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[Twilight Struggle] Game 5 - Game Over - Communism dies
Posts
You have to play Missile Envy for 2 Ops.
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
2 in Mexico, then.
The Division, Warframe (XB1)
GT: Tanith 6227
I'll let stever and the americans decide if a mulligan is possible. (its all going to space before you play missile envy anyways.)
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
Americans?
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
Plus, I don’t know if I want to let them shoot the Pope into space ...
Whatever, I guess.
The Division, Warframe (XB1)
GT: Tanith 6227
Or whatever they want to do.
Not like it is the end of the world.
What card is riding a rocket?
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
The Division, Warframe (XB1)
GT: Tanith 6227
No Space Pope.
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
The Cold War was instigated in the context of an evolving international system. As the world relinquished a multi-polar system comprised of polyglot empires, it replaced it with a bi-polar system dominated by continental nation states. Anti-colonial movements tended to have strong anti-western sentiments, as the foremost colonial powers were now in the western camp. However, the drive to independence was not uniform, nor uniformly successful. Several long rear-guard actions were fought by the colonial powers that either lengthened their stay or maintained a quasi-colonial relationship with the newly independent country. British intervention in Malaya (1948), the French resistance to Algerian independence (1954) and South African intransigence in Namibia (1966) all serve as examples of this aspect of the post colonial experience.
A term coined by Dr. Helen Caldicott, it reflects the general feminist critique that the Cold War was driven by male ego with very Freudian undercurrents. When one examines the terminology of “deep penetration” and “multiple reentry” one wonders if she had a point. Caldicott went on to found Physicians for Social Responsibility, and her book became a rallying point within the anti-nuclear movement.
*** Soviet plays Colonial Rear Guards in the Space Race for 2 Ops.
* Soviet Die = [5] *** <Soviet>
* Space Race attempt not successful.
Map:
Soviet Action Round 2.
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
The Division, Warframe (XB1)
GT: Tanith 6227
DEFCON level is reduced to PEACE.
Ops points used for Realignments.
Start in Zaire. clean it out.
Then Columbia
Then Panama.
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
The Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty sought to cement the system of mutually assured destruction as the lynchpin of strategic balance. The ABM treaty restricted the ability of the two superpowers to defend themselves from nuclear strike. In theory, this made a first strike to prevent the introduction of destabilizing defensive systems unnecessary. Both nations were allowed to defend either their capital or one field of ICBMs with a missile defense system. The Soviets deployed such a system around Moscow. Ultimately, the US abandoned its system deployed in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
* Soviet changes DefCon to 5.
* Coups and realignments now allowed in Europe.
*** Soviet plays card for 4 Ops.
*** Soviet initiates realignment in Zaire.
* American roll modifier: +1
* Soviet roll modifier: +1
* U.S. Die = [1] *** <Soviet>
* Soviet Die = [5] *** <Soviet>
* Removing 2 American Influence from Zaire.
* 3 Ops remaining for Realignment.
*** Soviet initiates realignment in Colombia.
* American roll modifier: +2
* Soviet roll modifier: +0
* U.S. Die = [4] *** <Soviet>
* Soviet Die = [3] *** <Soviet>
* Already zero Soviet influence in Colombia.
* 2 Ops remaining for Realignment.
*** Soviet initiates realignment in Colombia.
* American roll modifier: +2
* Soviet roll modifier: +0
* U.S. Die = [1] *** <Soviet>
* Soviet Die = [2] *** <Soviet>
* Already zero Soviet influence in Colombia.
* 1 Ops remaining for Realignment.
*** Soviet initiates realignment in Colombia.
* American roll modifier: +2
* Soviet roll modifier: +0
* U.S. Die = [3] *** <Soviet>
* Soviet Die = [3] *** <Soviet>
* Already zero Soviet influence in Colombia.
U. S. Action Round 2.
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
On September 8th the United States quietly extended its nuclear umbrella to its former Pacific rival. In doing so, it also soothed the nerves of Japan’s neighbors about a remilitarized Japan appearing on the world scene. In exchange, Japan played host to America’s forward presence in Asia. Japan effectively became an unsinkable aircraft carrier for both the Vietnam and Korean wars. Obviously, US reliance on Japanese products during the ensuing conflicts greatly aided Japan’s economic recovery and eventual economic might.
*** American initiates coup in Italy with 4 Ops.
* American changes DefCon to 4.
* No coups or realignments in Europe.
* U.S. Die = [2] *** <American>
* American changes American Military Ops to 4.
* Removing 2 Soviet Influence from Italy.
Map:
Soviet Action Round 3
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
Damn you, Vassal!!
