1982: Death Throes of the West IC

[World Anarchic Union]

1982:
The Death Throes of the West

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The year is 1982. The world has undergone major changes in recent decades. It all started in 1963, when Spain led an invasion of Gibraltar, in an effort to take what Franco claimed to be occupied land. The result was a war between Spain and the United Kingdom, having much greater implications than thought. After a year of fighting, Spain emerged victorious from the war, having annexed Gibraltar and defeated the former mighty British Empire. The United Kingdom was humiliated and felt betrayed by one of her closest allies, the United States of America, which, in an effort to not disturb NATO and its partnership with Spain and Portugal against the "Red Menace" of the Warsaw Pact, believing this to be an European affair. And it surely was.

Quickly, NATO fell apart. Most of the European countries started to reject American authority, which culminated in the 1966 London Crisis, when NATO quickly fell apart and the remnants of the Marshal Plan were discarded by the frustrated European leaders. The only exception being West Germany, which, seeing the need for a partnership with one of the strongest countries in the world, rejected European pressure. Meanwhile, Spain and Portugal increased ties with South American powers, Argentina and Brazil, resulting in the creation of a Fascist Bloc, spanning across three continents: Europe, South America and Africa, where Spain and Portugal retained most of their colonies, waging a bloody war against independence movements and rejecting UN authority. This was not the case with other major European powers, however, which, by 1975 had given independence to a great amount of their former colonies. These countries often embraced socialism to some degree which resulted in the growth of the Soviet sphere of influence in Africa and Asia. Most of the countries of North Africa had, by 1978, become satellite states to the Soviet Union, while Ethiopia, South Africa and Rhodesia became great allies of the United States of America, resulting in major fighting in Africa between those competing blocs.

Latin America had fallen, as well, to a fever of revolution. In Central America, after the successful revolution of Cuba and the subsequent defeat of US-backed Cuban troops at the notorious Bay of Pigs invasion, Che Guevara set out to spread communist revolution in Central America. Soon, most countries of Central America had experienced revolutions to the USA's dismay and the USSR's rejoice. This led to the Havana Pact, which created the Union of Central American Republics, an union of socialist countries in Central America, allied to Cuba. Guevara traveled to Africa, later, in order to spread revolution there. Inspiring change and revolt, he was captured and executed by counter-revolutionary Congolese troops and CIA agents in 1968.
However, there was a second kind of fever in South America. Argentina and Brazil both embraced fascism and became, although rivalry, allies. Swiftly, they became much stronger. In Chile, the election of Marxist President Salvador Allende left a distaste to the Argentinian and Brazilian dictators who, by 1972, and with US aid, had successfully overthrown him and replaced by Augusto Pinochet, a general who became Chile's dictator. Argentina and Brazil worked to overthrow Marxism and establish a continental fascist state, although competing against one another as to who would lead it.

In 1972, an inevitable war happened. The next phase of the Arab-Israel conflict, the Yom Kippur War had massive effects on the volatile region. Israel defeated drastically the Arab states, successfully managing to incorporate its gains in it. This event marked the beginning of the greater influence of the USSR in the Arab world. The creation of a Ba'athist State, between Iraq, Syria and Jordan, followed suit with Egypt leading most of North Africa towards the USSR. The Ba'athist State, alongside the North African states, South Yemen and Mongolia became the newest members of the Warsaw Pact. Saudi Arabia and most of the Gulf States became greater allies of the United States.
Iran, in 1979 became embroiled in a violent civil war between the Royalists of the Shah, the Fundamentalists of Khomeini and the People's Mujahideen of Iran or MEK, being set up as an alliance between socialist and communist groups. The next site for a proxy war was set up.

