The Shifting Sands (Turns)

This page contains all 12 turns of The Shifting Sands.
==Turn 1: January to April 1965==
Post link: http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1457462&p=47412142&viewfull=1#post47412142
Regional Events:
-Tensions rise between the PLO and the Israelis as raids continue to affect infrastructure in the country.
-A huge number of separatist and anti-government groups have begun to spring up within the region.
-Nations such as Saudi Arabia step up their game with exports, and begin the arduous path to meeting the American standards of oil exportation.
-Revolts continue in southern Arabia.
Player Events:
Griffster26 - National Liberation Front (NLF)
Type - Marxist Separatists
Infighting - Minimal
International Opinion - Backwater Rebels
Funding - Meager
Armaments - Second hand and captured supplies
-With the hopes of expanding fronts against the already thinned British forces, diplomats and advisers from the NLF meet with the Omani DLF.
-The meetings end with neither side coming to an outright agreement, other than the DLF promising to up the ante with raids on British ports.
-Locals that are upset with the presence of the British are encouraged to take up arms and join the NLF. This includes those with family ties to the independent Yemeni state to the north.
-A march takes place in the provincial governor’s office in Aden in an attempt to cease the conflict before it can erupt, but the rebels are met with sporadic gunfire after a few bad decisions are made.
-Supported by their brethren in Yemen and the socialists in Egypt, arms begin trickling into the hands of the militiamen.
-The United Kingdom has yet to enter a full-scale military counterattack, and there may be peace talks within the coming months.
lintz - United Arab Republic of Egypt
Government - Socialist Dictatorship
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Moderately Strong (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Calm (Sustained)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-Seeing an uprising against the British, the government in Cairo quickly convenes on supplying the rebels in South Yemen.
-Secular advancements take place, and the various religions within the nation are fully integrated into society, and laws are passed banning the discrimination against different sects in both the workplace and in public. Conservatives are enraged with the decision, but many of the vocal protesters disappear overnight.
-To support their exportation of arms, the UAR makes deals with the Soviet Union to begin exporting weapons to supply the ailing Egyptian military.
-These deals with the USSR upset American observers, who fear that the government is leaning too far to the left. A talk in Alexandria soothes American minds by stating the weapons are simply for “self defense”.
-In order to ensure it’s authority in the region, the UAR quickly begins ramping up its military stockpiles. Huge government-backed projects of tank and firearm production begins, adding a small boost in job numbers in various ailing rural areas.
-Looking at the Soviet style of mass production, various government-owned factories that produce weapons and military equipment begin to build huge numbers of cheap machines in hopes of pounding out more in a shorter amount of time.
-These new machines do improve the sheer number of equipment, but military advisers fear that quality may suffer due to the lack of inspections.
-Military research goes in tandem with such developments, including the adoption of chemical shells for artillery. Once the news is leaked, the IDF is put on high alert in fear of Egyptian gassing.
Native Hunter - The Brotherhood of Bkerké
Type - Theocratic Conservatives
Infighting - Minimal
International Opinion - Anti-Government Political Party
Funding - Meager
Armaments - Second hand and captured supplies
-With the growing dissension amongst the Lebanese Christians, the Brotherhood of Bkerké begins to strengthen its numbers by appealing to the common man, using bribed priests to perform inflammatory services.
-In hopes of securing an ally in the region, members of the TSS turn to the government of Syria for an alliance. However, they are turned away but not outright booted from Damascus.
-With the lack of Syrian support in mind, the Brotherhood turns to the easiest way to garner support, and begins looking to religion.
-Radicalized Catholics from Europe, seeing their Maronite brethren in need, come to Lebanon, and bring with them not only the will to fight, but sometimes the means to do so.
-Arms are smuggled regularly from dealings in Egypt or even secret deals with the PLO, as the group’s militias require proper arming if they are to do anything.
-To keep the world’s view of the Brotherhood in the green, various priests and supporters are encouraged to enter local communities and set up basic humanitarian aid posts. Soup kitchens, homeless shelters and hospitals bearing the yellow flag are a common sight.
-Concerts take place at large events hosted by the Brotherhood, all of which celebrate a unity that can be found in the Maronite faith. Mass environmental protection projects are enacted, with litter pickup and encouraging tourists to partake in the process of cleanup.
-Much of the international community, especially the more conservative members, view the Brotherhood as an organized political party and worthy of support.
-Muslim community leaders are uneasy with the group’s growing militancy, and whistle-blowers have revealed various “training camps” in secluded areas to the nation’s north. However, the Lebanese military does nothing to intervene, and fears outright rebellion if they do.
-The Lebanese government is tied on how to deal with the rebels, as they see the growing movement as a threat to national security, while simultaneously a worthwhile asset to local communities.
==Turn 2: May to August 1965==
Post link: http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1457462&p=47423199&viewfull=1#post47423199
Regional Events:
-Tensions grow region-wide as traditionalists are faced with their ultimate challenge: progress or die.
-A growing amount of insurrections in southern Arabia continues in early spring, and eventually leads to discussions between the British and the rebel groups, see the NLF for more.
-Political situations region-wide are locked into the extreme camps. Marxist Secularists and Conservative Traditionalists.
-These tensions snap in Iraq after a new group upsets the balance a bit too much.
Player Events:
 
Griffster26 - National Liberation Front (NLF)/Southern Arab Democratic Republic
Type - Marxist Separatists
Infighting - Minimal
International Opinion - Backwater Rebels
Funding - Meager
Armaments - Second hand and captured supplies
-Peace talks begin between the NLF, DLF, SAF and the British. The talks are long and heated, as both sides push the envelope further and further.
-The British, feeling that continued occupation and fighting would be detrimental both domestically and abroad, and accept a deal with the NLF and the Southern Arab Federation: Annexation of Southern Arabia by a coalition government of the NLF.
-The Yemeni Coalition Party, the new political party born from the NLF and Omani leaders, take hold of the new capital fitted in Sanaa. The Southern Arab Democratic Republic is born.
-Though the government has yet to be recognized by the UN, the people in Yemen and the Trucial States are relieved at the exiting of the British. However, the British have imposed harsh conditions for the nation’s independents, including the representation of all political interests and demographics. However, few expect the Marxists to respect all of the demands.
-A large host of Soviet advisers flock to Sanaa in order to support the new coalition government, providing economic and domestic administration help.
-The Ibadhi minority in Oman are on edge, but the YCP declares itself “Protectors of Southern Arabia”.
-The state, currently disorganized and requiring rebuilding of some of its port cities, has yet to be recognized by United Nations and thus is titled a rebel group for this turn.
lintz - United Arab Republic of Egypt
Government - Socialist Dictatorship
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Moderately Strong (Stagnating)
Domestic Situation - Calm (Sustained)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-The government in Cairo continues to arm the National Liberation Front in Yemen, but has cut back on heavier equipment such as rocketry and vehicular supplies.
-In order to secure the transfer of arms from smuggling or flat out loss, a large number of lightly armored patrol vehicles begin circling the borders and around military ports/bases. These are basically suped up cars with a machine gun on top, but are imposing enough to keep ne’er-do-wells away.
-To cut down on corruption, Egypt creates the Presidential Council, which is a group of veteran generals set to give military appointments to those deserving, as opposed to political ties. This upsets a lot of the traditional military leaders, but the threat of execution for insubordination keeps them in line.
-An increasing amount of trade with the USSR for steel comes at a cost, with much of the country’s treasury going to purchasing huge supplies of metal.
-In order to recoup the costs, the few oil fields that Egypt controls are opened up to influence from the United States. This makes many of the socialist leaders in the government cringe.
-With the massive importation of steel from the Soviet Union, the government sets out to adopt foreign methods of metal casting. The initial progress is slow, but a steel mill is constructed on the outskirts of Alexandria within months.
-The Egyptian government purchases multiple radar dishes and moves them into major cities. Foreign personnel are hired to train Egyptian military operators. The machines are cruder than their European and American counterparts, but outshine their neighbors by far.
Native Hunter - The Brotherhood of Bkerké
Type - Theocratic Humanitarians
Infighting - Minimal
International Opinion - Anti-Government Political Party
Funding - Well-off
Armaments - Second hand and captured supplies
-The leaders of the Brotherhood appeal to the Jordanian and Israeli governments for support. The Jordanians, already dealing with the PLO, simply wave the brotherhood on. The Israelis, however, hold lengthy and arduous talks with the BoB, who eventually leave the meetings frustrated, as a deal could not be met.
-A group of Brotherhood-affiliated priests head to the Vatican in hopes of creating a “chivalric order” known as the Knights of Bkerké, who would be designated as the party’s humanitarian group.
-The pope reluctantly accepts the request, seeing that the situation in the Middle East is ready to implode, and just hopes that the Brotherhood can cool tensions.
-The Brotherhood restates that the militant “training camps” are instead gun clubs. The Brotherhood even goes as far as to invite non-members to “firearm days”. This makes a lot of the conservative Muslim leaders twitchy.
-Huge fairs and charity events take place for days at a time, celebrating the country’s independence and the unity of Lebanese culture. Muslims and Christians alike are invited, and relations between the public and the Brotherhood are at an all-time high.
-Both foreign and local donations flood into the Brotherhood as the leadership pushes for monetary strength.
-Religious sermons are also held, in hopes of converting the populace to the Maronite cause. Muslim leaders twitch even harder.
-The Brotherhood declares itself a Humanitarian Traditionalist party in the wake of the many public works projects. The group begins moving into Muslim neighborhoods, and ignores the religious tensions in order to continue propping up those who are lesser off.
-The Brotherhood asks for the donation of firearms to the Gun Clubs, stating that the group could do with more recreational pieces. However, the Lebanese government glares at the transaction of firearms, but again is too hesitant to combat the importation.
Deng - Kingdom of Persia
Government - Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Strong
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Sustained)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, average quality
Corruption - Moderate
-To restore the nation’s classical prowess, the Shah of Iran changes the country’s name back to Persia, which makes many of the nationalists grin.
-In the hope of improving the nation’s economy, the Shah turns to both the USSR and the United States for trade. The United States happily begins to work with the Persians, having long ties with them.
-The Soviets, however, are hesitant and do little business with Persia due to the Shah’s conservative attitude.
-The Shah purchases a large amount of firearms from the United States, and requests French and British military leaders to begin working with the Persian military.
-The weapons that were in use by the military that have been replaced are moved into the hands of the Royal Police, who are spread out in posts around the country to ensure stability.
-European steel companies begin moving into Persia due to the availability of cheap labor. Many of the older citizens remember the Qajar concessions and shiver at the thought.
-The Shah goes on a series of constitutional reforms, allowing for the Majlis to be opened up to the public. No longer is the Majlis made up of wealthy landed men, but any non-criminal with the backing has the ability to run for office.
-This pleases many of the liberals, but the conservatives who push hard for an aristocratic control over the government are upset, and stage protests at various liberal rallies.
-The nation is split up into 18 parliamentary “districts”, with each one having a governor elected by the people, who then meet in the High Office of Tehran. This new system allows for a slightly decentralized government, but makes administration easier.
-A full disbarment of religious schooling and courts takes place, which infuriates many of the religious conservatives, and even causes a riot in Tehran, believed to be supported by the Shia Clergy.
-With the religious schools out of the way, state universities are required to provide a foreign language program, teaching English, French or Russian. Foreign teachers are hired to kickstart the education.
-However, there is also a massed push for a “nationwide vernacular union”, that the Arabs in Khuzestan cite as “Persification”, in reference to Turkification in the Ottoman Empire. Though they are represented by the High Office and governors, they are not fully satisfied with the Shah’s choices.
-Huge numbers of foreign works, including the Qur'an, are translated into Persian and distributed amongst the nation’s universities. The Shia clergy shits themselves.
-Khuzestani Arabs begin emigrating from the country, while others submit to the Government’s demands. Some protest, but fear the Shah’s Royal Police, and are quickly disbanded.
-The Shah begins to devalue the local currency, and pushes for an influx of foreign investment. With this, electronics companies begin cropping up in major cities like Tehran, which work with the government for large contracts. These contracts produce new items for the Persians, such as smaller circuits that can be used for military equipment, and mobile radio systems, that are also used for military equipment.
-The price of the electronics is too steep for the average Persian to purchase it, but aren’t completely unavailable like they used to be.
Emperor Scorpious II - The Children of Husayn
Type - Theocratic Separatists
Infighting - Minimal
International Opinion - Backwater Rebels
Funding - Meager
Armaments - Second hand and captured supplies
-The Children of Husayn quickly begin pushing for monetary donations from friendly Shia supporters. Some money comes from the conservatives in Iran, while radical Shias in Iraq pitch in their own.
-Intimidation and buyout campaigns begin in parts of northeastern Iraq, pushing out the Sunni governors while simultaneously riling up the Shia communities. This upsets much of the region’s more conservative Sunni population, but most stay quiet under their secular rulers.
-The Children also turn to the Kurds, who still languish under the rule of someone else. Though the Children of Husayn are devout Shia warriors, they know that support from the Kurds is almost required for victory.
-Militia training camps begin cropping up in the northeast, as furious Shia conservatives flock to their ranks.
-Diplomats send cables to the United States, and ask for weaponry to combat, quote, “A dangerous socialist regime that threatens to destabilize the region”. The US, wary of supporting a group that could upset oil exports, hesitates to send aid.
-The Children also look to the USSR, but after stating that the socialist government is a threat, the Soviets cut all cables.
-The Children repeatedly raid Iraqi military bases at night, and abscond with firearms and equipment. The stolen items are more than enough to sustain the militia movement.
-Imams that are friendly to the group’s visions begin moving around the countryside, giving inflammatory sermons that continue to feed on the divide between the Shia and Sunni.
-Sunni Iraqis begin to fear the rebels, and plead to the Iraqi military to put them down. However, the Iraqi military is so disorganized after the previous year’s revolution that it takes days for a decision to be made.
-After a clash between police and Husayni rebels in Basra, the Iraqi government finally moves to declare the Children of Husayn a “radical group that threatens regional stability”.
-Armed conflict begins in southern Iraq, with the Children of Husayn having the advantage of the attack and catching the Iraqi government off guard. Immediate battles in Basra completely decimate a contingent of the Iraqi military, and both sides now dig in for a prolonged battle.
OvB - Saudi Arabia
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Rich
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-The Saudi king pushes for support from the US and the UK, both monetarily and militarily, using the crumbling socialist regimes as an example. The UK, having just lost a huge portion of its influence in the region, steps up to the plate and begins deals with the Saudis.
-In order to ensure the safety of its oil exports, the Saudis purchase multiple WW2-era warships from the US and France. These small cruisers will patrol the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, and show that the Saudis are no longer some backwater kingdom.
-The Saudi military begins exercises in the southernmost port city of Jazan. Armored cars, tanks, rockets and fighter planes allow the nation to flex its muscles, without threatening anyone, of course.
-In a final act of defiance towards obscurity, the Saudi government declares itself to be entering an “Era of Participation”. “Regional, economic, religious and intellectual domination will start in Riyadh, and thus Arabia will shine again”, says the King.
-In order to attract intellectuals from around the world, a massive university begins rapid construction in Riyadh, aptly titled the “Grand University of Arabia”.
-A large portion of the university’s classrooms are constructed quickly, due to the piles of oil money that the Saudis are able to throw at it. However, much of the amenities (dorms, cafeterias, recreation centers) and even the library have yet to be finished.
-The current wings that are constructed include the Petroleum Engineering, which tens are shocked by the coincidence that it’s the first constructed, and a department dedicated to Nuclear Energy.
-Both of these wings will benefit not only the Saudi government, but the Saudi people as well.
-The dean of the University, hand-picked by the Saudi government, declares that the school will “rival the House of Wisdom in its international appeal”.
-Though classes have yet to outright begin, scholars and intellectuals who feel threatened in the varying socialist regimes scurry to Riyadh to continue their studies. The college even attracts petroleum geologists from Europe and the US, who wish to stake their claim and make some coin in the growing state.
-Happy to invite foreigners into the region for such a cause, the Saudis begin pumping oil for foreign companies, allowing them to move in and set up shop. The prices are now falling out of favor of the Persians, who once ruled the oil exports, and now lie in the hands of the Saudis.
-Iraqi oil is completely overshadowed by the new giant, and Saudi Arabia’s neighbors start to sweat.
==Turn 3: September to December 1965==
Post link: http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1457462&p=47445433&viewfull=1#post47445433
Regional Events:
-The United Nations now recognizes the sovereignty of the Southern Arab Democratic Republic.
-Conflict erupts in Iraq as the long-oppressed Kurdish community revolts against its Arabic oppressors.
-NATO assets in the region become threatened, and observers from Turkey begin peeking into Iraq to assess the situation.
-As the Soviets continue to fund the Iraqi government behind closed doors, there are sudden arrivals of arms in the hands of those who possibly threaten regional destabilization.
-Refugee camps begin cropping up in Jordan and Saudi Arabia as Sunni Iraqis flee the devastation of an all-out civil war.
Player Events:
Griffster26 - Southern Arab Democratic Republic
Government - Socialist Republic
Alignment - Leaning to WARPACT
International Opinion - Revolutionary Republic
Economic Situation - Weak (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Somewhat experienced, secondhand weaponry
Corruption - Minor
-Egyptian troops come to the aid of the Southern Arab Democratic Republic to assist in the rebuilding process, but upon their arrival, they bring a fairly hefty bill that is sent from Cairo. The republic is shocked, but local governments fork over the cash without the federal government knowing in order to get their cities fixed and running again.
-As upset as some of the men in government may be, the SADR turns to Egypt as an ally. The government in Cairo had supported the NLF since day one, and the two consider each other invaluable assets to regional stability.
-With the arrival of the Egyptian soldiers, words trickle down from Soviet advisors in Egypt, and make their way into the ears of the Southern Arab military. New tactics and weapons begin to take hold, though slowly.
-Spitting on the peace deals made with the British, all non-Socialist parties are banned. However, the government openly allows Shiites, Sunnis, Ibadhis, Christians, Jews and Atheists to mingle in equality throughout the nation.
-Servitude and improper employment are abolished, and the various sheiks are booted from authority, freeing up rural regions for federal administration.
-The collective fears of the absorbed Ibadhis and Christians have been wiped clean, as elections take place, with a landslide Socialist Arab Party victory.
-Taxes are raised on the remaining elites, with massive tax rates dropped for the poor. This infuriates the few capitalists that live in Sanaa, who make a massed exodus to Riyadh in months.
-The prospects of oil allow the SADR to make somewhat of a living through their barren land. The Chinese, hungry for oil to feed their new regime, are quick to snap up the opportunity that the SADR hands them.
-With this, petroleum engineers from the WARPACT head to the SADR to involve themselves in the nation’s oil production, and introduce more modernized ways to drill for and refine oil. Some consider the act a direct shove against the Saudis, who simply ignore the insignificant rump state and continue to control the price.
lintz - United Arab Republic of Egypt
Government - Socialist Dictatorship
Alignment - Leaning to WARPACT
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Moderately Strong (Stagnating)
Domestic Situation - Calm (Sustained)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-With the arrival of the Southern Arab Democratic Republic, the government in Cairo now orders troops to arrive and help with the rebuilding process.
-However, all of that past support requires that the SADR pay a fee for the Egyptian aid. This upsets many of the hardcore socialists in both nations, seeing as the cooperation should be priceless, and none should be held to such standards of “required payment”.
-With the rise of violent traditionalists in Iraq, the Egyptian government pushes for massed training drills in Upper Egypt. With these war games going, cables are sent to Moscow, inviting Soviet military advisers to enter and observe the games.
-Seeing the potential for an ally in the region, two Soviet generals and their entourages arrive, and begin discussions with the Egyptians. The two nations agree to allow Soviet officers train a small yet elite contingent of Egyptian soldiers, dubbed the Alexandrian Guard.
-With regards to a widening middle class, the National Charter Program is enacted. The charter allows for government funded health care, housing, schooling and even includes rights for women and a “Family Planning Program”.
-The program is met with celebration in some of the poorer regions of the country. American observers, on the other hand, vomit.
-The Suez Canal’s entrance is prepared to be widened, to allow for larger and more bulky ships to pass through and spread their goods through the passageway.
-In order to support the push for domestic development, much of the steel and iron produced locally is turned around and used to build the new schools and public housing projects. The speed and quality at which these buildings are produced echo the Stalinesque architecture of the Soviet Union, unbeknownst if it is intentional or otherwise.
-The government provides jobs to those who are willing to sign up and help with the building process, and job application centers become flooded with those who aren’t as well off. Thousands of jobs are created, while countless others go home grumbling.
-The oil that is produced in Egypt, what little there is, is sent immediately to the Soviet Union. The prices are slightly higher than the Saudis, but they can immediately make their way through the Black Sea. The Soviets are delighted and jump on the offer.
-To support the growing oil industry, petroleum engineers from Romania and Hungary arrive in Cairo, sent by Moscow, to introduce new ways to refine and produce larger amounts of refined oil. Oddly enough, a Soviet-backed-and-built refinery begins construction outside of the Suez canal, providing meager job opportunities for locals, who flock to the short-time offer.
-With the government subsidizing just about everything and anything, the threat of a food price crisis grows. The government looks to the PRC, of all places, and asks for help on how to mass-cultivate rice.
-After a few greenbacks are thrown around, PRC advisers arrive and begin working with the Egyptian government. Within weeks, huge rice fields crop up along the southern edge of the Nile, replacing some of the cotton, a long time cash crop for Egypt, now controlled by the US. The threat of a food price crisis fades seemingly overnight.
Native Hunter - The Brotherhood of Bkerké
Type - Theocratic Humanitarians
Infighting - Minimal
International Opinion - Humanitarian Group
Funding - Well-off
Armaments - Second hand and captured supplies
-In a final, desperate attempt to garner economic support, the Brotherhood drums up nationalist feelings in Tel Aviv, and the Israeli government latches onto the bait. In return for temporary monetary investments, Jews that remain in Lebanon will be given economic support and humanitarian aid for the time being. Israel is unable to let such an opportunity pass up, and feel that they finally have an ally in the region.
-The Brotherhood’s Gun Clubs are now open for registration and membership, allowing any citizen of Lebanon to partake for a nominal monthly fee. Paper and radio ads go out across the nation, pushing for the creation of a firearm culture in Lebanon much like that of the US. Of course, Brotherhood members get in free.
-Large “Monasteries” begin cropping up in the poor areas of Lebanon. Run secretly by Brotherhood administrators, these churches are headed by members of the Maronite faith, and their doors open for both sermons and humanitarian aid.
-Huge numbers of soup kitchens, homeless shelters, schools and community centers continue to pop up along the countryside. The Brotherhood thanks the influx of both local and foreign aid for the opportunity.
-Regardless of one’s political or religious affiliation, citizens are allowed to enter and use the facilities as they need. Of course, for one to participate in the functions, one must join the Brotherhood.
-Huge amounts of foreign donations, even a small chunk of change from the US Government, find their way into the coffers of the Brotherhood.
-Both critics and supporters compare the actions of the Brotherhood of Bkerké to the early days of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Critics go to the uprising at the arrival of Nasser, supporters go to the MB’s treatment of those in need.
-The Brotherhood undergoes a massive overhaul in administration. Titles are created, assigned and revoked as see fit.
-In order to calm tensions between the Brotherhood and Muslim conservatives, radio shows and public debates are held. A couple end in fistfights between crowds, and both sides accuse the other of instigating the violence. Otherwise, the talks go smoothly and many fires are quenched.
-In a final religious Coup de Grace, a huge congregation arrives in Tripoli for Christmas Mass. Christian tourists from around western Europe arrive in the small nation for a host of ceremonies and celebrations.
Deng - Kingdom of Persia
Government - Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Strong
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Sustained)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, average quality
Corruption - Moderate
-The Persian table-tennis team hosts competitions in Tehran against American and Chinese teams, creating a tourist spectacle for a short period of time.
-Advisers from South Korea, Japan and Taiwan make their way to Persia, invited by the Shah, to begin international electronics trade. Behind closed doors, the Shah attempts to mimic the economic reforms of the visitors.
-Though the market has opened up globally, Persia has yet to have items of their own to show off. Nonetheless, small shops crop up in major cities that sell televisions and radios.
-A Japanese student, who has arrived on the trip, continues to propose the adoption of fiber optics into households. The Persian government jumps on this proposal, and adopts his ideas. However, the first designs are crude and cannot travel very far effectively, and the student heads home before the Persians can ask for a redo.
-To assist in government activities, the Persian government adopts the radio-communication techniques of the US Army, and applies them to the office. A large radio is placed in the room, and a wireless phone is able to be used throughout most of the building. The phone is massive and unwieldy, but proves to be less of a hindrance, as workers can move from room to room and collect information.
-The Royal Police begin adopting riot tactics and weapons from the US, mimicking the hoses and police-dog use during the civil rights movement. The almost mirror image has some foreign advisers skeptical of Persia’s progress.
-With religious schools and courts out, the Persian federal government continues to institute law and order that mimics that of the US/UK, with a touch of authoritarianism here and there for good measure.
-Budgets from local governments must be released, in order for the federal government to step in and assist, or to show that districts are holding their own.
-The Persian government also begins printing “practical handbooks” in Persian. These hundred page documents outline basics of agriculture, home care, economics and new/amended laws. These books are distributed en-masse.
-Handbooks and classes for Persian are still available in Khuzestan, but is now optional. Some Arabic students, looking for a chance at a worthwhile income, continue to go to class, while others spit on the idea.
-“Special Economic Interest Zones” pop up in major cities across Persia. These zones are made to attract investment from rural areas, and draw urbanized/rural populations closer together.
-The government pushes for the creation of “Township Enterprises”, in which cities can create their own businesses (I.E coal mining/processing) and are given the equipment needed to prepare it for overseas export. This creates a fairly large number of jobs, but for a short period of time as some towns simply cannot cope with the costs.
-Oil funds, as usual, are used to support these endeavors. However, some of the government’s oil money is used to subsidize local welfare centers and attempt to alleviate the issues of inequality.
Emperor Scorpious II - The Children of Husayn
Type - Theocratic Separatists
Infighting - Minimal
International Opinion - Powerful Rebels
Funding - Well-off
Armaments - Imported materials
-Funds and from unknown sources begin to spill into the hands of the Children of Husayn, who gladly use what they have to combat the Iraqi military.
-A short term agreement is made with the Kurds. As long as the Kurdish militias leave the Children of Husayn alone, and vice-versa, the Kurds will be given autonomy or independence at the end of the war.
-The two groups, though ideologically separate, are forced to put aside their differences and continue fights against the local government.
-The Children of Husayn, after being swayed behind closed doors, leave the port of Basra open to entrance. Oil fields are untouched, and the Husayni rebels make sure that they stay that way for an unknown reason.
-Vicious fighting takes place throughout northern Iraq, as the government struggles to keep a hold on the separatist Kurds. In the meantime, the Children of Husayn begin to launch guerrilla raids on Iraqi convoys.
-To avoid sectarian violence, the Children of Husayn step back on their Shia policies, and preach that a fight against secularism is what will finally draw the people of Islam together. However, those in rural areas ignore the message.
-Sunni refugees are allowed free passage, and the leadership in the Children of Husayn condemn the harming of civilians.
-In an attempt to scan Anbar province and probe into Iraqi lines, a huge fight breaks out after Husayni rebels are spotted. Sporadic gunfire leaves dozens of civilians dead and hundreds fleeing for their lives.
-A spearhead of Husayni rebels makes a rush for Baghdad, but has been slowed due to the Iraqi military digging in and forcing the two sides to slug it out on the roads and hills to the capital city.
-Iraqi casualties are high, while the Husayni rebels continue to dodge serious military losses.
-Sectarian violence is feared to arise in the coming months if no progress is made from either side, and international observers push for a UN brokered peace deal. However, neither the US or the USSR are willing to put their hat into this ring.
OvB - Saudi Arabia
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Rich
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-A huge sum of money is donated to the Brotherhood of Bkerké from the Saudi government. Hardliners in the country are astonished at the donation, but keep their mouths shut when it comes to regional stability.
-The Saudi military goes all out on reconstruction. Hundreds of American tanks are purchased, including the newly designed M60 Patton. However, much of the tanks are hand-me-downs due to the escalating conflict in Vietnam.
-Fighter jets are purchased as well, coming from both the United States and the United Kingdom. The growth of the Saudi’s military comes as a direct response to the growing conflict in Iraq.
-Much of the Saudi military is mobilized and heads to the border with Iraq, keeping a watchful eye on the conflict as it unfolds. There are rumors of a Black Ops special unit referred to as “The Faceless”, but many deny its existence, including the Saudi military.
