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Operation: Beach Front Property (The Original Op) News ArchiveMay 24, 2006 - 2:35PM United Nations Responding to Fire with FireBy JOSEPH SWANSON Zomnaygrad (ANC) – An early morning ambush on a United Nations convoy did not turn out as the attackers had planned. The convoy was on a security patrol in the sparsely populated area north of Zomnaygrad. This zone had previously been under the control of the Dutch contingent of the UNPROFOR in Ardestad. Recently, however, the Security Council had withdrawn most of the UN troops in Ardestad in response to the escalating violence. A UN spokesperson stated "The United Nations deploys peace monitors, not peace enforcers" The remaining UN forcers are mostly made up of Russian paratroopers (VDV). Many of these VDV troops have seen this type of conflict unfold before in Rushvenia, where the UN troops were engaged in full combat and several Russian paratroopers were killed. This is information the attackers of the convoy could have used. Initial reports state that the VDV responded with an almost vicious counterattack. One group of would be ambushers was chased nearly 2 miles before they took refuge in an abandoned farmhouse. The Russian troops called in two Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters and had the farmhouse reduced to a pile of burning rubble. This is a new face for the United Nations, who usually does not respond to force with force. The UN Security Council has taken a strong stand to protect its troops. Air support is being supplied by NATO as well as close air support being authorized for the protection of a participating nation’s own soldiers. The attackers do not appear to be affiliated with either side of the current conflict in Ardestad, but the message this response sends to the warring factions is clear, the UN is no longer an easy target. May 19, 2006 - 6:53AM Open Fighting Begins Again in ArdestadBy PHIL DENNIS ZOMNAYGRAD (ANC) Tensions in the small breakaway republic of Ardestad reached a breaking point yesterday. The uneasy cease-fire has been in jeopardy since it started a year ago. The cease-fire agreement called for each side to allow for inspections of its arms depots. Last week, an inspection team for Ardestad government was attacked in the streets of Ardestad's capital city - Zomnaygrad. As of this report all team members are unaccounted for and are believed dead. The lead inspector for the Ardestad government, Dr. Vadim Pavlenko , has a reputation for being very thorough in his inspections. After four days of heated talks, violence broke out along the demarcation line late yesterday afternoon. The confrontations were sporadic, yet intense. Both sides have positioned their heavy weapons and have begun shelling along the lines. Military analysts expect that this will escalate to full out ground warfare in the next week. May 14, 2006 - 9:50PM EHR alleges arms dealing by United Nations PeacekeepersBy RANDALL WEIZTGER
May 08, 2006 - 10:41PM Moment of Unusual CelebrationBy RANDALL WEIZTGER ZOMNAYGRAD(EUP) It is amazing that in a war-zone, people can find time to celebrate anything. However, at a secure location that serves as the Ezelhoeden Resistance Headquarters (EHR) a celebration is going on. A group of men, bedecked in a wide variety of Russian made camouflage and combat gear are smoking cigarettes and laughing heartily at a “press release” that has been fabricated by the Ardestad Governmental Forces (AGF). In it a video is shown that claims to be footage of one of the men in the group, Misha Mikhailovich, the so-called “Bear of Grozny”. Soon the ad hoc party subsides and this man with the hulking physique that earned him his name sits at his desk reviewing various papers and maps. A dark aura of intensity surrounds this man who has become the self-styled Political Information Officer or ZAMPOLIT of the EHR Forces as he takes a nearby radio in hand and gives a series of terse instructions into the handset. When asked about the recent release of the video he laughs heartily. “I should wish I was that ugly!” he says. “I would not get into so much trouble then!” as a wide smile crosses his face. His demeanor swiftly turns back to business though as the radio squawks with a report from a subordinate. As things slow down a bit, Mikhailovich turns and says, “If I had an extra soldier for every lie or piece of mistaken information that my enemies ever had or thought about me, this war would be over much quicker!” “Misha this, Misha that, Misha is ten feet tall, and has killed 20 men with a stroke of his hand, Misha blew up this hotel, Misha exploded this tank, that armored transport.” “If I were as many places as they think I could be, we wouldn’t need the army we have.” “Perhaps I should just go down to the AGF Headquarters and tell them to throw down their weapons, that it is Misha come to end the war!” “It’s funny that I’m such a wanted man, because when it all comes down to it, I follow orders myself. My commanding officer tells me what to do and I do it!” It’s a very non-chalant attitude for a man who recently has had a two billion dollar reward put out on his head by Ardestad Governmental Forces. Why so much? It has to do with the very effective war of information that Mikhailovich and his staff have been waging. Recently, international attention has even been brought to the EHR cause as a result. They’ve even managed to sway US celebrities such as George Clooney and Whoopi Goldberg rallying support for them in America. The Ardestad Government is no doubt feeling the pressure of the “Free Ezelhoeden” campaign that Mikhailovich has