The Provisa Times (Closed)

by **New Belhavia** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 4:21 pm

Subscribe · Bookmark

^{SHARE THIS:}

The Empire · Daily · International · Business & Finance · Politics · Culture & Lifestyle

For the last 226 years, the Provisa Times has been the leader in trustworthy, credible reporting whether at home or abroad. Established by the literate elite in the late 18th century, it has become to go-to outlet for news for every individual, no matter where on the planet they are. The Times has steadily earned the trust of the world's newspaper readers, becoming a top-tier leader in the international media reporting industry, covering every important event since the late 19th century. Owned by the venerable Kalian Media Group, the Times has prided itself on a sterling and historied record of producing and reporting high-quality stories with flawless accuracy, reliability, and dependability. We are privileged to be at your service.

—Zander Kalian, President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kalian Media Group.

The Provisa Times (often shortened simply to the Times) is a Belhavian English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in Provisa, E.B. by the Kalian Media Group, along with the international edition of the paper. The Times is the largest newspaper of any variety in the Empire of Belhavia by circulation. According to the Freeport-based Press, Journalism, & Newspaper Circulations Company, an accredited joint consortium of all Belhavian press outlets, the Times has a circulation of 4.1 million copies (including 678,000 online paid subscriptions), as of June 2015. It is fully privately-owned, managed, and operated. It is the Empire's longest-lived newspaper, dating back to 1788.

The Times primarily covers Imperial news ranging from politics, to economic, to social, cultural, and sports issues. Its name derives from Provisa, the capital city of the Empire of Belhavia. The print version has won the Kallider Prize twenty times. It has a strong reputation as objective, even-handed, and fair in its coverage of the news and analysis, as well as the presentation of both sides of an issue or controversy. It is considered the premier news content provider in the Empire that offers reports through print, televised, online, and radio news services.

With more than 800 staff members around the world that operate 10 bureaus in the Empire and 36 internationally, the Times is able to provide news from nearly anywhere on the planet, whether domestic, regional, or international.

Using strict adherence to objectivity, even-handedness, and impartiality, the Times has served both Belhavia and the wider world as a credible and trustworthy news outlet. In addition, the Times is a member of the Pardesian News Network, a multinational journalist initiative created to provide standards and cooperation to cover significant events in the broader international community.

The Provisa Times is a subsidiary of the Kalian Media Group.

'The Provisa Times' and 'PT' are trademarks of the Kalian Media Group.

A member of

[Acknowledgements: I would like to thank both Virana and Erucia for allowing me to use their news threads, the United Press and Western Chronicle News (respectively) as templates and platforms from which I could develop my own ideas for this news thread. Thank you both again.]

by **New Belhavia** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 4:41 pm

The Provisa Times Online Edition

Back to top

The Empire

· 24 July 2014 -- Imperial Supreme Court Strikes Down Far South Fracking, Eminent Domain Regulations In Landmark Ruling
· N/A

Daily

· 22 April 2015 -- Insiders: Provisa on REFORBEL 'Debacle': Irritated But Even-Keeled; Goldman Urges Calm In Escalating Beschrankt Strait, Broader Australis Tensions; Belhavia Endorses Arthuristan Plan On Neutral Investigations For the Plowy Attack
· 6 July 2015 -- With Anikatia's and Valinor's Exit, OSEN Splinters Amid Long-Simmering Internal Divisions; West to East Pivot: Roth Industries Closes Some Rodarian Plants For Cheaper Facilities in Gratislavia; Report: Chesed International Delivered Over $250 Million In Aid And Disaster Supplies To Rodarion
· 16 August 2015 -- In Unexpected Move, Provisa Sides With Romula In Emerging Spat Over Sea of Orlessia Resources and Maritime Borders; Economist: With Hornatyia's RCO Exit, Estovakivans 'Cannot Unilaterally Violate International Economic Treaties'
· N/A

International

· 28 December 2013 — Goldman Urges Calm As Rodar-CDI Tensions Escalate
· 19 January 2014 -- Left-Anarchist Group 'Freeleaks.org' Sparks Concern Across Free Pardes
· 3 February 2014 -- War Ministry: 5th Fleet Base's Barracks Expansion in Itailia Now Holds 20,000 Troops
· 1 March 2014 -- Goldman Administration: Rodar Rhetoric, Actions Cause of "Escalation," "Threat of Conflict"
· 2 March 2014 -- Goldman Asserts "This Isn't About Me," Slams Panrescu's Comments As "Outrageous"
· 3 April 2014 -- Regional Outrage Sparked By Reports of Tarsan 'War Plans,' Enigmatic Military Moves
· 25 April 2014 -- Groundbreaking Belhavia-Alleghania Free Trade Deal, Economic Treaty Codified In 'Provisa Treaty'
· 25 April 2014 -- 5 Detained Embassy Guards Released In Azur-Brokered Deal Return Home To Warm Welcome, Cheering Crowds
· 7 July 2014 -- Leading Ulthrannic Vicar Candidate "Threat" To Regional Stability, Analysts Say
· 26 July 2014 -- Goldman Denounces Far East Rogue States Amid Regional Crisis Over Nuclear Tests
· 14 September 2014 -- Rodarian Foreign Minister To Provisa For Talks On Rodar-Belhavian Relations, Regional Issues
· 24 September 2014 -- Goldman: "We Are At War" Against Ankaran Union, Nation To Enter 7th Pontite War To Defend "Key Ally" Eagleland
· 5 October 2014 -- Rodar-Belhavian Trade Deal Prospects Imperiled With Rodarian Basing Deals: Sources
· 7 October 2014 -- Whirlwind Week Ends As Rodar-Belhavian Trade Bill Narrowly Passes, Hawks Strike Back At Rodar-Estovakivan Criticism
· 26 November 2014 -- Death Toll Rises To 76 In Mount Allat Eruption As Chesed International Sends Aid
· 15 January 2015 -- Vice-President Grossman: Livrichese-Ulthrannic Remarks "Outrageous", "Threat To Global Peace"
· 7 March 2015 -- In Unsurprising Move, OPA Overwhelmingly Passes AU Sanctions To World's Applause
· 16 March 2015 -- OPINION: Ulthrannia's Vicar the Most-Loathed Man In Pardes
· 7 July 2015 -- Roth, Business Analysts Perplexed By Strident Rodarian Criticism Over Production Shift
· 21 August 2015 -- OPINION: A Giant with Crumbling Feet? The Case Against Rodarian 'Ordained Destiny'
· 8 October 2015 -- OPINION: How the Free World Lost Bogoria
· N/A

Business & Finance

· 6 April 2014 -- Blockade, Escalating Geopolitical Tensions Spook Markets Across Pardes
· N/A
· N/A

Politics

· 21 May 2014 -- Election Watchers: Lib Dems To Pickup Seats, Tories To Hold Senate Majority in 2014 Midterms
· 8 July 2014 -- Tory Mayoral Candidate Lays Out 'Bold' Conservative Reformist Agenda For Mayor's Office At Downtown Rally
· 4 November 2014 -- Lib Dems Regain Seats In Midterm Elections, But Tories Cling To Most Narrow Majority in Four Years
· N/A

Culture & Lifestyle

· N/A

by **New Belhavia** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 4:55 pm

Post reserved for archives.

by **New Belhavia** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 10:50 pm

Post reserved.

by **New Belhavia** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 10:57 pm

Trending Stories -- Rodar-CDI Tensions -- NOCTUR -- Emmerian Drone Seizure -- A.C.A. Foreign Policy Legacy -- IPU Bias Scandal

Goldman Urges Calm As Rodar-CDI Tensions Escalate

_{Pictured: President Eli Goldman (C) gives remarks during a press conference earlier today in Provisa, N.B.}

Left-wing Critics Slam Conservative President For Recent A.C.A. Foreign Policy Legacy
^{December 28th, 2013 | By Justin Hastings (jhastings@aij.org) (AIJ) | 2:09pm EDT}

PROVISA, New Belhavia — In an end-of-year press conference this afternoon, President Eli Goldman urged Pardesi powers to "take a pause in the acrimonious rhetoric" and "understand the consequences for further escalation" for both sides. He condemned the Rodarion seizure of an Emmerian drone, calling it "needlessly provocative" and "bellicose." President Goldman cautioned the ruling military junta in Rodarion, which has called itself the Ecclesiastical Security Commission after the coup d'etat that saw the severe restriction of powers of the Rodarian elected government earlier this month, that "adopting a siege mentality and engaging in petty tit-for-tat is unbecoming of a responsible geopolitical actor and legitimate nation-state." He concluded firmly, vowing in a conciliatory tone that "the answer for restored harmony and freedom for all is for all governments involved in this escalation to dial back the provocations."

Critics Pounce On, Supporters Rally Towards the President's Remarks

Critics in numerous left-wing blogs, on Twitter, and in some quarters of the opposition Liberal Democrats slammed Mr. Goldman's remarks as hypocritical and arrogant considering the Imperial government's so-called "belligerent" A.C.A. foreign policy legacy barely six months ago.

"This is the same president who eagerly signed [New Belhavia] up in the Anti-Communism Alliance," scoffed Lib Dem Minority Leader John Fellan (LD-Merrina). "The A.C.A. was a crypto-fascist military league chock full of international pariahs, repressive autocracies, and bad actors. Before he meddles in other nations' affairs, [President] Goldman would do well to remember his own failed foreign policy."

Professor James Harken, adjutant professor of political science at Freeport Provincial University and noted antiwar activist, opined that "[President] Goldman's comments are long in a line of hypocritical neoconservative equivocating that emphasizes war as the antidote to tyranny abroad yet just six months ago had our nation involved in the greatest threat to world peace in years. The A.C.A. debacle has discredited the Empire's ability to critique other countries' actions."

Meanwhile, the Provisa establishment lined up to defend the President, offering a series of positive statements echoing his remarks and condemning critics on the left.

"These same far left radicals assert that simply surrendering our active involvement abroad and gutting our military would somehow solve global and regional conflict," Senate Major Leader Ian Settas (C-Provisa) retorted forcefully. The youthful 35-year-old leader of the Imperial Senate, the son of former President Julian Settas whose presidency ushered in the near-complete electoral dominance of the ruling Conservatives ever since 1980, is eyed as a likely 2016 presidential contender and has upped his public profile in recent months. "The policies of these same hypocrites on the left would lead to a disastrous neo-isolationist foreign policy of failure, retreat, and defeat. President Goldman is exercising the right tone to lower tensions in Pardes."

Sam Waterson, a regional security consultant at the Sam Rohr International Relations Policy Center and noted neoconservative thinker, argued that "President Goldman did the right thing...no one wants escalating conflict in Pardes, and he adopted the right tone in his comments." Pivoting to leftist critics, Mr. Waterson replied, "[Lib Dem Minority Leader] John Fellan is just another out-of-touch Merrina liberal who leads a lackluster and marginal opposition party caucus in the [Imperial] Senate. John Fellan wants us to head back to the Richard Novian era in the 1970s when the ruling Lib Dems led us to a weak defense, humiliation abroad, and almost made us the laughingstock of Pardes. The Imperial citizenry have wisely elected Conservative administrations to prevent that from ever happening again." Mr. Waterson noted that Mr. Settas led what the Provisa establishment called the "foreign policy pivot" that saved New Belhavia any undue embarrassment from the dissolution of the A.C.A. last June and salvaged the Goldman Administration's - and the ruling Conservative Party's - credibility among the general public.

Hitting President Goldman from the far-right, embattled Senator James Gulden (C-Raffen), a vocal and controversial A.C.A. stalwart who has advocated a return of the defunct global anticommunist alliance, sent out a press release calling on "President Goldman to stand up to the arrogant white knight liberal CDI powers and stand by the Papal Republic in its hour of need. We must support Rodarian efforts to combat the scourge of secular leftism - communism, socialism, and social democracy - wherever it spreads its filthy tentacles." Mr. Gulden, a Catholic himself, is one of only a handful of prominent pro-Rodarion public officials.