The Union of Socialist Soviet Republics was growing in power exponentially. It had now allies across most continents, with its economy having overtaken the United States' by 1980. However, that is not to say it was completely dominant. The Afghan Civil War was ongoing with no clear winner as Leonid Brezhnev refused the full military intervention of the USSR to defend the socialist government there, instead sending equipment, weapons, financial and humanitarian aid. The Sino-Soviet split had, as well, taken massive repercussions as China had effectively created a bloc of its own under the guidance of Mao Zedong and his successors. This had come about after the victory of American forces in Vietnam and the encouragement Japan and South Korea received from this, which were soon expanding their military considerably, each preparing for war with their respective neighbour. East Asian communists had become disillusioned and disappointed with the lack of aid Hanoi had received by the USSR, blaming its fall on the Soviet Union, and had turned towards the People's Republic of China for help. Countries like Albania and North Korea, which had always favoured the PRC, more or less, became satellite states of the Chinese nation and India experienced a Maoist Revolution, the new government, still not effectively controlling all of India, allying with China. As such, the Chinese bloc was effectively created.

Now, we come to the present. There in nothing certain about where the world is headed. The only certain thing is, there will be conflict...

[World Anarchic Union]

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Moscow, Soviet Union
The red banner was waving in the night sky of the capital of the first workers' state. The Kremlin was lit up, shining like a beacon to the beautiful night sky of Moscow. There was limited activity in it, however. Few people were still awake, most having gone to their families by that time.

The man was standing near the window. On his office were numerous papers, disorganized, along with quite some state flags of countries allied to the USSR. On the walls, a large world map, showing the Soviet Union in bright red and, on a special place, where they could be seen by any place in the room, two busts, one of Vladimir Lenin and one of Karl Marx. The most important men to the international proletarian movement, to his opinion.

The man, however, was not looking at his office or the walls. He was looking outside. It was a tiring day, him having to attend to many meetings , meetings with other Party officials, representatives of the trade unions among others. His name was Aleksandr Koshechkin and he was Premier of one of the world's two superpowers.

Since his inauguration, he had achieved many successes, including domestic reforms and foreign achievements, such as the admission of a number of socialist countries in Africa and Asia to the Warsaw Pact, greatly extending it. He had also supervised over a period of increasing economic growth for the Soviet Union as well as increased international influence. He was determined to not get the proletarian nation to fully be occupied with a conflict, no matter how severe it was, such as the war in Afghanistan or Iran. The Soviet Union had extended aid to the Soviet-aligned regimes there but had not pledged its army, because he felt this was going to cause massive domestic and international outrage.

He looked at the night sky. He raised his fist towards the dark space presented above him, determined to succeed.

To: German Democratic Republic
From: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Dear comrades,
We wish to arrange a meeting with your glorious and independent people's republic, to tighten the already close ties with your nation, in Moscow. The nature of the position of our two brotherly socialist republics as well as closer military, economic and political ties will also be discussed. We await your further response.

In solidarity,
Aleksandr Koshechkin

To: Scandinavia
From: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Dear Mr. Olof Palme,

We wish to arrange a meeting in Moscow with your glorious, free republic, rid of the imperialistic ambitions of both the United States and the British and French former empires. We seek to have better cooperation with your glorious nation, in both economic and political ties. We believe this to be the best opportunity for the warming of relations between our two countries and await with great anticipation your response.

In solidarity,
Aleksandr Koshechkin.

[New Tuva SSR]

Olof Palme puts on his reading glasses, seldom seen in public. He looks out across Stockholm, all of the lights slowly going down. He turns around back torwards his desk to read tonight's chapter of Marx's manifesto. But something catches his eye - a telegram from a few minutes before. Must have come from when he was in the bathroom. He sits down at his chair and begins to read it. Sensing opportunity, he immediately begins to write back.

To: General Secretary Aleksandr Koshechkin of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
From: Premier Olof Palme of the Scandinavian People's Republic

Dear Mr. Koshechkin,

I would be honored to attend a meeting in Moscow. While an occasional critic of your far back predecessor's policies, that being Stalin, I believe that the Soviet Union has changed for the better. I do believe, however, that we need better relations, which have not yet been established.

But I do not want you to think that I will ever become part of the Soviet bloc, as Scandinavia is fiercely independent and strictly un-aligned. However, I do disprove of the U.S., Britain, and France's constant imperialism and believe that in order to combat it the workers and nations of the world should unite to stop it.