-Growing tensions between hardcore supporters of the conservative Saudis and those for the centralist Persians become public in slanderous speeches between religious and community leaders in both countries. The Saudis attempt to squash this insubordination.
-A program to construct large roads between the major cities begins. Looking to the American highway system, the Saudis attempt to mimic it, and begin laying out the plans for a new transportation route between cities like Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, Riyadh, etc.
-With the investments in infrastructure, the Saudis pour lots of money into turning Jeddah from coastal port city to a tourist attraction for western businessmen. Though there are fears over tensions in the region, the Saudis continue to campaign for Jeddah to become “The Barcelona of the East”.
-With tensions in the region rising, the Saudi government prepares emergency food and supplies stockpiles, stating the stockpiles are to be used “If a severe emergency arises that threatens the stability in Saudi Arabia”.
-Oil sales that have gone through the roof in recent months allow for the Saudis to spend heavily on making themselves a regional power. With Iraqi oil consumed by conflict, and the SADR/UAR exporting to socialist states, the oil-hungry nations of the west flock to the Saudis for the black gold.
-With this, German engineers come to the university in Riyadh and help design a new drill for oil. This drill penetrates the earth faster and more efficiently, being able to go deep inside quickly and find the substance that the operators are looking for.
-Efficient refining becomes an issue. Much of the money that the Saudis makes comes from the crude oil that they possess. Instead, European companies are offered to set up refineries in the nation, and their imported oil is then tariffed to the Saudis. Not only does this produce local jobs, it also allows the Saudis to enact a global bait-and-switch on monetary value of oil.
-Competitors with the Saudis are sweating hard.
==Turn 4: January to April 1966==
Post link: http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1457462&p=47458311&viewfull=1#post47458311
Regional Events:
-WAR IN IRAQ!!!: Southern Arabian and Egyptian airstrikes begin pounding positions of the Husayni rebels, while the Saudis push for Husayni/Kurdish authority.
-Meanwhile, Jordan invades Iraq, with the intentions of eliminating the Iraqi government and securing god-knows-what.
-American observers move into Turkey, Soviet observers stay in the Caucasus.
-Tensions reach a breaking point in the region as military engagement brings the world’s eyes on the socialist-leaning republics.
-The Iraqi Government is on the verge of Capitulation! However, no clear authority has taken over the city of Baghdad!
Player Events:
Griffster26 - Southern Arab Democratic Republic
Government - Socialist Republic
Alignment - Leaning to WARPACT
International Opinion - Violent Revolutionary Republic
Economic Situation - Somewhat Weak (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Somewhat experienced, secondhand weaponry
Corruption - Minor
-Begrudgingly, the SADR recognizes the existence of Israel, but refuses to agree to Israel’s claims of east Jerusalem.
-The Southern Arab Democratic Republic moves to participate in economic cooperation with the eastern Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON), leaning the nation further into Soviet influence.
-Immediately upon admission into COMECON, the SADR purchases huge numbers of Soviet military equipment, including aircraft, tanks and APCs. The equipment falls into the hands of relatively inexperienced users, and Egyptian pilots are hired to train the Southern Arabian air force.
-After receiving the equipment, a campaign against the Children of Husayn begins. Airstrikes in Basra have little effect other than spooking the rebels and killing civilians, as the Southern Arab pilots lack reconnaissance.
-Reports of torture and mass executions come in from the border cities of Iraq where Southern Arab “peace camps” detain Husayni rebels. The United Nations condemns these actions, while the SADR goes on a rant about “The British did it first”.
-Two state-run oil companies, PERGOC and SAGOC (Persian Gulf Oil Company, Southern Arabian Gas and Oil Company) pop up along the unused oil and gas fields that pepper the south of the nation. Few jobs are created, as the government is busy spending most of its money on the war effort.
-In a push for energy independence, the SADR attempts to build a nuclear power reactor. However, the lack of cheap uranium puts the project off for now.
lintz - United Arab Republic of Egypt
Government - Socialist Dictatorship
Alignment - Leaning to WARPACT
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Moderately Strong (Stagnating)
Domestic Situation - Calm (Sustained)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-Egyptian ports on the coast of the Red Sea open up directly to the SADR, allowing trade ships to move freely between both nations without needing to pass through the Suez Canal.
-Egyptian airstrikes begin to hammer onto Husayni transports and troop movements, but are ineffective in urban centers. The hand-me-down Soviet equipment combined with poor experience and lack of reconnaissance leaves hundreds of civilians dead.
-Ramping up the whole “military leader of the region” thing, the UAR sends troops to the border with Israel, focusing mainly on the growth of the Brotherhood in Lebanon. Military exercises result with these troop movements, and Israeli border guards twitch with anticipation of war.
-Internally, the UAR continues projects of social and economic development, tuition costs to state-run universities are lowered, and land reforms allow for the creation of larger (see: state owned) farms in Upper Egypt.
-Hotels spring up near the Pyramids in hopes of attracting both tourists and customers, as Red Sea tourism is “an economic must” according to the heads of government in Cairo.
-Excess products are immediately shoved off to the Soviet Union, which gobbles down various items such as iron and coal.
-In order to boost the amount of food that can be distributed to the people, large fisheries crop up in the Red Sea, with much of the farms holding schools of mostly Tilapia (common in the region).
-Medical procedures, such as open heart surgery and even brain surgery, are practiced in medical schools across Egypt, mimicking that of western hospitals. A push for medical reform alerts many job-hungry post-med students in Europe to flock to Egypt.
Native Hunter - The Brotherhood of Bkerké
Type - Theocratic Humanitarians
Infighting - Minimal
International Opinion - Humanitarian Group
Funding - Powerful
Armaments - Second hand and captured supplies
-Brotherhood “Knights” flock into Syria, spreading the Maronite gospels. The Ba’athist government is furious, and immediately attempts to push the “rabble-rousers” out of the country. However, the small Christian communities in places like Homs and Damascus are swayed, and some of them even head to Lebanon to join in the Brotherhood.
-Alongside missionary work, the Brotherhood sends a large contingent of unarmed humanitarian workers to create refugee camps in Iraq. The Kurds, Husayni rebels and Iraqi Government are too wrapped up with one another to care about the refugee camps, and dispersed Iraqis of all ethnicities and faiths flock to these camps.
-Members of the Iraqi christian community feel comforted by the Brotherhood’s presence, and some join up to assist in the humanitarian work.
-The Brotherhood openly condemns the fighting in Iraq, and urges both west and east to try and bring it to an end before it gets out of hand.
-With the chaos raging in Iraq, and the government’s popularity plummeting, the Brotherhood seizes the opportunity to begin pushing for emergency elections. A petition goes out to the people, and within weeks, thousands of signatures are on the list.
-A huge Easter Mass is held, and during the ceremonies, the Brotherhood takes the time to announce its pledge to run for office. They are met with applause.
-With that announcement in mind, the Brotherhood also calls upon the United States Government to fund the organization, and begs that the Vatican allow the Brotherhood to go worldwide.
-The Holiest of Holies accepts the request, and offices for the Brotherhood begin construction in the Vatican.
-Peaceful demonstrations begin in the streets of Beirut, calling for the government to step down and allow for new democratic elections to take place. Frightened by the sheer number, the parliament caves in, and the election process begins in late April.
-Lebanese elections, still taking place, show the Brotherhood with a fairly heavy lead, with the opposition unable to form coalitions and thus falling behind. However, the governmental transfer cannot begin until May, as reorganization is bound to occur.
-With such progress made, one would wonder if another thing is going to get skipped over during wri-
Deng - Kingdom of Persia
Government - Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Strong (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Improving)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, average quality
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-The International Persian Sports League (IPSL) is founded in the wake of large numbers of international games being held in cities like Tehran and Tabriz. Most of the competitions take place between China and the US, as the two consider themselves far superior to the other.
-The money that is generated goes directly into funding hotels and business centers across the country in order to attract foreign personnel that are willing to stake a claim in the growing Persian economy.
-Embassies and centers for diplomacy are opened up with the United Kingdom, United States and China. However, the USSR is overtly excluded, which infuriates Moscow, who in turn blame the Chinese for the development.
-A huge series of military games take place in the desert regions of the Golestan mountains. During these, both American and Chinese military advisers (and salesmen) are invited to partake in overseeing the games.
-Behind the scenes, a massive screening process is underway, which removes both subordinates and generals who are viewed as “corrupt”, and immediately sends them out with a dishonorable discharge.
-Anti-corruption drives arrive in local governments as well, as the nation continues to adopt foreign law and order policies, namely the American style. Administrative honesty is a must, and yearly reports begin trickling into Tehran so the federal government can observe progress or the lack thereof.
-Persia’s credit and economic situation as a whole begins to grow rapidly, as the competition in the middle east heats up.
-The borders are opened up to Shia refugees. However, they are resettled across the country, as to not increase the number of Arabs in the region of Khuzestan.
-Social policy changes in Khuzestan numb the pain of the Arab population, while simultaneously leashing the region back into the fold with the rest of the various governments.
-Persian workers are encouraged to begin working for the many foreign businesses that have cropped up within the country, and return their investments to local economies. This now puts Persia in the limelight of being an export-driven country in the Middle East that doesn’t focus entirely on oil, making them a key economic interest for foreign powers.
-However, the Persian oil companies aren’t just rolling over. Huge projects take place in oil-rich regions, and Saudi oil techniques are outright copied. This causes critics of the Persians to lash out, who are silenced by the increasing number of barrels produced and exported by the country.
-Mimicking the growing Japanese rail-based public transportation, a “Bullet Train” of sorts begins construction, linking Tehran and Esfahan. The project is expensive, unwieldy, and will take well over a year to develop, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
Emperor Scorpious II - The Children of Husayn
Type - Theocratic Separatists
Infighting - Minimal
International Opinion - Powerful Rebels
Funding - Strong
Armaments - Imported materials
-With the strange bedfellows of the Saudis arriving, the Husayni rebels are able to take a breather and begin their march on Baghdad.
-Slugfests with the Iraqis begin, but Husayni rebels are able to breach Iraqi government defenses and begin a guerilla campaign from inside the city. However, outright capture of the capital has yet to happen, as the Iraqis are still able to push back even with their waning capabilities.
-Within weeks, the few rebel fighters that were able to make it inside are rounded up and executed if they had not already died in the fighting. This, however, inadvertently makes them martyrs.
-The number of fighters for the Children of Husayn erupts due to the news of international support and intervention. Both hardliners and liberalists join up in order to bring the fighting to a swift and easy end.
-The continuing airstrikes on Husayni positions weaken the resolve of the rear-line fighters, but the supporters of the group are far too fervent to be willing to give up.
-Husayni “diplomats” continue to weasel into Baghdad and pressure the Iraqi government for surrender. This, surprisingly enough, begins to work as the Iraqi resolve weakens day by day.
-A deal has yet to be reached, as the international stage still paints Iraq as a contested province. Pressure from within forces the Husayni rebels to outright surround the city with the aid of the Saudis and Kurds, but the siege continues and shows no sign of breaking.
OvB - Saudi Arabia
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Very Rich
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Sustained)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-To ease tensions, an embassy for Persia is constructed in Riyadh. The two nations, though religiously separate, have a common goal, and rivalry is the worst way to achieve it.
-In a shocking turn of events, the Saudi government begins supporting the Kurdish and Husayni rebels, and condemns the very existence of the Iraqi government.
-Saudi aircraft begin striking Baghdad and Iraqi military convoys, but are ineffective when doing precision hits in cities due to rules of engagement.
-Ground units begin flooding in through Al-Anbar province, including the newly purchased armor brigades. Unfortunately, the Jordanian and Saudi ground troops are unable to cooperate, and the Saudis are caught up in the slugfest in Al-Anbar.
-Other ground forces begin assisting the Husayni rebels during their march to Baghdad, but are also caught up in entrenched fighting. However, the Saudis go on a humanitarian campaign in the process, handing out candy to children and evacuating civilians as they slowly meander to the capital.
-A pipeline is hastily constructed that snakes through Husayni territory and into Saudi Arabia. This oil is seized directly from Iraq, and foreign observers cry resource stealing, but their whining is drowned out by the sounds of fighting.
-“The Faceless”, the rumored special operations group, is confirmed to exist, though their motives and exact location are unknown.
-With the war and regional stability in mind, the Saudis continue to push for their own economic prowess. Ports are constructed in both the Persian Gulf and Red Sea, which attracts foreign oceanic-based companies to set themselves up in the capitalist-friendly country.
-Public prayer ceremonies are held to support a religious backing behind the intervention. Wahhabi hardliners are still furious with the thought of supporting the Shia Husaynis, but are forced to keep their mouth shut when the King leads the prayers.
-Mechanical and Aeronautical engineering wings of the University, which in turn attracts large numbers of foreign students to continue their studies in the country.
-New parts for oil rigs are designed from these studies, but are unable to be put to use en-masse.
Jin - Israel
Government - Unitary Parliamentary Republic
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Hated By Arab World
Economic Situation - Rich
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Experienced, average quality
Corruption - Moderate
-Fearing the encroachment of Egyptian military exercises, the government in Israel moves to condemn the Egyptian’s stockpile of chemical weapons. Diplomats swoon the UN observers with mentions of World War 1 and the Holocaust, but little is accomplished.
-Conscription is reevaluated, and all members of society over the age of 18 are expected to put in 2 years minimum of military service. This upsets liberals in the community, but the threat of total annihilation keeps them in line.
-Exercises involving evacuation, gas attacks, massed mobilization, fast-response drills and moving innocents to bomb shelters are conducted in response to the Egyptians.
-American military personnel arrive in Israel in order to conduct joint training, as the US sees Israel as a key ally in the fight against the spread of socialism in the region.
-Alongside training, the US signs a deal with the Israelis to export large amounts of arms to the country. This upsets much of the conservative leaders in Arab countries, but picking on the US’ choice isn’t a viable option as they are a massive economic consumer for the region.
-A campaign for “Judaic Unification” begins, playing on the fears and concerns of Jewish citizens in Israel. This riles up a lot of conservatives, who in turn push for a preemptive invasion of Jordan, though their calls fall on deaf ears.
-A second campaign goes for the creation of STEM education centers in Tel Aviv. These schools attract many who are desperate for jobs, and allow the small Israeli manufacturing companies to grow ever so slightly.
-Workshops are encouraged to begin cropping up throughout the country, which in turn causes the razing of local Palestinian homes. PLO raids into Israel repeatedly sabotage these building projects, but cannot stop their progress.
-Importations into Tel Aviv include crude oil from friendly nations like the US. This in turn sparks a push for oil refining plants to go up along the coastline. These refineries are tiny, but pack a serious punch and show that Israel can indeed support itself.
-A crude “Anti-Ballistic Missile” system is designed. Using radar, the defense system can detect large projectiles and sends a wall of smaller explosives to engage and destroy the threat. The system is extremely expensive and somewhat ineffective, but it is nonetheless inspiring and intimidating.
Malos - Jordan
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Moderately Strong
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-Jordanian airstrikes begin pounding the city of Baghdad and Iraqi military positions. Like other airstrikes in the Iraqi campaign, these strikes are relatively ineffective. However, unlike the others, the Iraqi military makes itself a tad more obvious, and the strikes inadvertently make it easier for the Husayni and Kurdish rebels to advance towards the now entrenched city of Baghdad.
-The Jordanian military flat out invades Iraq via land, doing combat with government forces and pushing deep into the Al-Anbar province. However, the Jordanians are quickly bogged down due to supply issues and communications problems. With the Iraqi government on the defensive, military advances are currently shut down.
-In order to take attention away from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, PLO sympathisers and Palestinian refugees are encouraged to sign up for the war in Iraq, with the king stating “Iraq turned its back on you, and now it is time to strike!”.
-Jordanian citizens also answer the call of duty, and huge numbers of infantry battalions march to assist the push into Iraq.
-After making a deal with American military technology investors, the Jordanian government purchases large numbers of computers. These massive and unwieldy machines are set up in Amman, and manned by foreign operators. However, the Jordanian government takes note, and begins to copy the machines for themselves.
-Desalination projects crop up along the west coast of Jordan, facing the salty Dead Sea, in order to create fresh drinking water for the growing country. This, unfortunately, aids in the growing of tensions between Jordan and Israel.
==Crisis: May 1966==
Post link: http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1457462&p=47491082&viewfull=1#post47491082
Regional Events:
-Celebrations are held in the capitals of the new independent states of Kurdistan and Mesopotamia, while the former Sunni Arab leaders of Iraq hide their faces as they flee in fear of reprisals.
-Palestinian and Iraqi refugees meet on the former borders of Jordan and Iraq, both are furious with the sudden loss of their nation to foreign invaders.
-Oil continues to flow cleanly through Mesopotamia and into the ports of Saudi Arabia.
-Tensions start to rise in the SADR between ethnic groups who demand more representation.
-The Crisis has been brought to an end.
Player Events:
*The Treaty of Babylon
*The signees include Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Persia and the Brotherhood.
*The document, created and signed in Baghdad, states:
**Reparations paid by Egypt and the SADR.
**Sunni advisors enter Iraq to ensure the transfer of civilians to their new respective homelands.
**Jordan takes control of the contested Al-Anbar province and much of the banks of the Euphrates.
**An independent Kurdistan is formed in the north.
**The Children of Husayn are granted the ultimate prize, Baghdad, alongside their independence and foundation of the Imamate of Mesopotamia.
**Civilian transfers begin, moving Kurds to Kurdistan, Arabs to Jordan, Shiites to Mesopotamia.
*However, money demanded from Egypt and the SADR don’t come through. Instead, Egypt outright condemns the act of Jordan’s territorial expansion, and refuses to partake in the reparation deal.
*The independent governments of Kurdistan and Mesopotamia are recognized by the signee governments.
*The talks, overseen by American, Chinese and Soviet advisors, see completion in late May of 1966.
==Turn 5: May to August 1966==
Post link: http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1457462&p=47551549&viewfull=1#post47551549
Regional Events:
-The war in Iraq comes to an end, and new governments are formed in the wake of international agreements.
-Refugee issues erupt, as the PLO butts heads with Iraqi refugees in camps across the region.
-International eyes turn to the Middle East as both a shining example of crisis solving and a giant, oil-filled piggy bank.
-The Southern Arab Democratic Republic begins to shatter as leaders form coalitions against one another and patriotic vibes ripple through the countryside.
-A Mexican Standoff takes place between Israel and Egypt.
Player Events:
Griffster26 - Kingdom of Afghanistan
Government - Constitutional Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Weak (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Uneasy
Military Situation - Inexperienced, some modern supplies
Corruption - Severe
-Seeing the rise of communist influence from both the USSR and the PRC, the King pushes the parliament to begin alignment towards the United States, and turns to their neighbor Pakistan for support.
-Huge numbers of firearms and vehicles are purchased from the United States to bolster the puny Afghan state military. The Afghan government asks for advisers, but as the US is already so wrapped up in Vietnam, the weapons are dropped off and left to the hands of the incompetent Afghan military.
-In order to keep the domestic situation from boiling out of control, local non-Pashtun minorities are granted greater rights and representation in politics.
-Begrudgingly, the King also allows Socialists to attempt runs for positions in local governments. The secular Socialists regularly butt heads with the conservative tribal groups, and squabbles sometimes erupt into street fights.
-International investors are invited to begin the construction of Trans-Afghan Pipeline to lead from Soviet oil fields into Pakistan and India. However, little money is put into the project as investors are unable to trust much of the government’s efforts. Nonetheless, the beginning of the pipeline begins its construction not too far from Sheberghan in the north.
-Proper oil drilling techniques are “copied” from the Persians, and prove to have some success in the meager oil fields that pepper the far northern parts of Afghanistan.
-Mining techniques, mimicking the Soviet style of “fucking turn it into a crater” begin to collect hefty amounts of metals for use in industry. However, the styles aren’t as effective as they could be, and don’t make much of a return.
Native Hunter - The Patriarch of Lebanon
Government - Theocratic Republic
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Positive
Economic Situation - Somewhat Strong (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Improving)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, average quality
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-With the success in the elections and support during the Iraq crisis, the Brotherhood has now managed to weasel its way into power in Beirut. However, almost immediately, the Maronite Patriarch has taken up the helm as “Patriarch of Lebanon”, leaving the position of president defunct.
-Waves of fear ripple into the public of Lebanon, and their fears are only quelled when the Patriarch states that local, provincial and senatorial governing styles will be unchanged, and the people’s choice and will not be interfered with by the Patriarch.
-Muslim conservatives are horrified, and many uneasy Muslims flee to Syria and Jordan in the wake of the ascension.
-The Brotherhood becomes a state-sanctioned group, and continues humanitarian work both at home and abroad, gathering a lot of support for the Lebanese government.
-Huge missionary work combined with nationwide celebrations by Christians eventually leads to the formation and the beginning of construction on the Cathedral of Maroun. This massive structure is inspired by the Greek Hagia Sophia, but will boast even more floorspace. Huge amounts of government money is pumped into the project, making non-Christians twitch.
-In order to keep their diplomatic image from being completely tarnished, Lebanon turns to their nearby neighbor of Israel, and announces a declaration of friendship and a defensive alliance. This draws the populations of both nations together, but horrifies the Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon.
-American pilots are invited to Lebanon in order to assist the training of Lebanese air-force recruits. These actions help bring American interests to Lebanon, including military handshaking in terms of joint training.
-Alongside working with American pilots, the Lebanese government purchases Anti-Tank Rockets from the United States to bolster their military’s defenses.
-Even the simplistic T34 Calliope system, used only once by the United States during the second world war, is purchased in bulk to revamp the Lebanese military’s artillery capabilities.
-International companies begin to flock to Lebanon after hearing the government’s push for outside companies to begin creating industry in the fledgeling nation. Alongside international shops, local businesses begin cropping up, now that incomes are able to support family owned shops.
-Luxury goods such as designer woods, exotic foods and even booze are encouraged to be churned out and sold. This upsets a lot of conservatives, who feel that the nature of Lebanon is at risk.
Deng - Kingdom of Persia
Government - Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Strong (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Improving)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, average quality
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-Diplomatic ties are strengthened between the United States, the PRC and Persia, as events continue to take place across the country. Persia is retitled “The Chinese/American playing field” as sports, debates, businesses and now wargames take place along the countryside.
-American/Chinese wargames are persistent in the countryside, as the Persians push for the Americans and Chinese to act as a “Serious buffer” to Soviet encroachment.
-A customs union and new “free” border policy is formed between the Persians and Mesopotamia. Kurdistan is invited to the agreement, but turn down the offer due to the reconstruction efforts at home.
-American and British businesses are invited to take part in the expansion of the Persian economy. Oil and gas, still under control of the AIOC, is unable to be shipped to the Chinese, who feel left out of the economic agreements.
-The Soviets are outright ignored, which further infuriates Moscow. Ties between the Persians and Soviets are cut.
-The military continues an overhaul, looking closely at how the American and Chinese militaries that regularly train on Persian soil.
-Education reforms continue, as the Persian government diverts more taxpayer money into primary and secondary education, allowing for schools to breathe a sigh of relief and focus on teaching rather than staying afloat financially.
-Local industry and infrastructure begins to boom as both federal and international money creates thousands of individual jobs and shops around the country, including the continuation of a high-speed rail that is now planned to stretch the length of the country.
-Land reforms cause an uproar amongst tribal groups as the government chooses to limit the maximum average of land that can be owned by a family/business. This, however, allows for the expansion of businesses to move outside of cities, and reduces the massed urbanization.
-Restriction enzymes, a chemical used to cut DNA down into more recognizable and workable parts is born in the University of Tehran, with the help of American researchers. Its immediate use is to observe various strains of E. Coli and other foodborne bacteria.
-Smaller and more fuel efficient cars are designed for Persian consumption. They mimic much of the British and West German designs, and are nowhere near as effective, but are available to the Persian public for purchase, and arguably prove to be a good investment for the now prevalent Persian “nuclear family”.
Emperor Scorpious II - Sultanate of Mesopotamia
Government - Theocratic Monarchy
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Poor (Improving)
Domestic Situation - Fairly Upset (Improving)
Military Situation - Experienced, exhausted, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-With the war over, and Baghdad securely in their control, the Children of Husayn establish a newly independent government of the Sultanate of Mesopotamia.
-The Jordanian Prince Zeid bin Hussein is placed as the Sultan of Mesopotamia. His Sunni heritage clashes regularly with the Shia population.
-The now homeless Ayatollah Khomeini, who has pushed for religious authority in a government position, has been chosen by the government to act as the first Prime Minister.
-A strict adherence to Sharia is written into the new constitution, though the national sect of Islam is simply “Islam”, in order to keep the remaining Sunnis under control. A section of Allamahs (Islamic scholars) is integrated into the government to act as a judicial branch.
-Leading Ba’athist rulers are imprisoned, many executed in a government crackdown on secular, socialist ideals.
-Some leaders renounce their ideals, and are placed into positions such as military advisers or local governors.
-Though their neighbor is much more secular than themselves, the government of Mesopotamia accepts the Persian proposal for trade, which sees a huge boost to Baghdad’s coffers, allowing them to begin the viciously expensive process of rebuilding.
-However, much of the government begins the construction of a massive Mosque, decorated with inscriptions and gold to honor the martyrs who were killed in the revolution. The mosque is expected to rival the tomb of Husayn in Karbala.
-Students that were not completely uprooted are completely uprooted and sent to the university in Riyadh to research hydroelectric power, as the government prepares to create a damming project of both the Tigris and Euphrates.
-Quietly, Mesopotamia joins in a tripartite “monarchy alliance” with respective leaders in the region against socialist encroachment.
-In a shocking turn of events, the Mesopotamian government begins to "integrate" with that of Kuwait, essentially beginning the country’s absorption into the Sultanate.
OvB - Saudi Arabia
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Very Rich
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Sustained)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-Markets are opened up regionally, as the Saudis have clearly made their point of being a power player in the region. Trade between Jordan and the Saudis (water/oil trade, respectively), and even an oil-sharing deal with the Iraqis takes place.
-Negotiations begin for the purchase of Uranium from Canada, though both nations cannot come to a better agreement, the Saudis receive a couple pounds of the material in return for a quarter’s cut of oil sales.
-Air defenses begin construction along the southern border as the SADR continues to dissolve internally, though hasn’t officially broken down. Much of these defenses are WWII surplus, but get the job done nonetheless.
-Huge mosques begin construction in smaller cities. Much of these mosques are the same size, scale, design, etc. in order to “bring the nation together in a union of Islam”.
-A massive construction project of hotels and rest centers begins in Mecca for the pilgrimage, upsetting some of the hardliners who already feel the industrializing nation is encroaching too far into holy sites.
-A "Rocketeer" competition is held in Riyadh to see who can build a better rocket. The winner, a student from the Grand University, is given a massive cash reward and a day with the Saudi King. And, of course, a job in the newly growing Saudi rocket program.
-The newly purchased uranium is to be used in the construction of a nuclear facility off the coast, facing the Persian gulf. Many accuse the Saudis of a nuclear weapons program due to the push for ballistic knowledge, but these claims fall flat as most of the Saudi rockets are over-designed fireworks.
-In fear of attack from their neighbors, gas masks are purchased/produced en-masse, alongside some of the oil money put to the construction of bunkers and defensive positions.
Jin - Israel
Government - Unitary Parliamentary Republic
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Hated By Arab World
Economic Situation - Rich
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Experienced, average quality
Corruption - Moderate
-Still furious with Egypt’s prolific stockpiling of gas-based weaponry, a huge ratification of the 1925 Geneva Protocols takes place, with multiple signatures in the region condemning the construction and stockpiling of chemical weapons.
-An agreement, aptly titled the Nazareth Accords, takes place between PLO leadership and Israeli governors. Palestinian refugees are allowed, somewhat, to return to their homes and the creation of a Palestinian substate. These regions, though small and pushed into the poorer corners of Israel, are relatively autonomous, and prove to ease the tensions between Jews/Palestinians.
-Security is tightened at the volatile Israeli/Jordanian border, with cars being searched and some people detained. This is in light of fears of Palestinian reprisal attacks from radicalized groups after the Nazareth Accords.
-American/Israeli military advising continues, as the United States exports WW2 era equipment to Israel for a quick buck. The United States is wrapped up in Vietnam, and unable to give outright military support.
-Advancements are made in the design of the Anti-Ballistic Missile system, though it continues to be horrendously expensive. It proves to be much more effective, but many cite the costs as an issue.
-Within a few hours, in a shocking turn of events, a huge contingent of Israeli military personnel mass themselves at the Egyptian border, taking defensive positions. This sudden micro-mobilization scares the hell out of the Cairo government, who responds by moving their army to stare down the Israelis.
