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Kalistan News in Brief:  Foreign Minister DuMont to Pontesi
The Republic plays ODEN Smokeout 5570 in Hutori, New Thiers Class AAS deployed to 4th Fleet
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
November 17, 5570


The Republic Plays the ODEN Smokeout in Hutori

Foreign Minister DuMont travels to Pontesi
In what is deemed a "friendly visit" the Foreign Minister, Dame Jacqueline DuMont, has accepted an invitation from the Government of the Majatran nation and member of the Jelbic Empire, Pontesi to discuss trade and construction.  The Foreign Minister gave brief statements to the Kalistani press before departing for a week long trip to Pontesi.  "We look forward to good relations with the Jelbic States of course, including our partners in Wrnuke.  Pontesi has asked us to consider increasing our purchases from their nation, including in Silicon, which we need a regular supply of for the purposes of creating new integrated circuits and solid state storage capacity.  We are also looking into phosphorus stocks.  While we have some limited supplies those usually go into agriculture.  Pontesi, for its part can be a reliable source of industrial and military grade phosphorous, which will be vital in our weapons industry.  In exchange, they would like to increase purchases of Aluminum, pharmaceuticals, and wine and rum from ODEN, and we believe that we can certainly oblige."  It is likely that Pontesi will put in another order for several tanker ships for their expanding petroleum industry.

On the question of joining Pontesi's embargo on Istalia, Dame DuMont nixed the idea.  "Her Imperial Majesty detests the communist scum in Istalia, but doesn't feel that sanctions or embargos are the right way to win an ideological war.  Fanatics just feed on people's opposition to their ideas, and she has argued that the best way to win the battle of ideologies is with our example, which is obviously superior to the communism that is spreading from blighted states like Istalia."  Kalistan already has a virtual embargo on Istalia at any rate.  "We don't recognize the illegal communist government of Istalia, and we have no reason to trade with them:  They have nothing we can not obtain cheaper closer to home."  With that Dame DuMont stepped onto a plane and headed west toward Pontesi.

The Republic Plays ODEN Smokeout 5570 in Hutori
In an effort to bring the Smokeout to new audiences, Kalistan-Based Sophistipop impresarios The Republic took their show on the road, and played the 5570 Smokeout.  "We felt that this made us kind of ambassadors for Kalistan to Hutori," said Kathy White of The Republic.  "Of course we've been to Hutori back when we lived in Luthori, but this time we represent ODEN K and the Kalistani Music Industry.  It was fun to be approached by a whole new audience, and while we're previewing new music, no less!"  The Republic brought a new experimental song, a slow funky, jazzy masterpiece called "Stop Before You Start". 

"It's perfect for the Smokeout," said White.  "I'm not sure how much of our music has made it into Hutori, because a lot of what goes overseas is bootlegs, but when we played our set, which includes a lot of our hits, as well as some  of this new stuff, we found that a lot of the audience really dug it."  The Republic was joined in Hutori by Marcus Carrangus Jr. who missed the 5569 Smokeout because of laryngitis.  The two Kalistani bands joined the showcase of Hutorian bands this year and played the one day event to more than 23,000 in the Axeminster Civic Auditorium, nicknamed "The Hotbox" for the day.  Hutorian Whiskey was consumed generously by all Kalistanis present.

Thiers Class Platform Ship takes position with 4th Fleet after stopping in Port Swedes
A newly completed Thiers-Class Amphibious Assault Ship, fabricated by the Lourennais firm Noriega-Hamado has been completed in Lourenne and has been launched.  After a stopping in Port Swedes for a month for arming and supplying, including being loaded with 35 NH-64 ASW helicopters, it has since taken its position with the 4th Fleet in the Mad Dog Ocean, where it will deploy to various green water zones and begin conducting sweeps for foreign Subs attempting to enter the Anantonese Ocean.  "This ship is one of three that we will take receipt of," said Naval Spokeswoman Natalie Alarcon.  "The ASW capabilities will give us eyes and ears beneath the surface of the Mad Dog, to compliment our surface detection capabilities.  Defense in Depth is greatly enhanced by the possession of these ships."

While the Thiers Class is technically an amphibious assault ship, Kalistan has no intention of using it for foreign invasions.  "We essentially need floating platforms to deploy our rotary wing assets from in a forward posture," said Alarcon.  "Land based rotary wing has obvious limitations.  We can easily fly, for example, from the Mainland to Ananto one way, but our helicopters can only go so far away from the coast into the Ocean before they have to turn back.  The Thiers Class AAS will allow us to put those helicopters where will be of greatest use, and deny other nations the ability to move about the ocean with impunity."  Two more ships will be launched in the coming years from Noriega-Hamado:  One will join the 1st Fleet at Bozo River, and the second will join the 3rd Fleet at Yoshimi Station, greatly enhancing Kalistan's ASW capabilities in all theaters.