Intergalactic Summit

The murderer would have been handed over regardless, and in fact I find it amazing they decided to so at all after Colelie happened.

Also, lest you forget, the Sebiestor were not at all happy on how the matter was handled by the Fleet.

Someone has to teach you to guard your borders Ally. Maybe next time you can keep the Caldari out.

Bravery of the fighters notwithstanding, the whole incident seems to be a diplomatic mess, largely because it looked like the right hand didn't know what the left hand was doing. I heard that several capsuleer militias like Gradient were in the dark until the last minute and it's clear that the Sebiestor leadership wasn't onboard with the action. From what I hear, even the RSS and the diplomatic core was in the dark, though take that with a grain of salt because my cousins in those bureaucracies tend to exaggerate. It wouldn't surprise me, though.

All I can say that I've heard more people questioning the Republic's ability to exercise military control, both in my tribe and outside of the Republic since Colelie, and I can't see how that's a good diplomatic development. Earning a reputation as a dangerous and unpredictable ally usually makes people review their options.

I suppose we have RSS stations & people stationed in the Fed for no good reason then? Do you really think the Federals would have refused giving them access to the investigation?

But we didn't ask for that which would have left the work to the people stationed there with the relevant local knowledge and contacts.

And you feel a few dreadnoughts was a cheap price to pay for showing how resolute we are as a people?

A few dreadnoughts. All crewed by kin or allies. However that looked inside the Republic, it made us look like the witless savages Kim takes us for outside it.

Oh I don't think we came off as 'dangerous and unpredictable' in the wily and crafty sense, not at all. I think we came off as 'dangerous and unpredictable' in the same way that my mother uses it to describe my little brother's attempt at accounting in our family superstore--incompetent and immature.

If you want to be the dangerous and wily upstart, you've got to be aggressive and smart, and Colelie seems to fail on the second part.

That's pretty much my point. It seems that way and it worked. Either it was pulled off in just such a perfect way, or (and this is the more likely option) the diplomatic ties between the Republic and Federation are more robust that the opinions of a few dozen capsuleers make them seem to be.

A lot of people characterize the Empyrean wars as a "pressure valve", letting a controllable amount of conflict exist between states so that larger conflicts don't manifest themselves. I personally don't agree with that method, but that's what Concord presents us with and the Sanmatar and Chieftains have accepted that as the best option. Colelie was probably the same damn thing, an angry and distraught people letting off some steam so our grievances would be heard.

I don't know about that. It still seems to me that we're the smallest wheel on the cart and Colelie didn't change that at all. I think it also seems like a stretch to say that relations between the Federation and the Republic are more robust, and even more of a stretch to try to tie that to Colelie. At least I haven't seen any evidence of it. I mean, Roden was re-elected partially on the strength of strained relations with the Republic within the Federation, so that opinion seems to go beyond a few dozen capsuleers. The Federation's continued alliance might just as well be due to them exploring their options. At the end of the day, diplomatic relations are improved by diplomacy, not chancy military manuevers.

As far as the Empyrean Wars go, they can be used for a lot of political reasons and in my mind, using them as a pressure valve, while a viable idea, just isn't sustainable. Like Arnulf said before, people die in these wars. Tribe members. Clan members. Family members. I can't imagine that any clan or tribe is going to sit still if they think that their kin are getting killed because the government can't think of any other way to control hotheads. I know it wouldn't sit well in mine. That's the kind of diplomatic choice that actually buys you more problems both internationally and within the Republic. What's smart about that?

You can't pay for the grief with deaths, you will only nurture more grief and will turn into monster.

Proper payment shall be done with a prayer, not with a weapon.

Difference of opinion I suppose.I think things are ok, and that Colelie wasn't the absolute disaster that apologists paint it as. I still respect our allies in the Federation, (if not more so). Grovelling and apologizing doesn't suit us as a people. I suppose it would be accurate to say I'm proud of the Republic, even if we make mistakes. We're the youngest nation in the cluster, born from instability, and it's going to be a bumpy road. I'm looking forward to enjoying the ride.

You lack faith. The spiritual world is far more pervasive than you Amarrians believe.