[PRIVATE] The Diamond Office Term XI

[unmerged(33865)]

Taking a cue from an American President, Loic ask his admin to stop including the Eutopian Today in the packet of newpapers he receives daily.
"My doctor has advised me to avoid unnecessary stress. If he would get the news right, I could skip over his rantings, but he doesn't understand that only other nations that sell arms to us are subject to secondary sanctions, not any nation that just trades with us. While we would like to be able to freely buy arms, we are well enough set for moment. I believe the Russians have accelerated the delivery of the last year's worth of SU-37 Flankers to make sure they beat the bill's effective date."

 

[Josephus I]

Josephus walks into the VIP reception area.

Is the president in? I don't have an appointment, but would like to speak with him, if possible.



JLS

 

[unmerged(33865)]

Loic ask the admin to show Josephus in. When he comes in he stays behind the safety of his desk.
"Please have a seat. I can give you about 90% of my attention, but there is something I need to be monitoring at the same time."

 

[aussieboy]

Hapsburg walks in:
Per President, may I gain access to the American Embassy? I wish to convince the Americans to veto. We are, after all, sister democracies.

 

[unmerged(33865)]

Loic asks his admin to tell the MIDA that he is in a meeting with former President Josephus.
"I would encourage him to either a write them a letter or make a speech in the townhall if he needs to do something, but the negotiations are proceeding and he may only make us appear divided, so I would rather he did nothing. 'Too many cooks spoil the broth'. Please tell him that."

 

[Josephus I]

Mr. President. Thank you.

As you know, I have been away for a short while. During this time, you have relieved me of my political titles. Very well. It is your right, although a phonecall or email might have been a bit more....polite.

But, that aside, Mr. President, I understand there was a meeting of the utmost importance to which I was invited to, but couldn't attend. I understand, that it is too late now, but I was wonderign if you can fill me in on the minutes of that meeting.


JLS

 

[unmerged(33865)]

"Had you been active beforehand, doing something about OMNICARE, or anything else in the MESA portfolio, the short absence wouldn't have mattered, O'Floinn wouldn't have had the ammunition with which to threaten me, or I could have put him off. Since you were away, I couldn't have you put on a last minute flurry of activity as Per Talbott did, to save his job. O'Floinn was always uncomfortable with you in the cabinet. But, you are right, I should have informed you before I made the announcement in the Briefing Room. I am sorry for that lapse of courtesy.

O'Floinn was observed entering the Commissioner of Justice's office recently, so I may need to reshuffle the cabinet again to make sure the two members of the council of state that I can appoint won't vote for my impeachment. So I might call on you again. If, of course, you would be willing. In a way, with you as Vice President, you were a good insurance policy against impeachment, as I was perceived as the lesser of two evils. Also, replacing you was an attempt to be concilatory to the Americans, before they sprung their ultimatum on us, but it doesn't matter now, as you were not mentioned in the deal."

Loic then tells Josephus about the American ultimatum, and what was said at the jail. (OOC: Josephus can now use the information in, but not quote those posts.)

"I have suggested some clauses to enhance our rights, making them pay for the extra land, etc., which they are now considering. If they agree to all of them, I would have no choice but to sign, because I have made the offer. If they don't agree to all four points, I would have to decide what to do. The three other former Presidents that attended all said I should take the deal even without those enhancements, but I have reservations. What do you think?"

 

[Josephus I]

Mr. President. Thank you for seeing me, and for briefing me.

Regarding MESA, I understand your action. Truthfully, I purposely laid low because I am against the privatization of Omnicare, or parts of it, and hoped that you would forget about it.

But otherwise, I'm willing to move on.

Now, regarding the American situation. I wish I was here earlier. You know how I feel, and I know that your hands are now tied. To me, giving the US another Guantanamo is a cheap sell out.

Ask yourself two questions. One...with the recent oil discoveries, is Eutopia going to be in a begging position in the future? Two...is America the only country that matters.

The Americans have always hated us. And it's not just cause of me. They were interfering in our situation since as long as the O'Floinn administration. In fact didn't the embargo start then? Meanwhile, president Langley allows them to militarily interfere in our internal problems, and still they act towards us with hostility.

Therefore, my argument is to tell the Americans to stick it. No, I'm not saying, we should join the Axis of Evil camp. But the fact is, the European Union is now as strong, economically, as America. We should look to them in the future not America. In fact, although I have always supported a position of Eutopian neutrality, I now believe that Eutopia should look toward joining the EU.

I think that if America doesn't sign..and hopefully they don't....then we should use this as an excuse to formally break ties with them and look to the EU.


JLS

 

[unmerged(33865)]

I will keep in mind what you say, but right now, the ball is in their court. I raised the point about the oil, but O'Floinn, Talbott, and Al'Aeshir didn't seem to put much weight on it. They are right, as we are not aiming to be like Libya or Saudi Arabia, where oil would become our whole economy, so being able to trade with the US will make progress easier and swifter.

 

[Josephus I]

I am not arguing that trade with the U.S. is a bad thing. All I'm saying is we don't need to be held hostage to them, or bend over to their demands. With our oil findings, we can demand terms, and besides the U.S., there is a trading bloc we can deal with...namely the E.U.

Anyways, Per President, I do appreciate your listening to me.

JLS

 

[unmerged(33865)]

I had invited you before, so I would have listened earlier, so there is no need to thank me.

