2022: A Decade of Uncertainty (IC)

by **Chewion** » Mon Jan 03, 2022 10:59 pm

2022: A Decade of Uncertainty

OOC||Map: Coming soon

The 2020s. A decade set to be nightmarish and a turning point in the history of humanity. Climate Change is the existential threat that must urgently be tackled in this decade, and humanity must learn to cope with the constantly growing population that does not look likely to slow down let alone stop growing anytime soon.

In Asia, the Chinese Dragon is emerging as the regional hegemon, pushing regional nations to choose sides between them and the West while internally the regime battles against resistance in Hong Kong and ethnic tension in the far West, while also pushing claims on Taiwan, stoking regional flames. In India, the nation is dealing with religious unrest and rapid economic growth and modernization as well as increasing tension along the border with Pakistan, particularly in the Kashmir Region. Japan has continued to cause consternation with its neighbors after proudly displaying the Rising Sun flag at the Tokyo Olympics.

In Europe, Euroskepticism is on the rise in many European nations. The successful Brexit referendum led to the charge showing Euroskeptics all across the continent that leaving was possible. In Spain regional tensions threaten to explode between Madrid and Barcelona while Poland and the Visegrad Group continue to openly defy the EU.

In the Middle East, tensions between Israel and Iran are at an all-time high. Adding to this is the emerging regional cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. In Yemen, the civil war still burns as a testing ground for this regional cold war.

In Africa, ethnic and religious tensions pose a danger all over the continent. In the Congo, warlords fight over land and resources like coltan offering fortunes on the international market. In the Saraha and Sahel regions, remnants of ISIS and other organizations ravage the land and people. Ethiopia and Egypt are at each other's throats over the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam by Ethiopia. Yet there are lights of hope that still sparkle.

In North America, Canada is dealing with ever-increasing political divides much like the US to the South. Inside the US tensions between Republicans and Democrats have never seemed worse. In Mexico, the Cartels fight hard against the central government in Mexico City their corruption touches most parts of the nation.

In Latin America, the dictator Nicholas Maduro still clings to power even as his position is contested by Juan Guaidó. In Colombia, an unstable peace agreement official holds peace between the government and FARC.

How will the nations of the world tackle these issues? How will their pasts define their future, which nations will come out on top during this decade, and how will future generations remember this critical decade?

In this roleplay, you will take the helm of the nation of your choice. You have the ability to change the history of your nation from 1991 onwards within realism and with a few major event exceptions as well as anything states in the OP or other applications.

Major Unchangeable Events:

Fall of the USSR as a Communist state
Formation of the EU
9/11
08 Financial Crisis
Syrian Civil War starting
South China Sea Disputes
Brexit
Anything Mentioned in the OP.
CORONAVIRUS DID NOT HAPPEN IN THIS TIMELINE

Leadership:

OP: Chewion
Co-OPs: The Manticoran Empire
NewLakotah
Revlona

Rules:

IEC:

The IEC (International Entity Council) is comprised of the OP, Co-OPs, and anyone else accepted into it. The IEC is responsible for making the IEC post that includes multiple events and members can serve as an NPC nation in conferences so long as they do not have a direct interest in the negotiations.

by **New Provenance** » Tue Jan 04, 2022 2:31 am

CNN International
The Most Trusted Name in News

3 January 2022

Joe Biden, Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff, Rev. Raphael Warnock hold Atlanta rally

ATLANTA, GA - President Joe Biden, accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, held an Atlanta rally in front of thousands of Georgians alongside Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock, both of whom shocked the world when they flipped Georgia in the blue wave of 2020. President Biden met with Senators Ossoff and Warnock the day before, 2 January, in Washington, D.C. to discuss a new bipartisan infrastructure bill before the three Democrats flew southward aboard Air Force One for the 3 January rally.

"Senator Ossoff and Senator Reverend Warnock here are my good friends. They worked hard for Georgia, and they'll keep working hard for Georgia." President Biden stated to the Atlanta crowds. Both senators have not yet confirmed their 2022 re-election bids, though post-rally polls indicate that a run for re-election would be a good idea as both Ossoff and Warnock lead their potential Republican rivals by twelve percentage points, in a recent Politico survey.

Vice President Kamala Harris visits Afghanistan for one day, pledges support for Afghans but makes no withdrawal commitments

KABUL, AFG - Vice President Kamala Harris visited Afghanistan for a day yesterday, 2 January, to meet with American troops and deliver personally the President's New Years' message to them. She spoke of hope, unity, and delivered to Afghan representatives a pledge of support stating that the Biden administration 'will continue for the foreseeable future to provide military aid, training, and security for the Afghan people'. However, no remarks were made by Vice President Harris or her team on withdrawal commitments.

Many here at home took the visit as an affirmation that the United States will indeed not be withdrawing from Afghanistan for the foreseeable future, resulting in fourteen House Republicans, two Senate Republicans, and Senator Joe Manchin of the Democratic Party to sign a petition demanding that President Joe Biden make a firm timetable commitment immediately. The White House has yet to formally respond.

by **Sao Nova Europa** » Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:05 am

Chancellor Merz calls for bolstering Frontex, Pushbacks

Chancellor Merz has called for the European Union leaders to come an agreement to bolster Frontex and crack down on illegal immigration. "In Germany," the Chancellor said, "our government has taken important steps to crack down on illegal immigration. We've changed asylum regulations, so as to not grant asylum anymore to people coming from safe countries like Bangladesh or Turkey. We've constructed enclosed detention facilities outside of populated areas to imprison illegal immigrants until they could be deported. We've stepped up our returns of those migrants who had already claimed asylum in other EU countries back to those countries."

"Unfortunately, while those measures have succeeded in safeguarding Germany, they are not enough to protect the EU as a whole. Some say that we should turn a blind eye on the immigration problems of southern countries like Greece or Italy or Spain. But doing so would mean that those countries would be overwhelmed with immigrants, and that at least a portion of those immigrants will attempt - and a few will succeed - to reach Germany. It would also lead to popular unrest and the rise in popularity of extremist, radical parties that would undermine European cohesion."

"It's because of those reasons that I want to call my fellow colleagues to reach an agreement on a common EU migration policy. Many countries, especially in Eastern Europe, have rejected this idea - and rightly then - because calls for a common EU policy on migration essentially amounted to calls for distributing an ever increasing number of migrants across Europe. What I am proposing instead is a common European defense of our external borders as a Union. Frontex is already doing a great job at assisting border control in Greece and Italy, but it is tied down by lack of funding and useless regulations."

"I propose that the EU budget for Frontex be doubled, to allow for double the number of border guards and vehicles - such as boats and trucks. Secondly, I call for the EU to directly fund the construction of border walls in countries that face immigration problems. For example, Greece had to construct the Evros fence in Thrace with national funds because the EU refused to aid them financially. This needs to be revised and the EU should support countries that take steps to protect our common external borders. Thirdly, we should legalize pushbacks - both at sea and at land - in order to deal with ever increasing waves of migrants. This will greatly discourage the dangerous travels through sea which often end up with dead migrants. We need to send a clear signal to migrant traffickers that the EU won't tolerate their activities. In order to further make this point, I also propose an EU-wide NGO registry which will define which NGOs will be allowed to deal with migration. Too many NGOs promote illegal immigration and undermine national security of EU member states. We need to put an end to this."

"Of course, those proposals are up to discussion as in the EU we need to reach a consensus in order to adopt those policies EU-wide. But I firmly believe the conditions are right for an EU agreement on immigration that will strengthen our external borders and show to the European citizens that the EU cares about their plights and their problems. We need an EU that protects!"

Solidarity Surcharge Abolished

Christian Lindner, leader of the right-liberal FDP and Finance Minister, announced that the government would move to abolish the controversial solidarity surcharge. In Germany, the corporate taxation (15%) is subject to a surcharge of 5.5%. This tax was established in 1991, with the costs of German reunification being used to justify it. Now, the Finance Minister announced that the tax was to be abolished. "This is an unfair tax that was supposed to be temporary and yet past administrations refused to abolish it," the Minister stated. "It unduly burdens German corporations and deprives them of funds which could be used to invest in the creation of new jobs or lowering the price of their services and products. This decision of ours shows our commitment to maintaining high rates of economic growth and our aversion towards overtaxation that robs Germans of their hard-earned money."

The Minister also spoke about future plans to cut corporate taxation. "In the next few months, our administration is looking at reducing corporate taxation from the current rate of 15% to 10%. This is necessary in order to spur economic activity and create new, well-paying jobs. If Germany is to remain the economic powerhouse it is, we need to be able to compete with emerging markets that offer to investors a series of financial benefits. Cutting taxes is the best way to grow our economy and to ensure that Germany prospers."

by **New Provenance** » Tue Jan 04, 2022 8:32 pm

CNN International
The Most Trusted Name in News

6 January 2022

Top Senate Democrats criticize German chancellor's pro-pushback, anti-immigrant statements

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a series of strong rebuttals before the Senate and the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, top Senate Democrats, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Sen. Dianne Fenstein (D-CA), Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). All seven Senators criticized German Chancellor Merz's vocal support for bolstering FRONTEX, the European Union's highly controversial and allegedly anti-immigration border security force, and legalizing pushbacks against immigrants attempting to migrate to Europe.

"These statements [by Chancellor Merz] are an affront to the prestige of not just the EU but to the Western world. We don't turn our backs on immigrants here." Senate Majority Leader Schumer declared in front of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. Senators Kelly and Fenstein issued strong condemnations on social media, while all seven declared pushbacks 'an inhuman practice'. However, this opposition to the chancellor's statements has put the Democrats at odds with the Republicans, who have expressed support for Chancellor Merz's 'policies of self-defense'.

President Joe Biden and the White House have not yet made any statements on the issue.

United States Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield calls on White House to oppose pushback legalization

NEW YORK, NY - In a press conference to reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, United States Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield called on the Biden White House to oppose pushback legalization and the strengthening of anti-immigration measures in the European Union, today, January 6. Ambassador Greenfield delivered her remarks shortly following condemnations of German Chancellor Merz's remarks on immigration by top Senate Democrats, which began going public three days ago.

"The United States must not tolerate what is a blatant disregard for human life and the safety of thousands of refugees fleeing countries torn by war, led by authoritarian dictators who oppose the free world." Thomas-Greenfield stated to the press today.

by **The Manticoran Empire** » Wed Jan 05, 2022 9:21 am

Beijing
1 January 2021

Xi Jinping stepped into the small conference room that served as the meeting area for the Central Military Commission. The other members of the Commission were already present, standing behind their seats as they waited for their Premier to reach his appointed place. Disciplined, as always, like good soldiers of the State. Xi reached his chair and gestured for the others to sit as he settled into the comfortable office chair. His gaze swept the room, falling in turn upon each member of the commission.

