protest didn't have as many deaths though some 
prisoners were beaten after they surrendered.

In other news massive DDOS attacks began to hit the great firewall, 
trying to crash as much of it as possible, almost as if a deliberate 
strike has been carried out.  THe Firewall cracked down in 3 seperate 
occasions. Each time giving CHinese citizens unfettered web access.

CHinese government websites began to crash, and links on them were 
redirected to either videos or Rick Astley, something called 2girls1cup 
(DO NOT GOOGLE THIS PEOPLE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT GOOGLE THIS) and 
the main Chinese govermnet website was replaced with a message.

Greetings Chinese dictators, we are anonymous.
we have declared war on china...
Your government has repressed society, has imprisoned protestors has 
executed for actions which are not criminal.
we will not rest until you are a democracy
we will not surrender untill China is Free
We are everwhere
we are Legion
We are many
End transmission.

Millions of dollars has been siphoned from the people's bank, and the 
main Television station computer has found itself under siege.

JAPAN

Population Approval: 52%
Government Approval: 53%
International Favor: 61%
Economic Growth: 2.8%
Inflation: 0.6%
Unemployment: 4%

Japan is now nervous. The media holds dueling accounts of the summit 
from MFA sources blaming the summit failure on China, Japan, the US, 
South Korea, and North Korea...in mutually exclusive versions, 
naturally. Protests throughout Japan are intense at the immigration 
changes - verging on riots in less homogenous regions, with attacks 
reported even on JETs, the foreigners who come into Japanese schools to 
help teach English and help Japanese kids get used to seeing 
non-Japanese people. The Civil Service cutback plans result in the 
Sohyo, the union representing most public sector workers, announcing a 
strike throughout the public service, planned for at least one week 
starting May 1.

CANADA

Population Approval: 40%
Government Approval: 36%
International Favor: 50%
Economic Growth: 2.5%
Inflation: 5.6%
Unemployment: 6.2%

The sudden interest in the expansion of the Military is met with both 
positives from folks who want the soldiers to have the best of the best 
but the desire to purchase nuclear subs has resulted in protests across 
the country, from those on the left who think to use nuclear subs would 
be a disaster, and from those on the right who argue it's too little too 
late.

With the liberal government there is a lot more argument about the use 
of nuclear powered submarines, and several members have expressed 
displeasure at the desire to join the nuclear club.

The expansion of rail has been met better though environmentalists are 
more upset over the destroying of natural timber for the railroads, and 
several protests have gotten more direct and some have even clashed with 
RCMP officers with several injuries and arrests.  In addition to that 
buildings were damaged and riots have broken out.

Media sources in Canada have been hammering the government hard for 
trying to turn Canada in to an armed fort.


RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Population Approval: 63%
Government Approval: 59%
International Favor: 61%
Economic Growth: 2.5%
Inflation: 5.6%
Unemployment: 6.2%

The Vladivostok Conference was a failure, but President Nemerenko wins 
approval from most everyone for trying. Had it worked, he would have 
been a shoo-in for the Nobel Peace Prize; now he's merely a strong 
candidate. Acts towards guaranteeing freedom of speech and of the press 
are approved...For 5 seconds, before this new freedom lets loose every 
kind of dirty, untrue, and unwanted speech on the planet, along with the 
good. Russians have a lot to get used to, which might explain why 
there's a bit of grumbling. However, at the same time, there's also a 
culture of editorial opinion and investigative reporting which has 
sprung up with a vengeance, with papers representing every shade of 
political view in Russian life springing up - often, multiple. Playboy 
Rossiya is announced to begin publication in a month, and even more 
interesting publications are likely to follow.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Population Approval: 52%
Government Approval: 50%
International Favor: 64%
Economic Growth: 2.9%
Inflation: 3.1%
Unemployment: 4.2%

The Williams Administration has been rocked by the failure of the 
summit, though pundits are blaming China and Korea in equal doses, the 
disclosures of US involvement in the North Korea warfare has resulted in 
a congressional hearing about the covert opreations and the possibe 
violations of the War Powers Act and the Hatch Ammendmant, former 
congressman Dennis Kuchinich has been very vocal in calling for the 
impeachment of President Williams, however most pundits have ignored him.

The big topics have been the Korea situation, the CIA agents in a 
Chinese prison which has been protests and calls for removing them FAST 
and using whatever assets the government has to carry this out.

Another topic of coversation has been how 'tired and stressed' the 
president looks, a website called preswatch.cx has opened up and is 
taking bets on how long williams will last in this term, Since it is 
taking place outside the US, and they are not actually calling for his 
death the Secret Service can do nothing

=============================================

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

NOTE: Initial indicators were gleaned from as recent sources as
possible, for the most recent term possible (annualized). In some
cases, the numbers used are published estimates, but the English-
speaking nations' data is more or less right from the source.

Depression: Economic forces retracting uncontrolably and at a
dangerous pace with little end in sight.

Recession: Economic forces retracting, but more shallow than
Depression and more controlably. Sometimes necessary and part of
regular economic trends, although prelonged.

Revision: Economic forces retracting slightly and short term,
associated with economic systems refitting to accomodate new
industries, concentrations, etc.

Zero: No movement one way or the other.
Low: Comparatively low Economic growth/activity. (miniscule to about
2%, depending)
Good: Average economic activity (ranging from 2%-5% normally)
High: Above average performance (Greater than 5%) Sometimes
dangerous if in excess of 8% continuously.

SITES OF INTEREST

WAR Website: http://war.dagarcia.net/
Nova Horizon Simulations: http://www.novahorizon.com
United Nations: http://www.un.org/
Central Intelligence Agency: http://www.cia.gov/
CIA World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
Federation of American Scientists: http://www.fas.org/
GlobalSecurity.org: http://www.globalsecurity.org/
CNN: http://www.cnn.com/
BBC: http://www.bbc.com/
New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/

_______________________________________________
War mailing list
War at esteroic.com
http://esteroic.com/mailman/listinfo/war_esteroic.com


From john.penta at gmail.com  Mon Apr 21 14:28:52 2008
From: john.penta at gmail.com (John Penta)
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:28:52 -0400
Subject: [War] US: Doctor's Orders
Message-ID: <ab8370d40804211128m18f2f0fat4acd1dad8b18b788@mail.gmail.com>

"Doctor's Orders"
April 13, 2014
Pres. John Williams
Capt. J.T Spaulding, MD, USN
USA
============================
<Washington>

 It was a relatively quiet Palm Sunday for the President - meaning
he was only planning to spend 3 hours on work, not his usual 12. The
amount of sheer paperwork, memos and the like, a President had to deal
with had surprised him at first - now it was a regular part of the
routine to spend weekends going over the stuff he couldn't get done in
20 hour days.

 That schedule suited him well, or so he thought - frustratingly,
Kay had come not to see it that way, and they'd gotten in a rather
heated argument about it last night. Why she was so concerned was
beyond him - he was fine. Tired, but fine. He'd done this before,
anyway. How was it much difference from any training he'd been through
in the Army?

  "Chief, *I'm not hungry*. Seriously." He noted to the Navy CPO who
ran the White House Mess. He'd been eating only when work wasn't
pressing, one, maybe two meals a day - added to his usual exercise
routine, it kept him in great shape. No desk jockey weight gain, for
one.

The chief nodded again and moved off.  Though the President's
executive secretary was watching the more non descript naval officer
sitting outside the oval office his black doctor's bag sitting next to
him and reading a copy of Newsweek with a nondescript session.

Secret Service agents continued their routine patrols.

Finally the door opened and the secretary brough in a briefing book,
"And Captain Spaulding is here to see you, says it really can't wait."

Williams looked up - everybody said their thing 'couldn't wait', so he
had a practiced look of nonchalance for such things.

"Thanks, Nancy," he nodded to Nancy DiCarlo, setting the briefing book
on the cyberattacks on Chinese sites on the table besides the chair he
was sitting in. Subtly, he rubbed his eyes when nobody was looking.
"Send the Cap'n in here."

THe older officer walked in and set down his bag, one reason he had
never been promoted, and hell he was ready to retire anyway so he
spoke up, "Mr President, you have really not paid attention to your
health lately and to be frank, I'm surprised you haven't stroked out
by now, besides, you've been ignoring your checkups, and your last
results are not encouraging."

"Define not encouraging?" Williams asked. There was a practiced look
of nonchalance on his face.

"Your cholesterol is through the roof, your bloodpressure is on par to
what I'd expect from a man who spent the entire day ingesting
methamphetamine and espresso, your ekg shows cardiac irregularities
that I woudl normally see on a man twice your age, and the fact you
haven't had a massive stroke is a testiment to your current health, if
you were in worse shape you'd be dead, and right now, you've just
delayed that a year at most."

"And has nobody else here noticed all hell breaking loose in the
world?" Williams fired back.

SPaulding looked at him, "I don't care about the world I care about my
patient, and that is you.  ANd right now if you work yourself to
death, the world will still have all hell breaking loose, but the Vice
President will be handling it because you'll be dead."

"If that happens, that happens." It was at this point last night that
his detail had walked in in the nick of time and calmly separated the
first couple - Kay had been ready to strangle him.

