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Trending Stories -- Ulthrannic Tobia Threat -- Anthor-Belhavian Exercises -- New Tarsan Naval Weapon -- Raid in Callis -- Rodar-Belfras Spat

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Vice-President Grossman: Livrichese-Ulthrannic Remarks "Outrageous", "Threat To Global Peace"

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_{Pictured: Vice-President Jacob Grossman, center, addresses domestic and foreign press this morning.}

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Provisa Establishment Puts Aside Domestic Fights, Unite On Foreign-Policy Front In Face of Ulthrannic Comments
^{January 14th, 2015| By Elazar Cohen (ecohen@aij.org) (AIJ) | 6:35am EDT}

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PROVISA, BELHAVIA — This morning, the Presidential Palace dispatched Vice-President Jacob Grossman to condemn yesterday's remarks by Livrichese and Ulthrannic leaders that Ulthrannia aims to forcefully retake foreign territories in Southwest Ashize, in particular, Belhavia's Tobia, Belfras's Deinden Islands, and Arthurista's Tarangyika. Grossman called such ambitions "outrageous" and "dangerous," asserting that "such unilateral aggression against the sovereign territories of Belhavia and her allies is a threat to global peace, stability, and bilateral treaties. These threats will not be tolerated." He pivoted, saying, "Tobia is not New Pontus. If the recent illegal annexation of Eaglelander territory by Ankara is some sort of inspiration to the Ulthrannic Empire, they will be sadly mistaken if they dare move against sovereign Belhavian or allied lands."

The Imperial Foreign Ministry noted additional comments to the press, saying, "Tobia has been sovereign Belhavian land for over 250 years. Over 90% of its population are Belhavian citizens, and a supermajority are ethnic Jews. Under no objective set of facts can Tobia be described as 'Ulthrannic' or 'Livrichese'. The Livrichese head of state's remarks have no factual basis."

Foreign Minister Daniel Nobelstein put out a statement, saying, "The Empire of Belhavia thoroughly and completely condemns the remarks by Ulthrannic Vicar de Fey as radical, extremist, and absurd. His and his subordinates' continued stated threats - explicit or implicit - against Belhavia and/or her allies, will lead to a major re-evaluation of relations between our two countries. Considering both our nations enjoy strong economic, diplomatic, financial, and trade ties, Vicar de Fey's endorsement of illegal aggression against Belhavian crown territories, particularly Tobia, is disturbing and, frankly, outrageous. Civilized leaders do not act in such a reckless manner."

Military Officials: Threat Serious But Not Overwhelming

When news broke in the global press concerning the Ulthrannic-Livrichese controversial remarks towards Southwest Ashizwe, military chat rooms reacted swiftly, with Belhavian soldiers and officers discussing potential military conflicts if Ulthrannia acted on its leaders' veiled threats. At one officers' club, several high-ranking officers fell to the floor in laughter after hearing the reported speech. However, most took the news seriously.

"A potential conflict in the Far East could be a serious matter," retired Rear Admiral Benjamin Adler, a naval tactics professor at the Freeport Military Academy, opined. "Ulthrannia still operates a bloated Navy force and has bases of operation closer to the lands at risk than we do, but Belhavia and [her allies] also have quite a few fleets stationed in the East. If anything, the CDI likely has the naval edge while Ulthrannia has an advantage in terms of ground forces. The war, if it arose, would likely stagnant fairly soon after unless more powers joined in or one side backed down."

Major General Howard "Howie" Schatz, a senior commander attached to the Imperial Army's Tobia garrison command, told local media that "[W]e have long had contingencies built on a scenario where Ulthrannia might attack Tobia, and I can tell you with much confidennce that Imperial and CDI firepower and fortifications here can hold the line against any Ulthrannic attack. " Echoing Grossman's words, he suggested, "This isn't New Pontus. We aren't in a strategically vulnerable area, nor will we be cut off from friendly aid if such a conflict ever took off."

Markets Spooked At Rising Geopolitical Tensions, War Talk

The global markets reacted badly to yesterday's remarks, with both major stock indices in Belhavia as well as in Ulthrannia closing down yesterday with losses between 2% - 4%. Nervous floor traders and institutional investors in the Provisa Stock Exchange have started to drop Ulthrannic companies' stock, anticipating further geopolitical actions.

Stocks fell across the board in the shipping and agribusiness sectors, both of which have strong stakes in a conflict-free Tobia. Greenstein Foods Co., a major Tobia food exporter, saw its shares drop by 22% by close of the bell yesterday.

Leaders Across Political Spectrum Slam Ulthrannic Remarks

Senate President and Majority Leader Ian Settas (C-Provisa), thought to be a likely 2016 presidential candidate, hit the remarks as "brazen and audacious in scope" and "uniformly built on a house of cards - the idea that they can ever conquer another country's sovereign territory. Tobia isn't up for grabs, and we will not be abandoning our crown territory in face of this ridiculous threat."

Senator Adrian Kalian (C-West Dakos), a renown hawk and Chairman of the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, was harsher. "We've known for some time that [Ulthrannic Vicar] de Fey is an expansionist, ultranationalist nut. If he thinks in his wildest dreams he can eject the CDI member-states from their sovereign lands, he is delusional. I hope adult and reasonable leadership can reassert itself in Los Reyes, least Ulthrannia lose a key geopolitical and economic partner over a few extremists' asinine visions."

When asked over possible options if Ulthrannia attempts to pursue such ambitions, Kalian was categorical. "Everything's on the table. Military force to defend our sovereign lands, economic and diplomatic sanctions, OPA condemnations, you name it, we'll consider it."

Asked if peace was an option, Kalian paused and then answered. "We have had peace up until now. The only way we'll have peace is if these Ulthrannic radicals' abandon their foolhardy visions."

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 TOBIA CRISIS

• Senate Lib Dems, Tories: We'll Authorize Emergency Funds To Beef Up Tobia Defenses If Military Requests It [ 14 ]
• Foreign Ministry Source: Belhavia's Allies Pledge Aid If Conflict Erupts Over SW Ashizwe [ 341 ]
• Belhavian Military's Threat Level Upped; Far East Garrisons Put On Higher Alert [ 3 ]
• Anthor-Belhavian Naval Exercises Kickoff Near Tobia Amid Ulthrannic Threat To Southwest Ashizwe [ 749 ]
• Undervalue-centric Investors Eye Devalued Ulthrannic Stocks As Good Deal [ 114 ]

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Trending Stories -- Oured Agreement -- Bogoria Conflict -- Prestonian Embassy Hostage Crisis -- Ankara OPA Resolution -- Niyerian Coup

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In Unsurprising Move, OPA Overwhelmingly Passes AU Sanctions To World's Applause

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_{Pictured: An Ankaran oil platform, in the northeastern Central Ocean.}

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Emmerian-Proposed AU Sanctions Resolution Passes With Large Cross-Bloc Support In Rebuke To Islamist Pariah State's Invasion of New Pontus Last Fall
^{March 7th, 2015| By Elazar Cohen (ecohen@aij.org) (AIJ) | 12:03pm EDT}

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PROVISA, BELHAVIA — This morning, OPA Resolution 13 - an Emmerian-proposed sanctions bill for the Ankaran Union's invasion and annexation of the Eaglerlander territory of New Pontus this past fall - passed with an overwhelming 83% of aye votes from the world's nation-states. In total, 23 nations voted aye to 3 nays and 4 absences. The resolution creates an internationally-recognized, -controlled, and -mandated regime of targeted economic sanctions against the Ankaran Union, an Islamist pariah state in western Akkadiya, which aim to disrupt the Ankaran energy sector, the chief economic engine of the country. Ankara is the 7th largest oil producer in the POPE energy organization and is estimated to have the fourth largest energy reserves of any nation in Pardes.

