It's a Long Way to Paris: National France in 21st Century

Neutral nations of North America

United States of America went trough long era of weakness. Once mighty USA was deprived of access to the sea and reduced to central parts of it's territory. USA relied on good relations with Canada to survive(Canadians also protect Alaska as legal US territory). Democracy was restored after death of MacArhur, but only harsh military dictatorship of MacArthur was keeping USA stable. Internal economic and political crisis were shaking USA until 1990s, when leadership decided it would be best to make closer ties with neighbours. Stable and wealthy PSA seemed to be the best choice for cooperation and potential reunification. But PSA didn't want to hear anything about joining USA. Counter-proposal of PSA was quite a shock for USA, but goverment in Denver was ready to accept such offer for good of American people. PSA wanted USA to join with PSA. This would practically mean end of USA and anexation of United States by Pacific States of America. PSA didn't propose union between two federations, but simply demolition of USA as a nation and takeover of it's states by PSA. However, US goverment was ready to accept those demands for good of American people to end the hopeless position of USA. PSA was democratic, stable and wealthy state, some kind of best substitute for USA and good choice to restore might of democratic America. Those were thoughts of leading US politicians.

Agreement about ''unification'' was signed in Salt Lake City and leadership of PSA was happy about incoming takeover of neighbour nation. Only one step was needed to finish process of unification: Armed forces of PSA had to cross the border and de facto seal the takeover with receiving oath from US forces which would become part of Pacific States army. PSA gained loyalty of civil goverment, but leadership of Pacific States also wanted to guarantee loyalty of US armed forces with special oath. After all, altough USA de iure didn't exist any more, unification agreement was just a worthless paper without real control over USA. Civil authorities were ready to accept new leadership, but loyalty of citizens and armed forces that are fundaments of national soveregnity had to be checked and USA had to be de facto brought under command. But problems started for Pacific States here. Secret patriotic organization of US commanders was not ready to accept such humiliation. They called themselves American Eagles. In 22 September 1997 in early morning hours, sounds of Stars and Stripes Forever from army radios gave signal to move. Air cavalry brigade, commanded by Brigadier General David Petraeus had mission to secure Colorado, capital of USA. Police didn't want to go in the fight with army and capital was quickly secured. National radio station reported that goverment had resigned and that treaty of unification is unconstitutional and ilegal. Armed forces that were not taking part in coup were ordered to stop incoming troops of Pacific States. PSA leadership was enraged and ordered army of Pacific States to ''restore legal situation''. US troops on the border with PSA found themselves under heavy fire and US defense started to collapse. US forces on border demanded immediate reinforcements, but best units were far away in the East and in the South. David Petraeus was the only commander who was able to quickly move with his air mobile unit to the front. He found the front in huge mess. Most of US commanders were dead, injured or too confused to fight. Superiour firepower of PSA battered US defenses and strong enemy armoured units were pouring trough boder.

New military goverment of USA couldn't sent more reinforcements due to suspicious Syndicalist activity on borders with CSA and Mexico. Only solution was to promote Petraeus and make him commander of all units on the West. Fortunately for US defenders, Petraeus was really able to reorganize defense. He substituted lost men with volunteers and police, and used many tricks to lure forces of Pacific States into traps. Entire enemy tank column was blocked on the road with help of cars, tractors, trucks and other civilian vehicles, and US forces destroyed it with anti-tank weapons. Several similar successful ambushes were performed and advance of PSA was soon halted. US forces managed to destroy most of enemy vehicles that were able to attack air targets and US helicopters were able to take part in battle. US snipers nailed PSA infantry which was unable to move and protect armoured units, and even more enemy tanks were disabled by US ground forces. Enemy infantry that searched for protection in amoured transport vehicles was quickly prevented from this step as rockets from US helicopters burned APCs one by one. Remaining tanks were quickly destroyed by helicopters. Seeing incoming defeat, PSA decided to stop the offensive. USAF sent two squadrons of multirole fighters(it's entire force) against the enemy, but presence of long-range anti-aircraft systems was discovered behind enemy lines and fighters were called off. PSA leadership didn't want to send more reinforcements due to danger of Mexican invasion and peace treaty was signed, declaring agreement of unification for non-existent and ending claims of PSA on US territory.

