NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: *Disclaimer*

The info included in this post is taken directly from public recruiting messages, which would be accessible to anyone. The part of the post containing links is pointing ONLY towards the public statements made in those posts, NOT anything else that would be secret or between characters. I also understand that this APOC supposedly has been around since September, but its formal announcement was not made until well after the Gholgoth/GASN MDP, hence the points of contention that are made.

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My fellow Freeks and Gholgothians. People of the world,

I come to you today to bring several things to light concerning the recent events on the world stage. It has come to our attention that an organization known as APOC has announced their presence to the world. For those that do not know, this alliance consists almost entirely of Sovereign League and CAD signatory nations. This can be clearly seen when comparing Sovereign League signatories to those of CAD:

Sovereign League

Praetonia
Questers
Czardas
Space Union
Willink
The Silver Sky
Ottoman Khaif
Velkya
Jagada
Whyatica
USSNA
Taldaan
Allanea
Bob-Bob
Leafanistan
Okielahoma
Dai Yuddha Ossyria

CAD

Roach Busters
Shenyang
Camel Eaters
Generic empire
Zerbia
MassPwnage
Nation of Fortune
The Parthians
The Warmaster
Jipleastan
Doomingsland
Borman Empire

Now, some names may have been missed, but this is the extent of it. Those who have been given special notice are those who have been publically announced to be under APOC's banner, though we suspect that more are apart of the organization. What does this all mean, you ask?

Simple. Having been announced on the heels of the Gholgoth/GASN mutual defense pact, the motives of this collaboration seem highly suspect, considering the reactions from the governments of Sovereign League signatories (and indeed even a CAD signatory) to the announcement of the MDP as seen:

Here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12017648&postcount=8), here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12017767&postcount=9), here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12022717&postcount=27), the rather inflammatory remarks by Praetonia's Prime Minister here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12026225&postcount=37), and of course this gem (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12027198&postcount=41).

It is very clear that the Sovereign League expresses extreme discontent at the announcement of this simple pact that presents no offensive threat to anyone. What further baffles us is the accusation that Automagfreek has, and I quote, "used its satellites and puppet states" to bring GASN under our control. Indeed the accusation is also cast upon Gholgoth as a whole, but what surprises me is the sheer hypocracy.

The APOC is merely an attempt by the Sovereign League to start a collective of its own puppet states to counter this non-existant and so called threat of AMF's "brainwashed cronies". The mere fact that the Sovereign League (an alliance ruled largely by parliamentary nations that push an agenda to spread democracy) would formally ally with the Coalition Against Democracy (Their agenda is much clearer, judging by their name). Now that *is* interesting, you would say, especially considering both of these entities have been historically hostile towards one another. Could this mean they are putting aside their ideological differences for the sake of standing up to a "common enemy"? Or is the Sovereign League simply manipulating them?

Not to mention that at the same time, the International Counter-Insurgency League was founded shortly before the announcement of APOC by none other than Generic empire, who is in both APOC and CAD. And then of course we have ACTO, which is made up of mostly, you guessed it, the same nations.

Why is it that these alliances consist of largely the same nations?

Could it be that this group is plotting to create its own group of satellites and puppet states? Obviously. Their goals are quite simple: to create an infinite amount of alliances, each with different stated purposes, but all with the same members in them and all with mutual defence clauses in the charters OR extremely close ties. Other nations, wanting more power for themselves and not willing to do background reading or anything of the sort, join each alliance, or maybe just a single one depending on their views. Then, if any of these nations are ever attacked, they say 'We are attacked! We call on ! And you all have to join because you signed up for our alliance, and they are our allies!' This way they get a huge horde of oblivious nations to die for them for the sake of furthering their agenda against alliances like Gholgoth and GASN, who have done nothing to warrant any sort of negative international response.

I would like the leaders of the world to examine this evidence and decide for themselves if the Soveriegn League and their proxy alliances are everything they claim to be; the righteous ones devoted to freedom and sovereignty. Clearly these recent events cannot be 'coincidences', and their motives must be closely examined.

But more importantly, do not believe their lies about "Gholgoth or Freekish aggression" when it is very obvious that our regional alliance has kept almost entirely to itself. Automagfreek has partaken in two humanitarian missions very recently (both were liberations), and in both instances our forces bowed out once the liberated nation was able to continue on its own, leaving them large sums of funds for the rebuilding purposes. The bottom line is neither AMF, Gholgoth, or GASN have any imperialistic plans resulting from our formal agreements.

To blindly believe Sovereign League propaganda (considering their motives, and indeed, ACTIONS are highly suspect and contrary to what they preach) will only result in tensions increasing when there is no need for it. I do not doubt that they will try to spin and discredit my statement here today, but in the end the evidence in their words and actions speaks volumes.

We are not enemies of freedom and of the world. Don't believe the hype.

http://www.sideshowtoy.com/images/gold/thumb/3401.gif
[i]Minister Hartman
-Minister of International Affairs-

*Reserved for future post*

[Extract from Hansard, 19th December - Speech to the Lower House by the Prime Minister on the subject of the nature of the conflict between the Great Powers of the World.]

Mr Speaker,

Some months ago I addressed this House on the subject of the now-infamous alliance between Gholgoth and the Global Alliance of Sovereign Nations. In that speech, I intended to highlight the absurdity of a situation in which a group of largely free states pledge their blood and their treasure for the preservation of a terrifying feudal tyranny. I spoke of how the wool must surely have been pulled over the eyes of those people who constitute those free states which acted in such a bizarre manner. The latest accusation levelled against His Majesty by the Tyrant is that the Crown Commonwealth is no different.

Apparently, Sir, Praetonia, through the Sovereign League, is trying to forge a vast global alliance of free states to defend laissez-faire democracy. Why this is a bad thing is not explained, but suffice it to say that if an Automagfreek propagandist implies it, it must be true. [quiet laughter] It seems that their main point of contention is not the aim of our actions - it appears that even they, staunch feudal autocrats, realise that the ideological case for feudal autocracy is not entirely convincing - but the method by which it is achieved. It is alleged that CAD, ACTO and APTO are merely the same attempt to create an interlinked alliance web.

The error in this allegation is not one of subjective ideology, but factual inaccuracy. Neither the Sovereign League nor ACTO contain treaties. That is to say, neither ACTO nor the Sovereign League obliges members even to defend each other, let alone members' allies. Similarly CAD, contrary to Automagfreek's assertion, does not oblige members to defend members' allies. The idea of a web of treaty obligations as painted by Mr Hartman simply does not exist in fact.

As I have said in the past when dealing with the Union of Communist Nations, it may be the case that tyrannies such as Automagfreek, Pantera and Tocrowkia choose to organise themselves solely upon a hierarchy which must be obeyed absolutely, but in the free world that is not how we do things. Automagfreek's allegation of hypocrisy rests on the assumption that we work just like they do. We do not. That is precisely why we oppose their system and their governments.

Similarly, the same Automagfreek propaganda document tries to assert that the Crown Commonwealth and the Sovereign League view ourselves as "righteous ones devoted to freedom and sovereignty". He is half right. Unlike Automagfreek, we have never viewed sovereignty as an intrinsic right of states. That is because sovereignty is not derived from states, but from individuals, who, from time to time, may choose to pool their sovereignty into a representative government of their choosing such that they can achieve desirable objectives which they cannot achieve as a collection of sovereign individuals - the installation and maintenance of just laws and the means by which to enforce them, effective means by which to defend the individuals and justly created government therein from outside attack...

This basic ideological difference strikes at the heart of the schism between Gholgoth and the Sovereign League. Whereas Sovereign League states hold this idea that individuals and not governments create sovereignty, Automagfreek holds that sovereignty is a divine right of Kings. In Automagfreek today, sovereignty is stolen from the people and concentrated in the hands of one man who, from time to time, distributes it as he sees fit to his appointed bureaucrats to carry out tasks that he does not have the ability or the inclination to do himself.

These two ideological systems are polar opposites, and the difference in result is striking. In Praetonia today a peaceable subject may live out his entire life without once having to come into contact with a government official. If a Praetonian subject is arrested, he must be informed of the charges made against him. He can be detained only for a specified period of time, after which he must be tried in public by a jury of his peers or released without a stain on his character. The laws he is subject to are only those passed by a majority of the Commons, the Lords and then signed by the King. If a law is unjust, the jury may throw out the charges. In Automagfreek we have seen a university professor (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=499196) arrested for criticising the state, an action which in a free state is not a crime, and brutally executed without trial.

And this is only what "AMF News" allows the outside world to see. It is almost certain that a great many others were treated in a similar way, and that news simply wasn't allowed to travel outside of the country. Even more sinister is the way "AMF News" addressed the matter as though it were almost unheard of. In what sort of society is criticism of the ruling party unheard of? What systems must be in place in Automagfreek to create and sustain it? In Praetonia today one can buy, for less than the price of a meal, newspapers which routinely criticise both me and my government. [quiet laughter; mock cries of "shame" from Liberal-Tory benches, "hear, hear" from Liberal and Crown Loyalist benches] Where is this in Automagfreek? Why does it not exist?

Equally, in Praetonia today, you are free to buy that newspaper, with your own money. In Automagfreek, earnings have no meaning. One hundred percent of all income earned is seized by the state, the people must live like the feudal serfs they have been reduced to - relying upon the government to kindly return some of their money in order for them to be able even to subsist. [cries of "shame"].

Mr Speaker, the ideological battle that is going on here and now is not one between imperialists and liberators, civilising powers and interventionists, but between those who believe in the sovereignty of the state and those who believe in the sovereignty of the individual. Sovereignty of the state leads to oppression and tyranny. Sovereignty of the individual leads to liberty and prosperity.

Do not think, Sir, that there is any less a war being fought today between those in Automagfreek who are oppressors and those who are being oppressed, even if those being oppressed have been brainwashed or scared into accepted or even liking their lot, simply because there are no tank formations streaming across the borders of one or another state. I made that speech condemning the Gholgoth-GASN alliance precisely because Gholgoth represents the sovereignty of the state and GASN, just like the Sovereign League, should be representing the sovereignty of the individual, not because I believe that tanks are poised to stream across some border, as Mister Hartman alleges I did.

Mr Speaker, we must not forget that, not so many centuries ago that we are willing to forget our struggle, a great concourse of the common multitude in our own history rose up to destroy a similar feudal system that once spread its tentacles from one end of our great land to the other. In the centuries since, we have transformed a stagnant and oppressive state into a liberal, prosperous and advancing world power. We have exported our system far and wide across the world, not by strength of arms, but because our system is successful and just. It is arguable that the great monuments to the power of the state that the Dreadfire dynasty has built - the Halls of the Dead, for one, their sentinel legions for another, or the ridiculous showmanship of the Sentinel class battleship, for yet another again - constitute success. But it is not the kind of success that ensures the individual safety from tyranny and the quality of life he deserves, nor is it just.

I have a confession to make, Mr Speaker, and I'm not sure that Milord Dreadfire is going to like it. His Majesty, myself and the rest of His government have been perpetrating a grand conspiracy these past years; a conspiracy to make the free states invincible in all the world. To put the Crown Commonwealth, and those who share her ideology, beyond the reach of any tyrant. To create a power structure defending the free world so immense and strong that it shall stand throughout the ages until the end of time. Milord Dreadfire believes this to be impossible without trickery or deception, but as I grow tired of repeating, we in the free world are not like him. There will never been any shortage of troops willing to volunteer to defend a free state, for in the service of such a country they serve their own interests, too. We make no demands of others to defend us, even our closest friends and allies. But we trust that they shall when necessary both out of solidarity with a common cause and attention to their own self-interest.

