Submitted 6/21/2020... and switched back to draft, to gather more comments.
This issue is about the benefits of an 'international defense treaty' policy. It works with or without an 'international defense treaty' policy.
Policies are not added until there are issues/options that use them. That's what I'm doing. Feel free to join in.
In this issue, there's a threat (Daguo?), and invoking a treaty would be a good option. But you can't run out and join one now, that's not how defense treaties work.
I've submitted an issue that allows nations to join the 'international defense treaty' policy.
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Description: There has been a significant increase in threatening anti-@@NAME@@ rhetoric coming out of Daguo, a large and aggressive nation. This morning your normally unflappable Minister of Underhanded Affairs, @@RANDOMNAME@@, nervously reported that your spies in Daguo's inner circle have confirmed that the now-hostile nation is going to invade @@NAME@@ and annex part of your territory. You have called an emergency meeting in your war room.
[option] “They won't invade,” sniffs @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Minister of Foreign Relations, sipping delicately at a glass of @@DEMONYMNAME@@'s Finest Merlittle. “They know all about our international defense treaty; this is about their internal politics. Just issue a grave diplomatic statement, mention the treaty, maybe rattle a saber or two. Once they settle down, you and @@NAME@@ will be international heroes.” @@HE@@ sets @@HIS@@ glass on the table without spilling a drop.
[validity: 'international defense treaty' policy is in effect]
[effect]: @@LEADER@@ and the nation are more admired than ever
[option] “I'm pretty sure they won't invade,” sniffs @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Minister of Foreign Relations, sipping delicately at a glass of @@DEMONYMNAME@@'s Finest Merlittle. “Trust me, this is about their internal politics. Just issue a grave diplomatic statement and maybe rattle a saber or two. Once they settle down, you and @@NAME@@ will be international heroes.” @@HE@@ tries to set @@HIS@@ glass down on the polished wood table and misses; the glass shatters on the floor, splashing red everywhere.
[validity: 'international defense treaty' policy is NOT in effect]
[effect] you learn the hard way that an ounce of prevention is worth a division of casualties and a province of land
[option] “Oh, they're invading, all right!” says your now panicked Minister of Underhanded Affairs, clutching a plastic bottle of tap water, “Maybe, hopefully, our allies will help - but then we'll be fighting on @@DEMONYMNAME@@ soil! No, we must go public, and not just with propaganda! Tell the world what we know and how we know it! Sure, Daguo will 'disappear' our sources, but once the global community knows the whole nefarious plan, Daguo will stop!” The Minister throws the bottle at a garbage can; it bounces around the rim and goes in. “We must tell the world the whole truth, @@LEADER@@!”
[validity: 'international defense treaty' is in effect]
[effect] the nation's surviving spies have a difficult time recruiting any informants at all
[option] “Oh, they're invading, all right!” says your now panicked Minister of Underhanded Affairs, clutching a plastic bottle of tap water, “No one will help us unless they know the truth! We must go public, and not just with propaganda! Tell the world what we know and how we know it! Sure, Daguo will 'disappear' our sources, but once the global community knows the whole nefarious plan, Daguo will stop!” The Minister throws the bottle at a garbage can; it bounces around the rim and goes in. “We must tell the world the whole truth, @@LEADER@@!”
validity: 'international defense treaty' is NOT in effect]
[effect] the nation's surviving spies have a difficult time recruiting any informants at all
[option] “What an opportunity – I mean, calamity!” says @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Minister of Defense, pulling a whisky flask out of @@HIS@@ attache case, “@@NAME@@ must defend itself! Sure, large-scale mobilization will cripple the economy and enrich war profiteers like my brother, but it's the only way to be sure, my Leader!” @@HE@@ waves the flask as @@HE@@ gets up from his chair.
[validity: military exists]
[effect] malls and businesses empty as war factories and military bases fill up
[option] “I purely don't understand what everyone is freaking out about,” says General @@RANDOMFIRSTNAME@@ Terror, calmly, taking a sip of sparkling fluoride-free water from @@HIS@@ tumbler, “This is exactly why we got nuclear weapons in the first place. Just remind Daguo that if they attack us, we'll nuke one of their cities. Then do it. That's the essence of it, all right.” @@HE@@ gets up and steps into the bathroom, closing the door behind @@HIM@@.
[validity: military exists, nuclear weapons]
[effect] nothing generates unintended consequences like nuclear weapons do