-A no-fly zone is put up, focusing on the Sinai peninsula and parts of the Levantine Coast. The Egyptians are tempted to break this no fly zone, but fear that they’d be playing into the hands of the Israelis, and keep at a distance.
-Regional observers are in a panic over the sudden stare off.
-Industrial construction continues, regardless of the sudden developments diplomatically. Israeli workshops pop up in the Palestinian substates, and create a minor job market that begins to grow in these regions.
-Researchers are invited to partake in massed studies in Tel Aviv to further both the nation’s progress and international knowledge. Though foreign researchers require heavy background checks, all who take part are paid well above minimum wage for any progress made.
-Advancements in the realm of telecommunications take place, including a mimicry of the Persian “mobile telephone”, which is mainly applied to the Israeli military.
-A large highway begins construction from Tel-Aviv to the southern coastline. This design is “copied” from the German Autobahn and American Eisenhower Highway.
Malos - Jordan
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning towards NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Moderately Strong
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Relatively experienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-With the placement of a royal family member on the throne of Mesopotamia, the Jordanians enter the alliance with Saudi Arabia and Mesopotamia against the growing socialist movements in the region.
-Fears of the SADR’s collapse cause the Jordanians to look to NATO protection, while the King outright condemns the actions of the SADR during the Iraqi crisis, including releasing information about the death camps.
-The Jordanians amend the Treaty of Babylon to allow the Egyptians to pay less, while simultaneously forcing the SADR to pick up the slack. Tensions between Jordan and the SADR rise, while the southern nation is unable to keep itself afloat, and just shakes its fist angrily at the Jordanians.
-Jordan pushes for regional support of China rather than the Soviet Union, citing both the WW2 invasion of Iran and the growing Ba’athist movement as negative Soviet influence in the region.
-The Jordanian military undergoes serious reforms after the Iraqi crisis, looking to new ways to combat guerrilla tactics. Meanwhile, military duty becomes a must for public recognition of officials, as the Jordanian military as put on a pedestal post-Iraq.
-The Jordanian desalination projects move from the contested Dead Sea to the minor port-region of Aqaba. This cools tensions between the growing Israeli settlements and the Jordanians while simultaneously providing the Jordanians with a (somewhat smaller than the Jordan River) source of fresh water.
-A huge infrastructure reform takes place, using demobilized soldiers to construct roads and highway systems. This “swords into plowshares” tactic works surprisingly well for a short period of time, giving soldiers that needed boost to their wallets before they head home.
-Alongside the creation of the new highways, phosphate mines crop up in the desert regions of Jordan as prospectors find meager sources beneath small sections of the country. These small amounts of phosphate exports allow for the nation’s economy to recover post-war.
-Desalination membranes are improved significantly, and huge amounts of salt can be removed from water with much smaller facilities.
==Turn 6: September to December 1966==
thumb|right|270px|Turn musicPost link: http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1457462&p=47612358&viewfull=1#post47612358
Regional Events:
-WAR!: In a shocking turn of events, gas shells are fired at the stationed Israeli troops along the Egyptian border, prompting a full on military response from the Israelis.
-The Egyptians cry that they had nothing to do with it, but the tensions have been growing for years between the neighbors, and nobody is surprised that they have snapped.
-The Southern Arab Democratic Republic begins to fracture apart, as ethnic groups commit themselves to the creation of their own independent nations.
-The SADR is chopped up by foreign powers in a series of events described as “The Arab Partition”.
Player Events:
Griffster26 - Republic of Afghanistan
Government - Leftist Republic
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Weak (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Degrading)
Military Situation - Inexperienced, some modern supplies
Corruption - Severe
-The King of Afghanistan, Mohammad VII, suffers a heart attack whilst touring the mining projects in the north and dies. Mass demonstrations take place, and Prime Minister Maiwandwal is thrown out of his position, and a well-respected governor replaces him. The monarchy is effectively dissolved.
-The newly formed government cuts what little ties it had with the Southern Arab Democratic Republic, and turns to the nations of Persia and Pakistan for support. However, when they attempt to align themselves with NATO, they are refused due to their socialist-leaning habits and government.
-The Afghan government also goes about on a process of secularization, including the removal of tax exemptions for religious leaders and institutions. However, these changes have little effect on governance in rural regions, as pastoralist groups outright refuse to listen to a “socialist secular government”.
-In order to bolster the nation’s military, the Afghan government allows for women to serve. However, very few join up, as their husbands or other family members usually refuse to allow them to serve. Those that do prove to be just like their male recruit counterparts: lazy and inexperienced.
-A small detachment of Afghan soldiers are sent to Vietnam in order to observe and assist American forces. These soldiers return with some knowledge of jungle combat and guerilla fighting, but it proves to be of little value.
-Father-Brother-Daughter marriage is outlawed for the most part, and the government begins a campaign to push the tribal groups to move towards settled work. Again, this has little effect on the rural tribal groups.
-A highway begins construction between Islamabad and Kabul, alongside a large road network that spans the country. Work is sluggish and ineffective, as workers occasionally go on strike due to lack of wage reform.
Native Hunter - The Patriarchate of Lebanon
Government - Theocratic Republic
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Positive
Economic Situation - Somewhat Strong
Domestic Situation - Uneasy
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, average quality
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-A huge number of “Knights” cross over into Syria to assist the poor on the border towns and cities. This has now been approved by the Syrian government, and the work is appreciated by many.
-Refugee camps are maintained in Mesopotamia, regardless of the growing inter-religious conflict in the area.
-Delegates are sent to Cyprus in order to bring the two countries closer together, under the banner of the “Mediterranean/Levantine Christian Coalition” (MLCC). Seeing the encroachment of both Turkey and other NATO members, the Cypriot government quickly agrees to an alliance.
-A request for an American-Lebanese alliance is refused, but only due to the US’s focus in southeast Asia. There is still hope for an American-led string of NATO-friendly coalitions in the region.
-Aircraft such as fighters and bombers are purchased from the United States. Some of these planes are outdated, and a large majority of Lebanon’s new air force is the F-86 Sabre, a plane used primarily in the Korean War and attacking large lizards in Tokyo.
-Regardless of quality, the presence of American military advisors in Lebanon allow for the Lebanese air force to train daily with these planes, and after a few weeks, some pilots are considered to be “aces” by their comrades.
-A small navy begins construction, mainly coastal cruisers. These ships are smaller than their NATO/WARPACT counterparts, but as they continue construction, they prove to be a sight to behold. Repurposed artillery guns and rocket artillery attachments make these ships bristle with armaments. A project to build an aircraft carrier is scrapped due to the lack of engineers able to design the ship and a lack of metals.
-Palestinian refugees that are able to find a job and have the ability to pay taxes are given citizenship. These refugees are then moved to a hastily constructed coastal city dubbed Hazzabah. Hazzabah is created to not only house refugees that already live in Lebanon, but to attract them from other regions as well.
-Hazzabah also sees the creation of schools, factories, fisheries and libraries, all open for Palestinian employment. The federal government foots the bill for their pay at the moment, but there are hopes that the Palestinian immigrants will be able to pay for themselves soon enough.
-Community work from the Knights trickles into Hazzabah, though it is met with suspicion by some of the more hardlining residents of the neighborhood. Nonetheless, the idea that the government cares not about their background or religion, but instead just views them as citizens, calms many of the otherwise high-strung refugees.
-This flood of Palestinian immigrants into the country causes an upheaval of the jobs industry in the south, with much of the manual labor jobs going to Palestinians rather than Lebanese nationals. This severely pisses off conservatives whose jerbs were taken.
-Public debates are held in Beirut on national television/radio. These debates, though watched with a keen eye by security, allow for anyone to speak their mind about situations in the country. Oddly enough, these debates grow into full on television/radio shows, with some having themes regarding religion, economics, social issues, etc.
-Large festivals are held celebrating the history of Lebanon, stretching as far back as Phoenician times. These celebrations are sneered at by government critics, who decide to cite the Roman tradition of Bread and Games to appease the masses. Most of these critics are silenced with cotton candy and dancing, however, as the festivals prove to be a huge hit amongst the locals.
-In a less entertaining light, corrupt government officials are removed from office and imprisoned. Acts such as bribery or libel within the government are met with harsh penalties, spanning from huge fines to lengthy jail sentences. This spooks many would-be embezzlers, who flee the country quietly in order to avoid capture.
-With the growing focus on the middle-east, the Lebanese tourist industry takes full advantage of this, and huge numbers of Europeans and Americans begin to vacation in Beirut as the weather gets colder in their homeland. With this, casinos, hotels and resorts crop up along the country. Though the Lebanese government loves the income, they feel that only having one major tourist city is too much stress on the local economy.
-With the large amount of money and the happy relations between the United States and Lebanon, the two nation’s militaries agree to a trade. For a lump sum of cash, the Lebanese military purchases a small number of computers, and with them come various tech advisors from the US to oversee their placement and operation. These computers are massive and fairly slow, but are leagues ahead of the legions of typewriters or pens.
-A crude series of “solar panels” are constructed on top of buildings in Beirut. They are gigantic, and cover much of the rooftops. They don’t produce much electricity, and instead can only power lightbulbs in the buildings for a few minutes at a time before the building must return to regular power supplies. Regardless, this is a huge leap forward for independence from fossil fuels in the nation, and the tech sector rejoices at the development.
Deng - Kingdom of Persia
Government - Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Strong (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Improving)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, average quality
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-Sports events continue in Persia, with the Soviets excluded outright. The Soviet Union now declares the Persians an enemy of the Communist ideology.
-A “single market” is formed with Mesopotamia, including a customs union. Borders are relatively open between the nations, but only employed workers are given the ability to walk freely between the two.
-Kurdistan is given a massive monetary loan in order to regrow their economy. In return, Kurdistan joins the “single market” that Persia has formed.
-An agreement is formed between Persia and Britain. The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company is given less authority over Persian petroleum exports. In return, the British receive a small tariff reduction and contracts with the Persian military.
-The oil is immediately exported to China in order to strengthen the two nation’s ties. However, this makes American diplomats twitch, who feel skimped in the offer. The US instead turns back to the Saudis for their oil exports.
-The Persian military undergoes a reformation, mainly influenced by the Chinese. However, this reformation mainly entails human wave tactics and massed frontal assaults. Nonetheless, Persian supply lines are reorganized to support huge movements at a single time, and the military ultimately benefits from the reforms.
-Massive anticorruption drives and pushes for economic growth take place. The Persian government ultimately purges huge portions of its workers (nonviolently), removing people from their positions for even the slightest insurrection.
-The Persian legal system slowly begins to crawl onto being on-par with the British, who are a major influence on the nation’s legal process.
-Budget reforms take place, and the Persian economy adopts reforms such as the ISO 9000 in order to ensure success with a rapidly growing economy. This causes some issues as smaller businesses are unable to keep up with competitors and are absorbed outright.
-Small elections are allowed to take place on a city/regional basis. With this, the Majlis is given some authority over budget, much like the American congress.
-In order to cope with the growing competition in the region, the Persian economy focuses on massed production. This includes copying the growing Japanese automobile sector, and inadvertently leads to the rise of minor automatization on the production line. These “robots” are really overly designed machines that stamp out parts for cars, and are arguably no better than human work. Nonetheless, these developments encourage the creation of a robotics industry.
-Huge infrastructure projects begin across the country. These include high-speed rail systems and new highway constructions. These projects are heavily invested into by foreign companies, and many of the conservatives who wish for a strong Persian-built economy cringe at the sight of such huge foreign influence.
-The Persian currency is printed much more in order to encourage slight inflation. The Persians push for an adoption of their currency in both Mesopotamia and Kurdistan as migrant workers are paid in Persian rather than their home country’s currency. The creation of a proto-euro begins to take place.
-A major agricultural reform takes place in the southern regions of Persia. Huge plots of land that produced meagre amounts of food are slowly transformed into much more compact and effective farms. This process is sped up by the adoption of chemical fertilizers and American farming machinery.
-Agricultural reform leads to a surplus of food, which is exported to Kurdistan and Mesopotamia to support the suffering lower classes. There suddenly appears to be a competition between the Knights and Persia over who can be the better good guy.
Emperor Scorpious II - Sultanate of Mesopotamia
Government - Theocratic Monarchy
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Poor (Improving)
Domestic Situation - Upset (Improving)
Military Situation - Experienced, exhausted, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-Arms deals begin with the United States as the Mesopotamian government continues its attempts to root out socialism and radicals that threaten the stability of the nation. Large numbers of post-WW2 equipment begin flooding the nation as the US military desperately attempts to reform due to Vietnam.
-A railway is proposed to stretch from Baghdad to Jordan, although the project gets off to a rocky start due to the lack of funds and specialists required for its construction.
-A series of “tech sharing” agreements take place between Mesopotamia and Jordan, in order to get the Mesopotamian tech sector back up on its feet.
-Palestinians are given citizenship, so long as they renounce their palestinian heritage and are willing to form working, economically viable families. This angers a lot of the more conservative and independence-minded refugees, but the majority who are tired and just wish to be treated like regular people flock to the idea.
-Refurbished military gear is purchased from Persia, who is already busy reforming their own military. This surplus allows the Mesopotamian military to take a breath and not fear an absolute collapse in terms of equipment quality.
-A conscription program begins, requiring every male over 20 to serve in either the military or some sort of civil service. This infuriates conservatives and former refugees alike, who see this as an encroachment on civil liberties.
-Raw materials are traded with Persia in return for cash and experienced workers. This tag-team open economy allows for some growth to take place in the Mesopotamian economy.
-Car manufacturing plants, mainly foreign built, begin cropping up in more stable regions of the country. These plants create jobs for many of the unemployed Mesopotamian citizens, but some cite it as “foreign exploitation”.
-An open border is created with Mesopotamia’s northern neighbor, Kurdistan. The relations between the two countries are strained somewhat due to their religious and ethnic differences, but the open border policy allows families to visit those that they would be otherwise separated from.
-Small businesses are encouraged by the government to begin creation, though their progress is slow due to the long and arduous process of rebuilding a broken nation. Nonetheless, family shops crop up in Baghdad and Basra.
-The government begins pumping as much money (see: very little at this point) into the education system as possible. This funding focuses mainly on the creation of technically-skilled workers and college grads.
-Roads are paved to connect Baghdad to Kuwait City. Originally, rails were planned, but the international rail for Jordan/Mesopotamia received more funding, and thus asphalt/concrete was the only option. Nonetheless, the much more wealthy Kuwait City allows for workers to travel to-and-from the rural areas to work much easier.
-In order to ease the growing domestic tensions, a “Unity Week” takes place in Baghdad. This small celebration focuses on Islamic heritage as a whole, and denounces more “foreign” ideals such as socialism to be an affront to proper Islamic society. Sunnis and Shias celebrate the week on opposite sides of the fairgrounds, of course, and tensions are still high. However, no violence or even demonstrations are seen during the celebrations, and the government considers that a success.
-Hydroelectric projects, funded by Persian aristocrats, begin cropping up in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. These dams create a boost in energy production, and allow cities like Baghdad to breathe easy at night as brown/blackouts are much less common.
-In order to stand up to the region as a military powerhouse, the Mesopotamian army begins reverse-engineering the Soviet IS-2 Heavy Tank. These tanks, seen most commonly in the Eastern Front during WW2 are a menace to smaller armored vehicles, but are largely outmatched by the newly designed M60 Patton of the US.
-Nonetheless, these growing numbers of heavy tanks in the Mesopotamian arsenal are a sight to behold, and are much more terrifying than the T-34 surplus that the Iraqi government used in the revolution.
OvB - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Very Rich
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Sustained)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-Diplomats are sent to the Southern Arab Democratic Republic, mainly Bahrain, Qatar and the Emirates, to see if they would be willing to join the Saudis in return for semi-autonomy and a larger access to Saudi economic capabilities. These offers are begrudgingly accepted, as the various leaders would rather have independence, but the idea of fresh oil money is too much to turn down.
-Saudi Arabia pressures the Canadians to further exports of Uranium. With the encroachment of Persia on Saudi Arabia’s economy, the Canadians send more samples of the material in hopes of securing a Saudi monopoly on oil exports to the west.
-The Saudi-Arabian Space Agency is born, with a small rocket launching facility beginning construction near Jeddah and Ranyah. The facilities are extremely expensive and will take months to complete, but the assistance of American personnel with the project allow it to continue.
-The Saudis continue to pump their oil, but a bit faster considering that the Persians have thrown off the yolk of Anglo-Persian.
-Looking to the Soviet styled S-75 ‘Dvina’, the Saudi military, with help from students at the Grand University, construct a Surface-To-Air Missile (SAM) dubbed the ‘L-1 Umar’. This radio-controlled rocket is unable to hit high or fast flying targets, but could be hell on earth to unsuspecting enemy pilots.
-Aerospace physicists from the University begin researching ideas for orbital mechanics. Simply put, the Saudis are attempting to mimic the Soviet Sputnik satellite for the advancement of the Saudi space program.
Jin - Republic of Israel
Government - Unitary Parliamentary Republic
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Hated By Arab World
Economic Situation - Rich
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Experienced, average quality
Corruption - Moderate
-Israeli aircraft breach the No-Fly-Zone within hours and begin to strike key Egyptian positions, ultimately throwing the defense off balance. Israeli infantry and armor quickly sweep through Gaza and into the Sinai Peninsula, where the Egyptian military sets up hasty defenses at the Suez canal.
-Artillery bombardments are continuous, and the resolve of the relatively untrained Egyptian military is shattered in some areas, allowing for the Israelis to breach through with relative ease.
-Both sides dig in as the fight pushes closer to the Suez. It appears that the Israelis are wanting to drag the Egyptians in for a truce, though they refuse.
-Initial casualties are minimal for the Israelis, while Egyptian armor and air losses are abysmal. The fighting may take some time to cease, however, as the Egyptians have found a second wind and are prepared to fight as long as it takes.
-American equipment is purchased in bulk, not only to strengthen ties with the US, but to also secure a large amount of surplus and working equipment for the war effort. This includes a small purchase of American helicopters, which prove to be deadly when doing strafing runs across Egyptian defensive lines.
-With relations continuing to warm up in the north, the Israelis officially announce Lebanon as a close friend of the Jewish state, and hope for the ties between the two nations to become stronger.
-Palestinians are given full Israeli citizenship, and treated as equals amongst other Israeli citizens. This outrages conservatives, who regularly engage in guerilla street fights to incite violence, but are quickly put down by military police.
-Anti-Egyptian propaganda is spread amongst the palestinian communities under Israeli control. These leaflets denounce the Cairo government, and push for the return of Palestinians to the “Holy Land”.
-Much of the nation is too focused on the war to become upset at the influx of Palestinians, so hostilities between Jewish settlers and Palestinian natives is nullified for a short period.
-While the war rages on, few fit workers are available for projects involving infrastructure or construction. This is where the Palestinians come in. As most Israeli nationals are busy fighting Egypt, many of the Palestinian unemployed are levied to begin working around the country.
-Secular curriculums take place, and many qualified Palestinian teachers are hired to assist in the education of young Israelis. This brings a tear to many pacifist’s eyes, as Israeli and Palestinian children are no longer subjected to constant fearmongering about one another, and can instead enjoy the grueling schoolwork as companions.
-Looking to the growing Persian and Lebanese economies, the Israeli government pushes for foreign investment into the country. Of course, the only companies willing to stake a claim in Israel are weapons manufacturers, due to the conflict with Egypt. Nonetheless, companies like Colt, H&K and Birmingham flock to Tel Aviv to show off their stuff and get a better contract than their rivals.
-An early design for ‘reactive armor’ is tested. This is a small layer of explosive packets that lay on the outside of a tank, and detonate when hit with a sudden impact. The explosives are shaped to send force outwards, and lessen or even negate the impact of missiles, guns or rockets. This armor is hideously expensive and difficult to manufacture, but is nonetheless a huge advancement for the Israeli military.
Malos - Kingdom of Jordan
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Moderately Strong
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Relatively experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-After some time and negotiating with the US government, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is officially recognized as a NATO member in the Middle-East. This comes as a shock to the socialist-minded Palestinians who live in the nation, and only angers the Soviets even more.
-The railway between Amman and Baghdad is greenlighted, and much of the work on the Jordanian side is nearly complete, as the Jordanians have a more capable access to wealth and materials.
-Technology companies and students are shuffled between Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Mesopotamia on a “Tech Sharing” expedition. This small trading of knowledge allows for the three monarchies to share their information freely with one another, and further the advancements of warm relations.
-The Jordanian military, now a part of NATO, receives a huge shipment of standardized equipment from West Germany, France and the United Kingdom. This new equipment also comes with American military advisors, who help oversee the Jordanian military’s use and implementation of the weaponry.
-Developments begin cropping up in the West Bank in hopes of stemming the control of the dying PLO, basically forming the nail that will seal the group’s coffin. These projects spring up in a period of months, and many camp-bound Palestinians are relieved to see actual homes being built for them and their families.
-Jordanian technology sectors begin adopting American/Canadian designs for drilling in shale deposits, and the government purchases the equipment en-masse. The initial results are meagre at best, but the possibility of a Jordanian oil industry sparks serious interest in the nation abroad.
-With the issues of the economy being sorted elsewhere, the King and his council immediately set out to stamp out corruption in the Jordanian government. Mimicking the Persian ideas, the Jordanian government sees sweeping reforms with dozens of workers and high-ranking members of parliament removed.
-A huge portion of Jordan’s money is focused on the construction of “Palestinian Projects” (as dubbed by American media) in the West Bank to encourage cessation of hostilities between Palestinians and Jordanians.
-This large industrial focus creates a growing job market, which is mostly swallowed by poor Palestinians who are desperate for work.
-The Jordanian military also attempts to build some of its own military equipment, and begins researching M-14 styled rifles that would be built for high-heat and sandy environments. The first design, created with American help, is dubbed the “X-65”. This compact battle rifle is effective in its early tests, but there are many kinks to work out. Nonetheless, the rifle is up to NATO standards, and may see deployment in the Jordanian military soon enough.
iAmaNewb - Free Officer Corp. of Pakistan
Type - Radical Socialists
Infighting - Minimal
International Opinion - Anti-Government Revolutionary Group
Funding - Meager
Armaments - Captured Supplies
-Representatives are sent to the PRC in order to garner external monetary support and arms. Much of these deals take place behind closed doors, but the occasional word slips out. Regardless, the Pakistani government is powerless to stamp out such an insurrection as they are too focused on recuperating from the conflicts with India.
-Socialists from non-military positions are slowly added into the ranks of the Free-Officer Corp. in hopes of not only bolstering its size but also creating a basing for public support.
-Socialist sympathizers and supporters give the Officer Corp. both monetary assistance and intelligence about Pakistani government operations and whereabouts of officials.
-Mines of both coal and precious metals in the rural areas of northern Pakistan are “captured” (see: bribed) by Free Officer Corp. officials. Much of their goods are exported on the black market, and the FOC are able to make a quick buck off of the “investment”.
-Not only does the FOC get their hands on captured Pakistani equipment, but intelligence reports that members can be seen carrying Chinese copies as well.
Milkdairy - Syrian Arab Republic
Government - Single-Party Republic
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Somewhat Strong
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-In order to cool tensions inside the nation, the Syrian government allows both the Brotherhood Knights from Lebanon and Imams fleeing former Iraq to move into Syria. Proselytization is cracked down on, but both groups understand the government’s stance.
-There is a small attempt at open dialogues between Syria and the US, but most of them take place regarding regional security as opposed to economic or diplomatic discussions.
-A restructuring of the Syrian military commences, focusing mainly on the lower ranks to ensure more cohesion between high-command and squad-level commands.
-Military industry pops up outside of Damascus and Aleppo, with the government pumping serious cash into the creation of domestically produced armaments and equipment for the Syrian military. This comes with a push for independence from Soviet arms purchases, and instead creates a (albeit small) local economy.
-Military positions are now earned on merit, and high-ranking officials who were appointed due to loyalty are removed from office immediately. This causes a rift between the various Ba’thist party members in Syria.
-The Syrian military attempts to copy more western style forms of combat, mainly the use of combined arms and air-support. The move to change the military structure causes a huge dropout rate in military academies, but improves the general quality of the troops after graduation.
-With a new set of military officials and cabinet members, the Syrian regime is shifted from Ba’thist influence to to the Syrian National Unity Party. This party focuses on “Syria First”, and states that it will try as little as possible to become involved with the affairs of other nations, and instead will focus on domestic changes.
-The Syrian National Unity Party begins single-party elections within months of reshuffling the cabinet, though the public is unsettled by the pseudo democracy
-Ba’athist hardliners are suddenly purged or exiled from the country, with many fleeing to the more friendly Egypt, even though the conflict with Israel still rages on. Relations between Egypt and Syria are soured permanently.
-National work projects take place in the poorer districts of Syria, with the government levying thousands of unemployed citizens to work construction of residential or industrial buildings. This small boost to the job industry creates small growth economically, and encourages Syrian entrepreneurs to set up shops at home or abroad.
-The Syrian government pushes for the construction of petroleum facilities in northeastern Syria. Small fields crop up with government assistance, and the Syrians begin to pump oil freely after a short period of time. Their exports are meagre compared to their hulking neighbors, but they are nonetheless able to help grow the Syrian economy.
-More efficient ways to drill are introduced to these fields, mainly from copying both Saudi and Persian designs of drilling and pumping of crude. Nonetheless, these ideas are implemented the instant they arrive, and production is sped up considerably.
-Car engines, like those seen in Persia, are also purchased en masse and immediately stripped apart to see how they tick. With engineering students from Damascus’ help, the Syrian auto industry begins its first run of fuel-efficient engines. Though nowhere as good as their Persian and especially American counterparts, these engines are not the gas-chugging hogs that are seen, and prove to be more bang for an individual’s buck.
==Turn 7: January to April 1967==
Post link: http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1457462&p=47653536&viewfull=1#post47653536
Regional Events:
-The Southern Arab Democratic Republic officially breaks apart into the Republic of Sana’a, the Republic of Aden and the Kingdom of Oman. The infighting between the rebels ceases as the three countries now begin rebuilding.
-The price of oil, controlled by OPEC (Saudi Arabia, Persia, Mesopotamia) is set to $3.00 a barrel ($21 in 2015).
-The war in Egypt continues, as the United Nations is alerted to the Egyptian’s posessions of chemical weapons, confirming the Israeli claims of ‘Egypt Struck First’. With this information, members of the UN begin putting sanctions on Egypt.
-A coup erupts into all-out civil conflict in Pakistan, as the Free Officer Corp clashes with government loyalists.
Player Events:
Griffster26 - Republic of Afghanistan
Government - Centralist Republic
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Weak (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Degrading)
Military Situation - Inexperienced, some modern supplies
Corruption - Severe
-With the lack of progress internally, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan is slowly dissolved, its members either splintering away or forming non-socialist coalitions.
-Members of NATO convene on the situation and allow for the slow process of building a friendship between the organization and Afghanistan.
-Afghanistan is officially declared a secular state, which pleases the tiny, tiny minority of non-Sunnis that live in the country.
-A tribal bureau is formed, which regularly moves Tajik and Uzbek tribesmen off of their land and forces them to move into cities. Agents of the bureau mysteriously disappear when on assignment from time to time.
-Tribal leaders are also no longer exempt from taxes. This puts many families in debt, who are unable to afford the payments as they use a bartering lifestyle. These indebted families are forced to move into the cities to try and start a new life, fracturing the manual labor job market.
-Polygamy is outright banned, which infuriates many of the traditionalists in the country. Tribal groups are regularly seen digging potholes in roads, slashing fuel lines for parked cars and generally causing chaos for the city-dwelling population
-Tensions begin to rise between the urban and rural people of Afghanistan, as each views the other as immoral and undeveloped.
-A literacy program is enforced, which requires that all children learn the alphabet by age 10. However, with the lack of teachers available, many Pashtun, Uzbek, Tajik and Turkmen instructors are flown in from the Soviet Union or Pakistan.
-King Mohammad Zahir Shah is confirmed not to have died from a heart attack, but has instead fled to Tehran for unknown reasons. Traditionalists who were happy under the rule of a king plead for his return, while most others just shrug the fact off.
Native Hunter - The Patriarchate of Lebanon
Government - Theocratic Republic
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Positive
Economic Situation - Somewhat Strong
Domestic Situation - Stable
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-With the nearby country of Jordan being accepted into NATO, and Lebanon’s proximity to Turkey, the small country pushes for membership. With the growing tensions in eastern Europe and America’s lack of focus on the Middle-East, NATO accepts Lebanon as a member state.
