Talk:New Union

Flag contest: "union banners"
Greetings everybody. I am proud to announce the start of a new contest for the New Union timeline. I believe this is the first contest for the timeline, and I am quite exited. First off, a back story.

A while ago, I had an idea for the union republics. As someone with OCD, I think you can all understand why I am a huge fan of the SSR flags. Synchronized, standardized, uniformity. I am all for the republics wishing to move towards developing their own identities, but I found it rather sad that these flags would simply be thrown away into history. Than an idea struck. At least for Russia and the Ukraine in the waning days of the USSR, both republics would officially adopt two flags. As well as using their SSR flags, they also adopted national flags. Obviously, this would not last, and the national flags would rise as the sole flags. But for this timeline, why not have this "cooperation" continue.

I introduce the "union banners" (a working name). As you may have guessed, they are just the SSR flags (but without the red star). They are considered a secondary flag of their republic. Despite being a secondary flag, their modern use is very limited. The only way I can give an example would be... Imagine Canada. Originally, their national flag was a red ensign with the confederate shield. Today, it is the maple leaf flag. Just imagine Canada having two flags used officially. The red ensign would continue to be used as Canada's representation within the Commonwealth, while the Maple flag would be used for its sovereignty and everything else. I know it sounds confusing, so to simplify it more, these "union banners" are used primary for ceremonial purposes, and represent the republic within the USSR as a whole (while their national flag represents the republic as a sovereign entity).

Here is a list of "union banners" that are pretty much a given, plus several that I have designed. Excluding the nine ones already used prior and Karelia, I have designed ones for Chuvashia, Tatarstan, Udmurtia, and Yakutia (which are primarily based on proposed flags for those republics).

I have restrained myself from thinking of any further designs, because I would love to make designing a "union banner" for each republic as a contest.

Rules

 * The flags must have a standardized ratio of 1:2 (preferably 1200x600 px)


 * The color scheme is to be standardized by these colors:
 * {{legend|#cc0000|Red}}
 * {{legend|#007fff|Light blue}}
 * {{legend|#003399|Dark blue}}
 * {{legend|#009900|Green}}
 * {{legend|#ffd700|Gold}}
 * {{legend|#ffffff| White }}
 * New colors can be added, but any new color must be a direct color and not a variant of any other color or any color already mentioned. The color red is mandatory for all flag proposals. Thought it is not mandatory, it would be appreciated that red be the primary color for the flag (unless justifiable to choose another color). Please make note of any color change of this manner, and explain the reasoning in the Comments section below.


 * The flag must have a hammer and sickle in the upper-left hand corner of the flag, and must have a similar ratio to that of the other flags. It is not required to be gold in color, but it would be appreciated if any color change can be justified (as in the case of Georgia). Please make note of any color change of this manner, and explain the reasoning in the Comments section below.


 * You are allowed to make as many entries as you wish, but please limit it to one republic per user.


 * All entries must be titled as the following "File:REPUBLIC-USERNAME.SVG" (an example would be ""). I will personally change the file names of the selected designs upon the end of the contest.


 * It is greatly appreciated that the flag be in the vector format (SVG). But because many don't know how to do this, this is not a requirement and may be submitted in any format that Wikia will allow (PNG, JPG, GIF). I will personally convert the selected designs upon the end of the contest.


 * The following republics are off limits: Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Belorussia, Chuvashia, Karelia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pridnestrovie, Russia, Tajikistan, Tatarstan, Turkmenistan, Udmurtia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Yakutia. The following are off limits because there is already a design for them (as you can see in the boxes above). No proposals will be accepted for this republics.

Criteria
I will be judging the entries on the following criteria:


 * 1) Originality and Uniformity (the uniqueness of the flag, yet uniformed with the other flags)
 * 2) Patriotism (the flags ability to express the republic and union in a balanced manner)

Conclusion
The winning designs will have the privileged to be used in the timeline. The designs which are not used will be put into storage, allowing them to be used later on, or in other timelines for this website. All designers will be given a big thanks, and the appreciation form all.

This contest will officially end on October 1, 2011.

Entries
You may add all entries in the box below. It is appreciated that you add the name of the republic, as well as your signature.

Comments
I hope you all like the idea, and I am very eager to see how this contest will turn out. In all, have fun. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 17:54, September 17, 2011 (UTC)


 * I am letting everybody know that I have updated the rules. Several of the entries seem to be conflicting, so I made it easier to understand. Please look at them before adding any new ones. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 04:02, September 18, 2011 (UTC)

On an unrelated note, does this mean Pridnestrovie will get a non-union banner flag? ChrisL123 19:35, September 19, 2011 (UTC)

Primary USSR flag change proposal: I recently designed a new flag for the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics that is in the flag proposal gallery just above these comments. The red portion of the flag and the hammer & sickle obviously have the same meaning. I added two blue strips, one at the bottom and the other at the top. There is a total of ten starts, 5 on top and 5 on bottom, representing the original ten Republics in the New Union Constitution. Experiment632 23:20, September 29, 2011 (UTC)
 * Why yes it will. I have a design in my head that I think will look good. Just need to design in XD Thank you for reminding me. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 21:45, September 19, 2011 (UTC)


 * Thanks, but no thanks. I am quite happy with the flag already in use. I have absolutely no intention of changing it. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 17:46, September 30, 2011 (UTC)

you can add comments to flag designs in this section

End of contest
The contest is officially over. Since there wasn't a lot of entries, I have decided to leave this open for anybody who has an idea to post. I plan on now uploading several of my ideas I had to here.

As for the contest results, I have decided I will use the proposals for Gagauzia and Mari El (excluding the name on the flag). The proposal for Ossetia looks more like a "German SSR" flag to me, and this contest had nothing to do with making a new USSR flag. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 01:32, October 2, 2011 (UTC)


 * Well, it's always possible to change the black in Ossetia's flag to the Soviet red, but if you have another idea for it that's perfectly fine. ChrisL123 01:45, October 2, 2011 (UTC)


 * I am really sorry about that. It just doesn't look right for the flag for Ossetia. I do have a design in mind, one which would be unique from the other SSR flags. Again, I am sorry if I disappointed you. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 02:17, October 2, 2011 (UTC)



Kalmykia. Lordganon 06:50, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Adout flag of Red (Soviet) Army. In fact, Soviet army had not its own flag and use Red Flag of USSR.

http://www.vexillographia.ru/russia/index.htm

2303

In the works
Hello everybody. I have been wanting to write this for a while now, but life and all. Anyway, there are a lot of changes to the timeline going to be taking place real soon. Adding new ideas, finishing up old projects, and more. Here are the two current projects that I am working on at the present.


 * Greater Karelia: After talking about it with Fedelede, will be getting a makeover. The biggest change will be that the republic will be admitted much earlier than previously stated, and will regain the Karelian Isthmus though compromise. I am also happy to announce that Fedelede may come onto the timeline as the Karelian expert and caretaker.




 * Iraq: It has already become canon, just not written out. I have been finalizing some things for Iraq, but I am happy to announce that it is looking great. For a reminder, the POD would involve the proposed coup against Hussein in 1995-ish would be taken seriously by the CIA (rather than OTL). The coup would be successful, and Hussein will be dead. A transition government takes place in Baghdad, and peace talks between the Kurdish separatists take place. By the end of the millennium, it would be agreed to reestablish Iraq as a federation of three republics. One Kurdish state, one Arab Sunni state, and one Arab Shia state (not to mention Baghdad becoming a federal district). My main focus was to finalize the borders, and I have even been looking into the naming issue. Here is a detailed idea for the three republics.
 * Kurdistan: Pretty much self explanatory. As part of compromise, it will be bordered to virtually govern the Kurdish-majority governorates and portions of another.
 * Babylonia: This would be the Shia-dominated state in southern Iraq. I think calling it anything except "Shiastan" is better. I chose "Babylonia" as a potential name. The name is a historic name for the region in the bible, and would be in sync with the other nations which also named themselves after biblical places (Syria and Israel).
 * Assyria: This would be the Sunni-dominated state in central Iraq. Just like Babylonia, Assyria is the biblical name for the region.

If anybody has any better names for these two republics, I would love to hear them. I will update this section with several of my new ideas later on. TTFN --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 01:36, September 23, 2011 (UTC)


 * I did feel like calling Babylonia Basra (named for the largest city in the region of the same name), or Mesopotamia. -- RandomWriterGuy 01:34, September 29, 2011 (UTC)

I have to say Nuke, more of the Kurd areas would probably be in the Kurdistan section. Lordganon 22:48, September 29, 2011 (UTC)



Here's a detailed map showing the exact border choices I came up with. While the Shia-Sunni border is pretty easy to make, the Kurdistan border I have decided to create by compromise. Including the three governorates of Iraq (which are currently the ones which OTL Kurdistan occupy), Kurdistan would gain the Kurdish districts of Ninawa, and half of Kirkuk. Kirkuk seems to be the major dispute between the Kurds and Sunnis, so I think a compromise would be best for this situation. A strait line (represented by the red line in the map) would divide the of the Kirkuk Governorate into two. The Kurds gain the north half (and the capital of Kirkuk, while the Sunnis gain the southern half. The main reason I believe compromise would be on the table is for one thing... oil. While Russia would be willing to compromise (since they had all to gain and nothing to loose), I think the Sunnis would not be willing to hand over all of Iraq's oil fields to the Shia and Kurds (even though they are in the same country). Though this doesn't include all the Kurds, it includes the majority of them, and Kirkuk; while at the same time, giving the Sunnis enough oil reserves to make them happy.

However, I found this map which seems to suggest that Iraq has much more oil in the western-half of the country. I can't find out anything more about this, but this could be an interesting thing for this timeline. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 18:07, September 30, 2011 (UTC)

Yeah, the oil is really spread out pretty good between the three sections. Each is just greedy, y'know?

The area I meant, Nuke, is that large spurt heading south on the eastern border. No real oil/gas fields in the area, and a majority Kurdish population. Just doesn't make much sense for it not to be in the Kurd region.

Lordganon 01:15, October 1, 2011 (UTC)


 * Ah... I see. I actually came across some maps of Kurdistan (OTL), and I would really like to see them be used for Kurdistan in TTL. Say hello to Kurdistan 2.0. I've based in on this map and this map. I really like how this one came out. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 00:36, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Looks good. Lordganon 06:11, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Name change poll
After thinking about it, and further encouraged by the comment I got, I am getting more interested in another naming idea I had for the two Arab republics. My idea: Lower Mesopotamia and Upper Mesopotamia. I don't know why, but I love the idea of using "upper" and "lower" in regional names (maybe because they are rarely used these days). Since most names with these "articles" are based primarily on rivers, Mesopotamia seems like a good candidate for these names.


 * Upper Mesopotamia is the Sunni state in the north (upper referring to the fact that it is further up from the mouth of the rivers).
 * Lower Mesopotamia is the Shia state (lower because it is lower down the rivers).
 * Mesopotamia can thereby be used as a united term for Iraqi Arabs (regardless of religious belief).

It makes more sense. "Mesopotamians" is often used to refer to Arab Iraqis in many aspects. Babylonia seems like a weird name, and Assyia is often used to describe to the Christians in northern Iraq (the Assyrians).

But I have decided to make a poll.

Which naming group do you want to be used. Assyria and Babylonia Lower Mesopotamia and Upper Mesopotamia Other (write suggestion below)

Have fun. Vote or die! --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 17:53, September 29, 2011 (UTC)

Purpose of the United Democracies (and Others)
(Note: From now on, I'll only send a post here once a week)

I want you to give you info on the new article I created-the United Democracies.

The United Democracies is similar to the United Nations, except that the organization is made out of liberal republics and has fewer flaws than the United Nations.

United Nations is the world's most important organization, but has major flaws, including the fact it is too bureaucratic, too slow and too incompetent in solving urgent humaniatarian or political crisis situations.

During the Rwanda Genocide, the world's liberal democracies wanted to use sanctions or military inteference, but the nations who opposed this plan were authoritan governments and dictatorships. The USSR and US realize that the United Nations' goal is to spread democracy around the world, but this goal, along with others, have been hindered by authoritan governments.

Knowing they have to take the situation in their hands, every liberal democracy creates an organization known as the United Democracies, with similar goals as the UN, but the organization bans authoritan governments or dictatorships, so that the goal of preserving and spreading freedom can be achieved.

As the years pass, more nations (new democraitc governments) began to join the organization. And in 2000, it is offical that the UD (short for the Un ited Democracies) is a more reliable organization then the UN.

Do you like this idea? (P.S. This is based on the Concert of Democracies; I am trying to nake this as my own as possible.)

I also have a few questions for this Timeline: RandomWriterGuy 19:16, September 27, 2011 (UTC)
 * 1) How can Bin Laden get to Somalia if he has to crosss multiple borders? Getting to Pakistan was easy for him in OTL, but to reach Somalia, he has to cross several nations, and may get captured in his journey. The sea is also a bad option, since warships can capture him too. So since Somalia will have many dangers just to reach there, how will bin Laden get there?
 * 2) Will the U.S. economy recover and be off better than OTL?
 * 3) Will crime decline in the USSR?
 * 4) Will the timeline of technology be effected (aka new stuff invented earlier or later)?


 * For the record, there is nothing wrong with writing here more than once a week. The only thing I had trouble with was the fact that you uploaded your ideas in multiple sections. Do as I do, make one section and make a bullet list (makes it easier to keep track of ^_^).


 * I have had a long day to try and get the UD into my head. So far, I am beginning to get its main idea, but still a little fishy to me. So far, everything seems okay, and I can see Gorbachev going along with the idea, especially around the end of his term as President. The only things I would like to suggest and state are...


 * I can see English, French, Spanish, and Russian being the dominant languages, but why Portuguese? While Brazil and Portugal would be prominent members, not too sure if this is enough to make it a dominant language. But again, my love is in Russian, not Portuguese... so maybe I should just shut up. If I may make a suggestion, I think German should be added, because the [now] united Germany would play an important role in this organization (I would assume). The German name would be Vereinte Demokratie (by the way).
 * Bullet lists are cool.
 * My butt hurts.


 * Other than that, I am beginning to like the idea. My only question would be... is this organization a cooperator with the UN, or a rival? I also hope you don't mind, I added a proper infobox for the article. I would also suggest taking a look at the global map I made for the timeline. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 01:36, September 28, 2011 (UTC)


 * Before I forget to answer them:
 * The question on Bin Laden makes pretty good sense. It makes even less sense when the nation bordering the two is a major Soviet ally. I guess we need to look further into this.
 * From what I have read on alternate history forums, the US economy would not begin to fail as in OTL. At the very least, it would go threw a minor recession. But my understandings on economics is practically none.
 * My focus has been more on politics and not too much cultural. But if I had to guess, the economic positives and a higher moral, I would be confident that crime would not be as rampant as it was in the 1990s.
 * I suppose so. I have already had in mind two technological expansions for the USSR. These include an expanding car industry which become more global than OTL, and the expansion of the GLONASS system (the Soviet's response to the US' GPS system). I also though it would be interesting that because SAKA is more focused on the people, they would make the GLONASS system available to the people of the USSR much earlier than the US did in OTL. When I mean "avaliable," I am referring to the people being able to pinpoint their location within centimeters, rather than the first GPS systems for the US.

--NuclearVacuum (Talk) 18:49, September 28, 2011 (UTC)

I am glad you supported my UD article, and I'm here to respond from your message. Yes, I am thinking German can be added, but due to the large number of its speakers, Portuguese is why I chose it, but for the same reason, I migh add Japanese.'

