[IC] [TWI-Only] The League of TWI (Assembly)

[Ter Natiour]

As Ambassador James Soup watched the video, his face scrutinized in anger. He didn't think people would be this stupid. ("Holding hostages and killing protesters? We need to stop this now. Those people need humanitarian aid if a war comes. I know President Dastante won't appreciate me advocating for war, but these people are being abused by the military and we can't stand by and watch people die. We need to fight for Freedom of Speech and Protest.") Ambassador Soup stands up after the video has ended. "It is obvious. We can not wait any longer. We must go to war. We may not know everything but two things can be determined from this Video. One, there was a peaceful gathering and troops attacked them which means there is an oppressive government in Charbagnia. Or Number Two, There was not a peaceful protest, but they wanted independence especially if they are fighting back instead of running for their lives. If there is an oppressive government, we must attack them now for they are attacking civilians and doing mass slaughter instead of arrests. If they are fighting for independence, then it is their right to do so and we should be aiding the people of Charbagnia. Why else was this organization formed? I motion for a move that we sent a force to have the League declare war on Charbagnia. I know my people are willing to die to liberate these people and aid them, especially since we will get flooded with refugees since Ter Natiour is one of the closest nations to Charbagnia. I understand the loss of life will be great, but imagine the loss if The Government of Charbagnia unleashes their weapons. They are willing to unleash Sarin Gas and do you know what that does to you? *looks around the room, staring at people for a couple seconds, then moving onto the next person, and so forth* It makes up twitch and jerk uncontrollably, knocks you out, and suffocates you. Imagine if you will, someone taking a pillow to your face, holding it down while you struggle to escape and breathe. At least in that scenario, you can fight back. Here, you cannot. I rather have us attack them now then have Charbagnia attack us and have us slowly die because we didn't stop them when we should have.

[Belle Ilse en Terre]

Edmond shuddered. He was not unused to violence, but was disconcerted by the slaughter. He then smiled wryly. "Perhaps it is time to react more forcefully?" he asked, only half concealing his sarcasm, aware that the Ilsan ambassadors to the League tended to be thought of as hasty and favouring force to impose political ends. He knew this was true, Edmond himself general favoured intervention; he therefore let some of his sarcasm appear, while blunting it partially out of natural sensibility.

[Negarakita]

Purnama scanned the room for their reactions. While what had been seen was clearly horrific, he did not wish to set precedents.

"What we have seen here is horrific, but I do not believe tbis justifies an intervention. Both sides here used weapons. We saw protesters firing at the police. So while this was clearly a heavy handed response lethal force was not an overreaction against armed rioters. It's not like other nations haven't killed protesters."

At this last statement he looked at the Svalbardian delegate. He paused and continued when he was ready.

"I believe that this warrants a serious condemnation, and request for an apology. We cannot plow headlong into any nation which acts badly once. Especially if these were violent protests. Far more information is needed than one photograph."

He sat down, fully expecting some angry rebuttal.

[Atnaia]

Barburj turned to Soup. "The League is not a military alliance. It does not march to war. Your table thumping militarism misses the point so succinctly put by Delegate Purnama. The protestors were not peaceful. They were armed and dangerous. While the military forces may have stepped over a line, so too did the protestors. Not every people who claim independence deserve it, or could be safely trusted with it."

He scratched his cheek. "The League declare war...ridiculous. Not only does it teample the sovereignty of Charbagnia, it treats the sovereignty of member nations as something to be ignored. You clearly have no understanding of the League's purpose. It's to provide for peace, not to act as a strong-armed thug for the neoliberal ideals of a few."

[Noronica]

Rodger frowned, militarism was going to push him over the edge as he needed to form anger slowly. The video was meant to serve to get the ball rolling among other events so Noronica could cosy up to others and incite war individually. It appeared that he widely underestimated as even one person wanting to act irrationally could give Atnaia (and it appeared Negarakita) to denounce future military action and perhaps influence countries that were ‘on the fence’.

