ChitinKal Wrote:
Stimson On Naval Preparation
Ministry of Defense to Prioritize Strengthening of the Kalistani Regular Navy
February 20, 4699

Defense Minister Gen. Omar Stimson

Following a Conservative blitz in the National Assembly and the formation of an all-encompassing NCP-SPoK-RSP government lead by Conservative Premier John Colbert, the duty of heading the Ministry of Defense had been left in the hands of the NCP's Omar Stimson, a general of the Kalistani Regular Army and a life-long military man. Like the majority of NCP public figures, Stimson has been a strong proponent of strengthening the Regular Forces, and particularly the Navy in order to maintain order in the Ananto Straights. Last June, the National Assembly passed a bill with the endorsement of Minister Stimson which set the Doctrine of Defense for the Kalistani Regular Forces, however not much action has been taken by the Defense Ministry in order to strengthen the KRF. Today, Minister Stimson gave an interview with Kalistan Grapevine reporter Bill Jarvis in order to touch upon the Ministry's plans with the Naval Forces and its future operations in the Straights.

Quote:Jarvis: "Hello Comrade Minister, thank you for letting me ask you some questions. First, your party has largely taken a strong-line stance on the Ananto Straights issues, but has come out in support of the ASCA compromise. Do you share your party's newfound support for compromising on the Straights?"

Stimson: "Thank you for having me, comrade. To put it short, yes I do support the ASCA compromise as well as seeking cooperation with the foreign powers. The situation in the Straights has always been a delicate one due to its strategic importance to the Kalistani nation. We have been brought into conflict with foreign powers over the issue before, and we do not wish to have any further bloodshed over the Straights. However, their importance is still great to Kalistan, as they separate Kaliburg from the mainland and hold within them the oil which has become part of Kalistan's economic lifeblood, so we cannot capitulate completely. Instead, we have stricken a deal with Dorvik, the most recent of the foreign imperialists that wishes to provoke Kalistan, in which we would allow military traffic through a section of the Straights, but the KRN would monitor all military vessels which pass through the Straights. Personally, I believe we conceded far too much, as it would cost Dorvik little to simply travel east of Ananto rather than deliberately provoke Kalistan. But something is better than nothing. We'll continue to patrol the Straights and ensure our national security, but we're going to have to allow foreign militaries to pass through unimpeded. We were and still are willing to make these concessions in order to maintain peace."

Jarvis: "So will the Navy be increasing patrols in the Straights due to the increased risk of foreign military traffic, or will it instead decrease its activities due to assurances of peace?"

Stimson: "No, we will not be decreasing patrols at all. You were right in the first part of your question, patrols have already increased in the Straights and we will likely order more missions in the future. The allowance of foreign military vessels through the Straights, with or without peace assurances, is a threat to national security and all steps must be taken in order to avoid any possibility of harm befalling our great nation. The Second and Third fleets are on high alert at all times and sailor drillings have increased in intensity. Since we've adopted the policy of not impeding foreign military traffic, the KRN will never be the first to fire any shots in the Straights, but they will always be prepared to counter any acts of aggression."

Jarvis: "One final question, comrade Minister: Does the Defense Ministry and the Navy have any plans for constructing and deploying new ships?"

Stimson: "The Ministry of Defense is always looking to increase the quantity and quality of our troops and weapons. As of yet, I cannot go to far into the details, but the Ministry does plan on commissioning new destroyers and submarines, primarily for Fleets Two and Three, from KalMilInCo once it is formally established and ready to produce. First though, we'll have to wait a little while, as the National Assembly is still sitting on a nationalization bill. Once that comes though, we'll begin making preparations for the proliferation of new warships."

Jarvis: "Thank you, comrade Minister, those were all the questions I had."

Stimson: "No, thank you. It's good to make our intentions known to the public."

Quote:Good Morning, Comrades, Panel, Dr. Happelton, audience.  I appreciate the opportunity to make a few comments concerning the topic of this conference before you.

Assembled here are the lead policy experts from all Parties, career professionals, diplomatic strategists, defence Ministry planners and FM personnel.  We can all benefit from each others' expertise as Kalistan appears to shift to a more proactive foreign policy.  With our national industries online, as well as ODEN, the NSP and various other governmental programs on the move, we become concerned, once more, about the interference in regional affairs of Great Powers.  Part of this concern was addressed last year in the General Assembly of the World Congress, when our nation's ambassador, Louis Stevens, met an unequivocal brick wall concerning its expression of security interest regarding nuclear powered weaponry.