General Xu Qiliang, a round, increasingly bald member of the Air Force and the single most senior member of the People’s Liberation Army, sat immediately at Xi’s right. As the Executive Deputy of the CMC, he was Xi’s most direct subordinate and the one who would take charge of CMC in the event Xi was unable to attend a meeting. A consummate professional, Xu’s uniform was immaculate in its tailoring and exactly in accordance with the published regulations, right down to the seams and trim. But Xi also knew that Xu Qiliang was a well educated man and an avid student of Sun Tzu. He had taken to the study of China’s enemies and had preached that even from low rank. That made him, simultaneously, useful and dangerous. Fortunately, though, he was a soldier’s soldier, loyal to the Party and to the State.

General Zhang Youxia, seated to Xi’s left, was a stark contrast to Xu. Less bald but equally rotund, he was a veteran of the Border War of 1979, making him valuable simply because of his battle experience. He had served for a time as head of the General Armaments Department and the Equipment Development Department, providing useful insight into the sorts of developmental hurdles that might be involved in bringing the People’s Liberation Army into the modern world.

Seated next to Xu was the Minister of Defense, General Wei Fenghe. Another balding man, he was less thickly built than his two superiors but an equally studied and experienced officer, having been commander of the Rocket Forces before becoming Minister of Defense. He was also instrumental in improving China’s relationship with Pakistan, a particularly important task given continued tensions over the border with India. But more important was that he had a cool head on his shoulders, able to offer sound advice even when emotions were high. After all, one did not give command of the People’s nuclear arsenal to a hot tempered mad man!

Across from Wei was General Li Zuocheng, Chief of the Joint Staff and another balding man and another veteran of the 1979 Border War. Unlike Zhang, who had a face more appropriate for a kindly grandfather than a soldier, Li had a serious, unwelcoming face, something many attributed to his involvement in a nearly month-long battle against the Vietnamese. Li was also a staunch supporter of immediate action against Taiwan, something he had yet to win support for.

Seated beside Wei was Admiral Miao Hua, the only representative of the Navy and the Director of the Political Work Department. Miao had previously been the senior political commissar of the Navy, a job at which he had excelled. Many in the West questioned the utility of political commissars but Xi knew their importance well. As a revolutionary state, China needed to ensure that its soldiers knew what they were fighting for, what they were being called upon to give their lives for. And that was the role of the Commissars, to ensure the soldiers knew why and for what they would fight and die and that the soldiers died bravely and with honor.

The final, and most junior member, General Zhang Shengmin, sat across from Miao. While Miao focused on ensuring the soldiers and officers of the People’s Liberation Army were educated on the core tenets of People’s War and filled with revolutionary zeal, Zhang was tasked with ensuring all those who sought to supplant revolutionary zeal with bribery and embezzlement were swiftly brought to justice.

Of course, the purpose of today’s meeting wasn’t about military equipment or corruption or political work. The purpose today was far more serious. Everyone knew it, though none had spoken of it, even before Xi had arrived. He had spoken to no one and he knew the men around him well enough to know they had also not spoken of it, even to each other.

The silence was deafening and Xi steeled himself before he broke it. “Gentlemen, we face a crisis in the coming years. There is no use denying it any longer. The economy is slowing and, given current census data, it will not only continue to slow but may stop growing completely in the coming years as our prime labor force begins to retire. And, as we face growing weaker, our enemies are poised to grow stronger. The Soviets seek closer ties with the Americans while the self-same Americans court the Indians and the Japanese, offering guarantees of support for their territorial claims and offering military aid. Then there is the Taiwan Region, where a growing portion of the population is openly calling for secession. Finally, the Philippines have grown bold through our inaction, not only challenging us in an international court but placing troops upon islands that are ours by right.” He paused for a moment and continued, “Worse, we have created a raging bull in the realm of public opinion. The fiery rhetoric of our diplomats, while sparking indignation abroad, have brought out the greatest sense of revolutionary and national brotherhood within our population since the Civil War. But the longer we delay acting, the more likely it is that the fires of revolutionary zeal will turn inward, towards us. We must focus the People outward, on a specific enemy. And we must do it quickly.”

The military men nodded solemnly. All of them were looking at him. All, he noticed, but Xu and Zhang. “General Xu, General Zhang, what is on your minds?” The two officers shared a quick nod before Zhang spoke. “Well, Mister President, it would seem that what we need is a quick, decisive war. One that will allow us to not only productively vent the population’s zeal but also knock our rivals down a peg, ensuring that we will not be taken advantage of while we deal with the coming economic and demographic crisis. Does that sound right?”
Xi nodded. Zhang looked at Xu, who said, “If that is the case, Mister President, then the solution is quite clear at hand. In the South China Sea, the Philippines hold several islands which we have a historical claim to. At least 8 of these we can deploy amphibious task forces to seize with relative ease. It is my belief that this course of action will be the most likely to achieve the aims we desire while also the least likely to expand into a larger conflict.”

“Explain, General. Please.”

“The Spratly Islands are hotly disputed, this is true, but the dispute is limited to ourselves, the Taiwan Region, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia. Of these, the Philippines are the least capable of providing significant resistance and also the one most able to weaken the standing of the US in the region, thanks to its mutual defense pact with the United States.
In brief, if we attack Filipino forces on the Spratly Islands, then Duterte will scream to the Americans for assistance. At that point, the United States will have two options. First, they can ignore the Filipinos bleating in hopes of avoiding a major war. This option will effectively destroy their credibility in the region, simultaneously rendering our other rivals, like South Korea, Japan, and India, more pliable in future. The other option they will have is to directly intervene, which will give us a pretext to shatter their forward positions in the Pacific with ballistic missiles and air strikes. At that point, faced with the loss of key bases, expensive ships and planes, and thousands of casualties, the Americans will be forced to either back down, which will result in their credibility being even more totally destroyed than if they had simply backed away at the start, or to double down by sparking a war that we are far better able to wage.”

“What of the Indians and the Soviets?”

“The Indians lack the ability to launch a significant offensive into our territory, thanks in large part to the Himalaya Mountains but even more thanks to the powerful Pakistani military on their doorstep. We have a great deal of clout with the Pakistanis and, should India make moves against us, we can count on the Pakistanis to provide enough of a threat to draw large contingents of Indian troops away from us.
As for the Soviets, while they have been growing closer with the West, it is unlikely that they will be willing to draw forces away from their European border to face us. There are enough hardliners still in the Duma to keep their most modern and dangerous formations pointed squarely at NATO. And, of course, there is Iran. With our 25 year Partnership, we can count on Iran to make a significant mess in the Middle East to further draw attention and forces away from us.”

“There is a grave potential for this to go wrong,” Zhang interjected as Xu paused. “Just as it is possible our enemies will back down and concede to us, it is also possible that our friends in Islamabad and Tehran will abandon us. And it is possible that the Soviets will decide that we pose a danger to them, in which case they could attempt their own version of our very own operation and try to cut US down to size.”

“In which case I will make the immediate priority of ensuring Moscow’s neutrality and Tehran and Islamabad’s cooperation,” Xi said. “In the meantime,” he turned to Li, “General Li, I want the Joint Staff to draw up the necessary plans. I want minimum force and maximum force options, as well as contingency plans that take into consideration the intervention of the US, India, and the USSR, as well as our other neighbors. I want these plans and options wargamed and I want best, worst, and middle case scenarios within three months.”

Xi leaned back and looked around the table again. “Make no mistake, gentlemen, if we go ahead with this, we risk everything. We risk our lives, our posts, our very nation. We will only go ahead if we can ensure a reasonable degree of success. Now, go on and get to work on the details. We’ll meet again next month.”

With that, Xi rose and walked from the room, leaving the generals to begin busily talking among themselves as his mind raced.

Message from Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party
To be delivered to Vasiliy Orlov, President of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics.
The secrecy of this document is absolute. Deliver only to President Orlov, in person. Electronic transmission of contents prohibited, under penalty of law.

President Orlov,

I am seeking to confirm the Soviet position on a series of ongoing territorial disputes that involve the People’s Republic of China. Specifically, I am hoping to ensure that you will assure me of your country’s neutrality in the eventual resolution of these disputes, whatever form that may take. I, personally, remain hopeful that you will assure me of your country’s support for my country’s position on these disputes.

Please provide your reply to me through my ambassador in Moscow. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Message from Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party
To be delivered to Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi, president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The secrecy of this document is absolute. Deliver only to President Alvi, in person. Electronic transmission of contents prohibited, under penalty of law.

President Alvi,

I am seeking to confirm your country’s support in the ongoing territorial disputes between my own country and India. I can assure you that, without reservation, the People’s Republic of China is prepared and able to provide whatever support may be required to secure a successful resolution of your own disputes with India. I hope that I can count upon the same assurances from you.

Please provide your reply to me through my ambassador in Islamabad. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Message from Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party
To be delivered to Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The secrecy of this document is absolute. Deliver only to the Ayatollah, in person. Electronic transmission of contents prohibited, under penalty of law.

Ayatollah Khamenei,

I am seeking to confirm your country’s support in the ongoing territorial disputes between my own country and the West. I can assure you that, without reservation, the People’s Republic of China is prepared and able to provide whatever support may be required to secure a successful resolution of your own disputes with Iraq and Israel. I hope that I can count upon the same assurances from you.

Please provide your reply to me through my ambassador in Tehran. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

by **Arvenia** » Wed Jan 05, 2022 9:39 am

Blesk
January 6, 2022

Chancellor Merz Discusses Frontex and Pushbacks
GERMANY - Chancellor Friedrich Merz has recently made a statement in regards to Frontex and illegal immigration. He has come up with some measures, which include doubling the number of border guards and vehicles, constructing border walls, legalizing pushbacks and proposing the formation of a NGO registry. Such registry would define any NGO that is allowed to deal with migration. These measures had led to outrage in many countries, including Czechoslovakia and the US. In the US, many Democrats have sharply criticized Merz for bolstering what they describe as an "highly controversial and anti-immigrant border security force", while Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, have called on the White House to oppose the legalization of pushbacks. Meanwhile, here in Czechoslovakia, reactions have been mixed. Many parties such as Freedom and Equality (SVAR), Mayors and Independents (STAN), Progressive Czechoslovakia (PČ), the Union of Conservative Liberals (SKL), the Green Party of Czechoslovakia (SZČ), the Liberal Democratic Movement (LDH), the Christian Democratic Initiative (KDI), the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (ČSSD), the Romani Defence League (ROL) and the Social Ecological Party (SES) have criticized Merz for his apparent anti-immigrant measures, while the leaders of the Brand New Left (ZLN) have jointly denounced him as a "crypto-fascist". On the other hand, parties such as National Sovereignty and Direct Democracy (NSPD), Slovakia First (SP), Alternative for Czechoslovakia (APČ), the Civic Conservative Party (OKS), the Sudeten German National Party (SDNP), the Felvidekian Resistance Movement (FEM), the Workers' Party for Social Justice (DSSS), the National Association for an Honest Czechoslovakia (NSČČ) and the Civic Rights Party (SPO) supported Merz and his policies, while President Miloš Zeman criticized many Democrats for not caring about the "social well-being of native Europeans". Both Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) and his government has yet to make a statement on the issue.

