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.