OBT Forum

Ambassador Kosh continues.

"If there are no other prefacing statements regarding pirate activities, the next step would be to determine what we can do about them."

"The Oberon Confederation Armed Forces continue to develop and coordinate Task Forces dedicated to Anti Pirate actions.  We continue to offer the services of these units for Joint Operations with our neighbors for the purpose of eliminating pirate threats.  We continue to offer the results of our intelligence gathering efforts to our partners and neighbors for the purpose of eliminating pirate threats."

"The corporate offices of industries known to have supplied equipment to pirate bands through the Oberon Confederation are subject to investigation and realignment of priority equipment shipments."

"In short, the Oberon Confederation continues to commit to the safety and security of the people of the Coreward Inner Sphere."

*Jade stands up and takes a drink from her cup as she does!

"The ideal would be an independant Multi House force! with support of all Houses! Barring that, force of Mechwarriors, Infantry, Aero/Space Fighteres and Jumpships large enough to deal with the Pirates. Answerable to this August Council, as well as supported by this Council! Donations of C-Bills by all Houses would be requested to maintain the Force!

I know this is an Bold Step for us here, but it could be a Step towards bring a stronger stability to the Great Houses! I do not suggest Star League size, large enough to deal with the Pirate an Inter House Police Force!

"As much as I approve in principle with the ambassador's idea. In practice, it runs into one ugly truth."

"The Inner Sphere is again at war. Short of reforming the Star League, none of the 5 houses, let along the Periphery realms will take orders from a realm seen as the enemy."

"And gentlemen, though we may be statesmen, we must be aware of politics, and politics is above all, the art of the possible. Simply put, such an endeavor isn't possible at this time."

The Marian Ambassador starts clapping his hands slowly.

"Bravo Gentlemen.  So after hours of bitching an moaning, all you can come up with is let's do exactly what we are all already doing.

Is it any wonder we have been in a downward spiral for 300 years?"

"Far be it for me to agree with a nation I am at war with, but the Capellan Ambassador does make an excellent point, for now, local cooperation with Oberon, the Rim Collection and your nation.." gesturing to the Marian ambassador "..has served us well."

"We are more than willing to share intelligence, except with those we are at war with, naturally, but once hostilities conclude, perhaps the issue can be revisited?"

"Why is it ambassador, that the Free Worlds League is so openly threatened by a small state such us ours?  Every time we so much as sneeze, the entire League trembles and her diplomats begin a war of words against us."

Shaking his head, the co-ambassador from the Oberon Confederation simple states, "Please remember to prepare and stick to your statement related to the issue.  Once everyone has had a chance to share their thoughts, it will be possible to argue a side.  We should not be instigating conflicts, but looking for peaceful resolutions.  It is clear that there cannot be a completely unified anti-piracy movement.  However there might be a way to centralize a collective effort through his council."

The Marian foolishness with regards to us waging a war of words or otherwise the curtailment of piracy is a matter worth putting effort into.

Piracy hurt's trade, trade is the lifeblood of all true civilization and has done more to uplift humanity then almost any other force in history.

While intelligence might be harder to share. The fact remains anti-piracy efforts hurt no one. I rather doubt the Lyrans gaining information on Free Worlds efforts to curtail pirate raids into the Mosiro Archipelago will seriously hurt efforts on the war front anymore then Information on an operation directed against the Pirates of Star's End are suddenly going to lay bare the sum of LIC's efforts against the Free Worlds.

Let us talk about what is possible.

There has been talk of oversight being handled by this council. It seems to me we have several components to debate.

Command:
I would favor this Council or a committee composed up of representatives of the state's of this council as a supreme command for joint operations and dissemination of piracy related information.

Voting:

Now here is the rub shall we make it as simple as one state one vote? Or since this needs must be financed will we have a system weighted where one's vote is based of a percentage of what one contributes based on a negotiated value rating both monetary and seconding of military forces.

Whatever voting system that is setup for the governing council since I doubt it is possible at this time for any one to accept a single authority figure coming from one of the state's I recommend that our host's Comstar possesses a non-voting seat. But said representative enforce the rules of the Committee and have the roll of tie breaking where on motions of deadlock the representative of Comstar's vote would decide the matter.

Such is only proper with their order's long standing reputation for neutrality and even handedness.


Joint-Operations: For duration and deployment forces can be seconded by constituent state's to the general anti-piracy operation, or seconded to specific joint-operations once such operations are approved by the council. But command on the spot would be needed. I propose that the Committee/Council as mentioned before have the right to assign officer's from member state's to command of joint-operations, for the duration of such joint-operations to ensure there is no command break down.


Far reaching? certainly...but if we are going to discuss doing this we needs must be precise on what power's and responsibilities each state is allowing this Committee/Council to have. Otherwise later there are those of a less scrupulous nature that might seek to take advantage of the letter of the agreement in defiance of its sentiment.

ComStar's Ambassador shrugs before responding:

"I would think that any such oversite is unessesary. Each nation should continue to act in concert with it's neighbours, if it so wishes, or on its own and forward any intelligence on pirates to this board for dissemination to all members.  That way operations are not held up by political discussions here and all nations have accurate anti-pirate intelligence.  No one is forced to cooperate with enemies, but can work with friends where and when nessesary."

*Jade stands again.

Comstar is suggesting we maintain a statis-quo! That allows the oirates time to recruit more to replace lost members?