Czechoslovak Politicians Proposes Opposition to Frontex and Merz
PRAGUE - Many Czechoslovak politicians, especially members of Mayors and Independents (STAN), Freedom and Equality (SVAR), Progressive Czechoslovakia (PČ), the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (ČSSD), the Union of Conservative Liberals (SKL) and the Green Party of Czechoslovakia (SZČ), have proposed a firm opposition to both Frontex and Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Czechoslovak Parliament later this year. The proposal seeks to denounce Frontex and support refugees who are fleeing to safety. The proposal also seeks to crack down on xenophobia and human trafficking. Jan Farský, the current deputy chairman of Mayors and Independents (STAN) and member of the National Assembly, announced the proposal earlier today following news of Merz proposing measures against illegal immigration. Some parties such as National Sovereignty and Direct Democracy (NSPD), Alternative for Czechoslovakia (APČ) and the Civic Conservative Party (OKS) said that they will be voting against the proposal, citing it as "high treason against the people of Europe".

by **Yaruqo** » Wed Jan 05, 2022 9:54 am

دمشق‎ | Damascus | Şam
جمهورية سوريا الاتحادية الشعبية | The People's Federal Republic of Syria | Komara Federal a Gel a Sûriyê

January 6th, 2022

2021 had seen slow, but steady, change for the new People's Federal Republic. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission had taken on a massive work load, fielding petitions and complaints from all sides of the civil war, working to reconcile local communities that had been torn apart by both the civil war and the rise of ISIL. The Syrian Armed Forces had, more or less, been reformed and rebuilt from the ground up, with intense vetting ensuring that war criminals and Assadist sympathizers were kept out. And even the civil service and nascent independent judiciary had cobbled together some semblance of a capable transition by the end of 2021. The system was still a work in progress, but in three months, new elections would end the two year transition and bring about a new government, the first to be democratically elected since before the Ba'athists took power decades ago.

Of course, there was still the thorny issue of Israel and the Golan Heights - or, rather, Jawlān, as the Syrians preferred to call it. The Transitional Authority had attempted to covertly begin peace talks with the Israelis to address Syrian recognition of Israel and its right to exist in return for the recovery of Jawlān to Syria. Distracted by their war with Hamas (or so they claimed), and with Syria forced to focus on its domestic reconstruction and political transition, talks ultimately were delayed. But with a new year, came new hope. Perhaps this time, things would be different. At the latest meeting of the Transitional Authority, a decision was made to release a "foreign affairs" statement to the press, one that discussed both the peaceful return of the Jawlān and the latest developments by the German government. While the new Syrian government was encouraging its former refugees to return to the country from Jordan, Europe, the United States and Canada, progress was slow - many refugees were afraid to return during the transition, fearing possible Assadist coups or the failure of the democratic experiment, others still didn't want to return to a country that was still rebuilding and would have a relatively lower standard of living than their current host countries. But the German attempts to make Europe some unwelcome bastion were not, in the eyes of the left-leaning Transitional Authority, best for the interests of its diaspora or the Syrian government.

6 January 2022

Political Parties Prepare for Elections in April, Polls Suggest Cautious Optimism

DAMASCUS - Electoral officials and independent election observers from the United Nations have begun preparations for the first elections since the transition two years ago, opening up a new chapter in Syrian history. Political parties from across the political spectrum, as well as those that have been organized along ethnic lines, have had the better part of a year to build up their party lists, build support, and organize across the country. Polling suggests that there will not be any clear winner within the Constituent Assembly, and a coalition will undoubtedly need to be formed. Meanwhile, the Syrian National Democratic Alliance's presidential candidate, Alaeddine Khaled, is leading in the polls for the first round, with the Democratic Union Party's Asya Abdullah in second place and the Democratic Conservative Party's Humaydi Daham al-Hadi in third. Polls suggest that 62% of likely Syrian voters have "strong" or "somewhat strong" confidence in the upcoming elections, a welcome reprieve for the Transitional Authority's leaders that have worked for the past two years to build up confidence and trust in the upcoming elections.
Transitional Authority Restates Desire for Jawlān, Urges EU to Stand Firm Against Xenophobia

DAMASCUS - In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Transitional Authority reiterated Syria's claims to the disputed Jawlān region, which is currently under an occupation that was determined illegal by the United Nations. "We hope that with the new year, our legal claims to Jawlān will be respected by our neighbors and by the international community, and we hope that these lands will be peacefully returned to the Syrian people. We would welcome diplomatic talks regarding the status of Jawlān, but only if our counterparts seek to engage in said talks with the same seriousness as we do." In other news from Germany, the government of Chancellor Merz endorsed the construction of border walls in the European Union and pushbacks, a tactic that forces migrants back over a border without consideration of individual circumstances or allowing for the processing of asylum claims. Pushback tactics are considered to be violations of Protocol 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and, in cases where the migrants are fleeing war zones or authoritarian regimes, may violate international law concerning the prohibition of non-refoulement. Over the course of the civil war, millions of Syrians were displaced from their homes and fled to Jordan, Turkey, and the European Union through land borders or dangerous sea crossings.

In a separate statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "urges the European Union to strongly oppose illegal and inhumane methods that are seeped in xenophobia. As we know all too well, every refugee and asylum seeker is a human being, deserving of proper treatment, respect, and care. While the Transitional Authority is working to encourage Syrians to return to their homeland to assist in reconstruction, we strongly condemn any policy or action that deprives them of the right to make that choice by their own free will. We further condemn any policy or action that would deprive migrants humane treatment and due consideration of their claims for asylum or refuge. The European Union should remember well the products of German-inspired bigotry and its harmful effects on the world and, as we are working to do, turn the page from ignorance and hate to cooperation and shared humanity."

by **Sao Nova Europa** » Wed Jan 05, 2022 10:12 am

Chancellor Merz reacts to US criticism

Chancellor Merz reacted to US criticism of his proposals in a TV interview. "In the past," he said, "German politicians have criticized American domestic and foreign policy. It is only natural that some American politicians do the same. This does not in any way change the strategic ties between the US and Germany, nor does it alter our Atlanticist direction. America and Germany have long been allies and partners, and we will continue to be so. We will continue to cooperate with our American allies on the fields of economy, trade, counter-terrorism and defense."

The Chancellor however clarified he would not alter his immigration agenda. "Germany is an ally of the US, but it is also a sovereign state. Same goes for all EU member states. The European Union is a block of sovereign countries. As such, we will be the ones deciding how our block will address the issue of illegal immigration."

The Chancellor also addressed criticism from the political left. "Europe - and Germany in particular - has always welcomed refugees and legal immigrants. We believe that they enrich our society with their skills and expertise. We've never denied help to those in need. However, Europe cannot withstand an endless influx of illegal economic immigrants. There are only so many people Germany and Europe can take in. We need to take into account societal fatigue, undue job competition that drives down wages, and the threat of radical Islamic terrorism."

"Of course it is understandable that some in the political left oppose our measures, since migrant trafficking is a lucrative business: smugglers make small fortunes by trafficking illegal immigrants into Europe with the false promise of a better life. Those smuggler networks need to be crushed. We cannot allow criminal enterprises to use the plight of people seeking a better future to make a fortune. That is something unacceptable."

Audio leak of Chancellor Merz

In a rather embarrassing turn of events, after the interview an audio of an alleged private conversation of Chancellor Merz with his aides leaked to social media. The audio has not been yet verified as authentic and the Chancellery refuses to give a comment, but it does seem to be genuine. In it, the Chancellor is heard mocking President Biden. "Shouldn't they worry about the mess in their southern border?" Merz is heard saying about the Democrats. An aide replied, "do you think Biden will address the issue?" to which Merz replied by laughing. "This guy is senile. I doubt he remembers his name. He will probably read whatever his handlers tell him to."

Chancellor Merz is then heard saying that "I hope there will be a red wave in the midterms. Maybe this will get Democrats to focus more on their country." A few seconds later, after some laughter and inaudible voices, Merz is heard once again. "Trump might have ... [inaudible sounds] ... but at least he didn't bother us about our immigration agenda. Hope he or some other Republican takes the White House in 24'"

by **Hopal** » Wed Jan 05, 2022 6:55 pm

January 7, 2022

Pledges Made as Prime Minister, Premiers Kick Off the New Year with a First Ministers' Meeting in Ottawa

The Prime Minister, Premiers, and Indigenous Leaders set the political landscape for the new year at the 83rd First Ministers' Meeting in Ottawa. It was crucial sit down and starting point for 2022 as cracks and divisions begin to show within confederation. With many Premiers demanding more autonomy and even the word secession being thrown around in some circles, and with the country cooling off after an armed rebellion in British Columbia two year. This meeting comes at the critical point in the country's history, as the continuation of confederation comes into question. The hopes going into this conference was that this meeting would cool tempers which had flared over the past 2 years and that these political leaders could work together to try to salvage confederation. The last First Ministers' meeting just over a year ago had not been very productive with Premiers often violently arguing with each other and with the Prime Minister and federal officials, but leaders agreed that a peaceful resolution was needed to this crisis.

Now at this first First Ministers' meeting of 2022, it seemed as if we might see a repeat of the last meeting. There was an undeniable tension in the room as the meeting chaired my Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister. But the Premiers and leaders seemed to be able to be civil with each other, and while nothing of much value came out of the meeting of the Premiers, it seemed an important step on the path to salvage confederation. Though it seemed confederation might take a different form than it did before.