managed to conduct all around the world and has even become the subject of international scrutiny because of war crimes alleged by the EHR. Whatever the outcome of things, there’s little doubt that the weapons in this war won’t be just guns and artillery. They’ll also be in the form of political and social pressures exerted in Ardestad and the world abroad. May 06, 2006 - 11:26PM Captured Training VideoBy DREW ROBERTS Grozny Misia, the most wanted man in Ardestad, doesn't exactly look like a terrorist mastermind in a new videotape released by the Ardestad Government. In blooper-type footage from a Misia video released last week, the terrorist leader is seen fumbling with a machine gun. Gen. Vitaly Komar said the video was found during a series of raids in April on purported terror cell safe houses southwest of Brugstad. Komar said Misia decided not to publicize the piece, which shows him decked out in New Balance sneakers. In it, he said, Misia had trouble firing his automatic weapon and needed assistance from an aide, and his associates "do things like grab the hot barrel of the machine gun and burn themselves." May 02, 2006 - 10:58PM UN troops under attack in ArdestadBy PHIL DENNIS ZOMNAYGRAD (ANC) A United Nations convoy was mobbed yesterday in the outskirts of the capital city of Zomnaygrad. Details are sketchy at this time but initial reports are that several United Nations soldiers were injured, though none seriously. The reason for this attack is unknown but one thing is clear, the UN is increasingly unwelcome in Ardestad. The sentiment is echoed in a comment from a storeowner who asked only to be identified as Vadim; “What good are they? They drive around and do nothing to stop the violence. They cannot even protect themselves, how will they protect my family?” As the cease-fire comes ever closer to breaking, the usefulness of the UN troops stationed here is coming under more scrutiny. The UN Security Council has denounced the attacks on the troopers but has made no moves towards strengthening the UN presence or of removing it. Yet another case of bold words from the UN with no actions to back them up. April 30, 2006 - 6:01PM Ardestad Citizens forced from homes as civil war reignitesZomnaygrad, Ardestad Republic, The day begins early for Illenya Porovsnya, a 32-year-old woman from Hazelaar, a town south of Brugstad in northern Ardestad, as she wakes up at 5:00am to gather up her children and belongings as they are shuffled from one refugee camp to another. It is time to move to another location the Ardestad officials tell her. “This is not right.” Illenya protests, “It is not our fault.” She tells me. Illenya refers to the fact that two months ago, she and her family were forced from their home when the Ardestad Army took over her city block as a result of “increased security measures.” "They threw us onto the street. They said it was to increase security, but who is secure now? We are without homes, we have no security, we have nothing!” she says almost in tears. As she dresses her two children, Alexis, a little boy of 5 and his sister Ivana who just turned 3 last week, Illenya tells us, “They came in and took over our homes, not for security, but because our husbands, our fathers, our sons, all of our men are fighting in the Ezelhoeden Resistance (EHR). “That is why they stole our homes from us.” She says bitterly. Since the latest outbreak in fighting between the Ardestad Army and the Ezelhoeden Resistance, there have been some 8000 civilians forced from their homes and into makeshift refugee camps in the Hazelaar region alone. The same is happening in cities and towns across the country as the Ardestad government desperately attempts to disrupt the lives of EHR militants. Part of this strategy was developed by the Ardestad government to diminish the effectiveness of the EHR by taking away their civilian support base. But what good has it done? For those like Illenya, it has only served to harden her resolve against the Ardestad Government and to urge her and those like her to support the actions of the EHR, which offer the hope of a different Republic, one that is free of hard-line Ardestad Governmental control. “I will not give up.” Illenya says. “For every mother wandering with her children from camp to camp because of the Ardestad Government, there are many soldiers in the EHR who are fighting for them, and the sooner they win, the sooner we can have our homes back.” April 25, 2006 - 10:55PM Ezelhoeden Resistance denies war crime allegationsEHR Headquarters, Zomnaygrad, Ardestad Republic Randal Weitzger EUP (Euro-Union Press) In recent days, tensions have risen near to the breaking point as Ezelhoeden Resistance (EHR) forces have tightened their security measures on the Ardestad Republic’s capital city Zomnaygrad. Under ever increasing pressure from United Nations observers and international powers, the EHR leadership has sought to clarify the issues of human rights violations and war crimes allegations committed against Ardestad’s population and its military and civil authorities. In an exclusive interview with top EHR leaders at an undisclosed location, a sense of urgency to convey their story to the world is expressed in no uncertain terms. “We are not war criminals,” Major General Andre Yurovich of the EHR said from across a large meeting table of gathered militia officials. “The thing to remember is that, we are fighting not just for freedom from Ardestad governmental oppression, but we are also fighting for our very lives.” In the last month, allegations have been levied by Ardestad governmental officials of everything from genocide to the summary