As is the case where the Sovereign League and CAD (which, in fact, stands for “Crimmond Alexei Doomanum”, not “Coalition Against Democracy”) both share members with a common alliance, this is not necessarily limited to countries that agree completely with our own ideological view. Whereas the Sovereign League and Gholgoth are polar opposites, the Sovereign League and CAD are only half-opposites. Where it is beneficial for us both to do so, we may aid each other. A Doomingslandi may not be able to vote for his government, but he may keep and spend the produce of his labour freely. It makes sense, therefore, for us to work together to promote liberal economics through ACTO. This is, of course, a policy that is not entirely uncontroversial [cries of “hear, hear” from Liberal benches], but it is a policy to be decided upon by the sovereign Parliament of this realm, and not by a foreign tyrant such as Milord Dreadfire or one of his propagandists [cries of “hear, hear” from all]

And so before us we see Milord Dreadfire, a petty rhetorician with nothing of substance to defend his bankrupt claims, his bankrupt government and his bankrupt ideology. In the manner of a great statesman long past, I have only these words for His Lordship now: You have sat too long for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!

God Save His Majesty the King. Long may He defend us from tyranny.

Indigo Mountain - Secure Military Facility, Northern Skinny87

Emergency Televised Address To Parliament

Assembled Members of Parliament, Mister Speaker. Several weeks ago, the Honourable Member for Grinstead, Giles Chesterton, gave an inspiring speech on the subject of the alliance between the region of Golgoth and the grouping of nationstates that reside under the identity of the Global Alliance of Sovereign Nations, or GASN for short....

[To Be Continued]

newslink.izi: Your online 24/7 Izistani and international news portal!

Ministry of Foreign Affairs rebukes Freekian statements.
Heigendorf, Cambrai.

Today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement regarding the “outrageous” statements by Minster Hartman of Automagfreek.

“The Directorate has not, and never will intend to use our newfound comrades to create a Great War-esqe system of alliances that will lead to all out war. Nor do we have a interest in armies of puppet states to throw against the hordes of Gholgoth, GASN, or NATO, seeing as we could do the job quite easily ourselves.*
We also find the Freekian statements of their innocence regarding “freekish aggression” to be laughable. The Directorate specifically brought up the subject of Automagfreek's assistance of the Kraven Corporation's operations against Kahanistan a few years back. I should point out that the Freek's did not switch sides because of ideological reasons but instead, the turncoat activities of this monolithic autocracy masquerading as a corporation. In fact, the Freek's slaughtered BILLIONS of both Kahanistani's and Kraven civilians during their respective Freekian invasions, in fact, Automagfreek used nuclear weapons on civilians during the subsequent occupation of Kraven territory. Can ANY member of APOC claim to have a similar amount of blood on their hands (with the possible exception of the Doomingslandi)? We certainly don't. “

In other news, the Directorate announced a proposal today for expanding border defense with the cooperation of The Republic of the Northern Expanse...

[*Who knew political dick-waving could be so fun? ^__^]

Official Response

IMPERIVM DOOMANVM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/Doomingsland/Doom_Flag_Corrected.png

I find it amusing that Minister Hartman has so blatantly labeled the CAD an enemy of the Excessively Armed Empire. The CAD has never interacted with Automagfreek let alone show any hostility towards her; in fact, the CAD and Imperium Doomanum have shown nothing but friendship towards Gholgoth! It seems to me that Damien's hypocrisy in the matter of increasing tensions is quite clear at this moment.

He lectures the world on APOC’s supposedly ‘destabilizing’ influences; I am quite perplexed at this notion.

Does Minister Hartman honestly believe we find his Gholgoth minions and himself to be worthy of forging such a mighty pact in the first place? This, brothers and sisters, is blatant arrogance. Was it not the CAD, more specifically, the Imperium Doomanum who twice crushed Sovereign League armies in honorable war?

Minister, the CAD and Sovereign League have stood on the brink of war for decades; if you wish to go further to the days of the defunct Woodstock Pact which the Sovereign League replaced, we have stood on the brink of war for a very, very long time.

Why, do you ask, do such traditional enemies choose to align themselves? Well, it is quite simple: following the recent bloody conflicts between the Questarian Empire and the Imperium Doomanum, leading nations in the Sovereign League and CAD respectively, we have grown weary of this bloodshed. We have finally come to a peaceful solution to decades of strife and have united in friendship, not due to some pitiful pact between Gholgoth and ‘GASN’!

Nay; the Alliance for the Preservation of Civilization was far from a reaction to such meaningless diplomatic maneuvering. Accusations of such are nothing short of blatant lies and falsehoods.

Prior to these ridiculous claims by Minister Hartman the Imperium has neither held nor shown any ill will towards the Freekish people and Government. If the Excessively Armed Empire truly seeks peace, we suggest that they cease inventing enemies through their own paranoia.

---Respectfully---

Magister Militum Gaius Alexius Doomanus

Official Message from the Dominion

Oil and water don’t mix. Members of Coalition Against Democracy and Sovereign League don’t mix. This Alliance for the Preservation of Civilization is like the Corporate Alliance and the Global Alliance of Sovereign Nations joining together. That is all I’m going to say about that.

Signed,
Count JWolf
The God-Emperor of the Dominion
The Lord Marshall of the Dominion Commonwealth

Official Statement of the Divisions Government

We applaud the Freekish government for finally understanding the Divisions' long-standing concern over this Alliance for the Protection of Civilisation. We have long noted that the former enemies, who -- it might seem -- have completely opposite interests aside from the promoting of capitalism and the free market, seem to be gathering together for a conflict that we fear may be the greatest since the days of NATO, RWC, and GDODAD.

To the minds of the Bureaucratia collectively, the creation of this new alliance should be considered a threat to all of the old world we once held dear: in seeking to "protect" civilisation, it is actually moving closer to destroying it. Call us crazy conspiracists if you like, but we believe that this bastard child of the Sovereign League and the Coalition Against Democracy signifies that the age of the great democratic and liberal powers is coming to an end, to be replaced by a reign of terror and warfare.

In attempting to defend the free market, as they so claim, APOC's members have ignored the fact that many Gholgothian countries are actually just as supportive of the free market as the nations of APOC -- in fact, more so in some cases, considering the neo-fascist 'Absolute Capitalism' propounded by the Doomani government.

While Gholgoth's members have engaged in regrettable and violent actions in the past -- neither alliance's hands are clean -- we nonetheless fear that the creation of this new alliance will threaten far more than Gholgoth, or the GASN, or any other group of nations, but more the way of life captured in sovereigntist liberal democracy.

May God protect your souls; and goodnight.

~ Donovan Ladd ~
Premier of the Divisions Bureaucratia
Getthehelloutofourcountryevilforeignpigdogsdiediedieatopia, Quite Large Island, the Archipelago

Official Message from the Dominion

Oil and water don’t mix. Members of Coalition Against Democracy and Sovereign League don’t mix. This Alliance for the Preservation of Civilization is like the Corporate Alliance and the Global Alliance of Sovereign Nations joining together. That is all I’m going to say about that.

Signed,
Count JWolf
The God-Emperor of the Dominion
The Lord Marshall of the Dominion Commonwealth

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/3167/meii3.png

OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE ALLIED UNION OF VELKYA

To touch on the highly valued opinion of Count JWolf, you will find that the CAD and the Sovereign League mix quite well. The Allied Union stands with its brothers in arms, whether they fly the colors of CAD or that of the Sovereign League.

That is all.

"Dreadfire, your conspiracy theory is fucking retarded."-The Great Leader Li.

Official Statement of the Island of Rose

The Island of Rose has recently undergone a vast isolationist period (we still are) but we must respond to this event. Quite frankly, I don't know what the hell is going on (I've been too busy having sex with my wife) but we do know this; the Sovereign League and CAD are strange bedfellows. Actually, no no no... they just can't be bedfellows. The Republic has stood with the Empire of Automagfreek (granted we have had some problems that prevented us to join them in their past wars) but nevertheless, these recent developments scare us.

Therefore it us the Republic's official opinion to give a "WTF" as the kids say. Quite frankly we must agree with the Empire, why would there be alliances where the same members are part of? It makes no sense to me.

I must also say this reminds me of the past when NATO and the RWC were going at it. A warning to both parties: don't do anything stupid... what am I saying, everybody in this bloody world is retarded. Fah!

Sergei Ilyanov
Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Island of Rose

P.S.

To the Emperor of Doomingsland: We need to have tea sometimes, quite frankly I haven't spoken to an evil dictator in a while and you seem to be a reasonable man... or we can just shoot things... and stuff.

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OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE ALLIED UNION OF VELKYA

To touch on the highly valued opinion of Count JWolf, you will find that the CAD and the Sovereign League mix quite well. The Allied Union stands with its brothers in arms, whether they fly the colors of CAD or that of the Sovereign League.

That is all.
DEMOCRATIC SOVIET REPUBLIC OF KAHANISTAN
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Government of Kahanistan is most dismayed to hear that. We have one of our closest allies crawling into bed with CAD. Perhaps you have forgotten that CAD forces not one year ago murdered more than twenty million Kahanistanian civilians, and tens more millions in ViZion.

Most members of CAD, with the exceptions of MassPwnage and possibly Shenyang and Tyrandis, are repressive dictatorships little different from Automagfreek. If the Allied Union, one of the few states with a history of actively intervening against repressive nations, is willing to ally with the likes of CAD, what hope is there for the free world?

Next time the Velkyan state looks at the Soviet Republic as an ally, perhaps it should look at the new allies it has made for itself in its struggles against socialism. Regardless of how one may feel about our social democratic system, can it really be any worse than the company Velkya now keeps?

Signed,
Margaret Delray,
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Official Imperial Statement:

We of the Imperial Government, like our brethren in the Imperium Doomanum, find ourselves highly amused and more than a little perplexed by Mr. Hartman's recent statements regarding the Alliance For the Preservation of Civilization, of which the Empire, as Mr. Hartman pointed out, is a proud member.

To echo our Doomani colleagues, we cannot help but find the declarations of the Freekish government to ring with narcissism, as why, in all sanity, would we go to the trouble of forging a powerful league of nations (some of whom have been bitter enemies in the past) to counter what amounts to a very small threat? The GASN-Gholgoth pact barely registers on the Imperial radar screen, and those of our CAD allies, as the CAD has had very little, if any, interaction with the Freekish government and Gholgoth, none of which has been belligerent or less than positive in any way. Therefore, to suspect that we, the independent states of the CAD, would now find it necessary to put aside past differences with Sovereign League states to provide a countermeasure to a non-existent threat stinks of nothing short of the pride and detachment from reality that we, the international community, have come to know the Freekish state for.

In any event, the Empire regrets the suspician with which Mr. Hartman has cast his gaze on the private Generian enterprise that is the International Counter-Insurgency League, which has no relation to, and will continue to have no relation to the Alliance For The Preservation of Civilization, and upon any of the other independent alliances, leagues, pacts, public or private which Mr. Hartman made reference to in his declaration. To draw such a broad link between clearly unrelated enterprises again draws our attention to the complex which plagues the Freekish leadership, one of paranoia and self-absorption. We highly doubt that Mr. Dreadfire, or any of his ministers for that matter, could go so far as to produce a single piece of hard evidence that would give the international community the support they need to dive in behind his train of accusations.

While we will of course take these recent accusations to heart, ponder them, and file them away with the countless other baseless damnations we, the Imperial Government, have been subject to over the years, we can promise you only one thing, and that is that the Empire, along with her noble brothers in arms of the Alliance For the Preservation of Civilization, will not go so far as to sweat for fear of or concern over Gholgoth, GASN, the UCN, or any other congregation of paranoid, saber rattling gangster-states that would attempt to discredit a noble union of powerful nations out of what boils down to simple, raw fear.