“I must again find a middle ground honourable delegates, as while the declaration of war from a peaceful organisation no less is something to prevent. The League is no place for warmongering. However, as a peaceful organisation, I must ask my fellow delegates to join Noronica in strongly condemning the attacks and all other accounts of violence against Charbagnian people. I hope that we may sanction Charbagnia for its continual aggressive behaviour and its frequent abuses of human rights.”

Rodger hopes that this would unify others to his cause and would allow him to slowly build favour to war rather than to climax early.

[Atnaia]

Barburj waved a hand. "I by no means think nothing should be done," he said. "However, economic sanctions could very well doom the very people you profess to want to aid."

[Ter Natiour]

Ambassador Soup stands up again and says, "I will respond to the Honorable Delegates of Negarakita and Noronica first. A condemnation will only hold off the inevitable. It's a slap on the hand. Charbagnia will use it's weapons eventually, but the question is, against who? Charbagnia will have the urge to test it's weapons and they will find a reason to declare war on someone. It has been seen in history and repeated over and over again. Also about the protests, they were armed, but isn't a show of strength? I'll admit that we do need to investigate more, but the longer we wait, the stronger Charbagnia will get, since they will most likely be preparing for war as we speak. North Korea is an example, the United Nations have placed sanctions upon sanctions on them, but North Korea has only grown stronger in it's programs. Charbagnia may not be like them in most ways, but they will be alike in that one aspect."

He takes a breath, closes his eyes, and then opens them on Barburj, glaring at him. Soup speaks with a hint of anger.

"Now I speak to you Delegate of Atnaia, if I heard you correctly, you say that not everyone deserves freedom from oppression. Now if they were to rise up, you just said they shouldn't be trusted. The British Empire had many colonies around the world, some amongst the Western Isles, those colonies are now self-governing, but most of them rebelled through one way or another. The United States of America rebelled and look at them now. They have wealth, freedom, and take care of its people. India rebelled and has a substantial amount of power. China has had several rebellions in it's history, they now have a huge economy with a large amount of power in the world. Will you tell them that they have no right to rule? No one can say that, because who are we to judge? We all have our problems. Atnaia couldn't even hold onto it's colonies. It lost Wellsia who is now a strong nation. But I bet you would've thought they were unfit to rule since it was pirates who seized control of that territory from you.

Now on the question of invading a nation's sovereignty, would you please explain to me how else we would hand out aid, send out peacekeepers. What I mean to say is please explain how we get things done if a nation does not want our support.

Now about the thugs led by neo liberals" *is cut off by an aid whispering into his ear* "Never mind." He smiles a fake smile. "So you say we shouldn't go to war, but we shouldn't have sanctions. So what should we do? Honestly, (His voice gets louder and louder by the end of the sentence) I'm just worried about being my people being nuked in a few weeks because Charbagnia has a weapons program that will do that and they've unleashed sarin gas!!! (His voice becomes quiet again and calm" Now, what do we do? What do you suggest we do?

*he receives a message from an aid* "I apologize. My nation does not want war, but economic sanctions to be placed on Charbagnia to try to force them to stop their programs. We support the Honorable Delegate of Noronica. But what do you suggest Honorable delegate of Atnaia?"

[Polar Svalbard]

Stephanie folded her hands, the death and destruction didn't bother her much. She had seen humans be horrible creatures to each other across her entire career as a diplomat. None-the-less though it was her time to respond. She looked towards the Noronican Delegate, "Thank you Rodger for being able to procure this video. Give your intelligence service Polar Svalbard's best. This video is certainly eye-opening although it does not give the League a clear cut way to proceed with this. On one hand we see a regime that has no qualms with killing its own citizens, yet at the same time we see a violent populace. Now I know that there have been many independence movements before, but there have also been just as many, if not more, acts of terrorism under the guise of rebellion. There is a fine line between Freedom Fighters and Terrorists. It is a line that we as diplomats debate every day, and it is a line that has extreme consequences for which side one lands on. The League cannot completely act until we can decide on which side of the line these protestors fall on."

