Memorandum for: Cul'utaan Forte
Senator to New Plympto
Subject: RE: Acherin Blockade

Security: Classified

Senator Forte, I don't think it's possible to express how much I agree with your sentiment. However, the legality (or illegality) of the blockade has to be established before I can suspend the members in question, though I'd point out that suspending the Senators to Brentaal, Neimoidia, and the Representative of the IMC will not alone stop Brentaal, Neimoidia and the IMC's blockade. Be assured that I am convinced, as you are, that the blockade is indeed illegal, but not for the same reasons you have mentioned.

In short, the resolution was a vote on whether or not to use force, and all Senate votes must be either "Yes," "No," or abstentions. Therefore, votes for "Diplomacy first," since they are not in favor of authorizing force must be interpreted as "No" votes, and so the measure was passed with 5 in favor and 1 opposed. But since the measure did pass, the number of votes against it is unfortunately not relevant, so your argument is not grounds for suspension, or grounds to declare the blockade illegal (as much as I would like it to be). However, I do think there is promise to the argument that the blockade should be found illegal as a usurpation of the Senate's and the Chief of State's power to make foreign policy, in the Common Charter.

However, it will take time to make this argument in the Senate and/or the courts; time that we don't have. The Fourth Battle Group will be departing imminently for Acherin, and upon its arrival (as I've mentioned) it will demand the dissolution of the blockade (since the presence of New Republic vessels to enforce the resolution if necessary--I still intend to pursue diplomacy if possible--will destroy the justification for the blockade, however flimsy it is to begin with). Once the planet is secure, the NRI and the Senate can and should investigate the blockade and its conduct. This episode is a headache, for sure, but I'm optimistic that it will be over in a matter of hours.

But your concerns are keenly appreciated. Of course, abuse of the law and abuse of sovereignty must not be and will not be allowed, but remember too that legitimate, democratic debate of the law, and the exercise of legitimate planetary sovereignty is what makes the New Republic strong, and differentiates us from the Old. It might not always be clean (and I certainly do not defend Cambrist, Kruus or Bo'var on this matter), but in my experience I've found that as long as we have patience and faith in democracy, that faith is rewarded. Suffice to say, Senator, you can rest assured that for as long as I am Chief of State, I will not allow abuses of this sort to happen, and this blockade will not stand.

Eli Fitzgerald
Chief of State