Resolution's Votes Crossed Geopolitical Blocs

The Organization of Pardesi Affairs, a global international entity created to be a fair and impartial arbiter of world affairs and disputes, has always been divided along geopolitical lines. In the Cold War of the last century, it was between the Anti-Communist World (an alliance of Free Pardes and Authoritarian Pardes, the forerunners to today's CDI and RCO) and the Communist World, called by their alliance name of the Koskazgan Cooperative, or "KosCo." Since KosCo's collapse in 2001, OPA has been beset by new fault lines between the CDI ("Central Defense Initiative") and the RCO ("Romula Cooperation Organization") and its predecessor, PECA. In the last year or so, the rise of OSEN ("Organization of South East Nations") as a swing, third-party power has complicated the CDI-RCO dynamic. These three blocs comprise most of the OPA member-states, and most resolution fights come down to one bloc allying with another and trying to peel off defectors from the third.

The resolution received 23 affirmative votes for passage. All of the CDI bloc voted aye, except for Anthor, which failed to vote. All of OSEN also voted aye, along with most of the few "independents" in the chamber - powers such as Tippercommon or Havenwalde, which are not generally thought to be aligned with any of the three blocs. The RCO bloc splintered - three voted nay (Rodarion, Estovakiva, and Ulthrannia), one aye (Arcevia, an "independent" nation that leans towards the RCO), and one absent at voting (Tarsas).

The resolution built its strength on an alliance of the CDI and OSEN blocs, with the independents and a RCO defector bolstering their ranks.

RCO Bloc Splinters

The RCO bloc's splinter perplexed watchers of the international organization. Rodarion's vote was unsurprising, given its trade ties with the AU and its longstanding perspective of "national sovereignty" in global affairs, with the idea of a Social Darwinist international relations regime where nations must compete primarily using force to achieve their national and global interests.

However, Estovakiva's vote surprised OPA analysts. Ankara's position as the 7th largest oil producer means its collapse opens up a hole for Estovakiva and other POPE states to increase oil export sales, an economic boon. Dr. Isaac Ben-Lev, a foreign policy researcher with economist training who works for the Center for Global Studies in Dakos, Belhavia, and frequently comments on OPA affairs, opined that "the Estovakivan vote is contrary to its rational economic interests. Every logical economic calculus should have demonstrated to Estovakiva's leaders that the fall of Ankara would open up new opportunities for its own oil export interests. I think the most likely answer to Estovakiva's head-scratching move may be ideological and institutional, though POPE is not an alliance. One must wonder how Cinigrad would prioritize a symbolic ideological point over real economic gains from the withdrawal of Ankara from the energy markets."

Ulthrannia's nay vote came after days of behind-the-scenes negotiations where the Akkadiyan power had seesawed between voting aye or nay. Considering the Islamist pariah state's open hostility towards Ulthrannic interests in the Near East, one might have supposed the vote would be, to use a common Emmerian sports reference, a "slam dunk" to vote aye. Indeed, sources out of Los Reyes report that the Emperor of Ulthrannia, Carlos X, favored such an outcome. However, ultranationalist and staunch RCO advocate, Vicar Octavio de Fey, and his allies in the Grand Assembly, endeavored to have the nation vote nay. The day before the vote, Ulthrannia was on track to vote aye; yet, at the last minute, a vote held in the Ulthrannic national legislature justified Vicar de Fey to instruct the Ulthrannic OPA representative to vote nay with Rodarion.

Tarsas proved another exception. The northwestern Akkadiyan nation has long held local hegemony over parts of western Akkadiya, and has fought with Ankara to ensure its regional dominance. Tarsan leaders signaled its support of the resolution to the delegates of Belhavia, who passed the message on to Emmeria. However, for public relations reasons, the Tarasans could not afford to break with its RCO allies, so it declined to be present at voting time.

Arcevia, an isolationist autocracy in Centrum, is not formally apart of the RCO but has long been aligned with the RCO bloc over shared international geopolitics. It, however, voted aye. The Arcevian representative told the press that "the UAR [United Arcevian Republics] believe that Ankara's actions are illegal, and that there needs to be retribution for its illegal annexation of rightfully Eaglelander sovereign territory."

Outcome of the Resolution's Passage

Already, within hours of passage, the Ankaran Union's leader, Kilavuz Ekrem Kader, denounced the move and sought to rally his people against the coming sanctions regime.

Murmurs from RCO circles suggest Rodarion, Anikatia (a leading OSEN nation with strong economic ties to the AU), and possibly Estovakiva intend to stall and delay OPA 0013 in a rear-guard attempt to undermine the resolution. Anikatia, in particular, only voted aye after Emmeria granted several of its amendments to the resolution in last-minute negotiations. This sealed the support from OSEN bloc, which brought the resolution within striking range of passing. However, despite voting with the supermajority, Anikatian military and trade interests are at stake considering its longstanding energy and military deals with the Islamist pariah state. Undermining the resolution might enable Anikatia to salvage a profit from the AU before sanctions are imposed, several geopolitical economic analysts believe.

However, watchers of Estovakiva suggest that, having made its ideological point, Cinigrad is likely to pivot and take full advantage of Ankara's about-to-crash energy exports, which would disincline it to meddle with the resolution's enforcement.

"The resolution's passage with near-unanimous support sends a signal across Pardes that there are consequences for illegal seizure of another nation's sovereign lands," Ben-Lev concludes.

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 INTERNATIONAL

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• Foreign Ministry: Rise of Prestonia As Neutral Arbiter "Most Welcome" [ 35 ]
• OPA Res. 13's Sanctions To Be Phased In Starting Tomorrow, Emmerian Sources Say [ 441 ]
• Economists Cast Doubt On Rodarian Claims Of Becoming Largest GDP In 2016 [ 99 ]
• Eaglelander, Emmerian Political Cartoonists Mock Surprising Estovakivan OPA Vote In Sunday Sketches [ 1002 ]

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OPINION: Ulthrannia's Vicar the Most-Loathed Man In Pardes

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_{Pictured: Octavio de Fey, Vicar of Ulthrannia.}

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Op-Ed: Why Ulthrannia's Fresh-faced Vicar Is Disliked By Nearly Every World Government
^{March 16th, 2015| By Dovid Adelstein (Op-Ed Contributor) | 9:31pm EDT}

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Editor's note: Dovid Adelstein is a well-respected political scientist and professor at the Abramowicz School of Foreign Affairs at Imperial Provisa University.

There is perhaps no world leader more disliked, held in contempt, and regularly ridiculed than Ulthrannia's head of government, Vicar Octavio de Fey. He is the Grand Empire of Ulthrannia's boyishly good-looking young reformer, who rode a wave of domestic discontent to win the Vicarship in July 2014. He was the hope of the Ulthrannic ultranationalist far-right, leading their Hijos de la Oro ("Sons of the Golden Empire") party to victory. Once he took the reigns of power, that is when the problems began. Just fast-forward to today.

Internally, he is a strikingly-polarizing figure. His own Emperor, Carlos X, reportedly cannot stand him and jokes often about the "de Fey disease." Ditto for Manuel Cedeno, the head of Ulthrannia's powerfully independent intelligence service. The Ulthrannic left and center dislike him, and even the center-right has become increasingly critical of him. And that is just in his own country. Allies of Ulthrannia across the world in alliances and organizations such as the Romula Cooperative Organization (RCO) fare little better.

Romula has signaled its contempt for his grandiose statements in global affairs that have been followed by little action so far. One close confidant of Rodarian Consul Octavian Ceausescu told media last month that "[W]e have begun to think of our friend in the East [De Fey] as a bit of a disappointment. He says one thing, but never follows through. How can we depend on him to act if he repeatedly fails to do so?" Particularly scathing to the Rodarians is de Fey's almost open-secret desire to leave the RCO and have Ulthrannia go its own way in world affairs.