To answer your question whether the UD is an ally or rival of the UN, the UD is an ally of the UN (and the UD acts as a part of the UN). For example, during the War on Terror, both the UD and UN supported the war. But when the UN fails to make the best decision for handling ant crisis, the UD takes the crisis in their own hands. Here are some examplese (and possible New Union proposals):

Venezula: Hugo Chavez has been accused by the international community for supporting drug cartels in Colombia. After a terrorist bombing in government buildings in Cali, Colombia during 2008, January 17th, Colombia accused Venezula of this, along with the international commun ity. The US and USSR want to declare war on Venezula to stop Hugo's injustice. But other nations refused this, which were authoritarian governments. Because Colombia's crisis was fueled by Hugo and the Colombian government seeking revenge, the UD decides to take control of the situation and declares war on Venezula. After months of fighting, Hugo is outsed from power and a new, democratic government takes place.

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe is in a deteriorating situation, yet its leader, Mugambe, has ignored this. In order to end such injustice, the international community has pressured Mugambe to hand power to Tsvangirai. After months of pressure, Mugambe agreed, but later tried to assasinate him, forcing Tsvangirai and his family to flee to South Africa. Angered, the US and USSR want military action to destroy the Mugambe government, but China opposed this, forcing the UD to take the situation in their hands. After months of fighting, Mugambe is outsed from power, and Tsvanirai takes power.

I really hope this answers your question.

RandomWriterGuy 19:17, September 28, 2011 (UTC)

Balance of Power
Hi, I wanted to make a broad governing statement that might help you extrapolate what happens after the New Union Treaty. Sure, the Cold War might be over. But in ttl, the Soviet Union still went through a period of weakness in which the central government sought to consolidate its power under a new framework. This was the only reason that the Soviets would have gone along with the American model and conformed to the West. It was likely a tactic to go along with the temporary unipolarity of the international system, which became bipolar once more after the USSR's consolidation and the St. Petersburg Compromise. Once this occured, a balance of power would have to be maintained somehow.

I propose the easiest way to maintain the balance being an arms reduction treaty. The USA, a maritime power, would have to put a cap on its expeditionary forces, while the USSR, a predominantly land-based power, would have to put a cap on the number of naval vessels that could be deployed. Satellite technology would be developed to help enforce this balance, making sure that the opposing sides are keeping up to their treaty obligations.

A whole Neutral Bloc, in addition to what you have already in ttl could be created surrounding the Soviet Union and including some North American countries, like China, Mexico, and Iran. These would be powers that didn't wish to be part of either camp and would seek support from the superpowers regardless of alignment. They would also have the side-effect of containing the two superpowers geopolitically, balancing between both powers while holding back their power.

What do you think? This would maintain the bipolarity of the Cold War, but I could see a WWIII sparking easily. Another option, a little less realistic IMO, is to have a formal alliance between the superpowers, although this type of arrangement seems too much like friendship. It's up to you. Any thoughts? Also, I think having an organization containing all the world's democracies isn't viable with your timeline, so I recommend you get rid of that. --Gatemonger 22:58, September 30, 2011 (UTC)

Stuff That Is So Long It Can't Fit Into My Previous Article
I really want to tell you about some important things. Now, I had to put this separate because it would take so long to make.

UD Membership:1. Canada

2. United States

3. Mexico

4. Belize

5. Guatemala

6. Honduras

7. Nicaragua

8. El Salvador

9. Costa Rica

10. Panama

11. Bahamas

12. Jamaica

13. Dominican Republic

14. Antigua & Barbuda

15. St. Kitts & Nevis

16. Dominica

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">17. St. Lucia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">18. St. Vincent & the Grenadines

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">19. Barbados

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">20. Grenada

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">21. Trinidad & Tobago

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">22. Guyana

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">23. Suriname

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">24. Colombia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">25. Ecuador

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">26. Peru

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">27. Bolivia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">28. Paraguay

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">29. Uruguay

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">30. Brazil

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">31. Chile

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">32. Argentina

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">33. Mali

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">34. Senegal

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">35. Cape Verde

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">36. Sierra Leone

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">37. Liberia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">38. Ghana

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">39. Benin

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">40. Ethiopia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">41. Sao Tome and Principe

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">42. Republic of the Congo

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">43. Tanzania

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">44. Angola

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">45. Zambia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">46. Malawi

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">47. Mozambique

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">48. Seychelles

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">49. Comoros

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">50. Mauritius

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">51. Namibia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">52. Botswana

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">53. South Africa

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">54. Lesotho

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">55. Australia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">56. New Zealand

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">57. Papua New Guinea

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">58. Vanuatu

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">59. Nauru

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">60. Tuvalu

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">61. Kiribati

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">62. Samoa

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">63. Tonga

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">64. Indonesia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">65. Philippines

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">66. Vietnam

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">67. Laos

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">68. Cambodia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">69. South Korea

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">70. Japan

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">71. Maldives

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">72. India

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">73. Bangladesh

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">74. Afghanistan

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">75. South Yemen

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">76. Israel

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">77. Iraq

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">78. Turkey

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">79. Georgia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">80. Armenia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">81. Cyprus

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">82. Mongolia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">83. Soviet Union

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">84. Estonia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">85. Latvia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">86. Lithuania

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">87. Norway

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">88. Sweden

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">89. Finland

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">90. Denmark

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">91. Ireland

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">92. Iceland

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">93. United Kingdom

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">94. Romania

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">95. Bulgaria

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">96. Greece

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">97. Albania

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">98. Yugoslavia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">99. Croatia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">100. Slovenia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">101. Hungary

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">102. Austria

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">103. Czechoslovakia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">104. Poland

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">105. Germany

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">106. Netherlands

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">107. Belgium

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">108. Luxembourg

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">109. Liechtenstein

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">110. Italy

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">111. San Marino

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">112. Malta

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">113. France

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">114. Spain

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">115. Portugal

Here’s another list of countries that join the organization over time and how and when:

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">1. Taiwan: 1995, February 3rd (UD allowed it to join under certain conditions)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">2. Switzerland: 1995, May 1st (Was interested in the UD, though it did not want to get involved much)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">3. Egypt: 1995, September 15th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">4. Vatican City: 1995, December 1st (UD allowed it to join under certain conditions)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">5. Cuba: 1996, October 4th (When the political reforms finally were in effect)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">6. Singapore: 1998, September 5th (Government made reforms when it began to get interested in the UD)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">7. Kenya: 1998, October 7th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">8. Rwanda: 1999, May 13th (Political situation stable and democratic enough)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">9. Burundi: 1999, May 13th (Political situation stable and democratic enough)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">10. Hong Kong: 1999, August 12th (Interested in the UD, though decision was approved by China)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">11. Macau: 1999, August 12th (Interested in the UD, though decision was approved by China)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">12. Uganda: 1999, September 21st (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">13. Kuwait: 1999, November 14th (Government made reforms when it began to get interested in the UD)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">14. Qatar: 1999, December 1st (Government made reforms when it began to get interested in the UD)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">15. UAE: 2000, January 16th (Government made reforms when it began to get interested in the UD)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">16. Thailand: 2000, July 1st (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">17. Fiji Islands: 2000, July 24th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">18. Solomon Islands: 2000, August 4th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">19. Jordan: 2000, October 13th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">20. Somalia: 2009, September 11th ( Political situation was soon stable enough for democracy)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">21. Sudan: 2009, September 11th (Political situation was soon stable enough for democracy)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">22. Tunisia: 2011, March 19th (Zine El Abidine Ben Ali resigned as President, allowing a new, democratic government to form)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">23. Libya: 2011, September 8th (Rebel side ousted Qaddafi, allowing a new, democratic government in the country)

<p style="margin-left:.25in">I do have possible proposals, including:

<p style="margin-left:.25in">Haiti: 1996, April 13th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="margin-left:.25in">Venezuela: 2008, July 13th (Hugo’s overthrow allowed a new liberal democracy)

<p style="margin-left:.25in">Zimbabwe: 2011, February 9th (Mugabe’s overthrow allowed a new liberal democracy)

<p style="margin-left:.25in">American and Soviet Spheres of Influence:

<p style="margin-left:.25in">I was wondering that if you can make a map showing the American and Soviet spheres of influence. That way, I can know who’s on the USSR’s side and who’s on the US’s side.

<p style="margin-left:.25in">I also have a proposal for two organizations: SCSTO (Soviet Collective Security Treaty Organization) and the ACSTO (American Collective Security Treaty Organization). The members of the two organizations will represent the sphere of influence they are in. (Nations in the American Sphere of Influence will be in the ACSTO, and Nations in the Soviet Sphere of Influence will be in the SCSTO) Because of this NATO would be disbanded and incorporated into the ACSTO. For the Neutral Bloc, if they are going to remain neutral from both organizations, I believe they should no longer be in the Soviet Sphere of Influence.

<p style="margin-left:.25in">Pashtunistan:

<p style="margin-left:.25in">Because this government is run by radical Islamists, I was wondering how that will affect the War on Terror. Supporting and praising the 9/11 and Moscow Metro Bombing attacks, they opposed the War in Sudan, but when the War in Somalia occurred, Pashtunistan invaded Afghanistan to draw the Soviets from the war, causing the third war in the War on Terror, the War in Pashtunistan, where the country was quickly overrun by Afghan and Soviet troops, but the Pashtuns were also supported by the Iranian and Pakistani governments, straining their relationship with the Soviet Union. Eventually, the Islamic regime is rid of in Pashtunistan, and the Soviets fight insurgencies in the country.

<p style="margin-left:.25in">Compromise before the St. Petersgrad Compromise:

<p style="margin-left:.25in">I do feel that autonomous republics under 600,000 will not be able to get their populations up quick enough to become republics. So in this compromise, the USSR makes this compromise to those ASSRs so they don’t have to wait, since their populations were small. Republics over 600,000 will just have to wait.

<p style="margin-left:.25in">Religion (Christianity fastest growing religion?):

<p style="margin-left:.25in">I am not trying to be offended here, but I thought this because with the reformation of the USSR devout Soviet Christians are more willing to spread their religion. As a result, many Christians in the USSR began to travel worldwide to spread their religion, causing Christianity, not Islam to be the fastest growing religion.

<p style="margin-left:.25in">I would love to give you more, but this is all what I can think of. Good luck!

<p style="margin-left:.25in">RandomWriterGuy 23:21, September 28, 2011 (UTC)

<p style="margin-left:.25in">You may want to add a list of suspended/kicked off nations, if there were some unstable ones (such as in Africa) where the legit government was overthrown. LurkerLordB 23:38, September 28, 2011 (UTC) -->

Some More Stuff That Took So Long To Make
I really want to tell you about some important things. Now, I had to put this separate because it would take so long to make.

UD Membership:

To give you the number of nations who joined at the first meeting in the organization, here they are:


 * I have hidden the list (but it is still here). The reason is because he way you coded it glitches my computer, and I am too lazy to fix over a hundred nations.<!--

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">1. Canada

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">2. United States

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">3. Mexico

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">4. Belize

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">5. Guatemala

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">6. Honduras

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">7. Nicaragua

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">8. El Salvador

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">9. Costa Rica

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">10. Panama

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">11. Bahamas

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">12. Jamaica

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">13. Dominican Republic

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">14. Antigua & Barbuda

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">15. St. Kitts & Nevis

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">16. Dominica

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">17. St. Lucia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">18. St. Vincent & the Grenadines

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">19. Barbados

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">20. Grenada

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">21. Trinidad & Tobago

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">22. Guyana

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">23. Suriname

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">24. Colombia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">25. Ecuador

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">26. Peru

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">27. Bolivia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">28. Paraguay

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">29. Uruguay

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">30. Brazil

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">31. Chile

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">32. Argentina

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">33. Mali

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">34. Senegal

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">35. Cape Verde

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">36. Sierra Leone

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">37. Liberia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">38. Ghana

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">39. Benin

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">40. Ethiopia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">41. Sao Tome and Principe

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">42. Republic of the Congo

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">43. Tanzania

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">44. Angola

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">45. Zambia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">46. Malawi

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">47. Mozambique

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">48. Seychelles

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">49. Comoros

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">50. Mauritius

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">51. Namibia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">52. Botswana

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">53. South Africa

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">54. Lesotho

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">55. Australia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">56. New Zealand

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">57. Papua New Guinea

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">58. Vanuatu

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">59. Nauru

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">60. Tuvalu

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">61. Kiribati

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">62. Samoa

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">63. Tonga

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">64. Indonesia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">65. Philippines

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">66. Vietnam

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">67. Laos

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">68. Cambodia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">69. South Korea

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">70. Japan

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">71. Maldives

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">72. India

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">73. Bangladesh

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">74. Afghanistan

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">75. South Yemen

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">76. Israel

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">77. Iraq

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">78. Turkey

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">79. Georgia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">80. Armenia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">81. Cyprus

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">82. Mongolia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">83. Soviet Union

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">84. Estonia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">85. Latvia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">86. Lithuania

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">87. Norway

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">88. Sweden

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">89. Finland

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">90. Denmark

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">91. Ireland

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">92. Iceland

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">93. United Kingdom

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">94. Romania

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">95. Bulgaria

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">96. Greece

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">97. Albania

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">98. Yugoslavia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">99. Croatia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">100. Slovenia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">101. Hungary

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">102. Austria

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">103. Czechoslovakia

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">104. Poland

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">105. Germany

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">106. Netherlands

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">107. Belgium

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">108. Luxembourg

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">109. Liechtenstein

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">110. Italy

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">111. San Marino

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">112. Malta

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">113. France

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">114. Spain

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">115. Portugal

Here’s another list of countries that join the organization over time and how and when:

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">1. Taiwan: 1995, February 3rd (UD allowed it to join under certain conditions)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">2. Switzerland: 1995, May 1st (Was interested in the UD, though it did not want to get involved much)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">3. Egypt: 1995, September 15th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">4. Vatican City: 1995, December 1st (UD allowed it to join under certain conditions)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">5. Cuba: 1996, October 4th (When the political reforms finally were in effect)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">6. Singapore: 1998, September 5th (Government made reforms when it began to get interested in the UD)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">7. Kenya: 1998, October 7th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">8. Rwanda: 1999, May 13th (Political situation stable and democratic enough)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">9. Burundi: 1999, May 13th (Political situation stable and democratic enough)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">10. Hong Kong: 1999, August 12th (Interested in the UD, though decision was approved by China)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">11. Macau: 1999, August 12th (Interested in the UD, though decision was approved by China)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">12. Uganda: 1999, September 21st (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">13. Kuwait: 1999, November 14th (Government made reforms when it began to get interested in the UD)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">14. Qatar: 1999, December 1st (Government made reforms when it began to get interested in the UD)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">15. UAE: 2000, January 16th (Government made reforms when it began to get interested in the UD)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">16. Thailand: 2000, July 1st (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">17. Fiji Islands: 2000, July 24th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">18. Solomon Islands: 2000, August 4th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">19. Jordan: 2000, October 13th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">20. Somalia: 2009, September 11th ( Political situation was soon stable enough for democracy)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">21. Sudan: 2009, September 11th (Political situation was soon stable enough for democracy)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">22. Tunisia: 2011, March 19th (Zine El Abidine Ben Ali resigned as President, allowing a new, democratic government to form)

<p style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">23. Libya: 2011, September 8th (Rebel side ousted Qaddafi, allowing a new, democratic government in the country)

<p style="margin-left:.25in">I do have possible proposals, including:

<p style="margin-left:.25in">Haiti: 1996, April 13th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="margin-left:.25in">Venezuela: 2008, July 13th (Hugo’s overthrow allowed a new liberal democracy)

<p style="margin-left:.25in">Zimbabwe: 2011, February 9th (Mugabe’s overthrow allowed a new liberal democracy) -->

<p style="margin-left:.25in">American and Soviet Spheres of Influence:

<p style="margin-left:.25in">I was wondering that if you can make a map showing the American and Soviet spheres of influence. That way, I can know who’s on the USSR’s side and who’s on the US’s side.