What should we do about this move to have the Royal Foundation distribute its holdings? How do you solve a problem like Maria?

You are still single, maybe you should marry the old lady to hedge your bets in case she wins, keep part of the land owned locally?

 

[Josephus I]

Josephus laughs so hard, a casual observer might have thought he was going to choke and die. His laughter broke into a fit of coughing.

How do you....cough....solve a problem....like...ha ha ha...Maria....cough.

That's very funny, Loi..Per President. I didn't know you had it in you. And the thought of me marrying Maria...well the irony there is fitting...if you only knew the truth about something that transpired many years ago.

Josephus sobers up.

Loic....this whole business with WET and the Royal Foundation is rather problematic isn't it? Seems like the old bitch can really screw us. There is nothing I want less, and I believe that most of us agree on this, than further geographical division of Eutopia.

I have rather ominous feelings about where all this is leading. You weren't here back during the FREE fiasco and the provisional TERM IX government which led to the Tilapian and St. Espirtian secession.

Loic, I hate to tell you this, but future history students will associate your name with another bad chapter in Eutopian history. It's not your fault. There's nothing you could have done differently. But Eutopia's going to hell in a handbasket. It all started with those bloody Chinese, didn't it?

So what options do we have now? We can't pay the Old Bitch off, can we? HOw much is that land worth? Billions. Once she gets title, the land becomes hers and her heirs in Tilapia. Why does the c__t suddenly want to further disrupt Eutopia. Can't she be happy that her daughter is regent?

Josephus lowers his voice, and pulls nearer to Loic.

Now if the old bitch were to...say die...before anything is handed over. What happens then?

JLS

 

[unmerged(33865)]

Loic offers Josephus some water.
"Plenty of countries have 'crown lands' or 'crown corporations', and there is no problem. The British have a Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which administers large landholdings, but the government gets the revenue. In Canada, certain indebtedness is issued by Her Majesty in Right of Canada, and certain government corporations, like some provincial electrical power companies are crown corporations. The problem is to appropriately separate the personal property from the state property. We still have an inheritance tax. While a reigning monarch leaving something to his successor was effectively exempt, and putting something in the Royal Foundation may have delayed to point at which inheritance taxes were collected, should the Foundation distribute some property or other principal, that would be, I think, subject to an inheritance tax. When Maria dies and leaves it to Francesca or whomever, we can tax it again. Perhaps the legislature should make the taxes fairly high at the upper end end of the scale. If the inheritance tax rate was comparable to the combined federal and provincial income tax rate of 40%, then only 36% (60% of 60%) would end up with Francesca. If it were 50%, which was typical in the US for many years, then she would only get a quarter. And if it were 80%, which was typical or Britain or France for large estates in the 1960's, she would end up with only 4%. I view that as a fall back position. Maria or her heirs, if she is determined to be legitimate inheritor of the former Royal family's personal properly, could keep any castles and immediate grounds, and retain traditional rights, such as hunting privileges over the larger tracts not used for other structures. If she claims more than that, we should 'allocate' a portion of the Federal debt as well. We should explore those approaches first. It is primarily a matter for the courts and legislature, neither of which either of us in on, but feel free to advise your protégé in the GA."

 

[Josephus I]

Well, you'd have no argument from us vis-a-vis a high inheritance tax.

Very well Loic, thanks for the water.

J

 

[unmerged(33865)]

We could have it kick in on anything over a billion ducats. The only two people that would bother are Maria and Amric. I don't think I would be getting their votes in any case.

 

[Voshkod]

Simultaneously, the direct line to the Command and Ops Center rings, the President's secretary comes over the intercom to tell him the American ambassador is here, and his e-mail goes "bing!"

 

[unmerged(33865)]

"Josephus, those items I was monitoring require my attention now. Thanks for stopping by and providing your input. This used to be your office, so you know the way out."
As Josephus leaves, Loic opens the e-mail and and asks that American Ambassador be shown in.

 

[Voshkod]

The e-mail is from an address that is unknown to the President. It is blank, but for the word "Riverrun" and an attachment. The code word recognized, the President opens the attachment, finding a digital picture of a tropical beach. He runs a simple commercial steganography program, revealing the message encoded within. . . . [PM to follow].

The American ambassador enters with his attache. "Good morning, Mr. President. State's run the whole thing up the flagpole, and here's what we will agree to. Point 1 and 2 - buying the land for fair market value and terminating the lease when the military mission ends - no problem. Nothing up there but a bunch of stones, anyway. Point 4, no problem, but we reserve the right to negotiate further expansions, if necessary.

"Point 3, though, is right out. Under those terms, we would have left Gitmo in the 50s, and Subic Bay during Marcos' last years. That's a no-can-do, Mr. President."

 

[unmerged(33865)]

"Thank you for coming, Your Excellency."
Loic nods to the attaché.
"I realize the time you have to act is limited by your constitution's ten day limit on vetos. I would point out that clause three merely starts a ten-year count down, so if it had been applied, you would have lost your lease to Guantanamo in about 1969, and to Subic Bay sometime after you had already left due to the volcanic activity. But, as you said, you already have your definitive position on the matter and time is short, so I won't try to split hairs.

How would you propose announcing this?"

 

[Voshkod]

"Not my place to tell you how to announce this, Mr. President," says the ambassador. "We'll hold off on any announcement of our own until you've gotten the matter in hand. I will tell the base commander that he can send some surveyors out."