I am in favor of stronger economic and political ties. I want it to be known that Scandinavia and the Soviet Union are the two northern red giants watching over the continent, the puppet masters. I hope to one day prevent all conflict in Europe and on a more global scale, following on my admiree Dag Hammarskjöld's footsteps. And thus, I will join you in Moscow shortly.

[Republic of the Cristo]

Sanandaj, Islamic Republic of Iran

Sanandaj was less of a city, and more of a large town. It was a dry, yet surprisingly cloudy day. People would walk about the streets carrying on with their everyday business as trucks and other vehicles drove by to and from the market. The flag of the Islamic Republic flew proudly in the air above the courthouse, were Sharia was being implemented. Since the Islamic Republic had been installed in this part of Iran, numerous immoral businesses had been shut down; one such business had been a beer factory here in Sanadaj. The factory had remained closed for over a year now, abandoned. Today, however, it was holding a secret meeting between the major military and political heads of the Islamic Republic.

The only indication of there being any activity occurring inside of the abandoned factory would have been numerous sniper teams hundreds of yards away, patrolling the area around the factory. Inside however, numerous heavily armed guards were present. They wore the distinctive Islamic Republic uniforms of dark green. If one were to navigate through a series of hallways, then they would find themselves in the original fermenting part of the facility which now housed as the meeting room. The reason behind such secrecy was because the leaders of the Islamic Republic preferred to have their whereabouts unknown to enemy intelligence.

They sat on ceremonial rugs in a circle, all facing each other. Generals, politicians, revolutionary Imans, tribal emissaries, even the ayatollah himself were present. The ayatollah rocked a little as he sat on the rug. Currently, his generals were discussing strategy. One such general, a clean shaven man with a vaguely Azerbaijan accent was speaking. " We easily have the numbers advantage across the nation. If we were to simply accumulate our forces in a solid strike towards Tehran and claim it, we can declare ourselves the victors of this war." Another one of the generals voice up, " And if in the event that the siege fails; then what? We will have taken a massive blow not only to our man power, but to our prestige as well. Not to mention that while our forces are amassed there, our lands will be easily subject to attack. I say that we push to the south and cut off any aid that they may be receiving from the Ba'athists."

More grumbling occurred before one of the tribal emissaries began to speak. " Both of your strategies" he said with a very distinct Kurdish accent, " pose extremely unnecessary risks for our armies. Marching plainly for the world to see is not what we are known for, and for good reason. With out a sufficient air force to protect our ground forces, marching would prove a suicidal endeavor. What I suggest in turn is that our official military stay here, in the west and prepare. Whilst you prepare, our tribal forces with move in out through the east and south. We are known for our migrations, so little thought will given on the matter. Once we reach our destinations, our tribal forces will begin a massive behind the lines attack on major military and industrial targets, throwing the royalists and the infidel communists into disarray and chaos. As they move in to try and put down our forces, the military that we have left behind begins to push into the land the infidels left behind and capitalize on their chaos."

The circle grumbled again, however this time, it was mostly mentions of agreement. The two other generals seemed unsure of the idea, but before they could voice their opinion, the ayatollah spoke up. " The plan you purpose is one which requires quite a lot from our tribal allies. Do you believe that they are up for the task?" The emissary looked at the holy ayatollah before replying. " We will do anything in God's service." the ayatollah smiled, " Very well then, may God guide you on your journey." And thus, the strategy for victory had been decided by the Islamic state.

[Upiantstan]

Code: Select all

To: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
From: The German Democratic Union

Comrade Aleksandr Koshechki: It would be an honor to visit with our Soviet Brethren. We will quickly send a top Government Official from our nation to yours. It will only further strengthen our bond.

Council of German Leadership

[Kargintina]

United States of America
Part 1: Liberty on Crutches
White House, District of Columbia, United States of America

The usual breeze off the Potomac made the flag over the home of the president wave rapidly in the wind. The building was illuminated by the early night moonlight as the day ended. The pure green front lawn blew in the cool breeze. The recent years had been hard on the United States as the economy was still struggling from Carter and their allies had mostly left them. The only real positive was the split of the Soviet Union and China, who now competing with one another for influence. The American south had been loaded with military forces in recent times in reaction to the spread of the red "plague" across the Caribbean.

