Originally by: Smoking Mirror

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Edited by: Smoking Mirror on 29/12/2006 05:32:43
This thread is both funny, and sad.

It's funny, because here's a thread that reads exactly like the threads IAC and their pirate fanbois filled the boards with weeks ago when they started their invasion of ISS outpost systems. Full of smack, chest-thumping, and all kinds of talk of taking whatever they wanted.

Fast forward three weeks -- IAC's invasion was promptly repelled, they lost a station, about a dozen outposts, and billions of isk in ships and other assets. Now they're fighting on their own ground, ISS wolfpacks patrol IAC space at will, and IAC's logistics are a complete nightmare. (Look at a map...)

Yet, here they are, smacking away as if none of that had happened, as if they hadn't just had their arses royally kicked. It's kind of inspirational: Reality should never get in the way of good forum smack.

That's funny.

The sad part is that IAC leadership is apparently focused on turning their alliance into Priory-lite. They lost sight of the opportunity synergies with ISS in Catch could have provided. IAC leadership has been sadly lacking in maturity and really don't have much grasp of strategic thinking. That's been manifest in their dealings with ISS all along.

They can never win a war of attrition with ISS, especially now, when they are weaker then they were weeks ago when they first attacked ISS. So they cast their lot in with pirates, goonswarm and logoffskis and hope for the best. That's one fine plan.

Just think freely for a minute: what if IAC and ISS merged? IAC people would then get a stake in an expanded ISS IPO. Everyone would get use of the space. A powerful pvp presence would be there to keep the place clear. Since the stations are all local, there are no concerns about spies, alts, etc. If the shares are spread around widely enough to the various large alliances, a kind of detente could emerge, where attack risks attack by others (a smaller version of which IAC has already experienced...). That part of Catch could be a vital economic hub in 0.0, but one grounded in economic reality and protected by real military power, not some pie-in-the-sky 0.0 for everyone vision.

Since there are always pirates, there are always things for the pvp people to do, plus no doubt from time to time some alliance will try their hand at seizing the assets and risking the detente. Those might be welcome interludes.

I realize IAC will never agree to this; the egos of the leadership would never permit it, even though their members would benefit greatly. It's just a thought experiment of something that could be.

So instead of something great, all that's left here is a minor backwater and a low-grade war, stuff that can be found anywhere in Eve. IAC can't win this war. What does "winning" even mean for them? Who knows? Their leadership has yet to say what they actually want here. All they can do is drag it out and limit the opportunities for everyone. Sad.

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