But it was some the one-on-one meeting between Prime Minister and the different Premiers which was much more interesting to watch, and which much more came out of. In particular the Prime Minister's meetings with Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. With Premier Legault, Prime Minister Trudeau promised to support a change in the constitution which would classify Quebec as "distinct society" and which would give Quebec control over its cultural policy, though Trudeau stressed that Bill 21 did not classify as Cultural Policy and that he would not be pulling back the government-sanctioned court challenge of Bill 21. Premier said of the arrangement at a press conference after the meeting "I'm pleased with the progress of our campaign" saying of the federal government's court challenge of Bill 21 "it's a shame they're continuing with it, but will tell that it was constitutional and under Quebec's jurisdiction." In his meetings with Premiers Jason Kenney and Scott Moe of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Trudeau pledged "billions of dollars to help people in Western Canada transition to a Greener economy." This comes as the province of Alberta is in the thick of a recession as many of the oil fields which once dominated the Albertan economy begin to close down due to government restrictions to help combat climate change, with unemployment reaching 8% at the end of the last quarter. It is unclear how this money will be distributed, and the exact amount, but sources tell us that the federal government is planning on provincial governments of Alberta, BC, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan some kind of direct payment.

The Prime Minister also made Premiers and Indigenous leaders sign a 'Commitment to Confederation' which the confrontational Chief of the Assembly of First Nations RoseAnne Archibald, the foremost representative of Indigenous peoples in Canada straight-up refused to sign. Saying that she wanted to see an agreement which the Indigenous peoples of British Columbia over the pipeline dispute, a concrete settlement on autonomy, and more hard progress toward reconciliation before she could sign such a commitment. Other Indigenous leaders signed the commitment with a pledge to reconciliation being put into the commitment and with a promise from the Prime Minister to change the constitution to engrain reconciliation, the rights of Indigenous peoples, and give Indigenous peoples more autonomy to live their lifestyle, with promises of additional supports to be given to Indigenous peoples. Quebec Premier Francois Legault signed on to the commitment but only after the words "[a confederation] that recognizes Quebec as a distinct society from the rest of anglophone Canada" were added to the wording of the commitment. It was rather hard to get Alberta to sign on, but Trudeau promised Alberta Premier Jason Kenney that he would get the trans-mountain pipeline through, something that would be rather hard if Alberta was out of confederation. This was a promise that rather angered BC Premier John Horgan, an ardent environmentalist and whose province the pipeline would run right through. But the Prime Minister pledged he would give the BC government a sum of money the amount it cost the federal government to build the pipeline to put in place measure to combat climate change. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe did not sign on to the agreement, which seemed to make the agreement quite the failure. Prime Minister Trudeau tried to strike a deal with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe that would give Saskatchewan more autonomy over taxation, but Moe wanted to rid of the carbon tax for his province, and then Ontario Premier Doug Ford wanted to do the same thing, and the Prime Minister couldn't go that far, so the agreement fell through. Ontario Premier Doug Ford still signed on the commitment because as he says he's a "strong believer in confederation."

This meeting will likely prove to be an important step to salvaging confederation (save for Saskatchewan), and Justin Trudeau has proven that at this conference that he will put all the energy that he can to saving confederation, which was arguably built by his father Pierre Trudeau (though he seems to almost be wrecking the legacy of total equality put in place by his father). But it also proven with the Saskatchewan-Ontario carbon tax incident that he still perhaps might not use all the tools he can to save confederation, not if they might create some problems in the new confederation in his mind. This meeting has also given us an insight into want a new confederation might look like with all the pledges that the Prime Minister made to various groups, it gives a (mostly) clear insight into what might be needed to salvage confederation and it shows that Saskatchewan might be the hardest province to convince in that respect.

But as Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King says, they'll likely be back soon.

But this is just the first engagement in a busy two week schedule for the Prime Minister; next it's to BC, for another round of negotiations with Indigenous leaders there, then it's to Alberta to finalize agreement with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, then to Saskatchewan to try to get Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe to sign on to the Commitment to Confederation, before it's back to Ottawa for likely another week of announcement, before to round out the months with a lot of political heavy lifting.

by **TENNOHEIKA BANZAI NIHON** » Wed Jan 05, 2022 7:22 pm

Foreign Minister Hanegbi Praises German Action on Border Control, Calls for Tighter Restrictions
January 7, 2022

Foreign Minister Hanegbi praised German Chancellor Merz for his proposal to bolster border security crack down on illegal immigration, citing terror threats. Speaking to reporters, Hanegbi called on the European Union to better protect Jews from terror violence, pointing to the extremists who previously slipped past border control. He asked the EU to crack down on Hezbollah and other terror organizations in their countries, saying "The EU currently lets in thousands of illegal immigrants, allowing terror groups to exploit the system. Safely in European borders, groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, as well as their financers, like Addameer, Al-Haq, Defense for Children International – Palestine, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, the Bisan Center for Research and Development, and the Union of Palestinian Women Committees, under false names, threaten the State of Israel. They plan terror attacks, raise money for rockets... The EU must take decisive action. "

Despite pushback from other European nations and the United States on the matter, the Foreign Minister has extended an offer to Germany, telling the Jerusalem Post that "If Germany is willing, the Israeli Border Police and IDF would be very pleased to train with their respective border enforcement agencies. It is the duty of Israel to look out for its people, so when they come under threat from extremists, then we will do everything in our power to help."

Israel itself has been ramping up border security lately, amid terror attacks by Palestinian terrorists. Reportedly the Border Police and IDF themselves have been pushing for the creation of a concrete wall at the Lebanese border, due to past infiltration attempts by Hezbollah as well as drug and gun smuggling.

Foreign Ministry Rejects Talks Over Status of Golan Heights, Demands Israeli Sovereignty Be Respected
January 7, 2022

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected the call by Syria's Transitional Authority for talks over the Israeli Golan Heights. According to a statement from the Ministry, "It is the position of the State of Israel that the Golan Heights are indisputably sovereign Israeli territory. As such there will be no negotiations over the status of the Israeli Golan Heights. However, the State of Israel remains committed to pursuing peace talks with the Syrian government, should it be willing."

Defense Minister Gantz echoed this statement, warning "The Golan Heights are Israeli territory. It is as simple as that. We don't want war, but should any group or nation attempt to change the status of the Golan by force, Israel will respond overwhelmingly."

In a press release late today, the IDF announced it will be redeploying the 401st "Iron Tracks" Armored Brigade to the Golan Heights. When asked, a spokesperson denied it had anything to do with the Syrian demands, instead claiming it was for "routine training." It has been speculated by experts that Israel is seeking to deter the Syrian Army or any proxy groups from taking action in the Golan with its deployment of the 401st, known for its charge into Gaza during the 2014 war.

Jerusalem Municipal Planning Committee Approves Thousands of New Homes in East Jerusalem
January 7, 2022

The Jerusalem Municipal Planning Committee has approved 1,465 new homes to be built in East Jerusalem, as part of a move that left-wing activists and Palestinians say makes creating a Palestinian capital more difficult. The new neighborhood will be between the Jewish neighborhoods of Givat HaMatos and Har Homa, already controversial due to the area. The move is in line with the current government, which opposes any Palestinian state, and supports Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel.

Another 2,092 housing units were advanced in the Jewish neighborhood of French Hill, which also lies over the Green Line.

The Prime Minister has reportedly been mulling expanding the population in the Golan Heights as well, by investing into the region. It has been speculated he may soon make a visit, should tensions with Syria remain calm.

by **The Manticoran Empire** » Wed Jan 05, 2022 8:46 pm

Yaruqo wrote:
دمشق‎ | Damascus | Şam
جمهورية سوريا الاتحادية الشعبية | The People's Federal Republic of Syria | Komara Federal a Gel a Sûriyê

January 6th, 2022

2021 had seen slow, but steady, change for the new People's Federal Republic. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission had taken on a massive work load, fielding petitions and complaints from all sides of the civil war, working to reconcile local communities that had been torn apart by both the civil war and the rise of ISIL. The Syrian Armed Forces had, more or less, been reformed and rebuilt from the ground up, with intense vetting ensuring that war criminals and Assadist sympathizers were kept out. And even the civil service and nascent independent judiciary had cobbled together some semblance of a capable transition by the end of 2021. The system was still a work in progress, but in three months, new elections would end the two year transition and bring about a new government, the first to be democratically elected since before the Ba'athists took power decades ago.

Of course, there was still the thorny issue of Israel and the Golan Heights - or, rather, Jawlān, as the Syrians preferred to call it. The Transitional Authority had attempted to covertly begin peace talks with the Israelis to address Syrian recognition of Israel and its right to exist in return for the recovery of Jawlān to Syria. Distracted by their war with Hamas (or so they claimed), and with Syria forced to focus on its domestic reconstruction and political transition, talks ultimately were delayed. But with a new year, came new hope. Perhaps this time, things would be different. At the latest meeting of the Transitional Authority, a decision was made to release a "foreign affairs" statement to the press, one that discussed both the peaceful return of the Jawlān and the latest developments by the German government. While the new Syrian government was encouraging its former refugees to return to the country from Jordan, Europe, the United States and Canada, progress was slow - many refugees were afraid to return during the transition, fearing possible Assadist coups or the failure of the democratic experiment, others still didn't want to return to a country that was still rebuilding and would have a relatively lower standard of living than their current host countries. But the German attempts to make Europe some unwelcome bastion were not, in the eyes of the left-leaning Transitional Authority, best for the interests of its diaspora or the Syrian government.

(Image)
6 January 2022

Political Parties Prepare for Elections in April, Polls Suggest Cautious Optimism

DAMASCUS - Electoral officials and independent election observers from the United Nations have begun preparations for the first elections since the transition two years ago, opening up a new chapter in Syrian history. Political parties from across the political spectrum, as well as those that have been organized along ethnic lines, have had the better part of a year to build up their party lists, build support, and organize across the country. Polling suggests that there will not be any clear winner within the Constituent Assembly, and a coalition will undoubtedly need to be formed. Meanwhile, the Syrian National Democratic Alliance's presidential candidate, Alaeddine Khaled, is leading in the polls for the first round, with the Democratic Union Party's Asya Abdullah in second place and the Democratic Conservative Party's Humaydi Daham al-Hadi in third. Polls suggest that 62% of likely Syrian voters have "strong" or "somewhat strong" confidence in the upcoming elections, a welcome reprieve for the Transitional Authority's leaders that have worked for the past two years to build up confidence and trust in the upcoming elections.
Transitional Authority Restates Desire for Jawlān, Urges EU to Stand Firm Against Xenophobia

DAMASCUS - In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Transitional Authority reiterated Syria's claims to the disputed Jawlān region, which is currently under an occupation that was determined illegal by the United Nations. "We hope that with the new year, our legal claims to Jawlān will be respected by our neighbors and by the international community, and we hope that these lands will be peacefully returned to the Syrian people. We would welcome diplomatic talks regarding the status of Jawlān, but only if our counterparts seek to engage in said talks with the same seriousness as we do." In other news from Germany, the government of Chancellor Merz endorsed the construction of border walls in the European Union and pushbacks, a tactic that forces migrants back over a border without consideration of individual circumstances or allowing for the processing of asylum claims. Pushback tactics are considered to be violations of Protocol 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and, in cases where the migrants are fleeing war zones or authoritarian regimes, may violate international law concerning the prohibition of non-refoulement. Over the course of the civil war, millions of Syrians were displaced from their homes and fled to Jordan, Turkey, and the European Union through land borders or dangerous sea crossings.

