The Norenstal Times
Delkoran Troops Deployed Near Stagmar
Delkoran marines patrol a village near the border of Stagmar
Late today, Chancellor Azengaard announced that the Delkoran Fifth Naval Fleet is being deployed near the nation of Stagmar, in a region plagued by sectarian violence. Tensions between Sufi tribes and the nations of Uyenkistan and East Uyenkistan have been high. The Delkoran government has announced its support for the Sufi tribes.
"The Sufis simply want to be left alone to govern peacefully, without the threat of genocide from their extremist neighbors," Chancellor Azengaard said in a press conference today. "As a nation that stands for human rights, we have an obligation to protect the world from the growing threat of radical Islam, an ideology which is espoused by both Uyenkistan and East Uyenkistan."
However, support for the military intervention is not universal, especially in the divided Parliament.
"Chancellor Azengaard has hardly been in office for a month and he's already dragging us off to war," member of Parliament Demar Elrand (S-Norvia) said in a statement. "But what else should we expect from the Monarchists?"
Indeed, the Monarchist Party has been clear in its platform that it intends to confront "the global threat of terrorism." The Socialist Party has called for non-military solutions to deal with terrorism, including supporting economic development in third world countries.
"The only effective way to fight terrorism abroad is by dealing with its root causes," Elrand said in Parliament today. "People don't resort to extremism unless they are desperate. If we are to put an end to these radical ideologies that threaten global peace, we must extend our aid to governments that are struggling, and enable them to provide for their people. We cannot simply drop bombs and expect to solve the problem."
Currently, Delkoran ground forces have only a small presence in the region, and Chancellor Azengaard has insisted that the intervention will be limited in scope. Air strikes against enemy targets are expected to begin in the coming days. It is unclear how long the conflict will last. Under the Delkoran Constitution, the chancellor can deploy military forces for up to a month before a formal declaration of war is required.