Much of this opposition was sponsored by Great Powers, who jealously guard their own privilege, and virtual license to murder on the world stage.  We hear consistently that the weapons they use to maraud around the globe, and threaten smaller states with impunity are actually weapons of peace.  Think about this for one moment.  A nuclear powered aircraft carrier possesses enough fire power that it can level Kaliburg in a matter of a few moments.  And the owner of one of these craft can park this weapon off of our shore, sortie, attack, land, rearm and then relaunch over and over again until there is nothing but dust and bone and human suffering under their bomb sights.  And yet, one of the most belligerent nations on the globe calls this weapon of mass destruction a guarantor of peace!

When a man is walking down the street, and a mugger puts a gun in his face and demands his money or his life, the choice is not exactly a free one.  When a man is negotiating for his life, he tends to agree more willingly to the terms offered him by the criminal who would murder without batting an eyelash. The difference in the case of the mugger and the imperial gangster states in this world is that in the world, the police can catch the murderer, and prosecute him, while in the international realm, no state possess the power to stand up to a great power.

It would be fine if the Great power shared any of Kalistan's foreign policy objectives.  But as history demonstrates, it is more often the case that Kalistan's interests and the interest of the nuclear armed extortionists of the world stand diametrically opposed.  Such is the fate of all middle and small powers.  The powerful do whatever they wish, the weak suffer whatever they must.

To this end, we have at least gone on record in opposition to the unlimited power of the Imperialist states in Terra, especially those possessing the power AND motivation to breech the peace with their weapons of mass terror.  Resolution 35-01, as it is known, was designed to test the true commitment to peace among the nations of the World Congress.  Given the vote, it is our judgement that there is ONE nation so far who has come out in favor of nuclear disarmament, and half a dozen or more who have offered full-throated defenses of the right to terrorize the world with nuclear powered weaponry.  Their apologies for their desire to reign death and destruction on anyone who gets in the way of their heretofore unimpeded agenda of violence and chaos in the world demonstrates that their real commitment is to the service of the demon who is called "Domination".  The resolution was never going to pass, but it was designed to force nations to demonstrate their own hypocrisy, when they order other nations to bow before them while they claim to want peace.  They want the peace of absolute global domination, and view it as only a matter of time before they acquire it.

Kalistan is not interested in this sort of peace.  We have fully endorsed the Premier's proposal to re-authorize privateering in the Anatonese Ocean.  There are currently no plans to issue Letters of Marque, but we agree that it is important to have this authorization in place:  Its aim is to put global powers on notice that they may be able to cajole other nations in the world, but Kalistan will stand up and fight back, if need be, against aggression.  The goal of Privateering is purely asymetric:  As we clearly cannot and should not face the enemy in a frontal battle, which places our units in places where they can be easily wiped out by superior firepower, we will use our smallness to our advantage on the battlefield.  Just as a man can be brought down by the tiny malaria mosquito, so too do great powers have their weaknesses.  Privateering is just another tactic aimed not at destroying the enemy on the battlefield, but destroying their will and motivation to fight Kalistan, and making warfare against Kalistan MUCH more costly for their economy.

Further along these lines, Kalistan and Vorona have joined together to relaunch the Non-Aligned Movement.  This organization is by and for small states:  its goal is to provide association among non-great powers, not in the form of collective security, but with the aim of denying Great powers allies in any conflict.  Since great powers necessarily treat their small power allies as imperialist outposts in times of war, it is in the interest of EVERY small and medium state to join together to limit their ability to project force.  This includes limiting basing opportunities for forward fleets, as well as refuel and resupply ports.  If these great powers seek to project their force across the globe, it becomes much more costly for them to do so when they don't have friendly ports of resupply and refuel.  A nation like Dorvik will likely maintain that it can build infinite supply and logistics ships to keep its massive fleet afloat, and perhaps this is true.  But those supply ships also make nice targets for navies of smaller powers, who can cripple a Great power and strand its fleets at sea by wiping out its logistics capability.

The goal of this two pronged approach to foreign policy aims at turning our smallness into an asset when at war.  I would like to stress:  War is not on the horizon with any great power.  We see, however, the bellicose rhetoric in the World Congress' GA as as signal of Dorvik's attitude, and therefore, it becomes incumbent upon a nation such as Kalistan to begin to prepare, in our own way, so that when these nuclear armed empires show up on Kalistan's doorstep, we are prepared to offer them death by 1000 cuts.  We small countries must make it so expensive to attack us, that we essentially negate the advantage that their technical superiority offers them.

This is the fundamental lesson of unconventional warfare, and it therefore also serves as the foundation of our unconventional foreign policy and diplomacy.  A nation truly interested in peace will look to Kalistan as a state who will avoid war at all costs, until it is brought to Kalistan's shores.  At that time, the aggressor must be made to bleed, and must be demoralized before it will ever relent.  But before we ever get there, the Great powers of the world should realize Kalistan's attempts to negate their power as an effort to reduce Kalistan's perennial security dilemma, and should find ways to deal with Kalistan so that we never have to engage in any sort of shooting conflict.