"Good, then you can explain to Mrs Williams why she's raising your child
alone, and hey, at least the kid will have pictures of you to remember
daddy...oh wait, he's not quite remebering daddy, because he's too young to
remember.  But hey."  Spaulding shrugged, "She'll remarry then he can call
the new guy daddy."

"Cheap shot, doc." Pause. "I'm out of options here. I admit, work is
my anti-drug. I'm incompetent as a dad - Lately, Luke barely seems
comforted by me when he's cranky. The job I may suck at, but it's
-something-. Besides, I can imagine the political reaction if I took a
day off."

"First of all he's a baby, they're always cranky. It's genetic, I've
raised 4 of em, they get cranky, they cry, it's in their genetics.
Now as for political reaction, you take a week off, go on Vacation,
considering  you're not exactly the vacation president the world will
accept, better then if you end up being removed from office."

"Point taken on both. If the press starts poking, go public on this.
Confidentiality ceased being an excuse, within reason, once I got
followed by officers carrying the football. Yeah, you know what I'm
thinking: teachable moment," Williams shrugged.

Spaulding looked at him, "It's very simple Mr Williams, right now you
are ok but if you keep this up you will be either dead or so stressed
you can't actually think straight, so here is doctor's orders, you
WILL take a week's vacation, Where I don't care but it will be you,
your family, secret service, and not much else, you will let VPOTUS
handle things, either officially cedeing power or unofficially, only
exception will be bills that desperately need to be signed, and when
you get back, you will sleep 6-8 hours a day, more preferred, and you
will eat regular meals.  You will work no more then 10 hours a day,
unles world war 3 breaks out, you will get rest, you will exercise,
you will do this or I will contact the Speaker of the House and make
my concerns noted.  Now if this is our last meeting because you are
going to make me retire or transfer me to NAS Adak Alaska, then it was
good serving you but I take this, protect my patients thing seroiusly.
Why do you think I'm only tagged promotable but will never see a
star."

Williams grinned. Then, his voice went into 'Commander's Intent' mode,
speech clipped and voice level. "I'll do you one better: You're on the
Med Corps list next board, or I get heads on platters. And the Secret
Service can stay home - I'm heading to someplace isolated in Hawaii
for two weeks that I'm coming to agree I need; if someone gets there
then we have more than they can handle. If the press asks, you'll
brief them publicly. In return, if they get within 5 miles of me they
lose all access - for both my sake and yours.

"Next: While I'm gone, do something for both of us - you have an R&D
budget of $25 Million I'm dispensing ftom general White House funds.
let's see what we can do to get decision support software going for
the entire White House staff, me included - if I can cut out the less
necessary stuff, just move it online, I could easily claw back another
three hours in my day. I kept putting off the tasking to you - no
more. This place bred unhealthy stress management long before I got
here for everybody from me down - that needs to end soon. It'll never
be an easy place to work, but we need to get ahead of the curve. Let's
use technology and do that - think off the wall if you need to. I'll
provide my schedules for 3 months as research material. Idea is that
nobody here on the policy staff should need to work more than 10 hours
- preferably 8 - but we need to keep the work level up.

"Finally: You're responsible for the whole White House. Start
scheduling physicals for the civilian staff - mil duty physicals fit
the bill, use the same protocols if your judgment indicates, and
schedule at least 30 days leave for everybody - including you. Let's
actually use this to change things. I admit it, I've let myself go -
that's a bad habit of this place we need to change."

Then, Williams settled back. "In short: You win, and then some. I work
like I'm still in the Army, I know. Cept, this job wakes me up at 3 am
more often."

SPaulding nodded, "Well sir, then the staff needs to delegate, the
only time the President shoudl be woken up at 3 am is war has been
declared."

"If you can convince them of that, I'd be grateful. In any case -
okay, I need to destress. After Easter, I'll head out to Hawaii for 2
weeks with Kay, Luke, and as close to nobody else as we can pull off.
I fully intend to leave Secret Service at home while I'm out there -
I'll remain in contact, but nothing more than daily briefings by
secure net and courier from COMPAC, and leave me alone except for
absolute emergency situations.

"Meanwhile, you follow up on the taskings I've laid out - by the time
I get back, lets see if we can figure out ways tech can make things
better for the support staff so I *can* use them more, most
particularly."

Spaulding nodded again and made some notes, "When you get back we will
have ideas."
---
Actions:
1. POTUS ordered by doc to go on vacation for 2 weeks after Easter.
2. WH Med Unit to begin R&D on technical help to WH staff (including
POTUS) claw back time and do things more efficiently - decision
support technologies especially, but also simply to enable better
human performance.
3. All WH Staff and Cabinet staff to get full physicals while POTUS is
out, and to consult w/ WH Med Unit on human factors issues.
4. Congressional leadership to be briefed by Dr. Spaulding as to
Presidential health - Press to be kept 5mi from POTUS during his
desperately needed vacation, but WH will be open within reason about
whats going on.
5. Teachable moment time! Doc to use this, use his patient to
encourage a better work-life balance by Americans; in short, to use
their vacation time.


From martellian at hotmail.com  Tue Apr 22 03:17:24 2008
From: martellian at hotmail.com (Ian Martell)
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:17:24 -0700
Subject: [War] World Report volume 4
In-Reply-To: <480BA99C.5000807@aol.com>
References: <480BA99C.5000807@aol.com>
Message-ID: <BAY141-DS17903B5862C555FA56AF3C6E00@phx.gbl>

Hey Pat,

Check my actions on my posts there. What immigration changes? All there was 
is a leak about a study on what immigration changes might be possible.  Also 
the cut backs in the Civil Service are for after the people in those posts 
retire. Just making sure we're on the same page.

Ian

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Patrick B" <pbuck11 at aol.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2008 1:37 PM
To: <war at esteroic.com>
Subject: [War] World Report volume 4