-Advertisement space is purchased in Italy, southern France and Spain, promoting tourism to Lebanon. These advertisements catch many an eye in Rome and Barcelona, and an influx of Latin tourists begins early in the winter months.
-With the acceptance into NATO, the Lebanese military now turns away from purchasing American equipment, and is quickly filled with weapons and munitions from the United Kingdom and France. This includes aircraft, though the British Short Stirling (a WW2 transport aircraft) comes in place of the much desired American C-130.
-Immediately after receiving aid from NATO, Lebanon switches into war mode. Troops and tanks are ferried down onto the coasts of western Egypt, where the Lebanese expeditionary forces make quick work of the unprepared Egyptian defenders, but are unable to progress due to the lack of a power base in the country.
-Knights are sent to rile up the Christians in Egypt, and inadvertently spark an outright revolt amongst the Coptic population in Minya.
-Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Palestinian building projects are slowly modernized in the hopes of improving their living conditions. The near constant influx of Palestinian refugees makes this project difficult, but some success is seen in terms of the quality of life in these projects.
-Seminary schools are built in parts of southern Lebanon, centered around Beirut. These are considered training centers for the Brotherhood, and are kept just far away enough from tourist centers as not to seem imposing, but still attractive to the curious-minded.
-Foreign membership in the Brotherhood grows as news of Christian “dominance” in Lebanon reaches the more conservative populations of Catholic Europe.
-A large tax break is levied amongst the population, cooling tensions and allowing the poor population to take a breath. This nearly halts some of the nation’s growth economically, as the sector for tourism is what has been keeping Lebanon afloat.
-With that in mind, small resorts crop up along the coast and in the mountains in hopes of attracting tourists away from the bustling urban centers and drawing more attention towards the “Lives of Real Lebanese”. These “rural expeditions” become increasingly attractive to adventurous tourists, who regularly stray from the resorts and mingle with the locals.
-Banks are encouraged to increase the amount of loans that they are able to give out to entrepreneurs and small business owners. Of course, some capitalists twitch at the idea of government meddling in the affairs of banks, but the fact that it is to increase loans and the money given to business owners cools those fears quickly.
-Beirut slowly becomes not only the tourist center of the Middle-East, but a trade center as well. Ships going to or from the Suez Canal regularly stop in the ports of Lebanon to allow the sailors some R&R, which creates a push for the Lebanese government to create larger commercial ports in the area.
-These ports become the “pearl of the Levant”, as tradesmen come and go through these ports, having their goods inspected/moved about, while their crew lives it up in Lebanon.
Deng - Kingdom of Persia
Government - Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Strong (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Improving)
Military Situation - Relatively experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Low (Improving)
-As sports continues to be the only other thing that Persia can do in terms of building international relations, the government in Tehran begrudgingly allows the Soviets to both re-open their embassy and consulates. The Soviets nearly turn down the offer, feeling as if they were betrayed for no apparent reason.
-Currency integration begins with Kurdistan and Mesopotamia, as the Persian Rial is used for wages and purchases of equipment/materials. This upsets Kurdish and Mesopotamian nationalists, who see the act as Persian encroachment on their right to self determination.
-Free trade agreements are opened up between Persia and much of western Europe, as the last bits of Anglo-Persian control are stripped away with a final arms deal between the Persians and the British.
-Persia’s main exports of both oil and manufactured goods head mainly to the United States, Turkey and Britain, as the Shah views them as important allies. However, under the table, some prices are slashed in favor of the Chinese.
-The British are now used as the main foreign advisor for the Persian military. Appalled by the sight of human waves, the British rely mainly on training the individual soldier as opposed to rewriting the nation’s military doctrine and order of battle.
-Nobles and other aristocratic members of the Majlis and the Persian government are given pensions and small severance bonuses if they agree to step down from power. This agreement not only frees up positions for other members of the population, but cuts down on corruption as these aristocrats would rather take the money and run as opposed to facing jail time.
-These ex-members of government are also encouraged to both cease and promote the cessation of cousin and internal-family marriages. The idea of marrying one’s relatives is slowly becoming outright taboo amongst much of the urban and suburban populations, while the Zoroastrian minority keeps their mouths shut.
-International agencies are welcomed into the country to inspect everything from infrastructure to human rights. These agencies find that much of the country is in good shape, and the only concerns fall on the eastern rural half of the nation, which is still difficult to control.
-The Kurdish population in northwestern Persia is given autonomy, much like the region of Khuzestan. With the creation of an autonomous government, an open border policy takes place between Kurdish nationals and Persian Kurds. This not only incites celebrations in the streets, but relations between Kurdistan and Persia are at an all-time high.
-Consumer electronics and light industry is the driving force for Persian economic growth, as Persian-owned businesses begin cropping up across the country. This not only sparks competition internally, but now external investors see that a market is beginning to boom in the Middle-East, causing the creation of thousands of jobs.
-Power stations are a common sight outside of major cities, as the Persian government pumps as much money as it can into the creation of a standardized nationwide infrastructure program. Railways open up in the east, usually cutting tribal lands in two, but nonetheless linking the otherwise separate parts of the country.
-The Tigris International Bank and Trust is formed in Tehran, which invites economic partnership between Kurdistan, Mesopotamia and Persia. This bank is formed with the goal of integrating the three nation’s economies into a proto-EU, allowing for regional trade to shift from oil exports to manufacturing and consumer goods.
-Stock exchanges and investment facilities are set up in major cities to encourage both domestic and foreign investment in the Persian economy. This in turn continues to fan the flames of competition, and the already wealthy capitalists in the country rake it in big time.
-‘Recombinant DNA’, or molecules formed by genetic recombination by human interference, is discovered in the University of Tehran. Though still in a theoretic stage, the idea of modifying genes and creating completely new organisms entices the growth of scientific inquiry, while simultaneously causing some religious conservatives to have a stroke.
-With the growth of the consumer electronics industry booming, a Persian electronics company known as Darius Dynamics creates the first Persian color television. These TVs are large, clunky, and fairly expensive, but absolutely fly off the shelves when they become commercially available.
Emperor Scorpious II - Sultanate of Mesopotamia
Government - Theocratic Monarchy
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Stable (Improving)
Domestic Situation - Upset (Improving)
Military Situation - Experienced, exhausted, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-With the war raging in Egypt, Mesopotamia declares itself neutral, but denounces Israel’s use of Palestinians as “nothing more than labor”.
-To keep up appearances, the Sultanate expels all members of the Knights from its soil, and forces them to return home, stating that their “sudden and unprovoked mission to proselytize is unacceptable”.
-Mesopotamia is uneasy with the growing friendship between Persia and China, but keeps its mouth shut due to the availability of Persian cash.
-Mesopotamia opens up its borders economically to its neighbors, inviting any and all companies from the region to set up shop and begin creating jobs in the country. However, fierce competition between Saudi and Persian companies usually ends in sabotage or smear campaigns, which inadvertently net the local population in the squabbles.
-Oil refineries and exploration groups are granted more land, and tax breaks are levied on Mesopotamian citizens who control the black gold or are willing to set up tankers for reserves. This in turn allows for the growth of a local oil industry, though much of the nation still relies on outside help.
-Using the influx of oil money, the Mesopotamian government begins expanding the now repaired infrastructure system of the country, mimicking the Persian design of paved highways that link otherwise unconnected parts of the nation.
-A “Zakat” tax is levied upon non-muslims in the country. This tax takes 2-3% off of non-muslim wages and incomes, and the money is quickly redistributed towards the construction of hospitals and welfare centers. This infuriates the small minority of Christians and Jews in the country, but they can’t get too mad over where the money is being spent.
-A huge program is set up nationwide to ensure literacy amongst the rural populations. It quickly becomes a law that children must attend government-sanctioned schools. This upsets the more tribal groups, but much like the non-muslims, can’t get angry at the idea of furthering education.
-Purchasing leftover supplies from Jordan, the Mesopotamian military begins a rejuvenation of its armaments and equipment, ranging everywhere from small arms to artillery pieces. Alongside these purchases, Mesopotamian military facilities begin cranking out hodge-podge copies of the American M28 Pershing Heavy Tank in order to create a large armored corp. for the country.
-Mesopotamia boasts one of the largest tank divisions in the region, as the Ayatollah Khomeini personally sees the 900th Mesopotamian tank roll off of the line.
-A huge military college is constructed outside of Baghdad, known as the Twin Rivers University, does not only train local forces but is set to begin war-games and joint training operations with Mesopotamia’s allies (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Persia).
-American and European advisors are encouraged to visit the facility, but most turn down the offer for unstated reasons.
-With the growing automobile industry in both Mesopotamia and Persia, a small company known as Baghdad Motors creates a massive, extremely powerful engine that is fairly fuel efficient, dubbed the ‘Euphrates 1’. This engine is gigantic, but is extremely effective when used for powering tanks or large industrial machinery.
-The Mesopotamian military looks to an unlikely set of documents for expanding its horizons militarily: the German operation ‘Fall Weiß’, or the German invasion of Poland in 1939. The Mesopotamian Tank Corp. looks to the massed assaults and “lightning war” tactics of the Germans, and many fear that the Mesopotamians may be willing to ‘put them to use’.
OvB - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Very Rich
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Sustained)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-The Saudis reel in the support of the Syrians in creating a massive regional alliance, which has grown to include Jordan and Mesopotamia.
-Much like Mesopotamia, Saudi Arabia opens up its borders to allow for economic unity between the alliance nations. However, many businesses that attempt to set up shop in Saudi Arabia are swallowed up by the sheer size of the local businesses.
-Saudi officers are sent to the Twin Rivers University in hopes of strengthening the bonds between Saudi and Mesopotamian military leaders.
-Diplomatic missions are sent to the remnants of the SADR in hopes of bringing them into the Saudi fold, much like Qatar or the UAE, but the Saudi diplomats are thrown out hastily.
-Saudi military personnel now line the borders with the former members of the SADR, and the nations now square off in the world’s most high-stakes staring contest.
-A massive oil tank ‘farm’ is constructed north of Jeddah, which eventually contains a mouthwatering 85 billion barrels. This oil is regularly taken out of its holding pens and distributed around the world, but the sheer size makes importing nation’s stomachs rumble.
-A simple nuclear power plant is constructed in Qatar, copying American designs. Using uranium purchased from Canada, the Saudi government attempts to create a stable source of renewable energy for the country, and hopes to cut down entirely on coal/oil burning for the nation’s domestic power supplies.
-A Saudi rocket is launched out of Ranyah, and reaches Low Earth Orbit successfully. The SASA rejoices at the triumph, and the American space agency of NASA looks to making deals with the Saudis for a joint research operation.
-The growing focus on space flight and rocketry gives the Saudis the bright idea to rip off the Soviets. After a few behind-the-scenes deals are made, the SASA purchases basic communications arrays for satellites, and send up a second rocket carrying a tiny sputnik-esque satellite dubbed ‘Omar’.
-Omar now orbits the earth, giving off pings every hour to alert the Saudis and the world that Arabia is once again the home of technological ingenuity.
Jin - Republic of Israel
Government - Unitary Parliamentary Republic
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Hated By Arab World
Economic Situation - Rich
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Experienced, average quality
Corruption - Moderate
-With the Gaza Strip firmly under Israeli control, the Israeli government sets up a military provisional government in the region. This infuriates the Palestinians in the area, who are more inclined to stay with Egypt rather than the conquering forces of Israel.
-Israeli soldiers storm Port Said and Damietta, using the cover of darkness to shroud their advances via the sea, completely catching the Egyptian defenders off guard.
-In the early morning in mid-April, the Israelis advance on the city of Suez itself. Heavy street fighting ensues, and losses are high for both sides as the elite Israeli infantry goes face to face with diehard, unmoving patriotic Egyptians.
-Huge fighting begins in and around the Suez canal as the Egyptians are forced to retreat to Ismaila. This fighting disrupts trade, and the Egyptian military scuttles ships in port in order to both cut off Israeli advances and show the world that the Israelis are what’s stopping their trade.
-International observers begin biting their nails as businesses that are heavily reliant on the Suez canal face serious delays.
-Palestinians are given the right to enlist in the military, though few take up the cause as they feel their jobs at home are more important. This causes a divide amongst patriotic Israelis and hardworking Palestinians, but not one that would cause major issues.
-The Israeli economy becomes increasingly dependent on Palestinian labor as much of the working population is currently mobilized in the fight against Egypt.
-As the fight continues to go in the favor of Israel, European and American arms manufacturers begin making deals with the Israeli military, and factories for both Colt and Heckler & Koch are constructed in Tel Aviv.
-The ‘reactive armor’ experiments continue, and a much more compact version is created and tested against the Egyptians. These packets are able to reduce the incoming blast and impact from anti-tank weaponry, but are unable to hold up when Israeli and Egyptian tanks go face to face. Nonetheless, the inclusion of this new armor saves the lives of countless Israeli tankmen.
-The anti-missile system, originally considered shelved by the Israelis, suddenly reappears on the eastern Suez. It is repurposed to strike air targets, and repeatedly brings down Egyptian aircraft that stray too far over the Israeli lines.
-The growing Israeli war machine scares many of its neighbors, and some fear outside involvement in the war will only serve to shatter relationships in the region.
Malos - Kingdom of Jordan
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Moderately Strong
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Relatively experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-The open market agreement with Mesopotamia and Saudi Arabia is accepted happily in Jordan, as the three nations continue to trade with one another, strengthening both their ties and their economies.
-Equipment no longer being used by the Jordanian military is sent to Mesopotamia in hopes of bolstering their ally’s military. Some NATO equipment is sent as well, but the Jordanians feel that said equipment is better off in their own hands.
-Early forms of bullet-proof materials are shipped in from the United States, and see adoption amongst elite units of the Jordanian Military and higher-ups in Government.
-The Jordanian ‘X-65’ is tweaked to survive a dry, sandy environment, and is officially adopted as the ‘J-65’. This rifle is chambered in the American 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge, and is proven to be effective in various training missions and torture tests.
-The J-65 is quickly adopted and distributed en-masse to the Jordanian military.
-The Jordanians take note of developments in Mesopotamia, and quickly begin making adjustments to the M48 tanks that they have recently come in contact with and purchased from the United States. These adjustments include mass production and reduction in both size and fuel requirements.
-Developments and constructions continue in the West Bank, as Palestinian refugees from Egypt make their way into Jordan. These projects are quickly overpopulated, and crime is rampant in the suburbs of these small towns.
-The Jordanian Oil Industry, propped up by Mesopotamian and Saudi Arabian advisors, begins to grow. Small refineries appear in the northern part of the country, and purchases of Jordanian oil helps support the nation’s economy.
-Anti-Corruption reforms continue, as the Jordanian government begins cracking down on purchased positions in the military, part of an ongoing project to bring the country up to par with its NATO counterparts.
-Military industry is focused in the West Bank, with much of the tank and armament construction taking place in Palestinian neighborhoods. This creates a bit of a job rush, and those that are hired enjoy the perks of a stable income, while their neighbors envy them.
-Wages are increased for special forces and air-force members of the Jordanian Military. These sectors are small, and quickly become lucrative positions and are now a goal for many recruits in the Jordanian military.
iAmaNewb - Free Officer Corp. of Pakistan
Type - Radical Socialists
Infighting - Minimal
International Opinion - Revolutionary Rebel Group
Funding - Meager
Armaments - Captured Supplies and Imports
-Late one night in early March, a series of bombs go off in Islamabad near various government buildings. Immediately thereafter, members of the Free Officer Corp. storm the parliament, killing dozens of government members. However, major government leaders are able to escape, and the attackers are repelled by guards.
-Members of the military are suddenly enveloped in infighting, as both Free Officer leaders and civilians are up in arms against the Pakistani government.
-The Pakistani government is expected to collapse soon, as the rebels quickly seize Pakistani mines and natural gas fields, and support for the government wanes.
-Chinese weapons are spotted in the hands of armed civilians, and Chinese-built rocket launchers make mincemeat out of the few Government tanks.
-Huge amounts of money from unknown sources flood into the coffers of the rebels, and international eyes turn away from the issues in Pakistan and instead focus on Egypt.
-The fighting is quick and brutal, but few think that the Rebels have a chance of being stopped.
Milkdairy - Syrian Arab Republic
Government - Democratic Republic
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Somewhat Strong
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-Taking after their allies, Mesopotamia, the Syrians outright ban the presence of the Lebanese Knights in Syria, and their members are expelled.
-Palestinian refugees in the Golan Heights are refused emigration, as a propaganda campaign denouncing the Israeli fight against Egypt begins.
-The Syrian military begins complete renovation, looking at American tactics in Vietnam and Korea, and push for the standardization of arms and training within the various contingents of the Syrian army.
-The Syrian government regularly gives out tuition benefits to servicemembers, which generates a scramble for joining up. This not only grows the military’s ranks, but also dilutes the average experience of the troops.
-Officers that are commissioned are quickly carted off to the Twin Rivers university to become absorbed in newer and more effective tactics.
-New doctrines are experimented with, including the adoption of “shock and awe”, or rapid, repeated air/artillery/armored strikes on a single area in order to disrupt enemy positions and destroy them entirely.
-The Syrian government pushes for increased funding in the military, in order to both grow its effectiveness and improve the general conditions for soldiers serving the nation.
-After the effective removal of the Ba'athists, the Syrian government quickly begins the groundwork for public elections to succeed the prime minister.
-However, these elections are considered fairly restrictive, as the Baath, SNP, and SCP are banned from taking part. The removal of the far right/left groups leaves little choices for the public, but is nonetheless considered a step forward for the country’s push for democracy.
-Syrian universities are funded directly by the government, and encouraged to begin studies on Western ideologies, technologies and government in order to modernize the nation. Grants are regularly handed out to student groups that are able to make such changes.
-These universities are regularly meddled with by the government, and teachers/instructors are mainly put in place by government as opposed to the choice of the university.
-The Syrian government pushes for the creation of a news network “for the region”. A company centered in Damascus, known simply as ‘Damascus LTD’, takes up the helm, and begins hiring experienced cameramen and reporters for covering the developments in the region.
-Damascus LTD reporters are regularly seen in the Israeli/Egyptian conflict, giving raw reports on the fighting. These reports regularly trickle into Europe, and are distributed amongst the papers in much of the Western nations.
-With the growing economic alliance between Mesopotamia, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, the Syrian government takes part in these agreements, allowing for regional businesses to set up shop in Syria. The growing capitalist movement in the region is a stark contrast to the socialist governments of only a few years ago.
-Syrian car engines are exported en-masse to countries in Africa and Asia, as the price hike threatens non-western Automobile industries. This in turn creates a huge amount of revenue for the Syrian auto-manufacturing sector, and these developments are heavily appreciated.
-A huge ordnance factory is built in northern Syria, in hopes of creating domestically-built supplies for the Syrian military. The factory, however, makes a major development in small arms: a brand new cartridge.
-The 6.5x39mm “Homs” is designed in the new factory. It is lightweight, much like the American 5.56, but has much more range capabilities. Its immediate muzzle velocity is unmatched by its competitors and is deadly effective in close-to-mid range combat.
-The Syrian military pushes for the adoption of this cartridge, and a Syrian by the name of Abu Abd al-Karim designs a weapon for its adoption, dubbed the ‘AA-67’. This rifle, completely experimental and untested, resembles a bastardization of the American M-16 and the Russian AK-47. Its specifications are not publicly available, but arms manufacturers in the region are eager to get their hands on a contract to build it.
==Turn 8: May to August 1967==
Post link: http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1457462&p=47696726&viewfull=1#post47696726
Regional Events:
-The war in Egypt ends as Cairo submits to Israeli demands, and cedes both the Sinai Peninsula and the creation of the Republic of the Suez.
-International eyes shift towards the growing competition between the Arabian Quadripartite Coalition, the Eastern Mediterranean Trade Organization and the Tigris Economic Union.
-War breaks out between the Republic of Pashtunistan and the newly founded People’s Republic of Pakistan.
Player Events:
Griffster26 - Republic of Pashtunistan
Government - Centralist Republic
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Weak
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Degrading)
Military Situation - Inexperienced, some modern supplies
Corruption - Severe
-With yet another name change in place, the government of Pashtunistan declares war on neighboring Pakistan, using the casus belli of local Pashtuns in the region in a “Ethnic protection mission”, with the intention of annexing the ethnically Pashtun regions of Pakistan.
-The initial combat is brutal, as the recently re-structured Pakistani army makes quick work of the inexperienced Pashtunistani troops. However, within a few weeks, the sheer number of Pashtunistani soldiers that spill over the border force the Pakistanis into retreat.
-Pashtunistan, in order to support the war effort, joins the Tigris Economic Union. Integration into such a deal is a slow process, but the Pashtunistan government is willing to take the steps required.
-The name change upsets the local Tajiks and Uzbeks, who simply remain quiet as they fear being tossed into the meatgrinder of the newly dubbed ‘Indus River War’
-The sudden invasion of a friend infuriates the People’s Republic of China, who threaten cessation of trade with the Tigris Economic Union’s partners if the war is not ended as soon as possible.
Native Hunter - The Patriarchate of Lebanon
Government - Theocratic Republic
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Positive
Economic Situation - Somewhat Strong
Domestic Situation - Stable
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-In a deal with their southern neighbors, the Patriarchate of Lebanon alongside the Republic of Israel form the Eastern Mediterranean Trade Organization (EMTO), with the goals of securing free trade and economic cooperation within the Levant and the surrounding sea.
-Turkey, Libya and Cyprus are invited to the Organization, with invitations extending as far as Italy and Greece. However, with the general aversion towards Israel and the usual focus on European affairs, Libya, Greece and Italy turn down the invitations..
-Nonetheless, the growing relationship between Cyprus and Lebanon secures a membership in EMTO, while Turkey is happy to be seen as an economic partner, and joins in order to “support a local NATO member”
-EMTO includes a common currency, known as the Shekel. The Shekel’s initial value is quite low, and common people have yet to adopt using it in the economic sense.
-To support the war effort in the south and secure its place in NATO, Lebanon continues to purchase weapons of war and military vehicles from the United Kingdom and France.
-The growing Lebanese Defense Force sees a rapid expansion of deployments in Egypt alongside a bolstering of defenses along the northern border.
-Lebanese aircraft begin harassing the exhausted Egyptian military as ground forces make a push for Alexandria. However, these assaults prove to be unnecessary as the Egyptians are in the process of rolling over for the Israelis.
-Lebanese officials and members of the Brotherhood flock to assist in the administration of the newly formed Republic of the Suez.
-Vineyards and greenhouses begin cropping up (no pun intended) in the more rural areas of Lebanon. Irrigation ditches are dug ‘round the country, and these green houses begin producing meagre yields of spices and coffee.
-Welfare programs continue to develop in the southern parts of Lebanon, which have been dubbed the “Palestinian District”. An increasing number of Knights and Brotherhood-related outposts are seen in this region.
-With the huge tourism industry in Lebanon, economically minded members of the government and film-eagre directors coalesce to form “Lollywood”. Taking inspiration from the American film industry giant, Lebanon now holds the “Filmset of the East”, with directors such as Ray Harryhausen and Ishiro Honda flocking to the cheap and ready sets and shooting locations.
-Saint Luke’s Medical and Anatomical University is constructed in Beirut, mimicking the Grand University of Riyadh. Saint Luke’s is set up with the intention of including international doctors and researchers who wish to expand their knowledge on the subject of medicine, and increase the quality of living for not only Lebanese citizens, but those around the world.
-Coastal cities are erected with government money, usually being filled with less-than-kosher facilities such as gambling centers and gentlemen’s clubs. However, these “Club Towns”, as they are dubbed, are a major attraction for sailors of all kinds, who are now usually exhausted from having to sail around Africa rather than go straight through the Suez canal, end up in these cities and spend craploads of cash.
-Factories begin construction in the Palestinian District, as the Lebanese government takes hold of the idea of cheap and inexpensive manual labor, which frees up Lebanese nationals to have an opportunity for less “undesirable” jobs.
-With the growing fear of diabetes amongst the more wealthy population, researchers at the still-under-construction St. Luke’s discover a way to cut the size of Arnold Kadish’s insulin pump into a more “usable and portable” size. Roughly the size and shape of a shoebox, this new insulin pump works wonders for those who suffer from diabetes or require emergency insulin treatment.
-Mimicking discoveries of recombinant DNA tech from Persia, Lebanese researchers begin fiddling with the genes and chromosomes of coffee plants in order to make them grow not only faster, but bigger too. Early modifications show meagre results, but are considered a major step forward.
Deng - Kingdom of Persia
Government - Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Very Strong (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Stable
Military Situation - Relatively experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Low
-The Persian government begins integrating various sports events and competitions into diplomatic deals, with table tennis, wrestling and gymnastics matches usually coinciding with the arrivals of foreign diplomats.
-Persia begins cutting down on the number of oil exports to the People’s Republic of China, citing “internal issues” and “economic restraints” as the reasoning. This only further pushes China into frowny-face mode.
-The Tigris Economic Union is officially founded, with Kurdistan and Mesopotamia being the first to join, as their integration into the Persian Economy was already significant. The Republic of Pashtunistan weasels its way into joining the Union as well, though the ongoing war in Pakistan makes some raise their eyebrows.
-Turkey is invited to join the TEU, but their desire to make friends with NATO members and the openness of the Levant essentially forces Turkey to side with the EMTO.
-A professional ‘peacekeeping’ force is established, dubbed the “Persian Safety Division”, with the intention of kicking ass and taking names and shooting people in the face, all in the name of safety.
-The Persian military continues to undergo reforms, trying to keep up with the growing and ever-changing standards of NATO states such as the United Kingdom and the United States.
-The sweeping corruption reforms in Persia outright crush the issue in the Federal government, and make it extremely difficult for one to weasel their way up to the top. However, ethnic governments such as the Autonomous Kurdish Region and the Autonomous Azeri Region still have their own issues with corruption, as federal regulation is usually skirted over in meetings.
-Domestic reforms, including the creation of an American-styled “Tehran Information Act”, which requires that all governments make paperwork publically available, continue to develop in the nation. The TIA inadvertently creates a massive spike in bureaucratic monotony as government workers must set aside time to hand-make copies and organize millions of individual documents.
-Restrictions on freedom of speech are lessened, which sees a boom in criticism of the government, stemming mainly from hardcore conservatives or hardcore communists. However, these messages are seen for what they really are, and are ignored by the general population.
-A growing push for integration between Persian Kurdistan and Kurdistan Proper continues, with the two nations being tied together by both diplomatic niceties and economic partnership. Persian Arabs see the same treatment as Persian Kurds, and are now much less likely to get uppity with federal reforms.
-Mimicking the mimicry in Lebanon, Persian researchers stumble upon the creation of transgenic organisms, or genetically modified plants/animals that are tampered with by humans. The first result is creating a “Persian Honeyapple”, which is not only very sweet, but has a crunchy texture as opposed to the usual softness of Western sweet apples. Persian farmers scramble to get their hands on Honeyapple seeds, as the economic possibilities are endless.
-At the University of Tehran, electronic engineering students from Japan, West Germany, Canada, Persia and the United States create something known as the “LKR-67”. The LKR-67 is a fist-sized component for computers, known as a microprocessor. Though not as small as the name implies, the LKR-67 is a gigantic leap forward in the micronization of electronics.
-The sudden invasion of a friend infuriates the People’s Republic of China, who threaten cessation of trade with the Tigris Economic Union’s partners if the war is not ended as soon as possible.
Emperor Scorpious II - Sultanate of Mesopotamia
Government - Theocratic Monarchy
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Stable (Improving)
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Improving)
Military Situation - Experienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-Asylum is offered to the former Afghan king Mohammad Zahir Shah and former Pakistani officials, who set up residence in Baghdad. As Mesopotamia continues to feed its interests overseas, old military equipment is shipped under cover of darkness to counter-revolutionaries in Pakistan. However, these arms are seized by the People’s Army, and used in the fight against Pashtunistan.
-Citing the Quran, the usually silent Khomeini joins the Mesopotamian government in a push against corruption. This sees not only mimicry of the Persian reforms, but implementation of localized punishments.
-Corrupt city officials are sometimes beheaded, though not at the behest of the federal government. This creates a rift between local leaders and government officials, as there is little to be done with extreme punishments on a small local level.
-Nonetheless, government officials seen as “overly corrupt and malevolent influences on Mesopotamia” are charged and imprisoned for life, with little to no possibility for parole. However, those that confess to their crimes are fined massive sums of money and either placed under permanent house arrest or outright exiled from the country.
-This massive crackdown on corruption sees a flight of officials who fear their heads are next on the chopping block, in some cases literally.