<p style="margin-left:.25in">I also have a proposal for two organizations: SCSTO (Soviet Collective Security Treaty Organization) and the ACSTO (American Collective Security Treaty Organization). The members of the two organizations will represent the sphere of influence they are in. (Nations in the American Sphere of Influence will be in the ACSTO, and Nations in the Soviet Sphere of Influence will be in the SCSTO) Because of this NATO would be disbanded and incorporated into the ACSTO. For the Neutral Bloc, if they are going to remain neutral from both organizations, I believe they should no longer be in the Soviet Sphere of Influence.

<p style="margin-left:.25in">Pashtunistan:

<p style="margin-left:.25in">Because this government is run by radical Islamists, I was wondering how that will affect the War on Terror. Supporting and praising the 9/11 and Moscow Metro Bombing attacks, they opposed the War in Sudan, but when the War in Somalia occurred, Pashtunistan invaded Afghanistan to draw the Soviets from the war, causing the third war in the War on Terror, the War in Pashtunistan, where the country was quickly overrun by Afghan and Soviet troops, but the Pashtuns were also supported by the Iranian and Pakistani governments, straining their relationship with the Soviet Union. Eventually, the Islamic regime is rid of in Pashtunistan, and the Soviets fight insurgencies in the country.

<p style="margin-left:.25in">Compromise before the St. Petersgrad Compromise:

<p style="margin-left:.25in">I do feel that autonomous republics under 600,000 will not be able to get their populations up quick enough to become republics. So in this compromise, the USSR makes this compromise to those ASSRs so they don’t have to wait, since their populations were small. Republics over 600,000 will just have to wait.

<p style="margin-left:.25in">Religion (Christianity fastest growing religion?):

<p style="margin-left:.25in">I am not trying to be offended here, but I thought this because with the reformation of the USSR devout Soviet Christians are more willing to spread their religion. As a result, many Christians in the USSR began to travel worldwide to spread their religion, causing Christianity, not Islam to be the fastest growing religion.

<p style="margin-left:.25in">I would love to give you more, but this is all what I can think of. Good luck!

<p style="margin-left:.25in">RandomWriterGuy 01:32, September 29, 2011 (UTC)


 * The idea of that American sphere grouping is, honestly, ridiculous. The Soviet one staying intact is bad enough, but you're talking about independent countries. They would never agree to something, especially named almost the same as Soviet one.


 * The idea that the Soviets would invade an area that they pulled out of like that is even worse. That's like shooting yourself in the foot, stopping the bleeding and getting it almost healed, and then doing it again.


 * There are reasons for Islam to grow faster. It has absolutely nothing to do with the religion spreading. Which won't change.


 * The terms of the compromise are different than what you suggest. Irregardless, your belief holds little truth to it.


 * And, overall, the idea that, even atl, the Americans and Soviets would both join such a thing makes no sense. The American people and government would never do it.


 * And, quit that format stuff, please. All it is is extra garbage that clutters the page. -- Lordganon 03:26, September 29, 2011 (UTC)


 * I have to agree with Lordganon. In fact, he took the words right out of my mouth (more or less). While there will be several Soviet allies that would be willing to continue cooperation with the USSR, there is no way that all of them would be willing to spark a second Cold War. I am very happy the way NATO, the CSTO, and the Neutral Bloc are the way they are. I have no intentions of changing what is canon for them, nor do I have any intentions of them being dissolved to form a SCSTO or an ACSTO.


 * I was also going to be bringing this up, what exactly is the United Democracies. I am supportive of an organization that works on American-Soviet cooperation, but what exactly are they cooperating on? Do you really expect that this organization would be "declaring war" on other nations? That is one level of crazy, but the other thing is that the American and Soviet definition of democracy can be two different words. I also have some concerns for the two nations that you used as references: Zimbabwe and Venezuela. While I know nothing about Zimbabwe, Venezuela would most likely have had cooperation with the USSR (because Chavez is socialist). Granted, I am confident that the USSR would be against him supporting drug cartels and supporting acts of terrorism upon his neighbors, but I am pretty confident that the USSR would not agree to launch any attack on a nation without hard evidence. At the very least, they would agree on some sanctions, but nothing more. I like to see the USSR more or less like OTL Russia. Despite the fact that Russia has been moving back and fourth between nostalgia and progress, they still haven't launched an invasion of any nation (other than what once made up the USSR). Gorbachev feared that the USA was moving towards becoming the "global police," taking it into their hands to protect the world. With the USSR gone, Gorbachev's fears came true. With the USSR in tact, I am confident that they would work on counteracting the USA in many ways. I am confident they would support them on some wars (like the war of Sudan after 9/11), but nothing else without evidence (like OTL Iraq, or your suggestion of Venezuela).


 * I would also like to leave the aspects of religion to their bare basics for this timeline.


 * As for Pashtunistan, absolutely not. I consider the divide between Afghanistan and Pashtunistan to be something like Cyprus in OTL. While I agree the Pashtunistan would be a semi-safe haven for terrorists organizations, I highly dough they would go to war against the north, and fear a second Soviet war. Neighboring Pakistan and Iran help keep Pashtunistan surviving, I dough they would need to consider a war.


 * That is pretty much it. And for Lordganon... what do you mean by "The Soviet one staying intact is bad enough"? --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 14:03, September 29, 2011 (UTC)

Please, I am super sorry for the back texting content. It was all done on Microsoft Word. Also, I also apoligize for my bad ideas.

But I was thinking if you can give the list of nations in the American Sphere, and those in the Soviet sphere. That way, people will know which country is on which side.

For the United Democracies, what the Americans and Soviets are co-operating on in this organization is similar to the United Nations. The United Democracies acts as a part on the UN, but, here's a acatch. If the UN fails to make a decision in order to handle a political or other severe crisis, than the United Democracies steps in and takes care of the problem. The UD is aiming for peac like the UN, in a similar matter, but with more success.

--RandomWriterGuy 17:11, September 29, 2011 (UTC)


 * No worries. No need to be sorry. You have to break some eggs to make an omelet. As for the spheres of influence... there isn't really any (at least not in the manner you want). Rather than a definitive sphere, all nations cooperate equally with the US and USSR. For instance... France. They are a member of NATO, yet equally worked with both the US, UK, and the USSR. But if you really need a defined border, I would probably say that... the former communist states (other than China) and pro-socialist nations (like Venezuela and even Nicaragua) are part of the Soviet sphere, while the US sphere would probably remain in North America and the Pacific region. Western Europe could also be in the US sphere, but the EU is currently growing into a power of itself. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 20:21, September 29, 2011 (UTC)

Nuke, what it is, for all purposes, is a "New Warsaw Pact." Armenia, as otl, makes a little sense. Mongolia, in the overall context, does as well. But I just don't see the others, and the concept overall, as making much sense.

As Nuke said, the concept of "Spheres of Influence" makes little sense, overall. Yes, they have a little more influence in certain areas, but it's not a "sphere" or anything. That translates, much more so, into real power over certain areas.

There's really no need for any group like that. As seen often otl, the powers will act on their own. The West may have cared about Rwanda enough to try and get UN intervention, like otl, but as they did many times, they could have simply ignored the failure and went in anyways, but they did not. Why on earth would it be different here, especially in that context? There's no need at all for it. t would also mess with international law, and replace the UN. There's no doubt about that.

As I said, why would the Americans and Soviets do this? Neither public would go for the concept, nor would they in most of those nations. They are democracies, many of them not by much - there is no way that they would support random interventions.

Lordganon 22:12, September 29, 2011 (UTC)


 * Sorry you don't see it, Lordganon. I think the CSTO idea is pretty reasonable in comparison to what could have come out.


 * As for the UD, I am beginning to really dough it can be salvaged. It's not because of a Soviet-American alliance, but the fact that UN member states don't get what they want, so leave and do what they wanted to do anyway. Sounds too familiar. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 18:10, September 30, 2011 (UTC)

List of UD member nations
<p style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">I did give you the list last time for the members of the UD and future members. I was wondering f you can respond to it this time, so I thought I made the list, but the context is more appropriate.


 * 1) Canada

<p style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-left: 0.25in; ">Those above were the members when first founded. Here are the members that join the organization over time, with their date of entry and reasons:
 * 1) United States
 * 2) Mexico
 * 3) Belize
 * 4) Guatemala
 * 5) Honduras
 * 6) Nicaragua
 * 7) El Salvador
 * 8) Costa Rica
 * 9) Panama
 * 10) Bahamas
 * 11) Jamaica
 * 12) Dominican Republic
 * 13) Antigua & Barbuda
 * 14) St. Kitts & Nevis
 * 15) Dominica
 * 16) St. Lucia
 * 17) St. Vincent & the Grenadines
 * 18) Barbados
 * 19) Grenada
 * 20) Trinidad & Tobago
 * 21) Guyana
 * 22) Suriname
 * 23) Colombia
 * 24) Ecuador
 * 25) Peru
 * 26) Bolivia
 * 27) Paraguay
 * 28) Uruguay
 * 29) Brazil
 * 30) Chile
 * 31) Argentina
 * 32) Mali
 * 33) Senegal
 * 34) Cape Verde
 * 35) Sierra Leone
 * 36) Liberia
 * 37) Ghana
 * 38) Benin
 * 39) Ethiopia
 * 40) Sao Tome and Principe
 * 41) Republic of the Congo
 * 42) Tanzania
 * 43) Angola
 * 44) Zambia
 * 45) Malawi
 * 46) Mozambique
 * 47) Seychelles
 * 48) Comoros
 * 49) Mauritius
 * 50) Namibia
 * 51) Botswana
 * 52) South Africa
 * 53) Lesotho
 * 54) Australia
 * 55) New Zealand
 * 56) Papua New Guinea
 * 57) Vanuatu
 * 58) Nauru
 * 59) Tuvalu
 * 60) Kiribati
 * 61) Samoa
 * 62) Tonga
 * 63) Indonesia
 * 64) Philippines
 * 65) Vietnam
 * 66) Laos
 * 67) Cambodia
 * 68) South Korea
 * 69) Japan
 * 70) Maldives
 * 71) India
 * 72) Bangladesh
 * 73) Afghanistan
 * 74) South Yemen
 * 75) Israel
 * 76) Iraq
 * 77) Turkey
 * 78) Georgia
 * 79) Armenia
 * 80) Cyprus
 * 81) Mongolia
 * 82) Soviet Union
 * 83) Estonia
 * 84) Latvia
 * 85) Lithuania
 * 86) Norway
 * 87) Sweden
 * 88) Finland
 * 89) Denmark
 * 90) Ireland
 * 91) Iceland
 * 92) United Kingdom
 * 93) Romania
 * 94) Bulgaria
 * 95) Greece
 * 96) Albania
 * 97) Yugoslavia
 * 98) Croatia
 * 99) Slovenia
 * 100) Hungary
 * 101) Austria
 * 102) Czechoslovakia
 * 103) Poland
 * 104) Germany
 * 105) Netherlands
 * 106) Belgium
 * 107) Luxembourg
 * 108) Liechtenstein
 * 109) Italy
 * 110) San Marino
 * 111) Malta
 * 112) France
 * 113) Spain
 * 114) Portugal

<p style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-left: 0.25in; ">The list of nations below aren't part of the list above because I want to make sure they were canon enough:
 * 1) <span style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(58, 58, 58); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">Taiwan: 1995, February 3<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">rd (UD allowed it to join under certain conditions)
 * 1) Switzerland: 1995, May 1<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">st (Was interested in the UD, though it did not want to get involved much)
 * 1) Egypt: 1995, September 15<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)
 * 1) Vatican City: 1995, December 1<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">st  <span style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(58, 58, 58); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">(UD allowed it to join under certain conditions)
 * 1) Cuba: 1996, October 4<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (When the political reforms finally were in effect)
 * 1) Singapore: 1998, September 5<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Government made reforms when it began to get interested in the UD)
 * 1) Kenya: 1998, October 7<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)
 * 1) Rwanda: 1999, May 13<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Political situation stable and democratic enough)
 * 1) Burundi: 1999, May 13<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Political situation stable and democratic enough)
 * 1) Hong Kong: 1999, August 12<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Interested in the UD, though decision was approved by China)
 * 1) Macau: 1999, August 12<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Interested in the UD, though decision was approved by China)
 * 1) Uganda: 1999, September 21<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">st (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)
 * 1) Kuwait: 1999, November 14<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Government made reforms when it began to get interested in the UD)
 * 1) Qatar: 1999, December 1<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">st (Government made reforms when it began to get interested in the UD)
 * 1) UAE: 2000, January 16<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Government made reforms when it began to get interested in the UD)
 * 1) Thailand: 2000, July 1<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">st (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)
 * 1) Fiji Islands: 2000, July 24<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)
 * 1) Solomon Islands: 2000, August 4<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)
 * 1) Jordan: 2000, October 13<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)
 * 1) Somalia: 2009, September 11<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th ( Political situation was soon stable enough for democracy)
 * 1) Sudan: 2009, September 11<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Political situation was soon stable enough for democracy)
 * 1) Tunisia: 2011, March 19<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Zine El Abidine Ben Ali resigned as President, allowing a new, democratic government to form)
 * 1) Libya: 2011, September 8<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Rebel side ousted Qaddafi, allowing a new, democratic government in the country)

<p style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0.4em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0.25in; ">Haiti: 1996, April 13<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Popular protest forced changes and reforms in the government)

<p style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-left: 0.25in; ">Venezuela: 2008, July 13<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Hugo’s overthrow during a revolt by his people allowed a new liberal democracy)

<p style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-left: 0.25in; ">Zimbabwe: 2011, February 9<sup style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; ">th (Mugabe’s overthrow allowed a new liberal democracy)

<p style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-left: 0.25in; ">RandomWriterGuy 22:28, September 29, 2011 (UTC)

UD Update, Burma, Iran, and Others
ITS FRIDAY! FRDIAY!

Just kidding, I won't sing that song (at least it's Friday as we know it).

Anyways, lets do some talking!

For the UD update, I have the list of members, but do you think the members of good enough, or will it require changes? I have also thought of a different way the UD was founded, but you will have to wait for that.

Anyways, my last question for the UD update is: what will it take until this becomes canon?

