devoncop wrote: ↑Mon Aug 19, 2019 8:44 pm
Egypt reiterates that its troops will not and have not taken part in any offensive operations against the Judeans and nor do they intend to.
They will merely defend the territory of their ally against Judean attacks.
In diplomatic negotiations on August 12, you have stated, quote:
Egypt will remain out of any Arabian/ Judean conflict for now unless Judea tries to take the Arabian Capital.
As such, to "defend your ally against Judean attacks" in the lack of any Judean attempt to seize the Arabian capital is breaking out agreement and, as such, is an aggressive declaration of war.
In addition, even if you should not engage in offensive operations, your puppet Nabatea will most certainly follow your lead in declaring war, and WILL engage in offensive operations.
It is hoped this is clear to those concerned states that Egypt is no aggressor.
It is hoped it is clear to those concerned states the Egypt is very definitely an aggressor.
The fact Egypt has found itself at war because of the "Divine mechanics" as the Antigonid Council alludes is the clearest evidence possible that Arabia was no aggressor other than its endemic raiding operations.
If it is true that you were pulled into the war by aggressive Judean activity, then why did it take several years for you to declare war on Judea?
As proof our achivists produce the following from a diplomatic pouch received by envoy from the Judean High Priests on the 12th August in response to Egyptian protests over Judean hositle operations against the Arabians :
If you wish us to merely build fortifications on the border and to ignore Arabia's aggressive actions, then you would be expected to pay us the high cost of building fortifications rather then simply dealing with a clear enemy. If you will pay the coast of constructing fortifications and dealing with repeated raids, then we will happily do so. Until then, we have no wish of throwing out money simply to satisfy the whims of a man who has already intervened in our affairs innumerable times.
In addition, I repeat: If your concern is solely with reaching Saba, Judea will agree to capture only one coastal region from Arabia before making peace.
The issue of raiding ....clearly used as a pretext by the Judeans to achieve a red sea port and easily preventable by basic fortifications may have annoyed the priests but the communication is clear as to which party was intent on war. It was not Arabia.
As Ptolemy appears to be allergic to context, here is the Ptolemaic message which prompted that reply:
Firstly Egypt had no control over Arabia regarding its raiding. Indeed Nabatea also suffered from this and Nubia also raided Egyptian regions in the border regularly until appropriate fortifications were built. Perhaps as Judea is happy to advise Egypt on its Navy the High Priests would appreciate advice from Egyptian experts on fortifications?
Secondly on what basis should Egypt pay Judea for the actions of a nation it did not control?
Thirdly Judea can simply fortify its border with Arabia and then destroy any Arabian forces as they try to besiege it. There is no need to take any Arabian province unless of course the whole move West is to obtain a Red Sea port originally demanded by Judea from Nabatea at the beginning of the game? Or am I bring overly cynical?
This, in turn, was in response to the following Judean statement:
Arabia has raided us multiple times, and then dared to declare war on us, utterly unprovoked. You now demand of us that we respond to unprovoked aggression by simply giving in. Do you not see how incredible this demand is on us? To respond to multiple aggressive acts, and then even to all-out war, with simple acquiescence?
To anyone with half a brain, this statement is very clear on the aggressive Arabian declaration of war, IN ADDITION to the constant raiding. The raiding was only a minor factor, while the aggressive Arabian declaration of war was the primary cause.
In addition, Ptolemy's third statement in our quoted communication is quite obviously based on the assumption that Judea's primary goal is defensive. So Ptolemy has not only taken a small factor and put that on a pedestal as the sole reason for war, but Ptolemy has quite clearly agreed in diplomatic negotiations on the defensive nature of Judea's operations, and to insinuate now that Judea's actions were aggressive is to desperately backpedal to justify an aggressive Ptolemaic declaration of war.
Egypt has evidently not changed in the one and a half thousand years since they enslaved our ancestors. And, just as God saved us then, he will save us now.