Stephanie stood, looking around the room, "I would suggest that the League collectively condemns the current regime actions in how it handled the protests, but states that it would like to work closely with the current government to determine a solution to the current civil unrest that the nation faces. The League's member nations should also halt any and all trade in the form of munitions and arms, ships, airplanes, chemicals, and nuclear material. Under no circumstances should League nations use foodstuffs and medicine as tools in an embargo. Along with that, any nations that have defensive pacts or what constitutes an alliance with Charbagnia should nullify these agreements until the League states that Charbagnia has effectively dealt with the civil unrest it faces."

Stephanie looked towards Rodger and then Barburj, "In the end, Polar Svalbard would like to see a Charbagnia that doesn't have WMDs and one that does not have civil unrest like this. We would be fine with the current regime staying or being deposed, but for now we'd like to stay with the option that ensures the most stability. We must remember that the main focus of the League to provide Peace and Security around the Isles. We cannot blatantly go around causing havoc or trying to start wars like Ambassador Soup wishes. I must say Ambassador though," Stephanie turns towards the Ter Natiour Delegate, "You must have read the League's charter. We are foremost an organization that seeks to keep stability in the Isles, we cannot be so severly biased in how fast we jump to sides. Protestors are not always the good guys, if there even are good guys in these situations."

Stephanie finally sat down after stating where Polar Svalbard stands.

[Belle Ilse en Terre]

"Perhaps, delegates, it is time to reconsider a proposal from our delegation which was previously discarded on the grounds of its ostensible excessive nature; a show of force and solidarity of League members in the form of a naval task force, coupled with general condemnations and possibly sanctions."

Edit: adding a quotation mark

[Negarakita]

As soon as the absurdity of being harrangued by militaristic man named Soup wore off, Purnama stood to talk again.

"You speak so eloquently of the dangers of inaction, yet you give no proof that a war will succeed any better. Many nations are intervened in for similar sights as the ones we have seen today, yet how are these states today? They are in a far worse shape. This assembly is divided, how will it be able to muster an army and then rule the shell of a nation created? Who will be taking in the hundreds of thousands of refugees?

And you mention the British. Our nation freed ourselves of their grasp, yet we did not do this by shooting policemen and rioting. Violent revolution causes failed states and autocracy. Our state is an example of how dialogue is able to achieve far more than any conflict.

The fact of the matter is that conflict is not at all desirable to any nations here. The second imperial war rages in the region. Why throw gasoline into the flames? My nation depends on trade to operate. How can we operate when the world is at war? The only nations that want a war that will kill off the civilians they claim to protect are ones who aim to personally benefit from the invasion. They desire political influence over Charbagnia.

This war will not be led by the league. The league is divided an inefficient for such an administrative program. It will be led by MSTO, the regional military powers. They have much to gain from this conflict, bearing in mind that it gives them a fortress in the east. This will not be the will of the Charbagnian people. The main resistance groups are left wing. You really think MSTO will support those groups?

I am glad that your government has seen the light and reigned your militarism in like a hound on a leash. War will cause no benefit no any nation.

But what can we do instead? As mentioned, sanctions target the people not the regime. They are siege warfare and cruel. I suggest that we use not the stick but the carrot. Offer Charbagnia a summit where they can come to terms with the league. Atnaia has strong trade ties to the nation, they can facilitate it. Offer them incentives for good behaviour and we will see a improvement. People prefer to be encouraged rather than punished."

Purnama nodded his agreement to the Svalbardian delegate, thoroughly impressed and surprised by their response that carried none of the expected interventionism.

"The measures proposed by the Honourable Delegate of Polar Svalbard are fair and are supported by Negarakita."

[Atnaia]

"Delegate Soup, you are clearly blind to the point I was attempting to make," Barburj's cheshire smile gleamed. Fools like these were the perfect tool in the acquisition of goals like Atnaia's. "My point was twofold. Firstly, that not every group of people deserves independence simply because they ask for it. There are matters of self-governance, infrastructure and capacity to take into account. If we threw our lot in with every Tom, Dick and Harry who claimed independence, it would be a matter of months before there weren't any nations left. Every terror group with a grudge would suddenly be a nation with all that entails. Instead, it is better to try and find diplomatic solutions to find a common ground than to take a hacksaw to every map. Not everything boils down to oppressor/oppressed dichotomies and simplifying the world into such black and white morality is a dangerous game to play."

