NationStates Jolt Archive

After long consideration of the issue, against the background of ever-improving biological sciences and resulting advances in biological weaponry, the Incognitian government has been forced to this decision.

That in any case where a deployment of biological weapons results in a single death of an Incognitian citizen on Incognitian soil, it will be considered as an attack using Weapons of Mass Destruction on Terror Incognitia.

As such the culprit will face retaliation from Incognitia's substantial nuclear arsenal. There will be no negotiation until after the retaliatory strike. There will be no mercy.

This decision is taken with great sadness, as a result of the threat of truly effective biological weaponry, which cannot be held within national boundaries.
The aim is to give any nation lunatic enough to develop BW agents pause before they deploy them.

The Incognitian government welcomes any nation in also signing this pledge, in an attempt to prevent a man-made plague from doing us more harm than the Black Death.
It would take a major nuclear war to affect nations outside the immediate region affected. With modern capabilities a single BW agent could affect the entire world. As a result our deterrent now stands against both nuclear weaponry used against us; and any biological weaponry that affects us, no matter what it's original target.

Current Signatories:
Terror Incognitia
The American Privateer
Colstream

Although the Red Tidean Government never released an official statement about the situation, the question was raised during a press conference hosted by the Foreign Minister.

He said: "If the nation of Terror Incognitia wants too create more opponents then it has nuclear weapons, they are free too conduct this policy. Its their grave after all."

Although the Red Tidean Government never released an official statement about the situation, the question was raised during a press conference hosted by the Foreign Minister.

He said: "If the nation of Terror Incognitia wants too create more opponents then it has nuclear weapons, they are free too conduct this policy. Its their grave after all."

"We ask whether the esteemed Foreign Minister from Red Tide has read our statement, and what part of that kills an Incognitian citizen on Incognitian soil he failed to understand."

The Foreign Minister paused for breath, and then continued,
"To date no Incognitian has been killed by a biological weapon. We hope this will continue. As a result we will take whatever means we may to prevent the use of biological weapons. Under a fair understanding of International Law we have the right to retaliate to any attack on our soil. We are defining this to include the use of a weapon that spreads to affect us."

The Enlightened Theocracy of Karthanum is worried by this step pursued by the Incognitian government. The state of Incognitia does not seem to have been provoked by their neighbours nor has it been even pressured into doing this by the international scene. The government of Karthanum queries the nation of Incognitia as to why they have felt this declaration necessary.

The nation of Karthanum fears this is a ruse to garner some enemies under the flag of "whoever possesses biological weapons are our enemies" form of doctrine. We fear that these actions may bring some nations into conflict and we thusly wish to see the reasoning of the Incognitian government over this issue. A transcript of your legislative body whilst they partook in this decision will do fine. Or maybe even a written explanation if you are unwilling to give us the previously said bit of information.

-The Bureau Of Foreign Affairs in Karutt, The Enlightened Theocracy of Karthanum

"While we question the idea that a Theocracy can be enlightened, since the Enlightenment showed the way to the end of theocratic government, this is irrelevant to the point at issue.
We have, once again, a willful misreading of our intent in making this declaration.
We are not laying down a justification for interfering in other sovereign states simply because they are conducting biological research, even if that is for the purpose of creating bioweapons.
We are giving warning prior to the event that any biological weapon which affects Incognitia (the specific test being the death of an Incognitian citizen on Incognitian soil) will be sufficient grounds for nuclear retaliation against the nation responsible for that weapon.
I re-iterate - this does not affect nations developing biological weapons that do not use them. This does not affect nations using biological weapons that don't spread completely out of control.
We are merely saying, that if you cannot control the spread of your biological weapon, think twice about using it - our nuclear missiles may follow if you get it wrong."

The specific transcript of the debate is in Proceedings of the TerrorGens Coucil, Volume 89, Section 10 which is open to public viewing, with the exception of proceedings of Security and Defence Committees.

The nation of Karthanum appreciates your prompt response and kind words. We thank you for exploring the declaration more thoroughly and alleviating our fears of possible world-destructive nuclear warfare.

Karthanum, as you may already have knowledge of, dabbles in arms manufacturing and miscellaneous weapons production. Hopefully we will be able to avoid accidental occurrences of biochemical overspill from combat zones near your land and avoid any occurrences of Incognitian death from our country. We will be mindful of your views on these weapons.

But, as you may have already known; biochemical, biological, and chemical weapons are whimsical creatures. Chemical gases can flow with the winds and there is no guarantee that any other types of biological weapons will not affect your nation and its nationals. Invented diseases or active use of communicable diseases, in this age of fast transportation, may also hinder your nation to a horrible extent without the direct hostile intent of causing harm to your country.

The nation of Karthanum hopes, if the sad case ever arises, that you are willing to view individual cases of accidents or spillovers as exceptions to your declaration. We hope you will be willing to control the nuclear arms under your control, and be wiser than the overabundant amount of foolish nations that fling their nukes at their opponents whenever they are given even the slightest of reasons.

-The Bureau Of Foreign Affairs in Karutt, The Enlightened Theocracy of Karthanum

The Regents of the Barbaric Empire of Xeraph applaud the level-headed, polite, albeit circumspect responses of the various nations to the original statement by Terror Incognita.

The first question that came to our minds was in reference to the "even one citizen of TI" being affected by chem/bio weapons, that question being:

Why would any nation who possessed chem/bio weapons use them if they were not absolutely positive that the majority, i.e. 97%-98%, of the population attacked would be killed within 15-20 minutes?