Economic Ramifications Echo From Escalating Rodar-CDI, Seukutan Tensions

"The Belhavian economy is powered by pharmaceuticals, commodities, information technology, military technology, and consumer household goods," noted market analyst Frank Olfsen with prominent market magazine Business Daily said, "With smaller but still potent oil & gas and mining sectors. Any escalaton in the ongoing Rodar-CDI tensions will spook markets even further, causing economic instability as the [Provisa Stock Exchange] and other indices across Pardes fluctuate dangerously."

"The President's remarks helped soothe jittery investors and traders," he continued to say, pointing to a spike in the P.S.E. after Mr. Goldman's press conference.

New Belhavia has strong economic ties to the whole of Western Pardes, with large markets for exports to the United Republic of Emmeria, the Western Confederation, Republic of Erucia, the Itailian Empire, and the Kingdom of Belfras. Itailia, in particularly, is a massive importer of Belhavian Information Technology products such as computers and electronic equipment.

"Any disruption in trade and shipping in any potential Rodar-Itailian conflict," Mr. Olfsen warned darkly, "would cause chaos in the I.T. exports market."

Ulthrannia, in Northern Pardes, is a major importer of the Empire's extraction and refinement of natural resources and demand could change suddenly depending on the change of geopolitical winds over Seukutan. Any adverse action against the Western Confederation, which has a "special relationship" with the Empire and important economic and political ties, could cause markets to panic and spark a crash in the commodities market.

A spokesman for the Presidential Palace replied to an inquiry, saying that "the President is keeping a close eye on the situation in Seukutan, and because of Belhavian interests in the area, and with the two major actors involved, is urging that both sides act with caution and deliberation."

Justin Hastings reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

Goldman Rallies Pardesi Leaders To Support UR Antipiracy OPA Resolution At Press Conference [ 24 ]
Military Expert: Anikatian Claims of Rising Military Power "Baseless" [ 560 ]
Foreign Ministry Slams Latest Rodarian Provocation Over S-400 Anti-Air Systems [ 37 ]
Imperial Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passes anti-Baharaq Resolution on 9-4 Vote [ 963 ]
Imperial Navy Readies Deployment of 3rd Fleet Elements In Preparation of OPA Res. 004 Passage [ 92 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

by **New Belhavia** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 7:57 pm

Trending Stories -- Rodar-CDI Tensions -- Drakkar Conflict -- Freeleaks.org -- OPA Res. 0005 Defeat -- Seukutan Crisis

War Ministry: 5th Fleet Base's Barracks Expansion in Itailia Now Holds 20,000 Troops

_{Pictured: Imperial Marines and Army soldiers arriving from a troopship last week.}

Foreign Ministry: Extra Ground Troops "Needed For Stability" With Ongoing Drakkar Troubles
^{February 3rd, 2014 | By Justin Hastings (jhastings@aij.org) (AIJ) | 7:36am EDT}

EBONAERVON, Empire of Italia — The Imperial War Ministry announced today that a three-month expansion of the barracks component of the Fort Vernsky Naval Base, home of the Imperial Navy's 5th Fleet, on the western shore of the Itailian home islands, is now complete. The base's security went from a regiment of Imperial Marines to hold over 20,000 troops, ferried over as sections of the barracks expansion were completed.

The project was launched in early December after the coup d'etat in Rodarion to beef up force projection in a key Northwest Pardesi ally. Between December 12th, 2013 and finishing today, the naval base saw frenzied construction as new, prefabricated barrack structures were erected on vacant space in within the base's perimeter. Starting around December 24th, regiment-sized units of Marines and Imperial Army troops were being shipped over every week. Today marks the last unit to arrive - the 12th Imperial Marine Regiment.

Activities at the base have been chaotic as commanders established logistical procedures to accommodate the small army of 20,000 additional Marines and Army soldiers deployed to the base. The Army units are confirmed to be a mix of light infantry and mechanized forces, in addition to several artillery and light armored units consisting of primarily Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs).

The War and Foreign Ministries released a joint press release calling the base expansion and deployment of combat ground troops "needed for stability in the Empire of Itailia, which is undergoing severe civil disorder and escalation of border tensions with the Papal Republic [of Rodarion]." Both ministries declined further inquiries for comment on the move.

Public Supports Itailia In Ongoing Rodar-Itailian Tensions

A Callas College Surveys, Inc., poll out on Friday showed that a strong 71% of Belhavians back supporting the Twin Amanitte Empire versus 23% that support Rodarion. A mere 6% reported to be undecided or indifferent.

"This isn't terribly surprising," Callas College Surveys executive director David Levan noted in a press release, "Itailia has long been a key ally of the Empire's, and our two countries have close cultural, economic, and political ties. The southeastern shores of Itailia are a favorite vacation spot for Belhavian tourists, and many Itailians visit Belhavia for its bustling northern cities and expeditions to the polar south.

"Rodarion has some support among New Belhavia's small Catholic populations," he added, "though recent anti-Semitic rhetoric out of Romula has alienated its support in the Empire, even among the Catholic community, who despise anti-Semitism as much as their majority Jewish neighbors do."

Force Projection Strategy "Makes Sense," Military Experts Agree

"If things go south in Itailia between these Catholic insurgents [around Drakkar] and Itailian authorities, or if Rodarion follows through on its pointed threats and invades Itailia, having two divisions' worth of ground troops nearby is a smart move," retired Army four-star general and former Freeport Military Academy small-arms tactics instructor Benjamin Adin opined over a phone interview. "I would have liked to see more armor and air power, but its a decent start if hostilities erupt into a full-on war or if the insurgency grows deeper into Itailia."

A War Ministry official close to the base expansion plans who asked to speak anonymously agreed with Adin's remarks. "He hit the nail on the head, as they say." The official elaborated. "The Imperial military command is keeping a close eye on that part of the Western Continent. If our allies in Ebonaervon need us, we have a 'down payment' worth of ground forces and warships on-site to provide support to our Itailian allies."

Justin Hastings reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

Foreign Ministry: OPA Res. 0005's Defeat A "Tragedy of Epic Proportions," Slams Rogue States [ 452 ]
Goldman Welcomes New U.R. President Vaziri, Vows To Build "Close Relationship" [ 20 ]
Free Trade Lobby Outfit To Push For Better Ulthrannian Trade Deal [ 941 ]
Jacen Gray, On Campaign Swing Through Freeport, Calls Hegemonic Union "A Threat To Peace" [ 53 ]
Following OPA Res. 0005's Defeat, Goldman Administration Turns Its Ire Towards Tehraan [ 9 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

by **New Belhavia** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 11:47 pm

Trending Stories -- Rodar-CDI Tensions -- Drakkar Conflict -- Freeleaks.org -- Nathaniel Osbourne -- Western Naval Exercises

First Day in Office, Newly Inaugurated Foreign Minister Sets Tone On Osbourne Affair

_{Pictured: Former Deputy F.M. for Pardesi Affairs, now Foreign Minister, Daniel Nobelstein looking on at a press conference.}

Nobelstein: "We Applaud" Osbourne's Arrest, Request Meeting To Discuss Extradition
^{February 13th 2014 | By Julia Waldman (jwaldman@aij.org) (AIJ) | 2:44pm EDT}

PROVISA, NEW BELHAVIA — Yesterday, the Kyrusian authorities arrested Belhavian national Nathaniel Osbourne for violating the Prohibition of Unlawful Ideological Organizations Act, which prohibits of an extensive breadth of political organizations associated with global terrorism and prohibited political expressions.

Osbourne, a marketing executive from North Star Pharmaceuticals, a Freeport-based pharmaceutical supplier, was arrested outside of his apartment in the city of Rekrestok. Kyrusian state security officers raided his apartment and found "over two terabytes of electronic media containing information of a sensitive nature between Kyrusian diplomats and foreign colleagues," a spokesman for the security forces released. He elaborated that Osbourne was found with "possession of pro-Freeleaks propaganda and six grams of a controlled substance." This was later revealed to be methamphetamine.

OpenDoors, a Provisa-based government watchdog and fact-checker organization that uncovered the German donors scandal last summer, confirmed Kyrusian reporting that Osbourne was a prolific LIb Dem donor. He has also contributed $3,000 last year to the Hemp Alliance, a Dakos-based a pro-marijuana legalization interest group. Mary Bellian, a spokeswoman for OpenDoors, said at a press conference this morning that "Mr. Osbourne has contributed UR$3,600 to the Lib[eral] Dem[ocratic] party, as well as nearly UR$5,000 to various left-leaning and Lib[eral] Dem[ocrat]-oriented political committees, including the Hemp Alliance."

Foreign Minister Daniel Nobelstein, confirmed by the Imperial Senate into his new post yesterday to succeed 17-year veteran Joseph Hansdann - who resigned to become president of the prestigious Imperial Social Sciences Institute in the private sector - is already setting a stern tone beginning his tenure atop the Foreign Ministry. "Nathaniel Osbourne is a traitor, a terrorist sympathizer, and a criminal," he charged powerfully at a press conference this morning. "We thank and applaud the Kyrusian Fortified State's vigilant security forces for discovering his criminal acts and taking him into custody."

When asked about his potential death sentence with the charges he is indited with under Kyrusian law, Nobelstein shrugged. "Frankly, we agree with the potential sentence put forth by the Kyrusian authorities. We are, however, interested in a meeting to discuss his extradition back to the Empire. Rest assured, the Ministry of Justice intends to charge him with treason pursuant to his acts in supporting Freeleaks.org, a dangerous left-anarchist whistle-blower organization than has been put on our National Security bulletin. As you all in the media are well-aware, I have labelled Freeleaks 'an accomplice of tyranny' and I proudly stand by that assertion," adding, "Under the National Security Act of 1961, if found guilty, Osbourne will face the death penalty under Imperial law."

Goldman Administration's Tough Tone On Osbourne Affair Reinvigorates Freeleaks Debate

"Foreign Minister Nobelstein's vendetta against good-faith whistle blowers like Freeleaks is well known," scoffed Professor James Harken, the prominent antiwar activist. "Reactionaries like Nobelstein and Goldman only seek to impose their neoconservative whims over other countries, like Rodarion or Irkutia. I've said it once and I'll say it again: give transparency a try. Freeleaks should be honored and not condemned."

"Of course the liberals and weak-on-defense types support Freeleaks," sneered Joshua Sleuss, spokesman for the Committee for National Security, a nonprofit political advocacy group oriented towards defense hawks. "They see imperfection under every rock here at home, while conveniently shielding their eyes from the brutal repression in the rogue states in our own backyard. Nathaniel Osbourne betrayed his country. There's a punishment for that - death. Either the Kyrusians execute him, or our courts will."

Celebrity singer Jessica Lock, known for her liberal politics and popular Youtube music video "Party All F***ing Night, B*tches," took to Twitter to support Osbourne, tweeting, "@DanNobelstein @Freeleaks is NOT an #accompliceoftyranny. #ISupportFreeleaks. #FreeOsbourne from Jail." In retort, Evan Janzersky, a conservative blogger who runs the right-leaning web news clearinghouse The Daily Right, tweeted, "@JLocke Get real. #ISupportOsbourne equals #Treason."

A spokesman for the Presidential Palace replied to press inquiries, saying, "President Goldman supports Foreign Minister Nobelstein's views on Freeleaks - the President was the one who authorized the dangerous anarchist group to be put on the National Security bulletin as an 'enemy of the state.' If the facts support the claims the government of the Fortified State are making - and we believe they do - then Mr. Osbourne committed high treason. We are currently talking with officials in Vyazkhva to see if he can be extradited to the Empire to stand trial."

The Osbourne Affair and its Freeleaks corollary became an issue in the marquee 2014 Senate election in Freeport, where high-profile Conservative candidate and corporate scion Jacen Gray remarked to reporters on his way into a high-dollar fundraiser in Avalon, Freeport, "that Nathaniel Osbourne is a disgrace to our august Empire, and I hope he hangs quickly in Kyrusia. Better to let them do it and save our taxpayers' the bill to execute the son of a b*tch."

His Lib Dem opponent, former Governor Jack Haller, hit back in a statement minutes later decrying "Jacen Gray's callous disregard to one of our citizens who has been arrested abroad. Instead of trying to get him home, Gray emulates the far-right-wing Goldman-Nobelstein agenda of attacking truth-revealing whistle blowers and government watchdog organizations. Jacen Gray: just another extreme Conservative reactionary."

