Early in the 1600's Portuguese explorers discovered and claimed the island of Khali. The island, located 110nm south of Oman, was inhabited along the northern coast by Arab fisherman and warrior nomads drifted across its central region. Africans, mostly slaves who farmed the land for the few Arab landowners and indigenous tribes subsisting in the southern deltas, were also present in large numbers. Portugal never settled the island and it became a forgotten possession. Except for a small mission and seaport located near the present site of Ghalizi the island was undisturbed until 1901 when the British realized the strategic value of Khali. Britain decided the Portuguese claim to the island was weak at best so they sent an expeditionary force to secure the island. The Portuguese never challenged the British action and Khali fell into the Queen's sphere of influence. With the outbreak of WWII, Khali proved it's strategic value. The island was used as a staging and training base for ANZACS headed for the North African theater of operations. It also served as an operating base for British and Commonwealth special service teams being flown into North Africa. At the conclusion of the Second World War many Australian veterans settled in the country and formed the nucleus for what would become the Independence Party of Khali. In 1960 Khali was granted independence by the Queen of England and the first president of the new democracy was elected in 1961. Khali established a working combination of socialized healthcare and education and a free market economy. William Collins also developed a unique banking system that quickly became recognized worldwide as a safehaven for those who needed to avoid taxes In 1963 a populist movement in the western part of the country, fostered by Soviet agitators, developed into a widespread insurgency. The Australian SAS provided mobile training teams to the elected government of Khali starting in 1964. Cuban and Soviet advisors continued to instigate the Popular Front for a New Khali throughout the 1960's. Eventually, the conflict culminated in the 1969 War of Independence. The war resulted in the partitioning of Khali into two independent nation states. East Khali remained a democracy with a moderate nature and close ties to the free nations of the world. West Khali became a reclusive state with ties to Moscow and various radical movements around the globe. The small island of El Amir, located off of the northern coast of Khali, was claimed by both counties. In 1987 a Muslim Fundamentalist by the name of Ahmed Khofar emerged as a religious and political force in West Khali. Within six months Khofar had most of the Muslim Arab population of the country engaged in open rebellion against the ruling regime. Within twelve months Khofar had seized power and declared the country to be a fundamentalist state loyal only to Allah. The religious fervor continued and the non Muslim Africans in West Khali were jailed and killed at an astonishing rate. When Khofar was finished in West Khali he turned his attention towards the east and eventually attacked towards Ghalizi in 1989. His forces were met and defeated at Afkhar after ten days of continuous fighting. This ten-day war of aggression has come to be known as The Coastal War. Notes on East Khali A Democracy with a native population of about 1.2 million. Most are of Arab descent. They are 50% Muslims and 50% Christians. A minority of Afro-Khali's, living primarily in the southern regions, practice tribal religions. Mining, Fishing and International Banking are the primary enterprises in the country. The government maintains military assistance and trade treaties with the United States, Australia, England, Canada, and South Africa. Its closest ties remain with Australia. Approximately 40,000 foreign nationals live and work in East Khali. The Khali National Defense Force is a well-trained volunteer force with experienced and professional leadership. The KNDF is composed of The Senior Command and Staff Group, two Combat Commands, the Coast Guard and the Air Guard, who are all assisted by an Australian Military Advisory Group and a USMC Military Assistance Team. The KNDF is currently structured as follows: Combat Command Ghalizi: one Armor Battalion, one Mechanized Infantry Battalion, one Light Infantry Battalion, two Long Range Reconnaissance Companies, one Combat Support Company (engineers), one Air Defense Detachment, one Intelligence Detachment, two Logistical Support Companies. Combat Command Jarmak: one Marine Battalion, one Marine Recon Detachment, two Special Boat Squadrons, one Combat Support Company, one Intelligence Detachment, and one Logistical Support Company. Coast Guard: the Northern Watch consisting of four Coastal Patrol Sections, one Search and Rescue Section, one Salvage and Recovery Section and the Southern Watch consisting of two Coastal Patrols and one Search and Rescue Section. Air Guard: one Close Support Squadron and two Interceptor Squadrons. Australian Military Advisory Group: approximately 24 Australian SAS personnel and 100 Australian regular Army/Navy personnel who provide training and operational/intelligence assistance. USMC Military Assistance Team: approximately 50 US Marines stationed in/near Jarmak who provide training and operational assistance. KNDF doctrine divides the country into two primary Areas of Operation; the north and the south. The northern AO is centered on Ghalizi with a strong forward presence at Afkhar. The forces deployed within the nor-them AO are trained to conduct combined arms operations in the open, dry, and difficult desert terrain of the region. The southern AO is centered on Jarmak. Forces deployed within the region are trained and equipped to conduct operations throughout the tropical rainforest and along the coastal waterways that are predominant in the south. The Long Range Reconnaissance Companies and the Marine Recon Detachment are considered to be the elite forces of the KNDF. Notes on West Khali A Muslim Fundamentalist government, consisting of a ruling assembly and an Ayatollah, who controls a population of approximately 1.7 million. Approximately half of the population is of Arab descent. The other half is Afro-Khali. The Arabs are exclusively Muslim (fundamentalist) and the Afro-Khalis are about 1/3 Muslim, 1/3 Christian, and 1/3 practice tribal religions. Off shore oil wells in the vicinity of Assam and textile manufacturing are the main enterprises in the country. The government and military maintain close ties to Libya, Syria, Afghanistan and Iran. It has its closest ties with the Taliban Ruling Party of Afghanistan. There are approximately 2000 foreign nationals in the country and most of them are military or technical advisors. The West Khali Armed Forces, commonly called the Sword of Allah, are a combination of conscripted Arabs and Afro-Khalis with minimal training, veteran volunteers who have been trained by foreign advisors and fought in The Coastal War, and The elite Revolutionary Guard. There is a small cadre of mercenary Afghan expatriates and Syrian military officers/NCOs who act as advisors to the force. The Sword of Allah is currently structured as follows: The Supreme Command: ten senior officers and their aides who serve at the discretion of the ruling assembly and the Ayatollah. The Revolutionary Guard: one Armored Brigade, one Mechanized Infantry Brigade, one Close Support Company, the Special Intelligence Service, and the El-Ghir Commando. Army Security Force/District No 1: one Mechanized Infantry Battalion, one Air Defense Company, one Support Company, and one Intelligence and Security Section. Army Security Force/District No2: same as above Army Security Force/District No3 one Light Infantry Battalion, one Air Defense Company, one Amphibious Support Company, and one Intelligence and Security Section Ghofar independent Tank Battalion Navy 21 missile frigates and coastal patrol boats. Air Force: two Fighter Wings and two Attack Wings (one fixed and one rotary). Syrian Advisory Group: Approximately 100 personnel divided between the three Security Districts. