Badara

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BADARA EXPECTS AHMADI COOPERATION COUNCIL TO BE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT
 
MANARA  ALBRAYD SRIA AL-MUSAMI
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)
 
Defense Ministry, November 17, 5690:  After Defense Minister Salman al-Makhtoum met with the Defense Command Chief and Chief of the Naval Staff to set in motion formulation of a naval modernization plan, The Monsoon asked the Defense Minister if, as a matter of strict fact, reports of discussions between Jumhuriat al-Badara and the Majalite Kingdom on Majatran tensions were correct, and he replied:
 

Absolutely.  We realize many believe because we have a Majority Israi population while they have a Majority Abadi population, that we must be constantly at odds and are fundamentally opposed to one another.
 
This hardly the case. Both of our governments have an Ahmadi faction as its majority population while also having another Ahmadi faction that is highly vocal, easily offended and constantly acting as though it is being disrespected.
 
In fact, we each have similar problems and concerns as we try to do what is best for our constituencies.  We believe this was part of the reasoning of the Majaite Kingdom when it established the Ahmadi Cooperation Council.
 
So yes, we are conferring with our Ahmadi neighbor, the Majlite Kingdom,  about current tensions in Majatra, in an appropriate forum, the Ahmadi Cooperation Council.
 

Defense Minister Salman al-Makhtoum

[Drax]

EDUCATION FOR BEDWI
 
MANARA  ALBRAYD SRIA AL-MUSAMI
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)
 
Education Ministry, November 17, 5693: Central Bank Managing Director Mariamne al-Qassem is also serving as Education Minister, so the Monsoon caught up with her after a Ministerial Council  meeting to ask her how the plan to improve education among the Bedwi was progressing and she responded:
 

When my brother was Chancellor, he outlined the problem and the plan. The Bedwi on the whole do not really want or see the need for their children going to our schools while we really think their children have a right as  citizens of Jumhuriat al-Badara to an education and the government has an obligation to deliver it.
 
What we tried was educational outposts in settlement villages which often are quite transient. We devised curricula where those who attend are receiving assignments strictly focusing on the next attendance to encourage short term commitment rather than fear of long term entanglement.  And we emphasize practical skills.  Math, prices, buying and selling, distances, heights, measurements, use of common tools, music, cooking, hygiene, room maintenance. And language.  They know a fundamental fact. Those who want to engage with the civilized world are much better if they can speak and for that matter write a civilized language.
 
We also made the outposts attractive and friendly to the Bedwi generally.  Starting with mail delivery service, veterinary care and electronics repair.  We have also allowed grocery vendors to operate at the outposts and other services at various outposts.  We have most recently been scheduling free dental care which has really been a success.
 
We are making progress.  A lot of children are getting some education. And we have been at it long enough that we have Bedwi instructing and operating many of the outposts.  Under ideal conditions, some students want regular schooling and we arrange for their transportation and enrollment in the regular school systems maintained by the Muhafazas.
 
So things are improving. Improving a lot.  But they are still a long way from where they really need to be.

[Drax]

BADARA LIKELY TO JOIN MPS
 
MANARA  ALBRAYD SRIA AL-MUSAMI
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)
 
Foreign Ministry, November 17, 5694:  The Monsoon asked Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz whether joining the Migrants Pass Society (MPS), a treaty organization, would be placed before the Majlis as rumored, and he responded:
 

It is likely.  Our reading of the numbered paragraph 2 of the treaty does appear to us to recognize that Migrants Pass has international waters passing though it while numbered paragraph 3 thereof  seems to us to indicate that of course there are several nations whose boundary waters abut those international waters.
 
Accordingly we are likely to join. Our current government formed in 5936 has had two positions on Migrants Pass.  Migrants Pass has international waters through which all sovereign nations may traverse and, second, rerouting all trade away from it since various Majatran and Artanian nations have from time to time insisted they had control of it since we are a small nation not inclined to go to war when other alternatives are available.  We are very glad the situation has changed.

