Cenk Uygur

NADC and Oculus agree to end hostilities on the following terms: The NADC surrenders to Oculus. Oculus will provide protection to the NADC for 100 days. The parties will agree, as soon as possible after the publication of these terms in the OWF, on a list of Top 10 Peace Mode nations in the NADC (“Class A” nations); and Top 10 War Mode nations in the NADC (“Class B” nations). Each Class A nation shall be paired with a Class B nation, and shall send 100 tech to their paired Class B nation for 10 rounds. The NADC agrees that it will never return to Blue. The parties agree that, if any issues arise in relation to any of the above terms, they will undertake to discuss those issues with the other party as a first step measure to resolution. Signed on behalf of the North Atlantic Defense Coalition, Aurelius Signed on behalf of Oculus, Almighty Grub

Congratulations to Blackatron on finally escaping! It's been fun working with you. Congratulations to Maine on his new role (but commiserations on how much of a time sink it will be for you)! TTK will be well served with you in charge of FA.

Yes, you are correct in your assumption. We are almost certain that Bernkastel leaked copies (screenshots or other replications) of posts made during an election campaign when it was clear he was going to lose. The copies were provided to Polar/Oculus. Oculus, led by Polar, used it as an excuse to declare war on the NADC.

You assume that we have asked them to assist.

It's curious to me that one would blame the victim rather than the perpetrator of unwarranted violence. Nevertheless, as I said, Polaris would use any excuse to beat us up, it was only a matter of time. I'm sure if it had not been this, something else would have been "manufactured" to ensure war. Please bear in mind also that my posts were made as a candidate running for leadership in a democratic alliance. I am obligated to inform the members of my alliance what my objectives and guiding principles are. It is true that there is always a risk that someone will leak internal discussions but the NADC has been of late quite disciplined in this regard - that is until quite recently. In regards to why I felt returning to the Blue Team was important, I note that our alliance has been for the vast majority of its existence a Blue Team alliance. The NADC has a strong community that is proud of its history and heritage. I felt that a negotiated return to the Blue Team would help restore part of our heritage, which was lost when we were forced off the Blue Team. Bear in mind that, again, this was not official policy and was yet to be discussed by our alliance.

All you have done is invited in the cowards and the dishonourable. They should find a suitable home in Polaris.

From what I can see, most of it is more of the same. With respect, I am not going to waste time responding to those. If you're going to quote, please don't cherry pick. Quote the next part too. Without a doubt, I made a mistake. But not the mistake you think. I made the mistake of thinking Bernkastel would be a gracious candidate in defeat. I did not know the true nature of his character. What I did know was that even the merest hint that I wished for us to return to the Blue Team was a pretext to declare war on us, regardless of the fact that: (a) it was not yet official policy; (b) it was not in breach of the agreement; and (c) even if I had adopted the most conciliatory means, they would assume hostile action was the only way we sought to achieve that end and pounce upon us. This, in fact, turned out to be prescient. To avoid this end, what I had hoped to do was to lay the ground work to negotiate. First, I had to determine if my people even wanted to return to Blue. As leader, I don't force my views on others but I do have the responsibility for starting the conversation. If my alliance had said it was not worth investing our time, I would have moved onto other things (in fact, other things had been prioritised - trade circles, tech clubs, etc.) If they had said yes, I knew that I had to negotiate with the right people in Polaris. I knew there had to be reasonable, decent people in Polaris - it's just the few prominent bad apples that give you all a bad name. In short, I'm not pissed. I knew Polaris would use any excuse to beat us up was a possibility - if it hadn't been this, it would have been something else. Polaris simply confirmed what I suspected. What I hope is others, both those inside Oculus and outside of it, see the situation for what it is - that Polaris has broken our peace agreement in its haste to find any excuse at all to hit us - and the kind of threat Oculus represents to all - by giving Polaris the military backing and carte blanche it needs to recklessly pursue its objectives, irrespective of what is fact, right or even acceptable behaviour - and indeed, to the continuing vibrancy of Planet Bob.

Forgive me, gentlemen (and gentlewomen, if there are any). It's been a busy weekend. I'll respond to posts that raise new issues as I can.

Acknowledging your posts. Don't have time to post at the moment. Will do so when I can.

Incorrect. As far as I know, the denials were in relation to whether it was official NADC policy. That is true.

Even on your interpretation of my words, which I dispute, it's quite a stretch to go from that to "military action by the NADC imminent" or even "the NADC poses a threat".

No plot. No machinations. As for the rest, see my above post. We have a democratic process in our alliance, not a dictatorship. Nothing had been decided.

In summary, join or die. As expected. See you out on the field.

See my original post.

Drum beating? Hardly. I am sure Polaris (and, by extension, Oculus, who seem intent on following Polaris mindlessly) would love to draw the inference that the NADC had a nefarious plan. I refer to my original post, which addresses the issues. I also note that anything further I say will not persuade you. Again, I'm responding mainly for the benefit of the decent few who care about proper CB's. Oh, by the by - please, if you're going to insult me, don't just call me an e-lawyer. Just call me "lawyer".

