Kalistani Major History

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Kalistan to Establish Intelligence Service
Aims to expand intelligence role beyond traditional limitations
Kaliburg, Ananto
March 30, 5326


Kalistani Foreign Minister enroute to Press Conference where she announced new Spy Bureau

The Kalsitani Government this week proposed the establishment of the Republican Bureau of Security Information. The Foreign Minister, who will ultimately oversee the building and operation of the new intelligence bureau, gave a brief statement today to announce the formation of the Agency and the expansion of Kalistan's role in intelligence gathering.

"Kalistan has long reacted to events around the globe, or has generally ignored them, as it suits our Government. We do not have the ability however, to know whether the intelligence we get overseas is of any use to Kalistan. Let alone the ability to bend affairs to conformity and consonance with Kalistani interests. The establishment of a new Security Information Bureau will allow us not only to have eyes and ears in countries overseas, especially those who have taken an interest in Kalistan, but to also assist in the influencing of the direction of foreign policy directed at Kalistan. The RBSI expands our role from simple intelligence collection operations to a deeper level of signals and human intelligence, as well as permitting coordination with the Regular Force and the Militia to strengthen Kalistani Defense. And of course, we also seek to work with agencies of other friendly nations on intelligence sharing, to help improve regional and continental security."

The Foreign Minister took questions following the brief statement. When asked about the organization of the Bureau, specifically the Department of Special Services, one reporter noted that it looked like the legislation gave the Republic the power to intervene in elections, support dissident groups and help overthrow governments. "The Republic doesn't support regime change," said the Foreign Minister. "Occasionally, we will see a candidate who promises to work on a change in a particular government's orientation toward Kalistan. It would benefit us if that candidate won and changed policy direction. Why would we not do what we could to help that particular candidate win an election? This does not amount to regime change. It is instead about providing our Republic the advantages abroad that any government seeks for itself: That is policy consonance and peaceful friendly interaction abroad."

Another reported asked about the Department of Public Information, and more specifically, whether this equals a propaganda bureau that will propagandize the Kalistani people. "Absolutely not," said Minister Brewer. "But we also do need the ability to send messages to both our friends and potential adversaries abroad, to let them know what the Kalistani Government is doing in a credible fashion. We seek to deploy this Intelligence bureau to eliminate any security dilemma we may have in the Republic: If we know what another nation is doing, we can decide from a position of information, rather than from one of darkness and ignorance. But we will also want others to know what we are doing too: The last thing the Republic needs is to be conducting some exercise somewhere and have another government misperceive our actions. We will need to be able to communicate to them in a way they will believe and can trust. The is the goal of the department."

The Foreign Minister elaborated upon the expanded role of the Intelligence agency. "Kalistan prides itself on a tradition of innovation in tactics. The Regular Force retains its primacy in strategic doctrine, but we also seek to develop additional capacity on the battlefield: both the battlefield that is on our soil and the battlefield that is overseas. It is better to fight the battle before the battle ever arrives in Kalistan. And if it ever does, we are ready for it. We should not take any tactic off the table: Kalistan's defense is an all of the above strategy. Why build the agency now? one may ask. We have decided that at this moment in time, Kalistan does not have any enemies. We are either at peace with the whole world, or do not register in their affairs. This would be the point where we should build this agency- It is better to have it when war comes than to need to build it then and cultivate our assets when the security situation is not ideal."

The Minister concluded her remarks. Following the announcement, The Republic conducted a brief poll of readers concerning the founding of the Intelligence Bureau. Of those who heard the news, 38% were in favor of the creation of a stronger, more comprehensive service, 29% were opposed, and 31% thought that Kalistan should retain its traditionally limited role. 2 percent said they didn't care. The bill is expected to pass in November of this year.