Foreign Minister Aziz

[Drax]

EDUCATION FOR BEDWI GROWING
 
MANARA  ALBRAYD SRIA AL-MUSAMI
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)
 
Central Bank Main Office, August 17, 5704: The Monsoon asked Central Bank Managing Director Mariamne al-Qassem if she was really going to retire and she responded:
 

Perhaps surprisingly, yes. Our monetary and fiscal policy can not be dependent on one indispensable person; no more me than Faisal Abu Saq before me. I would like to think we contributed, and substituting the Dinar for the BDR may insure we are remembered, but seeing that trained and experienced capable people can take over for us and continue the work is really the critical test for success.  My successor will be drawn from large pool of such people from the Central Bank, the Finance Ministry and the commercial and investment banking sectors.
 
Understand that my retiring will include retiring from holding the Education Ministry as well.  The reason I was there was my brother’s vision for improving the life of the Bedwi; I am a numbers cruncher not a visionary.  But I do feel like by providing budgetary support as an absolute priority, we made outreach to the Bedwi successful.
 
There are iron laws of bureaucracy, one of which is if leadership is left in place too long, the same things are done right while the same things are done wrong.  So it is time to bring in those dedicated to quality to upgrade what we have been doing for a long time.
 
Make no mistake, we are proud of the progress we have made.  When my brother was Chancellor, he outlined the problem and the plan. The Bedwi on the whole did not really want or see the need for their children going to our schools while we really think their children have a right as  citizens of Jumhuriat al-Badara to an education and the government has an obligation to deliver it.  After persisting for a number of years, Bedwi leadership does not on the whole see the government as an existential threat to their way of life.
 
We established educational outposts in settlement villages which often were quite transient. We devised curricula where those who attend are receiving assignments strictly focusing on the next attendance to encourage short term commitment rather than fear of long term entanglement.  And we emphasize practical skills.  Math, prices, buying and selling, distances, heights, measurements, use of common tools, music, cooking, hygiene, room maintenance. And language.  They also have learned a fundamental fact. Those who want to engage with the civilized world are much better off if they can speak and for that matter write a civilized language.
 
We also made the outposts attractive and friendly to the Bedwi generally.  Starting with mail delivery service, veterinary care and electronics repair.  We have also allowed grocery vendors to operate at the outposts and other services at various outposts.  A great success has been scheduling free dental care. More recently we have added vision and hearing checkups and made glasses and hearing aids available.
 
So a lot of children are getting some education. We have Bedwi instructing and operating most of the outposts.  Many students want regular schooling and we arrange for their transportation and enrollment in the regular school systems maintained by the Muhafazas.

But now is the time for new leadership to add something to the progress we have made.

Central Bank Managing Director Mariamne al-QassemQassem

[Drax]

BADARA ELECTIONS MAKE NEW LEADERSHIP LIKELY
 
MANARA  ALBRAYD SRIA AL-MUSAMI
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)
 
Majlis, May 17, 5707:  The Monsoon asked Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz whether the usual configuration of factions would likely continue the distribution of government Ministries, and he responded:
 

No. I am pretty sure we will see a shift this time.  Several things are driving the likelihood of quite a bit of change.  The first is that both the Israi Values (IV) and Metzists of Majatra (MM) really want the ban on actual political parties lifted.
 
The second is the Dufazi really want their founder, Moqtada al-Dufaz, to have the Religious Affairs Ministry. 
 
The third is most delegates by a sizeable majority are identifying with one faction or another.  This is the first time this the case.
 
Chancellor Abdul Jabbar has indicated to the Free Radical Supper Club (FRSC) faction leadership that it is likely that several factions with a specific agenda will band together and take over most of the Ministries. 
 
The Working Institutional Group (WIG) faction looks like it is ready to make this happen.
 
The FRSC has been fundamentally dedicated to making things work while trying to protect our citizenry from the corruption and exploitation that repelled them sufficiently to bring down our predecessor government.  But it looks like this cycle is likely to sideline us.