-Railways are constructed to not only link Baghdad and Amman, but to now connect to Damascus. These rails allow for speedy transportation of goods and military personnel, if need be.
-The Mesopotamian ‘Euphrates 1’ superheavy engine is exported to capitalist governments around the world, and is eagerly adopted by the growing industry in West Germany and the United Kingdom.
-The Mesopotamian government begins deals with the Syrians, in order to adopt the 6.5x39mm Homs cartridge and the AA-67 rifle. This also comes with the exportation of Mesopotamian heavy tanks to the Syrian government.
-Mimicking the Syrian government’s decision, Mesopotamia begins doling out significant benefits to servicemen who decide to stay longer than their required conscription, or those who sign up to attend Twin Rivers.
-War games are conducted on the Syrian-Lebanese border, with officers from the Twin Rivers University taking part in the exercises. Mesopotamian and Syrian tanks are seen regularly staring across the border into Lebanon.
-The Mesopotamian government signs up with the Persian deal to join the Tigris Economic Union, and the two nations quickly begin trading in their own goods (Mesopotamia exporting weapons and armor, whilst importing Persian electronics and automobiles).
-With the help of Saudi petroleum engineers, the Mesopotamian oil industry begins the creation of ‘unleaded’ fuels, or fuels that do not require lead or other toxic additives to keep it from spoiling. These fuels are fairly expensive, and not easily produced either, but international stomachs rumble at the thought of more efficient fuel for a lighter price.
-Taking a page from the Persians, the Mesopotamian military adopts more modernized techniques of military logistics and rapid deployment. However, much of the Mesopotamian army is built for guerilla and shock-tactic campaigns, which makes most renovations to the logistic systems nill, but nonetheless it is a welcomed alternative to logistical chaos.
OvB - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Very Rich
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Improving)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-Little changes diplomatically as the Saudis continue to consolidate their power in the region and continue to keep the banner of free oil trade flying high.
-The Saudi-Arabian Space Agency is contracted by the Saudi military to begin construction of anti-air defense rocketry systems. These initial anti-air systems, again mimicking the Soviet SAM-Sites, prove to be fairly effective if not a tad expensive.
-With the growing push from the military for the Saudis to adopt rockets, the SASA begin researching micronization of rocketry and missile parts. With smaller bodies with the same amount of thrust, the SASA is also able to send satellites higher and faster, for cheaper too.
-Alongside micronized rocket parts, the SASA designs better and larger satellites that are able to transmit farther and faster than their predecessors. Of course, these satellites are mainly research based, as the Saudi government has yet to find a use in militarized or civilian satellites.
Jin - Republic of Israel
Government - Unitary Parliamentary Republic
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Hated By Arab World
Economic Situation - Rich (Degrading)
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Degrading)
Military Situation - Experienced, exhausted, average quality
Corruption - Moderate
-The Israeli military, in its final hours, makes quick and brutal work of the Egyptian defenders in both the Red Sea and beyond the Suez Canal. However, cables sent to Cairo finally draw the war to a close.
-The Sinai peninsula is ceded to Israel, the Suez canal is declared an independent state, and the Egyptians are forced to not only pay war reparations to Israel, but dismantle their standing army and keep only a peacekeeping force centered in Cairo.
-The Egyptians begrudgingly accept these terms, as both their military and economy are exhausted from the war effort.
-Israeli troops are withdrawn to the newly marked borders, but maintain a presence in the joint Lebanese-Israeli influenced Republic of the Suez, which is quickly netted into the EMTO.
-Israeli military advisors begin poking at NATO military manufacturers, and large numbers of aircraft and armaments are purchased to not only refit the Israeli military, but to bolster the sheer size of it.
-An elite aerial cavalry group, yet unnamed, is formed. This small contingent of highly-skilled pilots and soldiers are grouped together to form a powerful defense force that many in the region watch with keen eyes. This group uses helicopters and infantry, and is built for rapid deployment and shock tactics.
-The borders in the Gaza strip are closed, and dissidents that continue a push for reunification with Egypt sometimes disappear in the middle of the night.
-A huge number of military arms factories crop up in the newly annexed Sinai peninsula, and job-hungry Israelis flock to these “work zones” in hopes of recovering the nation’s economy from the war effort.
-With this influx of factories comes new Israeli settlements, which only disrupts the local Arab populations further, and creates an uneasy rift between settler and local.
-With the inclusion of Israel into the EMTO, coffee shops that sell Lebanese Blend begin popping up in cities like Tel Aviv and Acre. These shops, simply titled ‘Beirut Brew’, are flooded with caffeine starved workers and soldiers from all walks of life.
-The Israeli military learns from their mistakes in Egypt, and begins reformations to revamp the effectiveness of the common soldier in an urban environment. This includes rapid response training and discipline in close quarters, which only improves the combat effectiveness of squads.
-With the newly deployed ‘reactive armor’, a new tank is designed, which is essentially a ripoff of the American T-26 Pershing heavy tank. This hulking beast bristles with the reactive armor, combined with thick plating, and sucks up incoming projectiles from captured Egyptian armaments like nobody’s business. However, the ‘Masada A-1’, as it is dubbed, is extremely expensive, and may not see deployment for years to come.
-These rapid military developments have Arabic military advisors on their toes, and international observers fear that the Israelis may sing right back around and put them to use yet again.
Malos - Kingdom of Jordan
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Moderately Strong
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Relatively experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-After long and monotonous meetings in Amman, the Jordanian government, alongside its allies, forms the Arabian Quadripartite Coalition (AQC). This alliance is built mainly on the ideas of military cooperation, but also with some economic deals.
-The AQC includes Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Mesopotamia and Syria, and is quickly becoming the strongest military force in the region. With the inclusion of Jordan as the leading member of the coalition, diplomats meet in Washington DC, with NATO formally recognizing the AQC as a ‘cooperative branch of NATO’.
-With this in mind, the Jordanian military begins adopting the Syrian body armor, and quickly begins to distribute it amongst its elite units. Though expensive and not as effective as the American experiments going on at the moment, it is nonetheless extremely sought after for the common infantryman.
-The Palestinian suburbs in the west bank are quickly descended upon by Jordanian officials and state police, who hope not only to curb crime but to also benefit the growing population in the region.
-Education centers such as schools and libraries, alongside clinics and banks are set up in the west bank, with the focus of improving daily life for Palestinians. These investments are expensive, but the Jordanians hope for a payoff soon enough.
-Corruption reforms continue, as a huge cadre of government members are exiled to Persia after a ring of high-ranking officials are discovered to be laundering cash in Palestinian businesses.
-Massive welfare programs take place in the west bank, propping up the poor Palestinians, while simultaneously giving the working class a boost to purchase local goods. This process, though expensive like many of the other west bank investments, is nonetheless appreciated by those in need.
-The little oil that Jordan is able to produce is quickly exported alongside the Mesopotamian and Saudi oil lines. With the rising oil prices, Jordan is able to snap up some hefty cash within moments of the oil crossing into the sea.
-With the growing military cooperation continuing, the Jordanians begin adopting the Syrian 6.5x39mm into the J-65 rifle. Though not up to NATO standards, these newly renovated rifles are distributed amongst military elites and guardsmen for government officials. The lack of implementation in the common infantryman’s hands comes from NATO’s growing push for standardization.
-With the dependence on oil growing worldwide at an alarming rate, Jordanian researchers returning from the Grand University in Riyadh come home with new and interesting ideas. The designs of solar panels, windmills and recycling centers are proposed, with the latter being quickly adopted by Jordanian officials.
-Recycling plants pop up in the west bank, and huge amounts of would-be garbage dump items are processed back into raw materials (mainly paper products) to be used again by local factories. Though the output is much smaller than the input, this ‘eco-revolution’ is picked up by liberal movements in the West almost immediately.
iAmaNewb - People’s Republic of Pakistan
Government - Socialist Dictatorship
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Weak
Domestic Situation - Uneasy
Military Situation - Experienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-Celebrations of victory over the local government are put off as the Pashtunistani army rolls into the western border regions of Pakistan.
-The Pakistani military, fresh from the fight, gives its all in the war against Pashtunistan, but is unable to hold out for as long as they expected.
-Fierce trench and guerilla warfare ensures in the mountains and hulls of western Afghanistan, with severe losses for both sides.
-The People’s Republic of China is infuriated with the possibility of losing a military front against India, and floods the Pakistani military with armaments.
Milkdairy - Syrian Arab Republic
Government - Democratic Republic
Alignment - Leaning towards NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Somewhat Strong
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Inexperienced, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-With Jordan not only forming the AQC, but also being a NATO member, the Syrian regime reopens talks with NATO for membership. However, again, these talks don’t come to fruition, but many NATO members are happy to at least accept them as an asset in the mid-east.
-Syria opens its arms to fleeing Egyptian citizens, and happily welcomes artists, TV broadcasters, intellectuals and industrialists who fear reprisals in their home country.
-With the influx of Mesopotamian tanks, the Syrian government finally retires the WW2-era equipment that had since then made up the bulk of their armored regiments. These tanks are sold to Libya for a quick buck or two.
-Wages are bumped up for recruits, and more recruitment spaces go up across the country. The Syrian military sees a massive number of fresh recruits who are quickly put to work in military-wide wargames.
-These wargames focus on urban fighting against a guerilla enemy. Using after-action-reports from both Mesopotamia and the United States, these wargames put a conventional force head-to-head with a hit-and-run styled insurgency.
-The Syrian military grows not only in sheer size, but also effectiveness, as these exercises quickly begin integrating tank, air and combined arms operations.
-Seeing the adoption of the 6.5 Homs cartridge, the Syrian military quickly begins to readjust the AA-67, working out the kinks and issues, and begins deploying it under the title ‘Mk. 67’. The Mk 67 sees spectacular effectiveness in torture tests, and some liken it more to the Soviet AK-47 rather than the American M-16.
-A judicial ‘Central Court’ is formed, taking after the American supreme court system. A large stone and marble building is constructed in Damascus, where 12 qualified judges begin taking part in larger and more controversial court cases and overseeing the creation of laws.
-Damascus Tech, a university focused on aeronautics, chemical and mechanical engineering and agriculture is founded. Though construction is slow, students from around the region are eager to sign up for classes. Of course, the Syrian government keeps a watchful eye for anything useful to come in or out of the doors.
-Palestinian refugees begin making their way into regular citizenship, as the Syrian government takes note of the Lebanese, Israeli and Jordanian actions towards the minority group. In exchange for citizenship, Palestinian refugees are expected to work in Syrian state-owned factories and plants, while simultaneously being relocated to different towns in order to spread their communities about.
-Tax breaks are waved about for Syrian automobile manufacturers who are able to create ‘more efficient and cheaper cars’. With the inclusion of the Euphrates 1, Syrian automakers are tinkering with all sorts of ideas to make a strong engine on a budget.
-The Syrian economy begins conversion into a free and open market, as the government throws open the doors to foreign investment. With the growing international interest in the region, French armament and automobile companies are some of the first to set up shop, warming relations between the otherwise cold former lovers.
-Antitrust laws are enacted in the country, to ensure that outright monopolization of certain sectors is impossible, and instead allows for the growth of healthy competition between varying companies.
-With the trade between Jordan and Syria involving the various body armors, researchers in the Syrian military devise a ‘target steel’ plate insert. This heavy block of shaped metal absorbs the impact from a bullet, and when combined with the kevlar materials is able to take multiple hits from small-arms fire without being compromised.
-Automobile manufacturers racing to get the tax cuts inadvertently spawn the creation of newer, more efficient engines. Taking pages from the Persians and the Mesopotamians, the Syrian designed ‘Model K’ engine is born. This time, this new engine is highly efficient, and is seen as a rival to the American Chevrolet and Ford automobile manufacturers, and American investors hold their breath.
-Nonetheless, these new engines are still experimental and somewhat expensive, but from this point forward are proof that the middle east is once again the powerhouse of the world.
==Turn 9: September to December 1967==
Post link: http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1457462&p=47742751&viewfull=1#post47742751
Regional Events:
-The Indus River War flares up yet again as the People’s Government reneges on the peace treaty with Afghanistan.
-Islamist movements protest in the streets of Egypt and clash with militant Christian groups. The crippled Egyptian military is unable to control the situation, and inadvertently creates a terrifying power vacuum.
-Egyptian riots spill over into outright revolts, as radicals from all three sides (Christians, Secularists and Islamists) set up faux governments and declare themselves the rightful ruler of the bruised nation.
-Israel seizes the Suez republic’s eastern territories, essentially making the nation defunct.
Player Events:
Griffster26 - Republic of Pashtunistan
Government - Centralist Republic
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Weak
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Degrading)
Military Situation - Somewhat experienced, exhausted, some modern supplies
Corruption - Severe (Improving)
-In a vicious turn of events, the would-be peace deal is broken as Pakistani forces attempt to counter-attack the unsuspecting Pashtunistani forces located in the occupied regions.
-Expecting nothing less, the Pashtunistani counterattack is brief and vicious, and most of the Pakistani attacks are repelled. The remaining Pashtunistani military is mobilized and shoved into the north of Pakistan to cut off Chinese support.
-Far off in eastern Pakistan, Pashtunistani intelligence agents rile up the Bangladeshi rebels, who continue their guerrilla campaign against Pakistan.
-With much of the Pashtun members of the military mobilized in Pakistan, the Pashtunistani government creates a multinational brigade known as the Wakhan Defence Brigade, made up of Tajiks and Uzbeks, whose job is to essentially be the home guard of the nation.
-With NATO’s influence growing in the region, the Pashtunistani government becomes hesitant to begin swinging right so quickly, and instead turns to the Soviet Union for diplomatic support. The USSR, pleased with Pashtunistan’s fight against the Chinese-leaning Pakistan, is welcoming to Pashtunistani diplomats.
-With their acceptance into the Tigris Economic Union, Afghan diplomats weasel their way into Persia and Kurdistan in order to strengthen the ties with other members of the economic partnership.
-Statues are erected in the center of Kabul to commemorate and honor the martyrs of the Barakzai dynasty. These large stone statues are regularly visited by conservatives who yearn for the days of old.
-Members of the Khalq faction are arrested in a brutal crackdown on infighting within the government in order to improve the nation’s corruption.
-Elections take place, with much of the city-dwelling population flocking to the voting booths. The socialist Internal Reform Party takes power, and the government quickly begins creating a series of welfare and monetary reforms within the country.
-Lebanese Maronites and their suspected supporters are marched out of Pashtunistan at gunpoint, many of them dying on their way out of the country. This comes as the Pashtunistan government views the influence of a Christian theocracy in the region as something negative, and wishes to make a point.
-Meanwhile, the Pashtunistani government forms KHAD, a secretive government police modeled after the KGB and CIA.
Native Hunter - The Patriarchate of Lebanon
Government - Theocratic Republic
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Positive
Economic Situation - Somewhat Strong (Improving)
Domestic Situation - Stable
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-After a series of talks in Ankara, Lebanon and Turkey hash out a deal known as the ‘Eastern Defensive League’, which puts the 2 nations in a military alliance. Though both states are members of NATO, the alliance eventually puts one another as priority should the situation of danger arise.
-The US is invited to set up a naval base in northern Lebanon, near the small village of Aarida, in order to secure NATO’s foothold in the Mideast. The Americans are slow to take up the opportunity, as spending is increased for the lasting conflict in Vietnam.
-The small island nation of Cyprus begins talks with Lebanon to further create an alliance between the two outside of EMTO. Unfortunately, the talks fall short once annexation/integration is proposed, but the two nations leave the discussions as close friends.
-The Brotherhood opens up a new chapter, known as the ‘League of Catholic Nations in Brotherhood’, where catholic humanitarian workers from around the world are invited to join. The Brotherhood’s sheer presence in the region and good track record attracts thousands of volunteers ready to assist the needy.
-The Lebanese military, with assistance from the Special Air Service, create an elite defensive force known as the Knights of the Patriarchate. This elusive special ops unit is otherwise shrouded in secrecy.
-In the growing Palestinian Sector, the Lebanese government puts its foot down and ensures the enforcement of regulations on factories, including minimum wage and safety regulations. This makes factory owners who just want a quick buck grumble, but the overall security of work in this region improves almost overnight.
-The Lebanese healthcare system slowly begins a transition from privatization to universal care. Unfortunately, this process is extremely expensive, and government-employed healthcare workers are quickly flooded with piles of paperwork.
-The Palestinian sector in Lebanon sees a growth in public and seminary schooling, as these Brotherhood-run schools throw open their doors to knowledge-hungry students.
-However, in a small clothing factory, Palestinian workers go on strike, and protest in the streets. They decry the Lebanese support for Israel in the Suez Conflict, and demand that the Christians ‘give up their stolen seats of power’.
-These protests are met with peaceful counter-protests by members of the Brotherhood, and are dispersed after a few days. However, tensions now begin to grow between the now minority Muslim community.
-Areas of commercial ports are quickly bought up by foreign investors seeking to secure their own waterfront property for their shipments. This creates competition between companies, who then push for Lebanese construction companies to create more room for ships, which floods the Lebanese construction industry with short-term cash.
-Beirut Brew shops quickly begin to crop in cities like Tehran and Baghdad, as the coffee industry begins to grow rapidly with the growth of not only the consumer industry, but a working class as a whole. Beirut Brew is slowly beginning to corner the market on coffee sales in the region.
-The sudden growth of Beirut Brew quickly catches the ear of coffee cultivators in northern Lebanon, who quickly begin receiving benefits from the government to expand their farms and create stronger, more plentiful breeds of coffee plant.
-Lebanese medical researchers look into safer and less invasive surgeries for organ transplantation. After intensive weeks of studying, new forms of anesthesia and open-thorax procedures are put to use in surgery. A young child suffering from a diseased lung is the first to receive a healthy lung from a donor without difficulties.
-With a growing, but still tiny, agriculture sector beginning to rear its head in the nation, the Lebanese government begins funding further research into genetically modified organisms. These scientists return to the coffee plants in their original experiments, and create an extremely potent strain that can produce much more beans than the average coffee plant.
Deng - Kingdom of Persia
Government - Federalist Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Very Strong (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Stable
Military Situation - Relatively experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Low
-In an attempt to create peace in the region, the Persian government tries to settle a deal with the belligerents in the Indus River War. However, due to the combat flaring up again, the Persian government must furiously wait on the sidelines for the war to bring itself to a conclusion.
-The Persian government makes various free market deals with nations around the world, including a reopening of oil deals with China. China, though unhappy with Afghanistan’s war efforts, appreciates the steps taken by Persia to build ties again.
-A large, federalized government for the TEU is formed in Tehran, with the intentions of creating and enforcing laws on members within the Union. This ‘Government’ has representatives elected from their home nations and ethnic groups, and will begin meeting in Tehran over the course of the next few months to hash out governance.
-With the growing camaraderie in the Tigris Economic Union, especially between Persia and Mesopotamia, the government in Tehran officially cedes Khuzestan to Mesopotamia. The loss of a powerful oil producing area impacts the Persian economy negatively, but the Persians hope that the Mesopotamians will put it to good use.
-The Persian military is divided in half, with a good portion of the elite troops forming the Tigris Federal Military (TFM). This large army is entirely designed for the protection and enforcement of peace throughout the TEU.
-Azeris, Kurds and Balochs are given national assemblies and minor independence within Persia, but must recognize the TEU as a federal government. These regions now dictate decisions internally, but are still under the authority of the TEU.
-With Persia heading the Tigris Economic Union, steps are taken to ensure the security and general prosperity of its members. This includes a series of reforms that involve the adoption of Persia as a ‘common tongue’ amongst higher-ups, and reduction of corruption in member states.
-Reforms from Persia, such as corruption, education and economic changes, are ‘exported’ to TEU member states and expected to be put into motion by their respective governments over the coming months.
-With a consumer industry continuing to grow in the region, the Persian government pushes for the encouragement of automobile manufacturers and consumer electronics.
-Foreign investment is encouraged to continue the creation of a common and upgraded infrastructure within Persia. This includes railways, highways, gas pipelines and power stations. The United States and China soon get into a bidding war over Persia’s roads, while Tehran reaps the benefits.
-Looking at other developments in the region involving insulin, and combining the works with recombinant DNA technology, researchers at the University of Tehran create a crude ‘manufactured insulin’ using E. Coli bacteria as a base. However, the process is extremely expensive and time consuming, but is nonetheless a huge leap forward.
-The Tech sector continues to work hard on creating smaller microprocessors, and spawn the first “microchip”. This tiny ‘brain’ for a computer is roughly the size of an envelope, and less than a centimeter thick. It is not as powerful as its larger brethren, but is still considered progress.
Emperor Scorpious II - Sultanate of Mesopotamia
Government - Theocratic Monarchy
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Stable (Improving)
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Improving)
Military Situation - Experienced, semi-modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-Shocked by the developments in Egypt, the Sultanate of Mesopotamia refuses to recognize the authority of the Suez Republic, and does not approve of the tariffs and fees for the transport of Mesopotamian oil.
-With the approval of the United States, highly trained members of the Twin Rivers University oversee American military operations in Vietnam, and some partake in the fighting. The experience is undoubtedly beneficial to studies once they return home.
-The anti-corruption campaign continues, now mimicking the Persian model, with at least 99% less beheadings. With this, government jobs see a pay raise for lower-salary workers, which is not only appreciated by the workers, but helps curb bribery and nepotism in lower positions.
-Small trade schools are set up in the more rural portions of the country. These vocational schools are mainly filled with military graduates looking to further their careers once their terms of service are over.
-Taxes are lowered on farmers, and in some cases, the Mesopotamian government gives grants for them to grow their farms. With the inclusion of Persian Khuzestan, a massive irrigation project takes place in the southwestern portion of Mesopotamia, with rice, wheat and other grains becoming increasingly common in the Mesopotamian south.
-A massive pipeline program is underway to bring Mesopotamian and Saudi oil through into Syria in order to bypass the Suez canal. This project is costly, but Mesopotamian oil industry heads see it as a worthwhile investment.
-Factories for ‘unleaded’-gasoline begin construction in northern Mesopotamia. This fuel is quickly marketed as ‘ecologically sound’, and liberal movements in the west immediately shift their focus on this new Mesopotamian export. This new fuel may possibly open the door for a whole new chapter in petroleum and auto industries around the world.
-With the growing tensions in Egypt, the Mesopotamian Home Guard is put on alert, hopefully warding off any would-be attackers.
-A black-ops, dubbed “Muhammad’s Scimitars”, is formed in the Twin Rivers university. Mesopotamian military personnel oversee this group’s constant drilling, and with the information coming from Vietnam, near constant combat training missions.
-Muhammad’s Scimitars are assigned to keep watch over Baghdad and the Mesopotamian government, and is made up of recruits willing to risk their very lives for the sanctity of their nation.
-Wargames take place in the Al-Anbar province, with armored units being drilled until their operators are considered adequate. The Mesopotamian armored divisions are quickly becoming one of the most powerful, largest and skilled armor brigades in the region, and is envied by Mesopotamian neighbors.
-A new APC, using the massive Euphrates-1 is designed, focusing on speed. This monstrous armored vehicle is aptly named the ‘Labbu’, after the ancient Mesopotamian beast in legend. Not only is it heavily armored, but is able to keep up with many of its smaller counterparts, while also being able to carry an entire squad comfortably.
-Seeing the growth and importance of their tank divisions, the Mesopotamian military invites Persian and Mesopotamian military researchers to come together. Within only a few months, a new “composite armor” is designed. This armor uses a variety of alloys and casting techniques, and provides a much more effective resistance to oncoming impact.
OvB - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Very Rich
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Improving)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, semi-modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate
-Following their ally’s decision, the Saudi kingdom refuses to recognize the independence of the Suez republic, and demands that actions be taken to return it to a rightful owner.
-The Saudis claim that the Suez canal is ‘paramount to Arab oil exports’ and that the tensions must end over the Suez lest oil prices rise yet again.
-Oil tankers heading out of Saudi Arabia are flanked by small military vessels, and are intimidating as they pass through the Suez canal. It is unknown if the move is to ward off would-be attackers, or to make a point.
-The SASA prepares to reduce its total number of launches, but prepares to build larger and more powerful rockets that can carry bigger and more important payloads. This small delay is shortened by the availability of American engineers.
-The small yet beautiful reefs off of the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia are declared an ‘environmental safe zone’, and are protected by small patrol boats. This measure comes as a shock to many, as the sudden eco-friendly switch of the middle-east is taking hold quite rapidly.
-The Saudi government now sets quarterly quotas for fishing in the Red Sea, as environmental experts are becoming concerned with the wellbeing of fish in the region. The Saudis stand firm with their decision, even as fishermen are furious with a sudden deduction to their income.
-With uranium deals continuing with Canada, the Saudi government officially purchases 50% of a large uranium mine in Saskatchewan. This development allows for an easier and more immediate form of transportation and acquisition of uranium for the growing Saudi nuclear program.
-Farmers and ranchers, who are few and far between in the mainly sandy realm of Saudi Arabia, are given funds to begin irrigation programs deeper in the heart of the country. These funds are essentially government grants, and the Saudis hope to encourage the growth of an independent food industry.
-Saudi nuclear research reaches a milestone. Using designs from both the US and USSR, the Saudi government opens up the region’s first nuclear power station. This massive, hulking complex, located on the small island of Bahrain, slowly begins to take on the challenge of powering an electric grid in the country. Though it is only able to produce enough energy for the small trucial states around it, it is nonetheless awe-inspiring to energy hounds around the world.
-Mimicking their northern ally, Jordan, researchers at the Grand University begin delving into new formats of desalination. Using designs from Jordanian desalination membranes, and looking at other projects in the region, small desalination stations begin to appear on the coastline of the Arabian Gulf, and produce significant amounts of clean water for the growing irrigation programs.
Jin - Republic of Israel
Government - Federal Republic
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Hated By Arab World
Economic Situation - Rich
Domestic Situation - Uneasy
Military Situation - Experienced, exhausted, modernized equipment
Corruption - Low
-Furious with the decision to release the Suez Republic as an independent nation, Israel begins to put its foot down in the region yet again. Israeli leaders demand that talks take place between Lebanese and Suez administrators, which do indeed happen, but not to Israel’s liking. The Israelis now deliver to the Suez Republic an ultimatum: vassalization or annexation.
-In response to the lack of decisionmaking, Israeli troops soon come knocking on the door of the Suez and enter it without conflict. Hundreds of armed troops in Israeli uniforms are now patrolling the Israeli side of the Suez, showing to the world that Israel gets what Israel wants.
-Too terrified to respond, much of the Suez Republics administrators flee, essentially making the western side a defunct state. The western half of the Suez Republic is still independent, but is unable to question Israeli decisions.
-The other half of the Israeli military continues mobilization, and heads to the north of the country, setting up defensive positions along the northern border. The Israeli borders now bristle with armaments and soldiers.
-Lebanese Brotherhood Knights are turned away from entering the Suez if they are travelling through Israel, and some are outright deported back to Lebanon.
-The Israeli military formalizes the Helicopter-based shock troops, and dubs them ‘Shedim’, or ‘Demons’. These terrifying, black-clad soldiers are a sight to behold in training exercises, as their sheer skill and effectiveness is outright daunting to many of Israel’s would-be competitors.
-In domestic affairs, the Israeli government shifts into a more federalized system, with the creation of the State and Home Oversight Association, who investigate claims of misconduct and criminality in ethnic communities. This association also has a diversity quota, and ensures that rulings are fair and just.
-Israeli soldiers that partook in the kidnapping of Palestinian protesters are suddenly stripped of their rank and discharged, and their commanders imprisoned. This comes as an outright shock to many of Israel’s more hardlining conservatives, but is considered a step forward for many of the country’s more liberal individuals.
-The Israeli government pushes for the integration of Israeli and Palestinian communities as one. This includes small monetary benefits for Palestinian families to move into Israeli neighborhoods and vice versa. This not only cools some of the tensions between the non-radicalized members of the population, but allows minorities to have the same job and education opportunities as Israelis.
-The borders and open ports with Israel and Lebanon are henceforth closed, and travel between the two nations is now excluded to only work. Israel essentially exits from the Eastern Mediterranean Trade Organization, and tensions in the Levant only continue to heat up.
-Hungry for further military development, the Israelis soon petition arms manufacturers from the United States and other NATO members to construct a firearm for Israeli needs. This results in an eruption of funds and projects in various arms factories in Israel, feeding hundreds of jobs into the industry.