In a separate statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "urges the European Union to strongly oppose illegal and inhumane methods that are seeped in xenophobia. As we know all too well, every refugee and asylum seeker is a human being, deserving of proper treatment, respect, and care. While the Transitional Authority is working to encourage Syrians to return to their homeland to assist in reconstruction, we strongly condemn any policy or action that deprives them of the right to make that choice by their own free will. We further condemn any policy or action that would deprive migrants humane treatment and due consideration of their claims for asylum or refuge. The European Union should remember well the products of German-inspired bigotry and its harmful effects on the world and, as we are working to do, turn the page from ignorance and hate to cooperation and shared humanity."

From Xi Jinping, Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China
To Anas al-Abdah and Ilham Ehmed, Co Presidents of the Syrian Transitional Authority.

First, allow me to reiterate my sincere congratulations on the success of your Transitional Authority. Secondly, on the matter of the Jawlan region, I wish to reassure you that the stance of the People's Republic of China remains unchanged. The Jawlan is sovereign Syrian territory, occupied by Israel. Under International Law, the Israeli claims hold no water.

It is for this second matter that I am sending this correspondence. As the Israeli government to issue public threats against your nation and your people, I am offering you the friendship and partnership of the People's Republic of China. I am offering you our backing in the United Nations, our support on the Security Council, as well strategic, political, and economic cooperation and assistance, if you should desire it.

As a token of our goodwill, I shall be authorizing a shipment of humanitarian goods as well as the transfer of $300 million to aid in the rebuilding process. I look forward to hearing from you in regards to my offer and, of course, once again offer my congratulations on your success and wishes of continued luck and prosperity for Syria.

by **New Provenance** » Thu Jan 06, 2022 12:40 am

CNN International
The Most Trusted Name in News

6 January 2022

Top Senators 'absolutely appalled' by leaked Merz tapes, White House makes no comment

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Top Senators, including Senators Sanders, Warren, Schumer, Ossoff, and eleven other Senate Democrats, are reportedly 'absolutely appalled', according to an anonymous statement to CNN by staffers on Capitol Hill, by leaked tapes of German Chancellor Merz making offensive comments about President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party. During an interview with Good Morning America, Senator Elizabeth Warren slammed the German Chancellor, stating that 'clearly the elderly are more wise than a man like him'. Senator Bernie Sanders stated that while he 'sympathized' with the fact that the European Union was enforcing its own sovereignty, he 'did not appreciate' Merz's alleged comments.

The Biden White House has remained silent on the situation, though judging by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki's unspoken reaction to a question by a reporter on the topic, the White House is most likely not pleased by the tapes either.

President Biden meets with top Pentagon officials on Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Late last evening, according to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, President Joe Biden met with top Pentagon officials, including Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, as well as the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the president's top advisors on the Middle East, to discuss the Afghanistan situation. According to the official record released by the White House on the meeting, President Biden is now reportedly 'no longer considering' his previous August-September 2022 deadline for the withdrawal of American forces in Afghanistan. The President also commented on Vice President Harris's visit with American troops in Kabul, stating that 'we have to make it clear that we haven't forgotten about Afghanistan'.

Rumors are circling that the President's recent phone call with President Vasily Orlov of the USSR was involved with the President's decision, but the White House has repeatedly asserted that the decision to 'delay consideration' for the August-September 2022 deadline was made 'independently and without any outside influence'.

White House denies Trump accusations that Biden decisions as president are being made with outside influence and encouragement

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Joe Biden, who is already 79 years old, has had a reputation for being forgetful due to his old age. His critics used his age against him in the 2020 election but, clearly, such tactics didn't work. The President, who is now about to conclude his first year in office, has aged drastically since his 2020 campaign for the presidency. On 31 December 2021, former president Donald Trump stated before a conservative audience of Texans that 'the president [Joe Biden], he can't think for himself anymore; he is not our president, there's definitely someone pulling the strings there, yep'.

The White House has denied these accusations, with Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and Press Secretary Jen Psaki all defending the president's independence and ability to run the country. "Joe Biden," Harris stated, "is a very capable, very strong man for his age."

President Biden has not personally commented on the issue.

NASA expected to launch Artemis I uncrewed Lunar mission in May, administrator Bill Nelson says

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - In an interview with CNN, NASA administrator and former astronaut Bill Nelson stated that the National Aeronautics and Space Agency was now, should all go to plan, expected to launch its Artemis I uncrewed Lunar mission sometime in May of this year. "We at NASA are all obviously very excited for this, because SLS will be our largest, strongest, and most powerful rocket yet." Nelson said. The Artemis I mission is the first of many missions in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to land humans on the moon by 2024.

The Artemis I mission will test the system readiness of the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion capsule, which will deliver humans to the Moon in the 21st century. The Artemis IV mission, currently slated for February 2024, is expected to return humans to the Moon and begin the permanent human presence at the Lunar South Pole, where a large presence of water ice and Helium-3 - a cheap fuel source - exists.

by **Mifan** » Thu Jan 06, 2022 12:45 am

Beirut, Lebanon
Grand Serail Meeting Room
President Michael Aoun

I looked at all the members, of the Council of Ministers, that had assembled in the room. Each and every single minister had come, and from the looks on a few of their faces, it was obvious some wished to be anywhere but here. I couldn't blame them, for all the good the Taif Agreement did for our nation, we were now nothing more than an ineffective government, with little control over the nation it represents, and is unable to make decisions that doesn't result in deadlock. I hope something will come of this; we can no longer sit around and watch the nation sink further. Najib Mikati stood up. "Friends, I am thankful that all of you were able to take time out of your busy schedules to come meet here today," he paused and looked around the room. "I will not lie to anybody here; our nation, is on the verge of a complete and utter collapse. Ever since we've separated, ourselves, we've just been on a slow decline. Violence between our religions have dropped to almost nothing, but our economy, lives, importance, has all dropped. Beirut used to be called the 'Paris of the East' and now look at it." We've heard this a thousand times and will probably here it a thousand more, get to the point. I looked around and even I could see that nobody wanted to hear the same thing over and over. "I believe we have an answer to one of our problems. Our people lack a force to unify behind. There's nothing that makes the people of Lebanon feel connected to one another. That is why," he pointed to our Minister of Defense, "Maurice Slim shall explain the plan." He sat down and Maurice cleared his throat, catching our attention.

"Pakistan is a nation that is made up of a variety of ethnic groups. Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, alongside many others. Yet they do not face our level of divide. Why is that?" I wanted to roll my eyes as but kept my composure. "The military. Their military has always been vital in promoting unity and nationhood amongst the various ethnic groups. I would like for our military to follow the same path, a force to promote unity amongst our people, no matter the religion." Some chuckles were heard and I turned my head towards one end of the table, where members of Hezbollah were seated. "Is there a joke that I'm missing?"

"You can't be serious about this," retorted Youssef Khalil, our Minister of Finance. "You wish to use the military to unite our nation, but did you even think of the cost of such a move? Where is this money going to come from? What services are you going to cut? If you haven't realized, our financial situation isn't the best at the moment."

"No thanks to you closing off a whole portion of the nation. The funds from the Shi'ite populace should be heading to government coffers, not the pockets of Hezbollah!" Here we go. "If Hezbollah would simply stop acting as its own country, many more of our problems would be solved without much issue."

"We've provided more for the Shi'ites than this government ever would. We will continue to carry out our duty of protecting them and representing them."

"Enough," I exclaimed, not wishing to sit here and listening to them argue. "I agree that Hezbollah should be allowing use to tax our own people, but it's clear that isn't going to happen, so forget about acquiring any funds from that portion of the population." I saw out of the corner of my eyes the Hezbollah members nod their heads. "They do raise a good point, however. We do not have the money to fund such a thing, and unless there are enough volunteers from each group, it wouldn't unite anybody. I can tell that both you and the Prime Minister had good intentions with this plan, but it needs to be thought out more. I would love nothing more than to see this nation united, but with all the issues we face, the military isn't high on my priority list. The Syrian refugees, for example, are a more pressing matter."

"We need to get Syria to retake them. We can't afford to allow them to stay here; they're a drain on our economy." I turned to Abdallah Bou Habib, Minister of Foreign Affairs. "We need to start somewhere, and getting these refugees out is a good start."

"Even if we get Syria to retake them, we still have a massive debt to repay. We aren't going to get any investments like this."

"One problem at a time, Youssef. Easing the burden these refugees have on us will be the start. I'm sure Parliament will be all for getting these people back to Syria at the earliest possible moment." I looked back towards the Prime Minister and Defense Minister. "We can talk about your military plan at a later date. Once we have stabilized the nation and economy a bit, I would like to revisit your plan. I see a lot of promise with it." The two men nodded their heads. I couldn't tell if they were disappointed about their idea being put on hold or glad that I was supportive of the idea. I looked all around the room. "So, we're in agreement that the refugees need to leave as soon as possible, and that diplomatic communications with Syria be used to enforce it?" All heads nodded in agreement. "Then I believe we're done for today. Najib, thank you for convening us. Hopefully the next time we all meet, our nation will be heading in a positive direction.

To: Co Presidents of the Syrian Transitional Authority, Anas al-Abdah and Îlham Ehmed
From: President Michael Aoun
Subject: Refugees

I hope you find this message in good health and spirits. I wish to congratulate you on preparing for the first elections of a new Syria. It is a welcoming sight for another democracy to exist in such a volatile part of the world.

However, that is not why I write to you this day. Lebanon is housing more than 850,000 Syrian refugees. It is understandable that many do not wish to head home, but we are taking on a massive burden with such a massive number staying within our borders. I've spoken with the Council of Ministers, and it has been agreed that these refugees must return home at the earliest possible moment.

While details will need to be worked out, I am more than willing to have a meeting to make a plan that would work for all parties. I hope to hear from your government soon.

by **Sao Nova Europa** » Thu Jan 06, 2022 11:15 am

January 10, 2022

Interior Minister Announces Tough Policy on Syrian Refugees

Interior Minister Hans-Georg Maaßen is a controversial man and has become the public face of Germany's rightward shift. From 1 August 2012 to 8 November 2020, he served as the President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany's domestic security agency and one of three agencies in the German Intelligence Community. In that position, he stirred controversy more than once. in 2013, according to classified documents of the German government, Maaßen had agreed to transfer all data collected by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution via XKeyscore to the NSA. In 2018 - after the Chemnitz protests - he dismissed a viral video showing a black-clad man coming out of an angry mob and chasing a foreign-looking man. Maaßen had questioned the reports that such an attack took place. Despite strong pressure by the left, Chancellor Merz allowed him to retain his office. After he retired in 2020, he became a candidate for CDU in the 2021 elections and was successfully elected. He was then appointed as the new Interior Minister.