Military goverment of USA declared that new elections will be held in year 2000. Military hoped to keep some influence in politics and General David Petraeus became Republican presidental candidate. This was good deal for both military and Republicans as people really chosed hero of Battle at Rock Springs. USA is today much more stable as years before, but still surrounded with many unfriendly nations. Worst danger for USA are CSA and Mexico. American Union State has luckily too much problems with CSA and Texas and doesen't care much for USA, at least for now. Southern Commonwealth maintains normal relations with USA, altough it still doesen't want to lift claims of New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arizona. Relations with Pacific States are back to normal, altough many people in PSA still can't forget bitter defeat in brief war against USA. Canada is maintaining best relations with USA and is also main supplier of weapons or US armed forces. Defense of USA is based on strong conscripted army. US Army deploys ten mechanized divisions, four motorized brigades, three brigades of special forces(equiped with transport helicopters), two armoured brigades(made of Canadian Challenger 2 tanks) and three mobile command centers(EASTCOM, WESTCOM, SOUTHCOM). USAF deploys five squadrons of long-range fighters and two squadrons of strike fighters.




President of Pacific States of America Christine Gregoire was elected in year 2000. She managed to normalize relations with United States of America, but the anger among the people of PSA because of defeat in 1997 is still present. Despite bad experience with USA, Mexico is still biggest danger for PSA. California and Nevada were lost to Mexico during civil war in USA and Mexico is only waiting when Washington, Oregon and Idaho will finally fall under it's control. Relations of PSA with Canada are very complex. Canada and PSA are good trading partners and PSA often purchases weaponry in Canada, but many people in PSA including some infuental politicians think that British Columbia, West part of Western Northwest Territories and Alaska should be part of PSA. Most weapons for Pacific States army are purchased in Russia(mostly vehicles like tanks, APCs and IFVs), part of weaponry is bought in Canada and small part also in Japan. Pacific States are protected by land army of two tank brigades and four motorized brigades. Two frigates are guarding coast, while air force is only air service of land army, deploying only few light armed fighters for reconnaissance missions.




American South is divided between two nations: Corporativist American Union State and Neo-Confederate Southern Commonwealth. Both nations are sworn enemies since Dixiecrats failed to overthrow Huey Long. Revolt was led by Nathan Bedford Forest III, man from family with long military tradition and grandson of famous Confederate commander. Conspiracy was forget in anti-Longist circles of military. Conspirators were disappointed about the way how Long and his regime ruled the South. Planned economy, centralization, authoritarian rule and other elements of corporativist system were against traditional Southern ideals. Coup was well planned. Army should overthrow civil authorities(they were dominated by Long's America First-Union Party), defeat Minute Men and loyalist security forces and take the power. The only area where conspirators could count on support of most of population, security forces and even civil authorities was Texas. State of Texas stayed loyal to USA during civil war, but was captured by AUS forces and also officially given to American Union State after the war. Texans were not very pleased with Long's unitarist state and his ''Share our wealth'' program, but they decided to wait for good oportunity for freedom. Texan authorities declared loyalty to new regime and wealthy Texans even started to redistribute part of their wealth according to Long's program. Influental people entered America First-Union Party and pardoned for their fight for USA. They were confused because of US propaganda, they said. Kuhn was suspicious about that conversion, while Long saw this as proper apologee. Even when Texan oil industry was nationalized, Texan oil barons stayed in Long's party and accepted important political positions for exchange. But their loyalty was only mask. Old Confederate Song ''To Arms in Dixie'' was sign for revolt all over the AUS. Texas was first to be liberated as local police and military units that were stationed in area attacked garrisons of Minute Men and defeated them. Long was furious when he heard that party leadership in Texas(AUS abolished state system and there was officially no State of Texas, only Rio Grande Region as administrative unit, which was commonly known as Texas) betrayed him. But he had other problems. Strong army units were fighting to seize power all over the country. Long had civil authorities together with police on his side, he could still count on his loyal paramilitary force Minute Men and loyalist army units. Bitter fights continued all over the country and revolters were getting advantage, but Long's forces(with Minute Men being core of the troops) managed to hold the lines long enough that strong loyalist army units from Virginia under command of General George Patton arrived for help. Fate of revolts was sealed. Revolting units were no match for Patton's tanks and those who were not destroyed fleed to Texas. Texas became stronghold of resistance against AUS and several assaults on Dallas and Houston were failure for AUS. Even Patton's tanks couldn't break the lines. With both sides exhausted of fighting, armistice was signed and territory of former State of Texas stayed free of AUS control. However, this armistice was not real peace treaty and AUS still sees goverment in Texas as rebels who ilegally occupy territory of AUS, while Southern Commonwealth as independent nation in Texas is named, sees itself as legal heir of Confederate States of America and claims all territories of American South as it's legal lands(nobody reall knows which territories Southern Commonwealth really claims as constitution of this nation doesen't say that with precise words).




