Molossia-Mustachistan War

The War with Mustachistan took place from 22 May - 8 June 2006, between the Republic of Molossia and Molossia's puppet state, the nation of Mustachistan. The roots of the conflict lay in conflicting territorial claims, a situation aggressively prosecuted by Mustachistan. Following the outbreak of armed conflict in late May 2006, the Mustachistanis were defeated in two separate battles and sued for peace.

Beginnings of the conflict

Mustachistan was the tongue-in-cheek creation of a friend of President Baugh of Molossia, who called himself Sultan Ali-Ali Achsenfree. Sultan Ali founded his own nation not only to participate in the world of small nations, but also as a bit of competition for Molossia. The principal rivalry centered around Mustachistan's claim to a large part of the U.S. State of Nevada, which included the territory of Molossia. In essence, at its founding, Mustachistan was little more than a puppet state of Molossia.

In March 2006, relations between Molossia and Mustachistan became increasingly strained. Though relations between the two had been amicable in the past, the Sultan being a personal friend of The President, Sultan Ali had increasingly pressed his claim that Molossia lies within Mustachistani territory, and was therefore a vassal state. President Baugh countered with the argument that: "Molossia has existed at its current location for eight years and is a well-established small nation with a defined territory." Adding insult was the fact that His Excellency assisted Sultan Ali in the establishment of his nation and the creation of his website. Mustachistan would not have existed at all without the technological aid of Molossia.

The Riverpark Incident

By April 2006, the territorial dispute between Molossia and Mustachistan had reached a new low point. Diplomatic talks had failed to resolve the friction between the two nations as Mustachistan persisted in its demand that Molossia surrender its sovereignty and become a vassal state.

President Baugh was a frequent visitor to a Riverpark near the Carson River, in Carson City, Nevada. This fact was well-known, and was used as a new source of conflict between the two nations. Sultan Ali attempted to bar The President from using the park, stating that it is in Mustachistani territory and was therefore closed to Molossian visits. He even went so far as to post a sign barring Molossians from the park. Of course this sign was immediately removed by Molossians, and act which only aggravated matters, dimming prospects for a positive resolution of the ongoing disagreement.

Brink of war

By early May 2006, following the Riverpark Incident, Mustachistan threatened to use force in resolving its dispute with Molossia over its territorial claims. Sultan Ali of Mustachistan stated unequivocally that Molossia's removal of the anti-Molossian sign from Riverpark and his repeated visits to the park were violations of sovereign Mustachistani territory and an overall affront to Mustachistani pride. President Baugh responded that the Mustachistani claim, which Molossia originally helped create, is meaningless, and that the park is in neutral United States territory and therefore open to all. In response to this, Mustachistan threatened to punish Molossia for its transgressions against Mustachistan.

There was genuine concern in the Molossian government that war might break out, so even as President Baugh continued to pursue a diplomatic solution to the crisis, he encouraged Molossians to be vigilant against foreign incursions. He further called on the Molossia's Naval Infantry to patrol the frontier and guard against any possible enemy action.

War is declared

Effective 22 May 2006, a state of war existed between Molossia and its puppet state, Mustachistan. Following the friction of the previous months and weeks, Mustachistan stated its intention to move its army into a position along Sutro Creek, only 1 kilometer away from the Molossian frontier. This action was deemed unacceptable by the Molossian government, and an affront to their national sovereignty.

In response, President Baugh mobilized the Naval Infantry, ordering them to deploy and intercept the Mustachistani Army in the field, to hopefully deal a decisive blow and bring a quick resolution to the conflict with minimal carnage.

President Baugh's speech declaring of war against Mustachistan was short, but effective

I come before you today with a proclamation of the most serious import: Effective 22 May 2006, at midnight, Molossian Standard Time, our nation is at war with the nation of Mustachistan.

Today the nation of Mustachistan has opened hostilities with Molossia, and has begun moving its troops to within striking distance of our borders. This action will not stand, and I will not allow the threat of foreign military forces against our nation to go unchallenged. Therefore I have called upon our valiant Navy and Naval Infantry to stand ready to repel the Mustachistani's and remove their menace from our frontier. Even as we speak, the War Department has mobilizing our forces and they will soon deploy to meet with and destroy the Mustachistani threat. Our military is efficient, bold and courageous, and I am confident that it will prevail.

I call upon all Molossians to support our government and our military forces in this time of war. Molossia is a great nation, the greatest on earth. Our cause is just and our goals are worthy. We will triumph, and we will bring peace to this region again.