Today, the Minister has once more stirred controversy and attacks by the political left with his announcement about the deportation of Syrian refugees. "The situation in Syria has stabilized," the Minister said, "and as such Syrians in Germany can no longer claim to be in any real danger. We welcomed Syrians back in 2015 and opened our hearts to them. We protected them when they faced danger. But now those dark times have passed and it is time for them to return back to their homeland. As such, the German government will begin deporting Syrians back to the People's Federal Republic of Syria as they cannot be considered anymore eligible for asylum."

Asked by our journalist about what he would do if the Syrian government refused to accept the deportations, he replied; "Germany can use its influence in the European Union to block vital funds for the reconstruction of Syria. That would be an extreme measure, and one I sincerely hope we won't have to use. But we will not allow Germany to be blackmailed."

The Minister has also responded to Israel's offer of cooperation between the Israeli Border Agency and the German Border Agency. "Germany and Israel are friends and allies. Germany owes a historical debt to the Jewish people and the safety of Jews is of utmost importance to us. I have always admired Israel, and I would be more than glad to sign an official agreement that would see the German Border Agency and the Israeli Border Agency to train together. Such cooperation will strengthen both agencies."

Chancellor Merz Announces Military Buildup

Chancellor Merz unveiled his agenda for a major military buildup. In a press conference, he announced his plans to the public, though it was of little surprise as strengthening the military was one of CDU/CSU major promises during the 2021 elections. "For years the German army has been undermanned and underfunded," the Chancellor stated. "In 1991, we had 360,000 men at arms. Now we've only got 184,507 active-duty military personnel. We falsely believed that the end of the Cold War would usher the End of History. That proved to be a mirage. We need to strengthen our military to face the new challenges of this era."

"For one, we plan on increasing our military budget to meet - and eventually surpass - the target of 2% of the GDP, as per NATO requirements. Our American friends have reasonable stated in the past that the alliance cannot properly function if only a fraction of the member states meet the funding requirements. By 2025, we plan on increasing our military budget from the current $52.8 billion to $85 billion. Secondly, we plan on expanding the German army to 280,000 soldiers. This is necessary to deal with increasing responsibilities and to safeguard Germany's and Europe's security."

"Thirdly, the government will be reintroducing the mandatory military service that was abolished in 2011. All men, upon graduation from high school, will have to serve nine months in the military. Unlike in the past, however, the requirements for serving in alternate civilian service will be much stricter in order to ensure that German men do not avoid their duty to the nation. This is a necessary step to strengthen our armed forces and safeguard Germany and Europe. I also hope that serving together in the military will create bonds of friendship and solidarity between servicemen, thus strengthening the cohesion of our society as well."

The Greens and the SPD have blasted the announcements for bringing back mandatory military service as "unnecessary", "costly" and "militaristic". Many young people on social media have also attacked this measure. On the other hand, polls show that a majority of German voters support the measure.

by **Yaruqo** » Thu Jan 06, 2022 11:59 am

11 January 2022

Transitional Authority Condemns German Deportation Plans, Refugees to File Suit with European Court of Human Rights

BERLIN - The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the German plans to deport Syrian refugees en masse, referring to their earlier statement in which the Transitional Authority “strongly condemns any policy or action that deprives them of the right to make that choice [to return to Syria] by their own free will.” Co-President Ehmed said that the Transitional Authority would “rush to prepare resources for rehousing and resettlement of former refugees,” but demanded that Germany give Syrian refugees due process, suggesting that the Transitional Authority would weigh litigation action with the UN International Court of Justice.

In Germany, two Syrian families, with the assistance of German human rights groups, announced that they were preparing to file a suit with the European Court of Human Rights. “Collective or mass expulsions of aliens are unequivocally prohibited under article 4 of Protocol no.4 to the European Convention on Human Rights, and the arbitrary expulsion of my clients and thousands of Syrian refugees based on their nationality alone is illegal, as well as abhorrent,” stated Heinrich Peters, one of the lawyers representing the families. “We intend to dedicate to the Strasbourg Court that Chancellor Merz’s government has no legal standing to deport our clients.”

by **Arvenia** » Thu Jan 06, 2022 11:59 am

January 7, 2022
Thun Palace, Prague, Czechoslovakia
The National Assembly (Národní Shromáždění/Národné Zhromaždenie/Nationalversammlung/Nemzeti Összejövetel), the lower house of the Czechoslovak Parliament (Československý Parlament/Tschechoslowakisches Parlament/Csehszlovák Parlament), has been put into session and is going to vote on certain legislations.

Ban on Non-Fungible Tokens
This legislation seeks to outlaw NFTs in Czechoslovakia. NFT, short for "non-fungible token", is a unique and non-interchangeable unit of data stored on a blockchain, a form of digital ledger. NFTs can be associated with reproducible digital files such as photos, videos, and audio. NFTs use a digital ledger to provide a public certificate of authenticity or proof of ownership, but do not restrict the sharing or copying of the underlying digital files. The lack of interchangeability (fungibility) distinguishes NFTs from blockchain cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin. However, NFTs have recently drawn criticism for two things. First, NFTs have a negative impact on the environment as the validation of blockchain transactions require high energy usage and leave behind a large carbon footprint. Second, NFTs have frequently been used by art scammers. Further criticisms challenge the usefulness of establishing proof of ownership in an often extralegal unregulated market. This legislation was proposed by environmentalist parties such as the Green Party of Czechoslovakia (SZČ), the Social Ecological Party (SES) and Progressive Czechoslovakia (PČ). It has also been supported by other parties such as the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (ČSSD), the Brand New Left (ZLN), the Democratic Workers' Party (DDS) and the Christian Right (KP). On the other hand, it has been vehemently opposed by the Civic Conservative Party (OKS), some companies and various NFT artists. Supporters have described NFTs as a serious threat to both the environment and the economy. Meanwhile, opponents have denounced the legislation as a crackdown on both digital rights and economic freedom, with NFT artists claiming that they would be out of job if the legislation passes and Barbora Štěpánková (OKS), the head of the Civic Conservative Party (OKS), additionally describing the legislation as "eco-terrorism".

Voted For: 50.2%
Voted Against: 49.8%

As a result of this vote, the Czechoslovak government will officially start banning all NFTs in the country.

Opposition to Anti-Immigrant Border Control
This legislation seeks to oppose any anti-immigrant measure taken by both the European Union (EU) and its individual member-states. This followed such measures taken by Friedrich Merz, the current Chancellor of Germany. This legislation seeks to denounce Frontex, decrease xenophobia, combat human trafficking and increase free movement across the EU. Mayors and Independents (STAN), Freedom and Equality (SVAR), Progressive Czechoslovakia (PČ), the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (ČSSD), the Union of Conservative Liberals (SKL) and the Green Party of Czechoslovakia (SZČ) have all jointly proposed this legislation, which has drawn support from the Brand New Left (ZLN), the Romani Defence League (ROL), the Liberal Democratic Movement (LDH), the Christian Democratic Initiative (KDI) and the Czechoslovak People's Party (ČSL). Meanwhile, National Sovereignty and Direct Democracy (NSPD), Slovakia First (SP), Alternative for Czechoslovakia (APČ), the Civic Conservative Party (OKS), the Sudeten German National Party (SDNP), the Felvidekian Resistance Movement (FEM), the Workers' Party for Social Justice (DSSS), the National Association for an Honest Czechoslovakia (NSČČ) and the Civic Rights Party (SPO) vehemently opposes the legislation, which they describe as an "attack on both European sovereignty and Westen values".

Voted For: 52.5%
Voted Against: 47.5%

Czechoslovakia is officially opposed to the anti-immigrant policies of Chancellor Friedrich Merz and will lay out some measures in the near future.

Opposition to Israeli Settlements
The issue with Israeli settlements in Palestine has been ongoing for years. As a result, the Brand New Left (ZLN), in cooperation with the Romani Defence League (ROL) and the Democratic Workers' Party (DDS), has officially proposed a nationwide opposition to the continued existence of Israeli settlements. This legislation seeks to recognize Israeli settlements as "rogue states" and advocate for their eventual disestablishment. This legislation has been supported by Progressive Czechoslovakia (PČ), the Civic Rights Party (SPO), the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) and the Green Party of Czechoslovakia (SZČ). However, it has also seen opposition from Freedom and Equality (SVAR), the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), the Tricolour Citizens' Movement (THO), the Civic Conservative Party (OKS) and various pro-Israeli lobby groups. Both the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and pro-Israeli lobby groups have denounced the legislation as "antisemitic propaganda", while Freedom and Equality (SVAR) believes that Czechoslovakia shouldn't get itself involved in the internal affairs of other countries, especially those of Israel.

Voted For: 48.2%
Voted Against: 51.8%

As a result of this vote, Czechoslovakia will not openly oppose the existence of Israeli settlements.

Support for Increased Defence Spending
The current coalition government has proposed that defence spending should be increased. This legislation has seen support from both the Tricolour Citizens' Movement (THO) and the Civic Conservative Party (OKS). On the other hand, the Liberal National Social Party (LSNS), which was the ruling party of Czechoslovakia from 2017 to 2021, opposes the legislation in favour of keeping the country's current spending law, while United Czechoslovakia (JČ), Progressive Czechoslovakia (PČ), the Democratic Workers' Party (DDS), the Brand New Left (ZLN), the Civic Rights Party (SPO), the Romani Defence League (ROL), the Liberal Democratic Movement (LDH), the Christian Right (KP), the Green Party of Czechoslovakia (SZČ) and the National Party for Social Security (NSSP) prefer increased welfare spending. Since 2021, government spending in Czechoslovakia has been split between defence and welfare.

Voted For: 45.8%
Voted Against: 54.2%

As a result of this vote, government spending will remain split between defence and welfare.

by **Deblar** » Thu Jan 06, 2022 12:58 pm

CUBA

January 10, 2022

German Expulsion of Syrian Refugees Criticized by Canel Administration

The presidential administration of Miguel Diaz Canel recently released an official statement, criticizing the German plan to deport Syrian migrants from the country. In the statement, Canel criticized the “xenophobic rhetoric” being used to justify the plan, while also stating that “many (Syrians) have built new lives in Europe, and this threatens to upend their newfound sense of stability in their lives.” The statement acknowledged that Cuba would likely be unable to change the mind of the German government, but offered to welcome any deported migrants into Cuba “if wanted.”

