The Vjuni military acted without regard to any sort of discipline, and essentially did as they pleased, and led excursions into unstable regions space at will. Alongside that, their government did nothing but provoke the other Imperials without remorse. We saw the NIO attempt to take a passive-aggressive action through a blockade, and at this moment...this shatterpoint...we became involved in Imperial affairs when we said that we would go to war if this blockade didn't let up. The Chief of State himself said he would not send our brave beings in uniform to sit between two Star Destroyers...and yet, that was exactly what we were doing. The only effect this blockade had was increase Vjun's provocative nature, and it lashed out on the entire Remnant. In my assessment, and this is bound to be challenged by others, Vjun could very well have served as a catalyst to unite the Remnant, at least temporarily, against us...something that would have been bloody, and held dire consequences.

If Vjun went to war with the Remnant, so too did the New Republic. Not that this would be a bad thing, but war must be something taken in calculation, planned, thought out, prepared for, built up to...not jumped into on a whim. Thus if Vjun attacked say, Yaga Minor, Kuat might come under assault. Deralia, and Corellia might be attacked. Borosk, and Balmorra might be bombarded. It goes on and on. The risk is greater more so out of the factor of retaliation, rather than when that factor is removed. I've noticed a trend of complacency within the Remnant, none are really willing to attack the New Republic...merely exist and attempt to maintain control of their last holdings. We have lost much in this war, and if a bloodless surrender is an option, we must take it.

Now, as for Acherin...I've heard reports of piracy, attacks upon civilians, looting, etc. by the blockading forces currently present and claims of Republic oppression, some people even going so far as to say we are the new Empire. I've been told of claims that the Pentastar Alignment was asked to reinforce their military to prevent Republic occupation and protect them from Republic oppression. This sentiment, is what raised the threat here. If we have this mentality spreading throughout the galaxy, then we face increased terrorist activity, increased dissent, increased chance of rebellion, and increased chance of advantageous strike against us by the Remnant. Should the professional forces of the New Republic dealt with Acherin, and should the Chief of State been allowed to deal with Acherin in the way he best perceived, rather than dealing with the raping of a world...then perhaps we would be sitting in a different boat.

I do know we are at war with the Remnant, Senator. It is not our own fault for them attacking us, another thing I never said. You asked me how it raised the increased threat of retaliation, and I gave it to you Senator. This is an honest opinion...erratic, ill-thought (if at all) political and military moves raise the threat of attack from its already high level. I'm not in the business of looking good for the press, making the most credits I can, or acting as if the Republic doesn't have a care in the world, unlike some in this chamber. I'm in the business of protecting not just the Republic citizenry, but the galactic citizenry as a whole...hence why we are the GALACTIC Senate, not the Republic Senate. I'm in the business of making policy that has the galactic government, which as a friendly reminder is us, act like the galactic government. I'm in the business of saving lives, and finally bringing peace to this wartorn galaxy. I'm also in the business of preserving the galactic government, not letting it be torn apart by war or corruption. Now, if you are done putting words in my mouth, attempting to cause a controversy out of nothing, and distracting me from my job, I will go on with my duties as a Galactic Senator, Chair of the Defense Council, and member of the Ruling Council.

Mr Fortes argument is cowardly, provocation be damned, they provoked us by every single attack they have ever made. Mr Forte would have this senate made up of mewling federalist cowards! He would draw power to the Government, but not dare to use it! He would, perhaps, install a dictatorship worse than the Galactic Empire if he suceeded, cavernous, conformist, militarist but utterly incompetant and inactive, and his cavernous beaurocracy, (in between issuing edicts for the conforming of interest rates, foreign policy and proclamations on the most trivial aspects of government that the Federal Government has NO role in) this government would sit inactive as its boarders were nibbled away, and it slowly contracted inwards, collapsing, slowly but surely until its failiure.

I tell you this day, that these are not the values that the Prosperity Alliance stands for, we stand for a proactive stance on the Remnant (including prosecuting the war to the best of our ability on a Federal and Planetary Level) we stand for a peace that leaves the New Republic victorious, we stand for Justice and equality for all, and we stand for the Government staying out of the lives and interests of our sovereign governments and citizens. And most of all, we value prosperity and life above all.

Drawing attention to Vjun, since Senator Forte is determined to discuss it, at that time the Senate was heavily influenced by certain Imperial sympathisers, and made the decision, against the advice of the Chief of State, not to send aid to them, and I would welcome Senator Forte to take a ship there, and see the thousands upon thousands of dead men, women and children, and make such political distinctions. It will stand to our eternal shame that we did not aid civillians when the Empire sent forces to anniahalate them, whatever their government is. Just as we shouldve prevented the Stenos Massacres, if we had the forces to evacuate the civillians.

Senator Forte, I charge that you stand against the very core values of your council, against defense and in favour of appeasement. And now he would criticise us, heavily, for taking proactive action to liberate civillians and fight the Remnant! I close by saying, once again, wherever people cry out, the Prosperity Alliance will be there, for their liberation and for the restoration of their rights. However many bureaucrats oppose us.

Added (16 Jun 2009, 0:48 Am)
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He watched, again, almost stunned as Senator Forte simply shuffled his paperwork idly, sitting (appearing to be fairly inept) as he had done in the comission. Senator Kruus awaited his reply for almost 5 minutes, before looking to the Chair of the Senate, who shrugged and gestured to him to return to the floor if he wished as Senator Forte had apparently lost his tongue.

'It seems not even the Esteemed Mr Forte can dispute the logic and sense of my arguments, and I believe his silence stands to highlight the justness of the cause of the Prosperity Alliance at Acherin, the noble way in which we have conducted that operation and as an eternally damning criticism of appeasement and extreme-federalism!'

Respectfully,

Senator Gustav Emerest, Coruscant