> AR: World Report
>
> - For all actions since Volume 2, advancing the timeline to April 13-18 
> 2014
>
> United Nations Security Council (Permanent Members): United States,
> United Kingdom, France, China, Russia
>
> United Nations Security Council (Non-Permanent Members):
> Until September, 2007:  India, Egypt, Norway, Mexico, Venezuela
> Until October, 2007:  Canada, Chile, Italy, South Africa, Japan
>
> Pending UN Security Council Actions: None
> Pending UN General Assembly Actions: None
> United Nations Secretariat: No news.
> ==============
> Ok here we go another WR, welcome our new Canadaian player, In world
> news the Vladivastok peace conference has collapsed with the US and
> CHina accusing each other of breaking treaties, Media pundits have
> commented on how 'tired and stressed' president williams looked.
>
> The Olymipic games started with their ususal fanfare and the events will
> be ongoing through out the day.
> ===============================================
>
> ACTION RESPONSES
> =============================
>
> CHINA (PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF)
>
> Population Approval: 55%
> Government Approval: 57%
> International Favor: 45%
> Economic Growth: 9.7%, high
> Inflation: 3.0%
> Unemployment: 10.1%
>
> The Chinese government has has a hell of a week, the warfare in North
> Korea continues to bog down troops, and the Vladivastok conference was
> chaos especially with South Korea wanting the reunificiation.
>
> Internally the Chinese Police are starting to get the message on human
> rights, and the last protest didn't have as many deaths though some
> prisoners were beaten after they surrendered.
>
> In other news massive DDOS attacks began to hit the great firewall,
> trying to crash as much of it as possible, almost as if a deliberate
> strike has been carried out.  THe Firewall cracked down in 3 seperate
> occasions. Each time giving CHinese citizens unfettered web access.
>
> CHinese government websites began to crash, and links on them were
> redirected to either videos or Rick Astley, something called 2girls1cup
> (DO NOT GOOGLE THIS PEOPLE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT GOOGLE THIS) and
> the main Chinese govermnet website was replaced with a message.
>
> Greetings Chinese dictators, we are anonymous.
> we have declared war on china...
> Your government has repressed society, has imprisoned protestors has
> executed for actions which are not criminal.
> we will not rest until you are a democracy
> we will not surrender untill China is Free
> We are everwhere
> we are Legion
> We are many
> End transmission.
>
> Millions of dollars has been siphoned from the people's bank, and the
> main Television station computer has found itself under siege.
>
> JAPAN
>
> Population Approval: 52%
> Government Approval: 53%
> International Favor: 61%
> Economic Growth: 2.8%
> Inflation: 0.6%
> Unemployment: 4%
>
> Japan is now nervous. The media holds dueling accounts of the summit
> from MFA sources blaming the summit failure on China, Japan, the US,
> South Korea, and North Korea...in mutually exclusive versions,
> naturally. Protests throughout Japan are intense at the immigration
> changes - verging on riots in less homogenous regions, with attacks
> reported even on JETs, the foreigners who come into Japanese schools to
> help teach English and help Japanese kids get used to seeing
> non-Japanese people. The Civil Service cutback plans result in the
> Sohyo, the union representing most public sector workers, announcing a
> strike throughout the public service, planned for at least one week
> starting May 1.
>
> CANADA
>
> Population Approval: 40%
> Government Approval: 36%
> International Favor: 50%
> Economic Growth: 2.5%
> Inflation: 5.6%
> Unemployment: 6.2%
>
> The sudden interest in the expansion of the Military is met with both
> positives from folks who want the soldiers to have the best of the best
> but the desire to purchase nuclear subs has resulted in protests across
> the country, from those on the left who think to use nuclear subs would
> be a disaster, and from those on the right who argue it's too little too
> late.
>
> With the liberal government there is a lot more argument about the use
> of nuclear powered submarines, and several members have expressed
> displeasure at the desire to join the nuclear club.
>
> The expansion of rail has been met better though environmentalists are
> more upset over the destroying of natural timber for the railroads, and
> several protests have gotten more direct and some have even clashed with
> RCMP officers with several injuries and arrests.  In addition to that
> buildings were damaged and riots have broken out.
>
> Media sources in Canada have been hammering the government hard for
> trying to turn Canada in to an armed fort.
>
>
> RUSSIAN FEDERATION
>
> Population Approval: 63%
> Government Approval: 59%
> International Favor: 61%
> Economic Growth: 2.5%
> Inflation: 5.6%
> Unemployment: 6.2%
>
> The Vladivostok Conference was a failure, but President Nemerenko wins
> approval from most everyone for trying. Had it worked, he would have
> been a shoo-in for the Nobel Peace Prize; now he's merely a strong
> candidate. Acts towards guaranteeing freedom of speech and of the press
> are approved...For 5 seconds, before this new freedom lets loose every
> kind of dirty, untrue, and unwanted speech on the planet, along with the
> good. Russians have a lot to get used to, which might explain why
> there's a bit of grumbling. However, at the same time, there's also a
> culture of editorial opinion and investigative reporting which has
> sprung up with a vengeance, with papers representing every shade of
> political view in Russian life springing up - often, multiple. Playboy
> Rossiya is announced to begin publication in a month, and even more
> interesting publications are likely to follow.
>
> UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
>
> Population Approval: 52%
> Government Approval: 50%
> International Favor: 64%
> Economic Growth: 2.9%
> Inflation: 3.1%
> Unemployment: 4.2%
>
> The Williams Administration has been rocked by the failure of the
> summit, though pundits are blaming China and Korea in equal doses, the
> disclosures of US involvement in the North Korea warfare has resulted in
> a congressional hearing about the covert opreations and the possibe
> violations of the War Powers Act and the Hatch Ammendmant, former
> congressman Dennis Kuchinich has been very vocal in calling for the
> impeachment of President Williams, however most pundits have ignored him.
>
> The big topics have been the Korea situation, the CIA agents in a
> Chinese prison which has been protests and calls for removing them FAST
> and using whatever assets the government has to carry this out.
>
> Another topic of coversation has been how 'tired and stressed' the
> president looks, a website called preswatch.cx has opened up and is
> taking bets on how long williams will last in this term, Since it is
> taking place outside the US, and they are not actually calling for his
> death the Secret Service can do nothing
>
> =============================================
>
> ECONOMIC INDICATORS
>
> NOTE: Initial indicators were gleaned from as recent sources as
> possible, for the most recent term possible (annualized). In some
> cases, the numbers used are published estimates, but the English-
> speaking nations' data is more or less right from the source.
>
> Depression: Economic forces retracting uncontrolably and at a
> dangerous pace with little end in sight.
>
> Recession: Economic forces retracting, but more shallow than
> Depression and more controlably. Sometimes necessary and part of
> regular economic trends, although prelonged.
>
> Revision: Economic forces retracting slightly and short term,
> associated with economic systems refitting to accomodate new
> industries, concentrations, etc.
>
> Zero: No movement one way or the other.
> Low: Comparatively low Economic growth/activity. (miniscule to about
> 2%, depending)
> Good: Average economic activity (ranging from 2%-5% normally)
> High: Above average performance (Greater than 5%) Sometimes
> dangerous if in excess of 8% continuously.
>
> SITES OF INTEREST
>
> WAR Website: http://war.dagarcia.net/
> Nova Horizon Simulations: http://www.novahorizon.com
> United Nations: http://www.un.org/
> Central Intelligence Agency: http://www.cia.gov/
> CIA World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
> Federation of American Scientists: http://www.fas.org/
> GlobalSecurity.org: http://www.globalsecurity.org/
> CNN: http://www.cnn.com/
> BBC: http://www.bbc.com/
> New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/
>
> _______________________________________________
> War mailing list
> War at esteroic.com
> http://esteroic.com/mailman/listinfo/war_esteroic.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> War mailing list
> War at esteroic.com
> http://esteroic.com/mailman/listinfo/war_esteroic.com
> 


From pbuck11 at aol.com  Tue Apr 22 03:18:31 2008
From: pbuck11 at aol.com (Patrick B)
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:18:31 -0600
Subject: [War] World Report volume 4
In-Reply-To: <BAY141-DS17903B5862C555FA56AF3C6E00@phx.gbl>
References: <480BA99C.5000807@aol.com>
	<BAY141-DS17903B5862C555FA56AF3C6E00@phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <480D9147.8030602@aol.com>

1) iT'S A DAMNED UNION  As far as they're concerned any change is bad.

2) the immigration, John helped out with that so yell at him 
http://esteroic.com/mailman/listinfo/war_esteroic.com



From john.penta at gmail.com  Tue Apr 22 08:54:41 2008
From: john.penta at gmail.com (John Penta)
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:54:41 -0400
Subject: [War] World Report volume 4
In-Reply-To: <480D9147.8030602@aol.com>
References: <480BA99C.5000807@aol.com>
	<BAY141-DS17903B5862C555FA56AF3C6E00@phx.gbl>
	<480D9147.8030602@aol.com>
Message-ID: <ab8370d40804220554y34b76c62t59b53cb2adcc444b@mail.gmail.com>

I completely misread that post oops.

On Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 3:18 AM, Patrick B <pbuck11 at aol.com> wrote:
> 1) iT'S A DAMNED UNION  As far as they're concerned any change is bad.
>
> 2) the immigration, John helped out with that so yell at him
>
> http://esteroic.com/mailman/listinfo/war_esteroic.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> War mailing list
> War at esteroic.com
> http://esteroic.com/mailman/listinfo/war_esteroic.com
>


From john.penta at gmail.com  Thu Apr 24 10:59:00 2008
From: john.penta at gmail.com (John Penta)
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:59:00 -0400
Subject: [War] US: White House Roles and Missions
Message-ID: <ab8370d40804240759k35117255tc8b2afaef379e582@mail.gmail.com>

"White House Roles and Missions"
16 April 2014
Pres. John Williams
USA
============================
<Memo>

     From The President
     To All White House Personnel
     Re: On Various Aspects
     16 April 2014

          In the interest of administrative efficency and clarity, I
have written taskings for various White House and EOP agencies below.
These, in short, are "who does what", along with some thoughts on
related matters. These will take effect when I return from my
medically-ordered vacation or 1 June, whichever is later. These will
be short, but I will be available for the rest of the week for drop-in
questions.

          OVP (Office of the Vice President) is responsible for the
Constitutional functions of the Vice President. In addition, to
leverage the VP's experience on the Hill, OVP will be the lead for all
Congressional relations. I expect Vice President Stevens to spend most
of his time on the Hill, establishing good relations with both
chambers and both parties.

          OFL: The Office of the First Lady handles whatever Kay
likes. There is no role, I will not force her into one. However, she
will in many ways be my eyes and ears on a variety of things, as we
agree.

         The White House Medical Unit will be expanded slightly, to take on:

         Dentistry Office - Family practitioner and assistants for
regular dental needs. 24/7 coverage not required.
         Psychological Unit - 1 Psychiatrist certified in Child,
Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatry, undetermined number of clinical
psychologists to provide mental health/psychological support to all
operations as needed. 24/7 coverage optional.
         Physical Training Unit - Physical Trainers to assist all
members of the White House Staff in maintaining optimum physical
performance.
         Dietitian - to assist the White House Mess in its
responsibilities. No veto for em, though - they'll have to earn
everybody's acceptance.

        Yes, a wide-ranging expansion. The WHMU is open to all members
of the White House Staff during duty hours, and will maintain health
records for all military and civilian staff members. This includes
assistance with personal health matters; they're not your primary
health provider and should not be, but they're around for questions,
advice, or help with bad habits like smoking.

        I plan to cut back a lot on the "dog and pony" elements of our
work, except for what people volunteer to do. We have 10 hours a day
except during crises to get what we need to do done - there's no
longer the time.

       Additionally:

       Principles for Presidential Security:

       1. Minimum restriction, minimum disruption. If you do not
-need- to block off streets, don't. We can get by with one car, or
three? Better than the 40-car motorcade.
       2. Think rationally: People have come to -look- for the Massive
Security Apparatus. Sometimes, it might be a nice surprise not to have
that.
       3. Image Matters: The more approachable I seem, the better
people relate. Not in a Bush 43 way, but in a "wow, he's not in a
bubble" way.

       Williams
---
Actions:
1. Various bits.
2. Request Congressional funding for the staff changes. Shouldn't be
hard to get, its a modernization of things mostly.
3. Implement new, lighter touch, security for movements.