Ministry of Trade Interested in Increased Trade Relations with Canada, Other Nations

The Minister of Trade, in a statement of their own, outlined plans for 2022, which included diversifying Cuba’s trade partners. Among these plans, which included wooing the European Union as a whole into establishing trade relations, is broadening trade relations with Canada. Canada is currently one of Cuba’s largest trade partners, and have been close to Cuba diplomatically in the past. With the reformist Canel in power, it is hoped that Canada could be wooed into broadening trade relations. The Ministry stated that hopefully Cuba can continue to grow economically with this plan, plus the prospect of convincing America to lift the embargo, which Canel promised he would do in December.

by **Arvenia** » Thu Jan 06, 2022 1:53 pm

Blesk
January 11, 2022

Germany Announces Deportations and Military Buildup
GERMANY - The German government has recently enacted two policies. The first is the deportation of many Syrian refugees from the country, while the second is the buildup of the German military. The deportation policy has seriously caused outrage in Czechoslovakia, with many pro-European and left-leaning parties heavily criticizing the German government. Recently, a legislation has passed in the Czechoslovak Parliament, which denounced Frontex and supported refugees. The military buildup was also criticized.

Czechoslovakia Bans NFTs
CZECHOSLOVAKIA - NFTs or "non-fungible tokens" have finally been banned in Czechoslovakia. The Czechoslovak government had deemed them to be a threat to both sustainable development and economic stability. It is now confirmed that any violation of this ban (such as the continued ownership of NFTs) is punishable by either fine or jail. This has caused many NFT artists and their customers to organize protests across Czechoslovakia, demanding that the ban gets repealed. The ban has also shocked many companies and celebrities who had promoted NFTs.

by **Yaruqo** » Thu Jan 06, 2022 4:56 pm

To: His Excellency, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Federal Republic of Germany
From: Co-Presidents Anas al-Abdah and Îlham Ehmed of the Transitional Authority, People's Federal Republic of Syria

Chancellor Merz,

This is a formal demand from our government to cease the arbitrary deportations of our citizens from your country. Not only did your government begin this action without consulting us or our ambassador, you also see fit to threaten us with a veto of Europe's aid to our country if we reject your illegal and inhumane deportation schemes. An estimated 800,000 Syrians call Germany home, and many have, understandably, built lives for themselves and their families over the nine years that the Civil War raged on in Syria. Your government seeks to rip them from what has been their home, legally, for nearly a decade, and we will pursue action on their behalf with the International Court of Justice for this gross injustice.

Should you persist in the deportations despite pending arbitration in the Hague and in Strasbourg, then you will be sending 800,000 Syrians back to a country that has no homes or jobs for them. You have decided to force them back here with no consideration for the burden this places on our government, all while we are in the midst of a fragile transition. We are already facing issues resettling refugees who have returned from Jordan and Lebanon voluntarily, and these refugees from Germany will only face poverty and hardship, all while we continue to pick up the pieces - we did not think we would need to remind your government that over the course of the war, more than 6 million Syrians were displaced. Such a drastic change in population impacted our ability to rebuild from the start, and that process will not improve if we must, with no notice and no preparation, rush to find homes and resources for nearly one million people en masse. We will be plain: if you persist, you threaten the stability of the transition, the nation, and the region, possibly to the point where another refugee crisis will erupt. We will have no power to stop it, and you will end up back where you were. We are asking for time, we are asking that refugees be given due process, that their cases be evaluated individually and on the merits, and that you cease your belligerence against our people. It is the hope of the Authority and many potential contenders for the presidency to improve relations with the West, but your actions threaten that course of action with every day you maintain this course. For the sake of God, see reason, or we will have no choice but to take action that is not in consideration of Germany's interests.

Signed,

Anas al-Abdah and Îlham Ehmed
Co-Presidents of the Transitional Authority
The People's Federal Republic of Syria

To: His Excellency, President Joseph Biden of the United States of America; His Excellency, President Vasily Orlov of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics
From: Co-Presidents Anas al-Abdah and Îlham Ehmed of the Transitional Authority, People's Federal Republic of Syria

Presidents Biden and Orlov,

In order to assure President Orlov that the Transitional Authority is staying true to its prior agreement with him, we are reaching out to the both of you simultaneously. We write to both of your administrations regarding two topics: the legal and de facto status of the Golan Heights, and reconstruction and German efforts to derail our efforts. With regards to the former, we assure Washington and Moscow that we have no intention of answering Israel's mobilization with a mobilization of our own. Our people have suffered too much from war, and we wish to avoid it as much as possible. However, their request for peace talks and recognition concerning all other topics with the exception of the Golan Heights is impossible to abide by, by us or by any elected government. Thanks to both the Assad regime and the actions of Israel, popular opinion toward Israel is dangerous, and establishing diplomatic relations with a government we do not recognize while they illegally occupy our territory would be tantamount to suicide. Even Egypt withheld recognition until Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to them, and even that led to President Sadat's assassination by radicals and expulsion from the Arab League - even our own government severed diplomatic relations with Cairo until 2005! While we hope that times have changed and that such an agreement would not have our nation and soon-to-be elected leaders meet the same fate as Sadat and his Egypt, we are right to be concerned. All we ask of your respective governments is to respect international law concerning our legal right to Jawlān, and that when we elect a new government that is authorized to ratify new treaties and agreements, to encourage the Israelis to negotiate a peace treaty with us that includes the status of the region.

With regards to reconstruction, we feel it prudent to mention that Beijing has extended humanitarian support and aid funds for our reconstruction efforts - we respectfully advised Beijing that we could not legally form any new agreements or ratify new treaties, as the Authority lacks that mandate, but we were able to accept their humanitarian resources and aid funds. While the Transitional Authority has made great progress, we must admit that we are still facing issues. We had 22 million Syrians before the war. Now, we have about 17.5 million. Former refugees are returning from Lebanon and Jordan, but many are returning to homes and towns that saw heavy fighting and destruction. We are struggling to provide for them. Now, we have the Germans trying to deport nearly a million people back to our country, without consulting us. We are unable to prepare, and this will put a strain on our country. We are asking for any help that you can provide, whether it be diplomatic or material. We want our people to come home, but not like this, and especially not when they don't have a home or a job to come back to. None of us want an idle, impoverished population in Syria, one that could be susceptible to the enticements of Saudi Wahhabism or the ghosts of the Daesh, especially now. We will do what we can with what we have, but we beg you for help in preventing yet another humanitarian crisis.

Signed,

Anas al-Abdah and Îlham Ehmed
Co-Presidents of the Transitional Authority
The People's Federal Republic of Syria

by **SangMar** » Thu Jan 06, 2022 5:23 pm

Dublin
Early January 2022
The Most Serene State of Ireland

A Time for Cooler Heads?

DUBLIN, IRELAND - The Irish Government today released a statement suggesting that both Germany, the United States and other nations avoid further “inflammatory statements about issue of migration” within Germany. Furthermore, the Irish Government stated that while Ireland would be a welcoming home for any refugees legally admitted into the nation, Germany’s government has full rights to enforce laws which protect the country’s security: Ireland maintained also that as long as these laws did not infringe on a migrant’s ‘right to life’ - which, the Irish Government maintains they do not - then it is strictly a matter for the German Government and no one else what they do within their borders.

To the Cuban Department of Foreign Affairs

Ireland sends its warmest greetings to the Cuban people, along with a strong hope in a brighter future for them and every other person - both in Cuba and elsewhere. Therefore, in this vein - The Most Serene State of Ireland would like to engage in more fruitful, deeper relations with Cuba. Furthermore, while Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs does not yet have any concrete plans in motion for how this might be achieved, it would be deeply satisfying if Cuba and Ireland were to explore avenues such as trade and research agreements or the funding of infrastructure projects in both countries. In addition to this, Ireland would consider it deeply honourable if Cuba would permit Irish medical personnel to learn from their Cuban counterparts in regards to the field preventative medicine - and thus allow for a joint medical programme to be created between our states.

We look forward to your reply

Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs
The Most Serene State of Ireland

OOC: I really like these news style posts, Arvenia in particular: I hope you don’t mind me borrowing the format from time to time.

by **Sao Nova Europa** » Thu Jan 06, 2022 5:35 pm

January 12, 2022

'Stop Islamization' Rallies in Support of Chancellor Merz

Across Germany, a number of rallies have sprung up in support of Chancellor Merz's immigration policies and against the foreign pressure to reverse those policies. The rallies were organized by the 'Stop Islamization - Save Germany' organization, an independent civil organization aiming to "defend Germany from the encroaching danger of Islamization". The organization is not officially tied to the CDU/CSU, and no major figure in either the party or the government has endorsed the rallies; however, many local CDU/CSU politicians have promoted the rallies, and some have even taken part in them. The rallies were numerous, indicating that there was mobilization far beyond what would be expected from a simple civil organization and raising questions among the opposition about how detached the government was from those marches.

One of the leaders of the 'Stop Islamization - Save Germany' organization is 54 years old Matthias Bergen. A engineer by profession, he joined the organization about two years ago. He spoke to one of our journalists about today's rallies. "Germany is a Christian, European nation. We have culture, traditions and heritage that goes back centuries. We are proud of them, and we will not relinquish them in the altar of multiculturalism. Europe is being threatened by mass Muslim immigration. Whole neighborhoods have become no-go zones where migrants enforce Sharia Law. Their end goal is the Islamization of Europe."

Mr. Bergen also expressed his admiration for Chancellor Merz. "He is the only politician who has the guts to take on the globalist establishment. It's why the globalist Democrats and their leftist puppets in Germany and Europe at large want to overthrow him. The rallies we've organized across Germany will hopefully show to the entire world that we Germans back our Chancellor and that we will not allow foreign agents to bring him down. Chancellor Merz is fighting for us, so it is only right we fight for him."

In Dresden, where one of the biggest 'Stop Islamization' rallies took place, a counter-demonstration was organized by left-wing and anti-racism organizations. At some point, however, violence erupted between the two sides after a tense exchange of insults. As the brawl escalated, riot police intervened and began beating up the left-wing counter-demonstrators, forcing them to disperse and leaving the 'Stop islamization' demonstrators victorious to continue their rally. Both the Greens and the SPD criticized the conduct of the police, accusing them of "taking the side of the racist far right instead of being impartial in their enforcement of order".