You give my words great import and significant if you think I can decide anything on behalf of anyone else, let alone Planet Bob. Briefly, a few things make me think I am right in my opinion and the current foreign affairs situation of Planet Bob is different to the past: There is marked increase in disinterest in the game. The situation is not getting better - it's getting worse. This is based on a variety of factors. The stagnancy of the game is one. That's not a new problem. But the other, perhaps more important factor, is the foreign affairs situation in Planet Bob and Oculus' conception has contributed significantly to that - things have pretty much frozen in Planet Bob foreign relations wise since its birthing. Phoney CB's have already been part of this game. But there was a time where people actually used to care about whether a CB was legitimate or not. It seems we're past the time where a valid CB, if not required, is valued. The uncertainty that brings to the game only makes it less attractive to those already playing the game and is likely to discourage new players from staying. Now, unlike the real world where one can't unplug, people can leave this game. Are we at the end point of the game? Maybe not. I'm sure it will continue to exist. But the vibrant, dare I say, interesting game and community it once was? Unlikely. Oculus is and will be a significant contributing factor to the demise of this game and its community.

Until I see a screenshot rather than a paraphrasing of remarks made by myself or anyone else for that matter, please forgive me if I refuse to address baseless accusations.

Actually, yes. Negotiations was in fact my preferred course. A workable agreement could have been reached. That said, knowing the character of Oculus' leadership, it could be said that such negotiations would have been doomed from the start. In any event, the option of negotiation is no longer available to us. Oculus saw to that.

More than happy to but could you link me to the posts containing such direct quotes? I have neither the time nor the inclination to wade through the cesspool of the OWF.

RECOGNITION OF HOSTILITIES The NADC recognises a state of hostilities with Oculus. I wish to briefly comment on Oculus' purported CB. The "informant" referred to above is - undoubtedly - Bernkastel. Leaking is by no means a new phenomenon in Planet Bob. But to leak because you were about to lose an election? That’s dummy spitting. It’s risible, rather than anger inducing - to be pitied, rather than despised. I name this person for the benefit of other alliances. The NADC made the mistake of providing a home for this person. Do not repeat our mistake. While I am reluctant to speak of internal matters of my alliance, it is necessary to address the innuendo and rumour that Oculus seeks to rely upon as if it were some legitimate CB. Do I deny that one of my campaign promises was to seek a return to the Blue Team? Certainly not. But is it a legitimate cause for war? I say not. I address now those who are still concerned with legitimate and genuine CB’s - a perhaps dwindling breed. First, that pledge is not inconsistent with the terms that were imposed. The term imposed on NADC by Oculus in relation to the Blue Team one year ago was: This was the only term imposed on the NADC in relation to the Blue Team, and we complied that term. We are not in breach of that agreement. Secondly, ventilating the prospect of a return to the Blue Team in internal discussions is not inconsistent with the terms imposed upon us. Thirdly, it was never the official policy of the NADC to seek a return to the Blue Team. My remarks were made in the context of an election campaign, and not as an announcement of policy. Our alliance has (much to the irritation of Bernkastel) a consultative and democratic element and we discuss things such as foreign affairs before a formal course of action is adopted. Fourthly, even if it had been adopted as the formal policy of the NADC, we could have pursued these objectives in a manner that was entirely consistent with a broader interpretation of the term. Negotiations with Oculus could have been undertaken with a view to seeking a return to the Blue Team. There is nothing in the above terms that stops us from asking. Now had Oculus been really concerned about deciding what we had intended, an easy course of action was available to them - ask us. Other means to peaceably settle the matter were available to Oculus. But, of course, this assumes that Oculus was really concerned with peaceably settling issues. Quite clearly, genuine CB's are quite irrelevant to Occulus' intentions. They wanted to roll us, plain and simple. For Oculus have, in essence, the mentality of the schoolyard bully. For them, might equals right. Many have flocked to join them. Indeed, that was the course that Bernkastel seemed intent for us prior to his swift execution at the polls. I can understand the appeal of such an approach. It’s nice being on the winning, dominant side - to be in the good graces of the powerful lest they turn their ire upon you. But my instincts scream against giving in too easily to those who would thrash others into submission just because they can. Such people must be resisted, even if it means taking a pummelling. In a very real sense, Oculus represents the death of this game. Their stranglehold and hegemony over Planet Bob means opposition is stamped out at even the merest sigh of a perceived threat. This leads to people giving up, for they view the dominance of Oculus as inevitable. The NADC I lead will answer this attack and resist Oculus by all means available to us, not just for ourselves but to provide an example to others that Oculus must be resisted for the good of Planet Bob. We will suffer heavy losses. We will probably lose. We may even dissolve our alliance. But I am sure that others, who share our values and care about the future of Planet Bob, will on the struggle against the brutish domination that Oculus represents. Oft-quoted and perhaps lessened in potency due to that, the sentiments expressed below nevertheless reflect mine exactly: Aurelius Secretary General of the North Atlantic Defense Coalition

NADC GOVERNMENT FOR 2017/3 Recently, the North Atlantic Defense Coalition conducted elections for the third term of 2017. I was duly elected Secretary General. It has been over two years since I was last leader of this fine alliance. I look forward to all the challenges that are involved in leading it once more. I am pleased to announce the alliance’s government for the third term of 2017. Secretary General – Aurelius Deputy Secretary General – Chunky Monkey Internal Affairs Minister – Chunky Monkey Deputy Internal Affairs Minister – Justinian the Mighty Foreign Affairs Minister – Aurelius Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister – Edward Reed Military Operations Commander – O0OO00 Finance Minister – Gandorian Deputy Finance Minister – Scotia the Brave Deputy Finance Minister – TheAmericanRepublic Education Minister – GreyOps I look forward to a productive term with this team. Aurelius Secretary General

Vale, RnR!

Quelle surprise.

Hail Atlantica!

I suspect once you're connected to one of those social media platforms and get entangled with them, it's very hard to disentangle. Facebook Messenger is but one example. I communicate with most of my regular contacts now through Messenger, for which I need Facebook. A lot of social events are also organised via Facebook - it's just too convenient.