I find it most amusing that Mr. Doomanus would levy such accusations against me when clearly I said no such thing. I challenge you to point to any part of my statement that accused CAD of being an enemy of the Empire or of Gholgoth for that matter. No such claim exists, as in fact CAD was only mentioned in my statement in the following contexts: that their allegiance with the Sovereign League is highly peculiar, and that we believe that CAD is being used as a tool to further the League's means.

You all are so quick to cite Automagfreek's past as proof that our words are not to be believed, but by that same token you dismiss the past that CAD and the League share? The people of the world are not as easily fooled as you would like to think. Your dislike and prejudice against the Excessively Armed Empire does not make our questions any less valid, and to draw that conslusion is downright preposterous. Praetonia's Prime Minister did a fantastic job at completely ignoring every question that was raised in his speech to their Lower House, intent instead to try and discredit me personally and turn the allegations around in the opposite direction.

But returning to you, Mr. Doomanus, you cite that you and CAD has shown nothing but neutrality and friendship towards the Empire and Gholgoth. But yet the venom soaked statement from the offices of The Warmaster, as well as the response "Dreadfire, your conspiracy theory is fucking retarded.", begs to differ. If CAD honestly has good intentions towards us, then why are these statements allowed to be made? We in Gholgoth hold ourselves to higher standards, and would not have said such things without mutual agreement from within the alliance that such a statement should be made. Also, in Mr. Aurelius's reply he laid into the members of the Sovereign League, calling them quote, "lepers and cowards", "a pack of cowards", and so forth. If the League are supposedly your new allies, why continue to have your brethren in CAD slander them? The inconsistencies here are too numerous to be ignored.

Furthermore, I am most disappointed by the attempts of both the League and now CAD to not only fail to address the points I raised, but resort to childish name calling and flat out dismissal. Perhaps if this statement would have carried more weight if it had come from Pacitalian or Iuthian diplomats? Of course it would have, because as well all know the "Great Satan" that is Automagfreek is wrong and should not be listened to, regardless of how valid the argument is......

If you wish to dispell these accusations I have made against the APOC, perhaps it would do you well to, you know, answer the questions and address the points, am I right? Nobody is going to buy your tactics of name calling, shifting blame, and flat out dismissal, and continuing to do so is only going to further solidify the validity of my argument. For supposedly being the "moral superiors" to the likes of AMF, you sure fail to demonstrate the simple concept of attacking the argument and not the person. The latter demonstrates a lack of ability to defeat the former.

Which leads me to the response of yet another CAD signatory, the folks from the offices of Generic Empire. Claiming that we are "afraid" for blowing the whistle on the APOC is nothing more than yet another dirty trick designed to slander the Excessively Armed Empire. The argument could have been made by myself that it is indeed those in APOC who are afraid, because the announcement of this alliance came conveniently after the signing of the Gholgoth/GASN defense pact. But I do not need to resort to that shift in argument because the points I have raised speak for themselves (while at the same time lending more credence to my new suspicion of CAD intentions if they are supposedly so "friendly" towards us). Generia has done nothing to answer the question of why the list of alliances I had mentioned in my first statement contain largely the same members.

The Sovereign League are allowed to call into question the Gholgoth/GASN MDP, and yet you do not label them as "afraid". So, pray tell me how we cannot call the APOC into question without being slandered as "paranoid, saber rattling gangster-states"? The double standard here is ridiculous!

So again, I await those who are "morally superior" to me to answer my questions and dispell the accusations raised in a clear, concise, and diplomatic manner. Because so far, all I have seen is childish politicking in an attempt to dodge the issues.

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Minister Hartman
-Minister of International Affairs-

Transcript of speech by Ret. General Jackson Heller, Gyushnik Rep (P)
Ladies and gentlemen of Illior, people of the world,
It has been brought to the attention of the Illiorian governing council that a recent and frightening development has happened in our world today. A new alliance, the Alliance for the Preservation Of Civilization has arisen out of rather curious circumstances. I would first like to thank Minister Hartman for bringing initial evidence forth, and for being the first to question the basis of such an alliance. I would also like to thank the Praetonian Prime Minister for his display of his illiteracy, because all I saw from his speech was a host of “Look at how good we are, look at how despicable Automagfreek is.” Don’t worry whether or not you answered the questions Mr. Prime Minister, it’s the effort that counts. I would also like to thank Magister Militum Gaius Alexius Doomanus for doing what his counterpart in Praetonia could not, and making a reasonable attempt at answering the questions posed by Minister Hartman. I would also like to thank Sergei Ilyanov for expressing what all of us were thinking in one of the most well known acronyms in the English language: WTF. For those of you that have never heard of this acronym, it stands for What The Fuck, pardon my candor, but the saying says it all.

To address Mr. Doomanus, it makes perfect sense that historically warring factions do end their conflicts in the interests of both parties, but through history I can’t name a time when previous enemies decided to come together “[to create] a very lethal force,” to quote the overview of the Alliance for the Preservation Of Civilisation. That “lethal force” which is so clearly stated in the overview is the kind of verbatim which worries the world, and suggests a military pretense and not just that, but also a pretense of aggression.

I would also like to say that fighting for an ideal has always been seen as a noble cause, but not when that fighting is to impose an ideal on others. Again, the verbatim of the “charter” is a major worry, “the nations of APOC have chosen to make their glorious stand.” What is it that the nations of APOC are standing against? At this point in time, there are no belligerent entities that threaten the sovereignty of nations, such as Melkor back in the early days of the Allied Powers Treaty Organization, unless this new creation intends to become one of those belligerent entities. Also, a glorious stand refers to a fight, to stop something from moving on. What is there to stop?

To address His Majesty’s Prime Minister, Illior would never pledge our “blood and treasure for the preservation of a terrifying feudal tyranny,” nor would any other signatory of the aforementioned Mutual Defense Pact. What we pledged was to fight the kind of tyranny that you are imposing: the tyranny of misinformation to gain power. Never was “the wool” pulled over our eyes, but I feel that is exactly what you are trying to do to the free world Mr. Prime Minister, and by your own actions, you have indeed made His Majesty’s government look like “the Tyrant” you call Damien Dreadfire.

Well, I guess if a man who has never consciously lied to his peers before says it, well then, I guess he would indeed be a Freekish propagandist, but Politicians are a whole different case Mr. Prime Minister. I can speak from experience in having to deal with many of the kind throughout my life, to get what my men and people needed. Politicians lie, Mr. Prime Minister, to get to their goals. Mr. Hartman is not a politician if I recall correctly, but an informant to the world, so by the previous premise, he would not lie.

To the Prime Minister’s point of sovereignty. Sovereignty is the right to be an individual, and as you stated Mr. Prime Minister, that right is bestowed upon individuals. States also have that said right Mr. Prime Minister, for a state is a society, and society and individuals are forever intertwined, with both relying on the other for their definition. I have to wonder, Mr. Prime Minister, whether you studied any ideological history, studying the masters, such as Machiavelli, Locke, Aristotle, Hobbes, Rousseau, Wollstonecraft, and many others. I guess in your view, the right way to do something is the way Praetonians do it, which is by having a nation led by professional liars, except for his Majesty, as do many other nations. I will say that Illior is not exempt from having its share of professional liars, but we do not force our ideology on others, nor think that our way is the right and only way to do things.

Take a look at Mr. Thomas Hobbes, a rather nice old fellow who discussed the idea of concentrating people’s will into one sovereign, who would do the will of the people onto the outside world and the land he had entrusted to him to do his work. Did you ever think that this could be exactly what the Freekish people did Mr. Prime Minister? A rhetorical question, for the answer is obviously no, as you were having too much fun calling names. As for news, I guess it just shows the lack of interest on the part of your government to have any Praetonian visit Automagfreek. If they did, I’d guarantee you that they would call your arguments baseless, for most of what you said has been supposition. The only fact that you have addressed through this point is the fact that one Freekish professor was arrested, and the average reported tax rate, which, saying it as I’ve had to pay my fair share of them, I’d much rather not hear about, unless I’m an accountant for some banking service.

Mr. Prime Minister, I probably haven’t made this clear enough, but there is no difference between representing individual sovereignty and state sovereignty, as they are one in the same, by the transitivity properties of math and English definitions, as state and society are one, as is society and the individual, so the state and the individual are two entities that rely on each other for their power, their rights, and their existence, so in essence Mr. Prime Minister, you have explained yet again exactly why it made sense for the Global Alliance and Gholgoth to open deeper relations, as they try to defend the same thing. Also in that process, you have also noted why the Sovereign League and the Global Alliance have had good relations in the past, and the sharing of some members. Again, by the theory of Transitivity, the Sovereign League and Gholgoth are not fighting for much that is different. What makes them different is the nations that are in it, with one alliance clearly holding the moral high ground by keeping their nose out of other’s affairs, while many members of the other scramble around like a mouse after cheese to gain power, that absolute, corrupting, ever enticing power.

Did you ever think, Mr. Prime Minister, that if the Freekish people were unhappy with their government, they would speak out? Do you think that the majority of the Freekish population is as dumb as Dr. Hanson? Both rhetorical once again, but differeing answers with the same reasons as every other rhetorical question I’ve asked tonight. Mr. Prime Minister, if the Freekish people wanted a change, they could have it. They would probably use things like the internet, traveling to foreign nations and speaking, to express their disgust. In the past under oppressors, the people have always found a way to speak out. If they aren’t speaking out now, (excluding the one nutcase that would have eventually destroyed himself eventually) then it should be clear that the people are happy. Again, you wouldn’t know, you’ve never visited Automagfreek, never spoken with any of its workers, its citizen leaders, or its children, yes Automagfreek contains children, I know, what a ghastly thought. You continue to suppose on that which you don’t know and understand. You are acting exactly like the Nazis during the Second World War in Europe, using the lack of information about one party to discredit them, to hurt them, and possibly, god forbid, set up their ultimate destruction.

Again, you continue to suppose with the Freekish people. How can you know that it is by military strength that they measure their success? Again, you can’t, cause you’ve never been there, you’ve never met their citizens, you’ve never seen them work. Even if it was by military strength which the Freekish people determined their strength, is it wrong? No, it’s just different. You know Mr. Prime Minister, I think I’ve figured out your problem. I think you spend too much time with that secretary of yours, and not enough time out in the world, finding out what in the name of your god is going on!

I must say that making free states invincible is a worthy cause, but why must it only be those that share the same ideology as The Crown? Why can’t it be nations that have a different type of government, whose people are happy? Why can’t it be nations like Aequatio, Pantera, Crimmond, Barbarosea, Cravan, and Illior? All of whose people, to my knowledge are happy. Why must you pursue your path of protrusion? Why continue to escalate the world into a state of violence with the creation of “an unholy alliance,” to use your words? Truly, the only reason I can see is the absolute, the corrupting, that which so many desire, yet can’t have.

Again, the Sovereign League and Gholgoth are more similar than you will ever see in their intentions, but again, it is the members of each that makes them differ. Again, why must different mean bad? Why can’t nations of different economic backgrounds work together? The Global Alliance is a perfect example of this. Many different member states, from your corrupt tyrannies, to your perfect democracies fill this alliance with nations that will work together to allow each other to continue to survive, an alliance of the most basic human instinct: survival. It seems to most here that APOC is an alliance of the most basic human greed: power. That is why there are so many that question this alliance, for its pretenses scare many of us, not just because of the wordings of its overview, but of the difference in nations, previous enemies coming together.