execution of Ardestad military prisoners of war by EHR forces. In answer to these allegations General Yurovich said, “The execution of prisoners is done as a result of military tribunals held in attempts to adjudicate the matters of the war crimes that Ardestad forces themselves have perpetrated upon the populace of Ardestad. Those who are found guilty are sentenced through fair trials and the sentences executed. Those who are found innocent are acquitted and released.” He said. In regards to accusations of barbarism, General Yurovich said, “We are not thugs, we are not butchers. We yearn for the basic freedoms and self-government that everyone in the world is heir to. We wish to be clear of the oppressive rule of a corrupt system that has imposed itself upon our country and people. What you are seeing is no different than any country in the world has gone through when its people have sought to unshackle itself from the perils of tyranny. Unfortunately, sometimes that requires the use of force.” It is difficult to tell in all the chaos exactly who is telling the truth and precisely where the boundaries lie between right and wrong. On one hand is the Ardestad military based government, a system of rule that harkens back to the old days of heavy handed Soviet control and on the other, a revolutionary group of local forces loosely bound together, striving to liberate itself and its would-be citizens from the present regime. Only one thing is certain though, there will be much more bloodshed and many more innocent civilians will be placed in peril before an outcome is reached. UN forces are on the ground already in various parts of Ardestad in attempts to mitigate a fragile ceasefire imposed over a year ago, but as of yet, nothing solid has been reached despite both UN and international pressures upon both forces. War still rages in this tiny republic and who’s to say when it will end. April 19, 2006 - 5:23PM War Crimes Alleged in ArdestadBy GEORGE WINTERS THE HAGUE (ANC) -- Representatives from the Ardestad Government presented their case against the Ezelhoeden Resistance today at the International Court on War Crimes. The Ardestad Government alleges the EHR has committed war crimes to include mass murder and execution of prisoners of war. Oleg Chovalski, spokesman for the Ardestad Government, provided aerial photos that he claims identify mass grave sites in the EHR controlled area of Ardestad. These sites have not been confirmed by the United Nations troops on the ground in Ardestad as they are in a heavily overgrown area of the country that is very dangerous due to the high concentration of unmarked minefields. The EHR has long denied any illegal activity and has leveled their own accusations against the Ardestad Government Forces. They have not, however, taken the serious step of bringing the accusations to the The Hague. It is not clear if the Court would even accept them as the EHR is not internationally recognized. The future of Ardestad gets even murkier in light of these recent developments. April 4, 2006 - 5:23PM Assasinations May Lead to WarBy JOSEPH SWANSON BRUGSTAD (ANC) - Soldiers scurrying about, officers and NCOs barking orders. That was the scene near the Ardestad Military HQ in the northern city of Brugstad on Sunday. News of General Andries Titov’s assassination washed over the camp and caused a frenzy of activity. General Titov and his family were found murdered in their home early Sunday morning. Even now, details are sketchy but sources indicate that it was a brutal scene. Rumors of beheadings and torture are spreading like wildfire here. These cannot be confirmed, however. The Army is preparing for the attack they fear is coming. Top military officials have indicated they feel this is just the preliminary to an all out attack by the EHR. EHR commanders deny any knowledge of the murders and are adamant that there is no attack planned. For many of the people of Ardestad this is just another day in the bloody covert conflict that has wracked this small country since the end of open hostilities little more than a year ago. The United Nations has not made a statement yet but is expected to condemn the acts and vow to investigate. Yet another empty promise to the people of Ardestad. March 15, 2006 - 10:35AM Tensions Rise in ZomnaygradBy PHIL DENNIS ZOMNAYGRAD (ANC) -- Explosions rocked Zomnaygrad, capital city of Ardestad, early Tuesday morning. Nobody has claimed responsibility to date, but many express a strong belief that the Ardestad military is behind this latest violence. Zomnaygrad is currently in the hands of the Ezelhoeden Resistance, an armed militia working to depose the military leadership of Ardestad. There has been an uneasy truce between the Ardestad military and the EHR for little over a year. The United Nations brokered the cease fire and has been assisting in the monitoring of both sides. The UN mandate called for all military vehicles and heavy equipment to be locked in depots. This has by no means stopped the covert war. Murders, kidnappings and bombings continue to remain a common occurrence. To say that the grasp on peace here is tenuous is an understatement. Everyday the tension threatens to boil over into open conflict again. The United Nations spokesperson, Col. Jacque Deveroux, said at a news conference late Tuesday, “The UN is doing everything in our power to assist in the peaceful resolution of these issues.” These words are little consolation to a public fearful of leaving their homes due to the ever-present risk of being killed or maimed in the continued fighting. |
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