| From: | Doctor Doom <JCH8169@*****.TAMU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Diplomatic Headaches... |
| Date: | Mon, 19 Apr 1993 15:41:50 -0500 |
appears
General Trevor has not lost his penchant for stretching the truth and utter
fabrication. However, to lessen my personal bias, I shall permit the news
reports to speak on this issue for me:
<<BEGIN DOWN-LOAD>>
KIRSTIN: This is Kirstin McClellan, reporting live for National Network.
Well, today has seen Germany try to legitimize it's aggression towards the tiny
nation of Omega Island. Before the German mobilization, most of the powers
were content to permit Germany some latitude in this crisis. However, some
questions of the conquest of Omega and possibly other Caribbean islands made
several member-nations to re-think their earlier position.
The Security Council, which is made up of the permanent members of UCAS, Great
Britain, the Seventh French Republic, the Republic of Moscow, and China, and
the elected members, Australia, Brazil, Burma, CAS, Egypt, Germany, Greece,
India, Japan, Madagascar, Morocco, Norway, Spain, Sri Lanka, and Turkey. The
Republic of Moscow and China, as has been their policy for about a decade,
continued their boycott of the Council, and weren't present for the discussion,
which was conduced behind closed doors today to discuss the issue of Germany's
intentions of military action against Omega. When the session ended, we got
these statements by the participants:
---
ROBERT HAYES, UCAS AMBASSADOR: It was our wish to determine exactly what
Germany's intentions were. We wanted to make it clear that the UCAS
would stand for no naked aggression in the Caribbean.
KIRSTIN: Are you satisfied with their explanation?
ROBERT HAYES: Yes, we are. The Council voted 18 to 0, with Russia and China
not voting, of course.
KIRSTIN: What was it that convinced the council so well?
ROBERT HAYES: Due to the nature of the material presented, and for reasons of
security, it would be unwise to discuss said information in a
public forum.
---
KIRSTIN: Ambassador Megalopolis, what was your impression of the meeting
today?
MEGALOPOLIS, AMBASSADOR TO GREECE: I think it went well, we demanded an
explanation from Germany, and got it. They agreed to certain terms,
and certain restrictions regarding their operations.
---
SIR EDGAR OGELTHORPE: It is the opinion of His Majesty's government that we
are well satisfied with the situation. The perceived threat of
German conquest of the Caribbean has been removed.
KIRSTIN: Then it was decided there was no need for sanctions?
SIR EDGAR: Certainly, were Germany bent on conquest, sanctions would be
necessary, possibly even military action. The German ambassador
has made it clear; however, they do not intend any conquest of
Omega.
KIRSTIN: How can you be so sure?
SIR EDGAR: Because, my dear Miss McClellan, we shall have our observers there.
---
KIRSTIN: Ambassador von Halde, your nation has come from teetering on the
brink of disaster to once again being in good standing. What is your
response?
KURT VON HALDE, GERMAN AMBASSADOR: In retrospect, we misjudged international
reaction. We thought, perhaps idealistically, this was a simple
dispute between nations. Thinking on it now, we do not blame the other
powers for the actions or threats of sanctions. We did not make our
intentions adequately clear. We have consented to permit U.N.
observers during the operation, and have pledged to have all military
units removed from Omega Island within a specific time period following
successful prosecution of battle.
KIRSTIN: Will this mean a delay in your operations?
VON HALDE: Absolutely not. Our warships presently in the Atlantic never stood
down, even under the possibility of international repercussions. We
are as prepared as ever to strike.
KIRSTIN: What about General Trevor's speech yesterday?
VON HALDE: We understand his position of concern regarding our intentions, as
we did not make our goals abundantly clear. I only question his
terming of the sinking of the _Hamburg_ an "unfortunate" accident.
"Unfortunate" implies there is no blame to be placed here. Whereas the
truth of the matter is that they acted in wanton disregard for human
life. It was an act of war. We intend to reciprocate in kind.
KIRSTIN: And the proposal by Trevor for Omega Island to pay reparations for
the lost ship and crew?
VON HALDE: The suggestion of reparations is laughable. We are not interested
in reparations. The only object lost with a measurable value was the
_Hamburg_. How does one place a Reichsthaler value upon human life?