His nation's nominal ally through the RCO, Tarsas, a contentious former centuries-old archenemy, still loathes him in public, despite Romula's public proclamations of Tarsan-Ulthrannic renewed harmony and peaceful co-existence. "Vicar de Fey is no friend of the Enlightened Empire," a deputy Foreign Minister in Civitas Tarsae declared to reporters three months ago when tensions flared between the two old-time rival powers. "If that expansionist radical continues to rail for the Disputed Zones back under Los Reytes' unilateral hegemony, I expect the peace between us will collapse. Ulthrannia under de Fey does not know what 'peace' even means."

And that's just his friends and allies. It gets worse from there.

Belhavia, a leading global power with extensive Far East interests, with whom Ulthrannia had long enjoyed a cordial part-partnership, part-rivalry, has turned cold and hostile. When de Fey supported Livrichese efforts to threaten Belhavian and allied territories in Southwestern Ashizwe, Provisa personally and publicly slammed de Fey as "radical, extremist, and absurd" and his conduct as "disturbing and, frankly, outrageous." Arthurista's leaders, in a similar vein, have reportedly called the Vicar behind closed-doors a "bloody lunatic," "dog-house mad idiot," and "petty despot with megalomaniacal delusions."

In Emmeria, the Ulthrannic Vicar is viewed with mixed feelings. "De Fe is our most powerful ally and our worst enemy in Los Reyes. On one hand, he supports Ulthrannian withdrawal from the RCO in contradiction to the Emperor, a necessary force to oppose the emperor's fanaticism. On the other, de Fe is outright dangerous. If he were let off the leash he'd be the next conquistador. He has power and he has ambitions. And that is a deadly combination," said an anonymous senior Vaziri Administration official, who was not authorized to discuss the President's and his inner circle's views on the man, to the Emmerian media outlet United Press in February.

But it is not just Central Defense Initiative (CDI) powers who feel that way. The leadership in Cata Larga hates the man, fearing his ambitions would see the seacoast-based trading power annexed back into the Ulthrannic Empire. Political watchers in Puerte-de-Liberete believe the Commonwealth's Director-General, ia Klerka, nodded towards de Fey when he told Ashizwean media last week that "Ulthrannic aggression is dangerous to us, dangerous to Ashizwe, and dangerous to the world, and certain individuals within the Ulthrannic government who support such actions ought to be educated on proper behavior in the modern world." Pointedly, when a CataLarguenese delegation arrived in Los Reyes for diplomatic meetings, they refused to meet with the Vicar. Instead, they arranged a sit-down with Carlos X.

Anikatia's top leaders, long influential members of the Organization of South East Nations (OSEN) and intermediaries between the CDI and RCO, dislike de Fey. The new Prime Minister reportedly liked de Fey's domestic education reforms but worries over his Ashizwean and broader Far East ambitions. Her deputy Prime Minister, right-leaning Nikolai Tretyakov, was more emphatic, denouncing the Ulthrannic head of government as "foolishly failing to deal with his country's internal problems and has dangerously turned to neocolonialism abroad to distract his home audience from their troubles."

And the list goes on. So why is Vicar Octavio de Fey so intensely disliked abroad by his fellow global leaders? It can't simply be his ultranationalism and expansionist rhetoric. After all, Rodarion's Octavian Ceauescu, despite all his controversial global moves in recent months, has the respect and friendship of many world leaders. So what is it?

It comes down to perceptions of psychological sanity, reasonableness, and credibility. The universal theme for the global leaders community's distaste of de Fey has more to due with perception's of the man's state of mind than anything else. When he declares Ulthrannic ambitions for a 21st-century Reconquesta, his fellow peers readily believe he's reckless enough to do it. Unlike the Ulthrannic emperor and his intel chief, de Fey has struck many among the heads of state and government across Pardes as patently unreasonable. And to the Rodarions and his fellow RCO allies, he's been categorically lacking in credibility.

Despite the ebb and flow of global geopolitics, leaders have relied upon sanity, reasonableness, and credibility as the touchstones - the foundation, you could say - of maintaining global order, stability, and peace. While Rodarion's Consul concerned leaders across Free Pardes and OSEN, they believe that he is sane, credible, and at his core, at least marginally reasonable - and thus they do not fear a world war when Ceausescu talks about putting ground troops in Bogoria or expanding the RCO's force projection into the Akkadiya Ocean. Because at the end of the day, his peers believe - with good evidence - that he is a man they can deal with. A man who is intelligent, cunning, and plays by the rules of the game known as world geopolitics. The same cannot be said for De Fey. And that is why he's the most-loathed man by his fellow global leaders. He's a character set apart from the rest. And as long as he behaves as he has been these past six months, he can expect more of the same.

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• Opinion: Rodarion GDP Projections Over-Optimistic, Misleading Romula For 2016 Surprise [ 373 ]

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Trending Stories -- Plowy Attack -- Bogoria Conflict -- Havenwalder Straits Tensions -- Arcevia Joins RCO -- REFORBEL -- Adrien Auriol

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DAILY UPDATE FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

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_{Pictured: President Eli Goldman, addressing reporters Tuesday afternoon on a variety of foreign policy issues.}

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PRESSING NEWS DAILY FROM AROUND THE WORLD

^{April 22nd, 2015| By Asher Goldstein (Staff Writer) | 5:43pm EDT}

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Insiders: Provisa on REFORBEL 'Debacle': Irritated But Even-Keeled

According to administration and military inside sources, the top echelons of the Goldman administration are "irritated but even-keeled" over the embarrassing rollout - or lack thereof - of the biennial REFORBEL exercises. As what Arthuristan political correspondent Peter Waugh put so delicately, due to unseasonably late winter weather, thousands of Central Defense Initiative (CDI) troops were delayed in their home countries as Belhavian military airfields closed down during the cold front over Middle Belhavia dropped over ten inches of snow throughout the southerly sub-Arctic nation.

While some figures, such as Imperial War Minister Zalman Yitzchak Katz, reportedly said, "Weather is no excuse for gross incompetence," the mood in the Goldman inner circle was one of exasperation but optimism. The Imperial War Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Jacob Abner, responded to press inquiries on the events as "[w]hile this is an unfortunate event, we have full confidence in our allies in Loweport to ensure the exercises move forward smoothly going forward, inclement weather not permitting."

Military and right-leaning pundits slammed the Arthuristans for a botched rollout of the exercises. "How do you ever expect the Arthuristans, living in their warm, liberal oasis in North Pardes to ever be able to effectively organize a proper military formation here in a snow-filled, self-disciplined nation such as ours?" An anonymous poster remarked on an unsigned email sent around without administrative approval to all first-year military cadets at the Freeport Military Academy in Freeport, Belhavia. Provisa-area radio host Saul Solomon said that "this liberal risk-averse non-sense has got to stop! Since when have our field commanders been replaced by insurance agents who are so frightened to step on a soldier's toe to endure a little snow that he might sue them in court - this is an Arthuristan mindset, folks, not a Belhavian one. Perhaps our own military leaders, who are immune to this foreign queasiness, should have been organizing this exercise, hm?"

Ordinary soldiers affected by the delay bemoaned the course of events. Sergeant Justin Gottlieb, with the 1st...[See more...]