-With most of the Suez canal now under Israeli administration, the Israeli government sets up tolls and fees for ships traveling through the canal in order to fund repairs and expansion projects. These tolls are lessened for Mesopotamian and Saudi exports, as their agreement with Israel’s negative view towards the independence of the Suez is considered a major positive.
-The Sinai peninsula is suddenly flooded with construction projects, with ports and small gambling centers being set up in light of Lebanon’s success with such towns. Sailors who have spent cash traveling through the Suez gladly stop in the Sinai to blow whatever money they have left on hookers and craps.
-The Masada A-1 tank is brought into the early stages of massed production. Israeli steel and metalworking factories are bought out by the government and re-purposed to construct the bodies for the growing Israeli armored divisions.
-With the need for production and efficient factories growing, researchers at the University in Tel-Aviv produce one of the first designs for an ‘automated line’. Though the idea is expensive and considered a pipe dream by many, it is surprisingly effective in tests and dry runs. Using simple computer calculations and machines set on timers, a production line is now able to triple its quota as parts are stamped, cut or molded much faster with the help of machines.
Malos - Kingdom of Jordan
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Moderately Strong
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Relatively experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Low
-With their neighbor, Syria, continuing to push for NATO membership, the Jordanian government sends out letters of recommendation, citing Syria’s devotion to the AQC and their lack of belligerence in the region’s conflicts.
-The Jordanian military continues to import NATO equipment, and slowly begins to standardize the ranks with it. Medical kits, rations, communications supplies and vehicles are now becoming on-par with most of NATO’s requirements.
-Alongside wishing for Syria’s membership into NATO, Jordan also lobbies for the adoption of the Homs cartridge. However, the United States, who essentially makes most of these decisions, is unable to comply, as the country continues to mass produce other NATO calibers for the ongoing conflict in Vietnam.
-The Jordanian military begins experimenting with more safety-oriented helmets, that are filled with shock-resistant padding and more comfortable liners. Though these helmets turn out to be a wee bit heavier, they are much more reliable and are even seen in use by state-owned factory workers.
-Seeing the lack of mobility with standard, belt-placed munitions pouches and supplies, the Jordanians look into the creation of a ‘webbing’ that can hold magazines and equipment on the front of one’s self. This spawns one of the first MOLLE-style vests, and is put to use in training exercises with Mesopotamia.
-Corruption reforms and construction projects in the West Bank continue, as the Palestinian community is now longer bursting at the seams with refugees, but is now made up of more settled and home-dwelling Jordanian citizens.
-The Jordanian oil and phosphate mining industries see a massive boost in government funding. This comes with the unleashing of Jordan’s economy into a total free-market state, allowing for both foreign and domestic companies to reap the benefits of massed exports.
-To counter the encroachment of the Lebanese coffee industry, Je-Brew-Salem is founded in the West Bank. A Jordanian-Palestinian owned business, this small coffee chain begins to set up shops in the more poorer districts of the region. Though their quality is not as high as Beirut Brew, its availability to the lower class is nonetheless appreciated.
-Working alongside the Saudis and Mesopotamians, major desalination and agricultural reforms take place. In the former, both Jordanian and Saudi researchers create massive and highly effective membranes that can filter thousands of gallons of saltwater at a single time, allowing for the former to come into play. Huge irrigation programs take place in the desertified regions of Jordan, with the desalination membranes working on the Jordanian side of the dead sea, pumping clean water into thirsty farms and homes.
iAmaNewb - People’s Republic of Pakistan
Government - Socialist Dictatorship
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Weak (Degrading)
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Degrading)
Military Situation - Experienced, exhausted, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-During the signing of the peace treaty with Pashtunistan, armed members of the Pakistani guard swoop in and brutally execute the Pashtunistani diplomats. Within hours of the arranged murders, the Pakistani army charges out towards the Pashtun positions, and sweep into their underbelly..
-The Pakistani government pleads for assistance from the Chinese for the freeing of Kashmir, but the Chinese stand firm with arms and equipment support, and no more. This pushes the Pakistanis to begin purchasing missile batteries from the collapsing Egyptian government, who are happy to take any cash they can get.
-Leaflet programs take place in Pashtunistan, with hundreds of letters being dropped that contain inflammatory accusations against the Pashtunistani government in hopes of riling up the Uzbek and Tajik populations.
-The Pakistani military goes into outright massed conscription, taking in huge numbers of able-bodied men to shove onto the battlefield. Their lack of experience is met with disaster, and only proves to exhaust both sides militarily.
-Propaganda campaigns take place domestically, riling up radical socialists and trying to ease tensions over the conscription. These posters are paired with public speeches and radio broadcasts, covering up the vicious state of the conflict with stories of victory in the face of utter defeat.
-A massive ‘4 Year Plan’ takes place, with the government outright seizing international and domestic businesses, and converting them into industrial segments of the nation’s economy. This not only infuriates business owners, but also produces thousands of jobs as military wives flock to find a job to support their families.
-The Pakistani government signs off a huge portion of the nation’s gas supplies over to the Chinese in return for the importation of aircraft and armored vehicles. However, only the former is able to arrive, as the Pashtunistanis are able to keep the northern borders of Pakistan firmly in their control.
-Stealing designs from the US and the Soviet Union, the Pakistani military begins constructing crude ‘reflective sights’. These fist-sized scopes contain a small red dot produced by a tiny light, and provide a soldier with a more speedy way of acquiring targets. These sights are used mainly by regulars who have yet to be deployed, which is to say very few.
-The Pakistani military also takes a page from the Americans in the armored department, and with the help of their growing industrial push, create the ‘Islamabad 1’ Armored Fighting Vehicle. This squat, 4-wheeled vehicle is armed with two heavy machine guns, and is able to run down enemy infantry if provided with flat terrain.
Milkdairy - Syrian Arab Republic
Government - Democratic Republic
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Somewhat Strong
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Inexperienced, semi-modern equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-With letters of recommendation from Jordan, and evidence to back up a peaceful yet powerful military, the Syrian Arab Republic is finally accepted into NATO. In doing so, the country is flooded with NATO-standard equipment, and the Syrian military begins rapidly deploying these imports to the soldiers.
-A large coastal base is constructed in southern Syria, which is ‘open for entrance and occupation’ by the French. Relations begin to warm up significantly between Paris and Damascus, as the former owner-puppet conflicts are considered to be a thing of the past.
-To temporarily fill in the ‘blanks’ of NATO standards that have yet to be met by Syria, the Syrian military begins purchasing whatever they can from France and the United Kingdom in order to support their supplies.
-Armored plates are standardized in the Syrian military, and it is now rare to see a deployment-ready soldier who isn’t toting body armor.
-With the acceptance into NATO, the Syrian military quickly begins to standardize and outright improve the rations of soldiers. Candies, coffee, freeze-dried vegetables and actual meats now appear in the ration packs of Syrian soldiers.
-The Syrian government begins a ‘National Information Act’, where government documents and archives become publicly available. Corrupt members of the government sweat furiously as centers for collecting and distributing government information begin to crop up outside of city halls around the country.
-Syrian public schools see a complete renovation in both practices and funding. Schools are now pushed to provide programs for both a standardized, pluricentric form of Arabic and the more common Syrian ‘colloquial’ dialect.
-Schools are also expected to encourage the enrollment of girls, to not only further the nation’s literacy rate and test scores, but to increase the amount of work-ready graduates who can improve Syria’s economy and community.
-Zoning laws are drafted and pushed out quickly, to ensure the urbanization of populations within Syria. This includes requirements for industry to be closer to cities from this point forward, and a nationwide reduction on the amount of land one family can own. This, of course, infuriates the more capitalist-minded population, but is nonetheless beneficial for the government’s plans.
-The Syrian government begins subsidizing the nation’s steel industry, in hopes of reducing the amount spent on importation. These subsidies are snapped up greedily, and are immediately put to work in the nation’s many metalworking facilities.
-The Syrian automobile industry sees a mass implementation of the Model K engine, and various small companies begin pushing their cars out the door and onto the streets, where the growing middle class is happy to get their hands on good, old-fashioned, Syrian made cars and trucks.
-With the massed subsidies and huge outputs in the steel industry, Syrian manufacturers produce a ‘composite armor’ much like the Mesopotamian design. However, these plates are modeled after the armor inserts for the Syrian infantry, and are implemented for armored personnel carriers and smaller vehicles as opposed to tanks.
-‘When they make a better armor, you build a better bullet’ is repeated again and again as the ‘Damascus X-1’ rolls out onto a testing facility. This new anti-tank missile has a ‘dual warhead’ system. The first warhead detonates close to the target with a shaped charge, either blowing a hole or weakening the armor significantly. The second warhead then enters, but detonates only after a short second once it is inside, showering the enemy in a blast of molten copper and explosives.
-The Damascus X-1, to the relief of Syria’s competitors, is extremely expensive and has yet to exit the embryonic stage. But like many of Syria’s recent achievements, it is nonetheless intimidating.
==Turn 10: January to April 1968==
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Regional Events:
-The Indus River War comes to an end, as the Socialist government of Pakistan is forcibly removed, and a democratically elected senate is shoehorned into Islamabad.
-With the Tigris Economic Union formalizing itself, a new group also arrives, known as the Middle Eastern Coalition.
-The dream of Palestinian independence slowly dies out as refugees begin to assimilate into the countries they’ve fled to. Now, only hardcore conservative groups continue the cause, but their numbers dwindle day by day.
Player Events:
Griffster26 - Republic of Pashtunistan
Government - Centralist Republic
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Weak
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Degrading)
Military Situation - Experienced, exhausted, some modern supplies
Corruption - Severe (Improving)
-The Republic of Pashtunistan declares victory as the People’s Government collapses under the sheer burden of international conflict and internal pressures.
-For the time being, the Pashtunistani military occupies the Pashtun areas of Pakistan in order to ‘restore balance’ to the region. Nobody knows if this is annexation or not.
-A massive rebuilding process begins at home, with aid from the Persians and the Tigris Economic Union. The soldiers that are stationed in the newly acquired Pashtun regions prepare to assist in rebuilding the fractured regions of Pakistan.
-Amnesties are given to Pakistani prisoners of war, and many are allowed to return home once they renounce their allegiance to the old government. Some of these soldiers remain, and help rebuild what was lost in the fighting.
-A huge number of firearms and military equipment is purchased from various NATO members, which inadvertently puts a dent in the government’s spending budget already.
-Tax breaks are levied to soldiers willing to join the Pashtunistani military, though they are few and far between. Most soldiers in the military are currently conscripts, due to the prolonged fighting that took thousands of lives almost daily.
-Persian advisors arrive in Pashtunistan with mountains of paperwork detailing the upcoming reformation process for the nation. This comes from the newly renovated and revamped standards of the Tigris Economic Union, and no member is safe from such sweeping upgrades.
-Infrastructure, small businesses, agriculture and natural resource acquisition begins to be tweaked and tinkered within the instant that the Persians arrive.
Native Hunter - The Patriarchate of Lebanon
Government - Theocratic Republic
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Positive
Economic Situation - Somewhat Strong (Improving)
Domestic Situation - Stable
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-The Lebanese government denounces the actions taken by the Pashtunistanis and their forced migration of Maronites. Lebanon declares at the United Nations that Pashtunistan’s decision was nothing less than attempted genocide.
-With Israel beginning to distance itself from its former ally, Lebanon begins to shut ties with its neighbor, and closes the borders once again to the Jewish state.
-Standards for the Lebanese military are ramped up with daily exercise routines, new barrack standards and better meals for soldiers, alongside assistance from NATO advisers.
-Schools and prisons, two very similar institutions, see redesigns of their own. Looking to the far north, with the much more liberalized Scandinavian model of massed public schooling and rehabilitation, the Lebanese government makes a push to mimic such designs.
-However, the Lebanese prison system already overflows with hooligans and petty criminals, as colonial laws still bind them to weeks or months behind bars. With this, the Lebanese court system has no choice but to set most of these ne’er-do-wells free. Conservatives are outraged, as they refuse to read past the title of newspapers.
-A rash series of street fights and vandal attacks on shops takes place against Muslim citizens not too long after the release of the criminals. These attacks are considered unprovoked, but leave dozens of people hospitalized and raises tensions in poorer districts of the country.
-The Brotherhood begins again with its weekly concert series and movie screenings. With the huge number of internationals coming to Lebanon for tourism, gambling and economic investment, foreign influences are seen throughout these celebrations.
-Brotherhood missionaries begin heading into the richer and more established areas of the Palestinian district, in hopes of spreading the good word while simultaneously pulling the Palestinians into the fold of Lebanese pride.
-The Lebanese government begins writing up concessions and tax deductions for fishermen, in hopes of encouraging the unemployed masses to head to the ports and begin collecting their quotas. This does spark a massive job rush, and the ports of Lebanon seem to overflow with sloops and schooners that dart back and forth along the coastline to go after fish.
-Talks are opened up with major western media companies, such as Disney and CBS. These deals include land purchases, and the encouragement of bringing the film industry to Lebanon. Disney, the ever growing company that it is, happily accepts the deal, and brings worlds of wonder to Lebanese movie theatres and film lovers, and buy huge plots of land just outside of Beirut.
-With the growing Persian electronics market beginning to force other countries into a corner, Lebanon uses its massive foreign investment as a bargaining chip, and manages to get some South Korean and Japanese companies to set up shop. Radios, televisions and media players of all sorts slowly become cheaper and more available to the average Lebanese consumer.
-With the growing electronics and film industry, Lebanese workers at a foreign factory accidentally stumble upon the idea of a compact case of film, no bigger than a book, that could be used to display images.
-These two workers, engineers of course, sit down and slowly write up the design of a large box that could be attached to newer televisions, and use these small ‘VHS’ tapes to display movies and other recorded media. These new ‘VCRs’, as they’re called, are pushed out the door by the growing Japanese company, Sony.
-In a less entertainment-and-more-shooty-based segment of Lebanon’s technological advancements, the Lebanese military unveils a (shoddy) replica of the Israeli ‘iron dome’ system. Israeli military personnel are furious with the sudden stolen design, but the Lebanese are happy to trot it about with the subtitle ‘it’s not just your toy anymore’.
Deng - Federation of Persia
Government - Federalist Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Very Strong (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Stable
Military Situation - Relatively experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Low
-To appease the grumbling dragon that is China, the Persians agree to begin helping in the rebuilding process of Pakistan in order to create a bulwark against India.
-The Persians seize control of most of the Pakistani government’s decisionmaking when it comes to diplomacy, which of course upsets many Pakistani locals.
-The Persians, working with delegates from the Tigris Economic Union, begin to divvy up Pakistan and prepare the nation for partitioning amongst its ethnic groups.
-Most of the Persian presence is in Balochistan, where they work alongside Pashtunistani military personnel to clear out the presence of loyalists and remove communism.
-Pro-liberation sentiment is synonymous with aid centers and hospitals in the newly occupied Balochistan, as the Persians rile up the populace and prepare them for ‘independence and equality’.
-The Baloch assembly of Persia becomes the ultimate authority in occupied Balochistan, with the Persians simply acting as hands of the newly emplaced government.
-In other parts of Pakistan, agents from Persia and the Tigris Economic Union spread propaganda and inflammatory words citing ‘new nationalism’ and a ‘cause for freedom’ amongst the varying ethnic groups of Pakistan.
-Persian military members, working with coalition forces of the Tigris Economic Union, head into Cairo and attempt to bring the various warring rebel groups to the discussion table. To their relief, most of the militia leaders come together, though some sporadic fighting still takes place in the streets.
-At home, the Persians work hard on the idea of bilingualism, and push for the establishment of the new ‘reformed Persian’ dialect to be taught as a second language for most non-Persian ethnicities in the nation (Kurds, Balochs, Azeris, etc.).
-The school system in Persia is put under a total renovation, as the government begins creating a standardized format of secondary and higher education. Subsidies are given to poorer families who wish to have their children attend the public schools. Much of the government’s infrastructure budget shifts towards the creation of high-schools and colleges in hopes of creating near-universal attendance.
-Women’s Rights movements rejoice as the Persian government takes the reigns off of women, and allows them to have the same rights as men. Businesses, trade unions and shops spring up inside the urbanized areas of Persia, and sparks new internal competition between companies, as capitalists rake in the profits.
-Ignoring the developments in Lebanon, the Persian electronics and consumer goods industry continues to grow, albeit at a slower pace due to its sheer size. However, the export-led economy is more than stable enough to keep money flowing into the country without issue.
-Extensive electrification processes begin in the suburbs of major cities, as the Persian government uses what remains of the infrastructure budget to support the burgeoning population centers.
-Transgenic organisms, like those seen in Lebanon or in the University of Tehran, are tampered with yet again. This time, using a member of the Gallus gallus domesticus species, Persian researchers are able to breed chickens entirely devoid of feathers that walk with their heads held lower, and their rear end stuck out. Some consider this the first step forward to totally engineered species, but hold their tongue as these ‘experimental chickens’ die within weeks due to internal complications not accounted for.
-In order to keep up with the demand for consumer electronics, Persian tech companies design a gigantic ‘supercomputer’ that uses a host of microprocessors and copied coding from American designs. These computers can fill entire rooms, and cost millions of dollars, but nonetheless make space agencies and militaries alike from all over the world salivate.
Emperor Scorpious II - Sultanate of Mesopotamia
Government - Theocratic Monarchy
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Stable (Improving)
Domestic Situation - Stable
Military Situation - Experienced, semi-modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-The Mesopotamian government agrees to take part in the Middle Eastern Coalition as a military-based observing member.
-The acquisition of Khuzestan sparks new infrastructure projects to physically link the region to the rest of the country. New highways and rail systems pop up in hopes of connecting the two widely different economies of Khuzestan and Mesopotamia proper.
-Unleaded gas is exported mainly to members of the Tigris Economic Union at a steep discount, in order to publicize not only the fuel’s economic capabilities but its environmental benefits. Again, liberal groups in densely populated urban centers in Europe clamor for its export to the west.
-Government probes are sent into the desertified regions of the Al-Anbar province in order to oversee the possible construction of wind farms. Using experimental turbines purchased from the United States, these large obelisk-like contraptions make meagre amounts of electricity and are fragile as all get-out, but the Mesopotamian government nonetheless takes note of their possible effectiveness.
-The Tigris Economic Union’s ‘Talent’ slowly becomes a formalized currency in Mesopotamia, though its strength has yet to be seen, and the average person still trades in domestic cash.
-The Mesopotamian government goes through a huge series of monotonous and arduous reforms, including the creation of a National Assembly, in which delegates are appointed via elections from local establishments (Kuwait, Khuzestan, etc.).
-Other reforms come through as well, such as a reorganized Upper House, that includes a publically elected Prime Minister, though only votes from the Mosul and Al-Anbar provinces count. Of course, the Sultan still holds supreme authority, but the people are pleased to have a voice in the government of their own.
-The Mesopotamian government opens up new sectors in Baghdad, which not only create jobs but also ease the burden on previous employees. These sectors include the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Intelligence, Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Public Relations. These various ministries assist in the governance of the nation, though add a healthy amount of bureaucracy to everyday business in Baghdad.
-All of the ministries have strict adherence to Islamic practices and rules of governance, though all political parties are able to partake in government affairs (sans Socialists and Communists).
-The nation officially ratifies a new constitution that states Mesopotamia’s place in the world. The country shall always be sovereign, and will always answer to the supreme authority of the Quran and the Hadiths. A new motto is formed, “One People, One Land, One Book”. March 1st is declared ‘Renovation Day’, and massive celebrations are held across the country.
-Mesopotamian military personnel arrive in Balochistan to assist the Persians who are assisting the Pashtunistanis who are assisting the Balochis who are assisting the Pakistanis on the rebuilding process. This huge chain of assistance is gratefully accepted amongst much of the population.
-Looking at their southern neighbors and the effectiveness of their surface-to-air-missile systems, the Mesopotamian military, with the help of advisors from Twin Rivers, create an experimental battery of anti-air rockets. These rockets, like the Saudi designs, are radar guided, but instead send a huge flurry of smaller missiles that create a flak-styled cloud of explosions to destroy oncoming air targets.
-New farming equipment is purchased from the United States and Japan in order to prop up the growing agricultural districts of southeastern Mesopotamia. This new equipment includes automated seed-sowing machines, massive tillers and filtration systems for irrigation pipes.
-No longer is Mesopotamia considered a backwater citizen of the Middle-Eastern neighborhood, and is now a major power player.
OvB - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Very Rich
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Improving)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, semi-modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate
-The Saudi government agrees to take part in the Middle Eastern Coalition as full-time participating member.
-Members of the American university of Texas A&M are invited to Saudi Arabia to assist in the newly founded agricultural sector of the country. Much of the assistance comes in the form of imported machinery, much like Mesopotamia, but with training and of course, Saudi tweaking.
-The Sheik car company pops up in Riyadh. With a little bit of government nudging and the adoption of regional manufacturing techniques, luxury cars handmade and designed in Saudi Arabia begin to make their way onto the streets of the oil giant.
-The Saudi government sets up the National Power Regulatory Administration (NPRA) to oversee not only domestic nuclear administration, but also work on becoming the authority with regional/international deals in nuclear and other energy agreements when they involve the Saudis. This helps drastically change the import of nuclear materials, and inadvertently strengthens Saudi relations with Canada.
-The Saudi Arms Traffic Regulatory Committee (SATRC) is founded to observe and cut down on illegal exportations of rocketry and nuclear technologies. Some consider the SATRC to be a drain on government funds, but the Saudi military breathes a sigh of relief as they are no longer tasked with policing of such materials.
-New nuclear power stations begin construction along the Arabian gulf, with the idea of supporting most of the country on domestic nuclear power. The construction process is slow, but two new power plants kickstart the nation’s power supply, and now Saudi Arabia sits on 15% of its power coming directly from these plants.
-Desalination projects coincide with the construction of the power plants, as the Saudi government pushes for the establishment of agricultural centers around these plants, which may lead to economic development (employees not having to commute, less massed urbanization).
-Radar technologies are tampered and tweaked with at the SASA’s headquarters. New designs and blueprints create new systems that could allow for long range communication between satellites and the SASA.
-The SASA is already able to communicate with their satellites, but only with crude radar pings, and such a development is a huge leap forward in space technology.
Jin - Republic of Israel
Government - Federal Republic
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Hated By Arab World
Economic Situation - Rich
Domestic Situation - Uneasy
Military Situation - Experienced, exhausted, modernized equipment
Corruption - Low
-The Israeli government agrees to take part in the Middle Eastern Coalition as full-time participating member.
-The Jordanians and Israelis finally set aside their differences, and work together on a mass desalination project on the banks of the Dead Sea. This public works experiment not only brings the two nations closer together, but provides thousands of needy citizens with fresh water.
-The IDF is finally put on a peacetime routine, and the soldiers weary of war are now able to return home, only to find that the manual jobs that the once had have been taken over by Palestinians. A rift is once again formed between the native Palestinians and the settling Israelis.
-The conscription laws now blanket all members of Israeli society, which infuriates the Hasidic jews who have regularly refused to partake in military service in the past.
-With assistance from other MEC members, the Israeli military is soon outfitted with armor inserts for everyday soldiers, and body armor is a common sight amongst the Israeli patrol groups along the Suez.
-Israel declares the Suez Canal as a self-governing state within the nation, and officially integrates them into the country. This development soothes the fears of huge tariffs put on shipping.
-With the Muslim communities within Israel more or less integrated into Israeli society, the Israeli government creates a new flag. This flag upsets conservative hardliners on both sides, many of whom burn the flag in protest. These tensions are unsettling to most Israeli government personnel.
-Israeli factories and weapon manufacturers both are expected to pick up the pace and push themselves to the limit. Israel’s place in the Middle Eastern Coalition is a controversial one, and the small levantine country cannot afford to fall behind their compatriots economically. Sweeping worker’s rights and health standard reforms blanket factory owner’s desks in paperwork.
-The Israeli government sets up two massive water programs. One known as the ‘Garden of Eden’, and the other known as the ‘Sinai Reef Protection and Preservation Project’ (SRPPP).
-The ‘Garden of Eden’ project involves moving huge amounts of desalinated water in massive pipelines down into desertified regions of the Sinai peninsula in order to support a growing agricultural sector within the nation.
-The SRPPP, however, is focused on the preservation of the various marine life that lives near the Sinai peninsula, as both Israel and Saudi Arabia feel that the reefs are more than just beautiful, but instead a major part of their nation’s economy and tourism sector.
-The Israeli domestic situation begins to shift strangely, as the government focuses more and more on revenue streams and economic development, and no longer prioritizes Israelis above others. Conservatives are outraged, while liberals finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Malos - Kingdom of Jordan
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Moderately Strong
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Relatively experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Low
-The Jordanian government agrees to take part in the Middle Eastern Coalition as full-time participating member.
-The Jordanians begin the massed desalination program with the Israelis, and begin focusing on the dead sea/levantine coast for their water supplies.
-As one of the major founding members of the Middle Eastern Coalition, the Jordanians attempt to reign in the Libyans and bring them under the umbrella of the MEC. However, the Libyans are unable to accept, due to their distance and lack of relevance to most of the region.
-Tinkering militarily as they always do, military researchers returning from Twin Rivers design a thick helmet that uses a thin layer of kevlar as added protection. It is still light enough not to be uncomfortable, and provides significant protection from impacts such as falls or debris.
-Massive war games take place between Syria, Mesopotamia, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in the ‘Sandy Triangle’ (Jordanian/Mesopotamian/Saudi border). These war games include defensive training, joint artillery tactics, air operations and most frighteningly: armored waves.
-Corruption and economic reforms in the West Bank continue, as the Jordanian government pushes for both equality and soothed tensions amongst the Palestinian population. However, with developments around the region, the government’s massive push almost seems like overkill.
-New infrastructure programs, led by Israeli advisors, begin to improve the nation’s roads and power stations. Massive re-asphalting projects begin in major cities, widening and repairing the roads for traveling groups.
-The ultimate benefit of these programs is that it provides tens of thousands of unemployed Jordanians with much needed jobs, who are more than thankful to work with the Israelis to get paid.
-Je-Brew-Salem, the small Jordanian coffee company, slowly begins to squeeze out Beirut Brew in major MEC countries such as Syria, Saudi Arabia and Mesopotamia. Many of the customers at JBS prefer Beirut Brew’s ‘sweeter and more potent’ drinks, but cannot turn up their nose at the ultimately cheaper coffee of JBS.
-Various international companies begin to waddle into Jordan as the port cities in Israel and Lebanon slowly become crowded with sailors. Consumer goods factories for things such as clothing, furniture, toys and paint begin to crop outside of major population centers.
-With the dawn of the MEC and Jordan’s membership into NATO, the Jordanian government pushes forth for the massed cloning and thus adoption of NATO-styled equipment for MEC armies. Advisors in NATO twitch as they see hundreds of millions of dollars of equipment thrown away, but cannot say anything as the sheer organization skills of these governments outshines even some European constituents of NATO.
-These cloning procedures mainly include personal equipment such as backpacks and munitions pouches, which may seem trivial to outside users, but is seriously important to the average infantryman’s comfort and survival.
-Growing infrastructure and economy means the demand for new manufacturing styles and technologies. Taking pages from various MEC constituents, the Jordanian manufacturing sector begins adopting new techs, such as massed production and early tinkerings with Total Quality Management (TQM).
iAmaNewb - People’s Republic of Pakistan
Government - Socialist Dictatorship
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Destitute
Domestic Situation - Outraged (Degrading)
Military Situation - Experienced, exhausted, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate
-The war is over, and the Pakistani government has yielded to the terms put forth by the Persians and Pashtunistani forces. The Pakistani military not only withdraws itself from the former Pashtun areas of the country, but has also been drawn down to only 10,000 men in total, as per an agreement with the occupying TEU-aligned forces.
-With the war having been lost, and countless lives thrown away in vain, citizens of the People’s Republic of Pakistan storm the government centers in Islamabad and drag members of the PRP government into the streets and murder them en-masse.
-A new, somewhat more stable centralist government is crammed into seats of power in Islamabad, with the assistance of the Pashtunistanis and the Persians.
-With what little funds the nation has, the Pakistani government begins to rebuild, focusing mainly on infrastructure, which is already in desperate need of upgrading, let alone just repairs. However, the process is halted by the sheer lack of money that the government has to spend.
-With help from outside sources yet unnamed, the Pakistani government is able to breathe a short sigh of relief as loans come in to prop up the infrastructure rebuilding programs, but not much else.
-The Pakistani government struggles to get itself back on its feet, and begins mimicking the Persians with their banking processes in order to attract some form of international investment in the country.