To the Allied Union of Velkya, all history has shown us is that the Coalition Against Democracy (as that’s what it truly is, no matter of previous names) and the Sovereign League don’t mix well. As I said before to Mr. Doomanus, it makes sense that enemies will end their hostilities once it is clear that never ending war will consume both sides, but it does not make sense that these enemies will now grasp one another with open arms. Humans are creatures of habit, and if a human’s grown up with a habit of hating something, then they’ll continue to hate it for their whole life, unless a life changing incident or an opportunity comes around to change that. Mr. Ilyanov’s expression I said earlier encompasses the reaction of many throughout the world, and will continue to, till there is a sufficient explanation, till the truth comes out about what this profound opportunity, or this incident is or was.

Thank you Ms. Kars for allowing me to speak today, and thank you to my colleagues who asked me to speak today, and thank you to that person who can see the unreasonableness of this situation, and can help bring it back to reality. To the Prime Minister of Praetonia, please take off the fucking rose colored glasses, and in the words of an old friend, “Open your fucking eyes!”, and think with the head that actually sees daylight for the sake of the world. To His Majesty sitting upon the throne in Praetonia, I send my regards, and also ask you to take the initiative in your nation, be the leader that your politicians aren’t, and open the eyes of your nation to the real world. To the Allied Velkyan Union, visit the local library’s history section please, and look up CAD vs. Woodstock Pact, and also the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. To Margaret Delray and Donovan Ladd, I am glad to see that other nations that are not in either alliance also see the inconsistencies, and pretenses that I have noted here.

Good night ladies and gentlemen of the world, although I doubt the Prime Minister of Praetonia gets much sleep at all, with all those late nights at work, and please, help me, help the world by getting this madness stopped.

Thank you for your time, and I apologize for my political incorrectness, but I am a soldier at heart, I'm used to being blunt, and I absolutely hate bullshit.

Jackson Heller.

att: jhsp15332.mp3

Official Statement [video]

Camera on Congress Hall. Zooms in through the double doors, past ornamental statues and stuff; we hear the voice of Airya Wong speaking her statement as the camera pans across the audience of assorted Council of 400 members and government officials, to her position on the podium, around at assorted national flags, etc.

A. WONG: Good afternoon, associated nations of the world. Allow me to introduce myself; I am Airya Wong, vice-director of the National Intelligence Ministry of Czardas. I'm here today primarily because I've been paying close attention to the interchange of highly inflammatory statements amongst the nations of Gholgoth and her allies, and the Alliance for the Protection of Civilisation and hers. And I think I should clarify some things.

Wong crosses across the stage, microphone in hand, towards a giant map of the known world on one wall. She points at various locations on the map with the assistance of a laser pointer.

WONG: This [pointing] is Czardas. These are Czardaian overseas holdings, which number two exactly -- one of them, as you can see, a bit north of Kahanistan; the other, amongst Silver Skyian, Sarzonian, Scandavian, and Doomingslandi controlled assets in this "colonial area". This [pointing] is Gholgoth. As you ca
n see, all of these areas are quite far from one another.

Allow me to put this a little bit more clearly: We really have no objection to the mutual defence pact formed by the GASN and Gholgoth; indeed, GASN is a rising alliance led primarily by and consisting mainly of comparatively younger nations, and could do with guidance from an older and more established group of nations such as Gholgoth if it seeks to make its way in a world dominated by the Corporatist, Anti-Democratic, and Communist alliances out there.

Essentially, however, we don't particularly care about actions going on halfway around the world, unless they directly affect us. And we'd really recommend that the A-pock quit its bitching as well. I can see no purpose for getting your panties in a bunch over a mutual defence pact. Hear that? "Defence". I'd really recommend looking that word up in a dictionary sometime. [Laughter.] So unless you're planning to attack Gass-en or Gholgoth, it really shouldn't be an issue. If you are, of course, that explains all of your actions so far and we're perfectly willing to drop our membership in the Sovereign League if it ceases to defend, well, sovereignty. In cases such as Czardas, which are liberal democracies, national sovereignty and individual sovereignty are equivalent... so Mr. Praetonian Prime Minister Official Guy, your statement isn't sounding quite so strong now, beg pardon of course. On the other hand, monarchies and autocracies are not entirely individual-condusive, but then it depends on the monarchy/autocracy, so I'd recommend actually going and living in some of these countries for a while before drawing conclusions about them.

I realise that I've been dragging on for a while and saying a lot of things not everyone will agree with, but frankly I -- and most Czardaians, for that matter -- are.... Am. I am sick and tired of my country's acquiescence to all of these fucking stupid alliances. It's time we exercised our own individual and national sovereignty, and if that means lowering our esteem in the eyes of some group of sandy-vagina'd nations, then tough shit.

Oh and yeah, if you noticed, we no longer have a PG-13 rating. [Laughter, groans]

EMCEE: Well, that's a tough act to follow. For those of you just tuning in, that's Airya Wong, Vice-Director of National Intelligence for the Whole Sort of General Mish Mash of Czardas, speaking on the state of international politics today. In other news, a new study has determined that being immersed in water for long periods of time can lead to feelings of dampness.... more after these messages from our sponsor!

/cut official statement (teensy bit late)

[the following is a transcript of a televised address delivered by His Divine Majesty the Sacred Emperor to the Council of Prefects. Broadcast courtesy of: Imperial News Networks, Kregaian Public Broadcasting Corporation.]

To my loyal subjects, our brothers of the CAD, all our allies, and indeed to all nations of the world, good evening. I come before you tonight with what wisdom I possess, in order to address some issues that now trouble the international community.

You all have heard, of course, of the recent unveiling of the APOC. It has been around for some time now, but the Imperium has only lately publicly declared its allegiance to the Alliance for the Preservation of Civilization. This alliance unifies two blocs previously thought irreconciliable: the Sovereign League and the CAD, and the result is an alliance with the power to reshape the world into a truer, better place. Of course, such power terrifies the old guard of the world, and they have spoken up to condemn the APOC. I, the Sacred Emperor, feel it is my duty as a man of honor and the ruler of this great Empire to set the record straight.

First among our detractors is, of course, Automagfreek and the slaves of Damien Dreadfire. Ironically, Lord Dreadfire finds himself in a position disturbingly similar to how the Imperium stood not long ago, when Gholgoth announced its annexation of the GASN. Dreadfire is understandably upset about such a massive change in the world's balance of power; his super-alliance of Gholgoth and the GASN is no longer the world's paramount power, and I am told that Count Jwolf and his servants in the Dominion Commonwealth no longer answer to the Supreme Warlord. And so the voice of Automagfreek, the ever-present Minister Hartman, has raised a series of questions in an attempt to understand the situation that the Excessively Armed Empire is now in.

Question: is the Alliance for the Preservation of Civilization merely an attempt by the Sovereign League to gain an array of puppet states? Answer: of course not. Anyone taking a glance at the nations who have declared for the APOC would see that the ratio of CAD nations to Sovereign League Nations is fairly even: 5 to 7, to be precise. To suggest that the Sovereign League is using such a small majority to dominate the CAD is ridiculous, especially when one takes into account the numerous occasions on which CAD forces have defeated those of Sovereign League; I draw Minister Hartman's attention to our own Czardaian War and the recent conflict between Questaria and the Imperium Doomanum.

Question: why would the Sovereign League, a body famous for spreading democracy, ally with the Coalition Against Democracy? Answer: the Coalition Against Democracy does not exist. It amuses me whenever I see this mistake made; CAD does not stand for Coalition Against Democracy, but rather for 'Crimmond-Alexei-Doomanum'. The CAD has not dedicated itself to the destruction of democracy; while I personally have pledged to fight democracy, a greater good is served by accepting it at times. For example, I recently advised Clandonia Prime to surrender and accept a democratic government in the face of a coalition of invaders, so that it would not be destroyed in the invasion and thus unable to assist ACTO in its fight against Communism, a much more dangerous threat.

Question: is the APOC simply a ploy to draw a legion of disposable puppet nations under the control of the Sovereign League? Answer: certainly not. To start with, this question relies upon the claim that the Sovereign League is controlling the APOC, a claim which I trust I settled when I answered Minister Hartman's first questions. However, even assuming this were true, Minister Hartman would have had his answer had he done his research like a good student. The Alliance for the Preservation of Civilization is currently not accepting members, not without a proud history of strength and wisdom and recommendations from alliance members.

Question: does not this attempt on the part of the Sovereign League to control the world contradict its actions in the past and lower its credibility? Answer: it might, were the Sovereign League the only force behind the APOC. It might, if the Sovereign League was trying to control the world. However, since neither of these is the case, the answer is again no.

Overall, I am satisfied with your thoughts, Minister Hartman. You have asked good questions. However, you would have done better to ask the final one, which I will not answer but rather prompt you to think about yourself: What will Lord Dreadfire do now? The Supreme Warlord continuously stresses his peaceful intentions towards the world; however, the credibility of this claim is somewhat damaged by the hordes of Sentinels lurking at his heels and the annihilated nations he has left in his wake. As he urges nations to examine the words of the Sovereign League and compare that with their actions, I urge nations to examine the words of the single most prolific murderer in history.

But that is not all, my friends! Oh no, Minister Hartman's questions are not yet satisfied. The statements made by our brothers in the Imperium Doomanum, the Generic Empire, and MassPwnage, have apparently raised new questions for the ever-curious Minister Hartman.

Question: how can the CAD be friendly to Automagfreek and the Sovereign League when the Imperium has issued a "venom soaked" statement condemning the annexation of the GASN as well as calling the Sovereign League "lepers and cowards"? To the first: the statement to which Minister Hartman refers was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after Gholgoth conquered the GASN. The explanation for the statement's tone is as follows: it is traditional, when events have transpired which a government does not approve of, to condemn those events. The Imperium is free to deliver such a condemnation as it sees fit. To the second: the Imperium uses the words that serve its purpose. If we had referred to 'our brothers and peers of the Sovereign League', the world would have been very puzzled indeed, and searched for the change in attitude. Also, while we do respect the Sovereign League as a collection of fellow APOC members, we also harbor quite a hatred towards Czardas, and have since the Czardaian War. I imagine the feeling is mutual; after all, we razed three cities and killed thousands upon thousands of citizens. So, despite our respect of the League, we must weigh that with the fact that they embrace a nation of such idolatry as Czardas.

Question: how can the Freeks be said to fear the APOC when the Sovereign League was not said to fear the Gholgoth-GASN bloc, on the basis of the same actions? Answer: I do not believe the Freeks fear the APOC. Lord Dreadfire would do well to be wary of it, to be cautious around it, but I have confidence in Lord Dreadfire's pride, and in his trust in his own power. If the Excessively Armed Empire truly feared the APOC, I doubt they would have issued such provocative statements. So, Lord Dreadfire, fear not: if the power of Gholgoth and your nation is as limitless as you say, we are sure that you are not afraid the Alliance for the Preservation of Civilization; however, it behooves you to use caution as well. You may be out of practice on that, but I think you will find that no matter how long since you were last cautious of something, you will remember how.

Minister Hartman, I trust that I have answered all your questions, and I encourage you to think about all these things. I am sure you have learned a great deal from this speech; perhaps this will prevent further misunderstanding in the future. In conclusion, the Imperium stands by the APOC, as it has the CAD, and we will never stop fighting for truth and civilization. Goodnight.

[Open letter to the foreign critics of Praetonia's stance on APOC by the Prime Minister, as published in The Parliamentarian]

I woke up today to see two documents that I predicted two days ago that I would never see - a statement of "the ideological case for feudal autocracy" as I had, perhaps naively, inferred from Automagfreek's initial failure to state it that they understood its weakness. My political foes across the seas (thankfully for us, such terrifying views are not held by Praetonians in any significant, or indeed insignificant, numbers) spent precious little time addressing what was relevant to the initial accusations made by the "Excessively Armed Empire" of Automagfreek (how it is determined whether an Empire is "excessively armed" or merely "suitably armed", I am not sure, nor I am sure what territory or territories Automagfreek rules over to qualify its self-bestowed title of "Empire").