Barburj tapped his finger on a table. "Secondly, my point was that the League is not a military organization. It does not declare war. It is not a military alliance. So what you are suggesting is absolutely ridiculous and proves that you have no understanding of the organization you have joined. So swift to sling angry words and vitriol without educating yourself on such basic matters...it does not speak well to your nation's diplomatic capacity, I must say, and should make every nation present more than a little wary that your gut reaction is invasion by a peacekeeping organization."

"As for Atnaia's history, I see no relevance in our former holding of Wellsia, nor what sounds like an analysis of someone who skimmed a third grade textbook. It was centuries ago and bears zero similarities to the Charbagnian situation. I don't know what point you were trying to prove, or if you were trying to throw it in my face, but a two centuries old embarrassment of a long-since-passed Atnaian government holds no bearing on me or my nation. You assume continuity where there is none."

He took a sip of water, smiling all the while. "There are still diplomatic solutions at hand that do not involve your paranoid posturing. Charbagnia is not going to suddenly nuke you. Weinreb is not some insane cartoon villain with dreams of ending life on Earth. He is a sane man, willing to discuss matters peacefully, as has already been proven. My people walked into his office, asked for him to release the investigators, and he saw reason and released them. Not one of you has once suggested actually speaking with the Charbagnian government, asking them here to present their case, or pursuing diplomatic overtures. Even the sending in of investigators was pursued at the end of a stick. For an organization that is supposed to be about peace, the League certainly ignores any methods that don't kick hornets nests. I wonder how much of what has happened would have been mitigated with a cool, measured approach and overtures of discussion and diplomacy. Polar Svalbard's suggestion and that of Negarakita are the nearest thing to reasonable yet put forward. Send peacekeepers if you wish, but they should not be siding with either group and should instead attempt to aid unaligned civilians and those harmed by the conflict."

[Ter Natiour]

For several minutes, a couple aids and Soup whisper to each other and eventually Soup smiles and stands up.
"Honorable Delegate of Atnaia. You are right. Thank you for helping to open my eyes Purnama and Barburj. " *he sits down and thinks about how stupid he was advocating for war and how stupid he was in his speeches when it would only ever get worse as well as how long before he is fired.*

[Thuzbekistan]

"I see that through all the warmongering talk and how bad one action is, you have yet to come to any conclusions besides what you will not do," Asim said finally. "I believe a response to this situation should be two-fold, as the Atnaian delegate would say. First the summit and, failing that, a bout of sanctions that affect the government of such a nation. Firstly, focus on weapons and nuclear energies, things of that nature. Secondly, freeze the oversea assets of government officials and generals. It is the simplest way of getting the point across without deploying any navies."

[Belle Ilse en Terre]

“Freezing assets is more agressive than making a show of ships. So is focusing on their weapons of mass destruction. Showing the navy inflicts little lasting damage, and even prefaces peace talks perfectly. Threatening to freeze assets will warn them, allowing them time to retrieve such assets. The economic results of such investments may also adversely affect the ordinary, innocent citizens.”

[Athara Magarat]

Garbuja Hang walked to the conference room. When he had been there last tome, he had announced Athara Magarat's withdrawl from the League. Now he was there to join the League again.

"Greetings, our nation would like to re-enter the League as a member nation. Our greviances are still there but we have come to the fact (after the Anti-Pacifism Movement) that joining the League will be necessary for international relations. Now if you have objections, may I have a seat?"

(OOC: With Bhikkustan case gone, we no longer have any valid reason to not be in the League.)