Goldman Urges Calm In Escalating Beschrankt Strait, Broader Australis Tensions

Taking questions from the press today, President Eli Goldman responded to queries on recent escalations in and around Australis as "unfortunate." Several days ago, the autocratic country of Arcevia, long apart of the Romula Cooperation Organization (RCO)'s geopolitical orbit, cemented that status formally by joining the RCO outright as a full member. In reaction, several Organization of South-East Nation (OSEN) nations, led by Sieuxerrian President Adrien Auriol, denounced the move as "direct threat [sic]" and predicted the stationing of RCO forces in the region. Analysts believe that the Sieuxerrians, leader among the internal OSEN faction opposed to RCO and CDI influence in Australis and the Far East, want to set up a type of "red line" to dissuade the RCO or other non-native powers from deploying troops to an area of the world some OSEN powers view as exclusively under their geopolitical influence.

Touching on several related issues, Goldman reiterated publicly what previous silence by Provisa had been implied to mean by leading foreign policy watchers, saying that "the Empire of Belhavia believes that the Papal Republic of Rodarion, and other nations, have the right to deploy their own military and security forces as they see fit around their sovereign territory," alluding to OSEN-led criticism over Rodarian efforts in recent months to strength the defensive apparatus of the Rodarian Far East possession, the St. Viktor Islands.

On the deployment of Havenwalder and Estovakivan warships to the Beschrankt Strait and nearby areas for protection of trade routes, Goldman asserted that "while we understand where Betchstadt is coming from, such naval deployments is likely unnecessary considering the standard convention for protecting international sea lanes are multinational naval groups, not unilateral actions unless one nation's national security is at stake." He took a dim view of Estovakivan deployments, arguing that "we really need both sides to take a deep breath and re-evaluate their stances. I'm not sure what purpose Imperial Federation warships off Australis will serve, and I hope Cinigrad will reconsider such actions as the Havenwalders and others take a step back. South Pardes is, Baruch Hashem [Thank G-d], virtually devoid of piracy, so the need for any navy to actively patrol isn't required at this time."

He continued that "In our view, we think that regarding the escalating of tension around Australis, that there...[See more...]

Belhavia Endorses Arthuristan Plan On Neutral Investigations For the Plowy Attack

"We strongly endorse this plan concerning the troubling Plowy attack in the Bogorian conflict," Goldman told reporters. This is the first that Provisa has commented on the ongoing Bogorian conflict after months of silence. While Belhavia often assumes global leadership roles, analysts have noted that the nation has punted the CDI's leadership on the issue to Arthurista and Emmeria, between whom have jointly led the CDI response and rallied world opinion in Free Pardes on the small landlocked Lusankyan country's violent insurrection.

When asked about Rodarion's fiery denouncement of the plan, Goldman responded that "we are disappointed but not shocked." Elaborating, he posited that "it is understandable why some among Romula's more patriotic and nationalist circles would be cynical towards the Arthuristans; however, having known the liberal Arthuristan mindset for years, I can reassure those critical voices in Rodarion that Loweport's plan is based not on some secretive desire to humiliate the Papal Republic or of a distrust of Rodarian objectivity in fact-finding on this issue per se, but is based on longstanding Arthuristan cultural views that to arrive at the truth, there must be an impartial and objective party to investigate the facts."

However, he chuckled and noted amusedly, if on a sad note, that "many of these same people have criticized me in the past on contentious global issues, so while I hope they heed my words, they most likely will not."

The Imperial Foreign Ministry released a factsheet to the press on the Arthuristan plan, noting that it would be...[See more...]

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Trending Stories -- OSEN Splinter -- Satu Mare Earthquake -- Ulthrannia in Ashizwe -- Niyeria Junta -- Hornatyian Crisis -- Gael Insurgency

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DAILY UPDATE FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

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_{Pictured: Presumptive Prime Minister Štefan Jahnátek, leader of the Economic Liberation Party, of Hornatyia wins snap election amid Hornatyia's ongoing economic and political crises.}

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PRESSING NEWS DAILY FROM AROUND THE WORLD

^{July 6th, 2015| By Asher Goldstein (Staff Writer) | 10:43am EDT}

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With Anikatia's and Valinor's Exit, OSEN Splinters Amid Long-Simmering Internal Divisions

With the formal withdrawal of the Kingdom of Valinor from the Organization of South-Eastern Nations (OSEN), followed in quick precession by the Republic of Anikatia, analysts believe that what is being called "the OSEN splinter" has impeded the military and economic alliance's ambitions to compete with the Central Defense Initiative (CDI) and Romula Cooperation Organization (RCO) as a fellow global geopolitical bloc. Formed from the merger of the Skanderian Union and Council for Mutual Security and Association (CMSA) in 2010, OSEN was marked by a geopolitical trajectory some believed would make the alliance would compete globally for influence and power with the CDI and RCO.

The formation of the "third party of the international system" was wrought with a multitude of internal divisions and debates, insiders from the alliance reveal, mainly forming between two camps - the "Skanderans" (or the "center") and the "periphery". The Valinese and Anikatians felt sidelined and pushed policy perspectives that were at odds with the majority Skanderan leadership. One anonymous Valinese diplomat alleged, "[w]e tried to grow the alliance and build a coherent external policy, but got hamstrung and vetoed at every turn by the ruling clique [Skanderan member-states]." Issues such as whether OSEN should adopt an official platform of anti-West [Lusankyan] sentiment, or whether the alliance should attempt to compete for a sphere of influence in Ashizwe against powers such as Ulthrannia, divided and antagonized the camps. Skanderan member-states held three of four of the organizations leadership posts.

The remaining OSEN members-states, mainly reduced to a Skanderan core plus Tule, Prestonia, and Neidmar, fiercely deny the narrative put forward by the "periphery" camp. Herr Justus Engel, a prominent senator in Austrasia, a key member of the "Skanderan" camp, told local media after Valinor's departure that "Valinor was one more distraction too an overburdened alliance...Valinor demanded a great deal from us while offering precious little in return." He also noted that the Valinese were "hyprocritical," alleging they called for an anti-CDI policy plank while currently making overtures about potentially joining the CDI.

OSEN Secretary-General Yesaul Söderlund released a statement in wake of the two nations' withdrawal, though he focused just on the Valinese, saying, "[t]he loss of Valinor as a member-state represents nothing but political misunderstanding and an unwillingness to cooperate...the Valinese lack of ability to think critically or cooperate on the issues that were presented before them does not represent political failings on the part of OSEN, but failings on cooperation on the part of the Valinese...[o]ur military, geopolitical and cultural ambitions have not changed and we will continue to maintain an active defense of member-states."

The OSEN Premier Earnan Mac Braoin, said "[m]uch time was spent trying to reconcile what were, in the end, irreconcilable differences in opinion regarding the scope, mission, and fundamental purpose of the alliance [among the 'camps']." Svetomir Ivanovic, Prime Minister of Gratislavia, remarked to the global press that "in the future, OSEN must ensure that nations with interests coinciding with those of Valinor and Anikatia do not make it through the vetting process...OSEN does not exist to serve the aggressive and antagonistic policies of nations wishing to involve us in protracted wars for little gain. The right of a nation to pursue its national goals is held sacrosanct, and because of such, unpopular or ill-advised policies must be pursued from a national as opposed alliance-wide level...[See more...]

West to East Pivot: Roth Industries Closes Some Rodarian Plants For Cheaper Facilities in Gratislavia

Today, Roth Industries announced that it was closing seven production plants and three large-scale distribution centers in Rodarion for Gratislavia, citing mounting corporate sabotage, better tax and financial benefits, and a more favorable sociopolitical climate. The massive Belhavian conglomerate, renown as a leading telecommunications and information technology giant across the globe, sources most of its production of smartphone and telecommunications equipment within the Papal Republic due to cheap wages and benefits, lax and light regulation and taxes, and cordial business ties between Belhavia and Rodarion.

