From: Alexander Kirillovich Kazansky, Marechal of the Empire, CEO of Kazansky Industries, Inc., former President of Allanea.
To: Relevant Knootian News Network officials.
Dear friends!
I am aware that my figure is quite controversial in certain circles. After recent events in my life, I decided the time has come to appear before the world community and perhaps make certain things clear – and maybe chat to some pretty Knootian film stars and the like. As I know, there has been a lot of journalistic interest in my person lately, and perhaps it would be better that I actually satisfy it. As such, I am considering an appearance at KNN. Is it possible for you to arrange for that?
Sincerely yours,
Alexander Kirillovich Kazansky, possibly the single most infamous member of Emperor Napoleon’s entourage, smiled at the young girl that was typing the letter – then, kissed her gently. “Well, well, well, Angelica Kazansky – you’ve only become the better typist now – and you’d thought the honeymoon would ruin it.”
The sixteen-year-old giggled, and responded to the kiss.
Knootian East Indies
05-01-2006, 03:02
KNN, Prime Time
Anna Bredenburg smiled as she strode onto the podium, giving a courteous nod to the assembled television audience. Hers was a fairly popular show, the ‘Black Sheep’, which hosted controversial personages (in Knootoss) and gave them a chance for a defence against public opinion. As arule, the guests were interesting, the results never predictable, and the ratings good. A red light indicated that the show was now ‘on air’.
"Tonight on het Zwarte Schaap, we have a very special guest", she said as the camera shot a close-up that slowly panned out to encompass the entire stage. "Alexander K. Kazansky, the former President of Allanea." A tune began to play as the spotlight refocussed on Kazansky walking to the table and shaking hands with the anchor.
"Good day to you, Mr. Kazansky", the Knootian lady said pleasantly as she indicated for him to take a seat at a small wooden table on an otherwise empty stage, facing an audience shrouded in darkness. Alexander Kazansky smiled at the camera as he sat down. It was not the first time he was on television, and he did know how to handle these situations.
"Good day to you too, Mrs. Bredenburg," he said, "I am most pleased to be here."
"You know the format of the show for tonight", she indicated coolly. "A panel of ‘experts’ are here with three accusations, and you are in a position to defend yourself against them. But first I'd like to ask you a personal question. You are, quite likely, one of the most loathed persons in the NationStates world, and there are many that hold you responsible for the deaths of billions. How do you live with that knowledge?"
Kazansky thought for a moment before replying.
"One of the biggest failures of the job of the President of Allanea - apart from having Allaneans for citizens - is the fact that you have very little authority, but are perceived as having lots of responsibility. In Yurka, Allanean forces exterminated a billion Yurkan and Zenti citizens after a nuclear weapon was detonated in the midst of the Allanean positions. Everybody knows this - yet how many people know that the person who gave the order for that was removed from his position and court-martialled by me? Virtually nobody - and yet it is that event more than any other that created the image of me as a homicidal maniac. I have killed people, of course - I have just never been the monster those people think I am. And when I am told that millions of people hate me - I find my only solace in the knowledge I am innocent of most of the crimes attributed to me."
"But you were the person in charge, appointed to be the Allanean President for Life even. Are you saying that you were not responsible for the actions of the government under your administration?", the journalist asked with a sweet smile. "Why didn't you resign or even speak out against it in public, for example?"
Kazansky returned the smile.
"First, I did act against it - as I just said. Second, my authority, even over the executive branch, was never unlimited. The lower levels of government have a great deal of autonomy, especially in times of war."
"So the lower levels of government are to blame for the atrocities committed by Allanea when you were President?", Bredenburg pressed gently.
Kazansky pondered for a second.
"I would argue the very people who committed the bombings of Yurka are to blame. In particular those who ordered them - that's why I put them on trial. Are there any other atrocities that I missed?"
"That is what we are here for", she said with a smile. "Let us go to the first expert. A light shone over a gruff old man in a blue-green uniform of the Luchtmacht of the Knootian Defence Force. His faced looked fairly scary as it missed an eye, a cude stitch running over a piece of flesh where there should have been an eyeball. Under the table, he missed a leg – something which as included in the bottom-up camera shot.
"Captain Daelmans, your experiences in the Luchtmacht were quite intense. Who would you say was to blame for the conflict between UnAPS and Allanea and, by extension, be the reason for your injuries personal?", Bredenburg asked, tilting her head slightly in the direction of his section of the elevated podium in front of the audience, where the three ‘accusers’ were seated.
"That man over there", the retired captain said sternly. "Kazansky was the one who was behind the aggression against Axackal, behind the atrocities, and he is the one who dragged Knootoss into that war. I only did my duty as a soldier, and there isn't a moment that I regret it. But he" - he pointed his finger at the person sitting behind the table - "he should."
Kazansky shrugged.