-The old People’s government’s ‘4 year plan’ is still kept in place, as the current government is unable to find an issue with a massed industrialization plan, especially in such trying times. For now, Pakistan must be propped up entirely on industry and manufacturing, as the internal economic situation continues to develop all too slowly.
-International corporations looking to make a dollar by spending pennies find that the huge numbers of unemployed Pakistani citizens are the perfect workforce. American and British companies begin to swarm in, and industrial centers are reworked to provide thousands of jobs for works such as textiles, paper, paint, metalworking and arms building.
-Though this sudden incentive for investment could be considered positive, the working conditions and health standards of these factories is abysmal, as these companies use every trick in the book to undermine the authority of Pakistani developers and substitute it with their own.
-In order for the government to keep up with all of the major changes, bureaucracy eventually comes to find its two most important inventions yet. The first is a ‘calculator’, or a cash-register sized computer that can do simple punch-card calculations over the course of a few minutes. Though a hulking machine, this calculator saves dozens of man hours that would be spent doing the work manually.
-The second invention is simple yet oh-so-useful. Simply put, workers in the new democratic government stumble upon the idea of paper with a glue-like portion at the top. These ‘sticky notes’ make it hundreds of times easier to leave messages at work stations or on equipment, and is arguably one of the best decisions the Pakistani government has made in the past few years.
Milkdairy - Syrian Republic
Government - Democratic Republic
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Somewhat Strong (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Inexperienced, semi-modern equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-The Syrian government agrees to take part in the Middle Eastern Coalition as full-time participating member.
-Syria also joins themselves amongst the ranks of the Tigris Economic Union, as prodding from Teheran has finally convinced the Syrians.
-American training advisors arrive in Syria to oversee the MEC’s war games, and take notes while also providing instructions. Many of these advisors are shocked to see the organization and rapid-deployment tactics of these Arab forces, and many NATO members nod in approval at the presence of NATO influence in the region.
-Ties with Paris officially come together, as embassies are opened up in Paris and Damascus, this time larger and more efficient than the more streetcorner-esque buildings that used to house the two’s ambassadors. French and Syrian workers and investors regularly cross paths as they travel to each other’s respective nations.
-In response to Muhammad’s Scimitars and The Faceless, and all other sorts of operating operators, the Syrian government simply creates ‘Task Force Damascus’. These soldiers go through rigorous, psychologically damaging training that forces them to accept only death rather than see their nation fall.
-Task Force Damascus comes under criticism from outside observers, who are silenced when they see the sheer ferocity and ruthlessness of them in the joint wargames.
-Helicopters are purchased from the United Kingdom and France in order to outfit TFD with a variety of rapid deployment options. When used in tandem with Mesopotamian armor rushes, American advisors are somewhat frightened by the sheer effectiveness of the combined-arms tactics.
-Like the Jordanians, the Syrian government pushes to adopt NATO-styled weaponry and equipment rather than direct NATO designs. This includes a widespread adoption of 6.5 Homs chambered rifles, Jordanian body armor and Mesopotamian rations/logistics designs.
-A huge crackdown begins on corruption using outside observers and reforms used by the Persians. Harsh penalties such as lengthy prison terms or even exile take place, and many would-be charged members of government skirt out of the country as quick as they can.
-Apostasy is again poked at by the Syrian government. Under the old Ba’athist regime, apostasy was not considered criminal, and it isn’t now either. However, the stigma is allowed to stay, and what would be considered hate speech against them is looked over by Syrian police.
-Government funds for Damascus LTD slowly grow the news corporation into a region-wide phenomenon, who retitle themselves al-Jazeera (peninsula), in order to cement themselves as a news company built by Arabs, for Arabs.
-The Syrian government continues to push for rural populations to move themselves closer to city limits, as factories continue to grow on the outskirts of major cities such as Aleppo and Raqqah.
-Sweeping reforms take place in Syria, as the Tigris Economic Union’s ‘tier 2’ reforms are set in stone. Economic transparency and freedom opens up huge areas in the Syrian economy that would otherwise have stayed empty, allowing for both international and domestic companies to fill in the gaps (communications tech, luxury textiles, arms makers, etc.).
-Large economic zones are created in major population centers in order to attract international investment to the country. These zones, mainly centered around Homs, Damascus and Aleppo, are nonetheless quickly filled to the brim with investors.
Tigris Economic Union
Type - Regional economic, trade and administrative union
Member states:
*Persia
*Pashtunistan
*Kurdistan
*Mesopotamia
*Syria
-Various ethnic groups under the umbrella of the TEU, such as Arabs, Kurds, Azeris, Persians and etc. are now able to elect representatives to the TEU parliament. This inclusion of ethnic voices in the TEU allows for a huge number of votes to take place on decisions, though most bills grind to a halt due to tensions between varying groups.
-Syria is accepted as a member into the TEU, while the nations of Oman and Aden are poked at with a big financial stick in order to bring the two under the fold of the TEU. However, the two Arab nations turn down the offer, as they have had enough influence of foreign powers for one generation.
-TEU soldiers arrive in Cairo and manage to assist the Egyptian government into talking down the various rebels. Belligerent advisors are forcibly removed from office and replaced with pro-TEU and pro-reformist members instead.
-Reforms used in Persia and Mesopotamia are implemented in Pashtunistan in order to rebuild the country’s crippled economy and infrastructure. These reforms are appreciated by a majority of the population, who can breathe a sigh of relief and not have to worry about their country falling into the red yet again.
-The Talent is introduced as the formal currency of the Tigris Economic Union. Its adoption is slow, and seen mainly in Persia proper, but is nonetheless a step forward in creating economic unity between the various member states.
-Transportation routes continue to pop up between the borders of member states, allowing for increased movement and economic freedom of workers and citizens alike.
Middle Eastern Coalition
Type - Regional defensive and military alliance
Member states:
*Syria
*Jordan
*Saudi Arabia
*Israel
*Mesopotamia
-Formed in the light of multiple NATO partnerships, the Middle Eastern Coalition begins to reconstruct various nation’s militaries to become standardized.
-Standardizations include the widespread adoption of the 6.5x39mm Homs cartridge, J65 rifle, armor inserts and various equipment to be worn on the person.
-Technology sharing is a must in this coalition, though much of what is being shared is behind closed doors with padlocks and armed guards.
-A massive, coalition wide program known as AJAP (Advanced Joint Armor Platform) is put in place. Using a variety of production techniques from member nations, and a ‘redistribution’ of the workload, the region (and the world in general) sees the beginnings of the first standardized tank system.
-This massive platform creation project aids not only the region with providing thousands of jobs, but creates what is known as the ‘Babylon X’ main battle tank, the first of its kind. Still in the embryonic stage, much of the tank’s details are shrouded in red tape and blacked out documents, but is nonetheless the envy of regional militaries and armies the world over.
==News of the World in 1968==
Post link: http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1457462&p=47808391&viewfull=1#post47808391
Global Events:
-Soviet influence worldwide begins to wane as countries that were originally loyal to the USSR begin to lean towards NATO, or worse, to China.
-Consumer electronics such as televisions and radios become all the rage in western countries as Middle-Eastern factories begin to pump out cheaper, more readily available products than the original monopoly holders, the Japanese.
-Tensions throughout the world begin to cool as the threat of global warfare is considered a ‘thing of the past’ as the USSR begins to turn to isolationism.
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Euro-NATO Events:
-British and French soldiers continually patrol the borders between the two Germanies, as American troops are focused in Vietnam.
-Much of the smaller NATO states, like Portugal and Denmark, breathe a sigh of relief as their slack is picked up by the newly-added Middle-Eastern counterparts.
-The Federal Republic of Germany begins to outshine its eastern brother, as factories and industry finally make the recovery after WW2 and the following occupation.
----
WARPACT Events:
-The Eastern Bloc begins to tug at its Soviet leash. Nations like Czechoslovakia and Albania look to go the route of Yugoslavia, and Soviet advisors are sent into a tizzy.
-Protests break out in Katowice, Poland, as principals and teachers take to the streets to express their dislike of the controlled, Pro-Soviet curriculum in schools. These protests are met with tear gas, water hoses and, eventually, tanks.
-Soviet troops are moved into bloc countries in order to ensure Soviet influence in the region. However, many bloc country leaders are uneasy with the arrival of troops, and whispers of mutiny float on the wind from time to time.
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Sino-Soviet Events:
-The tensions have finally snapped, and the People’s Republic of China has officially pulled itself away from support of the Soviet Union, no longer allowing for joint defensive or research agreements.
-The Soviets are not surprised, as pushes from Persia and the US alike have managed to unhinge the delicate relationship between the two Red Giants. Nonetheless, Moscow feels the pain of losing arguably their most important ally.
-To further drive a wedge between the two countries, the Chinese have halted arms trade with the North Vietnamese government, and have blockaded Soviet officials from entering the country through Chinese soil.
----
Vietnam War Events:
-Combat begins to draw to a close as American forces have managed to crush the North Vietnamese air-force, ultimately crippling one of the last lines of North Vietnamese defense.
-With the lack of Soviet advisors and Chinese supplies, the North Vietnamese army slowly begins to run out of resources to continue the fight.
-If all keeps up, the United States and South Vietnam may indeed finally capture Hanoi within the coming year.
----
Middle-East Specifics:
Corruption Rates:
Based upon data involving bribery, nepotism, single-party rule, etc.
Best - Persia
Worst - Libya
Ethnic Diversity:
Based upon sheer numbers of minority groups and their size in comparison to the majority
Best - Afghanistan
Worst - Sana'a
Personal Freedom:
Based upon religious, political and human rights and how far the government goes to stop them
Best - Lebanon
Worst - Saudi Arabia
Income Equality:
Based upon the distance in the gap between the top 10% and bottom 50% income rates
Best - Persia
Worst - Libya
Overall Military Strength:
Based equipment, experience, sheer size and defensive/offensive capabilities
Best - Israel
Worst - Aden
International Leaning:
Based upon amount of pro-USSR/NATO rhetoric or decisions made in the government
Most Red - Sana’a
Most Blue - Jordan
==Turn 11: May to August 1968==
thumb|right|270px|Turn musicPost link: http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1457462&p=47846126&viewfull=1#post47846126
Regional Events:
-To protect their interests, troops from the Tigris Economic Union boot out the ruling party in Afghanistan in order to force a coup. They instead force a civil war.
-Kurdish and Persian troops are now put to the test as they attempt to restore order to an already fractured country.
-Lebanon’s government sees a transition as the ruling prime minister steps down amid frustration from the lower classes.
-The opiate trade erupts through the northern areas of the region, as potent supplies of heroin find their way into the hands of unemployed and needy citizens of Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, Syria, Jordan, Persia and Lebanon.
-Turkey exits EMTO as fears of Lebanese legitimacy in the alliance come to light.
Player Events:
Griffster26 - Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Government - Theocratic Dictatorship
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Weak
Domestic Situation - Outraged (Degrading)
Military Situation - Experienced, exhausted, some modern supplies
Corruption - Severe (Improving)
-With the failed coup of the TEU taking place, the Afghan government is fractured, and a vicious, far-right conservative group known as the ‘Islamic United Front’, under the banner of the political party Jaimat-e Islami seizes segments of northern Afghanistan and declares itself the rightful ruler.
-Various hardlining groups such as the PLO, Muslim Brotherhood and Ba’ath party are invited to train in Afghanistan, but most refuse due to the party’s over reactionary policies, or the fact that they are locked in a civil war.
-A puny puppet state is erected in Kashmir, with loyalist extremists taking hold of the miserably tiny government. This Islamic State of Northern Kashmir is expected to act as a buffer state against any would-be eastern invasions.
-Whatever loyalist troops remain in southern Afghanistan and Balochistan are ordered to return to the north and begin re-training. The Islamic Republic’s military soon composes of a mix of guerrillas and trained soldiers, all ready to fight on the defensive in a grueling hit-and-run campaign.
-Leftover recruits are sent to Kashmir, known as the Wahkhan Defense Brigade, and prepare themselves to dig in in the possibility of an Indian, Chinese or even American invasion from the east.
-The Pashtun areas of Pakistan are ‘officially’ annexed, though some areas are under control of TEU expeditionary forces.
-Tribal groups are now allowed to return to their traditional lands in return for monetary, military or medical support for the Islamic fighters. Many accept, as they wish to just return to their pasture lands and ignore whatever the hell is going on between Afghanistan and what appears to be the world.
-Christians are forcibly removed from their homes in Pashtun areas, as the Islamic Republic demands that Kashmir do the same. These Christians are put on exhausting death marches through the mountains, or are executed en-masse on the spot.
-The fighting with the TEU sees meagre success on the part of the Islamic Republic, as the TEU’s small expeditionary forces are not large enough, nor well trained enough, to deal with such asymmetric warfare.
Native Hunter - Royal Front of Turkey
Type - Monarchist Usurpers
Infighting - Minimal
International Opinion - Wacko Conservatives
Funding - Meager
Armaments - Next to nothing
-With the claim of Osman Fuad, successor to what would be the Ottoman Empire, in place, a group of far right-wing Turkish nationalists push for his return and for him to head their would-be revolution.
-Osman accepts, though hesitant, as he fears what would come of his country were revolution to break out again.
-Royalist advisors are sent to various monarchies in Europe for assistance. However, their Islamic fundamentalist ideology, right wing placing and anti-western stance sees them booted out of royal halls almost instantly.
-Radicalist Islamic imams loyal to the RFT begin preaching inflammatory talks in public places, denouncing the west’s role in Turkey, and stating ‘our Muslim brothers grow strong not too far away from us, so why not join them!’. However, some of these imams are seized by local governments and questioned for their actions.
-Turkish police sometimes stumble on homemade weapons caches, which include firebombs, explosives and crude guns. These weapons are of course seized, but police forces fear they are only scraping the surface.
-A group known as the “Longbeards” is formed, and acts as the strong arm of the group. Longbeards are sometimes seen harassing shop owners for protection money, or ruthlessly beating vocal anti-Royalists.
-The Longbeards' skill comes from the adoption of eastern martial arts such as Karate and Judo, and when it comes to hand-to-hand combat, these loyal fighters are a force to be reckoned with, as many broken noses and shattered wrists of anti-Royalists prove.
-Violence aside however, the Royalists also work on improving their relations with the poor and needy, using the zakat as their driving example for public work.
-Small soup kitchens, public prayer services and large donation services help prop up the poor in Istanbul and the surrounding regions.
-Sermons are held denouncing the secularist acts of the Turkish government, and many of the poor people in said sermons rally to the call. Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise in Turkey.
-Using money from donations, protection money, bribes and other means, the Royalists manage to purchase some off-hand firearms and weapons from supporters and gun smugglers. Meagre weapons that in no way could hold up against a full on counter-attack, but good enough to knock a few people down nonetheless.
Deng - Federation of Persia
Government - Federalist Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Very Rich (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Stable
Military Situation - Relatively experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Low
-Talks are held with the United States and China in order to bring the two nations together for economic cooperation, using Persia as a middleman. These talks are met with relative success, as an ‘Economic Embassy’ is constructed in Shiraz, where bankers, investors and diplomats alike from the respective nations can meet and discuss terms.
-American investors are encouraged to begin putting money into the growing Persian infrastructure programs. American companies such as Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) are commonly seen in Persia with logos slapped onto electronic substations throughout the country.
-The Chinese are pleased with the growing economic and diplomatic support for Pakistan, as the TEU brings the new democratic government into membership, while simultaneously preparing them to act as a buffer against India.
-Persian and Kurdish troops, under the banner of the TEU, march from Balochistan and begin to uproot Afghan government personnel and leaders, putting in reformist, TEU-appointed confidants in their place. This sparks a civil war within the country, as Uzbek and Tajik groups struggle to pull away, and radicalist groups declare themselves as the de-facto rulers of the country.
-People under the control of the Persian interventionists give the TEU minor support, as many of them are war-weary and just wish to be left alone.
-Persian troops are now locked in a brutal series of sporadic attacks from Islamic forces, and find themselves on the conventional half of a guerilla campaign. Seeing as to how the US first faired in Vietnam, Persian military advisors start to bite their nails.
-In the economic side of things, where the Persians work the best, new reforms are put in place. Workers in Persia are now allowed to move to other TEU countries that they wish, and can use the now open high-speed rail system to travel throughout the nation.
-The Persians continue to ignore the use of borders, in an attempt to lessen international claims and disputes’ impact on economic development.
-Persian light industry continues to be the leading force of economic growth in the country, and now, in terms of sheer number of workers and talents coming in, Persia becomes the most economically powerful country in the region, now beating the Saudis. Persian economists thank the growing consumer electronics industry and the demand for biotechnologies in western research facilities.
-The high-speed rail line continues construction, now stretching outside of the borders of Persia. Its first construction begins in Kurdistan, but has plans to be extended to Mesopotamia, Balochistan and Syria. This building project creates thousands of jobs, and is arguably one of the biggest projects in the region since the Suez Canal.
-Persian bankers are encouraged to invest in foreign businesses now, most notably the desperate Pakistani industry developments. This money flies out the door, as investors hope for a worthwhile return.
-With assistance of American electronic engineers and top mathematicians from Japan, Persian students at the University of Tehran unveil the prototype of the Advanced Research Projects Network (ARP-NET). This extremely complex ‘packet switching’ device is the first of its kind. Essentially, ARP-NET is made to send messages and communications faster and farther with a variety of various electronic devices and machinations. Though the first sketchup and prototype build of ARP-NET isn’t as effective as they want, Persian project leader Radin Noraas is interviewed by newspapers and magazines from around the world, declared the ‘Father of Modern Telecommunication’ and ‘The Next Alexander Graham Bell’.
-In order to support his research, Noraas works with Kurdish electronics engineers and designs a ‘personal computer’. These hulking, massive and extremely expensive devices are best suited for government work or major businesses, but are nonetheless effective. A tiny screen and punch-card calculations allows these devices to get the job done faster than any hand work that a regular desk jockey could do.
Emperor Scorpious II - Sultanate of Mesopotamia
Government - Theocratic Monarchy
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Stable (Improving)
Domestic Situation - Stable
Military Situation - Experienced, semi-modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-The Mesopotamian government happily assists in the development of the Trans-Arabian Rail Line, the agreed name for the TEU’s massive high-speed railway. The Persians and Kurds aren’t pleased with the name.
-Relations are built up with the southern Arab nations of Aden and Oman, while Mesopotamia simultaneously shuns the socialist-leaning Sana’a. The developments with Aden and Oman bring the nations closer together, and small joint-oil projects take place.
-Government probes into hydroelectric plants slowly begin to divert minor amounts of water from the dams and instead redistribute it to irrigation programs in arid areas in order expand the country’s agricultural centers.
-A nationwide ‘architectural reform’ begins. All buildings, from government to residential, must meet more modern safety standards, while also having an ‘Islam inspired’ look. Infrastructure and construction companies take a few pages from the beauty of the golden age under the Umayyads, and the style evokes a homely and almost nostalgic feel.
-Persian is adopted as a secondary language in Mesopotamia schools, though the nations standard Arabic is still considered the primary language. The adoption of Persian comes as the government pushes for a ‘destruction’ of illiteracy, and hopes that Persian can assist the lower classes and uneducated in finding a job in their massive neighbor.
-Advisors and troops from the Twin Rivers University make a deal with the United States, and make their way into the final fights in Vietnam. The goal is to not only learn more about combat and take pages from one of the most combat-ready nations in the world, but also to protect the tiny Muslim minority in the country from communist persecution.
-The Mesopotamian military also makes a deal with the United Kingdom to purchase two large frigates to protect Mesopotamian oil assets in the Arabian Gulf. These two ships, dubbed Jabbar and Ali, arrive in Kuwait City at the tail end of August, with a huge ceremony taking place as the Sultan and Ayatollah bless the ships.
-Kuwait City is now established as a ‘special economic zone’, and given an increased level of autonomy and self-rule. Foreign investors already flocking to the country are diverted to the less-established city, as its port access increases the viability of Mesopotamian exports.
-A trade deal is opened up with major western powers such as Britain, France and the US. Unleaded gas is sold in return for detachments from armored brigades to partake in MEC training exercises. M60 Pattons now go head-to-head with Mesopotamian armored units, and are surprisingly coming out on the bottom again and again.
-The wind turbine projects are fiddled with yet again, as Mesopotamian researchers design a ‘fish fin’ blade. These large, somewhat expensive blades catch the wind much more effectively, and have enough drag to spin harder and faster.
-Mesopotamian armor researchers taking part in the AJAP project continue working on tracks and other locomotive equipment. Minor advances are made, as the sandy and rocky environment make the standards completely different than regular tracks.
OvB - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Very Rich
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Improving)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, semi-modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate
-Seemingly bending to the will of the Persians, the Saudis open themselves up to a free-trade deal with the Tigris Economic Union. This deal entails that Saudi businesses and TEU businesses can cooperate economically, and basically get along, though rivalries make this difficult.
-Short range Saudi Space Agency rockets are adapted for military use, and become a horrific sight during MEC training missions. The VLM-5 ‘Ghazi’, as it is dubbed, is the nation’s first Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM). Used in testing sights in the middle of the desert, this missile has surprising range and accuracy, and can deliver kilotons of explosives directly onto a target thousands of kilometers away.
-Irrigation programs continue as the Saudi government pushes to build up agriculture in the otherwise arid nation. Massive desalination projects on the coastlines bring in thousands of gallons of fresh water daily to desperate farms and citizens near the center of the country.
-‘Center-pivot’ irrigation, or essentially smaller, circular farms, is adopted in many of the agriculture-dependent regions of the coastal parts of the country. These ‘disc farms’, as they are dubbed by citizens, help produce large quantities of millet and barley, and ease the nation’s dependency on food imports somewhat.
-Rural bedouins, a dying breed, are essentially made extinct as the Saudi government hands out land grants in return for sedentary farming. These small, family-owned farms produce meagre results, but are nonetheless the final nail in the coffin for the hardlining or even sometimes radical tribal groups within the country.
-A complex, two-stage rocket system is devised at SASA, with the intentions of achieving further geosynchronous orbit. Liquid fuel and multistage boosters are tinkered with, and the SASA expects results by the summer of ‘69, which will be the best time of their lives, no doubt.
-Alongside working harder on the creation of complex rocketry, the SASA also dabbles in advanced pumping technology. Rocket fuel is a precious resource for the SASA, and designs for a speedier, more efficient transfer is in high demand.
Jin - Republic of Israel
Government - Federal Republic
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Hated By Arab World
Economic Situation - Rich
Domestic Situation - Uneasy
Military Situation - Experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Low
-Border restrictions are lessened with Lebanon, and Lebanese workers/families are allowed more open entrance into Israel, though those going to/from are inspected closely for their reasons.
-Leftovers from MEC test trials and Israeli experiments are now set aside, as the Israeli military looks to adopt a new firearm to replace the elderly and outdated Galil. This comes mainly from the growing push for standardization in the MEC, and the Israelis are desperate not to fall behind.
-A rifle is finally chosen, dubbed the ‘Acre Automatic Rifle Model 1’ (AARM 1). This 6.5x39 standard assault rifle is quickly shoved into the hands of the military, and sees effective use in MEC wargames.
-Military patrols continue along the Suez and the borders of Israel, as the government continues to be paranoid about outside threats.
-Experience is a must-have for Iron Dome operators, and mock intrusions of Israeli airspace by unmarked Israeli air-force jets are used to get said operators prepped for speedy reaction and target acquisition.
-The Shedim, the secretive Israeli special forces unit, is no longer secretive as monthly training missions use live munitions and helicopter insertions into populated urban centers in order to give the group experience in terms.
-Hardliners and radicals of both Jewish and Arab groups are regularly probed by the Israeli government, as the government pushes for a secular and moderate society, and hopes to quell the age-old tensions of Jew and Arab.
-Even though the Israelis suffered minimal losses compared to the Egyptians, a large memorial is constructed near the Suez canal, with all of the names of lost Israeli soldiers etched in marble, to be remembered for eternity, under the banner of ‘Unity and Peace from Blood and Iron’.
-Jumpstarting Israeli/Arab relations, the Israeli government finally meets with the furious, anti-Israeli “leaders” of the Gaza Strip, and begin incorporating the tiny region into an official substate of the country. The state is moved under the administration of the Palestinian Authority, which soothes the angry leaders significantly.
-Economic competition is encouraged even more as taxes are lowered on small businesses within the country. Large companies are now slowly locked out from absorbing smaller ones, and the incentive for economic growth from these small businesses is their top priority.
-With the growing agriculture programs cropping up (no pun intended) along the Sinai peninsula, the Israeli government doles out jobs to veterans in order to expand irrigation and desalination projects within the region.
-Securing the reefs near the Red Sea has proved to be a boon for the newly growing Israeli tourist industry. Foreigners are able to scuba dive and watch beautiful fishes and marine life in their natural habitat, and the world famous Jacques Cousteau takes part in opening up the Israeli Reef Protection Foundation.
-Forever working hard and looking for possible threats to their investments, the Israeli government sends a variety of observers and divers to begin clearing out the Suez canal of scuttled Egyptian warships. This cleanup initiative allows more cargo to come through with a much lower risk of being damaged, or worse, sunk within the canal.
-Overseeing the ongoing trade through the Suez, the Israeli government raises the canal’s tolls for ships passing through. Though not entirely noticeable, the sheer number of ships coming through make a phenomenal positive impact on the tiny nation’s spending money.
-Researchers continue their work on the AJAP program, as Israeli weapons manufacturers and electronic engineers alike tinker and toy with the beastly Babylon X’s design.
-Target acquisition and optics are the utmost priority for much of Israel’s part of the project. Complex mirror systems and even a small camera mounted beneath the barrel give the Babylon X a step above its competitors.
-Heavy weapons require more reliable fire control systems, and engineers from the university at Tel-Aviv construct a basic radar-based targeting system that allow the tank’s gun to more accurately pinpoint its target.
-Instead of relying on communications and signalling from nearby allies, the Babylon now uses tiny radar sensors to pick up on the surrounding area, and tests show it can detect nearby enemies up to 200 meters away without needing visual contact.
-Serious developments in the AJAP program coming from a primarily Israeli source prove to the MEC that anybody can throw their hat into the game of Middle-Eastern politics, and the Israelis yet again come out on top when it comes to things that kill people.
Malos - Kingdom of Jordan
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Moderately Strong
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Relatively experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Low
-The Jordanian government, much like many of its neighbors, essentially kowtows to the Tigris Economic Union, and signs the same Free Trade deal that the Saudis have put forth.
-Seeing the Israelis progress both militarily and financially, the Jordanians push for their neighbor and ally to become a member of NATO. However, seeing Israel’s belligerence in the region, the advisors of NATO turn down the offer.
-The Jordanian military adopts a more lightweight and space efficient armor carrier, simply dubbed a ‘plate carrier’. Much smaller, but still as effective, this new set of armor carrier is all the rage amongst infantry, who are happy to receive something a little less heavy in 90f weather.
-The West Bank reforms slowly begin to come to a halt, as the Jordanian government feels that they have done enough to prop up the largely Palestinian portion of the country. Nonetheless, the reforms were extremely effective, and the government can rest easy knowing that they aren’t pulling out too early.
-A large, multinational Euro-NATO embassy is erected in Amman, known as the NATO Central Operations Municipal building (NATO-COM). NATO-COM is essentially a center for European NATO members to meet and discuss changes to rhetoric, deployments and other general needs, while keeping advisors safe from harm come a Euro-based emergency.
-The Druze and Baha’i faiths, largely considered minorities, are officially recognized by the government, and given the same protective status as other religions. These sweeping religious reforms also affect the Jews, who are also brought into the fold under the increasingly secular Jordanian government.
-With these religious reforms in place, a large celebration is held in Jerusalem, simply dubbed ‘All Faiths Day’. Though protested by hardliners on all sides, this long day of partying and celebration draws many of the lower and middle class together under the banner of individual pride.
-The Jordanian government allows the state’s phosphate and petroleum industries to become privatized, and are shocked to see some portions of Jordan’s critical phosphate reserves fall into the hands of Persian business owners.
-Alongside reforms in natural resources, cement and potash factories are constructed in hopes of decreasing Jordan’s reliance on imported building materials, while simultaneously allowing them to export precious fertilizers throughout the region.
-Competition with Beirut Brew continues, as Jordanian researchers returning from Riyadh bring back a breed of coffee plant dubbed Coffea jerusalema, a completely manufactured species built for more arid climates. Though only meagrely more potent than regular brews, this strain of coffee plant can survive in harsh conditions that would otherwise spell doom for coffee growers.