From john.penta at gmail.com  Fri Apr 25 11:21:01 2008
From: john.penta at gmail.com (John Penta)
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:21:01 -0400
Subject: [War] US: Hi, overseers!
Message-ID: <ab8370d40804250821q5b6b5764mc493b666860127e1@mail.gmail.com>

"Hi, overseers!"
17 April 2008
President John Williams
USA
===================
<Washington>

    "Oh, stop worrying, Nick." President Williams reassured his DNI.

    "You aren't the one due to be roasted on the Hill," Manfredi noted.

    "No, I've done it from the other side, recall? Just be honest and
open. It'll be closed sessions, so surprise them. Tell everything."

    "Everything?"

    "Everything. Be honest, be open, be candid. They want to roast you
on a gridiron, be like Saint Lawrence. Tell em you're done on this
side and they can turn you over now."

    That got a chuckle.

    "You're serious."

    "Yup. Op's blown, nothing more the Chinese can learn about it
anyway that they don't already know."

    "Yeah, but -why-?"

    "Radical openness has a virtue. You look standup, you can be
forgiven a lot. Including a fuck up or two."

    "I hope to hell you're right."
----
Actions:
1. Williams admin stance before the Intel Committees who'll be doing
the hearings: Radical Openness. In closed session, we spill our guts
in detail. Kill em with kindness.


From john.penta at gmail.com  Fri Apr 25 13:10:20 2008
From: john.penta at gmail.com (John Penta)
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:10:20 -0400
Subject: [War] US: They walked!
Message-ID: <ab8370d40804251010o3c235389i77f442b1846b0ec9@mail.gmail.com>

"They Walked!"
Pres.John Williams
14 April 2014
USA
===============

"Oh, hell," Williams muttered, looking over the editorial roundup in
the Early Bird. "Why are we getting dumped on? The *Chinese* walked,
not us. After the first round!"

"You did take a pretty hard line," Secretary Abbot noted. "Anyway,
calm down, John. You know damn well you'd get hit no matter what you
did. People want a James Bond commando raid, which -nobody can give
them-, but we can't say that."

"It was a bargaining position, dammit."

"Still," Secretary Hill noted, walking into the Oval Office. "People
are nervous. What's our PR strategy?"

"Present our strategy, present it unvarnished. Give out a transcript
of my opening speech, try to get Seoul and Tokyo to release their
speeches. Basically, we don't engage in rhetorical games. The truth
shall be our redemption," Williams replied.

"Putting a lot on people believing you to tell the truth," Hill noted.

"If people don't believe me to tell the truth, nothing will work, anyway."

"Stop sounding so gloomy, Ioannes."
---
Actions:
1. PR strategy: Unvarnished openness.
2. Release transcript of US remarks at Conference to the press.
3. It's China's fault, dammit. They walked, not us.


From dylandv at gmail.com  Fri Apr 25 19:50:25 2008
From: dylandv at gmail.com (Dylan de Valk)
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:50:25 -0700
Subject: [War]  Canada: Green Thumb
Message-ID: <763946e70804251650h68bd411dobf9949b56fc3e209@mail.gmail.com>

'Green Thumb'
April.13/2014
Prime Minister James McColl
Canada

----------------

Environment Minister Michelle le Dam casually strolled into the office and
closed the door softly.  McColl beckoned her over and she sank into one of
the comfy deep leather lazy boy chairs he kept in his private office.  le
Dam had succeeded Stephane Dion as the party's main environmentalist, but
she had none of his shy personality or mangled english skills.  She was a
confident speaker and legislator, and wasn't afraid of speaking her mind.

"Good to see you Michelle, how you've been these last few days?"

"Not half bad.  Can't complain.  Kids are doing well in school and I'm
popular in my riding."  She grinned ruefully.  Popular support for the grits
had fallen since they had proposed buying the nuc subs, but not to
dangerously low levels.  with 40% support, they were still well within
majority government territory if it ever came to that at this time.

le Dam got right down to business.  "So here's what I had in mind:  an
extension of our national parks system.  Parks Canada has tons of dough
these days, so I think we should give them something to spend it on.  Plus,
it will go over well with the citizens and anyone concerned with the
environment generally."

"Yes, I remember now.  I like it.  You know, we have so much wilderness, but
not enough parkland.  A shame really, because there is so much land we could
cover.  How many new ones were you thinking?" McColl asked.

"Well, we have earmarked both areas unspoiled by development and
ecologically sensitive areas where endangered species live.  I was hoping
for a new park in each province and territory, so 13 in all.  There are so
many places, ranging from lake country to mountains to prairie to marine
areas."

"Excellent work. How long has this been in planning for anyways?  I heard
rumours that the tories had similar plans."

"It's true James, we dug out they paper work and added on to it.  Made it
better.  And now we get to steal their thunder."  They shared a smile, "But
yea, those studies go back three years.  Several weren't completed either.
We did in four months what took them three years.  Must have been low
priority."

"Mmhmm...  Well Michelle, nice work on this one.  Make the announcement soon
eh?  I've got a mound of papers here to go through, so I hope you don't mind
if you'll excuse me for cutting this short."

"Okay, take care."

"You too."

She left quietly, the way she had come in.  McColl turned his thoughts back
to other matters.

He had liked William's idea to recommend four Canadian soldiers for the
Victoria Cross, and had talked to the Governor General about it.  He had
perceived a positive response, and the GG had promised to put in a word with
the Queen, so he felt satisfied.  No Canadian soldier had received the
Victoria Cross since 1945, at the end of the Second World War.

His government had also officially filed the request to buy the Virginias
after gauging the public reaction.  They had yet to receive a reply from the
American government, but weren't worried.  They knew it would take time.
And anyways, there was always things to do to keep occupied.

-------------------

Actions:

1: Shake off writer's block
2: Say "We care about the environment, unlike 'dem Conservatives"
3: Get some soldiers lined up to receive the VC
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From ssiruuk25 at yahoo.com  Wed Apr 30 15:14:01 2008
From: ssiruuk25 at yahoo.com (Daniel Garcia)
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:14:01 -0400
Subject: [War] France:  Another Turn of the Presidential Turnstyle
Message-ID: <1E71A60E-E87E-46EE-9155-AF77C880A8AB@yahoo.com>

"France:  Another Turn of the Presidential Turnstyle"
President Pierre Th?ophile Legrand, French Republic
April 14, 2014

(OOC:  So, I have finally returned to posting.  I survived,  
apparently, one of the most hard worked semesters of my life, and have  
a bit more time.  I don't know if that'll hold, but I'll try to keep  
posting semi-regularly.

I have also ditched my current character (President Zo? Amp?re) for a  
reincarnation of a previous one who I think I like much better.  Note  
that the events depicted at the start of the post indeed happened  
previously, so I have retconned nothing.

Anyway, here's hoping!)


*** November 12, 2009 ***

The cacophony that erupted as Prime Minister Armand Clouet, a close  
friend and ally of President Robert Legrand, finished his remarks to  
the Senate defending the government's violent response to food riots  
by people of largely African and Muslim descent could have been heard  
in French Polynesia.  Early reports said dozens had been killed.  Some  
were saying that that number would pass one hundred.  The French  
Parliament had erupted into bitter debate.  The leadership of the UMP,  
urged on by the President, tried to move on to normal business.  But  
the Socialists scented blood, and were joined by many of the UMP  
members who were aghast at what had happened.  It was one thing to not  
like France's "foreign" citizens, but it was quite another to kill  
them by the dozen.

It hadn't helped matters that the previous evening, as the massacre  
became known, on French national television a pro-immigration activist  
by the name of Zo? Amp?re had given a passionate and scathing  
indictment of the government's policies on immigration and  
discrimination.  French politics was in the midst of a near revolt,  
and as the Parliament ground onward in heaving debate, it became clear  
that it would soon be dissolved by the President.

President of the Senate Jules Donnadieu looked at a loss in trying to  
restore order to the room of shouting and arguing men.  The Senate  
chamber was a stormy sea of dissent, though as with many storms this  
one had an eye of calm.  It's name was Pierre Th?ophile Legrand.  Not  
related to the President, in general appearance they were roughly  
similar.  Both were tall and thin, with the President being a bit  
shorter and appearing stouter.  Both had a genteel appearance about  
them.  But in temperament, they were opposites.  Robert Legrand was a  
firebrand, a passionate, fierce politician.  Pierre Legrand was always  
calm, and few had ever seen him visibly angry.  People feared Robert  
Legrand, and respected Pierre Legrand.

Thus when Pierre finally stood, having sat looking quite peaceful and  
having been quite silent during the debate, people noticed.  And, as  
Moses had parted the Red Sea, Pierre calmed the Senate.  He stood, his  
hands held at chest level, which was quite high considering his great  
height.  When the Senate had quieted down enough, and Donnadieu nodded  
in assent, Pierre began to speak.

"My colleagues, I have been sitting here listening to the many angry  
words which have been traded today.  Yesterday's events were  
unaccountably tragic, and the moving words of Ms. Amp?re on television  
last night have moved us all.  A single death is a tragedy, and many  
deaths exponentiates the tragedy.