One of these documents is a government statement from Automagfreek, and the other a transcript of a truly bizarre speech from a retired General from Illior (whose relevance to the situation I do not understand) which has garnered a good deal of media attention there. It appears, and upon this both documents agree, that I have "not answered the question." I find this accusation bizarre, as I answered "the question" quite cogently in my speech before the Commons two days ago, but for the more simple minded listener from Automagfreek or Illior (and I am sure that there are a great many who are not, and who understood perfectly), incapable of extracting meaning from rhetoric, I shall explain what I said in as simple a way as I can manage:

First of all, I shall address the issue of what "question", exactly, was being asked. There were, in fact, two non-rhetorical questions posed by Milord Dreadfire's Propagandist-in-Chief, the first being:

"Could this mean [the Sovereign League and CAD] are putting aside their ideological differences for the sake of standing up to a "common enemy"? Or is the Sovereign League simply manipulating them?"

and the second being:

"Why is it that [APOC, ACTO, the International Counter-Insurgency League] consist of largely the same nations?”

I shall answer these questions together, for they are in reality the same question, and the answer is easy to give, as the Propagandist-in-Chief has provided it himself: the Sovereign League and CAD are indeed "putting aside their ideological differences for the sake of standing up to a "common enemy"" to put it simply. In actual fact the reasoning is somewhat more subtle, and I explained perfectly well in my speech:

"Whereas the Sovereign League and Gholgoth are polar opposites, the Sovereign League and CAD are only half-opposites. Where it is beneficial for us both to do so, we may aid each other. A Doomingslandi may not be able to vote for his government, but he may keep and spend the produce of his labour freely. It makes sense, therefore, for us to work together to promote liberal economics through ACTO."

I do not understand why this simple explanation should be so difficult to grasp, nor indeed do I understand why both the Court of Dreadfire and General Jackson Heller have failed to understand it. Since they clearly have, I shall explain it in more simple terms:

The Anti-Communist Treaty Organisation is, as its name suggests, concerned only with opposing the spread of collectivist economics. It does not contain a binding treaty, nor is it a vehicle for co-ordinating military action. It is merely a statement of opposition to collectivist economics. Both the Sovereign League and CAD oppose collectivist economics (with perhaps a few minor exceptions), so one would expect a large proportion of each alliance to be signatories to this treaty. APOC's goals are very similar, but its membership is more focussed.

Clearly, the Sovereign League and CAD do not agree ideologically on everything. On the subject of democracy, for instance, there is a clear divergence: a working democracy is a stated prerequisite for Sovereign League membership, whereas it is a de-facto requirement not to have a working democracy in order to obtain CAD membership. This is why, believe it nor not, there are no Sovereign League members in CAD, or CAD members in the Sovereign League: we agree on some things, but disagree on others. Neither APOC nor ACTO obliges any members to defend another from attack, it merely facilitates co-operation if co-operation is desired by both parties.

No state is being tricked or exploited by this arrangement. No state is being forced to do something against its will, as if either a Sovereign League or a CAD state would actually submit to doing so anyway.

I have, you may have noticed, consistently ignored the "International Counter-Insurgency League" throughout both my speech and this document. The reason is quite simple: I have never heard of this irrelevant alliance before, and it contains no Sovereign League members. In short, it is nothing to do with the point Milord Dreadfire is trying to make, and, if anything, it damages his conclusions, rather than supporting them.

Of course, the "question" that was asked by Milord was not the most nefarious aspect of his tirade of falsehoods - that title is taken by his allegation that the Sovereign League and CAD are "plotting to create [their] own group of satellites and puppet states" by creating a vast web of "interconnected alliances". Although the key assertion in Milord Dreadfire's attempt to turn around allegations rightfully directed at him to wound their creator, it is the easiest to disprove, for in order to be true, it requires that these alliances he points to require not only that each alliance requires its members defend each other, but that each alliance requires its members to defend other members' allies. In fact, none of these alliances do either, as I said quite plainly at the start of my speech:

The error in this allegation is not one of subjective ideology, but factual inaccuracy. Neither the Sovereign League nor ACTO contain treaties. That is to say, neither ACTO nor the Sovereign League obliges members even to defend each other, let alone members' allies. Similarly CAD, contrary to Automagfreek's assertion, does not oblige members to defend members' allies. The idea of a web of treaty obligations as painted by Mr Hartman simply does not exist in fact.

As I have said in the past when dealing with the Union of Communist Nations, it may be the case that tyrannies such as Automagfreek, Pantera and Tocrowkia choose to organise themselves solely upon a hierarchy which must be obeyed absolutely, but in the free world that is not how we do things. Automagfreek's allegation of hypocrisy rests on the assumption that we work just like they do. We do not.

and reiterated at its end:

We make no demands of others to defend us, even our closest friends and allies. But we trust that they shall when necessary both out of solidarity with a common cause and attention to their own self-interest.

Earlier in this document I referred to Milord's Propagandist as a fool and an idiot for not understanding what I said. In fact, we all know that that is untrue - neither Milord nor his direct subordinates are fools, and my attacks were merely for the sake of rhetoric. He knew and understood quite well what I said, but instead of trying to attack statements he knew to be correct, he simply brushed them off by accusing me of "completely ignoring every question" without providing any evidence of my doing so. His delaying tactic, even if not ultimately successful, has at least bought him a few extra days during which his mindless sycophants will still be able to justify to themselves that he is correct despite the evidence and forced me to waste a great deal of time unnecessarily reiterating myself in this document.

Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for "Ret. General Jackson Heller", who has misunderstood my speech so completely, and supported his conclusions with logic so mind-numbingly idiotic that I can only conclude that he has lost at least a part of his brain in one of the many campaigns that he has no doubt fought and which I have no doubt never heard of. I present you, for instance, with these words of his:

"Well, I guess if a man who has never consciously lied to his peers before says it, well then, I guess he would indeed be a Freekish propagandist, but Politicians are a whole different case Mr. Prime Minister. I can speak from experience in having to deal with many of the kind throughout my life, to get what my men and people needed. Politicians lie, Mr. Prime Minister, to get to their goals. Mr. Hartman is not a politician if I recall correctly, but an informant to the world, so by the previous premise, he would not lie."

Oh I see, General Heller. Politicians lie, and I am a politician, therefore it is inconceivable that I am not lying. That is illogical enough, but there is more! Politicians lie, so says General Heller, but Minister Hartman is not a politician, rather an "informant to the world", therefore he is clearly incapable of lying! Presumably, therefore, only politicians are capable of lying, and they lie with such consistency that there is not even the slightest possibility that they are not lying at any particular moment in time, which would require General Heller to, say, actually address my arguments rather than just asserting I am a liar with no evidence and having done with it. I tip my hat to you, sir. In the enlightened days of the Nineteenth Century, one would have been asked to pay good money to hear such idiocy.

Or take another instance:

"I would also like to thank the Praetonian Prime Minister for his display of his illiteracy, because all I saw from his speech was a host of “Look at how good we are, look at how despicable Automagfreek is.” Don’t worry whether or not you answered the questions Mr. Prime Minister, it’s the effort that counts."

First of all, my dear General, I would like to reassure that all of my speeches come in the more traditional spoken rather than written form, and therefore I could not possibly have demonstrated my "illiteracy" through such an event. Secondly, I would like to address you to the first section of this document, which clearly demonstrates that, actually, I have answered the "question" that Milord Dreadfire asked, and more besides.

But enough of this, because after he has finished educating us on the meanings of obscure chatroom acronyms and bombarding me with obscenities and condescension he oh-so-isn't in any position to make, he actually tries to form a relatively cogent attack on the philosophical underpinnings of my politics. What this has to do with the "questions" Milord Dreadfire asked and that I allegedly did not answer, I am not sure, but nonetheless, I shall address it:

Unfortunately, when you scratch beneath the surface you find it is as idiotic as the rest of what he says. His argument is based around the assertion that "Mr. Prime Minister, I probably haven’t made this clear enough, but there is no difference between representing individual sovereignty and state sovereignty, as they are one in the same" and he uses this to try to prove that there is some sort of "liberal relativism" whereby every country is just as free as any other, the only important indicator being the happiness of the populace, as he concludes thus:

"I must say that making free states invincible is a worthy cause, but why must it only be those that share the same ideology as The Crown? Why can’t it be nations that have a different type of government, whose people are happy? Why can’t it be nations like Aequatio, Pantera, Crimmond, Barbarosea, Cravan, and Illior?"

The reason that free states must "shares the same ideology as the Crown" (that is, actually possess some amount of freedom) rather than just being any old state that feels like calling itself a free state is that freedom is an objectively defined concept that does not exist only in proportion to whether or not the people living in a state describe themselves as "happy" to those who have the power to arbitarily execute them if they say 'no'. If you can speak as you please, then you are freer that someone who, all else being equal, cannot speak as they please. It is not enough that the people in the second country are happy that they cannot speak as they please. Not wanting to and not being able to are not the same thing - it may well be the case that no one in Automagfreek wishes to criticise the government. You would have to be a deluded fool indeed to believe such a thing, but I will accept that it is possible. That does not mean that Automagfreek is just as free as a state where people are allowed to criticise their government.

This way of thinking pervades throughout General Heller's tirade of stupidity. He repeatedly denegrates me, for instance, because I have "not been there" before criticising Automagfreek's internal government system. Clearly unlike General Heller, I do not actually have to see tyranny and oppression to know it is wrong. I do not have to see the jackboot actually stamping down upon the face of an innocent civilian to know that it is a violation of that individual's rights - their sovereignty, if you will.

Unlike General Heller, I require freedom to actually exist and not just be allegedly unwanted before I will declare that freedom is present. I require a person to actually sign a contract of their own free will handing power over them to an autocrat before I will accept that the autocrat's position is the will of that person. What surprise is it to find that in states where refusing to sign that contract, refusing not to criticise the state, is not met with torture or death that people tend to do just that?

Similarly, individual sovereignty and national sovereignty cannot possibly be the same thing, even if you disagree that sovereignty is derived from individuals rather than the divine right of Kings, because they are contradictory concepts. If a state is sovereign, it can remove the rights of the individuals it rules at will. This clearly violates the individuals' sovereignty and leaves them with none of their own. Equally, in a state where individuals have sovereignty, the state can act only in accordance with the wishes of the individuals - it has no sovereignty of its own. Only one can exist at any one time, and so they cannot possibly be the same thing, as General Heller and others assert. The 'Sovereignty Question' concerns whether it is derived from individuals, or from Kings. If you believe the former, you are a liberal. If you believe the latter, you are a tyrant. Sovereignty clearly cannot be derived from both individuals and Kings.

General Heller concludes by saying he is "a soldier at heart". I can assure him that is precisely all he is, and it shows.

[Signature]

Open letter to the editor of the Atherlon Times, reprinted in its entirety.
Later reprinted time and time again in newspapers across Haraki, always in its entirety.

Greetings to one and all, everyone that reads this letter. I am not a governmental official, which I know will lead many to dismiss what I have to say outright, even those so sure of themselves and their own democracy that everyone is supposed to have a say. I am not even educated in politics, and so I will address what I do know about this; I am a professor of philosophy at James McBryde University here in Atherlon.

What in this medley of insults, political deal-brokering and power struggles could possibly relate to philosophy, I see many of you asking even as you consider skipping the rest of this letter the way some of my students skip their reading. I have to tell you this, right now: I am not addressing the political maneouvring currently going on, but rather the philosophical basis for the creation of these alliances, the Alliance for the Preservation of Civilization especially.