"Well... I have, at the behest of the legislature, commanded Operation Free Axackal. I could point out that it was due to Edolia's acts of provocation, and illicit execution of Allanean citizens, that this war began. I could point out that it was Edolian aircraft that targeted civilian homes in that war. But I will not speak about that. That war is over. I bear no grudge against Edolia or anybody else. And as the former Commander in Chief of Allanea's army, I bear full responsibility for the actions of the Allanean military in that war. Make of it what you will."
"Is that an admittance of guilt?", the lady asked but Kazansky shrugged again, visibly.
"In the Allanean legal system, the proper definition would be 'I admit the facts.' Whether or not there was anything wrong in my actions is a question for the history students."
"This isn't a trial, Mr. Kazansky!", the journalist asked with some surprise. "Do YOU believe they are wrong? Do you not wish to take responsibility for your actions or do you stand behind them?"
Kazansky smiled.
"I do not for a moment believe that I did anything wrong. I acted to protect the liberty of Allaneans and Axackalians. I ordered my troops to avoid civilian casualties as much as possible. I forced the Edolian government to allow ten million people to leave their country peacefully. My only regret is that we haven't won."
There were some gasps from the audience, and one accusing yell the contents of which were indiscernible. The Luchtmacht captain stood up from his seat.
"That is not true! They used child soldiers, and sent convicts in virtually unarmed, waves of them to be slaughtered like cattle. They sacrificed human lives to waste Edölian ammunition!"
Kazansky chuckled.
"You know, Allanea is a litigious society. You call a 16-year-old a child, you're going to get sued for libel. A sixteen-year-old Boy Scout can vote, drive, and carry weapons - anything a 20-year old can do. Second, there was not one person on any front that was not a volunteer - every convict knew the odds when choosing between the front and prison. But most of all, I don't remember any Knootians being on the Axackal front... weren't your actions restricted to air action in the West? "
"I've flown my missions to protect that area", the Captain rebutted angrily. His voice trembled a little as he stared at the Allanean with his remaining eye. "And you do not deny the facts! Those children and convicts were slaughtered. That is your idea of avoiding casualties? You, Sir, are despicable."
"I said I avoided civilian casualties. I still hold to the point that not a single child - that is, no person under 16 - was ever deployed by my administration into combat. Frankly, Sir, I consider you attempt to misinterpret what I said unfitting a dignified officer like you."
The Captain bristled, but the light above his chair dimmed.
"That is enough for now", Bredenburg motioned. "Let us move from the realm of war to that of diplomacy, shall we Mr. Kazansky?"
"Indeed. That is in part the reason I came here today", Kazansky said after nodding.
"The next accusation comes from a very special guest whom, I think, needs no introduction. All please welcome former Knootian Prime Minister Lady Galadriël Táralóm nos Círdan"
There was some brief and scattered clapping from some members of the audience as the light above the middle seat lit up. Kazansky smiled. "I am pleased to meet you again, Lady Galadriel. I see now we meet at better circumstances.", but Galadriël only gave Kazansky a cold stare, resting her eyes on him for a moment before looking down at a piece of paper before her.
"I have here a letter sent to me by one styling himself Alexander Kazansly, President for Life of Allanea, President of the Ali'Staan Accord, Arch Treasurer of Greater Prussia, President of the World Rifle Association, Honorary Life Member of the Allanean National Rifle Association, Disciple of Melkor", she said, reading the titles from the paper. "It was sent to me at the start of the One Day War." She began to read the letter (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Knootian-Allanean_correspondence) in its entirety. When she had finished reading it, she looked at Kazansky again. "It is very clear to me that this man, who called himself a disciple of Melkor, is nothing but an aggressive, petty pseudo-dictator who would not have shrunk away from invading our innocent and peaceful Gooberguncian friends if it had brought him short-term political gain. His ways, his 'diplomacy', has brought massive death to his people in the One Day War. Now he denies that he was ever responsible. He should be shrivelling away in shame instead."
"How do you respond to this second accusation?", the presenter said as she looked at Kazansky with a compassionate smile.
"I did not start the One Day War. In fact, I was away in Menelmacar when it began - and only when I learned of it did I send a message to the leader of Knootoss - hoping to threaten her out of engaging in hostilities. That was the extent of my participation in the war - and it is only because I was in Menelmacar at the time that I was spared the violence of the international attack against Allanea. It was an error. I acted without knowing the details of what was going on, and the only redeeming feature of that letter is that Knootoss has never participated in the unprovoked, inhuman series of attacks known as the One Day War. It was an error. I acted without knowing the details of what was going on, and the only redeeming feature of that letter is that Knootoss has never participated in the unprovoked, inhuman series of attacks known as the One Day War."
"How convenient", Galadriël scoffed. "Do you honestly expect anyone to believe that, rejected disciple of Melkor?" She paused briefly, as if pondering something for a moment. "The only reason that we did not participate is that the horrible reign of destruction brought upon your people by your many enemies made it a non-issue. You have been trying to clean up your image by blaming your inferiors for this war as well, but our little exchange of letters proves you wrong, 'President for life'."