"Some have defended the government on the basis that those who have  
died were violent law breakers, who were destroying property.  But  
these people who have suffered such indignities, unfairness in  
education, in housing, in employment, and yet stood in firm obedience  
to the laws of the Republic should not be castigated that their  
patience should be broken by difficulties in obtaining basic food and  
nutrition.  A man may survive unemployment.  A man can live with being  
looked down upon by others for many years at a time.  But take away  
his food, his means to keep himself and his family, his children,  
alive, and you have removed the last thing worth living for.

"A government, in its fundamental purpose, exists to ensure that all  
citizens, *all* citizens, might live their lives on a fair and  
equitable basis.  To allow fear, hopelessness, and death to haunt any  
portion of our citizenry, even should society view them as outsiders,  
is at it's heart a failure of government.  Yesterday the government of  
the French Republic failed.  No amount of rhetoric, no amount of anti- 
immigration policy can paper over the fact that those who died  
yesterday were French citizens.

"My friends, we have failed.  There is no Liberty.  There is no  
Equality.  And, today, there is certainly no Fraternity between the  
Citizens of France."

Had the words been spoken with passion, with fire, or even with  
determination, the chaos which Pierre Legrand had acted to abate would  
have returned multiplied a hundred-fold.  Yet the words were spoken  
with calmness, even with sadness.  When he had finished, the chamber  
was quiet, and only slowly, as Legrand sat back down, did the business  
of the body resume, much muted.


*** March 29, 2014 ***

Noele Legrand stopped in the entrance to the kitchen.  There, in front  
of the television which was tuned to the new channel, sat her husband,  
Pierre, reading a newspaper.  It couldn't have been much past eight in  
the morning, but he was immaculately and well dressed already.  Noele  
put her hands on her hips.

"Pierre, what in God's name are you doing here?!  Why aren't you in  
Paris," she asked exasperatedly.  Her husband, dedicated public  
servant he may be, also had a habit of sneaking away from time to  
time.  And though she was not nearly as attuned to the political scene  
as he was, she knew well enough that now was not the best time for the  
President of the Senate of France to be away from the center of power  
in Paris.

Pierre looked up, and smiled wanly as he moved up to her.  Noele was  
not a short woman, but still Pierre towered over her as he kissed her  
on her forehead.

"I am taking advantage of a last lull before the storm which must  
come," he said, seating her at the kitchen table while he prepared her  
a breakfast.  "Besides, I missed you, and you like hiding away down  
here."

As Pierre continued her breakfast preparations, Noele turned up the  
volume on the television.

"...when President Amp?re was contradicted by the Minister of Defense  
on the issue."  The anchor continued, "This marks the third  
embarrassment for the President in the past two weeks.  Members of the  
Socialist opposition, and even of her own party, have attacked the  
President's government as uncoordinated and out of the President's  
control.  The ?lys?e Palace denied these allegations, stating that  
these attacks were politically motivated and not a reflection on the  
reality of the government's operations."

Noele's brow furrowed.  "Things do not seem to be going well for  
President Amp?re," she remarked.

"No, they do not," Pierre said, putting down Noele's breakfast in  
front of her, before picking up his newspaper.  "In fact they are  
going quite badly.  She isn't really able to control much of the  
government.  She has some good ideas, and is a nice person.  But  
government isn't filled with nice people, and her speeches can only  
get her so far."

"That's too bad," Noele remarked.  She had met Zo? Amp?re on a few  
occasions, and had liked her.  Pierre nodded.

"Though I have avoided the discussions, I hear that she is considering  
resigning.  She knows that she's not doing too well and is dedicated  
enough to do something about it," he said.  Noele nodded, and then  
paused.

"If President Amp?re resigns, doesn't that make you acting President,"  
Noele asked in sudden realization.  Pierre nodded.

"Yes.  That's why I've avoided the discussions on the matter, and why  
I drove down here early this morning.  I might as well rest while I  
have the opportunity," Pierre said, flipping over a page in the  
paper.  Noele frowned with a knowing look.

"Pierre Legrand, did you get up early to drive here before breakfast  
again?  You're not a young man anymore," Noele exclaimed.  Pierre  
looked up, smiled, and shrugged in the manner that the French people  
had perfected over the years.

"I'm much more spry than I ever was as a young man.  My physical  
condition is much better than it was when I was young," Pierre said.   
Noele nodded tiredly at the old defense which Pierre had used hundreds  
of times.  Of course, he was partially right, but old is old.


*** April 10, 2014 ***

Pierre walked slowly into the office of the President of the French  
Republic, slowly and with good bearing.  Behind the President's desk  
sat an obviously tired Zo? Amp?re.  As he approached, he bowed  
slightly and offered his hand, which the younger woman took.

"Senator Legrand, please take a seat.  I understand that you are aware  
of the recent discussions," she said, looking directly at him.  Pierre  
nodded sagely.

"Yes, Madam President," he said simply.

"Then you know that in two hours time I will announce my resignation,  
effective immediately and that you will be sworn in as acting  
President at that time," she continued.  Pierre again nodded.

"Yes.  And may I say that I am sorry that your Presidency is to end  
this way.  You have had and continue to have my respect," he said.

"But not your support," she said pointedly.  Pierre leaned backwards  
slightly and smiled gently.

"I am afraid not.  We both know that our country needs good  
government.  You know that you have not been able to provide this,  
despite your best efforts.  And to your credit, you realize this and  
have accepted it.  There are some who have held this office who have  
been substantially less wise," Pierre pointed out.  Zo? here smiled.

"Including my predecessor, who was also named Legrand," she said with  
a smile.  There was, after all, a small measure of ill feelings.   
Pierre shrugged.

"I can only hope that my tenure turns out much better than his,"  
Pierre admitted.  Zo? nodded seriously.

"I am to understand that you will be appointing a new, caretaker  
government," Zo? only partially asked.  She had been informed.

"Yes, Madam President," he said.  Zo? continued.

"I have already accepted the resignation of the government earlier  
this morning.  The current ministers will continue in office until the  
new caretaker government is confirmed," she said, seemingly with  
pleasure.  If she bore some ill feelings to the man who would be  
replacing her, she must not care much for those who had put her in the  
position of needing to be replaced.

"Thank you, Madam President.  If I might enquire, what are your  
plans," Pierre asked benevolently.  Zo? sat back, relaxing at the  
thought of the end of her Presidential responsibilities.

"I think I will go back to campaigning for minority rights.  Perhaps  
do some writing," she said, looking into the distance.

"That sounds nice," Pierre noted.  There was a moment of silence  
before Pierre stood.  "Then, with your leave Madam President, I have a  
few last items which I need to address."

"Of course," Zo? said, standing.  Then awkwardly, "I would like to  
wish you well, or at least better than I had."


*** April 14, 2014 ***

<Statement by acting President Pierre Legrand.>

"My fellow citizens,

"The recent weeks, and indeed recent years, have been a difficult time  
for our French Republic.  Confidence in the government is low, and  
many despair of hope for good government.  I do not know that I can  
reverse these trends, but I am determined to try.

"The caretaker government is now in place, and has begun its work.  An  
election has, as per my remarks last Thursday, been called for May  
10th, as per the constitution.  I would like to announce that I will  
stand as the Union for a Popular Movement's candidate for the  
Presidency.

"If I may be brief, our country has suffered much pain of late, and I  
expect that there is still some pain in store.  But if France has lost  
her way, we have the ability, if we so choose, to right ourselves.   
There will be hard choices, and some of the choices made may seem  
difficult, too difficult to try.  But nothing worth doing is easy.

"There will, over the next weeks and years, be time to discuss the  
specific points of importance.  But for now have faith that France is  
returning to its rightful course."


ACTIONS:

1)  Introduce acting President Pierre Legrand, and the exit of  
President Zo? Amp?re.

2)  Announce that Legrand will be running for a full term as President.





From michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com  Wed Apr 30 17:48:28 2008
From: michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com (Michael Downey)
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:18:28 -0230
Subject: [War] Special Post: "How Things Get Started"
Message-ID: <6b6ab8a70804301448y41166749offcf8e4a61b2cc5e@mail.gmail.com>

*[Khojavend Province, Azerbaijan, Five Years Ago]*

It seemed that wherever Bannister went it was hot. Not too surprising since
he was an oil prospector and oil tended to be in either some dusty Arab
desert of humid African jungle nowadays. He consoled himself with the
knowledge that he wasn't freezing his ass off in Siberia with those poor
slobs from Royal Dutch Shell. There was oil there too, just harder to get.

Really Azerbaijan wasn't too bad. Sure it was hot, but no hotter than it
probably was back home in Georgia this time of year. And for a supposedly
poor, ex-Commie, Muslim country the locals were pretty nice. Actually the
poor part wasn't too true either, because Azerbaijan had that great price
sought after by so many people.

This had been a known fact for several years now. Pipelines stretched all
the way across through Georgia, into Turkey and from there half the homes in
Western Europe. A nice bit of cash had been coming to the Azerbaijani which
probably explained why the country was a bit nicer than Bannister had
expected when the brass back at ExxonMobil had sent him here.