One country we have not talked about yet is Burma, and I am thinking the UD could be formed that way. First of all, the government's brutal treatment to the protestors had outraged many liberal democracies. Although sanctions, freezing of assets, and breaking of all ties have been passed by liberal democracies, some countris, especially authoritan, have not done any action, and Burma still treats its protestors harshly (oh no!). The US, NATO, USSR, and CSTO have met in Washington D.C. to discuss the problem. However, what they do know is that the army has been the one who attacked the protestors. Then, after a recent protest, the US and USSR secretly planned to attack a military base in Burma to prevent any more innocent lives from being killed. On the night of Marh, 13th, 2004, US and USSR jets have bombed a base in Burma, near Rangoon, while a protest is happening. Because the soldiers were ambushed by the planes, the protestors were left unharmed for once. The next day, the US and USSR have announced they bombed the base to save the lives of innocent Burmese (yaaah!). Angered, the Burmese government believed it was an act of war and threatened American and Soviet Allies in Asia. Concerned, the US, USSR, and most liberal democracies wanted war with Burma, but most countries (authoritarian and dictatorships) opposed this. Because the failure to make any action against the UN, the liberal democracies decided to make the UD (you know how this goes). Then, they declared war against Burma. Within months, the Burmese government toppled, with its renmants only in the northern part of the country. While the people have praised this, the US, USSR, many liberal democracies who toom part in the war, and the UD were all critized for the war, especially Burma's Asian neighbors. And while the UD is being praised for helping to achieve UN goals, it has been critized for not always following the UN's lead. In 2008, the situation in Burma has been stable, and the war was officially over.

If you don't like the Burmese idea, but still want its government toppled, what do you think should happen?

Another country we have not talked about is Iran. Ever since the reformation of the USSR, Iran considers the country an "enemy of Iran and Islam". Since them, there has been high tensions between the West and Iran, especially the nuclear program. Duirng the 2009 protests against the elections, the US and USSR took advantage of this by encouraging sanctions, freezing of the country's assets, and the breaking of all of its ties. While this has been successful, the situation continues, and even grows violent as some Iranians declare war against the government, leading to a Second Iranian revolution. Eventually, the Iranian government topples, and a new liberal democracy is set up.

If you don't like this idea, but want to see an end of the Iranian Islamic regime, what is your idea?

Due to the success of the Soviet system of sovergnity in the country (I call this system Soverignism), many countries with racial and ethnical problems were desperate to adopt this to end its problems. I though I brought the list up (other than Yugoslavia or Ethiopia, because it's been already established!) and their reasons why. Here: This is all I could think of. Tell me if I miss anything.
 * 1) India (multiethnical country means problems in many parts of the country, like Kashmir, Nagaland, etc.)
 * 2) UK (Northern Ireland's controversial subject of staying with either Ireland or the UK)
 * 3) Canada (Quebec separation movement threatening Canadain unity)
 * 4) Indonesia (multiethnical country mean problems in the New Guinea part of the country and other places)
 * 5) Nigeria (its four main ethnic gorups cause major problems)]
 * 6) South Africa (Includes many states)
 * 7) China (Did this so Hong Kong and Macau could join, and went into effect to the provinces of Tibet, Inner Mongolia, and East Turkestan)

I wanted to contribute to the Soviet Union page by adding the agriculture section in the economy section. Since I was unable to access that, I thought I type it down here:

The USSR has one of the best farmland in the world, with few countries matching or being close to its potential. The black belt, that stretches from the Ukraine Cossackia, Russia (including Siberian and European parts), Mordovia, Mari El, Udmurtia, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Kalmykia, Kazakhstan, Tuva, and Buryatia, has been the center of cereal crops. The country is the top producer of wheat, barley, buckwheat, rye, nad millet, and a major producer of potatoes, maize, sorghum, oats, and rice.

The Soviet Union has abandoned its colelctive system of farms in order to increase food production, which was met with great success. As a result, wheat and meat production has increased greatly. The expansion fo most of the country's farm plots have greatly increased fruit and vegetable production. Since then, the USSR no longer had to import food as it used to.

I also have a few questions: Anyways, that's all I got to say, thank you!
 * 1) How will China's status in the world be effected? Will it be impossible to achieve the rank as the second largest economy? How will the military be effected?
 * 2) Will Egypt receive similar aid from the US in response to Soviet aid to Ethiopia? Will Egypt be off better than it is in OTL?
 * 3) What are the top ten richest nations? Where the Soviet Union in this list?
 * 4) Will the development of renewable energy sources be greater than before?
 * 5) With the end of the Cold War, will many countries drop their defense budgets?
 * 6) Is it true the break-up of Yugoslavia happened before the year 1991?
 * 7) What did the mat say to the floor? (It's a joke!)

RandomWriterGuy 22:39, September 30, 2011 (UTC)

That Burma idea makes even less sense than the Rwanda one. Seriously, these are democracies - they could not do anything like that. Because they have to vote or things and have the support of the people. And you'll note that most people otl do not care - why would that change?

You should just drop the idea, overall, in my opinion.

Iran toppling in any form is pretty ASB. Their military is strong and religious, with the Guard even more so. Any rebellions will get crushed.

You don't seem to know anything about those countries. It's called a federal system. All of those countries have it. While the USSR technically had one, they different areas has no real say overall. Not only that, but most of those are anti-Soviet, and if not that, lukewarm to them. Why on earth would they do anything like that? Most don't even have a real problem, either.

China would be more than likely about the same as otl. All of the factors leading to a rise overall there still exist here. Heck, with the Soviet Union still intact, they will likely even have a stronger military.

Countries would likely spend less on defense. More money will likely be spent on renewable energy, as the drop in pollution like otl around 1990 would not be as severe.

There's no reason for aid to Egypt to go up. Or for them to be better off, quite truthfully.

The ten richest nations - depending on the figure you use, mind - should be more or less the same. Move the Soviets up a couple notches from where Russia would be.

http://althistory.wikia.com/wiki/Yugoslavia_(New_Union)

Lordganon 01:10, October 1, 2011 (UTC)

Cuba
Here is my idea for Cuba that I have been meaning to write here for a while now. My idea is simple-ish.

With the USSR continuing to exist, Cuba would have no choice but to continue trading with them, or they will die as a nation. While Castro has negative feelings on Gorbachev, Cuba needs the USSR to survive. The Special Period would not happen, but the end for Cuba would come (more or less). As feared, the continued trading and contact with the USSR has lead to the ideals of glasnost and perestroika coming into the minds of Cuba. Than that day finally comes. On, protests break out in Havana, with the people demanding change for their nation.

While in OTL Castro had nothing to gain and all to loose, he order the police to fight the riots. But in TTL, it's the complete opposite. If Castro acts against his people, the world would look negatively on him. Or worse, Gorbachev may stop funding to Cuba and support the protesters. So in fear that his country would fall apart or go into another revolution, Castro can't do anything but watch the protests go on for days. Finally, after days of protests, Castro needs to make a decision. (Here comes more or my story telling than fact making) On the night of August 9, Castro has a long conversation with Gorbachev on the phone. In the span of hours, he curses Gorbachev out, but at the same time pleaded with him for answers. In his words to Castro, Gorbachev makes a supposed statement like, "Do you really think I am happy at the decisions I have made? Some night, I think about what my life could have been if I just kept my mouth shut and left the status quo in place. But in the end, I had to think of the people as a whole."

With the conversation over, Gorbachev goes to bed, but gets very little sleep. On the morning of August 10, 1994 (around 9:00 AM Havana Time), Castro announces to the nation that he will be resigning as President of Cuba. His brother Raul will take his place as President until presidential elections can take place. The world is shocked at the statement. In the end, Castro would leave with his life, and avoid another revolution. As promised, he leaves the Presidency to his brother, who will only serve as president until new elections take place in 1996. After he leaves, Castro would return to his home town. Despite the mixed opinion on him, Castro is still seen as a Father figure of Cuba. During the first Presidential elections, a prominently left-wing party takes power, with the CPC still retaining some seats in the National Assembly. Cuba would continue to have an alliance with the USSR, and would also reestablish relations with the US. Despite the new openness to the US, Cuba will still have a mixed emotion on the US, and continue to express their sovereignty from any US sphere.

In my opinion, I think the would be the likely party to win. It seems to fit what I have in mind. Any thoughts? --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 20:32, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Looks good, except for the party.

Otl, Cuba, in theory, decriminalized other parties allowed them to exist - but not campaign, or run for office in any real form, in 1992. That may happen earlier here.

But, the thing is, at least otl - no real reason to see this change to much atl, either - the Socialist parties, especially that one, are not the largest or most organized. Far as I can tell, the three largest "opposition" parties - again, not allowed anything other than existence - are the Christian Democratic Party of Cuba, the Democratic Social-Revolutionary Party of Cuba, and the Democratic Solidarity Party. Obviously, only the one is socialist.

The biggest of those three is believed to be the Christian Democratic Party of Cuba, which is also definitely the most well-organized.

They'd probably be the ones to win the election. If you think about it, too, most post-USSR presidents otl - similar here, obviously - were independents, with the right and left split pretty closely over the remainder.

Heck, it's probably even more likely that the new president is an independent. But them being from a socialist party is, in my opinion, unlikely. --Lordganon 21:52, October 2, 2011 (UTC)


 * True that. *slaps head* Why didn't I think about an independent? I can't believe how stupid I was XD. But in either case, I am not too sure who would be the likely successor. Any suggestions? --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 22:43, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Given the strength of the exile community in the USA, likely one of them. Lordganon 22:57, October 2, 2011 (UTC)

Hold on a minute: Is the first part about Cuba is already stated in the main page before this?

RandomWriterGuy 04:29, October 3, 2011 (UTC)

I Finally Agreed To Admit It All
Fine, I'll admit it now. The UD is just too obsolete to be part of the New Union. I felt very sad and a little depressed when the UD failed to become canon to the New Union. I was trying to do my best to help you, and now I am totally ashamed. Please, I hope to get a kind response to this. Thank You.

RandomWriterGuy 04:25, October 3, 2011 (UTC)


 * Like I mentioned before, there is nothing to be ashamed of. You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. We all have had our share of bad ideas, including myself right here on this website. All I can say is take this into experience and use it to your advantages in the future. I know I am sounding like a High School Guidance Councilor, but it's the truth.


 * Not trying to kick a man when he's down, but a while back you mentioned why there are so many obsolete pages, and why they weren't deleted. Here is your answer. Do you really want to delete so much effort? You never know, this article could be recycled one of these days, maybe becoming its own timeline or something. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 00:12, October 4, 2011 (UTC)

Soviet Domestic and Foreign Policy
(This is now complete: Now you can comment on this.)

EVERYDAY I"M SH-SH-SH-SHUFFLING!

Sorry, I must have been party rocking too much, any ways, let's do some talking. The whole point I'm telling is now that with the USSR still surviving, I though I give ideas for the alternate domestic and foreign policies of the USSR and the US. I also put in other ideas as well, along with some questions.

Soviet Policy
With the survivial of the USSR, democratization in the country would continue unlike OTL, yet the new country's biggest domestic policy is to overturn all effects of the failed Communist system. This includes but not limited to: During the 'Roaring Nintes", most of the goals were achieved, yet the government still has a long way to go. Most people now have cars, electronics, refrigerators, etc. Unemployement rapidly declined, and new economic reforms cause enormous increases of GDP (so much that the country reached 8th in richest countries in the world). Most of the governmental corruption was rid of. The improved situation in crime, corruption, and the police have caused a major drop in crime. Yet the goverment still has to achieve various goals, including eliminating poverty, improving technology, developing resources in far reach areas of the country, and provide essentials to everyone.
 * Fixing and developing the economy
 * Fighting crime
 * End governmental corruption
 * Upgrading all out-of-date technology

As for the foreign policy, the survival of the Soviet Union meant that its superpower status is still preserved, nearly gone if the coup wasn't ruined. Its goals include but not limited to: During the "Roaring Nintes", the country grew economic and political ties with US, Europe, North American and certain East Asian nations. As part of the new bond, one act of kindess the USSR did was that it built numerous pipelines to Europe, China, India, the US, and other surrounding nations in order for them to meet energy demands, while aid was sent from those countries to rebuiold the USSSR. The aid sent to the USSR's allies has help rebuilt them, but democracy has been succesful in those countries, but few countries resisted democracy, so it had limited sucess. The country was mostly neutral at that time so that most of its goals in its domestic policy can be achieved, but during the War on Terror, the Soviets greatly supported the US and NATO in taking down Sudan and the Islamist terrorist groups. But after terrorist attacks in Dire Dawa and Moscow, the country declared war against Somalia with Ethiopia along with other allies.
 * Rebuild the countries who are allies of the Soviet Union
 * Improve and grow relations with the US, Western nations, Japan, and others
 * Encourage democracy within its allies
 * Reestablish the country's superpower status in a non-agressive way

Soviet Domestic Policy
Economy

After the reformation of the USSR, the government declared to help improve the economy. With outdated technology and high unemployement major obstacles. The government wanted to make sure that most of these obstacles were eliminated. The government passed major reforms in 1992-1993, including tax cuts, eliminating pork barrel spending, and reducing governmental spending in certain sectors. The reforms help created improved economic conditions and policies, allowing businesses and industries to expand and large rates. This allowed the economy to recovery and unemployement to drop, making the economy the third fastest growing in the world (after Qatar and China), allowing huge increases in GDP. During this times, the industries of automobiles, steel, textiles, electronics, and others began to gorw, attracting foreign businesses and investments to the bond market and the decline of long-term interest rates.

This allowed the government to gain excess money, which is used for improving and building infrastructure, governmental programs (thoguh spending for them is much lower), and paying off the debt, which began to drop over time.

Abortion

One issue that has the Supreme Soviet strangled is abortion. During Gorbachev's presidency, many people have opposed abortion more than ever. Not just the fact it is immoral and "terrible", but also the health risks that are left after it. The Anti-Abortion Movement in the USSR has gained major support around the USSR. At least 76% of the country want to end it immediatley. The Gorbachev, also wanting to end abortion, creates a new law that ends abortion. This issue was controversial between senators and representatives, but eventually, a large majority rejected the ban.

Corruption

Possibly a great challenge, Gorbachev wanted to see an end to governmental corruption once and for all. As one of the world's most corrupt countries, it cause a major problem in the government. The Supreme Soviet was greatly supportive of this, and passed various laws that limit the power of governmental leaders, set up punishments for corruption, and tighten restrictions on governmental leaders. This lead to a slow, but steady drop in corruption, as no more cases of such were decreasing. Any corrupt officials are forced out of politics forever.

Crime

Crime has been a problem that existed since the historical times of Russia. During the years of the original USSR, organized crime has plagued numerous cities, especially those in the European region. Gorbachev knows that governmental corruption and economic failure caused the growth of crime in many cities. In a daring move, Gorbachev allowed all prisoners free for less severe crimes and gave them money, essentials, and housing, as long as they no longer commit crimes. The improving economic and police situation also caused crime to decline in many areas. This caused a rapid decline of power of gangs and more safer environments.

Health

The health and health care systems in the USSR were among the world's worst. Poor hospitals, lack of distribution of medicine, and spreading disease caused poor health care in the USSR. Gorbachev was able to pass reforms that involve lowering medical costs and forced health care corporations to be more competitive in lower prices and higher customer satisfaction. The government also funded hospitals more so that their performance can be improved and funded the medical and pharmaceutical industries. New ones have been built and old ones have been repaired. By 2000, nearly every Soviet has perfect health coverage, with disease no longer rampant than it was.

Education

Although 99% of the Soviet population is literate, many schools are literally falling apart, and new ones have to be built to keep up the demand. Gorbachev was willing to strengthen grounding in science and mathematics for all students. Science foundations, school districts, and health institutes have been funded greatly by the government. Because the government wanted to close the gap between rich and poor student performance, spending towards math and science, provinding options for parents with students in poor schools, targeted poor, worn-out, and falling-apart schools for funding.