 
The Monsoon asked Finance Minister Nazir al-Sayed of WIG what he thought would happen this time ad he replied:
 

It’s a whole new game.

Majlis

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MAJLIS ELECTS ISRAI VALUES CHANCELLOR, IVRAHIM AL-MARWAN
 
MANARA  ALBRAYD SRIA AL-MUSAMI
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)
 
Majlis, November17, 5707: The bulk of the newly elected delegates to the Majlis were connected to one of the six operating factions.  After being sworn in, they elected Working Institutional Group’s (WIG) Jamal Qahtani as the Presiding Member of the Majlis.
 
Four factions had put together a Ministerial slate. Working together on the slate were WIG, Metzists of Majatra (MM), Israi Values (IV) and the Dufazi, followers of Moqtada al-Dufaz who dominates the political machinery of Al’Salmania Muhaffazeh.
 
IV’s Ivrahim al-Marwan was elected Chancellor, MM’s Leader, Narouz Soqman, was elected Interior Minister, WIG’s Nazir al-Sayed remains at Finance, and Moqtada al-Dufaz was elected Religious Affairs Minister.
 
Monsoon sources say in the negotiations before the election there was considerable jockeying for Ministries between MM and WIG which likely has led to some resentment and future friction. The election of the Religious Affairs Minister was the most problematic. Assurance of oversight from the Governing Board of the General Intelligence Service (GIS) that he would neither launch another religious thought police or institute religious laws otherwise criminal in nature was necessary before he could be nominated.
 
The other principal action on opening day was amending the Constitution to allow political parties to once again fully operate.
 
The Monsoon asked outgoing Chancellor Abdul Jabbar if the change to parties would matter, and he responded:
 

Some but not much.  Two other factors will matter  much more to our faction, the Free Radical Supper Club. First, retirement of Khalifi and Mariamne al-Qassem, our founding leaders who were a bridge between the oligarchy of which they were a part and the delegates representing the citizens who had thrown out the old government because of its corruption.
 
And second, most delegates are now associated with one interest or another.  Our main function in the past was helping employ the powerful while being a check on abuses.  Now I see us changing to a technocratic and centrist party.  Initially, outgoing Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz will lead us. 

 
Chancellor Ivrahim al-Marwan

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BADARA INTERESTED IN JOINING MATO
 
MANARA  ALBRAYD SRIA AL-MUSAMI
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)
 
Defense Ministry, September 17, 5708:  After Defense Minister Salman al-Makhtoum met with the Defense Command Chief and Chief of the Air Staff to review what could and could not be purchased from New Dawn Nashwa, the Monsoon asked the Defense Minister what seemed to be the Government’s view of the Majatra- Artania Treaty Organization (MATO), and he responded:
 

I can say the Ministerial Council is inclined to join MATO; Jumhuriat al-Badara has generally been a member of Majatra wide mutual security organizations when they existed. Particularly since the demise of the World Congress as a security organization.  In fact, it was military action by several nations responding to a then operative Majatran wide mutual defense treaty that finally brought the invasion of our nation by religious fanatics to an end.
 
Realize that Majatra and Artania is not the same as Majatra, but the Ministerial Council is very much of the opinion the principle is the same.  I do note that Jumhuriat al-Badara can not just join MATO.  Approval by all the member states is required by Article 8 of the treaty creating MATO.
 
The Foreign Ministry is reviewing the MATO treaty.  My understanding from Foreign Minister Hakim al-Sabah is that deciding on our interpretation of a few clauses would be necessary before the Ministerial Council would recommend it to the Majlis for ratification. But that should present no real problem should membership prove to be possible.

Defense Minister Salman al-Makhtoum

[Drax]

MAJLIS RATIFIES MATO TREATY
 
MANARA  ALBRAYD SRIA AL-MUSAMI
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)
 
Majlis, October 15, 5708:  Ratification of the  Majatra - Artania Treaty which establishes the Majatra - Artania Treaty Organization (MATO) was proposed in the Majlis by the Ministerial Council.
 