Taking a few last puffs of his cigarette, Bannister dropped the but to the
ground and headed back to the main control trailer situated in the middle of
the prospecting camp. Dusty and dirty from the dry summer winds currently
prevailing the interior was clean, full of computers and other fancy
equipment, and most importantly air conditioned.

"Please don't tell me we've just wasted the past five weeks," quipped
Bannister to his two comrades, Ellis and some local named Agera. "I missed
my daughter's birthday to run around this place."

"Well you can buy her a pony to make up for it," said Ellis with a smile.
That elicited a chuckle from Bannister.

"Yeah, maybe if my salary triples."

"It just did," replied Ellis, handing Bannister a printout. Bannister read
it over quickly, the shock registering on his face.

"This is?." Both Ellis and Agera nodded with broad smiles.

"Fifty billion. Fifty billion barrels of light, sweet crude oil."

"At the very least," added Agera, some ex-Gazprom guy that Exxon had hired
on a few years ago. "It's very deep down but the size of the deposit and the
purity of the oil will more than make up for any investment cost."

Was this how the prospectors in the old gold rush had felt? The thrill, the
satisfaction. That was how Bannister felt now, having hit black gold.
---

*[Somewhere in Iran, four months ago]*

Salim had never considered himself a terrorist. Like many Iranian Kurds he
did not share in the religious fanaticism of the Persian majority in the
country. Oh, he was a devout Muslim and did believe in God's presence and
will in the world. Who didn't? But when the supposed leaders of God's faith
tended to torture and murder your friends and family just for being a Kurd,
it sometimes made you cynical. Somewhat like Salim's father, shot outside of
Sanandaj as part of Khomeini's 'holy war' against the Iranian Kurds.

The Persians deserved this. This retribution, this punishment. He didn't
want to kill all of them, not destroy an entire people like that asshole Bin
Laden had tried before the US SOCOM had shot him full of holes and dragged
his body out of some cave in Pakistan. All Salim and his compatriots wanted
was their own nation, a home where they would be free from oppression and
tyranny. And if some drastic actions had to be taken in order to fulfill
that dream then so be it.

Gripping the AK-47 tightly in his hands, slick from nervous sweat, he and
his compatriots moved quickly through the hole they had cut in the chain
fence surrounding the oil pumping station. Salim seriously hoped he wouldn't
have to use his rifle. Their mission here was more dramatic than just
killing some oil workers and IRGC soldiers, though that would be the
ultimate outcome if all went well.

Saddam Hussein had learned the hard way that body counts don't mean much to
the religious zealots that controlled Iran. No, if Salim and the countless
others working in many different sights around the country at this very
moment wanted to hurt the Persians, they would have to bring the country low
and weak by other means.

It took them about ten minutes, slightly longer than what Salim would have
considered acceptable but the complacent IRGC soldiers watching this
facility weren't expecting any trouble. The Ayatollah had been blathering
about the infidel Americans, Jews and Europeans so much that everyone was
expecting an attack to come from the sky with 'USAF' marked on the side.

What a surprise they were in for.

Ten minutes, in and out. Once they had retreated back to their trucks hidden
a good two kilometres from the pumping station they broke out the radio
detonator.

"To you the honour, Salim," one of his compatriots said. Nodding and
accepting the small black box he turned the key and pressed the button. The
explosion lit the night sky for miles.
---
Supreme Leader Rushid Al-Kalil Malisaj was a very confident man. He did not
presume to be a prophet, for only Mohammed was a true prophet, but he did
 know that as an Ayatollah and the Supreme Leader of Iran the words he spoke
were the true intentions of God. Iran was the only true Holy Land in the
world, since those fat arrogant Saudis had corrupted the land of the two
Mosques by prostituting themselves to the Great Satan so many years ago.
Iran was the chosen nation, its people the chosen people.

"God tests us in many different ways," he said to the assembled council of
experts, the leadership of Iran. After Malisaj himself of course. Most were
clerics and generals but a few politicians sat at the table as well. Elected
officials had their use so long as they followed the will of God as laid out
by the Great Shiek Khomeini. "That we have been wounded in such a way should
not make us despair. God will give us salvation if we obey his will."

Calming words for such a dire situation. Last night someone, the IRGC
suspected Kurdish rebels, had simultaneously attacked one third of the oil
refineries and pumping stations throughout Iran. The death toll was in the
hundreds and worse still the flow of precious oil had altogether ceased.
Already chaos and panic were gripping the Iranian economy.

"It is not just simply a matter of a dip in oil profits," commented Finance
Minister Surhavi. "Despite our vast oil wealth, mismanagement in certain
sectors and continued theft of oil for sale on the black market has made our
country a net importer of energy for several years now. We do have strategic
reserves but those will only last so long. Not to mention that much of our
foreign capital has been spent acquiring new weapons from the Russians and
Chinese."

Was that a shot at the military? General Kezanari remained passive. Of
course they had spent much on the defence forces. The American pigs were
always watching Iran for weakness so they could attack their greatest foe in
the Middle East from their bases in Iraq, yet another puppet state of the
Great Satan. The Iraq War had shown them the need to be ever prepared for
war with the infidels, because someday it would come.

"How long will it take to repair the damage?" asked Malisaj.

"Years, at least. The pumping stations will be a rather straightforward
affair but refineries are much more complex. Not to mention expensive."

"I refuse to be brought low by these filthy Kurds," spat President
Soleimani. While Malisaj's devout faith was unquestioned, Soleimani was far
more of a firebrand than the Supreme Leader. "What solutions do we have for
this? There must be other sources of energy!"

"Iraq, Saudi Arabia, any of the other Arab states, even the Russians,"
commented the Foreign Minister, Javalar. "But our relations with those
states are not very cordial. They will almost certainly demand 'political
reform.'"

"You mean a corruption of our faith to satisfy their American masters!"
seethed the President. "Such a course of action is not acceptable!"

"There is of course another solution," spoke Kezanari, adding his voice to
the table for the first time. "We cannot supply our own energy demands nor
sustain our economy under these conditions. If we are to continue as a
nation we must acquire a new source of petroleum income. And God has indeed
offered us a blessing."

"The Khojavend oil field?" asked Javalar. "Are you proposing an invasion of
Azerbaijan?"

"Our survival versus theirs. Not a hard choice."

Considerable mumbling and concerned glances were erupted around the
conference table. Invading a sovereign nation was no trivial matter. To
conquer the Khojavend oil field would require the occupation of all southern
Azerbaijan, if not the entire country.

"An action that would draw the attention of the entire world, not to mention
the wrath of the Russia. Very likely the Americans as well, looking for an
excuse to attack us," warned Javalar.

"Russia is a tiger that can be distracted with a prick to the paw,"
countered Kezanari. "For years our Chechen brothers have languished under
the heretical yoke of their Russian masters. We could supply them with
enough arms and specific intelligence for them to launch a third
insurrection against the Federation. A similar method could be applied to
Abkhazia and South Ossetia where Russian and EU peacekeepers are stationed.
Perhaps they will not win, but it would certainly bog the Russian Army down
long enough for us to strike quickly at Azerbaijan. By the time the Russian
have realized what has happened we will have already dug in too deeply for
them to remove us without immense bloodshed."

"And what of the Americans?" pressed Kezanari. They were the real concern.

"What of the Americans?" the General shrugged. "They are a mere step away
from war with China. No matter how much their crazed Christian ideology
calls for our destruction China is the greater threat. They will not risk
war with us when war with China looms on the horizon. And do not forget that
in their hearts the Americans are cowards. They would be even less willing
than the Russians to suffer the losses required to dislodge us from
Azerbaijan. And the EU has always been a cowardly, toothless old lion. If
their American masters fail to act then so shall they."

"So many assumptions," observed the Foreign Minister. "I recall the apostate
Hussein making similar ones before invading Kuwait. And look what happened
to him." Kezanari shrugged.

"Hussein was an incompetent fool who didn't know how to properly run a war.
We boast the most powerful military force in the entire Middle East. We are
far more capable than the Iraqis were in 1990. Consider also the harsh
lessons learned by the Americans in Iraq thirteen years later. They know
that if they were to invade Iran, they would be years fighting our loyal
warriors and lose far more men than they did to the Iraqi insurgency. No,
Minister, now is the perfect time to strike. No one will have the strength
of the will to stop us. Perhaps the Chinese might even recognize our control
of Azerbaijan as a way to slight the Americans and the Russians. Not to
mention act as a market for our new oil wealth."

"We must justify the invasion somehow," Soleimani pointed out.

"We can fabricate evidence linking the Azerbaijan government to the Kurdish
terrorists that have killed so many of our countrymen. Once we have occupied
the country, we will further fabricate bases and training camps that we will
claim the Kurds used to plan and stage their attacks."

Again there was more hushed talk among the conference table as they weighed
their options. To do nothing would ensure Iran was made weak in the face of
its many infidel enemies, those godless heathens that worked tirelessly to
destroy Islam and dominate the lives of God's faithful as they had since the
19th Century. To act was to also invite destruction but also gain salvation.


