Intergalactic Summit

There's been a lot of discussion over the past month and a half about the future of Federation-Republic relations. Much of it has been in the context of Karin Midular's shooting, the extradition and execution of the shooter Broteau, and in the surprising actions of the Republic Fleet which culminated in the Republic's attack on the Federation Navy at Colelie.

Now that we've got a little space between the immediacy of these acts and ourselves, I think it's a good time to have a deeper discussion about Federation-Republic relations. It's no secret to anyone who's been following the various discussions that I favor a dissolution of the alliance between the Federation and the Republic. Others in those discussions have favored everything from declarations of war (considering, as I do, the battle of Colelie sufficient casus belli to support such a declaration) to nothing at all (taking a diplomatic stance basically equivalent to a host who says "it's nothing" to a guest who's broken a tea cup).

Federation citizens, what do you think now? I want to hear your positions on the Republic. Trustworthy allies? Loose cannons? Latent enemies? Let's talk!

While a declaration of war would be entirely justified, it would also be largely fruitless. Best case scenario, we break a few of their ships, knock out some stations, and they learn their lesson. Worst case scenario, we get pulled into a long, drawn-out war costing more money and lives than Colelie itself. I'm willing to pass on the best case scenario in order to avoid the worst case.

I also believe that while a dissolution of the alliance would be justified, it would also be inadvisable. The Republic, despite its recent idiotic tendencies, is useful. The entire problem with this discussion is that Republicans are not just "trustworthy allies" or "loose cannons", they're both. Or rather, they contain both within their ranks.

I believe the Federation would be best served by maintaining a positive relationship with the trustworthy Republicans, aiding their rise to power in Republic politics. We must find the people in the Republic that are on our side, and help them help us.

At the same time we should do anything we can to cut out the more cancerous elements within the Republic. Deny their corporations and business partners aid, funding, workers, or Federation-based security contractors. And of course, if necessary, these people could always be dealt with in a more direct fashion by the military-intelligence agencies that "don't exist". This last suggestion is, of course, merely hypothetical speculation that I would, of course, never truly advocate. Of course.

What we should absolutely do above all else is demand reparations and the punishment of all people involved in the decision-making leading up to the incident.

I have said this before, elsewhere, but I don't believe there is anything at all to be gained by a war. In my view, the proper policy to enact in response to this affair is the same kind of response a level-headed gentleman might give a shabby neighbor who were to storm into his house uninvited and spit in his face. That response is not to lower yourself to the level of your rude neighbor and unwelcome guest, but to calmly and cooly inform the offender that they are never welcome to call upon you again. Then, to withdraw from any and all agreements and joint enterprises between you and the offending party, and finally to grow a tall, thick hedge between your property and theirs, so that you never need to see, or speak to, or even think about them ever again.

I would like to see us pull out of the alliance, pull all our economic and diplomatic assets out of the Republic, deconstruct the border stargates and endeavor to never interact with that state again - unless they force us to, by invading a second time. In which case we should retaliate with deadly force.

Mdme. Akahoshi, I mean no offence, but I really think this thread would have been better coming from someone else. People - myself included - are going to question your motives for posting this thread.

I believe there should be a frank appraisal of the state of the alliance, and then we should take some steps back away from the entanglements while we re-evaluate if it is right for us anymore.

What we have now is unsustainable. The recent legal precedents set by the decision to extradite Broteau are outrageous. As recently asked at the senate, should we expect a glut of requests for Federal citizen to be extradited to face "tribal law"? Even when crimes committed against ethnic Matari are perpetrated inside of the Federation?

What of the legal status of Matari immigrants that are now Federal citizens? If there is one thing that can be inferred from the Shakor regime's conduct, is that it does not consider or respect Federal citizenship even when it's own former citizens have chosen it over the Republic.

We cannot continue to compromise the workings of our own society each time the Republic martyr themselves and demand we bend over backwards for the sake of their culture. There has to be a two way street. Of course the Matari have a right for their culture to be respected, but this cannot happen at the expense of our own culture inside of Federal borders.

To that end, I believe we may need to release ourselves from current treaties and start fresh. Then, where possible, we would be in a position to slowly and cautiously make new limited agreements that better serve our interests.

Just kill off aid to the Republic, reduce it down to basic levels and emergency support until a full apology is delivered.

The Republic then have a choice of accepting their mistakes and making amends or running off to the State or the Empire and with the way the Caldari are struggling at the moment I cant see them wanting to jump into bed with an unpredictable Republic.

This reminds me that one piece, I think it went...

I once knew a Thukker from Ingunn
Assuring me the shipment will be done.
He claimed it was a joke,
Saying he's a bit broke,
Now out through the airlock he's gone.

There's also that saying 'fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...'

I think the Republic burned out all of it's 'get free out of consequences and responsibility for ludicrous actions' cards.
But if you Federals want to keep trying to keep peace with them... Well, your funeral.

Turning that rhetoric around, are you defending the genocide of the Starkmanir tribe all those years ago? Cause you know, don't tell me they had no idea that was going to happen.
There's a clear difference between 'the thing that should be done' and 'the right thing that should be done.'




I believe matters of 'how much fashion tax should we charge to the crystal boulevard' and such percentages can be taken as irrelevant when foreign interest matters tend to use numbers such as '6x2500mm'.

I believe, that despite the Colelie incident, the alliance should continue. A century old alliance is not something to throw away casually. Despite the voices on both sides decrying the other, our two nations are sister states, with many similarities of priorities, values, and goals. Not to mention the literal intermingling of our two peoples.

Alliances endure or fail for many reasons.

Trust is the one that I consider of paramount importance.

Dare we ever trust them again?