Sunday, June 28, 2009

The Lions of Allah; a growing problem for B'wonah...

While working on Bongolesia, I had decided that I wanted to push another "faction" into the fray. We already have BARF, and we have the local Oingo Boingo Cult. But I wanted a "hard" dedicated religious faction that could be used to shape the present and the future of this beleagured African Country. And so dear reader I give you "The Lions Of Allah" (LOA).

(PLEASE NOTE: This is a fictitious faction loosely based on certain groups within Africa. It's not meant to upset anyone with delicate sensibilities. Heck, if your sensibilities are THAT delicate and fragile, you shouldn't even BE on this blog!)
THE LIONS OF ALLAH:

With the recent Islamic surge throughtout Africa, the nation of Bongolesia has not been exmpeted from the rising tide of Islamic Extemeist and Fundamentalist problems.

Among the major factor in this issue is an organization known as "The Lions of Allah", or LOA.

The LOA is a recent new organization within the power scheme of Bongolesia as is the Islamic religion, but it and the religion are growing steadily. African Islamic Power is establishing itself in the main cities of Sudekia, and Port Tuziak, with the first Mosques open for worship five years ago. It's thought that approx 10% of the general stable population is Islamic. Currently the B'wonah regime allows the religion within the country as long as it doesn't challenge his authority.

However unknown to him it is being challenged.

The current Islamic Leader in Bongolesia is Mullah Ach'med A'hmed P'ita Eetuh. A recent transplant from Sudan; the Mullah has been in country for approximately two years and has worked on winning the hearts and minds of the Bongolesian people and spreading Islam throughout the country. All of his efforts in the long run DOES increase his power base.

Despite words from his fellow Ayatollahs, etc. Mullah P'ita Eetuh has jumped ahead of the standard schedule of "Islamitization", and has already allowed a small branch of diehards (The LOA), the begin small scale operations to destablize the country and help push the people (at the point of a bayonet if necessary), towards Islam with the overall goal to replace the B'wonah regime with an Islamic African Nation, (with himself in charge of course)...

(Mullah Ach'med Ahmed P'ta Eetuh; the man in power and giving orders to the LOA. He senses his destiny and knows that history has a place for him...)

While overall information on the size and organization of the LOA is very sketchy at this time, and hard to come by, it is known that the LOA seems proficient in small group operations. Small cell teams of less than a dozen, (usually smaller than this), seem to be their main modus operandi. In some areas and cases they have been known to operate in smaller groups of 2-4 personnel each.

They are proficient in ambush attacks and seem to prefer hit and run, rather than stand and fight operations. Perhaps this is due to their objectives, or because of limited size and/or equipment.

Most LOA activities are concentrated at night in smaller towns and surrounding villages where "LOA Law", and "Tithes" are enforced and enacted upon the populace. Despite the intervention of Local Police, and NDF forces, there has been no concrete evidence (yet), that the LOA individuals are in any way associated with the mullah. He in fact disavows them and says that "their actions are not of what he preaches."

President B'wonah is still skeptical though. So until evidence linking the mullah to the LOA can be found, (or decently fabricated), the Mullah remains alive and free to preach, (and plan), without having to worry about receiving a "B'wonah Brain Hemmorrahge"...

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Figures for the LOA:

I'm currently using Peter Pigs Arab figures mixed in with Regular Milita figs to flesh out the forces for the LOA.

To help users with id'ing figs, I have decided that support weapon teams (2 figs, LMG, RPG, etc), will have at least 1 figure (the major figure), wearing a red headress with white stripes, (or is that white with red stripes???)....hmmm..

Here are some that I have painted up right now...

(A LOA RPG team, ready for action...)



(An LOA Attack force, in training at a "secret camp"...Note the different styles of headdress...)



(A picture of an LOA "martyr" force in front of a recently vandalized wall of B'wonah Posters...)






BONGOLESIA OPENS DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH AUSTRALIA!!!!

PRESS RELEASE:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
BONGOLESIA TO OPEN DIPLOMATIC ACCORDS WITH AUSTRALIA!
DIPLOMATS TRAVELLING TO THE LAND DOWN UNDER TO MAKE THINGS SWEETER…

(Sudekia): The National Govt. released information today an important official announcement whereupon our nation has decided to engage the country of Australia in diplomatic accords.
“Look, we were thumbing through some of the records that we had in our boxes and files, and realized that we had never opened up international relations with Australia.” Said National Spokesman Sp'in Dok'tur. “After checking to see what the deal was with Australia, we sent a message to his excellency our wonderful leader, President-For-Life P’hat Daddee B’wonah, outlining our regards and schemes to recognizing and opening up relations with Australia.”



(Bongolesia and Australia: A WONDERFUL Future together!)


“We seen on the map that they are on an island completely surrounded by water, just like Gilligan and the Skipper, and the rest of them folks.” He continued. When we reviewed what was going on with them, our wise president said that “we as Bongolesians”, should do our best to get with the Australians and let them have what we have to offer them, because we have so much to offer. And they have so much to offer to us also. We would be so much better off with what they have to offer, that it’s a win-win situation!”

Current plans for a diplomatic mission to be undertaken are being drawn up as this is released. It’s known that Ambassador T'ooka Dump will probably the main diplomat sent on this historic sojourn.