"If we do not secure a new source of fuel and income then we will falter,"
said the Supreme Leader after he had thought over the situation. "Obviously
this cache of oil is a reward for our  faithful adherence to God's will.
That it has been placed in Azerbaijan is merely a way for God to test the
strength of our resolve. No doubt we will have to endure much and perhaps
even fight the Russians, Europeans and the Great Satan America. But God will
protect us and see that we prevail. General Kezanari, make the
preparations."
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From michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com  Wed Apr 30 17:48:51 2008
From: michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com (Michael Downey)
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:18:51 -0230
Subject: [War] Special Report: "Armed Outbreak in Russia"
Message-ID: <6b6ab8a70804301448o5cc9b026x6e3ed0f584677787@mail.gmail.com>

Armed Outbreak in Russia

17 March 2014, Reuters

*[Large insurrection against Federation troops stationed in Chechnya and
Russian and EU peacekeeping forces in Abkhazia and South Ossetia leaves
Caucasus in turmoil.] *

The relative calm that has prevailed over the Russian province of Chechnya
was violently shattered today as bands of armed militias launched surprise
attacks against Russian Army and local security forces in the often-chaotic
region. Multiple explosions, suspected to be car bombs and mortar fire,
rocked the capital of Grozny as militants stormed the city to engage in a
fierce firefight with Russian troops.

At the same time there were also attacks made against Army outposts and
police stations in several other locations throughout Chechnya. While the
Russian military is typically very secretive and has often tried to keep
foreign reporters out of Chechnya, recent relaxations in the former policy
has allowed Reuters to put the death toll around one thousand dead, mostly
Russian soldiers. These attacks come as a serious blow to the Kremlin which
has been enjoying relative calm in Chechnya for the past three years.

Meanwhile in the South Caucasus, more fighting has broken out in the two
breakaway Georgian provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Having endured a
similar situation as Chechnya since the dissolution of the Soviet Union,
recent attempts by Russia and the European Union to impose peace on the two
regions especially Abkhazia and make all three sides negotiate their future
have been hurt by more fighting. A rash of car bombs and sniper attacks have
left dozens of EU and Russian peacekeepers dead as well as scores of
civilian bystanders. Worse still, Georgia is reporting that Abkhazian rebels
have launched attacks across the border at a Georgian Army training camp.
Five people have been reported killed, including one US Army officer sent as
part of a training contingent in keeping with the American alliance with
Georgia.

All these events have been a massive setback for Russia and its partners to
bring a permanent calm to the often unstable Caucasus. Still in Vladivostok
after the recent six party talks over the current crises on the Korean
Peninsula, President Nemerenko has vowed to dispatch more Russian
'peacekeepers' to Chechnya and the breakaway Georgian republics to restore
order.
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From michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com  Wed Apr 30 17:49:05 2008
From: michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com (Michael Downey)
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:19:05 -0230
Subject: [War] Special Report: "Russian Defence Minister Assassinated"
Message-ID: <6b6ab8a70804301449q7e87fa73h4b80f636fa96fc7b@mail.gmail.com>

Russian Defence Minister Assassinated

19 March 2014 BBC

*[Defence Minister Gregor Yoselev killed by car bomb while being driven to
work from his dacha.] *

In yet another harsh blow to the Russian military and government, Defence
Minister Gregor Yoselev, former Chairman of the General Staff and top
officer in the Russian military, has been in the words of the Russian
government 'assassinated' in Moscow today.

According to a statement given by the Moscow Metropolitan Police and the
Russian Internal Ministry, Minister Yoselev's limousine was intentionally
hit by an oncoming vehicle which had managed to avoid the escort security
vehicles accompanying the Minister's car. Moments after impact the attacking
car exploded very violently, apparently laden with high explosives. The
resulting blast completely destroyed both vehicles and several surrounding
escort cars and pedestrian traffic. The total death toll is estimated at 56
with over two hundred wounded.

The Kremlin has blamed Chechen separatists for the assassination. Prime
Minister Tretiak, speaking from the Russian Parliament Building under heavy
security, has vowed to find those responsible and bring them to justice.

Meanwhile the Defence Minister's death combined with the outbreak of
violence in Chechnya and the South Caucasus just days ago has put Russia
into a precarious military position. Unconfirmed reports indicate that more
and more Russian military forces are being diverted to the Caucasus,
Chechnya in particular, and there are rumours of a leadership crises within
the military.

"This puts Russia into a tight bind," one anonymous NATO official said to
Reuters. "With their top brass reeling from Minister Yoselev's death and so
much of their regular units occupied in the Caucasus, they may not be able
to respond to a more serious external threat."
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From michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com  Wed Apr 30 17:49:20 2008
From: michael.michaeldowney at gmail.com (Michael Downey)
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:19:20 -0230
Subject: [War] Special Report: "Iran Invades Azerbaijan"
Message-ID: <6b6ab8a70804301449v72810620g615c4dd8bd5b6105@mail.gmail.com>

Iran Invades Azerbaijan

22 March 2014 APP

*[Tens of thousands of Iranian troops pour into southern Azerbaijan in what
Tehran calls a 'police action.']*

In a move that has absolutely stunned political and military analysts around
the world, the Islamic Republic of Iran has launched a massive invasion of
neighboring Azerbaijan. Reports are very sketchy but the basic understanding
of the situation is that earlier this morning Iranian airborne troops were
dropped just north of the city of  Xankandi while larger armored formations
advanced across the border form Iran. Local media has reported heavy air
strike against local military bases.

Giving a very brief statement a few hours after the invasion began, the
Iranain government characterized the invasion as a 'police action' and
claimed that Kurdish rebels responsible for a major terrorist attack that
severely damaged the Iranian oil industry several months ago had been
sheltered by Azerbaijan and operated training camps in the southern part of
the country. The Iranian statement went on to say that the government in
Baku had oppressed the religiously devout and 'protecting the freedom of
Muslims to practice their religion without fear of secularist Western
puppets' was another cause for their invasion.

Never a strong military power, Azerbaijan stands little chance against the
powerful Iranian military. Senior military analysts working for APP have
surmised that what little strength the Azerbaijani military possessed has
already been quashed by vastly superior Iranian air power and troop numbers.
As more Iranian troops enter the country and entrench themselves in the
south around Xankandi, the future for Azerbaijan seems bleak.

Analysts strongly agree that the 'real' motivation for Iran's invasion is to
capture the Khojavend oil field discovered by a joint American-Azerbaijani
expedition five years ago. Having been completed just two months ago, the
Khojavend field is estimated to be fifty billion barrels in size and
represents the largest find in the south Caucasus. Access to such a large
supply would elevate the Iranian energy shortage and act as a huge source of
income, should Iran be able to find buyers.

As of now international reaction is unknown due to the sheer shock and
surprise the Iranians have elicited. The Azerbajani government, still in the
capital of Baku which as of yet has not been attacked by the Iranians, has
pleaded for the world to send troops to help 'liberate' the country. Russia
has officially condemned Iran, severed all diplomatic relations and ceased
arms shipments. However with so much of their military either occupied in
Chechnya and Georgia or stationed in the Far East with tensions rising in
East Asia, it is unknown when or if the Russians might respond with force.

European markets became very unstable as word of the invasion broke. The
London Stock exchange has fluctuated and world oil prices have increased to
almost $75 USD a barrel, prices not seen since the end of the Iraq War in
2010.

For the moment all of Eurasia stands on a knife edge as Iran marches into
Azerbaijan unopposed.
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From ssiruuk25 at yahoo.com  Wed Apr 30 22:55:57 2008
From: ssiruuk25 at yahoo.com (Daniel Garcia)
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:55:57 -0400
Subject: [War] France:  A Change in the Agenda, Episode I
Message-ID: <CDABBB72-F946-4385-BA99-7EB15EF39115@yahoo.com>

"France:  A Change in the Agenda, Episode I"
President Pierre Legrand, French Republic
April 17, 2014


"Thank you," Pierre Legrand said with a smile as the attendant  
departed.  Legrand carried the tray of refreshments the attendant had  
brought over to the table where he, his caretaker Prime Minister,  
Gautier Tessier, and his caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs, Renaud  
Perroy, were sitting.  Gautier, a stout man of average build was a  
career politician, and a long time friend of Pierre's.  He had briefly  
worked in the first Legrand administration as Minister of Agriculture,  
Food, Fishing and Rural Affairs before leaving once the nature of the  
administration became apparent.  Renaud was an average man in every  
category of appearance, but had spent many years in the French foreign  
service, stationed at many embassies around the world before entering  
politics.  He was also the oldest man in Legrand's Council of Ministers.

"Then, on to business," Legrand said when seated.  "So, where exactly  
has the Amp?re government left us with respect to the Korean crisis?"

"Nowhere and no place," Renaud said.  "France has made the meekest of  
statements of encouragement for finding a solution, and little else.   
By the time the Vladivostok Conference collapsed, the government was  
in too much trouble to do anything worth doing or saying.  Basically,  
the French government has been in a state of barely ordered chaos for  
the past month."

"I'm spending all my time sorting out feuds that began under Amp?re,"  
Gautier said disgustedly.  "Thank you very much, Pierre, for putting  
me in charge of that mess."

Legrand smiled and bowed his head slightly to his old friend.  "Who  
else could I choose?  And besides, you're well accomplished in dealing  
with political infighting, more so than I.  And I've largely given you  
a carte blanche with which to sort things out."