The nation who deployed such weapons would not have to concern themselves about nuclear retaliation, especially if they followed the chem/bio attack with thermonuclear ICBMs. There simply would not be anyone left to push any nuclear buttons and any missiles that might have been set on 'automatic' wouldn't make it anywhere near the attacking country.

Just a thought......perhaps Terror Incognita should be sure that they can deliver what they say they can, else some nation who has Total Destructive Capabilities might put a sequence of events in motion to have TI prove their ability to retaliate. It'd be a shame to see a great nation such as Terror Incognita reduced to an ash heap.

respectfully,

The Regents of Xeraph

To the Government of Xeraph
FAO: Any governmental official capable of reading
As was clearly stated in our original statement:
- We will use nuclear weaponry if any biological weapon kills an Incognitian citizen.
As should clearly be implied:
- This includes weaponry targeted on other countries, which spreads to affect Incognitia.
As a passing knowledge of epidemiology would suggest:
- Any biological organism effective as a weapon will have, largely, to spread by infection.
And in the modern world:
- It will be impossible to prevent it spreading over national borders, so an effective bio-weapon used ANYWHERE is likely to end up affecting Incognitia.

Thus, the expansion of our deterrent.

It is impossible for either chemical or biological weapons to kill "97-98% of the population in 15-20 minutes". The worst-case scenario for a horrifyingly effective virus would be either about 50% in 10 days, or 90% in three months, and either of those is very much a worst-case scenario.
We suggest you replace whichever advisor was foolish enough to give you any other impression.

The implied threat in your statement was not appreciated.

Official Government Response

We would be happy to sign this pledge, as it does not disallow the use of large Biologicals from Guerrilla Warfare. Bacterium, Fungi, and Viral Life Forms are already dangerous enough as it is, and do not need to be enhanced upon. Also, we would like to suggest a ban on Non-Biological/Artificial Plagues, to prevent their use in warfare in the future.

The Binarian Empire condems your doctrine as an overreactionary, knee jerk response. Based in fear, it just sets you up for a MAD situation over what could be an epicdemic and could result in a stragetic nuclear exchange, causing million if not billions of civilian losses, and doing more damage to your nation than any biological weapon.

To the Government of Xeraph
FAO: Any governmental official capable of reading
As was clearly stated in our original statement:
- We will use nuclear weaponry if any biological weapon kills an Incognitian citizen.
As should clearly be implied:
- This includes weaponry targeted on other countries, which spreads to affect Incognitia.
As a passing knowledge of epidemiology would suggest:
- Any biological organism effective as a weapon will have, largely, to spread by infection.
And in the modern world:
- It will be impossible to prevent it spreading over national borders, so an effective bio-weapon used ANYWHERE is likely to end up affecting Incognitia.

Thus, the expansion of our deterrent.

It is impossible for either chemical or biological weapons to kill "97-98% of the population in 15-20 minutes". The worst-case scenario for a horrifyingly effective virus would be either about 50% in 10 days, or 90% in three months, and either of those is very much a worst-case scenario.
We suggest you replace whichever advisor was foolish enough to give you any other impression.

The implied threat in your statement was not appreciated.


Leadership of Terror Incognita:

Essentially what you are saying is that if ANY nation ANYWHERE uses chem/bio weapons against ANYONE that sooner or later the effects of that attack will affect Terror Incognita, and therefore you will launch nuclear weapons against the offending nation.

And you think that the world in general will not have anything to say about that? Trust me.....I can think of at least twenty nations that would not hesitate for a second to wipe you off the face of the earth should you launch such weapons.

And as for your apparent incredulity at our statement about chem/bio effectiveness, perhaps you should be a bit more up to date on delivery/saturation capabilities. Again, there are a number of nations who have such an ability. The sheer number of missiles with the greatest concentrations of bacteria, gasses, mists, and mega-viral agents would kill off a population in no time at all.

As an FYI, Xeraph has NEVER made a threat towards any nation. Threats are a form of coercive warning. We never warn an enemy when, where or how we'll strike. Might I point out that the very name of your nation implies a sudden strike by the use of as much stealth as possible.

regards,

Prince John Strickland, Regent of the Empire, High Commander of Imperial Xeraphian Forces

To Prince John Strickland:
A clarification.
Firstly, we made no mention in the Pledge itself, of chemical weaponry. Please cease conflating two very different weapon systems.
Secondly, we make no threats to other countries for developing, manufacturing and stockpiling bioweapons.
We don't even necessarily make a threat against other countries using biological weapons...if they can control the spread of the weapon, once used. The near-impossibility of this with a widespread release of an effective bioweapon is the reason for our making the pledge in the first place - to hopefully give other nations pause before they use BW agents in anger.
Thirdly, we find your assertions of the effectiveness of 'bacteria, gasses, mega-viruses and mists' - whatever a mega-virus might be, it not being a recognised scientific term - somewhat cute, and not at all in line with modern technology.

Regards,
The Council

OOC: In all seriousness, if you or anyone claimed bioweapons that effective in MT or PMT RP I'd simply ignore it - in FT I'd maybe partially accept it, depending. It's equivalent to a 1000-ton flying tank - too far beyond modern RL technology to be remotely plausible, and something of a Godmod.

To: Terror Incognita


The Republic Of Colstream wishes to sign this pledge as we think that if any of your citizens are killed, you have the right to retaliate. We also unofficially have a policy like this and we wish to take our place with you in this matter. We will give you full support on this subject.

Regards, James Parker, President Republic Of Colstream.

We wish to thank both Colstream and TAP for their support on this issue, and will be maintaining an up-to-date list of signatories.

- Government press statement.