Southern Commonwealth is now one of most democratic nations in North America. It maintains good relations with Entente and normal relations with USA. America Union State is still great threat for Southern Commonwealth and Mexico is also seen as great danger. Weapons are imported from Canada and army is highly professional. Land forces are made of one armoured division(accompanied by attack helicopter brigade), one mechanized division and four motorized divisions. Some patrol boats guard the shores and few fighters are used for reconnaisance missions and defence of air space. President of Southern Commonwealth is Rick Perry.

American Union State is unitarian corporate state. America First-Union Party leds the state as the only allowed party, but it's policy is very populist and enjoys high support and respect among the people. Party is viewed as shield against Syndicalism and protector of American tradition and way of life. Following Long's doctrine of ''America First!'', AUS led very isolationist policy after the war in North America. Reconstruction was needed to repair the damage that was done in war, and process of industrialization was in full swing. South was not very industrialized and Henry Ford proposed ambitious plan. Reconstruction and industrialization were halted during Dixiecrat revolt, but were quickly continued when revolt was over. Thanks to wise policy of industrializaton(well planned nationalisation of production was important step to progress), AUS became quite successful country with high standard of living. Golden era of AUS was marked by reign of Charles Lindbergh. Popular vice president became president after death of Huey Long and continued with Long's ''Share our wealth'' program, altough more private initiative was encouraged. Constitution of AUS gives much power to president. Presidents are elected by Congress of American Union State for four years(without limit of terms) and are usually confirmed every time and rule until death or retirement. Corporate system allowed good cooperation between all social classes for a long time, but later it became very corrupted on local levels. Officials of America First-Union Party use their privilegues to gain many benefits and don't care for moral traditional life that is promoted by goverment. Capital was moved from Atlanta to Miami in 1970s. Despite other parts of country live in respect of traditional values and Christianity has great influence on society, Miami became vice city that is very attractive for wealthy officials of regime and people close to them. Mafia men who came from Republic of Sicilies to fight for AUS during the war and start new life in America have established strong Mafia families in Miami that still are still very influental in Florida. Even some important TV preachers love to visit Miami for business or to enjoy in pleasant life. This angers AUS goverment, but leadership can't afford to throw so many important people from party.





But corrupted officials that damage moral values of society are not so irritating for goverment as Syndicalist propaganda from CSA. Propaganda from Combined Syndicates of America is broadcasted via radio station named ''Free South''. Syndicalists are making fun of the system in the American Union State and often play Syndicalist songs. AUS is struggling to block the broadcast, but signal is very strong and always avalible for workers in the South to listen this radio station. Old song of Joe Hill called ''Preacher and the Slave'' is song that is most often broadcasted by Syndicalists, as it makes fun of influental TV preachers in AUS that offer better life after death instead now. AUS has strong conscriped army which is also important to teach men of important values as goverment says. Minute Men paramilitary units still exists as separate force from regular army. Volunteers who have proved to be very loyal to AUS can become Minute Men. Regular forces deploy nine mechanized brigades, two armoured brigade, one air mobile brigade and one mobile command center. One independent elite Minute Men mechanized brigade is guarding Miami, smaller Minute Men units are attached to regular forces or play the role of gendarmerie. Navy consists of three fleet carriers(USS Huey Pierce Long, USS New Orleans and USS Minute Man), four destroyers, six frigates and small fleet of submarines. Many weapons are imported from Germany or produced with German license(mostly aircraft), others are home produced(Ford manufactures many types of vehicles like APCs, IFVs and tanks). Altough AUS always based it's international policy on isolationism, German born AUS minister Fritz Kuhn advised Long to establish good relations with German Empire after the war in North America. Altough American Union State doesen't cooperate much with Mitteleuropa, friendly relations with Germany and some other members of Mitteleuropa(like La Plata) allows AUS to gain weapons of high quality. Most famous military product of AUS is Crusader 2 which is also main battle tank of American Union Army. President of American Union State is currently Donald Rumsfeld, staunt enemy of Syndicalism. Vice President George W. Bush is man from family with long political tradition. His grandfather Prescott Sheldon Bush was finance minister in goverment of Huey Long and his father George H. W. Bush was long time head of intelligence.