A Gray campaign spokesman emailed back in reply: "Jack Haller, just another far left nutjob marching lockstep with the Provisa Lib Dem establishment. Jack Haller's a cheerleader for Freeleaks - an anti-Belhavian anarchist group. He's more of the same fringe crazies, just another Merrina liberal."

Julia Waldman reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

Western Confederacy Elects Theodore Brunswick As Next President [ 459 ]
Emmeria Recalls Ambassador, U.R. Pres. Vaziri Slams Rodarian Moves, Comments As "Irresponsible" [ 239 ]
Analyst: "No Coincidence" That Arthurista, Rodarian Launched Missile Tests Within Hours of One Another [ 96 ]
Poll: 71% Agree With FM Nobelstein That Freeleaks.org Is An "Accomplice of Tyranny" [ 74 ]
Tories Pass Resolution Condemning Passage of New Azuran "Socialized Medicine" System [ 761 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

by **New Belhavia** » Sun Mar 02, 2014 9:51 pm

Trending Stories -- Rodar-CDI Tensions -- Tippercommon Elections -- Freeleaks.org -- Osbourne Affair -- Theodore Brunswick

Goldman Asserts "This Isn't About Me," Slams Panrescu's Comments As "Outrageous"

_{Pictured: A Rodarian soldiers glowers at the Emmerian embassy on Saturday. This picture has spawned many Internet memes over the embassy tensions.}

Senate Majority Leader Ian Settas: Draganescu's Remarks "Arrogant," "Condescending"
^{March 2nd, 2014 | By Justin Hastings (jhastings@aij.org) (AIJ) | 7:34pm EDT}

PROVISA, NEW BELHAVIA — With the increasingly hostile exchange of words between several C.D.I. powers - the Empire, the United Republic of Emmeria, the Western Confederacy, and the Itailian Empire - and the Papal Republic over aggressive moves by Romula towards those nations' embassies escalated today as Romula hit back, with Cardinal Secretary of State Draganescu defiantly skewering the various C.D.I. powers' responses. In particular, Rodarion's chief diplomat targeted President Goldman, ridiculing him for having a "vile mouth." In addition, elderly Cardinal Markus Panrescu took to social media Sunday morning to make an obscene reference towards Mr. Goldman that this paper cannot report because of its indecent content.

Responding to the remarks later today, President Goldman slammed Cardinal Panrescu's reference as "outrageous" and "sickening," saying his parents, who are still alive, "nearly had a heart attack over the remarks." The President retorted indignantly, "I don't know any sane, intelligent human being who could laugh at such wretched filth - except for sadists and the mentally disturbed." He cooled his tone, however, applauding the Magisterium of the Rodarian Church for reprimanding Panrescu "as a decent gesture of cooler heads prevailing."

Addressing Cardinal Draganescu's statement, Goldman posited that this exchange of words "isn't about me" and hit back to suggest that "the only public disgrace is the Cardinal Secretary, who continues to rally Rodarians on the march of apocalyptic war. If the Romula government was truly interested in peace, they wouldn't act as if the End Times have arrived." Continuing, he added, "the only vile mouth seems to be Cardinal Panrescu's," which prompted the gallery of reporters to chuckle and laugh.

Gesturing decisively, Goldman said powerfully, "I have and will continue to say this: war is never inevitable. It is the consequence of actions and behaviors exercised in mostly deliberate manners for a broader national or geopolitical goal. This administration and the rest of the C.D.I. and broader Free Pardes world stands for peace and prosperity. We ask the Romula authorities to unclench their fist and take our outstretched hand for peace. But know this: the C.D.I. is not and will not be responsible for any possible initiation of armed conflict."

Provisa Establishment Rallies To the President's Defense

The vitriolic and obscene language and imagery directed towards Goldman has sparked outrage and disgust across the political spectrum. Senate Majority Leader Ian Settas (C-Provisa), a likely 2016 presidential contender and longtime Goldman ally, blasted Cardinal Secretary Draganescu's statement as "the height of arrogance and is downright condescending," pausing to add, "he better learn some respect. No one speaks about the president of New Belhavia this way."

Senate Minority Leader John Fellan (LD-Merrina), the head of the Liberal Democrat's caucus and leader of its left-wing, said to the surprise of many, "while I have deep ideological and policy differences with the President, this outrageous, abusive behavior from some second-rate country is disgusting and won't be tolerated. [President] Goldman did nothing wrong - he called those theocrats' bluff. Kudos to him. About time someone said what needed to be said."

Foreign Minister Daniel Nobelstein, caught by reporters leaving the Presidential Palace, said dismissively, "I've long come to expect such ridiculous comments from the E.S.C. regime. They have no shame."

Foreign Ministry: Romula Embassy Tensions "Will Settle Down"

A spokesman for the Imperial Foreign Ministry sought to alleviate concerns over the embassy staff's safety in light the embassy tensions, asserting that "Major Petru Rodeanu of the Papal Army has said publicly that his soldiers were deployed for the embassy's protection from vandalism and the like, and we trust that having given his word - his credibility is on the line - in this matter, he will ensure that his mission is upheld."

The Rodarian state-run news service PRRB quoted an anonymous Orducii officer - the Orducii is a radical Catholic paramilitary group - as wanting to storm every embassy "[by which] we will by the evening, tear down the gates of these buildings, we will drag out the criminals inside them and we will burn these vile places down, cleaning them of their corruption."

This comment initiated concern among Foreign Ministry officials and Romula embassy staff. However, the Ministry spokesman reiterated that "we trust Major Rodeanu to uphold the peace and protect the embassy's external security."

Justin Hastings reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

Senior C.D.I. Leaders Meeting Today To Discuss Romula Embassy Tensions [ 650 ]
Political Analysts: Tippercommer Chief Minister-Elect Kennedy Leading Meritocratic Union "Dangerously Down the Road of Isolationism" [ 751 ]
Itailian Archon Caius Condemns Rodarion As "Warmongering", But Offers "To Consider" Peace Deal [ 318 ]
Catholic Riots Take Off In Havenwalder Capital Amid Romula Embassy Tensions [ 49 ]
President Goldman To Meet With U.R. President Vaziri Over "Shared Security, Trade Policies," Foreign Ministry Confirms [ 298 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

by **New Belhavia** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:52 pm

Trending Stories -- Rodar-CDI Tensions -- Valinese Economy Recovery -- Eaglelanders in Pardes -- Osbourne Affair -- RCO

Regional Outrage Sparked By Reports of Tarsan 'War Plans,' Enigmatic Military Moves

_{Pictured: Sam Waterson, noted regional analyst, discussing the latest Tarsan moves at the Imperial Press Club this morning.}

Analysts Across Pardes: Tarsan Actions "Bellicose," "Destabilizing"
^{April 3th, 2014 | By Justin Hastings (jhastings@aij.org) (AIJ) | 2:21pm EDT}

PROVISA, NEW BELHAVIA — A flurry of reports coming out of the Empire of Tarsas suggesting a mobilization for war and an announcement of the deployment of Tarsan naval elements without an itinerary has ignited outrage and accusations of warmonging among diplomats and foreign policy analysts across Pardes. Foreign observers of Tarsas as well as governments both friendly and hostile have criticized this latest, mystery-shrouded move by Tarisan.

Sam Waterson, a regional security consultant at the Sam Rohr International Relations Policy Center, slammed the reports this morning at the Imperial Press Club. "The Tarsans continue to flame the fires of conflict when the rest of Pardes is interested in stability and peace. The most recent incendiary remarks out of Tarisan accuse the [Central Defense Initiative] of being 'imperialistic' and 'overbearing.' Yet the Tarsan Foreign Ministry has refused to provide evidence to support its unfounded - frankly, slanderous - claims." He added: "Anyone who believes a defensive alliance based around the Central Ocean is somehow "oppressing" or "expanding" on other states' sovereignty has not been paying attention to Pardesi geopolitics for the last twenty-five years."

"One has to wonder," Waterson continued, "whether Tarsan authorities are manufacturing flimsy pretexts to justify future combat - apparently just the other day, Tarsan warships were deployed to 'parts unknown.' The escalating bellicose rhetoric and military deployment is categorically dangerous."

A spokesman from the Imperial Foreign Ministry echoed Mr. Waterson's comments, saying, "The Empire [of New Belhavia] is deeply troubled by this latest round of belligerent and aggressive moves on the regional geopolitical landscape by Tarsas. Reports of 'war plans' emerging out of Tarsan media is disturbing and we urge Tarisan to assure the region that they are committed to peace and stability and will cease these factually-incorrect, incendiary attacks against the C.D.I. and Free Pardes."

Foreign Reactions Span From Apprehension to Indignation

The Empire of Ulthrannia, a Tarsan neighbor that is a new ally with Tarisan through the Romula Cooperation Organization that recently put aside 2,000-year ancient grievances against Tarsas, released a statement critical of Tarisan's latest moves. The Ulthrannic Vicar Juan Martinez Rojas told reporters that "[t]here are those within my ministry and even those within the office of the Emperor who are wondering, what war is Tarsas sending her warships to fight? Why is Civitas Tarsae beating the war drum when there is no war to be fought?" He added, "I will remind our new partners that such reckless abandon and seemingly wishing for war is...unnecessary."

Ty Gwinnett, the Emmerian Deputy Secretary of State and a frequent critic of Tarsan foreign policy, condemned the allegations of Tarsan moves towards war. "The Tarsan regime is jumping the gun with bellicose and belligerent actions that showcase their lack of commitment to regional peace and safety," he asserted forcefully as he entered the Thomas B. Knight Building, headquarters of the United Republic's Department of State, in Oured, D.A.

From southeast Pardes, the Valinese government called an impromptu press conference with regional media outlets to discuss the situation. The Foreign Minister, Olvar Hollen, spoke to reporters briefly, saying curtly that "[w]e find the rhetoric coming out of the Tarsas Empire to be incredibly disturbing. Such baritone and aggressive rhetoric being used by supposed diplomats of peace is astonishing to us and this Government and the Crown are appalled at what is an apparent disregard for human life due to the Empire's unneeded aggression."

Prominent Aisling analyst Ásgeir Hyman, a professor of international relations at Luathas University in Veryea, the Kingdom of Temuair, remarked on these developments. “In my experience, when a bloc of nations make a move they claim is to 'counterbalance' the 'imperialist tendencies' of other nations, they're intentions are anything but honorable. Add to this the fact that they can not tell us the specifics of the treaty, one claiming to bring nothing but peace to nations hither to embroiled in war for longer than anyone can recall, but freely admit dispatching several flotillas of warships, taking pains to point out that they are departing prepared for combat, to points unknown and, well, I think we see who the true aggressors are in the region.”

Michael Davidson, the Senior Diplomatic Attache for Alleghanian-Belhavian Relations, commented to reporters that "[the Tarsans are] troubling, that's what they are; even so, their actions not entirely unexpected. The regimes of Tarsas have a long history of bellicose rhetoric and a deep-rooted desire for irredentist - if not expansionist - policies. It does not surprise us, though it does somewhat in regard to their willingness to repeat this same mantra of confrontational rebukes to the international community."

Analysts Agree: Tarsan Rhetoric, Actions "Warmonging"

"I think its clear to any keen observer of regional politics that this is just another in a long line of aggressive and hostile moves by Tarisan, but this time, they've deployed military forces to what we can only guess is an attempt to intimidate the region. If these reports are true, Tarisan seems to be gearing up for war," posited Joshua Green, a left-leaning scholar on Near East Pardesi geopolitics. "Tarsan designs and imagined hegemony over the Middle East is widely known in foreign policy circles, but these actions may just be a prelude to an outright war of conquest."

Noted realist thinker and neoconservative think tank scholar Jeffrey Goldberg was more pessimistic. "The signs are clear from the escalating rhetoric and mysterious military deployments: The Empire of Tarsas wants to launch an invasion of the Near-East. The Tarisan regime has long been part of the collection of "rogue states" of the region aligned against Free Pardes, and their vitriolic denouncement of the stabilizing force that is the C.D.I. is worrisome news. If the free states of the region don't act soon, Tarsan aggression will plunge Pardes into a bloody and protracted war. If we care at all about peace and prosperity, this illegal endeavor must be opposed at all costs."

