[War_ooc] WAR WR

[Chazenesq2b at aol.com]

Hey John,

Don't have access to the old WR, so if you could make the statistical changes 
as indicated below, I'd be appreciative.

- Chris

UNITED KINGDOM

Population Approval: Raise 2%  (General fears about North Korea mitigating 
score.)
Government Approval: Raise 3%  (Greater confidence in the PM)
International Favor: Raise 5%  (He did a shit load of 'good' things this WR)
Economic Growth: Steady
Inflation: Steady
Unemployment: Steady

This week is looking genuinely more positive than before, as the Prime 
Minister enjoys a bit of a bump for his skillful and deliberate handling of the 
'China issue'.  Acting in deliberation with key allies, and mindful of agreements 
and expectations, practically everyone can agree to the need to keep Taiwan 
well equipped, and simultaneously stall or totally prevent an Asiatic arms race. 
 The only unfortunate thing on this note is that the news is eclipsed by news 
of the North Korean nuclear test, meaning the public at large (as is often 
the case) is relatively unaware of the success in stopping the 'would be' 
crisis, and instead is focussing on the current, obvious issues.

The handling of North Korea was no more, and no less, than expected.  The 
Prime Minister's move had wide-spread backing, and thus he enjoys considerable 
political leverage on the issue.

Parliament also agrees to the negotiated use of Japanese spy-sattelites, 
seeing the obvious need for such a program given North Korean nuclear ambitions 
and the pending 'Operation Revival' against the Taliban.  Field commanders 
report the troops are ready, willing, and able to begin the fight to retake 
Afghanistan.  The EU has dispatched an additional 1,500 troops to Afghanistan for the 
operations, and Brazilian and Chinese troops are expected in theathre 
shortly.  In addition, the best units of the Afghani National Army (which isn't 
exactly saying much.) have been made available by the government for military 
operations, as have some of the sectorial 'militias' which have come back to some 
sense in response to the rising strength of the Taliban.  All told, Afghani and 
Foreign contributions now total some 15,000 troops... although for obvious 
reasons commanders are hesitant about deploying all the troops possible.

Lawmakers are however increasingly concerned over the rising cost of the war, 
the apparent lack of American involvement, and (quite understandably given 
the Iraq debacle) exit strategy for the operation.  The Prime Minister has 
'some' time to consider his options, but it would be best not to diddly daddle if 
public support is to be kept strong.  The GMO crop program is considered a good 
start, but Afghanistan has always been, and likely always will be a hostile 
place to life.  Why would someone want to grow genetically altered corn for $1 
on the acre when they could grow natural poppy for ten times that amount on 
the same land?  Similarly, the more opium crops that are destroyed, the higher 
the price of opium, and likewise the profit in growing it.  Most believe 
expecting a quick solution to the problem is unrealistic, and that the GMO plan is 
really a band-aid action for the moment.  

The intelligence exchange with Japan gets a grateful response from the 
Japanese intelligence agents who were helpful to the UK previously.  This apparently 
growing Sino-Anglo relationship is likely to pay dividends in the future, and 
to that end the government beuracrats and elected representatives give the PM 
general support.

About the only (minor) downpoint is that debate on the PREP Act continues in 
Parliament.  The issue is likely to fade as the international scene demands 
greater attention, particularly with British troops about to engage in combat.

KOREA [NORTH] (DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF)

Population Approval: 30%
Government Approval: 75%
International Favor: 10%
Economic Growth: 1%, Zero.
Inflation: N/A
Unemployment: 0% *(Actual unemployment estimated to be well above 
50%.)

KRF:
Population Approval: 57%
Cadre Approval: 95%
International Favor: 50%
Funds Available: USD 300,000  ($200,000 lost to seizures, activities)

    All movements have their movements of unparralleled difficulty.  The 
American Revolution had Valley Forge, the French Revolution had the Reign of 
Terror, and Lenin himself was exiled to Siberia before returning to bring Communism 
to Russia.  Unfortunately for the KRF, the time of bleakness has arrived.  
The next couple of weeks will be critical.

    An agent attempting to make contact for further shipments from Japan was 
captured by the North Korean Navy, and interrogated in traditional North 
Korean techniques.  To spare the lives of his family, who unbeknownst to him had 
already made it over the border to the safety of China.  After admitting to 
Japanese involvement, the prisoner was locked up in an unmentioned facility.  An 
official report to the Chinese government is being made in an attempt to sure 
up North Korean-Chinese relations, and to discredit the KRF publically as an 
outside supported movement.