The Division, Warframe (XB1)
GT: Tanith 6227
remove influence from
Czechoslovakia
Austria
Hungary
Yugoslavia
Place two influence in Venezuela
Place two influence in Equador (the country on the other side of columbia, and above peru)
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
1 Influence in Guatemala
1 Influence in Venezuela
The Division, Warframe (XB1)
GT: Tanith 6227
play bear trap
1op in Venezuela to regain control
2op in Brazil
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
During the 20th Party Congress, Nikita Khrushchev openly attacked Stalin’s leadership of the Soviet Union. It was seen both inside and outside the Soviet Union as the beginning of a new era. This proved to be a particularly bloody assumption for Nagy’s Hungary. Khrushchev had no intention of “liberalizing” Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, even if he was trying to bring an end to the cult of personality that had characterized internal Soviet government.
Founded with the specific aim of promoting democracy in the western hemisphere, the OAS has been an occasionally useful body for the promotion of US interests within the hemisphere. It provided international legitimacy for US actions during both the Cuban Missile Crisis and the US invasion of Grenada. Trade promotion and economic development were added to the OAS charter in Buenos Aires in 1967. The revision of the charter also established the existence of permanent OAS diplomatic venues with the creation of a General Assembly in Washington, DC.
In an era of seemingly increasing Soviet hubris, the USSR reverted to old patterns of power politics by meddling in the affairs of Afghanistan—the battleground country in the “Great Game” rivalry between imperialist Russia and Victorian Britain. The Soviets considered Afghanistan part of their natural sphere of influence. However, when Soviet troops directly intervened in an Afghan power struggle and deposed the existing president, they greatly miscalculated the reaction of world opinion. Smarting from defeat in Vietnam by seemingly inferior forces, the Reagan Administration sought to make Afghanistan into an equal nightmare. Over a ten year period, the United States provided over $2 billion in assistance to the Islamic resistance or mujahideen in Afghanistan.
Map:
U.S. Action Round 4
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
The People’s Republic of China played a pivotal role during the Cold War. While the PRC’s influence was largely limited to satellites in Asia, the country was important to the uneasy balance of power that ultimately descended upon the post-WWII world. While beginning as an ally of the USSR, China became a counter-balance to Soviet influence in Asia during the later stages of the Cold War.
*** American initiates coup in Venezuela with 4 Ops.
* American changes DefCon to 3.
* No coups or realignments in Asia.
* U.S. Die = [4] *** <American>
* American changes American Military Ops to 5.
* Removing 3 Soviet Influence from Venezuela.
* Adding 1 American Influence in Venezuela.
Map:
Soviet Action Round 5 in The Bear Trap!
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
Play the Pope and Realign Venezuela and if by some miracle he is out of there, Realign Columbia
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
In 1973, difficult climatic circumstances and dramatic crop failures prompted President Nixon to allow for massive grain sales to the Soviet Union. While a blow to Russian pride, the program was nevertheless a step towards normalized relations between the superpowers. Additionally, it provided an enduring domestic lobby to pressure for continued thawing in economic relations between the two countries. In 1980, President Carter suspended the program in retaliation for the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Shipments were resumed a year later under President Reagan. This culminated in a treaty with the Soviets, with the Soviets promising to buy 9 million tons of US grains per year.
* Soviet Die = [2] *** <Soviet>
* Bear Trap cancelled.
U.S. Action Round 5
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
Anyway, we’ll take this opportunity to Score Africa
The Division, Warframe (XB1)
GT: Tanith 6227
VASSAL has screwed me (AGAIN!) on the Bear Trap.
I'll have to mess around with it to get it how it should be.
Could be a day or two...
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
Also, if/when you get it sorted, BEN's next play is to try and Pope us out of Venezuela.
Finally,
SCREW YOU, VASSAL!
The Division, Warframe (XB1)
GT: Tanith 6227
African history throughout the Cold War reflects the promise and tragedy that go hand in hand with that continent’s experience. At first buoyed by the political success of rapid decolonization, the jubilation would devolve into cynicism. One after another, newly independent governments would give way to “presidents for life”, political corruption, economic chaos, and ethnic violence. Lacking resources, African governments quickly took advantage of the superpower rivalry to maximize economic and military support for their regimes. In the post-colonial era, a variety of proxy civil wars were fought on the continent. Angola, Mozambique, Chad and Ethiopia were but a few of the nations that experienced violence, theoretically in the name of the global struggle between communism and capitalism.
The regional penchant to turn to strong men or military juntas to resolve questions of instability made South America ripe for leftist reaction throughout the Cold War. Rising nationalism and the world-wide wave of anti-imperialist sentiment also characterized the relationship with the United States and the nations of South America. The Soviets sought to exploit any openings offered, and established close relations with nations like Argentina. The greatest potential realignment in the region was squashed by an allegedly CIA-instigated coup of Chile’s Salvador Allende.