However, in recent months, over half-a-dozen Roth facilities have been hit with lengthy delays. One engineer at a Rodarion-based factory, under the cloak of anonymity, revealed that the 'defect rate' - normally under 1.5% - hit at times 32% in the last 10 months, vexing Roth corporate executives. In addition, there have been a series of machinery breakdowns and overloads, many of them of newly-installed equipment. Business analysts in Belhavia and Rodarion credit Roth's major domestic Rodarian competitors, Novus Technologies and TETRU Viață, with directly or indirectly conducting "corporate espionage and sabotage."

Said Jordan Goldman, a Lusankyan markets analyst at the Dakos, Belhavia-based Goldman, Black, and Richman Group, "it's become clearer in the last year that Rodarian companies, their agents, or likely their friends among Rodarian government officials are actively trying to undercut Roth [Industries] and other foreign firms to the benefit of local [Rodarian] ones."

However, a spokesman for the Rodarian National Economic Reform Office denied such allegations vigorously, calling them "absurd and patently false."

The Republic of Gratslavia announced the 2015 Revitalized Manufacturing and Foreign Investment Program this month, and has been in talks with Roth Industries since last month, spokesmen from the Gratislav Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Roth conglomerate confirmed. The 2015 program became feasible for Roth "because the Gratislav minimum wage is vastly cheaper in local currency than equivalent Rodarian currency, as well as a package of business tax breaks for the first five years of reinvestment, in addition to the next fifteen years after that," Goldman said. "Plus, the Gratislavs don't have equivalent domestic competitors who will use the power of the state to harm foreign firms operating with their borders."

"These ten plants and centers in Rodarion became unprofitable for us," Roth executive and Public Affairs Vice-President Zechariah Weinreb told the media, "and so we became aware of recent Gratislav efforts, and after doing the math, it simply makes sense to move part of our overseas production to Gratislavia in light of the economic cost-benefit analyses." He noted, however, that "twenty production facilities and five distribution centers remain in Rodarion with healthy profit margins, and we don't see any need to shift them at this time...[See more...]

Report: Chesed International Delivered Over $250 Million In Aid And Disaster Supplies To Rodarion

Over the last few days, the largest Belhavian first-response disaster relief and global aid organization, Chesed International, has sent over $200 million shekels in disaster, food, medical, and other supplies and materials to the Satu Mare region of Rodarion in the wake of its devastating earthquake.

The report, from the Center for Charities and Non-Profits, notes that the aid was broken down by...[See more...]

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MORE IN DAILY NEWS

• Opinion: OSEN Splinter, Ani-Val Exit To Spark Far East Geopolitical Turmoil [ 564 ]
• CDI Assembly: "No Comment" On Rumors of Possible Anikatian, Valinese Applications [ 133 ]
• U.R.E. Gay "Rights" Group Protests in Chaleur, Emmeria After Belhavian Court of Appeals Decision Upholds White Terror Laws' Gay Ban [ 1259 ]
• Supreme Court Justice Laurel Rifkin Announces Intention To Retire Over Health Complications, Leaving Key Court Seat Vacant For President Goldman To Fill [ 22 ]
• Tarsan Food Imports Up 12.3% This Quarter, Report Says [ 55 ]

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Trending Stories -- Roth in Rodarion -- OSEN Splinter -- Satu Mare Earthquake -- Ulthrannia in Ashizwe -- Hornatyian Crisis -- Gael Insurgency

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Roth, Business Analysts Perplexed By Strident Rodarian Criticism Over Production Shift

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_{Pictured: Roth Industries CEO and President Michael Roth, addressing shareholders at their annual meeting last month.}

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Business analysts: Rodar response 'over-the-top'; Political scientist: criticism "result of rising nationalism"
^{July 7th, 2015| By Elazar Cohen (ecohen@aij.org) (AIJ) | 12:03pm EDT}

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PROVISA, BELHAVIA — The world awoke this morning to a major developing public spat between Belhavian and global giant Roth Industries and the Papal Republic of Rodarion in wake of Roth's partial shift of production to the East. The head of one of Rodarion's chief economic agencies called the move "childish and viciously motivated".

Roth Executives "Agitated" By "Over-The-Top" Response

Officials across Rodarion, from Lavinia Dita, Director of the National Economic Reform Office (NERO), to Senator Octavian Candreva, a popular firebrand politician, reacted in anger against the partial offshore shift in production from Rodarion to Gratislavia. Business analysts involved in Rodar-Belhavian commercial and trade, as well as some Roth corporate officials speaking under cover of anonymity to speak freely, lambasted the response as "hyperbolic and petty."

One Roth executive said when he read the remarks that "this is really shrill and childish. 'Viciously-motivated', really? I'm not sure what Dita's agenda is, but I have never seen such a reaction to standard business reorganization of its operations. Not once." Another commented that "we're hardly 'frustrated' over fluctuating market share within Rodarion; we're a professional enterprise that has strong business fundamentals and a strong, proven growth strategy. Whether or not our business competitors gain or lose market share has been long-incorporated in our model. I'm starting to think some of these Rodarian officials aren't well-versed in modern business practices."

One senior corporate leader revealed that when Roth officials contacted their domestic Rodarian business contacts, who have a pulse on the state of play between industry and government oversight in the Papal Republic, "nearly every single one warned us Novus and Lenarda had co-opted corrupt officials within NERO, and we could expect foot-dragging and years-long delays and lackluster 'investigations' into our corporate saboteurs. Since the Rodarian government - at least some influential persons on-payroll to our rivals within it - wouldn't or couldn't help us, we moved those affected operations offshore."

Officially, Roth Industries Vice-President for Public Affairs, Zechariah Weinreb, responded tersely that "[w]e stand by our partial shift in operations between our western and eastern markets. Our business enterprise's internal decisions aren't up for public debate. We will refrain from responding to comments by some Rodarian officials, and leave that to politicians in the public arena." He added, however, that "[w]e kept over 71% of our facilities in Rodarion. I think that attests to all that we value the industriousness and quality service Rodarian workers provide, and as long as the Papal Republic will continue to have us operate within its borders, and it makes financial sense to do so, we will keep our current operations in Rodarion going into the future."

Political Scientist: Reaction Driven By Emergent 'Rodar Nationalist Right'

Joshua Mendel Rubenstein, an adjutant professor of political science at Callan Liberal Arts College who specializes in global political economy, posited that "what the business types get all wrong about the Rodarian response is it's politically-motivated." He argued that "since the current Consul's term in 2010, we've witnessed a rise of Rodarian nationalism; an emergent 'nationalist right', if you would, represented by rapidly-growing groups such as the Patriotic Society of the Papal Republic (PSoPR) over the Bogorian crisis, or controversial radical right-wing populists like Senator Octavian Candreva. What Roth and these others need to understand is, the nationalist right are shrill, paranoid, and easily-kindled to bombast and outrage. You're with them or against them, and if they even perceive a hint of straying if you were a friend, ally, or tolerated 'associate', they're react in what most of us feel are 'over-the-top' ways."

Rubenstein continued, adding, "You can see this trend reflected in some of [Lavinia] Dita's words. For example, she remarks that 'if it is indeed the case that Roth took this action as a means to punish the Rodarian state for its supposed complicity in this crimes against Roth, then I would question the longevity of Roth's presence here in the Papal Republic.' Notice how she emphasizes 'to punish the Rodarian state.' That's how these nationalists view this - the Papal Republic is held by them as a single identity, revolving around 'the state'. It doesn't matter that Roth, if it was "punishing" anyone, was targeting corrupt bureaucrats bought-and-sold by its opposition. The nationalist right views an "assault" against any part of the government as an assault against the whole government - no matter how small. This is the dangerous anti-individualist thought embedded in contemporary Rodarian nationalism, and other foreign actors are at risk of suffering similar fates."

"This means the nationalists are helping aid and abet corrupt and criminal elements within their own government by taking as personal such slight criticism against some people in one agency as an attack against the whole of the Rodarian state. This is a fascinating, if unfortunate, trend to be observing and analyzing going forward since the nationalist tide only seems to be growing more strongly within Rodarion."