Justin Hastings reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

Eaglelander Government Pledges War Support To Arthurista [ 58 ]
Economic Minister: Valinese Recession of 1991 Over With 5-Cycle Sustained Growth Rate [ 111 ]
Los Reyes Treaty "Dangerous," Analysts Assert [ 903 ]
Estovakiva Joins RCO, Creates New Trade Ties With RCO Members [ 9 ]
Op-Ed War Heats Up Between Alleghanian, Rodarian Columnists [ 12399 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

by **New Belhavia** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:46 am

Trending Stories -- Rodar-CDI Tensions -- OPA Blockade in Orlessian Sea -- Valinese Economy Recovery -- Osbourne Affair -- Price of Oil

Blockade, Escalating Geopolitical Tensions Spook Markets Across Pardes

_{Pictured: A worried trader on the floor of the Provisa Stock Exchange takes note of eastern Pardesi markets.}

Market Watchers, Analysts: Blockade, C.D.I.-R.C.O. Tensions Unsettling Markets Across the Region
^{April 6th, 2014 | By Jack Hathaway (jhath@aij.org) (AIJ) | 8:57am EDT}

PROVISA, NEW BELHAVIA — After essentially shrugging off then-Rodar-C.D.I. and later C.D.I.-R.C.O. tensions and saber-rattling in 2014, markets reacted negatively to the announcement of an Itailian-led OPA blockade of the Orlessian Sea as well as confirmed rumors of an impending invasion of the Near East by the Empire of Tarsas.

Most major exchanges and indices fell across Pardes this morning, many with midday falls as floor traders and investors became increasingly concerned about the regional economy following aggressive escalation by R.C.O. member Tarsas and the impromptu OPA blockade led by the Empire of Itailia. Itailia currently hosts hostile relations with the Papal Republic of Rodarion, who is widely seen as the target of the blockade. The Organization for Pardesi Affairs passed Resolution 0002 last year during the Pulsa Crisis that proscribed Pravene goods from being sold anywhere in the region. Rodarion is a major beneficiary of Pravene oil sales.

Most Markets See Modest Drop Across Indices

The major Pardesi stock exchanges, led by the Western indices - the Franklin Stock Exchange, the SUP500, and Lewis Yorkshire - as well as the flagship Belhavian Provisa Stock Exchange and Emmerian Chaleur Stock Exchange, all saw drops between 2% and 7% by close of day. The P.S.E. lost 347 points, a fall of 4.2%. The C.S.E. fell 279 points, closing 3.6% down from yesterday. Roth Industries, the largest Belhavian corporation as well as a major global transnational conglomerate, saw its stock price rise from $45 to $81 by end-of-day trading. Analysts credit this to Roth's profitable defense contractor subsidiary, which is a major supplier of the Imperial Belhavian military. Gray Industries & Oil Consortium, the Empire's largest oil & gas firm, saw its price skyrocket from $76 to $109. Balian Shipping, a major transport firm, saw its stock price fall modestly from $34 to $22, while Zalleran Pharmaceuticals & Drug Company - which exports its products across Pardes - saw its price fall from $51 to $39, a big hit for a company with a sterling reputation for price stability.

The largest stock index in eastern Pardes, the Alleghanian Ambrosia Exchange, saw minimal losses today - the exchange fell by 0.005% due to efficient hedging against Rodarian and Tarsan assets. Belhavian analysts note that due to a combination of neutrality and hedging on the limited exposure with minor commodities from Rodarion and Tarsas in Alleghanian markets has insulated Ambrosia floor traders and institutional investors. However, Alleghanian investors encountered some minor instability amongst some high-risk futures by midday trading.

The Romula Stock Exchange, the RNEX, fell 6,400 points by the time of close today, a major hit to the Papal Republic's financial sector as foreign investors fled Rodarian markets because of the fear of an economic collapse from the blockade or a hypothetical war with Italia. The RNEX has fallen by about 15% since March, with major foreign investors divesting to safer havens in other emerging markets in the Ulthrannic Empire or Estovnia.

The major Estovnian Stock Exchange, Strandakirkja Fondsbørs, rose 165 points, gaining 0.8% by day's close. Unless a financial crisis sweeps the region, the High Kingdom is rated by long-term market watchers as a good buy. Business magazine Investor Insider ranked Estovnia with Valinor as the "top two" investment opportunities for investors looking to add emerging markets assets to their portfolios. The Bors d'Valuen da Azkabana, an Irkutian stock exchange watched by traders in the U.R., Belhavia, and the West, dropped 319 points in daytime trading, closing with a loss of 2.14%.

Likewise, other emerging markets had mixed results. The Tarsan Marvius Stock Exchange dropped 120 points, closing roughly 1% down. Benefiting from an exodus of foreign markets investors from the RNEX, the Empire of Ulthrannia had a great day, with the widely-traded Santiago Stock Exchange rising by 412 points, ending the day with a 2% rise. The IASDAQ Exchange, another closely-watched Ulthrannic index, rose by slightly less than 1%, down most of the day due to the news of the blockade of Pravene goods but with a small rally into the black that eked out a narrow 1% gain before the index closed trading for the day.

Meanwhile, the Cinigrad Stock Exchange had a strong finish, gaining 6.6% by day's end on Estovakivan floor traders' and investors' confidence in the stratocracy gaining higher revenues from the skyrocketing price of oil and other energy sources as well as on the rumors of an impending Tarsan war of conquest in the Middle East, whose turmoil many market analysts believe would make Estovakiva the largest oil producer and exporter in the region.

Jack Hathaway reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

Diplomatic Deal Brokered by Azurish Secure 5 Detained Embassy Guards' Release From Rodarion [ 76540 ]
Goldman: "We Have Brought Our Boys Home Safe" [ 1903 ]
In Rodarion, Pope and Senior Leaders Praise Azur-Negotiated Deal, Offer Reconciliatory Words [ 1003 ]
Provisa Stock Exchange Gains 788 Points On 'Provisa Treaty' Between Alleghania, Belhavia [ 2267 ]
Azur-Valinese Trade Pact Galvanizes Pardesi Markets [ 12399 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

by **New Belhavia** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 12:15 am

Trending Stories -- Freed Embassy Guards -- Rodarian NEZ -- Rodar-CDI Tensions -- Liberty Bloc Rumors -- July Roundtable in Ambrosia

5 Detained Embassy Guards Released In Azur-Brokered Deal Return Home To Warm Welcome, Cheering Crowds

_{Pictured: Three of the five freed Romula embassy guards exiting the chartered plane from High Taunton, Azura. Corporal Robert Gill, 21, carries his Marine detachment's flag.}

Nation, Capital Celebrates Return of Heroes
^{April 25th, 2014 | By Justin Hastings (jhastings@aij.org) (AIJ) | 6:57pm EDT}

PROVISA, NEW BELHAVIA — Joyous crowds celebrated the return home this afternoon of the 5 Imperial Marine embassy guards illegally detained by Rodarion authorities after a fanatical mob broke international laws of sovereignty by storming and trashing the Belhavian Embassy in Romula last month. In an act labeled by the Goldman Administration as "legal kidnapping" and an "act of war," Rodarian authorities arrested five embassy guards, part of the Imperial Marine security detachment, for defending the embassy grounds. This month, the Marines were put on trial by the Rodarian government for "mass murder." However, just forty-eight hours ago, the Azuran Empress Calixte announced that her government had reached a diplomatic agreement through backchannels between the Rodarian and Belhavian governments, securing the five guards' release for an unspecified compensation package for the families of those killed storming the embassy by the five Marines.

The five Marines were handed over to the care of the Azurish, who flew them briefly to High Taunton, Azura, and then released them to a Belhavian delegation who flew them home. The plane landed at the Provisa International Airport this evening, where thousands of residents from the capital thronged the airport and main road to celebrate the embassy guards' safe return home. After landing, the Marines were greeted personally by President Eli Goldman, War Minister Jan Argan, and Provisa Mayor Ryan Weston.

From a podium, President Goldman addressed the press and crowds, proclaiming proudly that "we have brought our boys home safe!" Crowds cheered the guards as they were re-united with their families and driven to be debriefed by the War Ministry.

Goldman Administration Vague On Deal Specifics

All three parties to the deal - the Rodarian, Azurish, and Belhavian governments - were tight-lipped about the diplomatic arrangement struck, releasing few details. Rodarian Foreign Minister Petronela Stanca told reporters that "the Belhavian government will compensate the victim's families, members of their government will attend the memorial service that is take place in Saint Peter's Basilica shortly; in exchange, all Belhavian embassy staff will be protected through diplomatic immunity if a second situation occurs," adding, "[E]mbassy attacks in Rodarion will be stopped entirely with the full force of the law, [speaking of which] the police officers and Papal soldiers known to have let the crowd storm the embassy have been arrested." She declined to elaborate.

Similarly, a spokesman for the Office of the President confirmed Stanca's remarks and added that "the compensation package was given as a gesture of good will and not because of guilt or responsibility; part of the negotiations made clear - and Romula agreed - that the embassy guards were not at fault."

Later, to the press, President Goldman explained additional details, disclosing that Sam Jernsky, a former Imperial Senator and regionally renown antiwar activist, had agreed to head the Belhavian delegation to the opening of the memorial dedicated to the dead of the embassy storming, which was paid for by the Azur government. However, Goldman refused to specify the price-tag of the compensation deal nor verified who initiated the backchannel negotiations. He did, however, praise the agreement as a "good sign amid dark days that the Rodarian government was willing to negotiate, and I applaud them for it."

Left Acclaims Goldman For Diplomatic Resolution

Leading figures on the political and cultural left, long critics of the Conservative president, praised him for finding a diplomatic resolution. Professor James Harken, a prominent antiwar thinker and academic, gave effusive acclaims to Goldman, calling him "the man of the hour." He added: "Today I am proud of what my government has done. Peace is always the answer. Violence was avoided, and this president should be commended for peacefully resolving this impasse."

Liberal Democrat Minority Leader John Fellan (LD-Merrina), gushed that "I salute President Goldman - he picked conciliation over war, and he did the right thing. Our five proud boys are safely home, out of those theocrats' clutches."

Five Marines Hailed As Heroes

The five embassy guards "are a symbol of Belhavian resilience in the face of Rodarian arrogance," charged conservative TV commentator Adam Bellsbaum today on Jack Avoy's Politics Today on NBNN, "Our heroes have shown us that evil always fails."

In a poll taken last month, a near unanimous 96% of the Belhavians surveyed said the guards had acted "legally in self-defense," with only 2% saying they were in the wrong and 2% unsure. By a similar margin, 93% of people surveyed in the same poll agreed with the statement that "Mobs storming embassies in violation of international convention is uncivilized and never justified." Only 1% disagreed.

After months of back-and-forth bickering and vitriol thrown between Rodarian and some of its allies, such as Tarsas, and the Central Defense Initiative (C.D.I.), including Belhavia, the public seems eager to bask in this good note of celebration. A vigil in Settas National Park in downtown Provisa has been discontinued by its organizers, now that the Marines are safely home.

The diplomatic agreement comes just weeks after multiple political pundits and op-ed columnists have called on the Goldman administration to use special forces to secure the guards' freedom. With the Azur-brokered deal, military sources say, that scenario was not needed.