It is an incredibly arbitrary name, and one which I hope will be revised at some point in the future. Of course, from what I have seen of politics, many alliances become made or broken by the name. If, for example, you name your alliance 'The Alliance of Fun, Happy Nations' you will get different reactions than if you name your alliance, say, the 'Coalition Against Democracy'. The name 'Alliance for the Preservation of Civilization' implies several things:
That 'civilization' itself is under attack
That 'civilization' deserves to be preserved

My first question to the founders of this alliance is this: which civilization are you referring to? The ancient Mayans? Eighteenth century Britain? The Mongols? Civilization is far too broad a term for an alliance with no charter specified. Civilization itself is a subjective term, and by the Prime Minister of Praetonia's words on the subject of individual sovereignty, we should all be allowed to choose our own definition of sovereignty. If I decided my definition was to be that of ancient Greece, would that be acceptable, or would I be part of those the APOC is making their glorious last stand against? What if I chose the civilization of the medieval Mongols?

Another thing which slightly disturbs me is the labelling of collectivist economies, by members of the APOC, as inherently uncivilized. I could understand a condemnation of tyranny, as it seems inherently uncivilized to me to be forced to bow to one above you for fear of primarily-physical retribution. However, instead of condemning nations which restrict the political and civil liberties of its citizens, something I could definitely see as uncivilized, they choose to focus on collectivist economies? I am not a communist, but I can see the benefits of pooling all resources and sharing them equally. Communism, the idea of eliminating social classes and redistributing wealth equally amidst everyone, is one of the most frequently-debated topics in my smaller classes. Some people see it as an elimination of economic freedoms, some as the only true way of eliminating the rich-poor divide. I am always, every year, without fail, forced to remind them that a communist economy does not necessitate the elimination of economic liberty. They argue that communism forces someone into a job and keeps them there, while in my studies I have seen (and read theories of famous communist thinkers) communist cultures which allowed people to freely move between jobs to find ones which they both enjoyed and were good at, in order to have everyone have what they wanted while still maintaining the necessary equilibrium of certain goods' production.

I am sickened whenever I turn on the news and see nations refusing to intervene in war or genocide because of the ideal of national sovereignty. The idea that a nation is free to do as it pleases to anyone with its citizenship seems wrong and uncivilized to me, although I will not state my belief in individual sovereignty either. I do not believe in sovereignty. I believe in rights. I believe it is the right of every person to go about their life unmolested and unpersecuted for their beliefs. I am in favour of the Harakian government when it intervenes to stop deaths of civilians, even in matters which other nations refuse to touch. I am not in favour when I see nations sitting out of such affairs, with such disregard for human life simply because it is not their kinsmen. I do not believe the idea of national sovereignty to be a blanket to hide under when the international community comes doorknocking. I agree with the Praetonian Prime Minister when he says that freedom is an objective concept, and I agree that forces should fight for freedom for every citizen of the world.

However, the APOC does not appear to be the right alliance for that. Despite whatever rhetoric the Praetonian Prime Minister may spout, he has still allied himself with despotic, tyrannical nations of the type he so condemns in his response to Freekian Minister Hartman's most recent speech. He states that collectivist economies, an attempt to give everyone an equal lot in life, are a greater threat to freedom and 'civilization' than the dictatorships which, as he so condemns, can arbitrarily execute their citizens for thinking differently. I do not see this as true in any way. Communism is not inherently bad. It is an economic system, and I have never seen an economic system oppress people. I have seen such extreme poverty and near-slave labour as a result of some hyper-capitalist governments cause death in people, but I have never seen a set of economic principles restrict anyone's freedom. The charter of the APOC calls collectivist economies barbarous, and I would like to see an APOC member explain just how they reason that collectivist economies are a greater threat to freedom and civilization than what I consider more barbarous, dictatorships with harsh and partisan justice systems.

I expect to have questions asked, and problems raised, with what I have written today, and I commend those that question what I say. I am proud to live in a society where my freedom to write this and my freedom against persecution for it are greater than any desire by those above or around me to have me silenced. I am happy and proud to be able to voice my opinions like this, as I would not be able to in a multitude of nations in the APOC or even in Gholgoth, here where I reside. I feel the restriction of conflicting views such as mine is the central tenet of the restriction of freedom and civilization, not what economic choice a nation makes. When the questions are raised, I do expect to have to think long and hard to provide answers for them, and it may be that I will send another letter to this very newspaper. I also realize that I have not answered all the points I have laid down here, but will do so at a later time.

I will leave you with a quote by Socrates. "I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world." Let us not forget that we should all respect one another as brothers, no matter what our choices, opinions, or views. I feel this Alliance for the Protection of Civilization has a negative effect on the world and will actually serve only to weaken the hold of freedom, as people and nations are forced to make decisions about which parts of 'civilization' they will sacrifice in order to fight for other aspects of it. But I would never fault someone for believing differently than me. I would not issue personal attacks, as so many politicians have done. I will, instead, leave you now. Farewell, and may you find peace in yourself.


Dr. Robert Cantas

Clandonian Parliament Select Committee on International Affairs, Transcripts from the 21.12.06

Sir, I would like to point out to the recent happenings with regards to the world stage. After the mutual defence pact between Gholgloth and the Global Alliance of Socialist Nations the turmoil enveloped the free world with Clandonia accepting neither side while trying to remain in the middle ground. Now after the war we must decide to follow the right path.

The path of the Sovereign League, Alliance for the Preservation of Civilization and our ACTO allies is the right one. Do you want our nation, known for its liberal economic policies to be subject to the mass collectivisation of the slave states of AMF and the UCN? I certainly do not want to see tax rates of one hundred percent and the ban of private enterprise. Last week tax rates were lowered to six percent, the lowest on record I am already hearing of plans to lower them further while preserving the need to fund the military and the police to ensure the nation is kept in some degree of social order.

The worry is of our geographic position, I will personally approve for bases of foreign military powers of the Sovereign League to built on Clandonian soil because of the likely hood of a GASN invasion against the Clandonian homeland. Know I'm sure no one in this room would like that to occur, the fear of a socialist occupation frightens me more than nothing, collectivist economic policy combined with the fear of an oppressionst dictatorship lead by the higher beings of Ghologth controlled by their puppets in the GASN. We must remember gentlemen the time when Clandonia was occupied all those years ago by the communist dogs that split blood and spat on these lands, with the rape and ethnic clensing of thousands. Do you really want your children and grand children to be brought up in a world like that? We must stop the spread of the Bolshevik menace that plagues the world lead by the nations of Tocrowkia and The World Soviet Party. I propose after the democratic elections that Clandonia apply for membership of the SL and perhaps APOC.

I look at the Praetonian, The Silver Sky and Whyatica with admiration, firstly I saw these people as invaders and war mongerers as they launched strikes at our homeland. When I was in command of the 2nd Mechanised Infantry Brigade we were based just outside Danskeran attached to the nuclear rail artillery teams when the surrender came through I knew it was over so I told my men to stand down. Now we come to the day that we must pick the choice, and after much deliberation we have decided that we must follow the right path that of capitalism and our paternal economic libertarian tendencies.

These were the words of General Sir Mike Hague who lead the vote for once democratic elections are completed for Clandonia Prime to apply for membership of the Sovereign League. As the select committee members left under their armed escorts, the streets were snowy and cold with the huge amounts of either Clandonian or the foreign occupier’s forces patrolling the streets.

Official Statement of the Island of Rose

It's so glad to see that I'm not the only one holding a different view of this. I would like to thank my Illiorian comrade for quoting me in his quite obsenely large speech, but this small statement is directed at the Clandonian General who made this statement. That would be you... Mr. Mike Hague. Nice name by the way.

So, let me get this straight, your country is being invaded by the very same folk who you are supporting... and you don't care? Not that this has to do with the main subject, but you have a stain on your nose. You better wipe it off.

I would also like to agree with the Harakite (is that how you do it? Well it sounds prettier like that) statement. These insults are getting us nowhere, but if you must.

Your mother, they are quite ugly, that's right, because they're lesbians. See? I can play this game too.

Sergei Ilyanov
Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Island of Rose

P.S. Yes I know my comment toward the Clandonian General were hypocritical but I don't care because I have zee n00ks as the kids say.

[OOC note: Clandonia, Praetonia was not involved in the invasion of your country.

Haraki, just so you don't think I'm ignoring you or whatever, the Prime Minister won't respond to the newspaper article you published, not because it's not very good (I'd say it's the best here), but because I can't really see him viewing a newspaper article in a foreign country written by someone who is not and has never been in the government as something worth his direct attention.]

[OOC note: Clandonia, Praetonia was not involved in the invasion of your country.

Haraki, just so you don't think I'm ignoring you or whatever, the Prime Minister won't respond to the newspaper article you published, not because it's not very good (I'd say it's the best here), but because I can't really see him viewing a newspaper article in a foreign country written by someone who is not and has never been in the government as something worth his direct attention.]

OOC: I know we just admire your economic system because of its laisez faire attitude and your 0% taxation.

A letter to the Illior Daily From (ret) General Jackson Heller, replicated from the Associated Press

Well, back again I suppose, being the soldier at heart I am, though this time not in response to a global threat, well, maybe. I’ve been asked by several friends to respond to the crass response of His Majesty’s Prime Minister, Mr. Tiberius Polax, although it is not needed. They were asking me to defend myself against his incessant labeling and name calling, of which I did to him in response to his earlier labelings of Automagfreek, namely of its leader and its people. I have instead chosen to ignore the name calling, as any reasonable man would do, and again, pose the questions that I asked during my speech and to further explain some of my earlier arguments which I must guess, he correctly misunderstood.

When I noted that Minister Hartman was not a liar because he was not a politician, I was merely restating a long known fact that politicians lie, be it by purposeful omission, reconstructive paraphrasing, or purposeful misinformation, to get what they want from others. Minister Hartman is not a politician, as I noted in my other speech, but was labeled a “Freekish propagandist,” if I recall correctly. Labeling someone a propagandist means that they inform or misinform to get others to follow or believe a certain cause. Minister Hartman has done none of that. I guess I didn’t make that clear, as all he was trying to do, was express concern over a specific detail, as was I.

Having explained that, let’s move to the questions. In my earlier speech, I noted that the wording of the Alliance for the Preservation Of Civilization was worrying, for it suggested malicious intent. I don’t know whether it was purposeful ignorance, but it was ignored, and cannot be ignored. Mr. Polax, you wonder Illior’s interest in the Alliance for the Preservation Of Civilization? Well, I’ll state it again, the pretenses under which this alliance was created are suspect, and are hard to understand. The wording of the overview is also suspect. As I stated in the previous speech, having previous enemies come together “[to create] a very lethal force,” suggests aggression, not the benevolent nature of partially economically like minded nations that you suggest.

The other major point of the text that I noted at the time was, “…the nations of APOC have chosen to make their glorious stand.” What I asked before, was what is this glorious stand for? A glorious stand also refers to a military encounter where one force decides to fight the opposing force in a great manner. Again, the wording of said overview is not of the benevolent nature you continue to spew. You also note that there is no binding pact, such as that the Global Alliance of Sovereign Nations and the region of Gholgoth decided to sign. I point you towards the final sentence of the overview: “the Alliance has at its disposal a near-infinite reservoir of financial, industrial, and military strength.” If the alliance has at its disposal, does that not mean that the individual states pool for the uses of the alliance? And does it not say “Disposal of military strength?” That again is not of the benevolent pretenses of which you speak Mr. Polax.