Our interest is peace.  We care more about peace in the world than almost any other foreign policy goal.  We are constantly insulted and demeaned in world forums, and in foreign governments, and yet, Kalistan has never declared an aggressive war against any other nation.  Whatever those nations are doing, their national interest benefits more by not constantly irritating Kalistan, but instead, in looking for ways to be friendly with Kalistan.  Because, as any nation will lay at Kalistan's feet, we do not observe the same rules every other state does, especially when our national defense is on the line.  Kalistan has been called a "pirate state," however, Privateering will only soon be reauthorized.  Kalistan has been called a "banana Republic" and a "rogue state", but to date, we have tried to play the game by the rules nations like Dorvik have set up to defend their own interests. 

We believe it is in our interest to think outside the box:  Hence, we will continue to offer resolutions in the World Congress aimed at disarmament, and meanwhile, we will continue to work on innovative enhancements to Kalistani National Defense.  The diplomatic track, which the SP controls, works hand in hand with the Defense track, controlled by the Nationalists.  Though we have some disagreements around tactics, perhaps, these are minor, but our Foreign Policy Establishment is committed to one singular project in foreign Affairs.  Kalistan's interests are what Kalistan cares about and Kalistan's homeland is what Kalistan will fight, using all tactics at our disposal, to protect. 

With that. I open up to questions from the audience, and thank you for your indulgence.

ChitinKal Wrote:
Navy Initiates Reforms
Ministry of Defense Announces Reinstitution of Privateering and Issues Ship Construction Order to KalMilInCo
February 15, 4703

Kaliburg National Shipyards

Following months of debate and voting, the National Assembly has recently passed a bill which would allow the Ministry of Defense to once again issue Letters of Marque to private Kalistani citizens. Titled simply Authorization of Privateering, the bill would allow the Ministry of Defense to authorize and award privateers for targeting enemy ships in the Northern Ananto Sea during times of instability between Kalistan and foreign nations.

Allowing and rewarding privateering against enemies of Kalistan has long been a Kalistani military tradition, which exists to give the Kalistani Navy an advantage against comparatively larger foreign forces through motivating privateers to strike against foreign commercial and logistics vessels as well as to allow private Kalistanis to defend Kalistan's sovereignty over the Ananto Straights. However, this policy has long been mothballed and hasn't been used since 4520 when RSMoK sailors sunk three Kazulian ships traversing through the Straights.

The bill would allow all Kalistani citizens who have gone through the application and inspection process and have been issued a Letter of Marque from the Ministry of Defense to commit acts of privateering in a specified area in the Northern Ananto Sea. All acts of privateering, however, will be limited to the military and commercial vessels of nations determined to be "enemies of Kalistan," while vessels of friendly nations as well as all civilian non-commercial vessels will be strictly prohibited.

In addition to reauthorizing privateering, the Ministry of Defense has also placed an order for new warships with the newly renationalized KalMilInCo. The order, which has been publicized by the Ministry of Defense, will see the construction of four Kaliburg-Class destroyers, four Victor-Class attack submarines, and six Sativa-Class submarines. Once construction of all ships has been completed, they will be split evenly between the Second and Third Fleets and be stationed at Port Sweedes and Yoshimi Station. When asked why the First Fleet would be receiving no vessels from this order, Defense Minister Gen. Omar Stimson replied: "At the current time, we must focus on increasing our capabilities in the Straights. With foreign navies now permitted to move through them freely, we must assert our defensive abilities in the Straights and improve our patrol strength. In the future, the Defense Ministry does plan on giving our boys in Bozo the attention they deserve, but right now we need to focus on the Straights."

ChitinKal Wrote:Statement from the Office of the Premier of the Republic of Kalistan, John Colbert

Quote:Fellow Kalistanis and friends from outside our borders, there has been much spread of disinformation with regards to the government's recent reintroduction of the crisis-time policy of issuing Letters of Marque to Kalistani citizens. This disinformation, which has been spread by the Dorvish who either do not understand our privateering policy or willingly and maliciously spread this false information, has even lead to the introduction of a resolution into the Security Council that would sanction and condemn Kalistan. As Premier of this great Republic and representative of the Kalistani government, it is my duty to dispel this disinformation and assuage the understandable fears of the international community.