Environment and Energy Policies

The USSR joined the Kyoto Protocal in order to help lower emmisions, but also wanted China, India, and the US to get involved. Because climate change was an important issue to the Supreme Soviet, it has encouraged research within the Artic and Antartic regions to study to melting in ice sheets in order to raise awarness of the environment. Gorbachev visited many Western leaders to discuss the cuts on emissions, which was praised by the international community. The Supreme Soviet passed a plan to reduce greenhouse gas commisons. An emission credit system is also created to regulate the greenhose gases companies produce.

The second greatest issue about the environment is the Aral Sea. Cut off from its rivers, the Aral Sea has been drying up, and the republics of Kazakhstan and Karakalpakstan have introduced a plan to build pipelines and canals from the Caspian Sea to the Aral Sea. This gained major support, and the project began. During the project, the Central Asian Republics have passed laws that encourages foodstuff crops instead of cotton in certain areas and also enoruages cotton that do not use much water. By 2011, the project was complete, saving the Aral Sea just in time.

The USSR is not dependent on fossil fuels at all to its enorumous base, but due to environemntal and health concerns, renewable energy has been developed in many parts of the country. In Central Asia and the Caucasus, solar panels have been dotted across those parts, while windmills have been built in the windiest parts of the country. Dams have been built along most of the country's rivers, and nuclear power is beeing greatly developed. Renewable energy sources have made up 33% of the country's energy needs. The country has been investing in clean coal, renewable, and nuclear energy to end dependence on fossil fuels.

Social Services and Social Security

The Supreme Soviet has began its social security programs in order to help provide health care and social security to the elderly and people below the poverty line. The benefits is that the coverage is free and relies only on private insurance. People with high incomes should pay for this, but people below the poverty line don't have to. That way, the government doesn't have to be relied on this. Unlike the OTL American way of this, it is greatly improved, so that the people can make decisions about this and the programs don't rely on the government. The number of these programs is limited to avoid pork barrel spending.

Settlements and Natural Resources

Because the Soviet Union has rich resources not exploited, the Supreme Soviet was to build settlements in Siberia and Central Asia in order to develop these resources and encourage businesses there. However, the harsh environment forced planners to decide how the settlements were to be built. In the Central Asian republics, water purification plants, solar panels, and other enrionment-friendly projects are to be built to conserve both water and energy. New environmental-friendly insulation has also been ordered to be part in every house. In Siberia, proper insulation is to be used to save heat. From 1995-2005, many settlements were constucted and built were incredible speed, allowing people from the European part of the country to move to them.

The rich natural resources encouraged many businesses to expand in Siberia and Central Asia, which contributed to the gorwing economy. While the opputunity is limited due to harsh conditions, most of the activity is done in or near the settlements.

Military Funding and Reforms

As part of the military funding reforms, it will slightley increase, but failed social programs will be banned so that more can be made for defense spending. When the Soviets joined the War on Terror, it increased to $300 US Billion. In order to improve the military, new equipment is to be used by Soviet soldiers. By 2008, the military budget dcreased to $250 US Billion due to the sucess of the War in Somalia.

Immigration

The growing economy of the Soviet Union has eoncouraged immigration in the country. Most of the country's immigrants come from Eastern Europe, China, Mongolia, Afganistan, Ethiopia, Japan, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Pakistan, and India. But 15 million of these immigrants came here illegally, and the Soviet-Mongolian-Chinese-Afghan-Iran-Armenian-Georgian border is a major border that has not been guarded much, encouraging illegal immigration. In 1995, the government began to build a wall along the border to end illegal immigration. By 2000, the border fence has crossed the borders of China and Mongolia, but more is still to come. After 9/11, the immigration issue has grown even more. Immigration Watchers have used advance equipment to spot illegal immigrants. The government also installed lighting, vehicle barriers, and border checkpoints along the border. The government did allow amnesty in 2006 for all illegal immigrants, but only those who came before 2006.

Death Penalty

The death penalty is one of the biggest priorities of the USSR. Many believe that unusual and cruel punishments should be banned, and the death penalty should go. According to the Soviet Consitution, it is illegal for cruel and unusual punishments. The anti-death penalty movement has many followers, but others believed that it should be banned because of the USSR's participation in the Geneva Convention. Declining crime is also a supporting reason as well. But there are people who believe the death penalty shouldn't be banned to its benefits. In the Supreme Soviet, the ban of the death penalty won by 3 votes over to opposition.

Soviet Foreign Policy
CSTO and NATO

In order to establish cooperation with its bloc nations, the USSR created the CSTO in order to establish peace with others. Georgia, Armenia, and the USSR were the first members of this organization. Over time, more nations joined, including Mongolia, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Cuba, Nicagura, India, South Yemen, and Nicagura. During the War in Somalia, the CSTO led the invasion of Somalia.

With the Cold War and hostilities between the two superpowers now at an end, one of the USSR's goals for the CSTO is to cooperate with NATO. During the War in Sudan, CSTO greatly supported the US and NATO in taking down the radical Sudanese government and raking down numerous terrorist leaders. During the War in Somalia, the NATO pledged all support to the Soviets in the war.

United States

With the Cold War over, so did the hostilities that divided the US and USSR. As a major goal for their foreign policy, the USSR and US want to build economic and political ties between the two to promote world peace and democracy. Th example that resulted in these ties is a bridge between the USSR and the US in the Bering Strait. Started in 2002, the pieces were esambled back at the USSR and the US. Then, every summer time, the pieces would be put together, but when the winter comes, construction stops, and continues every summer. It was eventually finished on 2009, as one of the greatest engineering achievements of man. The bridge not only carries people and transportation between the two countries, but fossil fuel pipelines go through it, allowing the U.S. to decrease dependency on the Middle East for oil. Also, American invesment and bsuinesses in the USSr allowed the eocnomy to recover. When it often comes to tough world issues, both countries would often work together. For example, both sides supported the wars they participated in the war on Terror (War in Sudan for the US and the War in Somalia for the USSR). They also participated in humantarian assitence and international peace processes.

China

With democratization and its role to defend and spread freedom and democracy a role for the USSR (unlike OTL Russia), it is now tough on many authoritan countries, like China, Libya, etc. Of all the countries the USSR is tough with, China is on their list. Because of its political and economic grievances, it caused tensions for both countries as for the United States. Because of this, China will have a stronger military unlike OTL. While the Chinese relations between the two superpowers were stabkle, they were often cautious. There were even times China did actually supported both countries, including the War on Terror, where China promised to help give support to the countries against Somalia and Sudan. But there were also times that the relations were strained, especially over Taiwan. The US and USSR supported Taiwanese independence, much to the dismay of China, which also penalized any foreign businesses making arms for Taiwan. The US and USSR also accused China of its poor human rights record. because the US is more willing to get tough on China after the 1989 Tianamen protests, it the public elected Clinton instead of Bush, who still supported the country. Both countries did establish tariffs on some Chinese products, which include steel, electronics, and automobiles. The USSR did build a pipeline to China as a part of their friendship, but much more will need to come to hopefully end tensions.

Koreas

Even after the end of the Cold War, Korea was still divided. Yet neither the US nor the USSR wanted war. The USSR did establish relations with South Korea. In order to hopefully ease tensions, US and USSR pressured South Korea to start peace talks with North Korea. Fortunatly, this has been successful. The US did establish some relations with North Korea, and a majority of American troops were moved out of South Korea in 2000. A Soviet-built pipeline to North Korea help the country end its nuclear program, while minor trading between the Two Koreas would be enacted. Although unification is possible, how its is may never be known.

India

With China becoming its own power, the USSR needed a new major ally in Asia. They eventually found India, which signed the Sino-Indian Treaty of Friendship, which created economic and political ties to both countries. The USSR was able to send economic aid to the country and built a pipeline from the country to India. The country than began a plan to use the money to stockpile food and rebuild the country, including the economy, the infrastructure, the road, telegraph, electric, and hospital network. it also establish governmental programs to the people. it also began to modernize the outdated army. Unfortunatly, regardless of how much aid was sent, India's GDP is only matchning to China due to the enormous population in India, causing major problems in housing, urban planning, and the amount of food it has. The Indian government also negotiated with separist groups within the country, and proposed a governmental system of sovergnity similar to the Soviets. This allowed most ethnic tensions to end in India. However, Kashmir can not be admitted into this due to the disputed claim by Pakistan. In order to get full control over Kasmir, Pakistan invaded it, causing the Kashmir War in 2003. Former separist groups in Kasmir sided with India, and the Soviet Union and Afghanistan also send military aid to India. Overwhelmed the country surrendered in 2004, giving India control of Kashmir. However, this cause anti-Afghan and anti-Soviet sentiment in Pakistan due to this, causing the country to side with the USA.

Ethiopia

By the time the USSR was reformed, Ethiopia was in a very bad state. With the survival of the USSR, the country managed to get the Eritrean separation movement and the Ethiopian government to renegotiate, including proposing a Soviet-style system so that Ethiopia can be divided into states depending on ethnicity but united under foreign affairsm, currency, etc. This allowed a major recovery for Ethiopia (and you know what happens next). It later joined the CSTO. During the terrorist attacks on Dire Dawa, the CSTO with ethiopia declared war against Somalia to elminate Islamist groups there.

Yugoslavia

Because the reforms and reformation of the USSR was too late to prevent the civil war and break up of Yugoslavia. Slovenia and Croatia gained independence, but the survival of the USSR helped put the war to a better end, allowing a Soviet-style system of sovergnity to be establish, but Bosnia, a part of Yugoslavia at that time, did not want to be in the country, and became its own nation. Later, British, American, and Soviet aid allowed democracy and the recovery to develop. it joined the CSTO later. During the War in Somalia, Yugoslavia was a part of the coaltion that invaded the country. The domestic successes of Yugoslavia led to Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia to express reunification with Yugoslavia.

War on Terror

The Soviets were a great supporter of the War in Sudan, but decided to not take part of it. It did, however, send a small number of troops and have sent aid to Sudan. It also recognized the indpendence of Kush and Darfur, despite concerns from Ethiopia. However, after the terrorists attack on the USSr and Ethiopia, the USSR and its allies declared War in Somalia, where it sbgean its pursuit of terrorist groups there.

South Yemen

With the USSR survivng, it would be a major player in the Yemen Civil War. Unlike OTl, South and North Yemen would be independent. Under the new South Yemen government, the Soviets sent aid to improve the country. This caused South Yemen to be one of the few non-oil producing areas of the Middle East to be wealthy. It is in fact one of the most developed due to the diversified economy that is not oil-related, which mostly depends on steel, automobiles, banking, tourism, and consumer goods. Its only economic concern is its need of drinking water and food supplies. Despite the improved state of South Yemen, it has been targeted like its Northern neighbor by Al-Qaeda. The USS Cole bombing alarmed the international community of the terrorist threat of the country. South Yemen has been a base for Soviet troops for the invasion of Somalia. During Arab Spring, it was not affected at all.

Iran

The USSR, like the Western World. has been neutrally hostile to Iran to its nuclear program, support of international terrorism, and its poor human rights record. During the 1990's, the USSR, along with several other Western nations, severed all ties with Iran, and establish economic sanctions, froze their assets, and forced and Iranians in the country out. The concern on Iran grew during the War on Terror, as many nations suspect Iran of producing WMD's and supporting terrorists. In fear a nuclear bomb might be stolen, all nukes have been moved to Siberia for protection.

RandomWriterGuy 18:47, October 5, 2011 (UTC)


 * I assume it is safe to comment now. If I am wrong, please don't tell me in the rude manner you did earlier.


 * Soviet Policy: Sounds pretty accurate with what I had in mind. However, I dough the USSR would actually declare war, since the US didn't do so either to OTL Afghanistan.


 * Economy: Pretty good. My lucky number for the USSR's position in the GDP would probably be 4th or 5th (just saying).


 * Abortion: Again, I haven't read that abortion was a major problem in the USSR. From what I have just recently read, it seems their major concern was the amount of doctors who were unlicensed and unskilled practicing in the nation. While I haven't read Gorbachev's biography, I dough he is the type of person who would really think abortion is evil. In the long run, I think the USSR would remain pro-choice, allowing the people to make the decision on their own (rather than the government telling them what to do), and would move their efforts on educating the people about the pros and cons of abortion, and cracking down on unskilled doctors and health education on the procedure.


 * Corruption: Pretty accurate.


 * Crime: Good


 * Health: Good


 * Education: Good


 * Environment and Energy Policies: I love it ^_^


 * Social Services and Social Security: Good


 * Settlements and Natural Resources: Lovely


 * Military Funding and Reforms: Not too sure, but sounds okay.


 * Immigration: Ironic! They USSR builds walls to keep people in, now they are building them to keep people out. Irony at its best. I see nothing too wrong here.


 * Death Penalty: I don't have an opinion on the death penalty, but I believe this is pretty accurate for what the USSR would do (more or less). Or at the very least, keep the death penalty, but decrease the amount of people who are convicted and punished by this method.


 * CSTO and NATO: Good on the cooperation thing. Absolutely not on the expansion. Let me make this clear, not going to happen, ever. So please drop this idea. Especially if Nicaragua is going to join twice XD


 * United States: Pretty good. OMFG, BRIDGE!!!!!! That is really funny. I was originally considering the Bearing Bridge for another one of my timelines, but I never really considered it much for TTL. I am 100% for this idea. I would like to bring this idea into further discussion, especially if it should be a bridge or a tunnel.


 * China: Okay, but the US doesn't support Taiwanese independence, and neither would the USSR. They support their sovereignty, but I dough they would be completely willing to recognize independence as of yet.


 * Koreas: Good.


 * India: Fine, but two things. Your wording is wrong. India has been a major ally of the USSR throughout the Cold War, and China acted more like an enemy after the Sino-Soviet split. So, the wording needs to be fixed. As for Kashmir, hmmmm... very interesting idea. I know that the region is disputed between India and Pakistan, and that there were three wars fought over the region (the most recent was in 1999). I like the idea, but I am not completely sure. The USSR may send aid and support for India (but nothing more), but the idea of India finally winning the region is a little bit farfetched for me. Especially when the two now have nukes. While the likelihood of a fourth war is not out of the question, I am not too sure if it would end any way other than regaining the status quo. Overall, I put this idea on the border between a radical POD and an ASB, meaning it is a plausibility. But my expertise on Kashmir is limited. I would personally like to get a third and maybe fourth opinion on this.


 * Ethiopia: Good. Нет Эфиопия в ОДКБ!!!!!!!!!!


 * Yugoslavia: Okay. Югославия и ОДКБ... больше не.


 * War on Terror: About right. No declaration of war.


 * South Yemen: Good. However, I am thinking the USS Cole would actually be a Soviet ship rather than an American one. I am still working on this idea, so please stand by.


 * Iran: Pretty good. I love the idea of moving its nukes further north.


 * --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 15:23, October 6, 2011 (UTC)


 * Soviet Policy: Agree with Nuke. And there is no way in hell they'd declare war. Heck, there's not even a government to declare war on, there.


 * Economy: No way they'd be the third fastest growing. They would even today still be trying to fix things. That takes a ton of money and debt. Would not even crack the top ten, probably.


 * Abortion: Not one iota of that makes sense. The Soviet government was one of the most liberal on the matter, and the Russian government today holds the same policy. The people and the church both are at worst lukewarm over the matter. No way it's changing. Even if that is Gorby's opinion - which I don't believe is true for a second - it's not happening. You need to remember that in the developed world, outside of the USA, a large majority are in favor of this.