The opposition has also criticized the stance of the government, since despite calls from the left and even some centrist CDU politicians, no major figure in the government or the party has condemned the rallies. The Chancellery released simply a short statement stating, "we believe in the right to protest peaceful, as long as no laws are violated and proper order is not disrupted". Unofficial sources though have told our journalists that the protests show that Chancellor Merz has broad popular support and as such no reason to back down from his controversial policies.

by **TENNOHEIKA BANZAI NIHON** » Thu Jan 06, 2022 7:13 pm

Prime Minister Netanyahu Visits Golan Heights, Calls to Quadruple Population
January 9, 2022

Prime Minister Netanyahu made a visit to the Golan Heights today, touring several military bases and local towns with his entourage. While there, he visited the new town known as Trump Heights, named after former US President Trump who recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan. In the town, the Prime Minister gave a speech before residents and the press, announcing his plan to build three new communities while praising former President Trump as well as President Biden for continuing to recognize the Golan. In his speech, Netanyahu referred to the Golan as a "strategic goal" with plans to boost the population up to 100,000, significantly higher than the current 27,000.

In 2019 Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over the strategic plateau, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed in a move not recognized by the wider international community. A new town, named Trump Heights, was later inaugurated on the Golan to honor the US president’s move.

To applause, the Prime Minister told the crowd that "The Golan Heights is Israeli, period," noting that 40 years ago, "Prime Minister Menachem Begin made an incredibly brave and important decision: to apply Israeli law to the Golan Heights."

In his remarks, the Prime Minister pledged more funding towards infrastructure in the region, noting the government was currently looking into building a new airbase in the region. The Prime Minister addressed concerns that holding the Golan would affect relations with the new democratic government in Syria, saying that "Our position in the Golan has no connection to our position on Syria, or the conditions there," but noted "It is true that the atrocities taking place there for over a decade convinced many around the world that maybe it is better for this beautiful and strategic piece of land to be in Israeli hands, that it is preferable for it to be green and flourishing than another theater of killing and bombing.”

He stressed Israeli sovereignty over the Heights, warning that he was "Keeping an eye on developments in Syria," saying that "We will act where needed, proactively and on a daily basis, so that no threat be posed to the Golan Heights or its residents." He added that "Syria must not look to adventurism on the border, or it would face serious consequences."

When asked about Israeli freedom of action in Syria, this was the Prime Minister's response: "Israel will act wherever it needs to ensure its security. Lately developments in Syria have been looking positive, and the necessity for action has decreased. But if the Syrian government attempts to pose a threat to that capability, it will not last very long."

Foreign Minister Cautions Against BDS Legislation, Praises Czechoslovak Parliament For Decision
January 9, 2022

When informed of the recent Czech legislation condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the Minister of Foreign Affairs reacted, praising the Czechs for "rejecting openly antisemitic legislation." He warned other nations from following suit, saying it would do "significant harm" to relations and provoke violence against Jews.

In a statement from the Ministry, the Foreign Minister called for understanding, noting that Israel was working to address Palestinian grievances, while rejecting a two-state solution.

In other West Bank developments, the government has announced a plan to advance a massive housing project in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Atarot. The project, which received preliminary approval from Jerusalem’s local municipal planning committee earlier today, would see 9,000 housing units for ultra-Orthodox Jews built on the abandoned site of the former Atarot Airport. The area was annexed by Israel as part of the post-1967 expanded Jerusalem, but lies beyond the Green Line. This controversial plan has sparked violent protests by Palestinian rioters, with reports indicating one protester with links to Islamic Jihad having been shot and killed.

To: The Interior Ministry of the Federal Republic of Gemany
From: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security of the State of Israel
Encryption: Medium

To whom it may concern,

The State of Israel applauds Germany's new efforts to push back against illegal immigration and protect its citizens from the extremists and smugglers. With the latest push against illegals, Israel wishes to do its part to help, while expanding our collaboration on border protection. The Ministry of Public Security of Israel wishes to invite the relevant German ministers to Israel to discuss an agreement related to joint-training of our border agencies, as well as collaboration on intelligence related to smugglers and Islamic extremists.

Your Friend,
Amir Ohana
Minister of Public Security of the State of Israel

by **Hypron** » Thu Jan 06, 2022 8:14 pm

January 10, 2022, Palazzo Montecitorio, Rome, Italy

"Chancellor Merz, along with his right-wing government, are trying to deny the rights of people, innocent people, from the Middle East to have a new start away from Syria and to make an better life for themselves." Prime Minister Letta was giving an televised address on the German situation. "Flip the scales, shall we? What if it was Germany that was suffering food shortages, poverty, etc., and people were leaving the country, and they went to Syria, and then, the Syrian Government denied entry into the country. While Germany may have the right to restrict it's borders, they also have an obligation to help the citizens of Germany, whether they're German, Syrian, or otherwise.

As if that wasn't enough, they are trying to get the European Union to expand Frontex, in attempts to deny people from entering the entirety of Europe. While I agree that Frontex is an necessity to combat illegal immigration into the nations of Europe, this would expand it to an unnecessary proportion. And that's not even the worst of it. Merz recently began deportation of many Syrian refugees back to Syria. This, I will not stand for. Earlier today, with an vote of 362-268, the Chamber of Deputies have passed legislation calling for the Italy to vote against any anti-immigration legislation throughout the European Union. In addition, it will allow displaced Syrians coming from the Federal Republic of Germany to relocate to the Italian Republic. Thank you for your time." Letta stepped down from the stage as the cameras were shut off. He followed his security detail to his vehicle, but before entering, he looked out upon Rome, sparkling in the night. "Avanti Italia, or we will be dragged down by the Germans." He then enters his vehicle as it drives away from the building.

Downtown Rome

Sitting in a car was Angelino Alfano, current Minister of the Interior and member of the DC. Having left the Prime Minister's office earlier today after a late-night meeting, he was sitting at an intersection waiting for the light to change. That is, until a van pulled up alongside his car, opened the right-side door, and shot him dead with an MP-5 before speeding off.

This was another set of attacks by the Red Brigades, which have been plaguing Italy since the 60s. A constant thorn in the side for all of the Italian political parties, the Red Brigades have been sowing chaos ever since their first attacks, even kidnapping Prime Minister Aldo Moro in the 70s. While there was a brief break in the early 90s, this would be before their most powerful set of attacks cultivating in the Palazzo Montecitorio incident.

Efforts against the Red Brigades have been partially successful since the early 2010s, forcing them to resort to attacks on lone individuals. However, with Italy having thought they were destroyed, they've been rebuilding to begin another round of attacks. The Years of Lead never ended for Italy.

by **New Provenance** » Fri Jan 07, 2022 11:25 am

To Co-Presidents Anas al-Abdah and Îlham Ehmed of the Transitional Authority, People's Federal Republic of Syria
From President Joseph R. Biden of the United States of America

Co-Presidents Al-Abdah and Ehmed,

I am deeply and sincerely thankful that you have reached out to the United States Government on this matter. It is in the best interests of our both nations, I am sure, that Syria begins the path towards reconstruction and a brighter future without being entangled in debt traps and financial difficulties in the process. I would like to re-affirm the United States's support for your government and your sincere efforts to rebuild and democratize Syria. The United States will be more than willing to provide financial and physical aid to support impoverished communities in Syria and begin your nation on the process towards recovery.

Should you be interested, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is available for dispatching to Aleppo to discuss the terms of such a mutually beneficial and cordial agreement between our two nations.

My best of wishes,
Joseph R. Biden
President of the United States

by **Yaruqo** » Fri Jan 07, 2022 5:44 pm

To: His Excellency, President Joseph Biden of the United States
From: Co-Presidents Anas al-Abdah and Îlham Ehmed of the Transitional Authority, People's Federal Republic of Syria

President Biden,

We thank you for your courteous response. We would be honored to host Secretary of State Blinken in Aleppo to demonstrate our progress and discuss American support for our reconstruction efforts. May Allah be charitable and gracious to you and your people, and may the next few months bring our nations closer together.

Sincerely,

Anas al-Abdah and Îlham Ehmed
Co-Presidents of the Transitional Authority
The People's Federal Republic of Syria

12 January 2022

Syrian Armed Forces to Begin Drills, Transitional Authority Warns of "Irreparable" Harm in Jawlān

DAMASCUS - The Ministry of Defense announced that the Syrian Armed Forces were to conduct its first drills since the conclusion of the civil war, stating "We are satisfied with the vetting procedures and reforms our armed forces have undergone in the two years since the transition began, and now is the time to ensure our men and women in uniform are able to conduct their duties with optimal unit cohesion in the event of belligerent activities from our neighbors." A source within the Ministry of Defense confirmed that these drills are intended to serve a twofold purpose: to test the ability of the new Syrian Armed Forces to carry out operations and to demonstrate to certain regional players that "the Transitional Authority and people of Syria will not stand idly by as the Zionists unilaterally make a lasting peace more impossible to achieve with their antics."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement warning that "recent actions in Jawlān by those that illegally occupy Syrian lands will cause irreparable harm to any hopes for a lasting peace with those who, one would think, might benefit most from it." "The Jawlān has been recognized as Syrian territory for decades, and is confirmed as such with UN Security Council Resolution #497. While our neighbors may think that they are above international law, we would remind them that they are not, and if necessary, we will submit a proposal to the United Nations Security Council demanding intervention." Sources within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke to us on the condition of anonymity, saying that since 2021, the Transitional Authority had been attempting to diplomatically resolve the question of Jawlān through discussions with third parties, but state that due to recent antics of the regime of Binyamin Netanyahu, which continues to lack diplomatic recognition from Damascus, the mood in the Transitional Authority has started to sour. These same sources were quick to dismiss implications that the Transitional Authority was readying for an offensive war. In the words of one source, "We are recovering from a decade long civil war, the mood for an offensive war among the cabinet is negligible." The Transitional Authority issued a statement in response to our inquiries, saying, "While we hope for the diplomatic recovery of Jawlān and reiterate our appetite for peaceful relations between our neighbors, those same neighbors should not mistake this appetite for weakness. We will defend our people and our interests, and those neighbors would do well to remember that if Jawlān is not returned to Syria, or if they persist in illegal settlement policies that displace Syrians that call the region home, they will not care for our response."

Tensions have been steadily increasing between Tel Aviv and Damascus, as the regime in Tel Aviv continues to assert that its occupation of Jawlān, otherwise known as the Golan Heights, is legal and true, despite the fact that UNSC Resolution #497 is a binding mandate and remains in force. Foreign policy observers question what Netanyahu's regime hopes to achieve by denying any avenue for peace with Damascus, though some believe that his regime hopes to force Damascus into an armed conflict to win political support back home.

2022: A Decade of Uncertainty (IC)

2022: A Decade of Uncertainty (IC)

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