---
Last but not least, I questioned the Ambassador of Omega Island himself:
KIRSTIN: Ambassador Hastings, what is your impression of the Security
Council's ruling.
HASTINGS: I think it's absolutely deplorable. They are opening the door to
German aggression all over again! I cannot think but that they are
somehow affected by these outrageous claims of the criminal insurgents
in my nation. If that is true, then they are getting Germany to do
their dirty work for them.
---
Well, there you have it, Germany has successfully avoided what might have been
diplomatic disaster when other member nations threatened possible measures
against them.
The Security Council voted that the United Nations shall take no actions
against Germany, essentially giving them a de facto license to act. Even in
the wake of the criticism of what has been termed "gunboat diplomacy" by
Germany, the representatives of that nation have expressed their resolve to
carry through with their threats against Omega Island, but with certain limits
as dictated by the Security Council.
They must consent to U.N. observers and have agreed to withdraw within a
specified time following resolution of hostilities. By our calculations, the
fleet should be in position towards the latter part of this week, but
regardless of events, we shall keep you posted.
This is Kirstin McClellan, reporting for National Network, from the United
Nations.
<<END DOWN-LOAD>> ]<<<<<
-- Doctor Doom <15:35:20/19-APR-54>
>>>>>[ All this smacks of a political deal. I'll bet Germany threatened to
wash the UCAS's dirty laundry, meaning Trevor, in public. ]<<<<<
-- Mr. Fantastic <15:36:12/04-19-54>
>>>>>[ Or perhaps they pointed out the United States', obvious predecessor
to
UCAS, tendency to get involved in similar conflicts? ]<<<<<
-- Sonic Boom <15:36:31/04-19-54>
>>>>>[ I think you're both wrong. It's within many of the Security
Council's
members interests that the Omega Island government be removed from power. One
reason is shipping security. Omega has infringed on that a couple times
already. Another is that the Media just LOVES the rebels, and it's good PR for
them to let Germany do their dirty work while they start to wrap themselves in
the ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. ]<<<<<
-- Jack Hack <15:36:54/04-19-54>
>>>>>[ But what about the sanctions? Or the military action?
]<<<<<
-- Hangtime <15:37:02/04-19-54>
>>>>>[ They were doing what politicians do best, at the best possible time,
make the most possible noise against something. It all deals with messages and
intent. The U.K. and UCAS wanted Germany to know, "We won't let you take over
the Caribbean." Germany had to clarify their position, possibly even admit they
maybe had jumped the gun. To ensure this, they allowed the Security Council to
place these restrictions on them, but as you notice, they won't have any real
affect upon their goals. ]<<<<<
-- Jack Hack <15:37:35/04-19-54>
>>>>>[ You say "allowed", Jack. You mean they couldn't have made
them? ]<<<<<
-- Hangtime <15:37:12/04-19-54>
>>>>>[ Militarily? Not likely. The UCAS isn't the United States, and
simply
isn't able to exert that kind of pressure anymore, it hasn't been able to since
about 2010. And Great Britain has never had the army to defeat any other
European power on its own.
The only really potent nations in terms of the military are Germany, of course,
the Empire of Japan, and the Confederate American States. One of which doesn't
care, and is half-way 'round the world besides. The second, CAS, 1) DOESN'T
like Omega screwing with their shipping, 2) is primarily a land-based power who
has pledged itself to non-intervention--and we all know why don't we? Because
if they did get involved in any commitments in another area of the world,
Aztlan would jump all over them. ]<<<<<
-- Jack Hack <15:37:47/04-19-54>
>>>>>[ Then why all the threats of repercussions? ]<<<<<
-- Hangtime <15:37:59/04-19-54>
>>>>>[ Confucius say, "Big boats, long in tooth, make big noise, but
go
no place." It's all talk. ]<<<<<
-- Jack Hack <15:38:10/04-19-54>
>>>>>[ "Not by speeches and majority votes are the great questions of
the day
decided, but by blood an iron."
-- Chancellor Otto von Bismarck-Schoenhausen ]<<<<<
-- Doctor Doom <15:38:27/19-APR-54>