"As a matter of fact..." stated Kazansky, "There's nothing to blame anybody for - unless it's the Ctan Navy for firing at Knootian vessels, or the international attack on the Allanean colony that followed. I can prove I was in Menelmacar. You however, cannot explain to the public why you did not even protest the Ctan's destruction of civilian Knootian vessels. At least I can say I tried to protect my people. You cannot say even that."
"The friendly fire incident with the C'tan vessels has been cleared up perfectly well", Galadriël replied defensively. "Those ships had no authority to carry an Allanean landing force to Mars."
"Do you blame other powers for the One Day War then?", Bredenburg asked.
"Yes, Mrs Bredenburg." Kazansky stated, firmly "There can be no doubt of that. Not only have the Alllaneans not fired the first shot in the conflict, they have in fact ignored several direct attacks by foreign powers before the shooting started. They have also repeatedly tried to parley peacefully. But apparently some people's hatred and intolerance got the better of them."
"Lets summarise", Bredenburg said. "So far you do not deny the facts of events brought to bear against you but you either feel your actions were justified, or what happened was beyond your control..." she paused, as if to think. "On the whole, would you consider the Kazansky Presidency successful, or a failure?"
"As a whole, I believe not just the Kazansky Presidency, but the Allanean national project - the experiment that is Allanea - is a resounding failure - both of myself and the Allanean people."
"Oh?", Bredenburg asked, inclining her head sideways a little.
"In fact, this is the very reason I am here today. Recently, I have been approached by certain Allaneans about advice... advice how to run their country. I quit ages ago, and they still can't figure it out for themselves. Look at those people! They send out diplomats who snort cocaine off conference podiums. They despise decorum and politeness. They despise world opinion - and then they are surprised that world opinion despises them back! 'A friend of mine told me: 'An idiot is one who touches a burning candle and does not realize why his hand hurts.' Under that approach, Allaneans, as a people and a culture, are idiots. They just can't stoup touching candles."
"Maybe we should have the Allanean people on this show instead of you?" Bredenburg remarked with a smile.
Kazansky smiled at Bredenburg.
"Perhaps I have made it seem that I want to look entirely guiltless in this endeavour. I am certainly not - if only because, as President, I have allowed this culture of extreme nationalism and arrogance to prevail." The Knootian lady nodded encouragingly to Kazansky, urging him to continue. "In a way, you could say I created the Allanean people. Not literally of course - but figuratively. I am told my pictures still hang in classrooms across that nation. Children aspire, strangely, to be like me,. If this is what they turn out like, I am probably a very bad role model. I built Allanea - sometimes literally, digging foundations and heaving bricks, sometimes symbolically, making statements and signing laws. Today, Allanean children need to come to Knootoss to get a proper higher education... because somewhere along the line I failed to create a culture that would make such educations and the intellectual atmosphere making them possible available at home."
The journalist nodded sympathetically as the Allanean spoke, smiling harmlessly as he finished.
"Where do you feel did it go wrong?", she asked with a smile.
"I believe today that where I went wrong is in assuming that Allanean culture was to be left to form itself. Maybe this would have worked if we had a healthy grain of intellectuals for it to grow from. We didn't. WE had a grain of political outcasts from all over the world, dreaming of freedom. Nobody noticed that freedom requires a modicum of self-discipline, too - at least enough to learn the Classics. You may think this is nothing - but this affects all levels of life. A nation where not enough people know Latin, German, and Dutch is a nation where eventually, somewhere along the line, a politician will come naked to an international meeting and think it okay. A nation without internal culture will find itself unable of any international cooperation - or competition."
"Looking back...", the journalist began, "is that all you would have done differently? And, in your honest opinion, would it have prevented the wars and atrocities committed by Allanea under your Presidency?"
Kazansky sighed.
"It would have certainly prevented the One Day War. If Allaneans were a tad nicer about it, a lot of people wouldn't be wanting to polish them off. Look - today, some of Allanea's best are showing some rudiments of politeness - and already we have peace with some of our old enemies! Think what they would achieve if they could do it consistently - with they can't of curse. Which is why I quit.
"You think something like the One Day War might happen again?", she asked.
"Certainly. When the insanity of Allaneans meets the hatefulness of their enemies, anything can happen. I would like to note that, due to those qualities of Allaneans, I am now quitting public life altogether. I'm tired of jerks approaching me for advice on how to run their country. If I wanted to run Allanea, I wouldn't QUIT. And now, I'm going to leave my public work, and move out to a small villa with my wife, Angela. I'm going to write a book or something. And I'm going to be finally left alone. So if there's any Allanean watching this, this is the last you see of me. If you think this is a problem, I can only say you earned it. Good luck. You'll need it."
"And on that note, we have to break for some messages", Bredenburg said with a smile as she turned to look directly into a camera. "We will be back with our third and final Accusation, after this. You're watching KNN. Stay with us."