 * Corruption: It exists everywhere. Sure, it will decline, but it's not going away. Ever.


 * Crime: That's much too rosy. The Russian Mafia and the other gangs have been active for decades, largely with black markets. And the opening they used otl to expand still exists atl. They will not decline at all, probably, and definitely not rapidly.


 * Health: Perfect? No where on earth has "Perfect." And the Medical system in the USSR, until the 1990s issues came up, was better than in the USA. Even today it's comparable.


 * Education: More or less the same as Health.


 * Environment: Much like otl, there would be a large drop in emissions in the early 1990s. To meet their treaty goals, they shouldn't have to do anything. Nor is a "credit" system likely. There is a reason why those are being opposed so badly.


 * Aral Sea: No way will they do pipelines. Nor is there any cotton that will do any good. The Foodstuff laws will be more than enough to start a slow recovery.


 * Energy: That's too much. Russia today is one of the largest exporters of oil and gas in the world, and the Soviet Union would be even more so. Countries like that don't go that far into renewable energy. Dams are unlikely on a scale like that at all - they flood all over. And after Chernobyl, nuclear energy just isn't happening. While some investment is going to happen, it's not going to be that much. You're talking about coming close to doubling the percentage. Just not reasonable.


 * Social Security: That's not an improvement. The net result of that would be bankruptcy. Low-income will always outnumber high-income. Simple math. The Soviet Union already had a very good system set up, with the only improvement being that it needed an increase each year for inflation, which was not included otl.


 * Settlements and Resources: There's only a few places that this would have any real effect, virtually the same as in otl. A large portion is already in place, and the rest is common sense.


 * Military Spending: The USSR was going broke because of the spending. There is a good reason why it fell otl. Even cutting back on social programs, it will still go down.


 * Immigration: Most of those are booming countries, or ones well-off in their own right. The remainder, it's not happening otl, so it's not going to be a large scale here. Even then, the mass exodus from otl is still going to happen, just not on quite the same scale (like 4/5ths as many go). This is just too far. 15 million? That's crazy.


 * Death Penalty: I doubt it would even come to a vote. But Nuke is right in that it will just get used less.


 * CSTO/NATO: Just No. You need to drop the whole idea. The only part that is sensible is the cooperation, which happens between Russia and NATO to some degree otl anyway.


 * USA: The bridge is a good idea, but impractical in general. And I highly doubt any Americans are going to want a land connection to the "Red Menace." Even having reformed, doubtful at best.


 * China: No way in hell Taiwan would be recognized. China would stop exporting, and call in debts. Screws them both.


 * Koreas: There are reasons why US troops remain there today, despite the people constantly demanding their removal. Even with peace talks between the Koreas, most would stay.


 * India: That Kashmir stuff is ASB. Big time. The only result of another war would be nuclear warfare. India's GNP would still be lower than China, no matter the aid sent. Their current government is fine - the USSR one is not needed. The situation there just happens to be the result when you have hundreds of sub-languages mixed together.


 * Ethiopia: Why on earth would Eritrea accept that? The UN vote for independence, a free and fair internationally supervised vote, may I add, had 99.79% of the people voting for independence. With those numbers, they would never accept another takeover, even with autonomy promised.


 * Yugoslavia: There is no reason for them to want reunification. If it had been up to those three peoples, they would not even have been part of that country in the first place.


 * War on Terror: What Nuke said.


 * Yemen: The two have had a stated goal of reunification since the 1970s. Something which they actually did do in 1990. They are a single nation.


 * Iran: The Nukes are already in Kazakhstan and Ukraine at their most Southern. There is absolutely no need to move them into Siberia.

Lordganon 01:03, October 7, 2011 (UTC)


 * Lordganon, have you read the timeline? The continuation of Ethiopia (including Eritrea) has been canon for a long time now. Their referendum was in 1993 (well beyond the POD). The Yemeni civil war of 1994 caused South Yemen to declare independence from the North (because the north pretty much ran the united nation), and it would gain support from the USSR. As for Yugoslavia, I missed the part about Croatia and the others. For the record, I dough those three would want that. I also have to disagree with you on the Bering Bridge, I think there would be some support from Congress and the American people (granted, maybe not all). If Denmark and Sweden can have a bridge, and the Brits and French have a tunnel, why not the Americans and Soviets? Other than those, I have to agree with the others. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 04:41, October 7, 2011 (UTC)

For starters, it's LG. Told you that many times now, lol.

Yeah, I've read it. I do admit to having missed the Yemen thing. It is remotely possible for such an outcome, but far more likely that Soviet influence would have the exact opposite effect.

The vote may have been after, but note the percentage. The people would never agree to rejoining Ethiopia. The people there are a different culture, and have a different religion, and a different language. It has wanted to be independent since WWII, when 75% wanted it and the world gave them to Ethiopia, and fought forty years for it. The Ethiopians - Eritrea will not care which government - did unspeakable things to them. And only a couple years after the PoD, 99.8% of them voted for independence in an internationally supervised and recognized referendum. There is no way on earth that those numbers could possibly change enough so that it is plausible. To go to numbers, 1,055,260 voted for it, 1,822 voted against it, and 328 were invalid, out of a total of 1,057,410. 0.17% wanted to stay in Ethiopia. There is no way on earth it is possible for them to join Ethiopia in any form.

Denmark and Sweden, by the time of the bridge, had not fought in around 190 years, and had been friendly for over a century. Same goes for the Chunnel, though it is a few years less of friendly. And even then, the Chunnel was hard fought by some because of its access and lingering dislike. Not only that, but there's a ton of technical issues related to such as project, being so far north.

Now, I'm sure a bridge or tunnel would be more likely here. But to be completed, or even under construction? No way. There would be far, far, too many opposed to giving the "Reds" access to them. A proposal in the works, that may be possible. But one even being built, let alone done, is just not plausible.

Lordganon 06:39, October 7, 2011 (UTC)

As far as I know, you never told me to call you LG. But if you did, than I am sorry. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 15:49, October 7, 2011 (UTC)

I will have to agree with Nuke LG. I strongly suggest your read most of the articles in this article to get the full picture.

I am rethinking about my ideas I did post, and I made some changes.

Abortion: I really am going to admit it: banning it will not be plausible. Instead, the Supreme Soviet will probably have to put numerour restrictions on it. These are: Crime: While the reforms and laws made to reduce crime were succesfull, many Soviet-based crime organizations were forced to operate in Siberia to be hidden from the public. There, they have become bandits: they robbed towns, travelers, etc. Because the police authority is now very high there, Siberia was chosen by many gangs. While their power is declining as well as the rate, much more will be done to make environments safer.
 * 1) If the doctor fails to use the proper technique for abortion, he will be jailed for a lifetime
 * 2) Only highly professional doctors and/or surgeons can preform this procedure.
 * 3) Women can only get an abortion if they are infected by a strong disease, like cancer, AIDS, etc.

Social Security and Military Spenidng: I am starting to agree with LG on this, I think that the USSR will have to limit most of this due to bankruptcy (even after the reformation of the USSR). But later in 2000's, they were officially better off than before in money, but spending has been limited by the government, even in Social Secuirty.

Death Penalty: I am starting to think that will fail to be banned, but it will be just be discouraged by the Supreme Soviet from using it.

Aral Sea: Well we do know that this sea is in danger of extintion since its water source has been cut off. I think this will become a major issue for the Supreme Soviet, and there are ideas in order to save the Aral Sea (I am sorry that these are from Wikipedia, please forgive me):


 * Improving the quality of irrigation canals;


 * Installing desalination plants;


 * Charging farmers to use the water from the rivers;


 * Using alternative cotton species that require less water;


 * Using fewer chemicals on the cotton;


 * Moving farming away from cotton;


 * Installing dams to fill the Aral Sea;


 * Redirecting water from the Volga, Ob and Irtysh rivers. This would restore the Aral Sea to its former size in 20–30 years at a cost of US$30–50 billion;

​I really want to know which idea(s) is/are the best.
 * Pumping sea water into the Aral Sea from the Caspian Sea via a pipeline, and diluting with freshwater from local catchment areas.

Renewable Energy: I think about nuclear energy expansion, Ukraine and some European Soviet Republics will, have to ban any more nuclear plants buing built. New ones will have to be built in Siberia or other near-isolated areas, but still connected to supplies. For dams, I think the number of dammed rivers will be limited.

Settlements: In Siberia, only the southern part of the region will only be settled.

Immigration: When I meant this, I only meant in a matter of OTL Immigration to Russia. I do believe that the project will only be 2/5 complete in 2000.

CSTO Expansion: I am starting to think this is impossible.

India: About the Kasmir thing, I think the threat to use nuclear bombs in the war by both countries will shock the entire world. I think the USSR will have to threaten to use its nuclear bombs against Pakistan as well if it has to defend India from them. Because Pakistan does not have enough warheads, they surrendered.

Yugoslavia: I meant not all at the same time, just maybe one or two of them.

Iran: The reason I thought about the nukes is because of the nukes of Uzbekistan may be targeted by terrorists. I am starting to reconsiderate where they should be relocated. I think all nukes should not only be in Eastern Siberia, but also in non-Muslim republics (in only certaina areas).

I also want to talk to you about Osama Bin Laden. Because there was no evidence on how Bin Laden can get to Somalia, it really did mess things up. I am starting to reconsider that Bin Laden should be killed while trying to escape Sudan.

For the Bering Strait Bridge/Tunnel, I think that the tunnel is impossible because the water to too cold for the tunnel to be built there. The bridge is better.

For the Taiwan thing, maybe you are right, but economic and political grievances from the US and USSR will probably be the cause for their tensions.

For the reforms in domestic policy, the progress of improvement is not in an instant (for the sectors in economy, infrastructure, health, all domestic policies), it will take time, even lasting into the 2010's.

RandomWriterGuy 23:45, October 7, 2011 (UTC)


 * Glad you came to your senses on the CSTO. I also do believe there would be some support in Croatia and Bosnia to rejoin Yugoslavia. But when I mean there is support, I am referring to a large minority (less than 10% the population or something), but that it does exist to a minor extent. I have also self-canonized the revival of the Aral Sea for TTL (but not really sure how to do it). My major guess was that they would just build the canal, bringing water from the Arctic Ocean (via the Volga River) to replenish the sea. This is what was originally intended, but never done. But my main interest was that with Karakalpakstan gaining full representation in the Supreme Soviet, they would pressure to safe the sea, as it is (or was) their main source of income. Whether this would be pressuring to build canals or pipelines, or even pressuring to limit the amount of water taken out. In other words, the Aral Sea will be "saved" in TTL, and is nowhere near as dried up as OTL (but still decades away from its old size). Like I mentioned before, the Kashmir idea is an interesting one, but I did see its flaws. While I will agree the world (not just the USSR) would be devastated if either India or Pakistan use their nukes on each other, I am not too sure the USSR would be willing to use its own nukes to defend India, or retaliate. The world would just be lucky that it would only end up a second Hiroshima, rather than becoming a 1983: Doomsday scenario.


 * For LG (I am sorry, but I still don't recall you ever mentioning to me that you wanted me to call you LG). I do agree that you should take a closer look, but not forcefully. Now that I think about it, their may actually be several ASB-type stuff in TTL. But in the long run.
 * Yes, North and South Yemen have had unification on their minds since the 1970s (I believe). But when it did happen, it wasn't anything like; say Germany. The united Yemen was no federation, and was more like the North annexing the South. Granted, the former Southern President became Vice President, and the YDD continued to circulate for several years after the unification, it was the North which gained the most. (This is the only other time in the history of the world where the Southerners are feeling neglected by Northern power, ROTFL!!!) Even after both nations agreed to unify, the differences between the two came out full circle, finally breaking out into civil war. While I do agree that maybe I could reword what happens next, in the end, South Yemen did have a non-Soviet ally in OTL. Saudi Arabia actually expressed sympathy for the South, but didn't go any further than that. This "sympathy" could also have come from the Saudi's rivalry with (North) Yemen. While Yeltsin was too lazy to do anything outside Russia, I am sure Gorbachev would have (at the least) showed support for one of the Arab allies of the USSR. Maybe not directly recognizing their independence right away, as I have made canon already; but maybe enough support to raise moral in the South, and enough courage for Saudi Arabia to step up more. The Soviets may have ended up giving aid to the South, as a means to lead to a pro-Southern compromise to end the war (but initially keeping a united Yemen), but it ended up much differently. Eventually leading to the USSR recognizing their independence once again. In the end, the South will rise again (the only other time you can say that outside America). Even today, the South Yemeni movement to regain independence is still active. In fact, I continue to read many believing the South will actually gain independence due to the Arab Spring. But I still support this idea.
 * The Ethiopia idea was not mine, but another user's suggestion. I knew very little about Ethiopia prior to this, but now I think I know enough to say that the continuation of a unified Ethiopia-Eritrea does still have some likelihood. While it does have a more mixed ethnic population, who's to say that Ethiopia isn't the same? The two major ethnic groups of Eritrea are the Tigray and the Afar, which are currently represented in Ethiopia as their own ethnic regions. I know the independence referendum was virtually 100% in favor of independence, but as history has shown us time and time again, a lot can happen in a short period of time. Take the Ukraine for instance. In March 1991, the Ukraine supported the continuation of a Soviet federation, with 70% of the Ukrainians supporting it. This is after decades of oppression by the Russians and Soviet government, yet the people still showed hope. And just like that, the Coup happens, and in December the same year, the same majority (even the pro-Russian Crimea) voted for independence. My point is, a lot can happen in a short period of time, and this was only a few months. Granted, several things on the Ethiopia page need to be rewritten and rethought, but I continue to support that Eritrea could be moved by a different outcome in Ethiopia to (at the very least) listen and put their say in the table. What would be better for the people of Eritrea, gain independence and years of hardship and economic troubles, or remain in a reformed Ethiopia and (at the very least), help to establish a new generation.


 * In the end, these two I am going to defend to the very end. I can't imagine this timeline without South Yemen and Ethiopia, and I continue to thing and expand on these ideas. Just saying. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 00:29, October 8, 2011 (UTC)

Nuke, I've told everyone that at one point or another, lol.

Comments to RWG.....

There's no way that they would put any more restriction on abortion than there was already. The first one is not possible - accidents happen. The Second one is always what happens, everywhere, so long as it is legal. And the third one is ridiculous. Throughout the Developed countries, outside of a couple of them - Read: almost exclusively the USA - abortion rights are guaranteed and barely restricted. The Soviet Union, and even Russia today, had/has what amounts to none (I realize this is changing slightly in Russia, but that's a question of falling birthrates, which doesn't apply here). It's ASB to even think of it changing to either extent you've now proposed.

The criminals going to Siberia is just as bad. If they can survive the Hardliners, they can survive a reformed USSR just as easily.

The death penalty would simply actually be followed like their laws actually said. It's just that it was entirely ignored though most of Soviet History. No longer the case.

Options 2,4, and 5 do little or nothing to help the Aral Sea. the problem would still exist, just slowed a tiny bit. Number 3 is slightly better, but no real effect, either, and kills the economy. Number 1 helps a bit, but it's not enough either. 6 is, along with 2, is what the Kazakhs are doing some good with - call it subsides. Dams from 7 won't do much good, overall. 8 was under debate near the end otl, but causes so much damage and risks overall it simply won't be done - when that was found out by the West in the 1990s, it literally shocked most people in the field. 9 spreads the problem. Best solution is a combination of 1,2,4,5 and 6. Mostly 6.

