Department of State

[Joe Republic]

Excellent plan, True Independent.  I look forward to following your progress on your tour.

MAS, would you say that your support for the legal recognization of Sealand is more in common with the Atlasian view of Taiwan, or with the view of West Atlasia?  If it happens to be the former, why do you place yourself in opposition to a strong ally of ours (Great Britain)?

[Joe Republic]

Excellent work, Mr. Secretary.

[Joe Republic]

You have my full blessing in reallocating the South African financial aid to fight the AIDS epidemic more effectively.

[Joe Republic]

May I ask what is so 'disgusting' about trying to stop people dying?

[Joe Republic]

An epidemic of any kind does not care about political boundaries.  Any way that such a terrible disease can be eliminated before it worsens the problem here is something all of us should be supporting.

[Joe Republic]

No. Mostly because what makes it bad in Africa does not exist here.

So?  As long as the disease flourishes anywhere in the world, there is a risk of infection among Atlasian citizens.  In any case, you seem quite happy to let millions of people die.

[Joe Republic]

Not having part of our population wiped out by a sudden outbreak of a lethal disease would certainly 'improve our position'.  And the reason that many South Africans don't believe in it is because they lack the necessary education on the subject.  Hence, the relief organizations need resources to help improve that situation.

[Joe Republic]

It does not take a 'sh!t load' of infected Africans to start an epidemic here.  If we really wanted to be dramatic, all it would really take is one person, and it snowballs from there.

As for President Mbeki, we needn't necessarily count on his blessing for our cause.  He may disagree with elements of it, but that doesn't matter.  What needs to be done will be done.

[Joe Republic]

I can't imagine there's anything else I can say that will convince you that saving millions of lives is a good thing, so we'll just have to agree to disagree.  Unless you can suggest any other ways of spending the financial aid that is already destined for South Africa anyway, then I still give my aforementioned blessing to Secretary True Independent for his plan.