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.

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• Tory Sen. Ian Settas, Vice-Pres. Jacob Grossman Eye 2016 Presidential Campaign Launches By August [ 12347 ]
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Trending Stories -- Esto-Hornatyian Crisis -- Sea of Orlessia Spat -- Goredemabwan Coup -- Niyerian War -- OSEN Splinter -- Valinor in Hornatyia

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DAILY UPDATE FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

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_{Pictured: Artist's rendering of disputed Sea of Orlessia oil & gas deposits and territorial borders (credit: National Exprima).}

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PRESSING NEWS DAILY FROM AROUND THE WORLD

^{August 16th, 2015| By Asher Goldstein (Staff Writer) | 11:48am EDT}

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In Unexpected Move, Provisa Sides With Romula In Emerging Spat Over Sea of Orlessia Resources and Maritime Borders

The office of Imperial Foreign Minister Daniel Nobelstein released a statement this morning after numerous inquiries on the ongoing Rodar-Neidmarrian dispute over territoriality and resource ownership in the Sea of Orlessia, which is reputed to have 453 billion barrels of oil and as much as 4.5 trillion cubic metres of natural gas, a combined monetary value of over $2.8 trillion in current prices according to the Rodarian State Petroleum and Rodarian State Offshore Resources Corporations. "After an independent analysis and review of both sides' claims in the matter, we found the Rodarian assertions of historical continuity and accuracy more compelling," adding, "although some parts of Romula's claims remain unverified, everything seems to be in order. The Papal Republic has full right of ownership over everything within its territorial bounds, and we take a dim light to any assertions by other actors and sovereign powers to the contrary. It is a standing doctrine of foreign policy and sovereignty that nations control and exploit their resources under their ownership without threat of external interference."

The Foreign Ministry declined to address additional press questions about Neidmar's claims directly, but analysts allied to the Goldman administration quickly took to the Sunday political talk shows to pan and criticize the Neidmarrian position. Liam Weinberg, a Lusankyan political analyst for the Center for Security Studies, went on Moshe Stein's Sunday Politics With Moshe on Goldberg News to slam the Neidmarrian argument as "ludicrous and blatantly hypocritical. There is no foreign policy doctrine of 'I want my fair share,' no sovereign government up until today has espoused the view it has 'equal rights' to another nation's resources. 'Shared exploitation' of resources is the stuff of treaties, not a sovereign right. Neidmar has zero standing to demand such action by the Papal Republic."

On Warren News' Sunday talk show, world-renown geopolitical analyst Joseph Samson panned Neidmarrian threats to 'board-and-return' fish catches by Rodarian fishermen within Rodarian waters as "outrageously illegal and provocative." He continued: "We have seen no alternative territorial maps produced by Neidmar, and the Rodarian maps seem to be holding up to scrutiny. As it stands, then, that the Republic of Neidmar is basically announcing it intends to illegally enter another sovereign's waters and dispossess that power's citizens of their property and livelihood. The Papal Republic is fully justified in using whatever means to oppose such barbarism, in my humble opinion."

Weinberg opined that "which is particularly worrisome is Foreign Minister Garvin Hekker's assertion that because the Papal Republic has overseas possessions and Neidmar does not, that that somehow entitles Neidmar to 'equal rights' to resources within solely-Rodarian waters. That is, Moshe, patently absurd. Sadly for Neidmar, just because they lost the empire game does not mean the victor is forced to share his winnings with them...[See more...]

Economist: With Hornatyia's RCO Exit, Estovakivans 'Cannot Unilaterally Violate International Economic Treaties'

With August 9th's referendum on continued Romula Cooperation Organization (RCO) membership in Hornatyia's defeated by an overwhelming 62%, reaction by leading RCO powers, such as Tarsas, have been muted. However, RCO member Estovakiva harshly denounced the move, with its leader, Autarch Vladimir Makarov, even claiming Cinigrad was not properly informed of the decision despite widespread publicity in the global press over the referendum and its results.

Yosef Berman, the chief economist of the Pardesi Monetary Fund (PMF), took the unusual step of publicly criticizing the Estovakivan remarks, saying "The UDB [United Development Bank] is, at my last check, a member of the global economic development financial community, and has a proper system of governance councils, loan protocols, contractual enforcement mechanisms, and other conventional institutional means. My colleagues at the UDB have, unless they changed it last night, the declaration in their treaty of 'one nation, one vote' and a principle that 'no nation has access to a veto power.'

As such, Estovakiva cannot unilaterally cancel UDB projects at their whim. Particularly complicated, multi-billion-dollar, multiyear contracts the likes of which the UDB usually funds over mere political differences. To cancel a UDB contract would take the full vote of the UDB council and a legitimate rationale. In the very unlikely case Estovakiva somehow can force through a vote on UDB council to cancel the projects, I believe Hornatyia has full recourse to turn to the OPA [Organization for Pardesi Affairs] since such a rationale ("they left my alliance, so I cut all economic ties to them") is not a legitimate contractual breach under any civilized nation's laws."

Mr. Berman continued, casting doubt to Cinigrad's ability to cancel Esto-Hornatyian projects. "Even among bilateral contracts and economic treaties, under standard contract law the mere act of Hornatyia disagreeing with Estovakiva on a geopolitical matter has no bearing on the economic development contracts both nations and their parties signed. I'll repeat again, political differences are not a legitimate basis for contractual breach and as such, if Cinigrad attempts to follow through on its threat to cancel all bilateral projects, Hornatyia has the ability to recoup all of its losses through an OPA resolution since Estovakivan actions are ludicrously illegal under any understanding of civilized law, convention, and international treaties.

I will say this: the contract is sacrosanct in human society. If we cannot trust our partners to engage in mutual endeavors and commerce together, basic human society will collapse. If Estovakiva persists in behaving in such ways, no civilized nation will sign contracts with them again since Cinigrad seems to honor its agreements only at its leader's whim. That is dangerous for Pardesi international finance. We live in the real world, after all, and not some adolescent's after-school online political roleplaying game...[See more...]

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MORE IN DAILY NEWS

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• Insiders: Tarsan, Ulthrannic Officials Distance Themselves From Estovakivan Actions, Rhetoric [ 2341 ]

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Trending Stories -- Sea of Orlessia Spat -- Goredemabwan Coup -- Niyerian War -- OSEN Splinter -- Valinor in Hornatyia

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OPINION: A Giant with Crumbling Feet? The Case Against Rodarian 'Ordained Destiny'

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_{Pictured: Skyline of the Greater Romula Metropolitan area.}

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Op-Ed: Why Rodarian Confidence For the Future Is Complicated By A Stunning Array of Internal Crises
^{August 21st, 2015| By Dovid Adelstein (Op-Ed Contributor) | 9:31pm EDT}

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Editor's note: Dovid Adelstein is a well-respected political scientist and professor at the Abramowicz School of Foreign Affairs at Imperial Provisa University. He also has a blog, "Rodarian Watcher", which he regularly posts comments and information on the state of Rodarion in today's world, often from a critical perspective.

Every year, myself and many other "experts" on Rodarion meet at some conference somewhere to discuss the country's future; politically, economically, geopolitically and militarily speaking. In most cases we all leave feeling highly optimistic, of course there are a group who are deeply pessimistic and critical, but generally we all leave having had enjoyed a time of hopefully discussion, yet if we are to understand the country, just like any other, we need to understand its problems, because usually problems and issues drive policy one way rather than the other. Despite all the achievements of Rodarion, it is a nation riddled with problems (this is not a criticism, a mere acknowledgment of the troubles it faces).

It's the Demography, stupid!