Again, you asked why Illior has any interest in this situation at all? It is because this alliance threatens the fragile stability of the world as it is today, Mr. Polax. Illior is quite happy not having to fight in any wars, nor deal with belligerent entities as she’s had to in the past, for those entities have caused her to spend her “blood and treasure” as you called it, in the defense of her region, her allies, and her people. This “Alliance” scares me, to tell you the truth, and scares many others because of the pretenses under its realization, and the stated purpose. Again, that stated purpose comes out as not just contradictory, but in a militarily aggressive manner. Illior and those around her have no will to be dragged into a fight at this point in time, but she will fight, should she or her allies be attacked.

It may be your political background which caused you to ignore, intentional or not, these pretenses which I have brought up, I truly don’t know, for I’ve never met you. All I can hope is that you are more reasonable than your persona displays, but again, I don’t know, I’m only a soldier.

[signature]
Jackson Heller

OOC: No worries, Prae. I just thought I should put something in. The fact that the letter was reprinted across Haraki was basically to show that this is how the majority of the populace feels, just to get it out there.

OOC: I know we just admire your economic system because of its laisez faire attitude and your 0% taxation.
[OOC: Ok, you just gave the impression that it was in your post. Praetonia doesn't have 0% taxation either (I don't use the UN statistics, calculators etc).]

[Transcript of an interview with the Prime Minister from Commonwealth General Television's Newsnight programme]

Presenter: For the second time in the past two months, the Government has become entangled in an on-going argument about the recent geopolitical upheaval gripping the world today. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister has been scheduled to address the National Association of Shipbuilders' annual ball for some months, and is unable to join us tonight. Instead, we have with us the famed industrialist and leader of the opposition Liberal Party, the Sixth Duke of Warburton. Your Grace, welcome to the programme. Your Party is noted for its divergence with government policy on the issue of foreign affairs in general; could you please briefly outline the Liberal Party's view on the recent APOC situation?

The Duke: Of course. The Liberal Party is right beside the Prime Minister in opposing illegitimate regimes such as the gang of crooks and gangsters who currently call themselves the government of Automagfreek. Unlike the Prime Minister, we extend this to all such dictatorships, and not just those with collectivist economies.

Presenter: So the Liberal Party does not support the APOC alliance?

The Duke: No. I sympathise with the Prime Minister's stance on the matter - he believes it better to work with those who agree with us on some things to further those things we agree on. Unfortunately, it is desperately naive. When we further liberalism by working with CAD to spread capitalism across the globe - certainly a laudable goal, I agree - we also help CAD to spread its own power and hence the power of dictatorial government. What is gained with one hand is taken away with the other.

Presenter: That's interesting because the Prime Minister likes to protray your party as naive and his as practising pragmatism in dealing with CAD. What would you say to that argument?

The Duke: Well it's a nice idea, and I certainly don't doubt the Prime Minister's noble intentions, but as I have said it merely creates greater problems for us in the long run as CAD and its compatriots gain greater power on the world stage.

Presenter: Many people in Parliament, especially from the Crown Loyalist Party, are worried that abandoning our CAD allies would leave the Crown Commonwealth dreadfully exposed and vulnerable. Would you agree with that analysis?

The Duke: Most certainly not. Combined, the Imperial Praetonian and Royal Questerian navies are capable of defeating any adversary on the face of the earth. If it came to it, our vast industrial sector could churn out munitions until Judgement Day. I do not believe that Automagfreek or their allies are any real threat to us. One need only look at the Cariya Island incident, where the Automagfreek fleet refused to engage the IPN and QRN, preferring instead to flee under the protective umbrella of land-based guns.

Presenter: So you would say that foreign "paranoia", as the Prime Minister calls it, about APOC is justified?

The Duke: Well, I wouldn't go that far. 'Alliance for the Preservation of Civilisation' is a very melodramatic name for what is essentially a carbon copy of the Anti-Communist Treaty Organisation, an organisation I support our membership of. The APOC uses some very belligerent rhetoric in its official documents, but it has never threatened anybody with any sort of military action. Ultimately, APOC is not a treaty. There is no legal difference between Praetonia's relationship with the rest of the world the day before and the day after we joined APOC. The alliance neither allows nor facilitiates any action that could not have been taken before. The alliance itself is largely irrelevent - what it represents is important, and for me it represents a willingness to associate with crooks and villains in order to facilitiate the attainment of certain objectives. The objectives themselves are sound, but I disagree with the Prime Minister that we ought to be associating with these people to reach them.

Presenter: Just before we move on, could you comment on allegations by the left wing press that the Prime Minister resorted to "unnecessary personal attacks" when responding to a speech made by an Illiorian General yesterday?

The Duke: Nothing more than the typical nonesense I have sadly come to expect from the left wing press. The speech concerned described the Prime Minister variously as a tyrant and a nazi, a truly bizarre accusation to level at an elected laissez-faire capitalist, made baseless assertions that the Prime Minister was lying about everything without even trying to disprove what he was saying and made veiled accusations that the Prime Minister was having an affair with his secretary. They would have had a point had the Prime Minister laced his response with obsenities as the Illiorian General did his initial speech, but that is beneath the dignity of a Praetonian gentleman. The General in question clearly holds politicians as some sort of lesser type of being, so perhaps he wasn't prepared for such a robust response to his insulting nonesense. Maybe politicians are docile creatures in Illior? Had he done his research, he would have known to expect the barbs.

Presenter: Your Grace, thankyou for talking to us tonight.

The Duke: It's been a pleasure, as always.

Why these alliances form to 'defend' when there is nothing attacking them is very unusual. All we hope is it's not as we feel, that the ACTO and 'Alliance for the Preservation of Civilization' are plans to force the world to adopt laissez-faire style democracy by all means including military force.
-Lone Alliance

Why these alliances form to 'defend' when there is nothing attacking them is very unusual. All we hope is it's not as we feel, that the ACTO and 'Alliance for the Preservation of Civilization' are plans to force the world to adopt laissez-faire style democracy by all means including military force.
-Lone Alliance

[Open Letter]

From: The Avisronite Department of State

Your logic is, as usual, flawed.

As all events have demonstrated, ACTO is doing nothing more than organizing a defense against any possible communist and/or socialist imperial actions which could theoretically take place. No conversation has taken place within the ACTO regarding offensive measures.

These types of alliances ballance each other out, thus creating a measure of international peace. Given, it creates heightened tensions, but rarely do those tensions ever convert into actual conflict.

Further, one must ask just what The Lone Alliance plans to do about this percieved "threat." Since the aforementioned nation is obviously against forming alliances with other like-minded nations, one would assume its options are quite limited.

[END]

Original published in Farbanti Times:

It pains me to see the extent of the political carping and name calling by some of the most powerful and influencial nations in existence. What, more than anything, I fail to understand is what these nation's and their respective leaders are afraid of. There are numerous powerful alliances in the world formed for mutual defense even though there is, from a non-paranoid viewpoint, nothing to be afraid of. It may be too bold of me to say but the situation of the times now more than warrant it: From a completely neutral standpoint I see nothing to be afraid of and no more problem than that of paranoid politicians and brainwashed leaders. Quite literally it seems that many of the nations involved in this affair are acting like spoiled children; back and forth one side is calling the other names while the other side decries the threats of the former. Why on Earth CAD and the Sovereign League would unite despite the vast difference in their ideals is beyond me, but stating that this is all the part of some giant consiracy with unseen goals only God would know, is not far from what you would hear spoken by a paranoid mafia boss. However it may be justified in the case of the mob boss, we are dealing with nations and supposedly brilliant leaders. Although if former is in fact all that relevant to the latter, then what the world has is a completely different problem than the nonsense being spouted at the moment, if you understand my meaning.

All things considered, what is being played out here is one of the first steps (not the first mind you) in the path towards the next great war. Even though this is very far off, the political back-biting of leaders and the pungent aroma of paranoia caused by numerous powerful alliances does not help the matter. If anyone of reasonable intelligence is out there, they will find it entirely evident that the only way to solve this man-made "problem" is to take thigns back a step and not be so quick to point fingers and insult others.

House Speaker Yezmin Tyfun-

[Open Letter]

From: The Avisronite Department of State

Your logic is, as usual, flawed.

As all events have demonstrated, ACTO is doing nothing more than organizing a defense against any possible communist and/or socialist imperial actions which could theoretically take place. No conversation has taken place within the ACTO regarding offensive measures.

These types of alliances ballance each other out, thus creating a measure of international peace. Given, it creates heightened tensions, but rarely do those tensions ever convert into actual conflict.

Further, one must ask just what The Lone Alliance plans to do about this percieved "threat." Since the aforementioned nation is obviously against forming alliances with other like-minded nations, one would assume its options are quite limited.

[END]

We inhertantly perfer a silent ally to a bragging alliance, alliances tend to be limiting, controlling, and warmongering, they invite trouble, while allies tend to make good trade partners, they avoid dragging your name with them, and they are someone to back up or be backed up by from the shadows. What is the bigger threat? The nation with an alliance of 10 nations or a nation with 20 allies? -Lone Alliance

We inhertantly perfer a silent ally to a bragging alliance, alliances tend to be limiting, controlling, and warmongering, they invite trouble, while allies tend to make good trade partners, they avoid dragging your name with them, and they are someone to back up or be backed up by from the shadows. What is the bigger threat? The nation with an alliance of 10 nations or a nation with 20 allies? -Lone Alliance

[ENCRYPTED]

TO: The Lone Alliance
FROM: The Avisronite Department of State

The "bigger threat" is obviously an alliance with 10 nations.

A hypothetical nation with a network of allies which are not alligned with each other is in a vulnerable position. Each of those 20 nations could be decimated and/or distracted by conflicts which are in no way, shape, or form connected to each other.

Further, determined by how a said nation determines when to assist its allies militarily, that's 20 different nations that it could be bound to defend at any time. Twenty different conflicts could spring up that are in no way connected to each other. There's also the hypothetical chance that two or more of this nations allies could decimate EACH OTHER in a conflict.

An organised alliance prevents many of the above situations from arrising; thus raising the operational security of everyone involved.

[END]

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PROCLAMATION BY HER MAJESTIES GOVERNMENT

The inveterate lies disgorging forth from Minister Hartman is evidently nothing more than a pathetic attempt to palm off on the League with humorous falsehoods in regard to the most glorious arrangement of nations that are the Alliance for the Preservation of Civilization and the Sovereign League . The ass that is Minister of International Affairs appears to push strange conspiracy theories from his fulsome brain, acting as if he is talking sense.

In regards to the relations between ourselves and fellow Sovereign League and APOC nations, who is AutoMagFreek to criticize? The obvious undemocratic control of AutoMagFreek by Damien Dreadfire dissents the entire purpose of national relations and essays. This is proven by meaningless and childish babbling of his appointed officials, braying wildly with imbecility as AutoMagFreek losses its dominance of foreign affairs.


Willinkian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Of course don't actually try to debate any of the points, by all means revert your argument solely to attacking me personally.

Congratulations, you've made the most pointless statement yet, and you obviously fail at diplomacy. And the shit kicker is, the Sovereign League says we're the uncivilized ones. HA!

http://www.sideshowtoy.com/images/gold/thumb/3401.gif
Minister Hartman
-Minister of International Affairs-

Automagfreek still silent on "shameful falsehoods"
Raked up again after months gathering dust, The Herald asks whatever happened to Automagfreek's response.

http://img418.imageshack.us/img418/3269/dreadfireclose7ue.jpg
God and King and Law: Automagfreek's self-imposed feudal lord Damien Dreadfire says he is "not the enemy of freedom" but rules over his own country with an iron fist.
___________________
From 'The Herald'
Front Page

Long after many believed the diplomatic circus surrounding APOC had died down, the whole debate has been raked up again by an oddly months-late statement issued by Willink and the ensuing response from Automafreek. Although some regard the brief exchange as nothing more than a very last gasp of an argument that has long-since faded away to nothing, many in Praetonia are wondering when, if ever, lord Dreadfire will answer criticisms levelled at him by the free world, and respond to answers to the questions his foreign minister initially posed.

