Subject: Re: [FFML] Story idea
From: Chan Wei Lik
Date: 6/29/1997, 11:59 AM
To: "'David Bateson'" <major@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au>, "'FFML'" <fanfic@fanfic.com>

I've thought up some more things to say about your post.

From: David Bateson [major@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au]

You stage provocations against the target nation, until their
government is forced to attack you to retain credibility.  Then you go
around pointing out that *THEY* started it.<<

But there would be no gain in this. First, the target government would have to 
be really, really, REALLY provoked before they're willing to risk death to 
attack you. After that, all you get is the elimination of the target 
government. You still can't invade, the protection is still in effect.
Besides, all this provocation activity would be hardly unnoticed by the 
intellegence agencies of both the target and protector governments. If the 
operation is blown, you get nothing, and they'll be watching you....
Maybe you could use this to put in a government more favourable to you, but 
there are more subtle ways to do this....
Finally, even if the subversion succeeds in creating a government more favou  
rable to you, the protector nation can still withdraw its protection. Perhaps 
you can step in to provide protection. But is your protection reliable? And 
what about your other neighbours? Who would they choose? Dicey questions 
indeed....

Or perhaps you could just infiltrate guerillas (so they wear uniforms
made in your country and carry guns with your trademark.  Trade is free
after all) and then deny that you are supporting the guerillas, or
perhaps you simply claim to be supporting a local guerilla campaign (it
worked for North Vietnam, although they did have Chinese and Russian
protection). <<

I've thought some more about this, and I feel it may provide a possible means 
of stealth invasion. If the guerillas you used as puppets could successfully 
overthrow the legitimate government. You could then step in, recognize it and 
grant protection. That could freeze attempts to restore the previous 
government.
Of course you'd have to see to it that the guerillas succeed without revealing 
your support for them, or it'll be a bullet or bomb on your head. Maybe I 
should include provisions to provide millitary aid to protected governments at 
their request.
Anyway, I think that there might just some despots who think they can pull this 
off without getting killed for trying. What do you think?
Thanks, you've given me an idea already, that discussion was quite worth it.