Rodarion is the largest country in the world by population by a colossal margin, with 1.46 billion people it is colossal in itself, difficult it is to draw people into realisation of how large it is. Virtually every single Rodarian province, including the four municipal cities have populations equal or larger to some nations, Iertare Province (the most polluted place in the world I might add) has a population of 118 million people, if it were a country of its own, it would be in the top ten. Videle, Rodarion's second city has more citizens within its boundaries than there are people in Hornatyia. Hopefully that helps the realisation.

Every year Rodarion must produce 16 million jobs in order to maintain sufficient levels of unemployment, by 2020 the number is set to rise to 19 million jobs per year, should it fail to do so unemployment will rise (obviously), but with Rodarion's population being young, uneducated and even educated long term unemployed youths tend to have nothing to lose and it is this demographic that you will find forms the backgrounds of most modern revolutions and in a country like Rodarion which is authoritarian, the consequences of masses of unemployed youths politically will be profound if not devastating to the status quo in Rodarion.

The second obvious issue is both the environment and prices attached to it. At this moment in time, there is a housing crisis in Rodarian cities, it's hardly building enough living spaces for the migrants moving in from the rural regions, this is pushing up prices and rents and with the government overly cautious in introducing rent controls, there's going to be troubles. Exacerbating this is the very nature of housing in big Rodarian cities, the average family owns a two bedroom apartment - the average Rodarian family consists of a mother and father, and four to five children, millions live on top of each other. But as the cities grow still, the amount of land free for agriculture diminishes, let alone the degradation of soil already prevalent, the decline of agriculture in Rodarion will push up food prices as the country is forced to import more, water will become more difficult to access and distribute evenly, this will be the same for energy, as the number of consumers grows. Economic troubles will emerge from uncontrolled population growth, this however may affect Rodarion more so than any other issue presented.

Political stagnation and the haunting of nationalism

The National Catholic Party according to some is the most successful political entity in modern history, having alone transformed Rodarion from an agrarian backwater, into the second largest economy in the world in just 40 years, others say it was a party of opportunity that first transformed the country into an authoritarian religious police state, then transformed the economy to maintain power. Whatever you may think of the NCP, it has done its job well.

However, the economic reforms that have benefited it with near-complete political domination, have also drained it of ideological purpose. National Catholicism won the day, it is entrenched in the system, in the land and the people that live upon it. The NCP today is not ideological as it was in 1955, it defeated communism (brutally), destroyed liberalism (slowly and painfully) and has dismissed the centre-right as weak and pointless, today the NCP appears to be nothing more than a party of power, one that only has its record and nationalism to keep it open to voters. With the opposition parties powerless and completely alien to the electorate, the NCP will by default become stagnant, it will not have to offer anything new, the opposition is just simply unelectable.

Nationalism is playing its part today more so than ever before in Rodarian politics, for decades the NCP has cultivated nationalism within general society, it has worked, but perhaps it has worked too well. The danger of a highly nationalistic population is that they expect and demand their government to go the extra mile; let's take the Orlessian Sea crisis for example, the more the Neidmarians act aggressively, the more nationalistic fury will rise up in Rodarion and this puts more pressure on the government (which is equally nationalistic) to take a tough line. But the greatest danger is that the Rodarian government has little room to backtrack, one step back on the Orlessian Sea issue could result in uproar in the population, with the Patriotic Society of the Papal Republic taking the role of the people's nationalistic voice, the government is under threat of being torn down by its very own creation.

Yet conversely the Vatican remains immune, even though it is the apex of the Rodarian state, it seems to be above the messiness of ideology and party politics, however when you consider the implications to all the issues raised in this article, you will surely debate, how immune is the Vatican really?

Chocking smog will choke the Rodarian economy

Rodarion is the largest producer of carbon emissions in the world, it's environment is dying at a rate not seen in human history, its water, soil and air are all being affected by its rapid industrialisation. In March, a chemical accident leaked benzene, a known cancer-causing agent, into a tributary of the Turau River. More than 20 people were hospitalized as a result, according to the Dakos Mail, area residents were forced to rely on fire trucks to deliver safe drinking water.

More than half of Rodarion's surface water is so polluted it cannot be treated to make it drinkable, the Economic Observer reports, and one-quarter of it is so dangerous it can't even be used for industrial purposes, let alone touched with bare skin. Groundwater isn't any safer: About 40 percent of Rodarion's farmland relies on underground water for irrigation, and an estimated 90 percent is polluted. About 60 percent of the groundwater beneath Rodarian cities is described as "severely polluted" by the Economic Observer.

The most well known environmental issue that affects Rodarion is its air pollution. According to the Environmental Protection Office at the OPA says, any pollution rating above 300 means the air is unsafe to breathe. Under these conditions, people should stay indoors with an air purifier running and remain as motionless as possible. In January alone, there were 23 days when the index in Romula surpassed that 300 threshold, and readings above 500 are no longer unusual. On Jan. 12, the reading reached an eye-bleeding 886, comparable to living inside a smoking lounge.

Manufacturing industries and Romula's 5 million-plus cars and motorbikes all contribute to the city's crippling air pollution, but most experts primarily blame the coal-burning electrical plants that power Rodarion's breakneck economic growth. Rodarion now burns 53 percent of the world's coal, roughly equal to the amount used by all other countries of the world combined. And Romula is surrounded by a vast network of coal-burning power plants. But as foul as it is, Romula's air isn't even Rodarion's worst: That dubious honor goes to Bacau in the country's far west, which frequently joins other Rodarian cities like Livada and Videleon lists of the world's most polluted places.

Air pollution is killing people, but it is also angering people, they want to breath clean air for once and have clean drinking water, but you take all of these issues individually and they're profound in their consequences, but you take them all collectively and they are serious threats to Rodarion's future. So you understand the issues and problems, you begin to understand actions taken.

Contrary to its rhetoric and action, Papist Rodarion has a haunting array of internal crises that left untreated will bring about its downfall. As I laid out in this essay, Rodarion cannot address these issues since they are a byproduct of its own choices. We are now seeing the beginning of the regime's death throws as its long decline is set to begin.

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MORE IN OPINION

• Opinion: Free Pardes To Neidmar: Drop Dead [ 25 ]
• Opinion: Neidmarrian State-Sponsored 'Neopiracy' Set To Destabilize the Whole Far Western Central Ocean Region [ 566 ]
• Opinion: For Whom Neidmar Tolls: Time For Hawks and Liberals To Unite To Stop Rodarion's Next Victim In Central Lusankya [ 114 ]
• Opinion: International Law Favors Rodarion, To Global Left's Dismay [ 373 ]

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Trending Stories -- Bogorian Civil War -- Rodarian Intervention in Bogoria -- Sea of Orlessia Spat -- Niyerian War -- Leanne Whittaker

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OPINION: How the Free World Lost Bogoria

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_{Author: "The Vatican has proven itself cunning and ruthless in Bogoria."}

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Op-Ed: Why Rodarion Was Able To Outmaneuver the CDI in Bogoria
^{October 8th, 2015| By Dovid Adelstein (Op-Ed Contributor) | 9:31pm EDT}

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Editor's note: Dovid Adelstein is a well-respected political scientist and professor at the Abramowicz School of Foreign Affairs at Imperial Provisa University. He also has a blog, "Rodarian Watcher", which he regularly posts comments and information on the state of Rodarion in today's world, often from a critical perspective.

As you read this, Rodarian tanks and soldiers continue their speedy march north towards the Bogorian capital, before them is a Bogorian military battered and bruised by in-fighting and devastating air attacks by the Papal Air Force. Although the Arthuristan's have reportedly not wasted anytime in responding, the unfortunate truth is that the Rodarians do not even need to besiege Utena to get what they want, the fact that over 100,000 Rodarian soldiers now sit in Bogoria is reason enough for the Bogorian government to acquiesce. The Free World lost Bogoria not through stupidity or a strategic mistake, but because we underestimated the shrewdness of Romula and its capabilities.

