Fix a country!

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Actually, one point in Mauritania's favour is that I believe it has very few Libertarians.

[Lancer]

They should invade some other country to get the economy going.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp
Actually, one point in Mauritania's favour is that I believe it has very few Libertarians.

And yes, Laz is correct. Mauritania has slavery. It's not legal, but it's not illegal. In fact, if you want to be ammong the world's truely decadent, you can fly there and buy yourself a slave.

[Kropotkin]

As I've understood it, most of that oil is off the coast of western sahara. For that oil to be a viable option to get some much needed cash and a positive trade balance to the country we (or they) have to let all democratic and humanitarian goals aside. That's not good in the long run as it's probably something that will lead to (even more) conflicts in the future. Like the current situation in Sudan for example. Without a sound political system all the money that the oil would bring in would probably be wasted on the elite and the army instead of important things like basic education. Furthermore, much of the profits will probably flee the country sooner or later instead of being invested in more productive industries.

[Sandman]

A very small population; just under 3m.

Securing the fishing grounds and removing foreign fishing vessels should be a primary concern. Especially the factory fishing vessels from the EU and Japan. Dunno how you'd do it without pissing them off too much, but in the long run, it could be worth it. Club together with the other West African nations to enforce a 100km fishing exclusion zone, perhaps.

Desert irrigation is a complete and utter waste of time, if you ask me. The money spent on it could be more profitably spent elsewhere (like sanitation or education), or just used to take the brunt of revenge by the fishing invaders. It's far too hi-tech for a country as impoverished as Mauritania. It will probably result in salt filled soils and even less drinking water than before.

[Az]

We're doing it ok. It's not a waste of time. Avocadoes in the desert, baby! They sell very well in europe.

I agree with you on the fishing. there are problems, though. Those same countries that send their fishing fleets (EU, Japan) are probably the largest customers for our iron ore.

[chequita guevara]

So sell steel instead of iron ore. BTW, enforce a 200K exclusive economic zone. Seize any ships stealing our fish.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Azazel
We're doing it ok. It's not a waste of time.

1. Isreal is a very small country.

2. Israel is strong enough to steal it's neighbor's water and get away with it.

[Kropotkin]

Might be a bit to hard to compete on the steel market as well. Don't got any figures handy but considering the trade wars between the US and EU a small african country would stand no chance. They'll have to find some market where they got an advantage more than a large pool of unskilled workers.

[chequita guevara]

Well, then, let's make something with our steel. Everyone needs steel pipes, right, so let's make steel pipes. Forget selling them to Europe and the U.S., sell them in Africa and cut out the imperialist middle man.

[Az]

Originally posted by Kropotkin
Might be a bit to hard to compete on the steel market as well. Don't got any figures handy but considering the trade wars between the US and EU a small african country would stand no chance. They'll have to find some market where they got an advantage more than a large pool of unskilled workers.

a large pool of unskilled workers screams 'textile industry'. and sadly, we're going to need foreign investors for that. we'll demand higher wages, so our economy will get more out of it. but it will be offset by the proximity to european and NA markets. Btw, We need more port facilities! How can we afford them?

1. Isreal is a very small country.

Irrelevant.

2. Israel is strong enough to steal it's neighbor's water and get away with it.

Israel managed to do it before it 'stole it's neighbours' water. back in the 50s and early 60s.

We, OTOH have that river in the south, forgot it's name.

[Buck Birdseed]

Time to respond rapidly. What do you do about this?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3254431.stm

[Ramo]

a large pool of unskilled workers screams 'textile industry'.

The textile industry happens to be one of the most protected in the West (primarily in the form of quotas and the like). It has even less of a chance of succeeding than steel.

[Shi Huangdi]

Execute Captured opposition leader, declare self God-Emperor, invade France.

[Ramo]

Time to respond rapidly. What do you do about this?

Pass it off as a pivotal victory in the war on terror (the opposition leader is Islamist), and get massive subsidies from the US?