Kalistan

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Editorial: The Curious Case of Amudim BS
How one nation's warped sense of reality causes death and suffering worldwide
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 2, 5703


A scene from the Teen Revenge movie "Plastic" (5702, Republican Pictures)

Editorial
Kalistan was named in a new article covering Egelion expansionism. Let's just dispense with this matter first. The Yeudis name Kalistan as a collaborator with Egelian Imperialism. Nothing could be further from the truth, but we'll leave it at that. We can't expect a bunch of illiterate maniacs in a far away desert to know much about other parts of the world, let alone comment intelligently about them. So we won't hold Amudim up to an expectation that is impossible (for them) to meet.

AYIC Director Robert Kaplan said it best in his recent speech to supporters, "The Yeudis who happen to inhabit the homeland are victims of centuries of wars, occupations and bad leadership of their own making, one that is known to have nuked another country just one human lifetime ago. They are worthy of our pity, but nothing more. You can try and try to help someone improve their own lives, you can try to understand where they are coming from, you can try to reach out your hand to the people you see suffering in the gutter of ignorance and near constant gaslighting by their own foreign-dominated government, but if they then still nonetheless choose--And make no mistake about it, it is a choice-- to live in the backward, pathetic, utterly ignorant state that they are currently in, eventually you have to call them 'Bruder', forgive them and cut them adrift. Otherwise, you risk being tainted by that debilitating affliction yourself. We're here trying to improve the lot of Yeudis abroad. We have far more important work to be doing than to worry about those who have chosen to remain slaves in their minds and in their lives."

In fact, we are known for the company we keep--This goes for Amudim as well as Kalistan. The relationship between Kalistan and Egelion, for example, has been problematic, for sure and we are tarred by ignorant foreigners for associating with them now. But, Kalistan did not cast a watchful eye in Rildanor. That's a lie, but of course it is, because it was written by Amudim. And that's all that needs to be said about it.

Now, if you've read this far, let us get to the real point of this editorial: A preview of the upcoming Regional Conference in Egelion. This conference will certainly be an interesting one, but The National is tentatively supporting it. We read of Lodamese hesitation and would like to amplify this. It must be a Northern Seleyan thing indeed to be somewhat suspicious of powerful states building large scale collective security agreements. Nationalists in Kalistan understand why Lodamun would prefer to maintain its own independence in its foreign affairs. That makes complete sense, because it is a standard Kalistan also holds to as well.

That said, based on the information documents the National Assembly has received regarding this conference, we are not sure that is what this conferences' purpose is. Kalistan can, and frequently does speak out against attempts by our neighbors to grow stronger and to build Massive military blocs. We opposed the Northern Alliance arrangement when it existed. We opposed the World Congress which was a collective security agreement run by and for Great Powers, that convinced and/or cowed the rest of the world into going along with Great Power designs for the world. And we are charter members of the Non-Aligned Movement, which is explicitly anti-Collective security.

There is only one instance where Kalistan will allow itself to be pulled into a situation where an "attack on one necessitates a response by all." And that is in the case of the Anantonese Empire: The Articles of Empire stipulate this. Kalistan is bound to defend Gaduridos should they be attacked by an outside power. That is the only exception. But AE is an example of imperialism and world systems, rather than a mutually shared set of beliefs or some sort of ridiculous "rules-based order" that people periodically attempt to assert and force down the throats of every nation. Because we happen to know that rules-based orders are just great power politics by another name. When you ask "Fine, but who makes the rules," its always the same great powers, and never the little guys. And then what difference is there between that and what Egelion does with their armed forces?

We'll leave alone the entirely unearned self righteousness of the liberals who argue that they should be allowed to force others to be "free", often at the point of a gun, whether it be warfare or starvation through sanctions. We will instead say that our Nationalists can sympathize with the position of Lodamun on this. And yet, it is our hope that the contributions of ardent Lodamun, which is capable of managing its own defense, and expansionist Egelion, which has demonstrated capacity and impunity to expand its influence globally will help build an agreement that first and foremost let's foreign nations who seek to project their influence into our region know that we are united in hostility to their projection. If nothing else, outsider governments and their colonialist schemes are not welcomed in Seleya and Keris. Not to say, we cannot associate freely with who we wish, but the influence of foreign governments cannot be allowed to take root in Seleya or Keris, or in fact the entire Anantonese Basin. We are our own people, we have our own visions for the future, and yes, we may disagree with one another, but there is more that we have in common with each other than we have with the power pretenders of the West.