Central America and the Caribbean were frequently termed America’s “backyard” and “lake.” With the advent of Fidel Castro in the 1959, Americans could no longer take the region for granted. The US reaction to communist influence in the area provoked direct US military intervention in the Dominican Republic (1965) and Grenada (1983). In the closing years of the Cold War, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras, became frontline states in the struggle between the superpowers.
In 1946, Truman had to threaten to send warships to the Mediterranean to compel the Soviets to remove troops from Iran. Thus began the Cold War struggle in the Middle East. Since this region provided Western economies with their lifeblood—oil—it also provided the USSR with an irresistible opportunity to meddle. US support for Israel gave the Soviets an opening to the Arab world that they would repeatedly exploit.
In Southeast Asia the process of decolonization intertwined with superpower rivalry in particularly deadly ways. Beginning with the British counter-insurgency in Malaya, to the US wars in Vietnam and Cambodia, and ending in 1979 with the Sino-Vietnamese war, Southeast Asia would command American attention like no other region. However, after America’s humiliating withdrawal from the region, it would cease to play a central role in Cold War politics.
*** American plays Africa Scoring Event ***
* U.S.S.R. has Presence in Africa for 1 VPs.
* U.S.S.R. Controls 2 Battleground countries in Africa.
* U.S. has No Presence in Africa.
* Soviets gain 3 VPs.
* American changes VPs to 6 Soviet Victory Points.
*** Soviet plays South America Scoring Event ***
* U.S.S.R. has Presence in South America for 2 VPs.
* U.S.S.R. Controls 1 Battleground countries in South America.
* U.S. has Presence in South America for 2 VPs.
* U.S. Controls 1 Battleground countries in South America.
*** American plays Central America Scoring Event ***
* U.S.S.R. has No Presence in Central America.
* U.S. has Domination in Central America for 3 VPs.
* U.S. Controls 2 Battleground countries in Central America.
* U.S. gains 5 VPs.
* American changes VPs to 1 Soviet Victory Point.
*** Soviet plays Middle East Scoring Event ***
* U.S.S.R. has Presence in Middle East for 3 VPs.
* U.S.S.R. Controls 3 Battleground countries in Middle East.
* U.S. has Presence in Middle East for 3 VPs.
* U.S. Controls 3 Battleground countries in Middle East.
*** American plays SouthEast Asia Scoring* Event ***
* U.S.S.R. controls Vietnam for 1 VPs.
* U.S. controls Laos/Cambodia for 1 VPs.
* U.S. controls Thailand for 2 VPs.
* U.S. controls Malaysia for 1 VPs.
* U.S. gains 3 VPs.
* American changes VPs to 2 American Victory Points.
*** U.S.S.R. did not perform enough Military Operations ***
* U.S.S.R. player penalized 3 VPs.
* Soviet Military Ops already at 0.
* American changes American Military Ops to 0.
* U.S. gains 3 VPs.
* American changes VPs to 5 American Victory Points.
* American changes DefCon to 4.
* Coups and realignments now allowed in Asia.
Map:
PM me your Headline cards for the Kennedy turn.
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
5 scoring cards in a row...
The Division, Warframe (XB1)
GT: Tanith 6227
This wait's on me.
I'll get to your so-called "Cold War" tonight after my fantasy hockey draft!
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
American Headline:
Sparked by fears that the “enemy is among us,” the “red scare” hit its apex with Senator Joseph McCarthy, and the hearings on “Un-American activities” in the House of Representatives during the 1950s. Soviet purges were a notorious aspect of power transition within the Kremlin. However, Stalin was the true master; 12 million people were imprisoned in his camps at the time of his death in 1953.
Soviet Headline:
Summits between the leadership of the superpowers became major implements of public diplomacy from the mid to late Cold War. Success was measured in terms of agenda items secured, treaties signed, and who was tougher on whom. As in an international boxing match, non-aligned countries watched from the sidelines trying to discern which power was in the ascendant. Virtually all major arms control agreements were either initiated or concluded at a summit. In that sense, they were an important tool for sizing up relative intentions, and ensuring the Cold War did not become hot.
*** American plays Red Scare/Purge Event ***
* All cards played by U.S.S.R. this turn are -1 Ops (min. 1 Op).
*** Soviet plays Summit Event ***
* American die-roll modifier: +2
* Soviet die-roll modifier: +1
* Soviet Die = [2] *** <Soviet>
* U.S. Die = [6] *** <Soviet>
* American receives 2 VPs.
* U.S. gains 2 VPs.
* Soviet changes VPs to 7 American Victory Points.
* American may change DEFCON one step in either direction.
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
Set defcon to 3.
The Division, Warframe (XB1)
GT: Tanith 6227
Soviets enter a Red Purge era. (All Ops played are at -1, to a min of one. DOES affect cards to be used for Space Race.)
Americans change DEFCON to 3.
Sovet Action Round 1
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1