Chapter 366
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Armenian Genocide
America moved quickly, but there were no results yet.
Intelligence agencies predicted that even the Anglo-Saxon Economic Union would take years to form its ranks.
My thinking was no different.
Even so, we couldn't just sit back and watch America's moves.
"What if a unified alliance doesn't guarantee benefits?"
I decided to sow some discord first.
"If we join America's Anglo-Saxon economic alliance, will Australian and New Zealand agricultural and livestock products be competitive in Britain?"
In fact, this argument directly echoed the claims made by opponents of the alliance in Australia and New Zealand.
Instead of just talking, I produced cartoons and such, providing them to the anti-alliance camp.
They eagerly ran the comics as ads in their newspapers.
"America's cows and pigs will devour the federation's market!"
It started with the agricultural and livestock industry players.
Next came the mining companies.
"In a situation where we trade a lot with Asia, join the economic alliance? Won't the Third World camp look suspiciously at Australian minerals?"
"But our stuff is cheap and good—would we give that up?"
"Ah, there's this thing called security logic in the world. Who relies on strategic resources from a potential enemy like an idiot?"
Whenever needed, I spread the logic that there was a risk the Third World might refuse to use Australian minerals.
"Hearing it out, it doesn't sound unreasonable."
I didn't touch Britain or Canada.
There was hardly any room for effect even if I tried.
We focused on shaking Australia and New Zealand, continuously obstructing the economic alliance's launch.
As a result, a new atmosphere was detected in Washington.
"America is considering forming an economic alliance just with the US, Canada, and Britain?"
"That's the word."
That was a method in its own way.
When things didn't go as planned, it was sometimes better to go with the flow than stick to the original plan.
Of course, that didn't mean Washington had completely abandoned the Anglo-Saxon Economic Union idea.
It was more accurate to see it as splitting the work into phase 1 and phase 2.
With America's movements delayed, I pondered ways to check them.
In truth, the best way to check America would be to bring the Soviet Union back to the Cold War stage, but Moscow under Shelepin had no interest in pointless competition.
They were focused on internal reforms while Korea and America competed.
In a way, the current Soviet Union was following the path China had taken.
'Using the Soviet Union is practically impossible.'
Just then, an idea flashed through my mind like lightning.
My esteemed teacher, China, who had always inspired me, offered another good strategy this time.
"Use history."
We decided to detonate a bomb Turkey had buried.
Turkey was fairly important to Korea, but if we could drag the Soviet Union into confrontation, it was a price worth paying.
'Use Turkey to obstruct America's moves.'
That was the picture I drew.
To that end, I brought a few Armenians to the Korean National Assembly for a speech performance.
"Turkey must apologize for the Armenian Genocide."
After some buildup like that, we immediately passed a resolution condemning the Armenian massacres.
Accordingly, the Korean government imposed various sanctions on Turkey.
"What? Pyongyang's gone mad. Why the hell are they suddenly screwing with us?"
The Turkish government responded in kind with tough measures like withdrawing their embassy.
We didn't back down either.
"You think we're scared? We'll withdraw too."
Armenian-Americans were initially taken aback by this bolt from the blue.
As they watched the bizarre fight, they realized it was time to act.
"We need to speak up now, while Korea has the world's attention!"
Armenian-Americans began actively raising their voices in politics.
"A power that's not even involved is speaking out on the Armenian massacres—what are we doing? Is a free democracy worse than an authoritarian state?"
Fortunately, Armenian-Americans wielded considerable political power in Washington.
Their voices quickly rode the media waves, shaking the political sphere.
This put the US government in a tough spot.
"Why are the Pyongyang bastards suddenly so aggressive toward Ankara?"
"Isn't it obvious? It's a ploy to put us in a bind."
The problem was they couldn't escape even knowing the obvious trick.
The US government had no choice but to agonize over the tone of their statement.
If they sided with the Armenians here,
"What? They're picking a fight with us, a First World ally?"
For America, already low on alliance credibility, it risked another diplomatic disaster.
If they sided with Turkey,
"Look at them loving free democracy. Worse than authoritarians—democracy can go freeze."
It risked ridicule for democracy, already mired in shit.
To make Washington agonize more, I leaked this to US civil rights groups.
"This isn't something to brush off lightly. It's a case of a state massacring a minority ethnic group. If the US government sweeps it under the rug, what precedent does that set for this country? There's no law saying Blacks or Native Americans can't be victims next. Remember the Tuskegee lessons."
"Let's raise our voices."
Many Black civil rights groups in America sided with the Armenians, turning the Armenian massacre issue into a terrifying flashpoint overnight.
The US government's political momentum was sucked entirely into the Armenian issue.
"Tough choice, huh?"
Even for my country, it was a no-win dilemma.
But what could they do?
If a problem's posed, you solve it.
I watched how the Reagan administration would break through.
Issue a condemnation resolution?
Or bury it?
Reagan chose the path of evasion.
"It's inappropriate for the US government to comment on the Turkish issue."
Let free democracy take some hits to secure real national interests.
As expected, Washington acted from a realist perspective.
But Armenian-Americans and civil rights groups weren't about to accept that message.
I decided to add fuel to the fire.
In fact, the Soviet Union had high-ranking Armenians like Anastas Mikoyan.
I aired ads on the Soviet Berlin TV about the Armenian massacres.
This was a blatant gesture aimed at the Soviet Union.
Soon enough, the Armenian massacre issue gained prominence in the Soviet Union too.
The Armenia SSR, as the party involved, immediately rose up, demanding the Party Central speak out.
"No matter how much you scream that ethnic issues aren't important, you can't do shit against bubbling nationalists."
The Soviet Central tried to dodge, but politically, they couldn't ignore one of the 15 republics, the Armenia SSR.
Unable to withstand Armenia's uproar, Moscow issued a statement.
Moscow's position fully reflected the Armenia SSR's views.
"The Armenian massacres were anti-human crimes perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire."
The Soviet government's intervention was enough to completely flip the board.
"The reds are openly threatening a First World nation! Is America just going to watch?"
Turkey immediately demanded US support.
This made America's position even more awkward.
Side with Turkey, and the domestic scene gets noisier,
"How does siding with the murderers make sense?"
Side with Armenia, and,
"Who can't even tell allies apart becomes First World leader?"
It would inevitably breed distrust among First World nations.
America dithered on the issue.
Not because Washington was stupid—it was a no-win problem.
How do you open your mouth on something where you lose no matter what you choose?
While America struggled, I swiftly approached the Soviet Union.
As long as the Armenian massacre issue lingered unresolved, economic cooperation between the US and USSR would be tough.
So, who's the alternative?
Korea.
Even if Shelepin was wary of us, he had no choice.
Reforming the state required money, and the only immediate partner was Pyongyang.
If the Soviet fiscal situation was good, they'd rebuff us, but Moscow's wasn't rosy.
Oil prices were relatively high, but they'd staggered under low oil for too long.
The Soviet Union wasn't in a position to refuse Pyongyang's economic cooperation offer.
"If economic cooperation ratios rise here, the Soviet economy will be completely subservient to us."
That was the 'Eurasian Economic Union' in essence.
With existing loans and economic influence already in place, adding one more bloc wasn't hard.
This was my countermeasure against the Anglo-Saxon Economic Union.
"If you're uneasy about growing China and Japan, just bring in one more and fence them in."
Counter the Anglo-Saxon Economic Union with absolute influence over the Second and Third Worlds.
Of course, I couldn't relax just because I'd planned this far.
America and the Soviet Union were real players.
No law said they'd be pushed around forever.
I instructed the Agency for National Security and Intelligence Command to keep a close eye on Moscow's movements.