-In order to support their southern neighbors while also decreasing their dependence on fossil fuels, solar panels are once again looked into as a source of power for electronics. Smaller, less material-heavy panels are created, and given to the SASA as a gift. Though expensive, they are nonetheless closely revered as Jordan’s biggest foray into green energy.
iAmaNewb - Republic of Pakistan
Government - Democratic Republic
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Weak (Improving)
Domestic Situation - Outraged (Improving)
Military Situation - Experienced, exhausted, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-With the inclusion into the Tigris Economic Union, the Pakistani military sees an importation of more American-standard equipment. The slowly reforming Pakistani army now has a hodgepodge of Soviet, American and Chinese tanks and firearms, and the military struggles to find the more effective of the three.
-American investors are swayed by Pakistani diplomats who fear the revival of communism in the Middle-East, and infrastructure companies are seen assisting in the repair projects of the fractured nation. These incoming foreign companies create thousands of jobs, and lessen the burden on the government.
-Conscription is yet again put in place, but this time much less restrictive. Men 19 and up are required to dedicate themselves to the army for a minimum of 2 years, but see themselves deployed in more humanitarian based projects, such as the rebuilding process or aid work in northern Pakistan.
-TEU funds continue to flow into the country, helping the nation’s industry grow while creating many much needed jobs for the poor and unemployed.
-A police and anti-corruption unit, simply known as the Bureau of Internal Investigation and Reforms (BIIR) is sent into the ranks of the government to weed out corruption and criminal members of parliament. It is met with relative success, as the BIIR takes pages from Persian corruption reforms.
-Calculators are produced in the small electronics factories outside of Islamabad, and exported to nations like the US and UK. This is in outright mimicry of the huge Persian electronics export industry, but nonetheless attracts the same Japanese electronics giants that work in Pakistan's former neighbor.
-Oil probing projects begin in the south of the country, as the nation is desperate to find new areas of economic development.
Milkdairy - Syrian Republic
Government - Democratic Republic
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Somewhat Strong (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Inexperienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-Talks with NATO see the Syrians pushing the ‘superior’ 6.5x39 Homs cartridge for adoption amongst the ranks of NATO. With the US heading the receiving end of the talks, the Syrian diplomats are shown the door.
-An ultimatum is sent to the rickety Egyptian Republic: Give over the Baathists, or Syria will put forward serious action. Absolutely terrified of what that would mean, the Egyptians hand over the Baathists, who are immediately imprisoned on charges of corruption and ‘disturbing the sanctity of the region’.
-Intensive training exercises continue, this time focusing on the Damascus X-1 ATGM. The missile is converted into the X-2, which is a smaller, shoulder-fired platform that can be operated by a crew of 2, rather than being mounted on a dedicated vehicle.
-A large reform sweeps through the ranks of NCOs within the Syrian military. These reforms include increased freedoms when giving and receiving commands, as the Syrian military moves to smaller, independent squad-based tactics rather than the WW2 styled grand battle plan.
-A standardization reform also takes place in the military, this time focusing on personal technical skill. All soldiers are expected to have basic medical training and mechanical knowledge, while also being given extremely basic command training, in order to reduce the requirement for specialized soldiers. This also creates more of a bond between squad members and their squad leader as they become truly dependent on one another, reducing the chance for insubordination.
-Modernization continues, and reaches a peak once the Syrian military finds itself in the fairly high-standards of the MEC’s military protocols.
-Religious law courts are officially banned and stripped of their legal authority. This brings an end to religious courts, and instead allows the Syrian judicial system to grow. This outrages many conservative religious leaders, who soon find themselves staring down the barrel of fines and public nuisance charges.
-Honor killings and religiously based assaults/murders are declared federal crimes and punishable by life in prison or execution by firing squad. This weeds out extremists within the country, while simultaneously letting everyone know that the Persians do not fuck around.
-Women are officially given the same rights as men, and are not only allowed to vote, but can hold public office and positions within the government. Of course, women are still barred from entering the military, but their legal representation allows for a huge growth of liberalism within the country nonetheless.
-The Trans-Arabian Rail Line sees major investment from the Syrian government, though construction has yet to begin in Syria proper. This comes as a Syrian step closer into the fold of the Tigris Economic Union.
-Syrian cars begin exportation into Europe, and even find their way into the hands of eccentric buyers from Yugoslavia and Albania. These ‘Sandies’, as they are nicknamed by British car enthusiasts, are the talk of the town at races and car shows throughout the west.
-Persian economic reforms involving bank expansion and tax collection are put in place as the Syrian government tries to bring itself up to the standards of the TEU’s laundry list of must-do’s and need-to-have’s.
Tigris Economic Union
Type - Regional economic, trade and administrative union
Member states:
*Persia
*Balochistan
*Pakistan
*Kurdistan
*Mesopotamia
*Syria
*Oman
*Egypt
-Due to the coup in Afghanistan, and the lack of a proper government in the country, Afghanistan/Pashtunistan is removed from membership in the Tigris Economic Union.
-As per the treaty with the Pakistanis, as the former Afghan military exits Balochistan and parts of Pashtun Pakistan, Pakistan and Balochistan are brought under the helm of the TEU.
-Oman, seeing the opportunity as a safe long-term investment, is brought into the fold of the TEU, and the kingdom begins setting itself up for the required reforms.
-Free trade agreements are opened up with members of the MEC, further increasing the TEU’s authority and quasi-monopoly in the region.
-The International State and Economic Reform Package (ISERP) is distributed amongst the governments of the Tigris Economic Union. This package has a list of reforms and advice for the adoption of the various requirements of TEU membership, and usually comes with a handful of Persian advisors to ease these governments through the processes.
-Economic reforms are pushed in the provisional Egyptian government and the newly formed Pakistani government. These reforms mainly focus on the standardization of banking and budgets, while also focusing on independent growth from businesses.
-Kurdistan, Mesopotamia, Balochistan and Persia see further adoption of the Talent, and it is quickly seen in the hands of upper class citizens. Still not strong enough to be common amongst the lower classes, the Talent is nonetheless a step forward in economic unity through the region.
-The Trans-Arabian Rail Line begins its construction, with huge monetary investments from all TEU memberships going towards it.
Middle Eastern Coalition
Type - Regional defensive and military alliance
Member states:
*Syria
*Jordan
*Saudi Arabia
*Israel
*Mesopotamia
-AJAP continues production, as major advancements are made throughout the member nations.
-The Babylon X goes through its first mockup trial runs, and meets only a few of the required standards. This is not a setback, however, as MEC military advisors see it as much-needed information on the vehicle’s stress-points and tolerances.
Notes: After this turn came out, an expanded map was introduced. Because the first one didn't have any real differences to the original map of this turn, the expanded map was added instead. During the wait for Turn 12, the GM released two Game Map Specifics:
Wealth (Using GDP Per Capita [Note: 1968 Dollars. US GDPPC was 4695 USD]):
Wealthy - Much of the region and its citizens enjoy adequate incomes and strong economic opportunities [>7500 USD]
Strong - The region and its citizens have fairly healthy incomes and economic opportunities [4000-7000 USD]
Average - The region is neither particularly rich nor poor, tends to have a large middle class and some economic opportunity (in terms of wealth, think of the usual middle-american town of the 60s) [2000-4000 USD]
Poor - The region is not very wealthy, has little economic opportunity, and does not have an upper class [1000-2000 USD]
Destitute - The region makes next to no money, and its citizens suffer because of it (some/most of these regions have very few people living in them/uninhabited) [<1000 USD]
Leaning of International Governments:
Please note: "Paternally Autocratic" means that a single party and single ruler dictates law and order within the nation. This includes both monarchies and military dictatorships.
==Turn 12: September to December 1968==
thumb|right|270px|Turn musicPost link: http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1457462&p=47898565&viewfull=1#post47898565
Regional Events:
-The civil war in Afghanistan continues, as more extremist sides break away from the fracturing government and carve out their own territories as a stand against the invaders.
-The Tajik and Uzbek militias fighting for independence join forces and lash out against the Islamist government of Afghanistan, further destabilizing the country.
Player Events:
Griffster26 - Islamic Liberation Front
Type - Religious Radicalists
Infighting - Minimal
International Opinion - Wacko Conservatives
Funding - Meager
Armaments - Captured supplies
-Breaking off from the local governing bodies, the ILF begins a ferocious guerrilla campaign against the moderates and invaders in Afghanistan.
-Fighting against the Altaic Liberation Front begins, and both sides find themselves locked in a grueling war of attrition. A 3 way war is inevitably kicked up by the fighting.
-Firearms and supplies are captured from armories and military bases, while also raiding former Pakistani supply stations and TEU occupying bases.
-Gun factories begin to spring up in far out rural areas of the country, with captured supplies being reformatted, repaired or outright copied. These crude hand-made firearms are surprisingly reliable and are just as devastating as their machine made counterparts.
-A new, horrific tactic is used by the ILF, dubbed ‘suicide bombing’ by observers. Using cars, bicycles or even on foot, ILF militiamen throw their lives away in order to spread fear in civilian populations or destroy TEU building projects.
-Extremists from outside of Afghanistan find their way into the ranks of the ILF, as the small group’s ‘struggle against anti-Islamic invaders’ tugs at the heart strings of radicalized Muslims the world over.
-The ILF is able to build a surprising amount of support in the largely rural regions of the north/northeastern half of the country, as imams and leaflets rile up the poor and homeless.
-The ILF enforce a strict, personalized version of Sharia on much of the population in their occupied areas. Women are forced to wear burqas, whilst men must have beards, and both must submit to ILF trooper authority.
-Guns are smuggled in from various Islamic countries as support for the radicalists grow.
Native Hunter - Royal Front of Turkey
Type - Monarchist Usurpers
Infighting - Minimal
International Opinion - Wacko Conservatives
Funding - Meager
Armaments - Smuggled/Imported supplies
-Recruiters from the RFT move about to more conservative areas of the region, attempting to garner support for the Royalist Front, while simultaneously attempting to spread government surveillance away from key members.
-Longbeard members of the RFT continue humanitarian work throughout the poor districts of Istanbul and the surrounding countryside, working tirelessly to support the poor and homeless.
-Imams are riled up and brought into the fold of the RFT, citing the need for a strong Islamic backbone in an otherwise ‘western puppet of a nation’.
-Some officials in Istanbul, including the Chief of Police, begin to wave away complaints of the RFT after receiving multiple goodie bags in their mailboxes.
-Warehouses and storage spaces are purchased in large amounts through the country, though their purpose is not yet exactly known. However, angry-looking Longbeards can be seen guarding and going to/from these warehouses at night.
-Imams loyal to the RFT begin to spread propaganda and pro-RFT rhetoric in areas outside of Istanbul, focusing mainly on rural districts. This manages to garner some support, but many Turkish citizens are wary of the possibility of such a drastic change to their livelihoods.
-“Shocking” exposes are released by the RFT after sources were ‘convinced’ to release such information regarding corruption and bribery amongst the top heads of state in Turkey. Only a handful of people are really surprised, as corruption and Ankara go hand-in-hand.
-Big-talk begins to flow from the propaganda centers of the RFT, as words along the lines of “two chickens in every pot, two cars in every garage” hang in the air at RFT rallies.
-A Zakat tax is levied on members of the RFT, in hopes of bolstering the group’s economic situation. Of course, most members grumble at the need to dole out cash in the first place, but do so anyway to keep their positions.
-Power for the Royalists begins to grow, and international observers raise an eyebrow at the group’s sudden appearance. The Turkish government, however, announces the plans for a crackdown next year, right after they pull up their pants from the whole “exposing-you-for-the-corrupt-bastards-you-are” deal.
Deng - Federation of Persia
Government - Federalist Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Very Rich (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Stable
Military Situation - Relatively experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Low
-Persian troops enter Afghanistan with the intentions of clearing out Islamic forces by securing a pseudo-alliance with the Altaic Liberation Front. However, much of the fighting in the region has separated most of the TEU forces, and the Persians are limited to the southern half of the country as ALF troopers are hesitant to let the TEU through.
-Locals are hired to work alongside the Persian military in order to support the war effort and reduce tensions. It has minimal impact, as the local population is extremely distrustful of the TEU (considering the attempted coup and invasion).
-Though the war continues right on their doorstep, the Persians attempt to bring the United States and Chinese to the bargaining table in Tehran in order to kickstart economic reform in the Asian supergiant. However, the two governments are unable to come to an agreement, as their interests clash repeatedly.
-A new “dual citizenship” law is enacted, which allows for outsiders to acquire Persian citizenship quite easily, so long as they meet a laundry list of requirements and parameters. Most that apply for dual-citizenship are migrant workers, who find it easier to travel to/from the country, even with the open border policy.
-The Insurgent Control Act is put in place with the Persian forces enforcing peace through the barrel of a gun in Afghanistan. The ICA focuses mainly on capturing insurgents and using enhanced interrogation techniques to get them to reveal the locations of their comrades. However, many of the captured ILF refuse to give up their friends, and are resilient during questioning.
-The death penalty is abolished, which soothes the fears of many criminals who were once lamenting in the nation’s prison system. Alongside this, apostasy is legalized as well, as the Persians for once take a page from another nation rather than the other way around.
-The huge Trans-Arabian Rail System continues its construction, now focusing on the areas between Persia and Afghanistan. However, the construction runs into repeated roadblocks in occupied territory, as ILF fighters regularly sneak in and detonate bombs strapped to their chests in order to destroy equipment and harass personnel.
-The Persians look to western nations in order to alleviate costs for the huge railway project. However, seeing the results in Afghanistan, many would-be investors are hesitant to give their money to a project that carries such risks.
-Taking a few pages from the studies at the University of Hull, electronic researchers at the University of Tehran discover new ways to produce cyanobiphenyl liquid crystals, and unveil more ways to apply them to Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs). However, like many electronic inventions of the past 5 years, it is applied mainly to military or government technology, and may take ages to overcome the entrenched paperwork system of Persia.
-Automated track-layers are tinkered with. Using a system of gears and tank-style treads, a large, bulky machine that is operated by a single user is developed. This huge beast of a machine does the work of 10 men, and what would usually take a day is done in 3 hours. However, these machines become the prime target of ILF bombers in Afghanistan, and the machine is quickly diverted to the more stable Mesopotamian ring of the TARL.
Emperor Scorpious II - Sultanate of Mesopotamia
Government - Theocratic Monarchy
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Stable (Improving)
Domestic Situation - Stable
Military Situation - Experienced, semi-modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-The Mesopotamian government formally petitions Kurdistan to hand over the largely Arab populated northwestern regions. The Kurds, however, refuse the petition, and instead feel almost insulted by the proposition.
-A powerful anti-drug campaign begins throughout Mesopotamia, with the hopes of destroying the growing opiate trade that threatens the sanctity of low-income households. Those caught trafficking drugs are apprehended and face horrendous treatment in the brutal Mesopotamian prison system.
-Drug rehabilitation programs are opened up in Karbala and Baghdad. Most of these programs use religious texts and motivation in order to discourage repeat offenders, though it is common for some to return to using almost immediately after, and are faced with prison time.
-The Madrasa of Al-Kindi, a huge college for the study of Islamic arts and theology, begins construction in Baghdad. Focusing on the Golden Age of the Islamic caliphates, this college hopes to further the study of neo-classical architecture, law, philosophy and sociology during the Caliphate period.
-The International Islamic Literature Society (IILS) is founded, with the intentions of bringing Islamic scholars and writers to promote Islamic and Arabic writings. The IILS sees some success after a series of novels about the classical Arabic hero Sinbad becomes an international best seller.
-A huge national power grid begins construction, focusing on supporting the larger cities and weaning the nation off of dependence from foreign sources of electricity (coal, oil, etc.). The power grid links up the new turbine farms and the various hydroelectric plants, and make a significant difference in softening the country’s electric bill.
-Areas of Anbar province are designated “Bedouin Tribal Preservation Territory”, and the few remaining tribal groups of Mesopotamia are given refuge, with the hopes of preserving an “important piece of Islamic and Arabic culture”.
-A naval base begins construction on the tiny Failaka Island in order to provide some sort of defense for Kuwait city. The new base also begins to act as an administrative hub for the southern wing of the Mesopotamian military, and the newly growing Mesopotamian Navy.
-After making deals with the US military and its NATO-aligned contingents, the Mesopotamian government purchases 3 Treasury Class cutters. These largely outdated ships are given modernized weaponry and navigation systems, and are planned to be in the hands of the Mesopotamians by the beginning of ‘69.
-With the growing naval contingent of the Mesopotamian military, the infamous Muhammad’s Scimitars see beach-landing and amphibious assault training, taking pages from Operation Overlord and the planned-but-not-actually-happening Operation Sealion.
-Also looking at MEC member nation Saudi Arabia, the Mesopotamians unveil their own carbon-copy of the Saudis early SAM-site missile system. Though crude, expensive, and only somewhat effective, the missile launcher is adapted for a mobile, self-propelled platform. This mobile air defense system is a ferocious new toy in the hands of the Mesopotamians, and many militaries from around the world take note.
OvB - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Very Rich
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Improving)
Military Situation - Relatively inexperienced, semi-modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate
-The Saudi military begins constructing a series of military installations at the Raynah Missile Range in order to continue the large research projects taking place there.
-At the Grand University in Tehran, a new wing is constructed. The newly formed National Nuclear Research Laboratory is created in order to further intensify the reliability and output of the various nuclear power plants along the coastline.
-Oceanic transport companies are given the opportunity to set up “Oases” on the Saudi Red Sea Coast. These oases are used to repair traveling ships, and multiple companies leap at the chance to use this. The opportunity of rapid reconstruction/repair without having to change course before entering/exiting the Suez is delightful to many ship-based businesses.
-Not ripping off the Persians at all, a large railway is constructed leading from Riyadh to Jeddah. Dubbed the “Sandy Railroad” by American businessmen who take the line regularly, this new rail transports not only people but plenty of cargo in and around the two cities.
Jin - Republic of Israel
Government - Federal Republic
Alignment - Leaning to NATO
International Opinion - Hated by Arab Nationalists
Economic Situation - Rich
Domestic Situation - Uneasy
Military Situation - Experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Low
-The Israeli government outright condemns the actions taking place against Christians in Afghanistan, and denounce the Afghan “government” for allowing such actions to take place, threatening punishments for harboring such groups.
-Civilians in the Gaza Strip are given citizenship so long as they can pass a battery of tests revolving around mathematics, science and history, while also being required to pass a newly standardized citizenship exam that focuses on the duties of a citizen and the ways they can help their nation.
-With the military demobilized, the Israeli Defense Force looks to moving troops that are not stationed and jobless into public works projects. This helps with the construction of roads, hospitals, communications centers and water flow systems, though many would-be construction workers are irked out of being gypped by the government.
-A railroad begins construction, leading from Tel Aviv to Amman. This large, transnational railroad is constructed with the intention of tying the two nations together economically.
-With the ‘Garden of Eden’ program well underway, the Israeli government begins pumping huge amounts of fresh water into the Sinai peninsula. Ecologists cite the sudden moistening and fertilization of the area as a “million year phenomena”. Farms begin pooping up almost the instant the water hits the sand.
-Huge infrastructure projects begin in Gaza in order to bring the small strip of land up to Israeli living standards, with the hopes of creating a more equal nation for all Israeli citizens to live in.
Malos - Kingdom of Jordan
Government - Absolute Monarchy
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Moderately Strong
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Relatively experienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Low
-In cooperation with Israel, the Jordanian and Israeli sides of Jerusalem are combined into the Great Holy City. Using a dual-governance system, the Israelis and Jordanians essentially turn Jerusalem into a self-governed city state under the authority of its neighbors. With tensions usually running hot, the cooperation of Jews and Muslims is considered the first in a massive series of cultural exchanges that begin to take place in the ancient city.
-Seeing the combat continue to go poorly for the TEU in Afghanistan, the Jordanian military begins reformations involving counter-insurgency tactics. Most of these include taking the fight to the enemy with brute force, while also creating guerrilla hit-and-run tactics of their own in order to reduce casualties.
-Alongside combat reforms, the Jordanian military sees the creation of more comfortable, breathable uniforms. Built for the desert heat, these uniforms have multiple “microvents” that allow air to pass through, letting sweat evaporate quicker, thus creating an ultimately cooler set of clothes for troops to wear.
-The Hashimite Bedouin Mounted Police is formed. These camel-mounted mobile guard units are used mainly to patrol the borders of the country and do stealthy stakeout operations, acting as a mobile part of the federal police. However, the HBMP is also used in parades and police meet-n-greets, and the camels are a great addition for making children feel less afraid around police.
-Large religious reformations take place in Jordan, as the king slowly begins to move away from Islam and towards a more secular outlook on life. Of course, this upsets many hardlining Islamists, but they can do little to change the heart of the Jordanian government.
-The West Bank reforms are turned about and enacted on the rest of Jordan, focusing mainly on Amman. Though not needed in Jordan proper as much as they were the West Bank, these reforms are nonetheless helpful in generating jobs, repairing infrastructure and creating a general calm amongst the population.
-A massive federal land registry is formed in order to facilitate land reforms and economic growth in otherwise untouched regions of the country.
-The Jordanian government releases its budgets to the public, in order to foster transparency but also attract TNCs to set up shop (literally) in Jordan. Much of this goes over the heads of average citizens, but those that understand appreciate the steps taken by their government.
-Using designs purchased from American companies, the Jordanian phosphate industry sees a huge growth after larger, more efficient machines are constructed in order to pull the precious substance out faster and more often.
iAmaNewb - Republic of Pakistan
Government - Democratic Republic
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Weak (Improving)
Domestic Situation - Outraged (Improving)
Military Situation - Experienced, exhausted, subpar quality
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-The Pakistani economy slowly goes back towards growth as the infrastructure programs continue to be effective, and the investment from foreign companies/nations soothes the budget restraints.
Milkdairy - Levantine Republic
Government - Democratic Republic
Alignment - NATO
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Somewhat Strong (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Uneasy (Degrading)
Military Situation - Inexperienced, modernized equipment
Corruption - Moderate (Improving)
-In a rash change of events, the Lebanese government yields (see: is bullied) into accepting a unification agreement with Syria, which essentially allows the latter country to absorb the former.
-The authority of the Lebanese government is essentially stripped, and the work of the Brotherhood disappears overnight.
-With the Lebanese essentially annexed by Syria, the government once again goes under a name change, now simply dubbed the Levantine Republic (as to not offend any sensitivities).
-Relations are opened up with the strained Yugoslavia, who tugs angrily at the leash of the Soviets. These relations mostly entail the trade of weaponry, which is not uncommon, as the WARPACT and its affiliates are still leading the world in the whole “sell guns to angry people” thing.
-A huge amount of Levantine military equipment goes missing, and at least twelve dozen shoulder-mounted rocket launchers are absconded in what appears to be a well thought-out heist.
-The Levantine military, despite the setback, also adopts the Jordanian armor carrier that is far lighter and less obtuse. This comes as the MEC continues its standardization reforms, and the Levantine military (the largest infantry contingent in the MEC) pushes for more adequate equipment for its soldiers.
-An official dictionary is formed, containing the colloquial Syrian dialect. This dictionary is distributed to schools throughout the nation, in order to further the language as not only a unifying force between Syrians and Lebanese, but to also create a national language in the end.
-The Levantine National Center for the Investigation of Corruption, Negligence and Bureaucracy (LNCICNB) is created, with two major buildings set up in Beirut and Damascus. These new wings of government are formed entirely with the intention of whistle-blowing and weeding out corruption within the government. It provides a safe avenue for citizens to report wrongdoings and for government employees to deal with extra paperwork.
-Large economic zones are set up in the northern half of the country as the Levantine government invites aerospace companies such as Boeing and Lockheed. The Levantines, already ahead in the auto industry, now forge the path for a mid-east Aerospace industry as well.
Ruskie - Algeria
Government - Socialist Military Dictatorship
Alignment - Neutral
International Opinion - Neutral
Economic Situation - Somewhat Strong (Growing)
Domestic Situation - Calm
Military Situation - Inexperienced, subpar equipment
Corruption - High
-The Algerian government begins to purchase large amounts of Soviet-made equipment, citing its effectiveness in both Vietnam and in the hands of various groups in Afghanistan. These arms quickly make it into the Algerian military, who then mothballs any French equipment that it replaces (firearms, APCs, artillery mainly).
-Much of the French weaponry is moved instead to the Algerian police forces, which raises many eyebrows amongst the regular citizenry as cops are regularly seen driving various armored fighting vehicles.
-The Algerian government nationalizes huge portions of the private sector and merges them with Sonatrach, the massive government-owned petroleum company. This includes seizure of foreign oil company’s lands, which infuriates American and European investors.
-Sonatrach then begins to export massive quantities of hydrocarbons and petroleum extracts to anyone willing to cough up the dough.
-Taking pages from the Egyptians, Saudis and Israelis, massive fishing operations begin to take place along the northern coastline of the country, as the Government funds large fisheries and boating expeditions into the Mediterranean.
-Massive industrialization projects take place, including the semi-modernization of oil extracting equipment and factories.
Salricci - Altaic Liberation Front
Type - Nationalist Freedom Fighters
Infighting - Some
International Opinion - Freedom Fighters
Funding - Moderate
Armaments - Captured and imported
-Declaring themselves independent of the Afghan government, a contingent of semi-aligned Tajiks and Uzbeks form the Altaic Liberation Front, pushing for an independent state built for the minority, and refuse to see the authority of the Islamic government.
-The ALF attempts to work alongside TEU soldiers, but many of the militiamen are wary, seeing as how the TEU’s attempted coup got the Islamic State ball rolling in the first place, and some outright refuse to work with them.
-Sporadic fighting ensues as ALF-friendly militias fight with various warring tribal groups and even trade blows with the ILF, causing the situation if Afghanistan simply continuing to degrade further.
-Non-Turkic people under the authority of the ALF are treated as kindly as possible, but are still recommended to leave their homes. Reprisals and counter reprisals are rampant amongst the non-militia members of the Turkic and Pashtun population within Afghanistan.
-Much of the group’s funds come mainly from the TEU, with the Persians supplying arms and cash to the heads of the ALF. However, the money is not put to use right away, as the group must first deal with the 3rd party fighters near the center of the nation before progressing northward to combat the Islamic Liberation Front.
Tigris Economic Union
Type - Regional economic, trade and administrative union
Member states:
*Persia
*Balochistan
*Pakistan
*Kurdistan
*Mesopotamia
*Syria
*Oman
*Egypt
-The tiny Yemeni republics are given the opportunity to sign a free-trade deal with the TEU and its members. The People’s Republic of Sana’a refuses the deal outright, while the more moderate Aden agrees to the deal.
-The Tigris Economic Union’s joint military force is reformed, using information from the war in Afghanistan. However, little progress in made in the actual combat reformations, as the militaries of all members are still built on a traditional and conventional model, and are ultimately unable to deal with a guerrilla campaign.
-A dual-passport system is unveiled, focusing on integrating multiple border policies into a single, more uniform system. All citizens within the TEU are now given the opportunity to hold citizenship in another TEU member state, allowing for a much larger integration of the work force.
-The Mosul treaty is established, focusing on growing strength for the TEU parliament, while simultaneously pushing for more reforms on equality throughout the member states.
-Using the mineral deposits in Afghanistan as a bargaining chip, the TEU entices American investors to deposit some cash in TEU-wide mining programs. Most of the mining takes place in Persia, however, as the deposits in Afghanistan are still considered risky territory.
Middle Eastern Coalition
Type - Regional defensive and military alliance
Member states:
*Levantine Republic
*Jordan
*Saudi Arabia
*Israel
*Mesopotamia
-Mesopotamia: Tracks are designed for the Babylon tank, mainly focusing on a ‘variety’ of treads that could be used for different terrain. However, most of the research goes into the adoption of rapid placement/replacement techniques and equipment for such treads, and tests come back with pleasing results.
-Levantine Republic: A powerful smoothbore gun is tinkered with, built to support the experimental “depleted uranium” munitions that can punch a hole through enemy armor with ease. At the current moment, however, the Levantine researchers must deal with ways to counter the gun’s enormous recoil.
-Jordan: A standard camouflage is designed for the MEC, using a series of broken up patterns and shapes that alternate between cubist and the more classical “paint blobs”. Though it doesn’t make soldiers invisible, it is a leap forward for concealment, and helps greatly when breaking up the outline of MEC troops.
-Israel: Target acquisition computers and advanced optics are once again tested, redesigned, and tested again, as Israeli electronic engineers are unable to be satisfied with their already groundbreaking work, and instead design a system that can “calculate” the distance between gun-to-target and allow the operators to measure their shots in a fraction of the time it used to take.
Notes: This is the last confirmed turn for the Shifting Sands.
Category:Turns