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Freidonia is a (fictional) Eastern European nation, located near the Russian border. It is a third world nation, dominated by ethnic war between two factions- one which lives in the highlands, is largely Christian, and generally poor, and one which is muslim, lives in the valleys and cities, and is generally richer (but by no means wealthy.) The current "legitimate" government is a dictatorship which relies on the muslim populace for support, but has little sway outside of the capital city and airport. Armed conflict between christian highlander guerillas and Muslim militia is frequent and bloody, with Russia, France, and the USA selling weapons to both sides. Neither side is well organized, and consist of militia and small fighting groups. Freidonia has a population of 3.5 million, 500,000 of which live in the capital city, which has a mix of muslim and christian populace, though the muslims are in power.

Freidonia has large forests and decently fertile valley regions. The valleys are farmed extensively, but the forests are sparsely habited (those who live there are largely highlands christians.) Freidonia's surrounding mountain ranges have extensive mineral wealth, in the form of useful stone, gold, silver, and some uranium. This wealth is unexploited.

You arrive in Freidonia with 150 soldiers trained and equipped to the level of modern day U.S. Marines, and 20 men and women with full knowledge of local customs and language. You yourself speak fluent Upland Freidonian and Valley Freidonian, and know the customs of the area.

You have 5 years to turn Freidonia into a stable, prosperous first-world nation. What do you do?

It's unlikely anything could be accomplished with such forces in such a situation; one fight could wipe them out. There are too many specific details that you could never hope to include in your description that would matter in trying a political or military solution.

Not to mention, five years is an impossible goal. Take a look a Bosnia. They've only had a national police force formed and trained in the last year. And unlike this country, Bosnia had the benefit of a couple divisions worth of well armed forces with heavy armor to keep the peace in the meantime.

The best I see coming from this is vauge things like "I'd help the christians" or "I'd help the muslims" or better yet "go back in time to the Clinton administration and try and get it to attack and occupy the place"

Considering the emphasis you put on the differing religious beliefs, I'll assume these people are "true believers"?
Along with my 150 commandos and 20 specialists, I'm hoping I have boucous dinero along for the party?
Basically, I'd try to buy and influence mid-level leadership any way I can, working my way upwards along the power structure. I wouldn't be above assasinations working for this goal. I would strive to make the imams and priests urge their flocks towards a united, nationalistic goal.
There should be some sort of external scapegoat available for focusing people's ire against.

This would be so easy it isn't funny. Have you ever heard of the White Rajah of Sarawak?

Imply Imperial regime all over the country. Start military build-up... nuclear research... Wait. Is it present-day? Than sorry: I'm not an economical specialist.

The Duchess of Zeon wrote:This would be so easy it isn't funny. Have you ever heard of the White Rajah of Sarawak?

Ooo! Oooo! I have! I have!

The Duchess of Zeon wrote:This would be so easy it isn't funny. Have you ever heard of the White Rajah of Sarawak?

Wasn't the challenge however to "turn Freidonia into a stable, prosperous first-world nation"? James Brook hardly turned Sarawak into that, did he?

Archaic` wrote:
Wasn't the challenge however to "turn Freidonia into a stable, prosperous first-world nation"? James Brook hardly turned Sarawak into that, did he?

Well, it was stable and prosperous, and a lot better off than everything around it. Also, Freidonia has more to work with than Sarawak.

The Duchess of Zeon wrote:Brook hardly turned Sarawak into that, did he?

Well, it was stable and prosperous, and a lot better off than everything around it. Also, Freidonia has more to work with than Sarawak.[/quote]

Which means both sides can sustain a fight for longer.

The White Raj also came into power by a means other than conquest. He essentially "won" the right of rule.

At best, I'd temporarily bitch myself as a commissioned officer to the Muslim regimé, build up a handful of supporters within the dictator's own military - ie, the local commanders -, and supply some of my troops as "combat advisors." Within a year I'd topple Mr. Dictator and put some kind of pawn in his place. By keeping that man in check - he can spend his time in the United States on the lecture circut or living out of the Astor -, I can more or less pull the strings even as a non-Muslim and foreigner.

Because it would be difficult to decrease ethnic tensions immediately, I'd try instead to work the economy to a point where war and conflict aren't as attractive - largely via the UN and possibly NATO.