Justin Hastings reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

In Provocative Move, Rodarion Declares "Naval Exclusion Zone" In Orlessian Sea [ 4059 ]
Jefferson House Confirms July Roundtable In Ambrosia, Increases Speculation of 'CORE' Rumors [ 1641 ]
In Akkadiya, U.R.'s Vaziri Announces Emmerian Intention To Attend July Roundtable Talks [ 803 ]
Groundbreaking Belhavia-Alleghania Free Trade Deal, Economic Treaty Codified In 'Provisa Treaty' [ 41230 ]
Azur-Valinese Trade Pact Galvanizes Pardesi Markets [ 12399 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

by **New Belhavia** » Wed May 21, 2014 8:26 pm

Trending Stories -- Rodar-CDI Tensions -- Tarsan ICBM Launch -- Threat of Regional War -- Rodar-Arthuristan NEZ Clash -- Liberty Bloc Rumors

Election Watchers: Lib Dems To Pickup Seats, Tories To Hold Senate Majority in 2014 Midterms

_{Pictured: Embattled pro-ACA hardliner and far-right Tory Senator James Gulden (C-Raffen).}

Far-right neo-ACAers facing electoral collapse, polls suggest
^{May 21st, 2014 | By Elazar Cohen (ecohen@aij.org) (AIJ) | 10:23am EDT}

PROVISA, NEW BELHAVIA — Nine provinces held their party primaries yesterday, and it appeared to be a smooth primary day as none of the races so far has shown to be surprising. Every incumbent - Conservative, Liberal Democrat, or Libertarian - won their primary yesterday evening, disappointing a diverse set of outside interest groups who spent a collective $14.3 million dollars to oust incumbents in both major parties, albeit for differing political, policy, and ideological goals.

In Asland, Zalos Edges Liberal Challenger To Face Stiff Tory General Election Competition'

The closest race yesterday was vulnerable Liberal Democratic Senator Xavier Zalos (LD-Asland), a Lib Dem rightist who was one of a handful of pro-A.C.A. voices in the major center-left-oriented opposition party. Zalos narrowly retained his party's nomination in a nail-biting 50.7%-49.3% margin against liberal primary challenger George Kaplan, an investment banker, who had poured in $5.6 million of his own funds into his campaign.

He positioned himself to the left of Zalos on national security issues, a popular stance in the liberal-leaning Asland province. Despite early public polling showing Zalos lagging behind Kaplan, a late-surge in TV and radio advertising, a deft Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) operation, and encouraging right-wing activist Tory voters to crossover and turnout for him (Asland has an open primary system where any registered voter can pick to vote in any party's primary) proved to be a surprisingly-strong bulwark for Zalos to narrowly win.

Zalos faces moderate, libertarian-leaning Conservative Joshua Gold, mayor of Asland's largest, liberal-leaning city of Bukenia. A recent Hansden House poll has Zalos behind by three points to Gold, 42% - 39%. Like Kaplan, Gold has emphasized "restraint abroad" in foreign policy in a new cable TV ad he launched last week.

ACA's Stalwart Wins Close Contest, Setting Up Marquee Race Against Favored Lib Dem Opponent

In Raffen province, embattled far-right figure, right-wing bomb-thrower, and gaffe-prone Senator James Gulden won a closer-than-expected race, illustrating the tough shift in winds against his campaign's sails. He beat Lieutenant Governor Adam Shultz in the Conservative party primary by a 52%-to-47% margin.

Gulden's real challenge, however, lies in the general election where his Lib Dem rightist opponent, Karen Merkel, has led in the polls since last summer by margins as low as four points and as high as twelve points.

The other seven Senate primary outcomes proven uneventful.

Election Forecasters Change Race Ratings As Primary Winners Gear Up For General Election

As early as last December, several political prognosticators predicted that the far-right was increasingly in danger of electoral extinction in the upcoming midterms. With fresh post-primary polls and the primary election results themselves, several watched election predictors changed their outlook on key battleground races in the fall.

Nathan Filner, the statistician at the Provisa Herald watched by the Provisa establishment, changed Westland and Vannen to 'Lean Lib Dem' and Asland as 'Lean Tory'. He predicts that 4 Conservative seats held by vulnerable neo-ACA hardliners (Westland, Vannen, Raffen, and Janskor) will flip to the Lib Dems, while the open seat in Freeport is a 'lean Conservative' because of Tory candidate Jacen Gray's narrow but consistent lead in the polls since the fall. He put Asland from 'Safe Lib Dem' (if Kaplan had beaten Zalos to become the Lib Dem Senate nominee) to 'Pure Tossup', citing polls showing the unpopular Zalos neck-and-neck with Tory challenger Josh Gold. If Gold wins, the libertarian wing of the Conservative Senate caucus will gain another member.

In December, Filner had three seats as Tossups (Raffen, Freeport, and Asland), one as Lean Lib Dem (Janskor), and two as Lean Conservative (Westland, Vannen). The remaining 17 seats are rated as Likely or Safe Lib Dem or Conservative.

Other Tory Seats Possibly In Play

The potential damage to the Tories isn't limited to their disliked far-right fringe: Up to three other races throughout Belhavia are 'Likely Tory' but show signs of being competitive by the fall.

The increasingly urban, liberal electorate in West Dakos has put incumbent Tory Senator Brendan Caseman from 'Safe Tory' to 'Likely Tory'. A recent poll out showed him leading neurosurgeon and Lib Dem nominee Richard Weiss by only 12-points after winning a fourth term in 2010 with nearly 60% of the vote.

Popular conservative Lib Dem Governor Frank Logasky is within striking distance of moderate Tory Senator Norm Feinstein in the otherwise rural, Tory stronghold province of Rustonia according to two released polls this week. Feinstein and Logasky have already aired dueling TV ads hitting each other's integrity. Filner downgraded Feinstein's seat from 'Likely Tory' to 'Lean Tory' - a grim prediction with months to go until Election Day in November.

The open seat from retiring Conservative incumbent Eli Reudenburg in the Tory-leaning province of Norvenia has attracted top-tier Lib Dem and Libertarian candidates, forcing the race into which every candidate can win the highest plurality in a competitive three-way race.

Elazar Cohen reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

Reports: Rodarian Foreign Minister To Emmeria [ 800 ]
July Roundtable Set To Begin This Week, Jefferson House Confirms [ 6672 ]
Nobelstein: June Coup In Estovnia "Deeply Concerning," Vows Goldman Admin Will "Keep An Eye On Events" [ 33 ]
Controversial Housing Reforms Narrowly Passes Rodarian Senate, Sent To Church Authorities For Approval [ 651 ]
Belfras Admiralty: "Most Advanced Warship Float" Completed, Begins Sea Trials [ 399 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

by **New Belhavia** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 9:56 pm

Trending Stories -- Tippercommoner Civil War -- Estovnian Military Coup -- July Roundtable in Ambrosia -- Rodar-Itailian Border Clashes -- Geannese Riots

Tory Mayoral Candidate Lays Out 'Bold' Conservative Reformist Agenda For Mayor's Office At Downtown Rally

_{Pictured: 26-year-old Conservative mayoral hopeful Tom Roth listening during a recent City Council meeting in Provisa, NB.}

Polls: Mayor's Office In the Capital City Is Up For Grabs.
^{July 8th, 2014 | By Elazar Cohen (ecohen@aij.org) (AIJ) | 11:55am EDT}

PROVISA, NEW BELHAVIA — Over a thousand people crowded into the Marcus P. Grossman Plaza in downtown Provisa, near the Government District, late Tuesday morning to hear corporate scion and Tory mayoral nominee Tom Roth announce major proposals if he wins the race for the capital city's top political office. Tom Roth, the youngest of the powerful Roth family - owners of the largest Belhavian corporation, Roth Industries - is also the youngest member on Provisa's City Council, elected just two years ago from the Tory stronghold and elite neighborhood of Kings Hill.

While much of the Roth family is employed in their family business, the youngest Roth is the first to enter elective office, though many of his siblings are politically involved (his eldest brother, Michael Roth, head of the corporation, is a prolific Conservative fundraiser and donor, among other members of the family). He used his family's resources and gifted public speaking skills to win a contested Tory primary for the City Council seat in District 14 (Kings Hill). He won the primary strongly, and coasted to the finish line in the general election in November 2012.

Roth's family fortune has aided him in his latest ambitious endeavor - the race for the open Provisa mayor's office, a coveted perch from which many a national politician's career has been sprung, including beloved Conservative elder statesman, former President Julian Settas. When Roth announced his campaign in early April, he automatically cleared the Conservative mayoral primary and turned his eyes towards his general election opponent, Liberal Democrat Daniel Cohen, a fellow City Councilman.

Polls: Race Is A "Pure Tossup"

When he entered the race earlier in the spring, Roth trailed Cohen by 15 points, 39% - 24%, with a large pool of undecideds. Without breaking a stride, the corporate scion dropped an eye-popping $10 million shekels alone in advertising between April and June, inundating the airwaves with well-produced positive spots in cable and broadcast TV, full-page print ads in city pages such as the Provisa Times, and running targeted radio spots. He and Cohen exchanged dueling negative ads, hitting each other on integrity and character assassination.

By early June, most public polls showed the two mayoral hopefuls neck-and-neck. After doing a twenty-day tour around the city, Roth erased Cohen's narrow edge to a dead heat. A Callas College Surveys, Inc., poll out on Friday among a smaller sampling of registered voters had Cohen up by 1 point, 41% - 40%. Another poll, conducted by Hansen House among a larger pool of likely voters that was released yesterday, showed the pair tied at 43% each.

City Pundits: Roth's 'Bold' Reformist Agenda Gets Mostly Thumbs Up

Leading political celebrities in the capital city generally gave positive feedback on Roth's bevy of conservative reforms - from his calls to cutting marginal tax rates to reinventing a "smarter," streamlined government, to doubling down on law-and-order, anti-crime policies.

"[Tom Roth] has the right idea on increasing funding for our COPS policing program," senior editor at the Provisa Herald, Mark Hart, told gathered reporters. "Crime in the southern and east wards have always been a problem, and more cops on the beat will alleviate that. Kudos to young Tom [Roth]."

"I was impressed with his vision of a 21^st-century city government, where smartphones, data statistics, and privatized maintenance systems can deliver real savings and accountable to Provisa municipal politicians," opined noted philanthropist and wealthy industrialist Jack Markell.

However, more liberal-leaning city elites soured on the policy proposals. "Tom Roth is a fair-haired rich kid who wants to continue to strip away what government safeguards are left to protect the poor and city workers, who can't even unionize like they can for better wages in cities across Pardes," complained prominent novelist Dalia Efrat, a major Lib Dem donor. "He can talk about 'smart government' and 'app-led fixture of potholes' all he wants - he's still a cold-hearted Conservative."

Leading businessman Samuel Klein, a self-described "centrist," had mixed feelings. "I think [Roth's] ideas have some merit, and young blood is usually a good thing in an organization - whether private or public," he paused, "Still, Dan Cohen seems more pragmatic and focused on the bread-and-butter issues. We'll have to see how the race continues to unfold."

Cohen Slams Roth Proposals As "Empty Rhetoric," "Failed Policies"

A spokesman for the Cohen campaign attempted to rebut the Roth rally this morning, attacking the proposals as "thinly-veiled empty rhetoric hiding the real Tom Roth - the privileged corporate brat who holds a radical, far-right-wing views and a dangerous agenda."

Daniel Cohen released several fiscal and anti-crime proposals himself last week, angling himself as the pragmatic choice versus the ideologue in Roth. He has positioned himself as an independent-minded, Lib Dem rightist, and has shifted rightward to blunt Roth's move to form a winning center-right winning coalition on Election Day.

Elazar Cohen reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

Alleghanian Senator: Ambrosia Accords Finalized, Actions To Be Taken To Counter Far East Rogue States [ 967 ]
Emmeria's Vaziri Vows To Monitor Fallout From Tests, Denounces Actions As "Blatantly Irresponsible" [ 889 ]
Anikatian Pres. Bykov Condemns Tests, Threatens Military Sanctions [ 211 ]
Goldman Administration Grants Valinese Request To Expedite Delivery Of Two Warrior-Class Frigates [ 119 ]
"All Options Open," Proclaims Prestonian Crown In Wake of Far East Nuclear Tests [ 57 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

by **New Belhavia** » Sun Sep 14, 2014 3:40 pm

Trending Stories -- Rodar-Belhavian Talks -- 2014 RCO Summit -- New Pontus Crisis -- Operation Deliverance in Albiya -- Tippercommoner War Aftermath

Rodarian Foreign Minister To Provisa For Talks On Rodar-Belhavian Relations, Regional Issues

_{Pictured: Rodarian Papal Foreign Minister Mircea Basescu addressing the press in Provisa, N.B., before a meeting with Imperial Foreign Minister Daniel Nobelstein.}

Presidential Palace Spokesman: Issues include Drakkar, Flight 212, CDI-RCO relations, Papal-Imperial relations, and trade.
^{September 14th, 2014 | By Elazar Cohen (ecohen@aij.org) (AIJ) | 4:16pm EDT}

PROVISA, NEW BELHAVIA — This weekend, the Goldman Administration hosted the Foreign Minister of the Papal Republic of Rodarion, Mircea Basescu, in Provisa for a series of one-on-one talks with Belhavian Imperial Foreign Minister Daniel Nobelstein. Both Foreign Ministries presented the visit as a casual affair, though numerous analysts believe recent events may have disrupted the famously complex Rodar-Belhavian relationship, and Minister Basescu's impromptu visit is an attempt by Romula to shore up declining good will. However, the Imperial Foreign Ministry replied that the visit had been planned for weeks, and noted that Basescu will be continuing on to a longer trans-Pardes diplomatic jaunt to Westonaria and Ulthrannia next week.