This doesn't suggest our Princess, who is representing Kalistan at the conference, should go in there and sell the farm. Kalistan has its own interests which are quite independent from Lodamun or Egelion, or for that matter, even our close friends in Valruzia. This is natural and to be expected of all participants. We hope that the Princess of the Empire will instead go to the conference, represent our nation credibly, and get the best deal for Kalistan that she can. We likely won't get everything Kalistan wants. It is unimaginable that we would ever get guarantees from this group on Athosia, for instance. It must wait for another day. But if she hears of a proposal that will enhance Kalistani security in the region and Kalistan's position on the map, that happens to benefit others too, why wouldn't she accept this? After all, though she may be short sighted in domestic affairs, she has at least demonstrated a willingness to consider things in terms of absolute power rather than relative power, and though we may not necessarily always agree with this position as Nationalists, we do know that Her Imperial Majesty does.

If we have to make a prediction about the conference, what will be a likely result of it will be a new regional agreement on cooperation in training, some level of intelligence sharing, and coordination in case of moves by foreign states against our region. This will make Valruzia very important as the closest nation to likely combat spaces, which will necessarily involve commitments by all states to Valruzian defense, though not necessarily support if Valruzia should go on offense. In this sense, Valruzia would be a canary in a coal mine, and would act as an early warning system for the rest of the region. Providing Valruzia with significant intel and defense capacities would be the likely outcome. Our region is capable of doing this without much trouble. Knowing our government's very personal affinity for Valruzia (Her Imperial Majesty just honeymooned there for a month, for example) Kalistan wouldn't think twice about helping Valruzia build its capacity out--it would certainly enhance our own security for them to do so. We could say the same thing about Dolgava, but it is unlikely they will make a showing at the event, let alone be much of a major player in the region for the foreseeable future.

This conference will also likely form the basis of several bilateral agreements which the Seleyans seem to prefer, for good reason Nobody is interested in a great power led bandwagon. However, we do have a number of mutually overlapping interests that do not necessarily concern more than two or three states. Kalistan necessarily grandfathers Gaduridos into all international agreements it signs--that may often be enough to get a specific task done. We will never get there however, if we aren't talking with one another on a regular basis. This conference will open the door to a greater sense of trust and willingness to work together on specific things rather than establishing yet another great power bloc that our Empire joins but doesn't lead. That prospect holds no support within Kalistan. What does however interest Kalistan is the potential to enhance our own security and pursue our own interests through pragmatic cooperation. It is easy to foresee an increase in that coming out of this conference.

The gains will necessarily be limited. The purpose here is not to establish a new world order though foreigners may see it that way. We are not Artanian after all. But despite whatever hyperbole or mischaracterization occurs in the Yishelem funny papers, there is an opportunity here to make a strong concerted effort at regional solidarity and comity. And it also gives Kalistan a stake in the well being of our neighbors, something we have not felt in a very long time, again, excepting the Constituent Members of the Anantonese Empire. We have a reason to help them fight if they are attacked, because if they fall, we are next, in every case. This sense of purpose is in and of itself encouraging, which is why The National endorses Kalistan's participation at this conference in Egelion. We are better with our neighbors than against them, though we still have plenty of reason to be concerned. Cost benefit analysis says we go and participate.

And if you read this entire thing, hoping to see a nationalist tirade against Beiteynu, we're sorry. That, and the screencap of actress LaLa MacIntosh, was just the hook to get you to click on the article. Hey, what can we say? We do not pretend we above misrepresentation. The only difference between us and some Westerns who do pretend that is that we are honest about it.

@TheNational