Exercise
Cooperative Best Effort 05 is based on a fictitious scenario
tailored to meet the exercise training objectives. All dates are approximate and
will be finalized IAW the approved exercise timeline. The actual map of
1.
AREA
OF OPERATION (Map)
The
area of operations is a large Area called ORKLAND, divided in two countries,
HOBBILAND and ELFLAND.
2.
HISTORY
OF THE CONFLICT
Elfland
is situated North of Hobbiland, but in ancient times both countries formed only
one, named Orkland. Orkland was formed in the 15th Century by the
reunification of three former Kingdoms. It stayed as a single country until
1835, when they were facing a civil war, due to political and territorial
disputes between the two main ethnic groups in the country, the Elfics and the
Hobbies:
a.
The
Elfics, who occupy ELFLAND and most of the DNISTER Region in HOBBILAND.
b.
The
Hobbies occupy HOBBILAND, There are very few Hobbies in ELFLAND, but there are
huge colonies in other neighbouring countries, such as MESLAND, HUNLAND and
RAYLAND.
Since
the end of the civil war in 1838, won by the Hobbies, and in accordance with the
signature the
Since
then, both countries have evolved in different directions. Hobbiland has always
been a commercial country and has become a wealthy pro-occidental State. They
have had a democratic government since 1845, after a short transition period
after the Civil War.
Hobbiland
is a member of the United Nations and is in process for accession to NATO.
On
the other hand, Elfland has suffered a great political and economic instability
since the end of the Civil War. They installed a kingdom in 1839, whose dynasty,
the Ausborns’, reined for almost 90 years. In 1928, a revolution took place in
the country and the National Elfic Party established a dictatorship. Their
Leader, Mr. Bebo Valdinsky, started claiming on the Elfics right on the
Due
to their ethnic differences, the relations between Elfland and Hobbiland are
difficult and there have been several border clashes all over the recent
history, mainly in the Western Area.
In
1934, the Elfics tried to occupy the DNISTER area, but, after three months of
war, the Hobbies liberated the zone. However, they let the Elfic minority live
in the region, though they had slightly supported Elfland’s invasion.
After the war, and in accordance with the Peace Treaty signed in L’viv, Elfland’s claims were partly forgotten due to a sort of smooth loans Elfland received from Hobbiland.
During
the post-war decades (1934-1998), the Elfland’s Government, even facing a
disastrous economic situation, diverted part of its budget in military expenses,
acquiring modern weapons and equipment on a regular basis.
Since
2001, the economical situation in Elfland worsened due to their weak banking
system and some corruption incidents amongst high-rank officials that could also
affect the current president, Mr. Piotr Gansky. The situation of civilian
population in Elfland faced a drastic change. The government, that had already
started a slight move towards a liberal market economy, stepped back.
In consequence, decreasing of the rate of GDP, the high prizes of agricultural products has caused quite serious problems in both the health and education spheres. The last infrastructures were made in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
To
divert people from their possible unrest actions, the Elfland Government accused
Hobbiland of not accomplishing what was signed in the bi-lateral treaties. It
also started claiming their ancestral rights on the DNISTER Area, a rich zone
that could decrease their economical problems, should it belong to Elfland.
The
DNISTER region possesses the most developed industrial potential of the western
region of Hobbiland. The most effective directions of industrial production are
mining chemistry and oil processing. In that region operate the only enterprises
in Hobbiland producing mineral and potassium fertilizers.
The
agricultural industry in DNISTER possesses almost 1300 thousand Ha of arable
lands that make up almost a 10% of all Hobbiland.
Most of these lands, as well as most of the enterprises aforementioned,
belong to Hobbie people, while the Elfic minority occupies the lower layers in
those organizations.
So,
Elfland also accused Hobbiland of exploiting the Elfic minority in DNISTER. As a
result, the Elfic National Party Council launched an information campaign
against the Hobbiland alleged attacks on the Elfic minority, urging the
people to support their political efforts.
Elfland
population is predominantly Elfic, (92%) and Longic, located
in the East (7%). There
is a very little presence of Hobbies on the Hobbiland border, next to L’viv.
A
major strategic concern to the conflict for Elfland is the access to the mining
chemistry plants, located in DNISTER, that could be used for NBC purposes should
they fall into wrong hands.
At
the beginning of 2002, some of the Elfic inhabitants of the DNISTER Region
claimed for autonomy for their region and for more control on the DNISTER
enterprises. At the same time, some Hobbie interests in the zone were attacked
by a newly–formed extremist group, named EDLA (Elfic Dnister Liberation Army).
As they committed the first attacks, some reprisal actions took place against
the Elfic minority in DNISTER.
In
2003, a total of 28 people from Hobbiland, mostly local politicians, were
allegedly shot dead by the EDLA Group. As a result of retaliations, 8 Elfic
minority people were also killed in several arsons and shootouts against Elfic
shops and houses. This escalation led to an increase in the number of EDLA
members, coming from both the Elfic Community in DNISTER and some Elfland
nationals.
At
the same time, Elfland accused Hobbiland of fostering ethnic cleansing against
their minority in DNISTER and ordered a raising of its Rapid Intervention
Forces.