Both sides acknowledge that among the topics discussed with include a litany of broader and narrow issues, including the current state of the Rodar-Belhavian relationship, a proposed free trade agreement, and Rodarian visa control reforms for Belhavian citizens. In addition, broader, regionwide issues such as ongoing CDI-RCO relations, Drakkar and the Flight 212 tragedy, the Far East Astra Pact, amid other topics.

Insider: Res. 0010 Good Will "Fading" Over Flight 212 Destruction

An important topic being discussed is the August 1st crash of Flight 212, which saw the loss of 482 passengers, including 161 Belhavians. President Goldman was reportedly incensed when he learned of the Rodarian response to the tragedy, including the Papal Republic's alleged cover for the pro-Rodarian Catholic Drakkar rebels, which allied Emmerian intelligence believes shot down the fateful Air Emmeria flight through evidence gleamed from social media and other intelligence reports.

This is in contrast to the good will generated by the near-universal regional support for Res. 0010, which passed the Organization for Pardesi Affairs (O.P.A.) vote with 89%. During the denounced Far East nuclear tests by the now so-called "Astra Pact", there is a well-captured moment where Goldman reportedly bonded with Pope Pius II's fiery broadside against the Far East rogue states.

The lack of progress of the investigation of the fatal crash over the last 6 weeks has frustrated the Gold Administration, which has been characterized by seeking justice for the victims, as well as casting off opposition Liberal Democratic narratives accusing the administration of "gross incompetence" and "callous indifference" in the still-unresolved crash's unknown perpetrators. Swing-province Tory Senators up for re-election in November's midterm election took the unusual step of penning a letter to Goldman demanding answers for the families of the deceased.

Minister Nobelstein is expected to press Basescu hard on the Rodarian response to the crash, as well as presumed Rodarian cover for the suspected perpetrators, a group of the Drakkarian rebels.

Economic, Geopolitical Issues To Dominate Talks

Goldman has been pushing for relaxed controls over visas for Imperial nationals to visit and work in Rodarion, an chief concern of the Dakos financial and business sectors. Belhavian investment firms do billions in day-, bond-, and equity-trading on the Voluntari Stock Exchange, the primary Rodarian stock and bond exchange.

Low-level foreign ministry staff communication has relayed the Rodarian interest in a free trade agreement with Provisa that could amount to as much as $5.4 billion over the next five years, with increased access for Belhavian capital goods into the Rodarian economy in return for greater access of white and light goods into the Belhavian economy. Sources close to the president say he is intrigued by the offer but as yet to decide on whether to accept it.

Besides Flight 212, both Foreign Ministers are expected to discuss broader proposed resolutions to concluding peace in Drakkar, as well as more general CDI-RCO relations. Frank Abramowicz, a senior analyst on Pardesi geopolitics who works for the defense contractor, the Pyrion Group, opined that "the Rodar-Belhavian relationship is complicated and complex at multiple levels. Both are socially conservative large economies, but find themselves on differing geopolitical divides. Rodarion is considered the leader of the [Romula Cooperation Organization], while Belhavia is viewed as a leading actor in the [Central Defense Initiative]. Both are societies and cultures primarily underpinned by Abrahamic faiths, both Belhavia is more free and pluralistic while Rodarion is more restrictive and closed. Our relationship is one of yearning but wariness, interest because of some commonalities but suspicion because of our chief differences."

Left, Right Divided Over Rodarian Overtures

The traditional liberal-conservatives divisions over foreign policy and diplomacy versus military projection were upended in the wake of this weekend's bilateral talks.

The left, in social media and among the Lib Dems, was torn between preferring this type of diplomacy over aggressive military posturing; yet, Rodarion, as a symbolic of state-imposed insularity and closed-society policies, holds a particular disdained and despised role in the Belhavian left's imagination. Lib Dem Senate Minority Leader, John Fellan (LD-Merrina), ridiculed some internal Rodarion distrust of the Empire on Twitter, lambasting one important Rodarian senator by saying that "@OctavianCandreva 'to the Belhavians its liberal democracies or nothing' - Maybe you forgot, esteemed Senator, that Belhavia is a constitutional monarchy. Obviously it's not 'liberal democracies or nothing'. Maybe you should get a refresher in comparative politics. #RodarKnowNothings".

Another outspoken liberal, antiwar activist and author Debra Feinburg, wrote a caustic shot at Senator Candreva's "enemy of the Papal Republic" remark, tweeting, "If we're such 'enemies', Senator, why do you want to sell your goods in our economy? #SocConHypocrites #RodarKnowNothings".

On the right, Tories and conservatives debated the utility of having Rodarion as a geopolitical and economic partner. One camp, led by Conservative Senator Evan Levin (C-JAT), argued that despite its leadership of the loathed RCO, Rodarion as an individual actor was "palatable to us as a Pardesi actor, economic actor", asserting that "we share some social beliefs, they protect and enfranchise their Jews, and they generally are anti-Marxist and promote capitalism and free enterprise. We can work with them." On the other spectrum, Senator Adrian Kalian (C-West Dakos), chairman of the Imperial Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a renowned defense hawk, denounced Rodarion as a "barbaric, totalitarian regime that wants to enable universal terror and iron-steeled cryptofascist policies that will leave all of Free Pardes as weakened, shadow of its former self...we cannot allow religious freedom, free and capitalist governments to fall to the pro-'any regime is okay' agenda of the Rodar-led RCO."

Opponents of the Papal Republic within the Imperial Senate put forward a resolution condemning Rodarion sparked chaos on the Senate floor, with individual senators voting every which way. An unorthodox bloc of socially-liberal and moderate, hawkish Lib Dems joined together, with 3 of 4 Libertarian Party members, and a few libertarian Tories and a handful of conservatives, such as Kalian, voting to condemn. Another bloc of pro-business conservative and libertarian Tories, the fourth Libertarian senator, and some antiwar liberals and pro-trade moderate Lib Dems voted in opposition to the motion. The resolution received three floor votes before it failed a third time, with Senate Majority Leader Ian Settas (C-Provisa), a potential 2016 presidential candidate and key Goldman ally, acting quickly to shelve the resolution, with received a majority on a voice count. Vice-President Jacob Grossman, dispatched hurriedly by Goldman when news reached of the surprise resolution, worked the floor, reportedly convincing enough senators to vote nay on the resolution in order for Settas to have a quorum to shelve it.

Presidential Palace insiders leaked that it would have been embarrassing to Goldman to have the resolution pass right as the Rodarian Foreign Minister was set to sit down with Minister Nobelstein, with the President calling the cell phones of several key allies on the Senate floor as the chaotic vote went down and scrambled Grossman to the Capitol Building down the street to control the damage and prevent an anti-Rodarion win.

When reached for comment, a Goldman press secretary declined to address the failed Senate resolution but stated that "we look forward to a constructive and positive dialogue between Foreign Ministers Nobelstein and Basescu."

Elazar Cohen reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

Critics Pan 2014 RCO Summit As "Gathering of Tyrannies, Despots" [ 976 ]
Live Update: Chaos On Senate Floor On Rodarion Resolution Amid Diplomatic Talks [ 8310 ]
Reports: Resolution Defeat Saves Face For Goldman, May Haunt Settas In Likely 2016 Campaign [ 7642 ]
Foreign Ministry: "No Comment" On Joint Ulthrannic-Geannese Albiya Operations [ 108 ]
War Ministry: More Forces Moved To Emmeria, Talibistain In Light of New Pontus Crisis [ 445 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

by **New Belhavia** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:15 am

Trending Stories -- Rodar-Belhavian Relations -- 7th Pontite War -- RCO Basing Initiatives -- Tarsan Neutrality Pledge in Akkadiya Conflict -- Ulthrannic Empire Expands

Goldman: "We Are At War" Against Ankaran Union, Nation To Enter 7th Pontite War To Defend "Key Ally" Eagleland

_{Pictured: President Eli Goldman at an impromptu 9am national address.}

Goldman: Illegal Ankaran Attack on New Pntus Triggers Belhavian-Eaglelander Defense Pact, Nation at War.
^{September 24th, 2014 | By Elazar Cohen (ecohen@aij.org) (AIJ) | 9:37am EDT}

PROVISA, NEW BELHAVIA — At 9:15am this morning in a nationally-televised address, President Goldman declared that under the 1985 Mutual Defense Treaty, the Ankaran Union's illegal attack against the overseas Eaglelander possession of New Pontus "automatically triggers mutual defense obligations" and that Belhavia was officially at war with the Ankaran Union in defense of its "key ally," the Orthodox Federation of Eagleland. Goldman refused to remark on military deployments, simply concluding to reporters that "we are consulting with our Eaglelander allies and will be taking all necessary military force to defeat the illegal invasion by the [Ankaran Union] and ensure continued Eaglelander control of New Pontus."

He deflected on Rodarian criticisms, remarking, "The Papal Republic has stated its opinion on numerous occasions. It's entitled to offer an opinion, and as a major Pardesi geopolitical actor, I assume Romula will continue to declare its opinions on major issues of the day as it sees fit."

Although the War Ministry refused to answer inquiries on military strategy in light of the war declaration on national security grounds, it did note that "we have forces positioned in Talibistain and Itailia, and we will be aiding our besieged ally as it needs to be supported. We are consulting with allied counterparts as we speak." The Imperial Navy has the 5th Fleet - part of Northern Pardes Command (NPCOM) - headquartered at Naval Base Levy outside of Ebonaevron, Itailia. The 5th is 40 vessels-strong, and has a detached task force serving under joint Western-Belhavian operations in Talibistain, with is a nearby neighbor to Ankar in Akkadiya.

Crowds numbering over 10,000 rallied in the ethnic Eaglelander neighborhood of Little Konstantinople in Provisa, where activists condemned what they called "Ankaran Islamic aggression and brutality."

In an unusual bipartisan display, the Imperial Senate passed overwhelmingly a resolution supporting Goldman's decision to invoke the 1985 defense pact's "automatic trigger" clause.

Elazar Cohen reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

Akkadiya Flares As 7th Pontite War Erupts [ 660 ]
Poll: Lib Dems Ahead In Three Swing Provinces In November's Senatorial Midterms [ 4512 ]
5th Fleet's Admiral Warren: "No Comment" on Force's Deployment To New Pontus [ 34 ]
10,000-Strong Ethnic Eaglelander Crowds Rally In Provisa Against Ankaran Union, Decry Islamist "Aggression" and "Brutality" [ 907 ]
Ulthrannia Grows With Livrichi Unification; Markets Jittery [ 312 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

by **New Belhavia** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:20 am

Trending Stories -- Rodar-Belhavian Relations -- 7th Pontite War -- RCO Basing Initiatives -- Valinese Counter CSU Forces -- Ulthrannic Empire Expands

Rodar-Belhavian Trade Deal Prospects Imperiled With Rodarian Basing Deals: Sources

_{Pictured: Senate Majority Leader Ian Settas (C-Provisa) addressing the Imperial Taxpayers Association in Provisa on Friday, as he struggles to pass the Goldman-endorsed bilateral deal.}

Rodarion Critics Pounce Amid Aggressive Rodarian Force Projection Initiatives In South, Central Pardes.
^{October 5th, 2014 | By Elazar Cohen (ecohen@aij.org) (AIJ) | 1:34pm EDT}

PROVISA, NEW BELHAVIA — Rodar-Belhavian relations likely took another hit this weekend after reports surfaced of an recently-disclosed Rodarian-Estovakivan military basing agreement that puts offensive-oriented Rodarian military assets within striking range of the critical so-called "Havenwalder Corridor," a large interconnected body of water which has a large concentration of heavily-trafficked sea lanes that stretch from Dakos, Belhavia through the straits between Estovakivan-controlled Emsmomheden Island and Tippercommon, and filters out into the Central Ocean through the Havenwalder-Tippercommer Strait. The basing deal also puts Rodarian naval bombers within 80 km of the heavily-populated northern coast of the Empire, home to the country's only all-year-round ice-free sea routes to the rest of Pardes and home to two large Belhavian fleets, the Home Fleet and 1st Fleet, based in Dakos and Freeport, respectively.