Gautier nodded.  He had called Legrand that morning to vent about some  
issue between the Ministries of Agriculture, Food, Fishing and Rural  
Affairs and of the Environment and Sustainable Development.  Legrand  
had listen patiently, and had said, "That sounds pretty awful.  But  
it's not my fault, and complaining won't put an end to it."  Gautier,  
soothed slightly, agreed and went back to work.  Legrand had an  
uncanny way of soothing others and sending them right along to do what  
they were or should be doing.

"In any case," Legrand continued, "that means that we have complete  
freedom to act.  Of course, that means we have complete freedom to act."

"I don't see that there is much for us to do," Renaud said, with a dim  
smile at Legrand's phrasing of the issue.  "I don't think there is  
much we can do.  One, East Asia is a long way from here.  Two, it's  
not clear that there's anything we should be doing.  The Chinese have  
North Korea.  Unless they drastically change their minds, or a war  
starts, they're likely to keep it.  We have nothing to do."

"And yet there are consequences.  The world is much smaller than it  
used to be," Pierre pointed out gravely.

"The CAC 40 is down significantly over the past several weeks.  And  
it's not just our domestic problems," Gautier pointed out.  "The  
insistence of the Americans on toeing a tough line on trade and such  
matters has rattled financial markets.  And with the hope of a  
negotiated settlement out the window, things look like they'll be  
getting worse before getting better."

"So we need to do something, if only to act to reassure the markets,"  
Legrand said, leaning back in thought.  "If we urge restraint on the  
Americans, how will they react?"

"It's hard to tell," Renaud admitted.  "President Williams' recent  
incapacity due to exhaustion could be look upon in several different  
ways.  Certainly, Williams seemed to, shall I say, take on strong  
positions and believe in them strongly.  Possibly it was a factor in  
his becoming over stressed.  That may mean that he is, on doctor's  
orders, willing to take a softer approach.  Or not.  It is very  
complicated, and hard to tell."

"Then we should act according to our own lights," Legrand said.  "Have  
our ambassador in Washington urge the Americans to moderate their  
course, unless they have some miracle idea to change the situation for  
the better.  Let them know our concerns about the markets and how all  
this is hurting the global economy.  We are with them, but we have  
doubts about the way things are going."

"And what about the Chinese," Gautier said.  "They're not very popular  
here at the moment."

"I doubt there is much we can do," Renaud said.  Legrand nodded in  
agreement.

"But, we must do something, even if we are doomed to fail," Legrand  
said, standing and walking to a window.  "Have our ambassador in  
Beijing urge them to keep talking.  If they try to blame everything on  
the Americans, point out that it requires more courage to continue to  
talk in the face of stubbornness than to give up.  Also point out  
that, despite all of the Americans' actions, they plausibly went to  
Vladivostok to talk.  If strong words were expressed by both sides, it  
was the Chinese who left the Conference without attempting to  
negotiate."

"At best they'll just dismiss that," Renaud pointed out.  "At worst  
they'll be angry with us."

"Well, we have low expectations, so we won't be very disappointed,"  
Legrand said.  "We should also make clear in public that we stand by  
the United States, even if we disagree about how to approach the  
situation.  The Chinese are, after all, in occupation of territory not  
their own with no mandate from the United Nations, and no invitation  
from the nation whom they are occupying."

Legrand turned to the other men.  He shrugged in a most gallic fashion  
with a slight grin.

"What do you do when the world decides to go crazy," he said.  At that  
moment there was a knock at the door, after which Legrand's secretary  
peeked in.

"Mr. President, Minister of Defense Commandeur is here.  Something has  
happened in Chechnya," she said.  Legrand walked with a quick yet not  
rushed gait to the door, opening it wide.

"Jean-Baptiste, come in," Legrand said to the burly Minister.  "What  
has happened?"

Once the door was once again closed and everyone seated, Jean-Baptiste  
opened the briefcase he had with him and laid out some of the contents  
on the table.  He looked to the other men with a stern look.

"Early this morning, in Chechnya, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia armed  
groups of unknown, but probably separatist, affiliation attacked  
targets throughout the region," he began.  "The violence has been  
widespread and quite deadly."

"What sort of casualties are we talking about here," Gautier asked.

"It's hard to say right now.  Dozens.  Hundreds perhaps," Jean- 
Baptiste said, picking one particular report to glance at before  
continuing.  "More worryingly, these haven't been just terrorist  
attacks.  Most of the targets have been strictly military, and the  
Russian army has taken several hard blows."

"They're attacking the military," Legrand said in surprise, catching  
the meaning immediately.  "This is a full blown campaign, then?  The  
Chechnyans are trying to force the Russians out?"

It was one thing for there to be terrorist attacks against civilians.   
Those would come and go, and not necessarily affect the stability of  
the wider region.  But if this were a full scale rebellion, then there  
were likely to be ripple effects throughout the Caucasus.  Then,  
Renaud had a thought.

"Did you say that there were also attacks into Abkhazia and South  
Ossetia?  In Georgia," Renaud asked surprised.

"Yes," Jean-Baptiste nodded.  "We even have sketchy reports of an  
attack across the Abkhazia border into a portion of Georgia under the  
government's control."

"There are EU peacekeepers in Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Renaud  
said, stunned.  This wasn't just a conflict in another far flung  
corner of the world.  Europe was involved from the get go.  Jean- 
Baptiste spoke up before anyone could ask the inevitable follow up  
question.

"There are no French troops in the region," he said.  "Things around  
here have been too chaotic.  The Council of Ministers couldn't agree  
on whether or not French troops should be sent, so none were.   
Discussions had started a few days ago about sending troops, probably  
when troops already there needed to be rotated out, but all that is by  
the wayside now."

"That still leaves us with a big problem," Gautier observed.  That  
there would be no coffins draped with the tricolor was a relief to all  
involved.  Legrand had, after all, only been acting President for a  
week, and having to deal with dead soldiers was not how he wanted to  
spend his Presidency.

"I think it's safe to assume that the ongoing discussions on the  
future of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are off," Renaud said.  "How bad  
is it?"

"Well," Jean-Baptiste inhaled.  "It's hard to say.  Perhaps things  
will return to normal on their own, or the Russians and the EU forces  
already on the ground will be able to return things to normal  
quickly.  It's too early.  We don't even know why this has happened."

"Or why it's happened all at once," Legrand offered.  "After all, the  
conflicts in Chechnya and in Georgia aren't very closely related.   
Perhaps Abkhazia and South Ossetia have reason to rise up, as if I  
recall the people in charge of the breakaway governments were not very  
happy at EU involvement or in the prospect of a negotiated settlement."

"They felt they were abandoned by the Russians," Renaud interjected.   
Legrand nodded.

"But the Chechnyans had been pacified one way or another.  Perhaps I  
am not very familiar with the region, but why all at once," Legrand  
asked, brow furrowed.  The statement hung there for a minute.

"Mr. President," Jean-Baptiste began, "I'd like permission to begin  
planning to send in French forces to reinforce the European missions  
in the Caucasus.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should also open  
discussions along these lines."

"That sounds good," Legrand nodded.  Renaud looked slightly peeved at  
Jean-Baptiste edging in on his own area of responsibility.  Legrand  
smiled gently.  "Renaud, open discussions with the rest of the EU.   
And with the Russians.  Try to get everyone to share what information  
they have, and see what we can do.  Also, we should probably make a  
statement condemning the violence, for all the good it is likely to do."

Legrand stood up.  With that, the meeting began to disperse, with  
Renaud rushing off to get the diplomatic side of things moving.   
Before he got very far, Legrand turned and called to him.

"Renaud, don't forget Korea," he said.  As he did, he realized that  
possibly that it would be hard to remember the other crisis if events  
in the Caucasus went the way they seemed to be going.  Then, Legrand  
walked to Jean-Baptiste and put his hand on the shorter man's  
shoulder.  "Please keep me and Gautier informed of developments.   
And..."

Legrand paused here for a few moments before continuing.  "If things  
get out of hand, and we need to send troops, how many casualties might  
we suffer?"

The question was quiet, soft, and discrete.  Jean-Baptiste paused as  
he considered.  "There's no way to tell at this point."

Jean-Baptiste then continued his preparations to leave, and Legrand  
stepped back, hands in his pockets, and deep in thought.  His face was  
largely blank though his wrinkles seemed a bit more prominent.  His  
face softened after a few moments, as he and Gautier stood together  
near the door, looking after the other two men.  Then, they looked at  
each other, reading each other's thoughts.


ACTIONS:

1)  Urge the US to moderate their course somewhat.  France is  
concerned about the economics, and nothing seems to be budging the  
Chinese.

2)  Urge the Chinese to budge on North Korea.  Ask them to keep talking.

3)  France will monitor developments in the Caucasus and begin  
planning to move troops into the region if need be.  France will also  
urge information sharing between the EU and Russia on the issue.

4)  France condemns the armed outbreak in the Caucasus, urging a quick  
return of order and, in the case of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a  
return to negotiations.

(OOC:  Note that these events take place five days before the Iranian  
invasion.  Thus, it doesn't come up yet.)