The Oval Office was as usual with the President sifting through his papers with no real goal or intent as he thought over the world situation. President Reagan had a speech to give that night to the American people concerning the recent events and the economy. The economy had raised the past two years but it was not raising fast enough to keep up with that of the USSR. The president planned to attempt to ease relations with the European powers who had broken away from NATO in 66'. He finally found his speech paper and began rereading it. He looked up to the picture of the first president of the United States George Washington on the wall. In Washington's time, the British had been an enemy of the United States, and recently it had returned to such terms to an extent.

Three main parties had their say in the US government, often disagreeing with one another. The first was the current ruling party, the Conservative Party. This party had been born from the collapse of the Democratic Party following the Vietnam war. They maintained a staunch anti-communist policy and supported a neo-conservative foreign policy. They are highly conservative on social issues and economics. The party was popular amongst southern and a few north eastern states. President Reagan and Vice President Bush both came from the party and won the last election in 1980 through electoral vote.

Next is the Libertarian or Progressive Party, who came in the second place last election. Also stemming from from the collapse of the Democratic Party, they have been competing with the conservatives for almost a decade. The party had lost initial popular gained post Vietnam when Jimmy Carter was elected president and sent the economy plummeting downwards. It is popular in southern states and Midwestern states, but failed to get even half of the electoral vote from them back in 1980. The Libertarians support a neo-conservative but very diplomatic foreign policy, and support trying to end the Cold War rather than combat Communism. They are very conservative on social issues but very liberal on economics. The current speaker of the house, Tip O'Neill is from the party and has supported many of the former president Jimmy Carter's policies.

Lastly is the Republican Party. The smallest of the three parties in government, it is popular among former southern Libertarians and a few north states like Massachusetts and Maryland. This party was once a major player in politics in a rivalry with the Democratic Party. They support a paleo-conservative view on foreign policy, and they have very liberal social policy and a very conservative economic policy.

President Reagan looked to the paper he had from the Vice President. VPOTUS Bush had gone to visit US soldiers in Kuwait who had been stationed there to discourage the Ba'ath state from trying to gain themselves even more oil, as Kuwait was a major source of oil to the United States along with Saudi Arabia. Israel was also a major US ally in the region but the US did not station many troops there as they could mostly stand on there own. In Europe the United States was also a supporter of the western half of Germany which miraculously had stayed in NATO post 66'. Multiple times had the British tried to get them to leave but they refused.

He went down to meet with the cabinet who were gathered in the usual meeting hall. He took his place at the head of the meeting table to discuss matters with them.

"Mr. President, the highest Army Generals are saying we need to deploy more troops to Kuwait. Currently we have approximately 1,700 troops on the ground there. Reports have estimated the Ba'athists could bring up almost one million men if they wished. The idea of sending troops to Saudi Arabia as well has been discussed and we have decided that nearly 10,000 US troops in total should be deployed to our allies along the Gulf."

"I understand minister, but how do we know that we won't be deploying this men away from home for no reason? How do we know we even need them there? Saudi Arabia and Kuwait both have armies of their own. These men are fathers, sons and brothers and I don't we to send them away from their families and they aren't even needed, or wanted by the local people." The President responded.

"We strongly advise in the increase of forces in the Persian Gulf. The Ba'ath state is considered the largest threat to US interests in the Middle East currently and we fear war may be coming. Vice President Bush has also been strongly supportive of this build up of troops."

"Alright, give the orders to the Chief of Staff. 10,000 troops are too be moved to the Persian Gulf and military supplies to the Saudis and the Kuwaitis are to increase. What of the European situation?"

"Looks all quiet sir, with not much happening. However, some generals have suggested that we try to grow closer to the nations in South America. They could serve as a counter-balance to the Communists in Latin America." The President sat back and took a deep breath.

"Yes. We will attempt to increase our relations with those countries so long we can get something back from it. I fear if we grow closer with Spain we will lose our chances of ever gaining an alliance with Great Britain ever again."

"We do not believe NATO will ever be rebuilt. The Spanish ruined that for us. However we will wait on the matter as the Americas continue to be unstable."


TBD
-Some letters
-Some economic stuff