The
United Nations Security Council signed the UN Resolution 6846, in December 2003,
calling both countries to solve their differences by diplomatic means and
prevent further escalation of violence and destabilization in the region.
At
the beginning of January 2004, Elfland Armed Forces started to occupy some
positions along the border with Hobbiland. Since then, some sporadic clashes
occurred between Elfland and Hobbiland Armed Forces.
On
19 February 2004, the Elfland Air Force launched an air strike against
Hobbiland’s airports and Air Bases in L’viv, Kirovorhad and Donestk.
The following day, two Airborne Battalions debarked in L’viv
International Airport. Although they found great resistance, the local
population’s support was determining and they could keep their positions.
On
22 February 2004, the debarked units were reinforced, and new units were
debarked in Cherkasy. In total, two reinforced Divisions were already on the
occupied areas and reached, after a weak resistance, the following line:
LVIV
– RIVNO – VINNYTSYA – UMAN – KIROVORHAD – DHIPOPETROSK –
From
the first attacks on 19 February, Hobbiland denounced Elfland’s aggression and
claimed for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Some
countries that belonged to NATO, such as Rayland, Hunland, Molland and Mesland,
supported this claim. Maxland stayed neutral.
Hartland
didn’t make any official statement on this attack, though it reinforced its
border troops all along the border with Elfland.
During
the United Nations Security Council meeting, held on 28 February 2004, a
stalemate was all they got, due to Longland’s opposition to sign a
condemnation statement against Elfland’s invasion.
Some
NATO members, such as Mesland and Hunland, started to organize a multinational
coalition with the objective of supporting Hobbiland. In March 2004, some
fighters from these two countries realized two attacks against Elfland positions
in RIVNO and
The
wide support that both Elfland Forces and the EDLA receive from the local Elfic
minority in the DNISTER Region, mainly in the L’viv area, and the possibility
of more displaced Hobbie people from that zone, forced the NATO Alliance to
disapprove any intent of recovery of the lost terrain by Hobbiland.
The
perspective of a multinational crisis alarmed both Longland and NATO, so, on 6
April 2004, a cease-fire agreement was attained in Zhytomyr, after some
bi-lateral conversations between Longland and Elfland authorities.
From then on, the new line has stayed as it was formed after first
Elfland strikes.
The
cease-fire agreement contemplated the deployment of a Peace Enforcement Force
all along the new Border Line. It was accepted from both countries that these
Forces would belong to NATO countries. This plan was accepted by the United
Nations, only until a solution were found to the border issue and the already
Hobbie displaced people from the DNISTER region. Nevertheless, the EDLA
announced that they would attack any Allied asset entering the DNISTER region.
On
30 April 2004, the United Nations Resolution 7904 condemned Elfland’s
violations against Hobbiland sovereignty and requested UN members to lead a
Peace Enforcement Operation to implement the military aspects of the cease-fire
agreement and to assist humanitarian operations.
After
several meetings, the United Nations signed the UN Resolution 7907, on 11 May
2004, addressing the Call for a NATO led Peace Enforcement Force (ORKFOR)
On
15 May 2004 NAC (NATO Atlantic Council) decided to employ the NATO
RESPONSE FORCE (NRF) in Hobbiland.
On
25 May 04: Deployment of ORKFOR. According to NAC decision, the ‘door
is opened’ for Partner Nations to take part in the operation led By NATO
Response Force in Hobbiland. Force Generation Conference was scheduled for all
NATO Countries by the beginning of June.
On
06 Jun 04, NATO ORKFOR started its operation in Hobbiland, sending a first
wave to L’viv Airport, and securing the Air Base. The deployment of the first
wave finished on July 15th, 2004.
On 15 Jun 05, after the establishment of the Buffer Zone, the Follow-On Forces will deploy in the AOR. These FOF will comprise three Brigades, deployed in Hobbiland, whose main mission will be maintain safe and secure environment in the Area and keep Warring Factions off the Buffer Zone.
The
Elfic Dnister Liberation Army (EDLA) group was founded in 2002 by a group
of extremist Elfic hardliners dissatisfied with the moderate nationalism of the
traditional Dnister Elfic Party (DEP).
The
group's aim is the creation of an independent homeland in HOBBILAND’S Dnister
region. The group has a loose commitment to Marxism.
EDLA’s membership is believed to be quite small, perhaps no more than 30 hard-core activists and several hundred supporters.
The
organization's non-hierarchical structure is difficult for the authorities to
penetrate. Its members operate in small self-sufficient cells with only the most
tenuous links with the organization's leadership. While EDLA is operationally
headquartered in the Dnister
EDLA’s violent campaign began with an attempt to derail a train transporting local politicians to a political meeting in Yavoriv.
EDLA’s
most spectacular success was the assassination in March 2004 of Mr. Boris
Trukinsky, leader of the Dnister Elfic Party. Mr. Trukinsky was seen as a
traitor of Dnister Independence having him signed cooperation agreements with
the National Hobbiland Party. EDLA is able to use chemical or bacteriological
weapons and the likelihood of
They
have some sanctuaries or training camps in the Dnister territory and some
operative bases in the mountainous area of the