Kalistani Major History

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Admiral Kristin Davis named Naval Chief of Staff
"Kalistan should build an Aircraft Carrier," said new Navy Chief
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 17, 5542


Rear Admiral Kristin Davis, RNK, gives thoughts on Anantonese Security

"Perhaps it's time that Kalistan builds itself an aircraft carrier," Rear Admiral Kristin Davis, recently appointed Naval Chief of Staff said in an interview last week. "That seems to be the fashionable thing for countries to do these days. Since they are so easy to maintain and are apparently 'in' this season, maybe we should get one or two of them ourselves." The comments came during an interview with the Rear Admiral during a panel discussion about Naval Security in the Northern and Central Anantonese Ocean. She later clarified that she was "being facetious, to demonstrate a rhetorical point."

The issue, said the admiral, is that nations across the world seem to be arming their naval forces with floating airbases. "Why? Who knows, but it seems that aircraft carriers are magically proliferating around the globe like a bad social disease. And there seems to be no rhyme or reason, nor any real security justification, to the madness. So if Baltusia and Vascania can afford to build and maintain one, Kalistan can easily afford at least 6. Do we need them? Of course not-- no more than anyone in the world needs them."

With regard to whether Kalistan will actually pursue the acquisition of an aircraft carrier, the Rear Admiral was a bit more down to earth. "Of course not," Admiral Davis answered. "We aren't insane. The naval doctrine of Kalistan does not require aircraft carriers first and foremost. They are incredibly inefficient, supremely expensive, and draw everyone's attention to everything you are doing. They become liabilities in prolonged warfare, because they make easy targets." Kalistan will, according to the Naval Chief of Staff, stick to its current doctrine. "The Straits and their immediate ocean sectors remain our primary theater of operations," said the Admiral. "In these regions, our aircraft can safely remain on land, free of torpedoes fired by nuclear submarines which many nations also magically have, that apparently, if propaganda is to be believed, move at 14 knots underwater completely undetected. Except by Kalistani subs of course, who know ever square millimeter of the Straits, because our submarines operate under those waves 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Nothing passes the Straits without our knowing about it, as a matter of national security, and if anything has passed through, its because we have allowed it to do so. We will stick to our own front yard, and let others pursue wasteful, vulnerable weapons at their leisure. For status."

The Kalistani Navy is currently in internal discussions about whether to reform into a four fleet system, due to an expanded mission in the Central Anantonese Ocean and increased patrols in the Northern Anantonese. The discussions are part of a recently revealed unofficial plan which includes thinking of the Central Anantonese Ocean between Kalistan and Gaduridos as a more unified security zone. When asked about the plan, the Rear Admiral was candid: "The Central Anantonese Ocean is an area of concern for us, of course, but any unified security arrangements for the region would naturally require buy in from as many as five countries, so we are nowhere near where we need to be for anything solid to begin to precipitate. It is more of a general direction that we would like to go toward than anything fully formulated at this point. There are a LOT of variables at play that could change what that looks like." What is clear however is that Kalistan is inching toward a larger regional role than it has accepted in the past.

"Who knows," said Admiral Davis. "An Aircraft Carrier might be something we decide we need after all. Just like every other country in Terra." After a while, it became difficult to know what comments about aircraft carriers to take seriously and which to chalk up to satire of other nations.