The move has energized critics of the Papal Republic within the Imperial Senate, who were seething as it appeared likely that a controversial Rodar-Belhavian trade agreement would be narrowly passed later this month. The agreement was endorsed by President Goldman, major Tory leaders, and an influential swing bloc of moderate Liberal Democrats.

According to a whip count by several top aides to the agreement proponents, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to speak on the matter, showed the bilateral trade deal would have passed by a narrow 37 - 33 margin in favor. The bill was scheduled for a vote next week. However, a key bipartisan swing block of two Conservatives and 4 moderate, pro-free trade Lib Dems told the Presidential Palace and Senate leadership they were defecting from "aye" to "nay" - leaving the bill dead in the water with a projected 39 - 31 vote margin against.

Senate Majority Leader Ian Settas (C-Provisa), a key Goldman ally and likely 2016 presidential candidate charged by the administration with passing the trade agreement, has been unable to control the damage from the fallout of the Rodar-Estovakivan basing initiatives, which has raised the scorn of military hawks and anti-Rodarion activists.

Critics: Rodarian "Arrogance" a Threat To Belhavian Security

An uneasy alliance of Rodarian critics on the left and right has coalesced in wake of the reports of Rodarian military strike units near Belhavia proper, as well as another joint Rodarian-Estovakivan-Ulthrannic base that could threaten Belhavian colonial posessions such as the Ross Archipelago or Tobia.

Although the bipartisan bench of anti-Rodarion political actors seemed defeated in last month's Rodar-Belhavian foreign minister talks, the basing deals have injected new fervor into their cause. Senator Adrian Kalian (C-West Dakos), a renown hawk and one of the right's leading Papal Republic critics, told PROVISAINSIDER.com that "these basing deals have shown what I and others pointed out multiple times: Rodarian arrogance. They claim to have 'commonalities' with us, yet team up with the likes of the Estovakivans to put offensive-oriented military assets within range of our homeland and overseas crown territories. This is dangerous to Belhavian national security and can't be tolerated. I'm glad some of my colleagues of awoken from their sleep to the Rodarian threat and will vote down this misguided 'trade deal.' "

Senate Minority Leader, John Fellan (LD-Merrina), hit the trade deal from the left, invoking human rights and national interests. "These shocking developments have put Rodarian soldiers on our doorstep, and threaten our country's political freedoms. Make no mistake: Rodarian and Estovakivan jackboots will be on our soil some day soon if we appease them with duplicitous trade agreements. Romula wants to isolate our nation's capability to project a force for good abroad, and we can't let these despots get away with it," adding, "this trade deal legitimizes a pariah, totalitarian regime abroad, harms domestic workers, and 'checkmates' our ability to use our unparalleled military force to incentivize these regimes to act responsibly. I'm glad this trade agreement is [dead on arrival]."

Administration Response: Public Silence, Private Harried Negotiations

A spokesman for the Presidential Palace refused to comment for this article, both other sources have come forward on a veil of anonymity to lay out a behind-the-scenes effort to reverse the bill's demise and secure its passage, even if its by bare minimums.

While President Goldman and leading Belhavian officials have not commented on the revealed basing deals, top aides at the last national security meeting allege Goldman was "enraged and felt betrayed by Romula," adding he "lashed out at the [Papal] Republic who he tried to make good-faith efforts to increase ties with, only for them to team up with the Estovakivans to threaten Belhavia itself, as well as its top overseas crown territory."

A senior Foreign Ministry posited he overheard Foreign Minister Daniel Nobelstein attempt to call his Rodarian counterpart, only for Rodarian Foreign Minister Mircea Basescu to not come to the phone or call him back. This incensed the president's inner circle, who hoped to persuade the Rodarians to withdrew the forces in exchange for other bilateral improvement items that Romula has been pushing for.

Still, Goldman would be politically vulnerable if his endorsed trade deal fails, and has redoubled his efforts in the background to win enough votes to secure the bill's passage. One pathway - dubbed by administration insiders as 'Plan Thin-Wire' - has been to peel off 4 of the 6 swing Senators to either vote aye or abstain, creating a tied vote where Vice-President Jacob Grossman could cast the tie-breaking vote. However, the plan is fraught with unlikely scenarios and is, at best, unlikely to be successful.

Reportedly, Goldman summoned Settas to the Presidential Palace, where Settas told the President, "I just don't have the votes," according to three separate sources who were in the room at the time of the rumored meeting. Neither the Senate Majority Leader's office nor the Office of the President responded for comment. If passed, the bill is estimated $5.4 billion in economic growth over the next five years, with increased access for Belhavian capital goods into the Rodarian economy in return for greater access of white and light goods into the Belhavian economy.

Elazar Cohen reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

Region Tenses as Ankar-Eaglelander War Heats Up in Akkadiya [ 5646 ]
Movement for a Secular Rodarion: Bill Rejection "Good News" [ 110 ]
Imperial Joint Chief of Staff: We Have Scenarios Planned To "Defeat Potential Rodar-Estovakivan Attack" Against Belhavia [ 971 ]
10,000-Strong Ethnic Eaglelander Crowds Rally In Provisa Against Ankaran Union, Decry Islamist "Aggression" and "Brutality" [ 88 ]
War Ministry: No Comment on Belhavian Forces In New Pontus Theater Because of "National Security" [ 1002 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

by **New Belhavia** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:28 am

Trending Stories -- Rodar-Belhavian Relations -- 7th Pontite War -- RCO Basing Initiatives -- Albiya Conflict -- Prestonian Emperor Financial Audit

Whirlwind Week Ends As Rodar-Belhavian Trade Bill Narrowly Passes, Hawks Strike Back At Rodar-Estovakivan Criticism

_{Pictured: Former President and Tory elder statesman Julian Settas (1981 - 1989), being interviewed by Jack Avoy on Politics Today on Friday.}

President Goldman sits down for exclusive interview, discusses influence of Settas on his Rodarion policy.
^{October 7th, 2014 | By Elazar Cohen (ecohen@aij.org) (AIJ) | 7:45am EDT}

PROVISA, NEW BELHAVIA — In a victory for the Goldman administration, free trade advocates, and foreign policy realists, the controversial Rodar-Belhavian trade agreement narrowly passed the Imperial Senate Monday night, after several days of heartache and embarrassment for Goldman and the Conservative Senate leadership. In light of aggressive Rodar-Estovakivan forces near crucial Belhavian interests and the Imperial homeland, anti-Rodarion critics on the hawkish right and dovish left joined forces to upend the then-expected-to-pass bill, which had been supported by Goldman, most of the Tory Senate caucus, and a swing bloc of moderate Liberal Democrats.

On Sunday, the whip count for the bill by Senate Majority Leader Ian Settas (C-Provisa), a key Goldman ally and likely 2016 presidential candidate charged by the administration with passing the trade agreement, showed the bill being defeated by a decisive edge, 39 against to 31 for. However, over the last two days, Goldman, Settas, and pro-Rodarion political actors worked an aggressive behind-the-scenes negotiation with the breakaway bipartisan group of Lib Dems and Tories who had agreed to support it initially but withdrew when the reports of offensive-oriented R.C.O. forces were being placed near Belhavia proper.

Using what Presidential Palace staffers and insiders called 'Plan Thin-Wire', the bill proponents successfully cut deals with the swing-vote Imperial Senators. The trade bill passed 34 - 33, with 4 abstentions and Vice-President Jacob Grossman stepping in to provide the tie-breaking vote. The bilateral trade agreement is estimated to spark $5.4 billion in economic growth over the next five years, with increased access for Belhavian capital goods into the Rodarian economy in return for greater access of white and light goods into the Belhavian economy. Besides being endorsed by Goldman and leading Senators, it was also publicly supported by a litany of economists and business groups.

Hawks Strike Back At Foreign Critics

Although dejected by the bill's passage, anti-Rodarion critics on the right and left rebutted harsh and caustic criticism levied by Rodarian and Estovakivan leaders, taking to Twitter to respond. Liberal Democratic Senate leader, Sen. John Fellan (LD-Merrina), who reportedly delights in irritating the Papal Republic's leaders whenever possible, laced into Rodarian Consul Octavian Ceasuescu: "The only 'chronic hypocrisy' is the NCP's unrelenting authoritarian rule over the oppressed peoples of Rodarion, hoodwinked into believing these tyrants' claims. The dear Consul of Rodarion needs to have his head checked, since any competent doctor could see the only 'delluded rants' (Rodarian reporters should learn to spell, by the way) emerge from the corrupted and power-hungry mouths of the NCP dictator and his ilk." This sparked a rash of retweets by liberal activists and some Lib Dem senators.

Nathaniel Cantor, a PhD candidate who writes foreign policy white papers at the hawkish, right-leaning think tank, the Committee for National Security, told an inquiring Provisa Times reporter that "[t]he only hypocrisy to emerge from this is the Rodarians', and especially the Estovakivans'. The Estovakivan Foreign Minister calls our country's fear 'hypocrisy', drawing on a fallacy that Belhavian bases abroad in crown territories or through the C.D.I. are similarly threatening. The fact is, unlike the Estovakivan autocracy, no legitimate nation that is not an enemy or hostile regime fears that Belhavia will use its military might on a whim or because they are weak. In contrast, many local powers are perpetually concerned about Estovakivan intervention because Estovakiva does not value these countries' autonomy or independence. All Cinigrad respects is strength, not the rule of law. The days of Estovakiva acting as if their conduct isn't perceived as, at times, threatening to their neighbors has long since passed. Estovakiva should attempt peaceful rapprochement with its neighbors rather than endless saber-rattling."

Exclusive Interview: Eli Goldman and his Rodarion Policy

President Goldman granted an exclusive prime-time interview to Ari Schatz, the most-watched nightly news anchor six years running at the Kalian Media Group (KMG)'s Channel 45. Schatz started off by rereading the remarks by the Rodarian Consul attempting to reassure the President of the Papal Republic's good intentions, and asked Goldman to respond. He said: "I know and like Octavian [Ceasuescu]. When he said that Rodarion has no hostile intent towards [Belhavia], I believe him. I believe him and his top political advisors that they would rather have a more harmonious, peaceful, collegial relationship between the Empire and the Papal Republic than becoming bitter foes...[w]hile our countries have conflicting interests at times, I genuinely believe that the senior Rodarian leadership wants an amiable, productive friendship with us. I really do believe that." He commented that former President Julian Settas, a Tory elder statesman and beloved figure from the 1980s, was "a close mentor of mine, while I served in the [Imperial] Senate and when I became President. I have been honored and privileged by his friendship and mentorship, and his views have informed my own on the issues, including my Rodarion policy."

The Settas era was the high-water mark of Rodar-Belhavian relations, after a deep antagonism dating from the Rodar-Belhavian Crisis of 1971-2. Settas was beloved in Rodarion, and worked to build strong, durable ties between both nations that has proven resilient to this day. Days before he left office, Settas was given honorary citizenship and the Hero of the Papal Republic medal by Pope Benedict XII himself.