Nuclear Plants were more or less halted in the former USSR until 2000 or so, and that'll probably continue here. There's no reason to build more, with the ones in non-Russian areas still in use.

Those immigration figures still remain insane.

The Kashmir concept is ASB. Just drop it.

Soviet nukes were in Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Not Uzbekistan. All loyal.

He can get to Somalia. The region is filled with tiny boaters, most of whom are pirates or nearly so. He can catch a ride, easily, without the naval vessels finding anything.

Bridge is still not very feasible.

Several of those comments apply somewhat, to you too, Nuke, since you commented on a few of those too.

Agreed on the Yugoslavia. That's roughly double the amount of Serbs, so probably reasonable.

It's have to be less water usage. There's just too much environmental issues from the other method.

Any threats to use nukes is just crazy. Once one is made, they mushroom.

I already stated that I figure it'd be more likely Soviet influence would even it out in Yemen, but that this way is reasonable, too.

And Ethiopia/Eritrea....

It's not just the last poll. They fought 40 years for it, and even back at the start 75% of them wanted independence. There's no reason at all for that to change. You're talking about something ingrained in the culture.

Ethiopian control over the region stems from their efforts to control the region, against the wishes of the locals, after the Italians were kicked out of the region in WWII. Until the UN gave it to them, it hadn't been controlled by them at all in more than a thousand years.

The reasoning given by Vegas - yes, I know who wrote it, and he's very much an Ethiopiaphile with bias - makes no sense. See, there really isn't any pro-federation people. Heck, the rebels controlled virtually all of Eritrea by that point, and operated an independent state in all but name. Total control, in fact, from several months before the coup attempt.

The Ukraine example is different entirely. The Ukrainians were only oppressed by Stalin. After that, they were right up there with the Russians, being favored. They've every interest to hang around. The vote for independence was a direct response to the coup otl, and a logical result, as they did not want to be oppressed - which we can both admit would have been the result if it had succeeded. It also did not occur in an area controlled by rebels that had been fighting for their own state for 40 years, and wanted independence longer than that. This has been a generational struggle for them in Eritrea - not the case in the Ukraine, at all. Heck, if a poll was to happen over rejoining Russia in the Ukraine today, they'd be part of Russia tomorrow. They regret 1991 - Eritrea, on the other hand, would never have more than a couple percent voting for it.

Really, the first 1991 vote was for independence light. That is more or less what you've said the new USSR is on several occasions. From there, it's only a tiny stretch, under stress, to the second vote. Not the case, at all, in Eritrea.

Actually, Eritrea is better off overall than Ethiopia - or at least they would be, without the war between the two in the late 1990s. Heck, they have from 45-100 dollars, depending on the source, higher GDP per capita than Ethiopia even today. Why would they want to get dragged down?

Really, the Ethiopia/Eritrea thing does nothing overall to your timeline other than hurt it.

As an alternative.....

The main rebel group in Eritrea, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front, was nominally Marxist at the time. But, they were not aligned with the Soviets - or anyone for that matter - and the Soviets supported the Ethiopians, causing a massive rift between then rebels and the Soviet government - they more or less hated the Soviets. Never really has healed, even today. But, it's a rift that could easily have been fixed with a little support.

While a Eritrea joining Ethiopia is, let's be honest, more or less impossible, a nicer split is certainly possible. Soviet arms and money, as the Ethiopia article says right now, would ensure it was nicer, especially if they cut off the Ethiopians somewhat to make peace happen. Basically, no war, and the Soviets on good terms with Eritrea, even cooperating. Give Ethiopia a bone, having them be given access without fees or something to the ports. Of course, Ethiopia still goes to a Federation like already set up, just one that makes sense. As it stands now, Eritrea joining is like jamming the Baltic States back into Russia inside the USSR - it's just not possible.

As for the other nationalities, simply put, they are minor and small in population, and unlike Eritrea, not in control of their region. They're also mostly nomadic, and control over them has little effect. There's really no comparison, here.

The "GOASIE" operations can easily be changed to Eritrea. Easy, and simple, and makes more sense at the same time. Heck, the only place where any effort would be involved is slight modification to the main page, and an overhaul to the Ethiopia article, which as you admit needs it anyways. The Somalia operations continue unabated, as nothing to do with Eritrea is part of it. If that sounds like too much effort, I'd even do it for you. (Yeah, its bugging me that much)

That makes far more sense, doesn't hurt a single thing, and gains another ally, of sorts, for the USSR. No war in the late 1990s, and both countries boom. Overall, except for the map, almost nothing changes. But the timeline loses probably the most outlandish part. Sounds good to me.

Lordganon 05:02, October 8, 2011 (UTC)

LG, however unllikely you belive Eritrea rejoining Ethiopia is, the alternative you outlined above if far more unlikely. The EPLF would never have supported the Soviets, They might have started as Marxists but were most definitely not by the 90's.

Instead of Eritrea rejoining Ethiopia, the Ethopian and Soviet governments decide to give aid to the much more moderate and reasonable ELF (Who were considering signing a peace deal in the 80's). The ELF then regains control of the independence movement in Eritrea and signs a treaty with the Ethiopians agreeing to allow them to use the port's ectra. Again thier is no war and both countries are better off but Eritrea doesn't fall under the control of an opresive regime that tortures its citizens and has one of the worst human rights records in the world. Vegas adict 08:33, October 8, 2011 (UTC)

Not true - nor did I say they were still Marxists. They were Socialists at that point - as they are today - and a simple Soviet switching of aid, at least in part, from Ethiopia to them, which was the only sticking point between the two, would solve matters for the most part. And who said anything about supporting? There is one hell of a difference, which you have missed, between that and a couple of joint exercises, which powers who are not entirely friends will still do together.

The ELF had made itself entirely irrelevant by 1991. The fact remains that the EPLF was in complete control of Eritrea. Not the ELF. There's no way that they could come to "control" anything - that's just as bad as the two thousand people in favor of a federation coming to power - and they have similar bases of support.

And that port stuff is part of what I already said.

Lordganon 08:45, October 8, 2011 (UTC)

Ethiopia
Wow LG! I am really impressed. For the record, I actually came across the failure of Ethiopia for TTL last night. Most of the key dates for Ethiopia took place in June and/or July of 1991 (well before the POD of this timeline). Even if Merera Gudina would have gained support from Gorbachev on August 21, 1991, I don't think this could work too well. A second invasion of Addis Ababa seems to be more troublesome than good for Ethiopia. Vegas, you even said yourself that Merera Gudina never had a movement in the 90s, but this was completely an idea you came up with.

Either way, I went to bed feeling terrible about what had to be done. But you surprised me, LG. Not only were you cool about it, you gave me the best idea I could have asked for to somewhat save Ethiopia. I can kinda see it all right now. With Ethiopia and Eritrea under provisional governments by the signing of the NUT, there was very little Gorbachev or the USSR could do but reestablish peaceful relations with Ethiopia, and show they care for Ethiopia's and Eritrea's futures. Again, with both the EPRDF and the EPLF all prominently socialist (by far no different in ideology than what the USSR was turning into), and the EPRDF already agreeing to allow a referendum to be held for Eritrea, I now feel confident that the three would make a nice triangle. With Soviet aid now coming to both Addis Ababa and Asmara, both groups would move towards the USSR in many ways.

With Soviet support (and manipulation), the EPRDF would transform from what it is in OTL to a more Soviet-synced country, turning Ethiopia into another union of sovereign states. Eritrea would vote for independence as in OTL, but maybe would have a larger support to remain in Ethiopia than in otl (like only 80-95% supported independence in ttl). Like in the case of the Black Sea fleet in OTL, the USSR would persuade Eritrea to lease a port city to Ethiopia to allow them to retain a minor naval fleet, or would help to establish a FTA between the two nations, allowing for a smoother transition from one nation to two. GOASIE could actually become "GOASIEE" (Gulf of Aden Soviet, Indian, Ethiopian, and Eritrean), but I am not actually suggesting to change the name. With better relations, no border wars in the late 90s, and both nations would see an economic boom from what they would have had in OTL. I think this may actually be a better idea. Like LG said, nothing really needs to be changed (aside from maps and the main article itself). But I do feel happier with this idea. I could even see the Ethiopian-Eritrean relations much more friendlier in TTL because of this. Maybe there would actually exist a political movement within Eritrea to rejoin Ethiopia, rather than comparing Eritrea to the Baltic States for instance. I am really sorry, Vegas, but I now believe Ethiopia needs to change. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 16:30, October 8, 2011 (UTC)


 * If you so wish Nuke, all I ask is that you still allow me to work on Ethiopia in this time line. I would say though that of all the Ethiopian groups the EPRDF was dead by '91, the two other groups that could realisticly win the civil war were the hardline marxist Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party or the pro Ormo autonomy party the OLF. Else the TPLF wins and Ethiopia continues as it is in OTL although Eritrea could quite easily be an ally of the USSR Vegas adict 19:17, October 8, 2011 (UTC)


 * I think we have the final veridct about Ethiopia. I guess we should bring it to a close.


 * About the Kashmir thing, this happened because when the reformation of India was about to begin, Pakistan did not want Kashmir to join this, thus this was the cause of th conflict. If the 1983:Doomsday Scenario was going to happen during the war, it be resticted to just this area. Besides, I'll drop the idea if Nuke does.


 * For the economy, look at the reforms China make during the 1980's to improve the economy. The USSR should make these kinds of reforms, and the economic outcome would be same of similar to China. Even Nuke agreed to my ideas on the Soviet Domestic and Foreign policies. RandomWriterGuy 03:10, October 9, 2011 (UTC)



Working for eight hours, and I thought of an interesting idea for Ethiopia. I came across an article a while back (when I was working on a new republican map for Ethiopia for the timeline). You can read the article here, and I personally think it is ones opinion rather than fact, but it does make you think. According to the article, the Afar people of southern/eastern Eritrea felt left out that they were now cut off from the Afar majority in neighboring Ethiopia, and many apparently want a referendum to determine this. But aside from this article, it gave me an interesting idea on a potential compromise that could have come out of a Soviet-backed Ethiopia/Eritrea relationship. In short, Eritrea gives Ethiopia some coastline, only a little bit. More or less, the port city of is the key area of interest. Since the port is "practically" near the Eritrean border with Djibouti, it wouldn't be much of a loss. After doing some more research on the matter, I came up with two potential borders for this compromise. I made a map to show them. The border in blue is my first choice, and seems pretty reasonable. It is the border of the of Eritrea, and is the furthest eastern district of Eritrea. It includes the port of Assab and a little bit more. The next idea (in red) looks much more radical. In short, it is the border of the former of Eritrea. Prior to 1996, Eritrea was divided into provinces (which is something I just learned today), and it seems logical to believe that any compromise would have come around before the provinces would have been abolished. To me, this makes some sense for its radical nature. More or less, this border would correspond nicely with the Afar population of Eritrea, allowing the Afar to remain united in TTL. This province (as with the area today OTL) is highly unpopulated (in comparison with the remainder of Eritrea). I am not kidding, but the area's population OTL is more or less the same as TTL's (which is 10 times smaller). Aside from the coastline, the entire region is nothing but desert. In all, I think this might be an idea that Eritrea could consider, and could get something in return from Ethiopia. I personally can't think of what Eritrea would want in exchange for loosing any of its territory, but I may suggest something like Ethiopia recognizing Eritrea's definition of the border between them (the same dispute that lead to war in OTL).

I like the idea, it could be possible. But at the same time, it sounds very weird. Again, this is just a proposal, and I wanted to see what you all thought before it went any further. Please tell me what you think. If it can be done, I would love to do it. If it's not possible, then I will drop the idea. I still have several ideas for a landlocked Ethiopia and how it can still have a navy (more or less). --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 03:42, October 9, 2011 (UTC)


 * Heh. Thanks Nuke, lol.


 * I'd say closer to 95% than not, and probably a little higher than that. Simply put, while 99.8% could fall a ways, dropping into the 80's is really not logical.


 * Allowing them the use of a port makes some sense, though I kinda doubt that they'd do the fleet. Same goes for the FTA. Really, no fleet would allow concentration on things inland. But, I suppose a couple of patrol boats at whichever port they have access at would be plausible. As for the FTA, the economies had more or less been separate for many years already. Doubt the EPLF would go along with that, anyways - something like "just more Ethiopian attempts at domination."


 * Even if Ethiopia gets a couple patrol boats, there's really no reason to participate in the fleet operations. We're talking coastal patrol boats, here.


 * A small movement to join with Ethiopia may well exist, but that'd have almost no support anywhere. Note, too, that the Baltic States do actually have such movements in the Russian population.


 * Good lord, is that blog you quote biased. It's definitely their opinion - the same one that caused all of everything to take 40 years to end in the first place. Heck, most of it is simply not true. A quick check of wikipedia shows that most of their claims are out to lunch. Most of it is an anti-Egypt/anti-Muslim rant. Blames almost everything wrong in Ethiopia on Eritrea and Egypt, too. It's just like the extreme nationalists you find in the States on occasion - you probably know the type I mean, Nuke.


 * Really, the people in that area voted for independence in virtually the same numbers as the rest of Eritrea. Heck, the divide that quote talks about doesn't really exist, either, at least not to that extent. There's even different names for the Afar in the two countries, with a really long standing historical basis.


 * I have to doubt about the borders - there's really no way I can see Ethiopia doing that. What'd be possible, mind would be that both governments actually recognize the rulings of the Commission. Would benefit them both.


 * Have that port be the one they're allowed to use. It does make the most sense. But giving them the region is just an extreme Ethiopian nationalist fantasy. --Lordganon 09:23, October 9, 2011 (UTC)


 * To Vegas: Of course you can continue to work on the article. Ethiopia is your article, and I would never wish to take that from you.


 * To RWG: I never endorsed the idea, I only stated that it was an interesting idea (in theory).


 * To LG: Glad you are glad. I knew that article was full of shit, but I guess I am a sucker for alternate maps like the one on the article. I'm a little disappointed that this idea didn't fly. I am especially disappointed that they lesser idea didn't seem likely. I still like the idea. Is there any hope for this idea? Maybe a smaller piece of coastline? But I know, just grasping straws. I should stop looking into Ethiopia having a coastline, and instead figuring out how to make relations between them and Eritrea much better than OTL. I remember reading on Wikipedia that upon independence, there was debate on what would become of the Ethiopian Navy, and it was generally believed that Ethiopia would retain its navy (if not a smaller entity than what it once was), being secured by foreign ports (like Assab). But like you said, this "navy" would more or less exist as a port authority or something (I can't say those words without thinking about NYC XD). I have read that Assab continued to be an Ethiopian port, or that Eritrea allowed Ethiopian use of it. I guess that makes the most sense, but still a big change to look at. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 23:26, October 9, 2011 (UTC)

It's really just not that feasible, Nuke.

Yeah, I've read about that debate too. The idea that they would retain their entire Navy in a foreign port was really pretty silly, and was foolish at the time. Here.... well, as I said a couple smaller vessels at whatever port they have access at would work. But past that, there's no real use or need, you know? I figure that the idea of splitting the navy between them - ala the USSR (btw, what's the story in that regard here? :p) - would be possible here.

Yeah, Ethiopia was allowed access, etc. at that port - closest one in Eritrea to the more populated regions of Ethiopia. And without the war - and the borders actually settled - that access would stay.