    Equally devestating, although necessary, has been the casualties 
sustained in helping civilian refugees cross into China.  Kim Jong Il has placed the 
'highest' priority in deterring the flow of workers into China.  Some rumors 
suggest more than a million Koreans have already made it across between land 
routes, the river, or in boats risking ocean travel.
Fortunately these are being partially off-set by recruitment among the 
refugees, although at the moment losses exceed recovery.  In addition, some 
shipments intended for the KRF have been interdicted by North Korean naval patrols, 
drastically cutting the KRF's supply lines.

    If, however, the group manages to survive these set-backs, the few privy 
to the knowledge of the KRF's existance believe it 'may' be able to win the 
proverbial war.

SAUDI ARABIA

Population Approval: Drop 10%  (Sharp reductions for moving too much, too 
soon.)
Government Approval: Drop 2%  (See above.)
International Favor: Raise 10%  (He practically shook the foundations of his 
own society)
Economic Growth: Raise .1%.  (Slight uptick for new services/goods.)
Inflation:  Steady
Unemployment: Drop .5%  (More jobs)

A 'written' criminal code?  The idea isn't completely foreign in Arabian 
lands, but for Saudi Arabia a truly formal and complete code of criminal conduct 
in a written form had never been adopted.  Granted, some codes were implemented 
on major issues here and there, all written, but a formal, concise source of 
law never compiled.  Consternation, particularly among the clerics of Saudi 
Arabia however is stirred as it's typically felt these codes are not in keeping 
with Shari'a law, the system around which current Saudi justice is 
'supposedly' based.  The often complex and even contradictory system is none the less an 
engrained fact of life, meaning that the 'people' as a whole may be better off 
in the long run, but are unlikely to appreciate it in the short term.

In addition, the civilizing effort on law enforcement has made many come to 
see the Kingdom as being 'soft' on crime... especially among criminals!  Crime 
rates in major metropolitan areas are up, slightly, but this hasn't stopped 
the extremists and insensed religious leaders from blaming the King's decisions 
for the problems.  Several demonstrations, where permissable, have been made 
by Islamic leaders and their followers, demanding the reinstitution of both 
Shari'a Law, and the severer crime penalties.  It's rumored that talks of 
assassination have begun spreading, and that the King is burned in effigy, but these 
are just rumors... for now.

The reliance on more science and technology, regardless of how objectively 
right it may be, is seen by the people in the broader international context as 
relying on more support from the West... and the United States especially, not 
a particularly popular part of the world right now in downtown Riyadh.  
International favor on the other hand has exploded with praise for these new, 
substantive changes, earning the King increased leeway internationally.  'The year 
of Democracy' some proclaim, as major governments all around the world, 
formerly authoritarian, begin instituting increasingly 'democratic' measures.

The building of prisons has angered some, but not over the fact that they 
should exist.  Like in the West, the arguments center over 'where'!  Nobody wants 
a prison in their neighborhood, but they 'do' want the jobs associated with 
prisons.  It will take some time to sort these issues out, and whether the King 
wishes to lead by decree or allow local leaders to make the decisions and 
defer to their judgment remains to be seen.  This budding justice system 'will' 
however require a dramatic uptick in the Civil Service... and although this 
means more employment opportunities for Saudi men and a higher standard of living 
for many, it simultaneously means expenses.  So far that's not an issue, 
given the fairly high cost of petrol on the world markets, but if oil prices drop 
too suddenly, the 'one trick pony' that is the Saudi economy will be 
desperately strained trying to support this new beuracracy.  Some minor economic 
ripples, positive in nature, are already being felt.  There is a greater amount of 
Foreign Direct Investment in Saudi Arabia, with foreign companies looking to 
establish firms inside the nation to provide the goods and services necessary 
for the upcoming civil projects.

The greater investments in Technical Colleges, although sturring some 
controversy when seen in the light of forced modernization, does offer several 
dividends.  First it gives young Saudi males something to do if they can't find 
employment, nipping at the extremist recruiting pool.  Secondly it provides a 
higher class and broader opportunity for jobs within the Kingdom as demand for 
foreign services can be replaced by local Saudi enterprises.  Finally, if and 
when true global economic integration is to take place, it makes the Saudi 
economy far more competitive, and thus a likely benefactor of globalization.

People aren't exactly ready for 'that' kind of leap however.

The Police exchange program receives warm welcomes from both New York City 
and Chicago, though there is some concern about the language barrier.  (More so 
in Chicago than New York).  The program being shaped up so far is that Saudi 
exchange officers will be put through the respective Police Academies of the 
cities, and then serve a 6 month term which is normally 'probation' before going 
home.  This will provide excellent training, and the technical expertise to 
modernize the justice system in Saudi Arabia.

Finally, the fairly successful ending of the hostage crisis eases some 
concerns on security matters, although rumblings are the possibility of attack 
remains high.