America’s Fictional Enemies

by on October 19, 2021 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

Zabzimek is a Gorgas province that broke away after the Gorgas/Donovian War 19 years ago. Gorgas tried to take the province back, but Donovia sent in forces to back Zabzimek and sunk one quarter of the Gorgas fleet. They have defended the breakaway province ever since. The province is home to many pro-Gorgas and pro-Zabzimek militias and other irregular forces that operate freely inside Zabzimek and neighboring Gorgas territory. This culminated in a six-day war between Zabzimek and Gorgas after pro-Gorgas forces took over parts of Zabzimek three years ago. Zabzimek won. There is also a history of massacres and ethnic cleansing aimed at the Gorgas citizens. To put it simply, Zabzimek is a perfect fictional place for American troops to train in all kinds of interesting, and sometimes gruesome, scenarios.

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America’s Fictional Enemies

by on October 18, 2021 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

Kalaria, or Kemalia as it was originally known, was a third major power in the Decisive Action Training Environment. They were perhaps a too-accurate fiction of Turkey to remain in the training system given recent relations with the real nation. They were a major trading partner of Gorgas and Atropia, and had official embargos against Limaria. Early versions included a genocide against Limaria, though later treatments changed that to the massacre of a Limarian scientific expedition to Mount Ararat. That resulted in the conquering of that territory in the 1940s, a sin Limaria never forgave them for. Their other main focus was as the terminus of the Atropian oil pipeline that went through Gorgas. They were a key to riches in the zone. They also had some territorial ambitions that made Ariana distrust them. They were entirely removed in more recent treatments.

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America’s Fictional Enemies

by on October 17, 2021 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

The Islamic Republic of Ariana is the other main Big Bad in the Decisive Action Training Environment. They are an obvious stand in for Iran, right down to their commitment to export their “Council of Guardians Revolution” to other countries all over the planet. They consider themselves the truest application of Islamic faith, and are happy to bring it to others via the sword. They use a sham representative government to appease or distract easily-confused Western powers, but are in reality controlled by a rigid clerical elite who have solidified their control of the military, and who deploy various terrorist organizations against their international foes. They also work hard to break around UN and US sanctions to procure nuclear weapons. They wish to become a major world power, and their interests can be found in any nation or scenario that may be trained for.

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America’s Fictional Enemies

by on October 16, 2021 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

The United Republics of Donovia are one of the Big Bads in the Decisive Action Training Environment. They are an obvious stand in for modern Russia, right down to the fact that they used to be a world power and are working diligently to be a top tier power once again. They are an authoritarian state led by a small elite class with no political opposition who harness government and private sector corruption to increase their own power. They are perfectly willing to “support independence movements” in other nations, and “Donovian mercenaries” or advisors are common throughout the region. As I understand it, most training missions are not in Donovian territory, but Donovian interests are pervasive throughout all scenarios that may be conducted. They should never be dismissed.

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America’s Fictional Enemies

by on October 15, 2021 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

The Democratic Republic of Limaria is the Decisive Action Training Environment’s fictional autocratic, monocultural, violent, and aggressive little bundle of joy. Named Minaria in earlier versions, they have conquered part of neighboring Atropia because they wanted breathing room for the ethnic Limarians who lived there. They also had aggressive relations with neighboring Kalaria in previous exercises, but since Kalaria has been removed, only the Atropian foe remains to them now. Or the various political foes of the ruling powers. They tend to meet bad ends. Election violence and purges are normal. It’s not a very fun place to live if everything I’ve read is accurate. And did I mention they have friendly relations with Donovia and Ariana? They are a truly amazing little bundle of joy for just about any training exercise.

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