Kalistani Major History

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Kalistani Defense Ministry on Mobilization
Militia Cpl. White Addresses Military Situation
Lucid Valley, Suldanor,
February 8, 4084


Militia Corporal Gina White, RSMoK, and outgoing Minister of Defense

As tensions remain high with Baltusia, The Republic caught up with Defense Minister Gina White, who is on leave from her normal billet as Chart Operator in the FDC, I Battery, 2/3 (Suldanor Regiment), RSMoK.  Minister White was touring Kalistani regular emplacements in the Lucid Valley, and overseeing coordinated fires between RSMoK and Regular units when she sat down with us for a brief interview.  The Republic's Johnathan Miley spoke with the Minister

T(he) R(epublic):  The biggest question on our Readers' minds is: why now?  Why conduct these drills when the Government must realize that they merely inflame the situation with our neighbors?  Wouldn't it be a better policy, if the government is truly interested in peace, to simply stand down?

(Defense Minister) G(ina) W(hite):  We will not stand down, we cannot stand down.  The reason we cannot is because there is still this issue out there about this DMZ requirement placed upon us by Baltusia.  If we stand down now, we acquiesce to the commands of a foreign Government.  I am still hopeful for the passage of withdrawal of Recognition bill.  The reason I am hopeful for that is that it will clear the way for general de-escalation.  Once we no longer acknowledge Baltusia as a sovereign nation, we can stand down our forces as a matter of our own nation's policy, and not under any sort of threat, implied or otherwise from any other sovereign nation.

TR:  Are you saying that these drills will end once Baltusia is de-recognized?

GW:  I have assurances from the Premier that the drills continue only as long as some other sovereign nation insists that we end them.  Once that condition is eliminated, that is, the demand from some foreign nation that we do not run drills as we see fit, the Regulars will be released to return to their barracks, and the Militia will leave the field.

TR:  But couldn't that be accomplished by Baltusia simply withdrawing their demands that Kalistan establish a DMZ?

GW:  Well, yes, of course.  And then I suppose the political support for the withdraw of recognition would also evaporate too.  I am sure the pressure on the Premier would increase to see the bill defeated at that point.  But as you read in the papers, and in the various messages flying back and forth, the Government of Baltusia shows no inclination to back away from the demands they are making on Kalistan, so the Premier is pursuing the de-recognition path as a way to take control of our national policy back from the Baltusians, who presume to exercise some authority over it.

TR:  But wouldn't keeping troops in the field, in plain sight of Baltusia be Kalistani policy driven by Baltusian politics as well?

GW:  You could see it like this.  Our forces are out here for one reason and one reason only:  It is because the Baltusians say they shouldn't be, and because the Baltusians say we should not be allowed to put our troops where we want to within our own nation.  SO we are in the field to send them a message that they do not control Kalistan.  They say send them home, we keep them out here, in their face.  Once they are no longer recognized as a nation, we send them home, because there is no longer anyone worth demonstrating for that we need be concerned with.

TR:  This is a demonstration then?

GW:  Pure and simple.  We have no intention of going to war.  I have stated as much, the Premier has stated as much, the President has stated as much, and the Shadow Minister who is expected to take over for us has stated as much.  The Policy of Kalistan is not to go to war.  Nothing we have done out here has prepared us, in anyway, for any sort of incursion over the border.  Our supplies are here, not on trucks.  Our batteries are emplaced in firebases, not in mobile formation.  That anyone reads this as preparation for an invasion is beyond me:  it shows a clear misunderstanding of both Kalistani military doctrine, which relies almost exclusively on maneuver and defense in depth, designed to trap and kill little pockets of invaders a bit at a time, rather than to fight large frontal battles in foreign territory, but also a complete unwillingness to take the word of people you are supposed to be negotiating WITH at face value.  There is no trust left between the Government and the Baltusians.  But we do not intend to go to war, and the SP, for one would vote, to the person against any war in any foreign land.  We trust our Partners, the LP would also oppose it, and I suppose other peace loving Parties would as well.  But to be clear, Kalistani national interests are supreme to all other states' interests within Kalistan.  We will not sacrifice an inch of our land to the good will of another Power, especially one who speaks so condescendingly of Kalistani National interests.

TR:  This seems like a fairly costly demonstration.

GW:  Perhaps, but as someone whose ancestors literally fought to liberate Ananto from foreign invaders, the desire to fight for every inch of our national soil runs in my blood.  I won't give up, and I hope that when I am replaced, my successor will also fight just as hard to defend Kalistani National Sovereignty against all comers, regardless of who they are.

TR:  Let's move on.  Can you tell us the status of Modernization?

GW:  Absolutely.  Our predecessor got a good start with the infantry.  During the Orlando Presidency, we built half of the requisite destroyers, and this year, we have begun on the remaining six requested by the President.  When the new Finance Minister takes power, we plan to push for the 5% reduction in the Defense Budget that was also in the Modernization bill, as it will be time for that to go through.

TR:  Even if Kalistan is still in this dust up with Baltusia?

GW:  We expect it to be resolved one way or another by then.

TR:  Does the Defense Ministry have any final comments for the readers?

GW:  For those readers in Kalistan, I would say, it sells newspapers to play up this crisis.  But from the standpoint of the Regular Military, the crisis does not exist.  Our forces are confident that they can withstand any assault launched from Baltusia, or anywhere, and will ultimately prevail.  But we are not at all concerned about a war, and it is my hope that our Government sees things in these terms rather than reacting reacting reacting.  There is nothing we are doing which is not fairly standard operating procedures:  the only thing odd about it is the length of our training cycles.  And for any foreign readers, we would like to stress:  Kalistan is not interested in starting or pursuing a war.  We are a neutral nation, and do not want to fight a war, under any circumstances.  That said, Kalistan will not be dictated to, by any nation.  There is no nation in Terra which rates to set terms for Kalistan.  Nor will we accept them from any other nation.  If a nation informs us that there is something that we cannot do, if we do not agree with them in the matter, we demonstrate that they are not correct.  And we will continue to demonstrate the incorrect position of foreign governments who attempt to dictate to Kalistan so long as they presume to dictate terms to Kalistan.  This is the position of the Government of Kalistan.  And it should be the position of any sovereign nation.

TR:  Thank you for your time and your viewpoint, Comrade Minister.

GW:  You are welcome.  I am glad you all finally got around to interviewing me.