Goldman recounted fondly: "I recall when I was just inaugurated, Julian [Settas] stopped by the [Presidential] Palace. He came up to me, having read that I planned to give a press conference the next day on Rodarion, the RCO, and other world affairs He said, 'Eli, open your heart to the Rodarians. They are our brethren. We won't always agree with their actions, but they are kin in spirit if not blood, and I suggest you orient your policy towards them, always geared for understanding, mutual friendship, and collegiality'. So I've taken his advice to heart," pausing to add, "While the Papal Republic and Belhavia have not always agreed, there is little to be gained by spurning and antagonizing them, absent a good reason where they initiate hostilities towards us, in rhetoric or action. But knowing Romula as I do, a least a good share of its leaders want a productive, good relationship between us, arguable two of Pardes' several leading powers. I will always give Romula the benefit of the doubt, unless they prove undeserving of it."

Elazar Cohen reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

Region Tenses as Ankar-Eaglelander War Heats Up in Akkadiya [ 19646 ]
Small Business Coalition: Rodar-Belhavian Trade Deal "Excellent News For Business, Employment" [ 88 ]
National Guard Organizes Mock Evacuation Drill of Dakos Citizens In Hypothetical 'Foreign Invasion' War Game [ 3907 ]
New Pontus Theater Falls Silent As All Sides Contemplate Next Move: Intel Reports [ 745 ]
Julian Settas: "Proud of My Son, Ian, For Passing Bill"; Stands "100%" Behind Goldman Rodarion Policy [ 3202 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

by **New Belhavia** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 11:58 am

Trending Stories -- Albert Francis State Visit -- Valinese Defense Review 2014 -- Dissolution of the Western Confederacy -- CMSA Formation -- House of Lords in Arthurista

Lib Dems Regain Seats In Midterm Elections, But Tories Cling To Most Narrow Majority in Four Years

_{Pictured: Senators-elect Karen Merkel (LD-Raffen), Frank Logasky (LD-Rustonia), and Richard Weiss (LD-West Dakos) led the Lib Dem electoral comeback.}

Tory 'Blue Wall' Provinces Blunt Larger Lib Dem Gains As Lib Dems Gain A Net 5 Seats.
^{November 4th, 2014 | By Elazar Cohen (ecohen@aij.org) (AIJ) | 7:45am EDT}

PROVISA, BELHAVIA — The main opposition Liberal Democrats regained ground in the Imperial Senate after today's midterm elections, the Association of Imperial Journalists (AIJ) called at 11:22pm. Returns in from across the Empire illustrate that the governing Conservatives lost a net of 6 seats, from 41 to 35. Their losses (a gross of 8 seats) were offset by two pickups in Freeport and Asland of seats by retiring Liberal Democrats. The Lib Dems gained at net 7 seats. A Tory seat in New Shelvoy was lost to a self-described "conservative Independent", Senator-elect Ari Gerson. The current balance of power in the Senate stands at 35 Conservatives, 30 Liberal Democrats, 4 Libertarians (who neither gained or lost seats), and 1 independent.

Conservative 'Blue Province' Lib Dems Lead Their Party's Recovery

Most of the Lib Dems' gains came from a recovery in their conservative and moderate wings, with such ideologically-inclined candidates winning in swing and light-blue Tory strongholds. The least unexpected was Karen Merkel's win, who is likely to be the most conservative member of the Lib Dem Senate caucus. She ousted far right firebrand and controversial incumbent Senator James Gulden (C-Raffen) in one of the most Conservative provinces in the Empire. Gulden had intermittently trailed most polls to Merkel since mid-2013, though he managed to keep the race close in the weeks before the election. Merkel ultimately prevailed strongly by an 11-point margin, 54.6% - 43.9%.

Another conservative Lib Dem, popular Governor Frank Logasky, won the open seat of retiring Tory Senator Norm Feinstein in Rustonia, another Tory bastion. He beat Tory opponent Jeffrey Friedman by a more narrow 51.3% - 46.5% margin. In neighboring swing-province West Dakos, Lib Dem Richard Weiss, a surgeon, beat Conservative incumbent Brendan Caseman by a slim 49.6%-47.8% margin. Weiss had surged in the polls to overtake Caseman in the last two months, though attack ads by Caseman had shrunk the race to what analysts had called a 'pure tossup' on the eve of Election Day.

Tory Sen. Abraham "Abe" Braunstein of Norvenia was ousted in an upset by Lib Dem challenger Gershon Herschel, a lawyer. With 96.7% of returns in, Herschel led Braunstein by a 52.4% - 47.9% margin. At 10:15pm, Braunstein conceded, citing the lack of outstanding ballots needed for him to overcome the vote deficit and win. Herschel had run a low-key campaign as a "center-right moderate" in right-leaning Norvenia, and was polling 5% behind Braunstein in polls on the eve of the election.

Analysis: 2014 "Year of the Scion's Triumph"

Jacen Gray, youngest son of corporate magnate Harold Gray and the former Deputy Foreign Minister of Allied Affairs, won decisively over Lib Dem former Gov. Shawn Heller in Freeport, snagging a seat for the Tories. Despite the polls showing a close contest for the last year, Gray surged in the last two weeks, winning by a strong 8-point spread, 53.7% - 45.1%.

In the closely-watched Provisa mayoral elections, Conservative nominee and City Councilman Tom Roth - youngest son of the perhaps the most famous and influential family in Belhavia - beat his Lib Dem opponent, fellow City Councilman Dan Cohen, by a narrow 50.9% - 48.6% margin. It's the narrowest margin in eight years, since outgoing Libertarian Mayor Ryan Weston's 1-point win in a crowded three-way race in 2006.

Both men are scions of some of the most well-known, powerful, and wealthy families in Belhavia. Both are regarded as rising stars within the Conservative Party, and are noted by confidents as being friends and political allies, transcending the decades-long feud between the Roth and Gray families.

Rise of the Libertarian Tories

The second seat that switched hands from Lib Dem to Tory was in Asland, where incumbent Lib Dem Sen. Caleb Zalos, a hawkish moderate, was ousted by 32-year-old Conservative Senate nominee and Bukenia mayor Joshua Gold, a member of the Tories' libertarian wing. Gold beat Zalos by nearly 10 points, with a strong 54.3% - 45% margin.

Gold won office as mayor of Bukenia, the largest city in Asland province with left-leaning politics, in 2010 at the tender age of 28. An outspoken libertarian conservative, he ran on a platform of non-interventionism, civil liberties, and less regulation. Zalos, an unpopular senator known for staying most of his time in Provisa rather than at home in his province, was a renown war hawk, national security neoconservative, and proponent of more labor-friendly policies.

In May, Zalos barely won his primary against a wealthy challenger from the left. He and Gold were neck-and-neck until September, when Gold began to move ahead. Gold has said he will join the Conservative-Libertarian Caucus ("Con-Lib Caucus") within the Tory Senate conference, adding to their already-growing political heft.

Analysts: Agreed Tories Suffered "Bad" But Not "Horrible" Night

Nathan Filner, the statistician at the Provisa Herald watched closely by the Provisa establishment, posited at a post-election roundtable that "the Lib Dems certainly did well but the so-called 'Tory Blue Wall' held, where [Jacen] Gray won in Freeport and Joshua Gold in Asland. If the Lib Dems had held those two seats, they'd be at 32 to the Tories' 33...a nearly hung Senate. The Libertarians and that one independent from New Shelvoy [Senator-elect Ari Gerson] could have decided control of the chamber. Fortunately for the Tories, they pickuped up those two seats and held their majority, however thin it is."

Liberal Democrat political consultant Yisroel Schwartz agreed. "Gray [and] Gold held the line for the Conservatives. Their party certainly had a bad night, losing so many incumbents, but the Lib Dems should be disappointed they fell short of a really viable chance to retake control of the Senate."

Election Impact on Goldman Administration?

Jonathon Goldstein, a columnist for the City Journal of Finance, argued that "President [Eli] Goldman is the big loser here. He kept his Senate majority, but his big majorities that enabled his legislation to virtually sail through the last four years has been badly damaged. The rise of the anti-interventionist foreign-policy right within his party spells troubles for how he continue to remain hawkish on the world stage."

Filner disagreed: "Quite the opposite. Goldman lost neoconservative Tories but he gained in hawkish right-wing blue-province Lib Dems. For every senator like Gold, the president has Karen Merkel or Frank Logasky, or Richard Weiss to call on to get his foreign policy initiatives passed."

Elazar Cohen reported from Provisa, Bel. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

Belhavia, Allies Pledge Assistance in Maintaining Order in Post-Western States [ 1608 ]
Arthurista Resurrects House of Lords To Global Acclaim [ 776 ]
Rodarian General Elections Set To Seat Larger NCP Majority, Exit Polls Suggest [ 810 ]
Goldman Praises Rise of CMSA in Pardesi Far East in Wake of Similar Comments by Emmeria's Vaziri [ 445 ]
Belhavian Public Obsessed With All Things 'Prestonian', 'Albert Francis': Poll [ 22 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

by **New Belhavia** » Tue Nov 25, 2014 11:30 pm

Trending Stories -- Mt. Allat Eruption -- Repentance Camps Closure -- Geannese Monetary Reforms -- Golgotha Conflict -- Belhavian Senate

Death Toll Rises To 76 In Mount Allat Eruption As Chesed International Sends Aid

_{Pictured: The eruption of Mount Allat in Alamani state, Emmeria.}

Emmerian authorities allow Chesed International and other humanitarian non-governmental organizations to send aid.
^{November 26th, 2014 | By Elazar Cohen (ecohen@aij.org) (AIJ) | 9:37am EDT}

PROVISA, BELHAVIA — Two days ago, Mount Allat in northeast Emmeria erupted suddenly, with an eruption column nearly 30 km high. Hundreds are injured and the death toll has risen to 76, the United Republic Department of Homeland Security's Emergency Response Service reported earlier today.

While President Goldman and leading public figures across Belhavia have sworn to stand by the Emmerian people in their time of need in light of this unprecedented natural disaster, U.R. authorities have given permission for Chesed International, Belhavia's largest humanitarian and disaster relief private organization, to send aid, support personnel, and funds to help alleviate the human suffering and local devastation in the wake of the stratovolcano's unforeseen and lethal eruption.

'Funds, Some Personnel Only'

Yitzchak Ben-Moshe, the executive director for Chesed International's overseas disaster relief operations, was queried by the press on his organization's game plan to aid in the Mt. Allat recovery efforts. When one member of the foreign press inquired about sending ship-based relief in light to recent Geannese pronouncements of the same, Ben-Moshe said that "[c]onsidering that the Mt. Allat region is hundreds of miles inland from the coast, no naval assets will be activated. We will, rather, transport in aid workers, supplies, and ground vehicles via cargo plane to the nearest airport. We are coordinating with the U.R. Department of Homeland Security, ERS branch, on getting our people in where they can be of the most use in recovery operations."

Approximately a hundred aid staffers, ten tons of ready-stocked crates of medical supplies, food, and water, and some off-road emergency aid vehicles have been dispatched and are currently being flown to Emmeria, where they will be organized under local and federal U.R. authorities in recovery efforts.

Celebrity singer Elazar Sielderman, the honorary chairman of Chesed's charity fundraising drives, announced that he raised over $4.3 million shekels in the last 48 hours to support efforts in the post-eruption fallout and has planned to hold more 'Internet money bombs' and more traditional, formal fundraisers among Belhavian elites to raise more money for aid operations.

Elazar Cohen reported from Provisa, Belhavia. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN PARDES

Rodarion's National Catholic Party Seats Largest Majority in Years [ 9710 ]
Three Killed In Rural Firefight In Golgotha, U.R. Consulate Confirms, Amid Ongoing Tripartite North Akkadiya Conflict [ 225 ]
Survey: More Wealthy Havenwalders Flee Their High-Tax Homeland For Low-Tax Havens In Belhavia, Estovnia [ 84 ]
Anti-Immigrant Candidate Wins Decisively In Local By-Election in Davisholm [ 1278 ]
Global Energy Investors, Nervous Over New Geannese Monetary Scheme, Dump Geannese Currency Baskets For URD-Heavy Portfolios [ 12 ]

Comments

E-mail this article

The Provisa Times (Closed)

The Provisa Times (Closed)

Who is online