Foreign Minister Hakim al-Sabah explained how the treaty seemed to be in keeping with the traditional approach of Jumhuriat al-Badara to international relations.  A  questions was raised on whether being concerned with Artania was in keeping with that view, but the Majlis on the whole was satisfied with the Ministerial Council position.  

Ratification followed with minimal objection.  The Foreign Ministry had been notified the member nations of MATO had approved Jumhuriat al-Badara joining.


The Majlis

[Drax]

LUTHORI AND BADARA REACH TRADE AGREEMENTS
 
MANARA  ALBRAYD SRIA AL-MUSAMI
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)
 
Foreign Ministry, July 15, 5710:  After the Majatra – Artania Treaty Organization  (MATO) was joined by Jumhuriat al-Badara, the Luthorian Government contacted our Foreign Ministry to look into possible mutually beneficial trade arrangements.
 
The Foreign Ministry today announced that after extensive discussions between Dr. George Tweet, the Luthorian Energy Secretary, Dr. Henry Schnee, Luthorian Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Hakim al-Sabah, two trade agreements have been agreed upon.
 
The first concerns sale of light crude oil to the Government of Luthori or its designees by Jumhuriat al-Badara’s wholly owned government corporation, Majatran Export Import Authority (MEIA).  The oil itself will come from Petroleum Development of Badara, a government corporation, Qat Oil Services or another privately owned oil supplier.
 
There is an agreed upon floor and ceiling for the amount to be purchased with the price per barrel being the market price upon delivery less a settled upon discount.  This will provide Jumhuriat al-Badara with a guarantee of a reliable customer and a guarantee to Luthori of crude oil until such time as renewable resources might  replace the need for fossil fuel.
 
The second agreement concerns a similar arrangement whereby the Jumhuriat al-Badara’s MEIA will purchase an amount within an agreed upon floor and ceiling  of aluminum derived from bauxite mining from the Government of Luthori or its designee. 
 
The price will be market price upon delivery less an agreed upon small discount.  Luthori will thereby have a reliable customer and Badara will have a reliable supply of aluminum.
 
The Monsoon notes that this is an indication Jumhuriat al-Badra is serious about trading outside Majatra to which it had been largely confined since coming out of isolation.

[Drax]

CHANCELLOR EMPHASIZES SEEKING PEACE AND HARMONY
 
MANARA  ALBRAYD SRIA AL-MUSAMI
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)
 
Chancellor’s Office, September 27, 5712:  The Monsoon asked Chancellor Ivrahim al-Marwan if his party, Israi Values, considered itself an enemy of the Dufazi, the party supporting Abadi cleric Moqtada al-Dufaz, and he responded:
 

Not an enemy.  Currently we are two of the factions or parties in a fragile governing coalition.  There are two Abadi parties – the Dufazi and the Forgotten Abadi Majatrans.  The latter has a very similar program to ours; protect freedom of religion so that we can practice our Ahmadi religion and live in peace with our neighbors foreign and domestic.
 
The Dufazi want more control of the lives of others.  We are not unaware Jumhuriat al-Badara was invaded  by angry foreign Israi , and it took several nations helping us out to end that invasion.  So we are not holding out the proposition that Israi are necessarily better or more peaceful than Abadi.
 
So the Dufazi are not an enemy but are a very different party from Israi Values.  In all honesty the coalition can weather our differences better than the differences of the Metzists of Majatra (MM) and the Working Institutional Group (WIG). 
 
Be that as it may, we are trying to hold together a governing coalition and feel like we may.

 
Asked by the Monsoon if he felt the Majatra - Artania Treaty Organization (MATO) put Jumhuriat al-Badara on a collision course with some other  nations, the Chancellor repolied:
 

Obviously it could or you would not be asking. But historically, we have generally had  a mutual defense arrangement with many of our neighbors that has helped to protect us and allow us to prosper. That is where we think we are. 

Chancellor Ivrahim al-Marwan