Lordganon 23:45, October 9, 2011 (UTC)


 * What do you mean? If I am correct, I would assume that the now independent SSRs would play an Eritrea, creating their own navy and such. But since only Georgia and the Baltic States would do so (the other two being landlocked), I am not too sure. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 23:55, October 9, 2011 (UTC)


 * They all actually got ships otl. While they wouldn't get the whole thing, they'd probably each get a couple here too. Eritrea, honestly, didn't get any mostly because, quite frankly, the Ethiopians were pricks about it. By the time anything was even talked about between the two otl, the ships had turned to scrap sitting in Yemeni harbors, and neither wanted them. That case is a very unusual one, actually. Most have some sort of agreement made. But, it wouldn't amount to more than, at most a destroyer each, and more likely patrol boats/corvettes like otl. Lordganon 00:11, October 10, 2011 (UTC)

Now I was thinking about Eritrea, and I also knew that a united Ethiopia will not be possible, as the POD is just months later after Eritrean independence. I thought about the republics of Ethiopia, and I was thinking which republic should be part of Ethiopia since the provinces have been split between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Eritrea:

The Eritrean part of Afar is going to stay in Ethiopia because of its need for a coast.
 * Rashaida
 * Hedareb
 * Bilen
 * Saho
 * Nara
 * Kunama

By the way LG, my other comment about Kasmir and the Soviet Policies were not answered. May you please give me your response to it?

RandomWriterGuy 22:55, October 10, 2011 (UTC)

RWG, your comments on those matters made no sense and ignored almost everything already said here. Drop it. Kashmir is not a state or anything today, and that is why. Suggesting that they would do it here is ASB, and you've been told that already. And as for the economy, it would simply put, not end up like China.

As for the latest bit, I suggest you look at a map and the actual provinces of Ethiopia at the time. Eritrea was a full province in its own right - the entire thing. Not parts of it. There's no reason to give the Ethiopians that area, as has already been established. And, Eritrea had full support and control of the area.

Lordganon 23:21, October 10, 2011 (UTC)


 * What LG said. Sorry, but the Eritrea subject is officially closed. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 00:28, October 11, 2011 (UTC)

War on Terror
I want to announce that the War on Terror page is officially created. I used a table (similar to the one on this article and that), but in order to get it, I had to copy the table (I am sorry, but I was trying to do any copywriting, and yess all content was removed) and all I need to know is how the path of the war should go. Got any ideas? (It should go to a similar path in this article, like the destruction of al-Qaeda, but with some differences). Comment here and see if you got some fresh and funky ideas!

RandomWriterGuy 19:04, October 5, 2011 (UTC)

Новая идея: Месопотамия (не Ирак)
Excuse the title, but I wanted to write it in Russian.

Anyway, I have been growing more and more frustrated with the names I have chosen for the Arab republics of Iraq. While Babylonia is alright, my main concern is Assyria. Now why am I writing a complaint on my own idea... because. The two main reasons why I hate the name is:


 * Assyria is currently used to describe the "land of the ," a distinct ethnic group in the region.
 * Assyria is considered a synonym, and is the direct source for  (which I believe has been a nation for a few years).

If we go back into history, we find out that Iraq as we know it was once part of the Ottoman Empire. And conveniently, it was divided into three provinces (lucky us, right?). The three provinces were Baghdad, Basra, and Mosul. Basra I like (it was even suggested by RWG), and Mosul is not needed because Kurdistan is pretty much the officially recognized name. But calling it Baghdad... I think not. Primarily because the city of Baghdad would be its own federal city.

Anyway, let's skip the reasons why I didn't choose these names, and get to the main proposal I have in mind. My idea is radical, but could be quite interesting. In short, Iraq would no longer be a nation, yet would be a republic of a new nation. In my idea, the Shia's and Kurds would not necessarily agree to remain in Iraq, but would declare sovereignty from Iraq instead. Rather than continuing a new Iraq, the three sovereign states create a new nation: the Mesopotamian Federation.

In more direct words, I would love the word Mesopotamia to be used for this Iraq. But for it to be used as a subdivision makes no sense. The only way I could explain it would be... if the Soviet Union decided to call themselves "Russia" right off the back, and the RSFSR had to call itself something else. Mesopotamia has more context for the region as a whole, not a subdivision. While Iraq could virtually go any way, but I see Iraq better suited for the once Hashemite kingdom it once was. Which is why I see the name Iraq best suited for the Sunni republic within a federation. And like RWG, my inspiration came from another timeline. In "An Independent in 2000," Iraq is divided into three independent nations: Iraq (a Sunni Islamic Republic), Basra (I think a US-backed state of Shias), and Kurdistan (i.e., Greater Kurdistan).

Here is my overall proposal/idea in greater detail.

With Saddam dead, the transitional government or Iraq would begin talks with the Kurds and Shias. While Kurdistan was virtually declared, the shia's had no formed government. After decades of abuse by the Hussein government, the Kurds and Shia's were skeptical about any Sunni-lead Iraq. The Shias would establish their own government, occupying the southern governorates of Iraq, but would not declare independence. Talks between Baghdad and the Kurds would eventually lead to the finalized border for Kurdistan. By the late 90s, and agreement would be made for the future of Iraq. The Republic of Iraq (which piratically only had de facto control in the Sunni regions by this time), the Shia-backed Republic of Basra, and Kurdistan agree on a new federation idea. The three entities would remain united under a new federal government, which would eventually become known as the Mesopotamian Federation (or the Federation of Mesopotamia). While the Sunnis' main concern was keeping the nation as a whole, the Kurds and Shias like the idea of establish a fresh start for the region. Rather than a Sunni-backed government (as it had been for decades), it would be a federation of sovereign states.

That is the basic idea, but I need to work out the details. Overall, I think this makes wonderful sense, gives Iraq a new image, and is not as "radical" as say... having Ethiopia and Eritrea remain united. Changing the name would also help eliminate the confusion between Iraq and Iran (that always confused me). I hope you like the idea, because I am really exited on the idea. I hope I explained it okay. Please don't say no. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 01:04, October 11, 2011 (UTC)

Sounds good to me. Makes more sense on a number of counts, too. Lordganon 01:10, October 11, 2011 (UTC)

I'll agree with it. But we do know that th coup that deposed Hussein is US-backed, so is it close to the US (like Saudi Arabia and Israel), or still close to the USSR? And how would the USSR respond to the coup (and also the fact it is US-Backed, how would they respond to that as well)?

RandomWriterGuy 19:55, October 16, 2011 (UTC)

Me, I'm thinking neither. Lordganon 09:01, October 17, 2011 (UTC)

What do you mean by "Me, I'm thinking neither"? What are you exactly talking about?

RandomWriterGuy 21:53, October 18, 2011 (UTC)

The coup. As in neither the Americans nor the Soviets would be the backers. Lordganon 21:59, October 18, 2011 (UTC)

I did not mean the COUP. I MEANT which side the new nation will be on: US or USSR?

RandomWriterGuy 22:13, October 18, 2011 (UTC)

No need to do that, lol.

Same answer still applies.

Lordganon 22:18, October 18, 2011 (UTC)

ya ne dumayu chto nada stelat messopotamiyu, No mojet byt pereimenovat Irak v messopotamiu. prosto ostavit granitsi i sdelat edinu messopotamskuyu gosudarstvo.LxCaucassus 22:35, October 18, 2011 (UTC)

Err..... huh? There's no way to translate that, given the conversion to non-Russian characters. Care to tell us what you're saying, lol? Lordganon 22:39, October 18, 2011 (UTC)

that I think that there's basicaly no reason to divy it up into 2 provinces and its better to just convert Iraq into one united messopotamina state(or perhaps a messopotamian confederation with the 3 seperate states(provinces) if divied up).LxCaucassus 23:30, October 18, 2011 (UTC)

Umm..... The confederation idea is exactly what Nuke has proposed. Lordganon 04:36, October 19, 2011 (UTC)

Soviet ruble question
This is more of a question then a proposal. I know very little about economics, but I do know that 1 USD is about 30 RUB. I was hoping that this might be different in TTL. With a stronger Soviet economy, the SUR would become a more global currency. I put its importance at the same level as the JPY and the GBP, and even higher in comparison with the USD or EUR. I use the ISO codes, because it is easier XD

Anyway, my question would be... with a stronger SUR, would it be more in sync with the USD, or would it remain the same as OTL's RUB? I know the original currency of the Russian Federation (the RUR) suffered from high inflation, causing an economic collapse in 1998, leading to the implantation of the RUB that we know today. Obviously, this would not happen here, but does this mean it would grow more in sync with the USD? When I mean "sync", I am referring to the economic similarities between the two. For instance, the EUR is pretty much in sync (or was, don't know today) with the USD. But I do know that the JPY is a very powerful currency, but 1 USD is equal to 77 JPY (*Doctor Evil joke here*).

But in comparison, I would generally like to see for ttl, 1 USD is equal to about 3 SUR. This is my guess. Does anybody have any further knowledge on the issue? --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 17:43, October 14, 2011 (UTC)

1 Euro is right now about 1.37 USD.

Well, the SUR is going to still get devalued. As we've noted before, there is going to be economic troubles in the SU in the early 90s. Not as bad as in Russia otl, but it'll happen still. And, atl, at this point, the Soviet economy is still weaker than the US economy.

The Yen is actually powerful because, normally, it is pretty stable - and backed up by Japan's economic power.

Unlike otl, here it's going to be unlikely that a revaluation would be needed. But, when a currency goes down like the SUR would early on, it's only going to recover partway. Simply put, if it has gone done drastically once, it's not going to be as trusted, and thus in demand to be traded, no matter what. A better economy/inflation here would mean less of a decline, and maybe a bit more trading, but it's still going to hurt.

30 to 1, is a bit low. 3 to 1, however, would be too high, in my opinion. Something more like 10-20 to 1 is more likely.

Lordganon 00:44, October 15, 2011 (UTC)

So does that mean that the USSR will suffer a recession and bankruptcy, but the effects will be smaller than OTL Russia, is that right? (Sorry to put my signature here, but the Enter key in my keyboard is not working) RandomWriterGuy 19:57, October 16, 2011 (UTC)


 * I remember reading somewhere that this recession of the 90s would be severe (as any recession would be), but would not be in comparison with Russia in OTL. I remember someone saying that the recession would not be too severe, in which the standard of living in the USSR would still be reasonable than OTL Russia. Does this make any sense? --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 20:43, October 16, 2011 (UTC)

Nuke has it. Lordganon 09:01, October 17, 2011 (UTC)

I'm not sure. None of us know economics so this might take weeks to figure out.

RandomWriterGuy 21:54, October 18, 2011 (UTC)

Islamic Terrorism in the USSR
I was thinking that during the War on Terror, the USSR would be targeted by terrorists, mostly because they were incensed at the Muslim parts of the USSR. They will pull of attacks across the USSR, and there will still be a Beslan Hostage Crisis, but the plotters of it will be different.

RandomWriterGuy 22:29, October 18, 2011 (UTC)

Concern
I am a little bit concerned is Nuke is here or not. What has he been doing?

RandomWriterGuy 05:50, October 23, 2011 (UTC)

Nuke pops between his timelines, and often will not post for a couple days if he is working on something. There's nothing to worry about. Lordganon 22:54, October 23, 2011 (UTC)


 * I do have a life as well. At the present, I am working on a different timeline, so I dough I will be working on this timeline for a while now. That doesn't mean that I am not still watching. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 23:47, October 23, 2011 (UTC)

Emblem/Coat of arms
Not sure if it's been mentioned before, but would the new USSR, one that isn't hardline communist, keep the old state emblem; one with a hammer and sickle spread across the globe and the motto "workers of the world, unite" (as originally written in the COMMUNIST manifesto).... it just doesn't seem right to me.

For a country that a) drops most of its communist ideology and b) tries to establish greater relations with the US, having a motto and emblem that symbolises the wish for a worldwide communist paradise doesn't seem very likely.

Any alternative emblems that could be used? Or, at the least, a new motto? 109.151.212.235 22:39, October 23, 2011 (UTC)

The Hammer and Sickle's adoption as a communist symbol in some areas has little to do with the USSR, where it has been a state emblem since day one. They won't change it.

Nor would they change the motto. Which, may I add, has little to do with communism anymore, like with the H+S.

Lordganon 22:59, October 23, 2011 (UTC)

Prestorika
Ive been reading Prestorkia by Micheal Gorbechev as of late...

and I have to ask the question..

Why dose this Timeline assume that a New Soviet Union would abandon Communism all together?

Alexanders 21:07, October 31, 2011 (UTC)


 * The USSR doesn't abandon communism. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 02:43, November 1, 2011 (UTC)


 * It seems to me that the U.S.S.R dose infact abandon Communism, turning into a Welfare State?
 * Micheal Gorbechev Creating a Social Demcoratic party?


 * How is the U.S.S.R communist in this timeline?
 * Alexanders -[[Image:Flag of the Soviet Union (1923-1955).svg|22px|border]] 01:37, November 2, 2011 (UTC)

USSR Change and Its Allies
I have been reading about Cuba, that the changes in the USSR that are meant to eliminate domestic problems caused Cubans to think that the Cuban government does not want any change to eliminate problems. Causing them to revolt against the government. While reading about Cuba in the New Union, I wondered that if such event in the USSR could cause influence on other authoritan commuist and pro-socialist states into a Cuba-like scenario in the New Union, because if such event happened in Cuba, could it happen in other countires of its kind?

P.S. Also, I found an althist that explains a similar POD to this timeline, and I wondered if the events of this could actually happen in this timeline.

RandomWriterGuy 22:00, October 31, 2011 (UTC)

P.S.S. If this is LG answering this, also remember to let Nuke get his opinion on this.


 * The main reason why I have decided to make Cuba go into such a "drastic" change is due to the instability of Cuba in general. There were already protests in OTL, and I have decided to make them go further in TTL. It's hard for me to explain, because I am not an expert on Cuba. But in short, Cuba is bound to collapse any time now, it just happened sooner here.


 * As for the Red Century timeline... wow! I completely forgot about this, thank you for giving the link. But in the long run, there is a HUGE difference between New Union and A Red Century. The main point... timing. A Red Century is based on Brezhnev being assassinated, and his successor implementing reforms, allowing the USSR to avoid the economic hardships of the 70s and 80s. In New Union, these hardships already happened, and the USSR was able to continue on Gorbachev's reforms (rather than collapse in OTL). This timing would greatly affect the atmosphere in the world (metaphorically speaking). With no hardships in the 70s, the USSR would have much more support from within. But with these hardships, the USSR is lucky to even have jumped that hurtle that is the NU's POD. Again, hard for me to explain, but I think you get the picture.


 * As for having similar events from RC come into NU...
 * The Gulf War already happened before the POD (no chances there)
 * The Afghan SSR idea is interesting, but I dough it very greatly.
 * Again we come back to Korea. While I can see Korean War maybe being reignited in New Union, and the USSR supporting the US and South (or rather working to be a moderator or peace maker in the conflict), this idea has two major flaws for this timeline... China and consensus. Like LG has said countless times, I am now confident that China would not stand back and allow the US (or the USSR) to depose North Korea from existence. Plus the general consensus for this timeline is that the Korean peninsula would not have any changes from OTL.


 * I hope this is a good enough answer. At the present, I am working on another one of my timelines. So consider me taking a break from NU for now. --NuclearVacuum (Talk) 21:12, November 6, 2011 (UTC)