(Ambassador T'ooka Dump our main man for the Australians)

“As a duly noted representative of the Bongolesian Govt. under the fantastic leadership of President-For-Life B’wonah I will do my best to get under their skin in the de land o’ plenty and help them get to know us better, and know how we can benefit from this diplomacy…” Ambassador T'ooka Dump said with a smile while reviewing his stock options.

It is hoped that the Australian Govt. will open their entire nation up and accept The Bongolesian People and their intentions with open arms and the sugary sweetness of future fuzzy warm relations between Bongolesia and Australia in the spirit of international goodwill, cooperation, realtions, and exchange.
More info to be released as events unfold...

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Bongolesia's Neighbors - The Mysterious Fandango Republic PT 1...

Now that it seems we have established some basic knowledge of Bongolesia and it's inner workings, some folks have asked me about it's "neighbors"; who are they and what are they, and most of all, what is their relationship to Bongolesia.
So after reviewing all current intelligence info, and perusing old articles from "The Weekly World News", and catching up on my 1987-1988 episodes of "As The World Turns", I've turned my attention to the first of a two parter on Bongolesia's Southern Neighbor; The Mysterious Fandango Republic...
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THE FANDANGO REPUBLIC
Beyond the Southern Border of Bongolesia lies The Fandango Republic, (also occasionally known as “The Mysterious Fandango Republic”).
The Fandango Republic (known as “FR” for short in this article), is an African nation that shares a common border with Bongolesia and the CBPR, along with a joint triple border area, as well as a disputed region of coastline of the Great African Sea.
Bongolesian Intelligence officially knows little about the comings, goings, and doings of the FR government, but President-For-Life B’wonah holds them in low regard (as well as his other two neighbors).

SIZE and GEOGRAPHY:
The FR is slightly smaller in land size than Bongolesia but due to it’s geographical location, receives as much rainfall as the Central and Southern Regions of Bongolesia.
The FR does not have the grasslands, desert plateaus, and sub-Saharan geography such as Bongolesia does. Instead, the majority of the country is lush agricultural valleys and gently rolling hills, which have created countless streams, which nourish the soil. Agriculture is the main export in the FR, and the FR govt. is extremely dedicated to successful agricultural production with large amounts of money going towards fertilizers, hybrid grains, etc.
Besides the rich valleys and farmland of the FR, a small mountain range runs on an NW-SE axis along the Southern Border of the country. This mountain range has produced small amounts of gold, diamonds and bauxite, and large amounts of quartz, gypsum, and talc as well.
From the talc and gypsum mines the FR has created perhaps the most successful foot and crotch powder industry in the entire African Continent.
“Uncle Korns Rubbing Powder For Your Feet and What’s Between Your Legs” is sold across the continent and has been a major staple on shelves for the last 10 years.
The coastline of the FR is mostly rocky with beaches of varying size interspersed along the coast. Recently these beaches have become the scene of an increased and dedicated tourist trade focused on bringing foreign tourists (and their currency) to the country.


A map showing the shared border of Bongolesia and The Fandango Republic.


Cities and Government;
The Capitol City of The FR is the coastal city of Montalbania (named in honor of Actor Ricardo Montalban), who was dedicated to ensuring that the people of all social classes of the FR had the ability to enjoy rich Corinthian Leather. Due to his popularity with the people in the FR, Ricardo Montalban was awarded The Legion of the Flamingo with crossed scimitars and palm leaves; one of the highest awards in the nation.
Currently due to trade and “cultural differences”; the Bongolesian Govt. jams the TV signals for Fantasy Island that are beamed out of Montalbania.

Ricardo Montalban; A Foreign “Citizen of Honor and Hero of the Fandangonian People”…

Besides the Capitol City of Montalbania there are three major cities within the country:

Gulladoon: a coastal city which has the largest harbor facilities in the nation, and is thus the shipping center for import and export merchant vessels. Gulladoon is also home to the nations only “clothing optional beach”…

Bazookalonia: a mid sized city located in the central midlands of the country, this growing city is a major manufacturing and transportation hub for many of the smaller towns and villages in the region. It is the headquarters for The Uncle Korn Company, and added a second rail-line connecting it with Montalban, and Gulladoon.

Wallader: like Bazookalonia is another mid sized city. Located further to the south and not very far from the Southern Border, it is home to the FAF (Fandango Air Force) training center. Due to the close proximity of the mining facilities in the nearby mountain range, Wallader is very much what is known as “A blue-collar town”. Factories, services, and transportation centers are all there to assist with the ores brought down from the mountain. Many young Fandangonian men travel to Wallader looking for jobs.


THE GOVERNMENT:
The Fandango Republic (FR) is technically ruled by a constituonally elected parlimentary majority with a party elected “National-Premier” as the head of the Govt.
The Premier’s term is only interrupted once every six years for a mandatory election, or when his party ousts him, or the opposing parties are able to garnish enough legislative support to force a constitutional vote of confidence. In theory a majority vote of “no confidence” is enough to force new elections within two weeks, however with the current political majority ruling the country for the last 14 years and keeping the opposing parties divided and weak, a no-confidence vote is unlikely anytime soon.

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Part II to be continued...