In their Resolution 82, the Dorvish representatives in the Security Council claims that the Kalistani government has authorized privateers to attack the military and commercial vessels without provocation. This is simply untrue. The bill which has been passed by our National Assembly only allows Letters of Marque to be issued during times of insecurity between Kalistan and foreign nations and only against the vessels of nations who have provoked the Kalistani people to the point of being declared enemies of Kalistan.

The Dorvish also seek to smear Kalistan harming "international peace, stability and international trade," however there is no valid argument for this claim. As of yet, no Letters of Marque have been issued, no state of international insecurity has been declared, and no enemies of Kalistan have been named. Even if all of the preceding had occurred, it wouldn't have been Kalistan who had violated international peace, it would have been the nation who pushed us to those extremes.

We'd also like to address the recent claims of Dolgava, our neighbor across the waves to the north. In a recent article in the Dolgovina Freie Presse, the Dolgavians make a multitude of false claims. They claim that we've established a policy of pirating Dolgavian shipping. This is false. Kalistan has not issued any Letters of Marque against Dolgavian vessels and does not consider Dolgava to be an enemy of Kalistan. Any acts of piracy committed against Dolgava by Kalistanis since the passage of the Authorization of Privateering bill, in the eyes of the Kalistani government, is unapproved and criminal. Dolgava also claims that no country is safe from Kalistani privateers. Again, this is false. At the current moment, nobody should fear Kalistani privateers, as no state of international security has been declared and no Letters of Marque have been issued. In the future, if Kalistan is cursed by a state of international insecurity, only those enemies of Kalistan who have provoked us into declaring that state of insecurity should fear, as no Letters of Marque would be issued against friendly or neutral nations.

As an additional message to Dolgava, the Kalistani government and people respects your sovereignty and right to defend your people by force if need be, but let us offer a bit of advice: The best path to peace and away from bloodshed is through cooperation and friendliness. Kalistan would rather be a friend of Dolgava than an enemy, and the same goes to all the nations of Terra, including Dorvik. However, any unprovoked attacks against Kalistani vessels will be met with swift and fierce retaliation. So let us avoid any senseless conflict and instead live peaceably.

To conclude, the fearmongering of the Dorvish blows the current situation far out of proportion and it itself puts international peace and relations between Kalistan and the world at risk. Kalistan wishes to live peaceably amongst our fellow peoples of Terra, I believe our recent concessions to the international community with regard to the Ananto Straights is proof of this. But we will always put our people and their security first. We will maintain our current national defense policies and continue to improve the capabilities of our armed forces to defend our homeland against foreign aggression, and no supranational organization run by hostile powers will compel us to do otherwise.

Until the current situation is resolved, I have authorized Minister Stimson to put the Regular Navy on high alert and increase patrols in the Straights. We will continue our policy of not throwing the first punch, and the Navy will be forbidden from opening fire on foreign vessels without being first attacked.

Thank you, and goodbye.

Quote:Yoshimi is South of Sulari.  Yoshimi is South of Sulari.

Bjorksdottir lies asleep in the Anantonese Ocean.  Bjorksdottir Lies asleep in the Anantonese Ocean.

Poppy Bennots will visit Mt. Schmee.  Poppy Bennots will visit Mt. Schmee.

The cigar has gone to Port Elga.  The Cigar has gone to Port Elga

and finally

The Emperor lives on Luxon.  The Emperor Lives on Luxon

ChitinKal Wrote:
First New Ships Enter Service
One Destroyer and Two Submarines Deployed to Port Sweedes
March 19, 4704

Kaliburg-Class Destroyer

Last year, the Ministry of Defense placed an order in with KalMilInCo for the construction of fourteen new warships (Four Kaliburg-Class destroyers, four Victor-Class submarines, and six Sativa-Class submarines). Since then, the workers of Kaliburg shipyards have been hard at work to get the ships ready for national defense, no doubt under extreme pressure from the growing insecurity between Kalistan and the powers of Dorvik and Lourenne.

The new ships that have just entered service are two Sativa-Class submarines and a single Kaliburg-Class destroyer, all three of which have been assigned to the Second Fleet and stationed at Port Sweedes. Though each ship is ready for the possibility of combat, their crews are still relatively inexperienced and green, but are expected to catch up with their comrades through extensive training and being fully submerged into the duties of patrolling the Straights.

Kalistan's ship builders are still hard at work constructing the remaining warships, and are hard-pressed to finish ASAP. For the remainder of the year, two more ships are scheduled to be completed and assigned, a Kaliburg-Class destroyer in June and a Victor-Class submarine in August. The construction of the remaining ships should take multiple more years.

The project has been put upon the capable shoulders of Kalistan's recently renationalized industries, in specific KalMilInCo (Responsible for the construction of the ships) and KalNaFerCo (Responsible for the production and provisioning of the steel and aluminum used in the ships).