[Thuzbekistan]

"As I said, delegate, this is failing the path of encouragement suggested by our colleagues. The summit would be for them to negotiate with us directly. If they continue harming their civilians in obviously heavy handed manners, then we will have to get the point across somehow and a condemnation from the League hardly matters. Hitting the Autocrats in the pocketbooks without harming the people through economic sanction is the best route in General. Also, I believe you have had war declared on you for a minor naval encounter. Obviously, a show of force with ships is hardly a peaceful ordeal."

[Athara Magarat]

"If we are talking of any action to be done, I suggest we place our faith on Noronica and Atnaia. After all, except for them, none of us have tried talking to Weinreb. So the rest of can as well keep silent for a while and allow Mr Barburj and Mr Rodger to put forth their solutions and come to an agreement fir a fruitful resolution."

"Athara Magarat is a member of the League now, right?"

[Belle Ilse en Terre]

“Welcome back, Honourable delegate,” said Edmond, feigning an insincere smile to Garbuja Hang, “perhaps you might consider staying permanently?”

He then turned to the Thuzbek delegate. “I might suggest that the honourable Thuzbek delegate discover the origins of the tragic occurence, and find that fighting started almost a month ere now. But I am flattered that the Thuzbek delegate envisions the Ilse leading such a persuasive force; it would likely be headed by a more numerous and better known international force.

As for the dismissal of my objections regarding asset freezing, it is likely that the net result will offend the Charbagnian government more than anything. They will probably raise taxes in responce, further injuring their subjects.

Furthermore, the fleet visit is hardly violent, and could only become so if Charbagnia decides to attack, which is almost impossible, if Delegate Barburj’s sketches are to be believed.”

[Thuzbekistan]

"If you say so, Delegate," Asim said as he sighed. "I don't believe that taxes being raised are an issue considering those would be long term affects to a short term goal. For the time being, the Charbs would only be forced to listen. However, I will not object to both the asset forfeiture and the naval visit. My nation has no interest in the outcome, only an opinion on the matter."

[Atnaia]

"Weinreb won't attack," Barburj said. "He has no intent to launch nukes at his neighbours. That does not mean we should antagonize him by plopping ships on his doorstep. If a man with a shotgun stood outside your door, you'd be rightfully concerned about his intentions and might take efforts to defend yourself. I, for one, see it as needlessly hostile. The fact of the matter is is that Charbagnia is concerned primarily with its internal issues. Agree with them or disagree with them, they are not a marauding horde out to start invading their neighbours or provoking nuclear Armageddon. There are far better ways of handling this than embroiling the League in military efforts which, I will be very clear, Atnaia will absolutely refuse to partake in. I, for one, do not want to set this as our precedent. The League is a diplomatic organization, not a military one. I have distinct problems with the overwhelming disregard for national sovereignty that these discussions show. Fortress Atnaia may not be an organization that any of you respect, but they have a distinct point: the League cannot continue to operate as an organization that sees the sovereignty of nations, member or otherwise, as an obstacle to overcome as opposed to a right to defend."

[Thuzbekistan]

"And the solution you would propose is what, Honorable Delegate?"

[Atnaia]

"I already proposed one," Barburj said. "Diplomatic discussions. Invite the Charbagnians here. Send peacekeepers without taking a side in the conflict. There's about a million things to do before shaking a stick at them."

[Negarakita]

"Wain janahoo lilssalmi faijnah laha watawakkal AAala Allahi innahu huwa alssameeAAu alAAaleemu (And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing.),"

Purnama recited this ayah quietly.

"If they incline to peace, so too does Negarakita. A diplomatic summit is the only way and we would volunteer to host it as a neutral party."

[Belle Ilse en Terre]

“Their past actions indicate a desire for other things beside peace, notably abuse of sovereignty and of the League. However, I believe the best proving ground will be their response to a resolution providing for further talks and the sending of peace keepers.”

[Verdon]

"The only way forward is to invite the Charbagnians here, as Barburj has suggested. We do not have enough information - Partly because our investigators were detained. We are running off of speculation and unreliably leaked documents."

"Besides," Robert paused, "I would very much like to hear the justification behind the Corindi investigator's death."