Failure To End Rodar Support for the UBLF

The first case of under-estimation was the Rodarian will to see a finale to the Bogorian crisis, even despite the second Oured Ceasefire agreement (negotiated by Rodarion and Arthurista, an irony to the maximum), the massive force deployed along the Rodar-Bogorian border did not decline in size, but actually grew. Despite the estimate that at least 200 Rodarian Ordice fighters had been killed in fighting pro-government forces in Bogoria, they remained resolute throughout despite still denying the obvious evidence of their presence. But then within this underestimation was a fundamental flaw to the response by both the Bogorian government and the CDI powers involved in the crisis (Anthor, Emmeria and Arthurista): neither body attempted to end Rodarian military and logistical support to the United Bogorian Liberation Forces (official name of rebel forces: UBLF). If at any point the diplomatic corps succeeded in reducing Rodarian support for the UBLF, the situation in Bogoria could be entirely different. Perhaps the coup would never have been attempted, or perhaps the world could have accepted a de facto , albeit unofficial, partition of Bogoria, or perhaps there would not be up to 20,000 dead in this conflict. Loweport, Vaumort, and Oured failed to recognize that the Papal Republic has an agenda it wishes to see succeed, and because of that, their short-sightedness enables the Papal Army to now march on Utena.

The CDI Did Not Properly Realize Romula's Intentions and Dedication To Its Bogorian Agenda

The second underestimation that I see is the failure of the CDI to recognize the Papal Republic's capabilities within Bogoria itself. Despite the Emmerian airstrikes during the Battle of Rakovnik, the UBLF still has the means to inflict serious damage on the pro-government forces arrayed against it, although on a defensive footing. But it is the Papal Republic's intelligence capabilities that aided it in acting so brutally swiftly in wake of the failed nationalist coup against the late President Kirkilas. The ISI, Rodarion's infamous spy agency, knew more about radical individuals in the Right Vector movement than the Bogorian government did. It is not in the realms of insanity to surmise that the ISI was perhaps aware of the Right Vector-LDV plans for a coup; this would explain the rapid readiness of Rodarian forces prior to the intervention. Since the civil war's beginning last November, the ISI has been present throughout, identifying key individuals of "interest to the cause", understanding and exploiting public opinion, and (of course) gathering military intelligence for the UBLF to use tactically. If the case was that the Rodarians were aware of the coup before even the Bogorian government, this would mark a serious success of the ISI.

Fascade of a United North Bogoria

The third issue that should be debated is not an underestimation, but rather than overestimation of the Bogorian government's solidarity and structural integrity. Bogoria since the collapse of its wretched and inane communist regime in 1999 has always struggled with ultra-nationalist groups and skin-head movements, Bogoria's far right is perhaps the most ugly in its actions in Lusankya. It is withoutr dispute that Rodarion may be the most nationalistic of societies, but its fervent masses are under a great deal of state control. President Kirkilas' leadership, as an excellent case for all world leaders, was taken too well by the CDI powers, praised every day the crisis was mentioned in the press or by CDI elites; unfortunately, key pro-North Bogoria officials failed to recognize the fragility of the unity government in Utena. If the CDI was aware of the pressures from the far right regarding the war-effort, more support to Kirkilas could have been given and more could have been done to sideline and delegitimize the far right movements which had become all too powerful as a result of their LDV units fighting the good fight. As stated above, the Rodarians knew more about the Bogorian far-right than the CDI powers did, and the Rodarians were good at exploiting their vile views of the rebel south and its inhabitants, for use of mobilizing support domestically and naturally deflecting possible criticism of its actions. Of course, these criticisms of the CDI's effort cannot be passed onto inactive powers, such as Belhavia, Eagleland and Belfras; in reality, they had no reason to be involved as much as the other three members, yet all members should take heed of what happened in Bogoria for future cases, especially with regards to Ulthrannia and its haphazard but uneven expansion across Ashizwe.

Underestimation of the New Irredentist and Great Power-Seeking Regime in Rodarion

But the biggest reason for the loss of Bogoria is not a misunderstanding, but a mere failure to recognize who we were contending with. The current Rodarian regime is perhaps the most talented in the realms of information warfare, diplomacy, and shrewdness. There are a thousand and one debates on the extent the Vatican becomes involved in military decisions, although the Papal Continuing Committee, headed by the Pope, is the only body in the Papal Republic to have the power to authorize military action. Rodarion throughout the crisis played with two game faces, the kind humanitarian, wanting to save 13 million people from starvation, bombings and war, and the other as the hard nationalistic rising power, desperate to prove its military prowess, but also to commit to its so called "National Rejuvenation" back to the Lusankyan hegemon. Pope Constantine XIV is as much as the kind, humble humanitarian, is also a shrewd operator; as it is said, in many cases he has outmaneuvered the CDI leaders, Utena, and his own government. For example, at the beginning he passed all responsibility over the crisis to Consul Ottavio Civitarese, for in the event Rodarion's position collapsed, the Consul would have to fall on the sword. I personally do not doubt his assertions that he hates war and the use of force, but as he himself said many months ago, "force is sometimes necessary in light of great evils being committed by those unaccountable to anybody on the basis that their crimes are legitimate on the basis of crude and vile sciences."

The Constantine-Civitarese Duumvirate Proves Successful So Far

The Pope not only understands the merits of geopolitics, security interests, and national power, he works them well as much as he does theological matters; in terms of geostrategic gains, Pope Constantine has gained more for Rodarion in the past year he has been Pope than his three predecessors combined. But all of this would not be possible if it were not for his Consul, Ottavio Civitarese. Civitarese is by all means the most populist, nationalistic, and hawkish leader of a major world power as from the beginning of the crisis, he called Bogoria the "greatest test for the Papal Republic as a responsible world power", many mistook this for being open to humanitarian aid, cooperation with the CDI powers, and respecting Bogoria's territorial integrity; rather, he meant it was a test to determine the Papal Republic's military and geostrategic power, if it won out, it would prove itself perhaps the greatest power in Lusankya, and if it failed, it would still refuse to take up all of its responsibilities demanded of a major power.

Civitarese and his nationalist cronies know all too well what their desired end-game is: international recognition of the independence of all rebel territory, and then when the time comes, international recognition of the south's inevitable reunification with the "Patria", whilst the rump state that will be (North) Bogoria will be forced into perpetual neutrality, ending the CDI presence once and for all and subjecting the poor state to decades of destitution, military weakness, and perhaps becoming an economic vassal of the Rodarian industrial machine. If Bogoria ends this way, Anthor will become entirely outflanked by a rising Rodarion, with its hand firmly planted in the heart of Lusankya, the Rodarians will have a reach into northern Lusankya and perhaps, many academics may come to view Rodarion as the regional hegemony in Southern Lusankya, if they do and leaders accept this, the entire international order will change.

The CDI lost Bogoria not through fundamental weakness, though Anthorian inaction cannot be called anything other than cowardice. The CDI lost Bogoria because it was too optimistic of its success and comparative local position to that of the Papal Republic, it misunderstood Rodarian intentions, its lasting power and of course, the CDI misunderstood who it was up against in terms of political individuals. If the CDI knew as much about the Bogorian far-right as the Rodarians did, perhaps the coup could have been stopped and Kirkilas would still be alive, if the CDI had viewed the Bogorian crisis more widely, in the sense that they understood Rodarion's intentions and positions, a different diplomatic route could have been taken. If the CDI powers understood who they were dealing within in Rodarion, understanding their domestic narrative, things could be different today. But it is too late, the finale has begun and within days perhaps a week, the final show will be open for all to see.

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