Kalistan

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Kalistani News in Brief:  Capatain Bonaventure answers questions about Hutorian Joint Exercises
IBSI offers Egelion Assistance in Counter Terrorism; Addisjah Hip Hop Group Breakers 3 to fly to Xsampa
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 12, 5635


Minister of Defense Captain Oscar Buenaventure on base in Port Swedes

Capt. Oscar Buenaventure Answers Questions about Hutorian Joint Exercises
Her Imperial Majesty's Minister of Defense was on hand in Port Swedes today to debrief Naval Chiefs about recent Kalistani Regular Naval participation in the Kingdom of Hutori's recent Leviathan Tide exercises.  The large scale exercises between the two nations took place earlier this year in the Eastern Mad Dog Ocean, and involved elements of the 4th Regular Fleet running drills and combat scenarios against Hutorian detachments.

"These exercises highlighted our continuing needs for ASW technology," said Minister of Defense Buenaventure.  "We did quite well on the surface, as expected:  Kalistan has one of the only fleets with active combat veterans, and now, twenty ish years on, many of them are in command positions, so it is natural that we will have the edge there.  But submarines still seem to be a problem, and outside of our passive sonar net in the Anantonese, our mobile assets still perform far less than where we would like them."

The exercises not only highlighted the need to continue to develop on ship and rotary wing ASW technology capable of locating and targetting especially nuclear submarines, but the spaces for cooperation between Kalistan and Hutori.  "We are in the process of developing new systems capable to bringing that detection level up a bit.  We certainly want to focus our efforts on this, because while Hutori is out in the Mad Dog, we can remain relatively confident that they will be on top of the incoming threats, but in our zone of responsibility in that ocean, we too want to have the advantages of denying adversaries the cover they hope to exploit to hit Anantonese Nations.  We learned a lot during these exercises, and we also know we still have miles to go before we get to where we want to be with our submarine interdiction program."  The Defense Minister also pointed out Kalistan's disadvantages in air operations, noting that this leaves Kalistan at a tactical disadvantage outside the range of the Naval Air Station in Port Swedes.  

In all, though the Minister gave the Navy high marks.  "In all, I am proud of the conduct of our naval units during the operations.  Both surface and subsurface components preformed well, given the parameters.  We have work to do but the Kalistani Regular Navy remains a premier fighting force of extraordinary magnitude.  Hutori has our gratitude."

IBSI Offers Egelion Assistance in Counter Terrorism
The Kalistani Imperial Bureau of Security Intelligence (IBSI) officially offered the Kingdom of Egelion assistance in counter-terrorism efforts as the Kingdom responds to an attack that injured both the Queen and the Prince of Amateria Artemio.  Romulo Rey was not in attendance at the performance of the opera where the bomb exploded.  Nicole Reina is distantly related to Empress Mary by adoption and both she and Romulo Rey are considered family in Kaliburg.

"We found out about the horrific attacks in Altea before the account was printed in the Egelian Newspaper," said George Won, Director of IBSI's Public Information Section in Reynoldia.  "The Bureau phoned both the Chancellor and the Empress to inform them that a bombing had occurred in a theater and the condition of the victims which included the King and Queen both was unknown.  The Empress directed to the Chancellor to make our services specifically available to Egelion, as they investigate the attack, as well as any additional support they may need, including assisting the Kingdom in developing a security intelligence bureau capable of identifying and addressing threats before they become an attack."

Director Won stated that IBSI stands by to offer any assistance Egelion should need in ascertaining the identities of the attackers, and in ferreting out the nature of the group who launched the attack.  "The Empire of Ananto and Kalistan is very attuned to the destructive effects of domestic and international terrorism," said Direct Won.  "Her Imperial Majesty's Great Grandfather was killed by a terrorist, and we can't stress enough the seriousness of the threat.  Terrorists have manifestos:  they don't just strike randomly.  And unless those grievances are not addressed, it is likely that whoever did this will strike again."

Director Won also confirmed that Her Imperial Majesty is committed to ensuring the safety of her cousins in Egelion and to bringing the culprits to justice.  "Whoever they are," said Director Won.

Addisjah Hip Hop group Breakers 3 to fly to Xsampa
The underground hip hop crew from Addisjah known as Breakers 3 has said they wanted to fly to Xsampa to collaborate.  "I just think its time for a change," said group leader RCA, stage name of Addisjah MC Randy Sweeney.  "I just think their musicians will kind of offer us the sort of next step we're looking for, and I would really like to learn about the Xsampan way of Life while I am there."  Sweeney is a converted Xsampan Daenist, and converted when he did a study abroad program in college ten years ago.

"We really support our brother in his quest," said MC and the band's drummer Mark C (Mark Carruthers).  "And we've been in a more experimental phase, where we want to try out different sounds in our music, to kind of branch out in stuff we do.  If we can collaborate with some local musicians there and record some music, that would be completely awesome."

The band is expected to be in Xsampa for about six month.  "Soaking in the culture," said RCA.  "It's gonna be a lot different I think.  We'll get our heads turned around for sure.  Our first two albums were about drinking and partying, but then for these last couple, we've been going for a more concrete, amalgamated sound, filled with samples, live instruments and like jazz influences.  Its natural now that we would reach out abroad and try to introduce folks to sounds of a completely different nation.  I think this band can do it and still remain true to ourselves, our sound and our fans, and I look forward to see if anything has changed by the time we get back."

@TheRepublic