The statement that started it all - reproduced in full on page 3 - was both brief and vacuous, doing little more than insulting various members of the Automagfreek regime and attacking the moral underpinning of the dictator's position. It did not touch upon the allegations initially made that the Sovereign League is trying to force countries to support it against their will, nor did it mention the issue of APOC. Automagfreek's response - although even shorter and, on the face of it, even more vacuous - is far more important to the on-going discussion, if only because it begs the question of why the Automagfreek regime has failed to respond to the comprehensive dismemberment of its initial arguments by various free world leaders, including the Prime Minister

The Automagfreek statement questions why the Willinkian government "[doesn't] actually try to debate any of the points". This is perhaps a fair criticism, but if Automagfreek is so interested in discussion and debate, why did Automagfreek brush off the Prime Minister's 19th December speech and then simply ignore his letter pointing out exactly how he had answered Automagfreek's initial contentions? Why has Automagfreek been content to neglect the debate until now, leaving telling criticism of its ideas unanswered? Why is Automagfreek quick to respond to vacuous attacks on its government, but unwilling to respond to direct attacks on its arguments? Could it be that Automagfreek simply cannot answer?

The remainder of our front page we devote to an extract from the Prime Minister's 19th of December speech, and, together with all the free peoples of the world, we await lord Dreadfire's reply.

Apparently, Sir, Praetonia, through the Sovereign League, is trying to forge a vast global alliance of free states to defend laissez-faire democracy. Why this is a bad thing is not explained, but suffice it to say that if an Automagfreek propagandist implies it, it must be true. [quiet laughter] It seems that their main point of contention is not the aim of our actions - it appears that even they, staunch feudal autocrats, realise that the ideological case for feudal autocracy is not entirely convincing - but the method by which it is achieved. It is alleged that CAD, ACTO and APTO are merely the same attempt to create an interlinked alliance web.

The error in this allegation is not one of subjective ideology, but factual inaccuracy. Neither the Sovereign League nor ACTO contain treaties. That is to say, neither ACTO nor the Sovereign League obliges members even to defend each other, let alone members' allies. Similarly CAD, contrary to Automagfreek's assertion, does not oblige members to defend members' allies. The idea of a web of treaty obligations as painted by Mr Hartman simply does not exist in fact.

As I have said in the past when dealing with the Union of Communist Nations, it may be the case that tyrannies such as Automagfreek, Pantera and Tocrowkia choose to organise themselves solely upon a hierarchy which must be obeyed absolutely, but in the free world that is not how we do things. Automagfreek's allegation of hypocrisy rests on the assumption that we work just like they do. We do not. That is precisely why we oppose their system and their governments.

Similarly, the same Automagfreek propaganda document tries to assert that the Crown Commonwealth and the Sovereign League view ourselves as "righteous ones devoted to freedom and sovereignty". He is half right. Unlike Automagfreek, we have never viewed sovereignty as an intrinsic right of states. That is because sovereignty is not derived from states, but from individuals, who, from time to time, may choose to pool their sovereignty into a representative government of their choosing such that they can achieve desirable objectives which they cannot achieve as a collection of sovereign individuals - the installation and maintenance of just laws and the means by which to enforce them, effective means by which to defend the individuals and justly created government therein from outside attack.

...

I have a confession to make, Mr Speaker, and I'm not sure that Milord Dreadfire is going to like it. His Majesty, myself and the rest of His government have been perpetrating a grand conspiracy these past years; a conspiracy to make the free states invincible in all the world. To put the Crown Commonwealth, and those who share her ideology, beyond the reach of any tyrant. To create a power structure defending the free world so immense and strong that it shall stand throughout the ages until the end of time. Milord Dreadfire believes this to be impossible without trickery or deception, but as I grow tired of repeating, we in the free world are not like him. There will never been any shortage of troops willing to volunteer to defend a free state, for in the service of such a country they serve their own interests, too. We make no demands of others to defend us, even our closest friends and allies. But we trust that they shall when necessary both out of solidarity with a common cause and attention to their own self-interest.

OFFICIAL CONCORDIAT STATEMENT

Huzzah Preatonia.

OOC: I think the thing I find most distressing about this entire situation is not the fact that people are at each other's throats about this, but rather that it seems as if everyone that roleplays a democracy on NS isn't.

Let me explain:

In a democracy everyone gets a say. With free speech, everyone gets a voice. So why the fuck are there no voices of dissent in all these so-called NS 'democracies', who hold 'free speech' and 'free thought' and all those other nice things above everything else? We have all these democracies, mostly from the SL, posting unanimous or near-unanimous approval for bills, foreign policy stances, and so on. From the same nations, we have newspapers repeating what the government has said. Not saying 'but this is a good point AMF made', not saying 'We disagree but we're proud to live in a democracy so we can disagree'. None of that. This is bullshit.

In real life there is no such thing as a unanimous stance in a democracy. It just doesn't happen, because everyone has their own views. And you, as a player who has chosen to play as a democracy, owe it to everyone else on NS to roleplay that. I at least try. I have problems with votes, political alliances, and stuff, all in my parliament, so bills can be passed, I have tried to avoid getting into wars because I emerged from two about six months ago and don't think my people would be happy with that. I try and roleplay a democracy.

What I see almost everyone in this thread roleplaying is a dictatorship by majority. Everybody supports your policy decisions. Why? Is there no one in your nations that can look past your OOC viewpoint and disagree? Are you honestly so blind to the points that have been made by the other side that you're not even willing to admit that some may have been good ones, and there are people in your democratic nation that will agree with them? I am not blaming any specific nation, and there have been perpetrators on both sides.

I've been seeing this for years. AMF at least has the right, as a soul-crushing dictatorship, to quell any free press. Whether or not he chooses to do so in roleplaying is therefore his decision. We democracies, on the other hand, don't. Even if by some fluke-that-would-never-happen-in-real-life all the MPs elected in a given country had the exact same personality and political views, there are always newspapers that disagree, so long as there is free press in your nation. Always. Even big-name newspapers represent conflicting viewpoints. I'll take Canadian politics as an example:

We have a Conservative prime minister. Macleans, the national magazine, which is mostly centrist with a slight centre-right leaning, has more articles in favour of him than not. The National Post, a hard-right national newspaper, is blindly in favour of him to the point of pretty much insulting everyone else. And the Globe and Mail, centre-left, is probably pretty against him. Sure, I could take an editorial from the National Post, put it somewhere and say 'Look, everyone in Canada likes Steven Harper!' but that would be fucked-up deception since he has a less than 30% approval rating. If I really wanted to show what the people of Canada think, the way you should all want to represent how your country thinks, I would present editorials from about five different newspapers and see what they all said.

We've chosen to RP democracies with free speech and freedom of the press. We have the harder job than the dictatorships. We made our bed, now we must lay in it. Good day.

We've chosen to RP democracies with free speech and freedom of the press. We have the harder job than the dictatorships. We made our bed, now we must lay in it. Good day.

[Thank goodness for coups (I feel like doing a dissenting news post for kicks now..,). >.> In other news, I will promptly smack Willink with a trout for his late posting and subsequent renewal of this. -_-]

We have a Conservative prime minister. Macleans, the national magazine, which is mostly centrist with a slight centre-right leaning, has more articles in favour of him than not. The National Post, a hard-right national newspaper, is blindly in favour of him to the point of pretty much insulting everyone else. And the Globe and Mail, centre-left, is probably pretty against him. Sure, I could take an editorial from the National Post, put it somewhere and say 'Look, everyone in Canada likes Steven Harper!' but that would be fucked-up deception since he has a less than 30% approval rating. If I really wanted to show what the people of Canada think, the way you should all want to represent how your country thinks, I would present editorials from about five different newspapers and see what they all said.

His approval rating was 54 percent as of December 2006 (averaged from two polls, one by IPSOSReid and another by Strategic Counsel). The Conservatives' support is at 30 percent, which I believe is what you meant to say. :p

Back on topic, kids.

Yeah, that's what I meant. I'll leave it though, otherwise these posts would make no sense.

[OOC: Um, sorry, what? Ok, I will explain.

That article is from The Herald, which is the Liberal-Tory newspaper, the Liberal-Tories being the current governing party of which the Prime Minister is leader. I apologise for not explicitly stating this, but I assumed that this can be taken as read since it supports the government here and, everywhere I have written articles for it, it either supports the government or espouses the sort of ideals that the government does. Thus, The Herald clearly supports the government here. This is not because the people who write The Herald have been threatened with imprisonment if they disagree, or because they are drone citizens who obey the government Just Because, but because the people who own and write for The Herald are the same type of people who form the cabinet and, currently, Parliament, with the same general views and ideological outlook.

The Herald and the Liberal-Tories are not, however, the only people in Praetoni, and I have specifically RPed this (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12122854&postcount=26) in this thread by posting an interview with the opposition leader, the Duke of Warburton, in which he says precisely that he doesn't support the government over this issue. In the same post I also let the reader know that the third party, the Crown Loyalists, support the government over APOC because they believe it makes Praetonia stronger and better protected.

I agree with you that there are a lot of people out there who RP democracies that are in reality not democracies. These people should rightly be pointed out and shamed for claiming to be one thing but acting like another. I am not one of those people and have not acted like one.

If you really want to go down this line then I could, unfortunately, not say the same for you.

The one thing you have added to this thread IC was, ironically, a newspaper article which supported the government all the way. Apparently, there are either no or very few newspapers in Haraki that have any objection to printing the statement, "a communist economy does not necessitate the elimination of economic liberty." I find this hard to believe. Indeed, you gave the impression that there was almost universal agreement in democratic Haraki that a defence of communism, liberty and internationalism was just the ticket for persuading people of the need to remain allied with tyrannies. Again, I find this hard to believe.

Of course, I know that this is not what you actually RP. I know that there is real disagreement in Haraki. But only because you have told me OOC in an attempt to attack me. As I think we both know, there is a limited amount of things we have the time or inclination to write. Clearly we are both more inclined to devote our limited time to writing things that explain why our countries are doing what they are, or writing things that are likely to have an affect on the course of the RP. In doing so, clearly we should try to paint the whole picture. I feel that I have done a much better job of this than you, yet you criticise me for allegedly failing to do it. Your criticism is not only groundless, but hypocritical.

In reality, most of the better RPers on II who are democracies do not extensively RP the opposition because it does not immediately go anywhere, but still takes up the same amount of time, you, apparently, included. I don't have time to write "5 different newspapers", as you suggest, and nor, I think, do you.]

OOC: I know that, and as I pointed out, my post was not explicitly at you. Besides which, the writing which I have put in this thread was not a carbon copy of what my government believes. If you read it (I think I remember this being in there, if not disregard this because I am an idiot) I believe I wrote that the author disagrees with my government and its attitude towards the dictatorships it is allied with. Besides that, I did not want to turn this into a Haraki-fest of newspapers criticizing each other, which is why I did not post any dissenting opinions from the one expressed, mainly because having one newspaper article respond rebutting another one, when both are from the same nation, adds nothing to an RP about international politics. If I was writing a biography of Robert Cantas I would have put that in. But I'm not.

What I am criticizing is not you, but rather the tendency of democracies (in II especially) to act as if everyone loves the government when this is clearly never the case. And, because I don't want to turn this thread into an OOC bitchfest, I'm going to leave it at that.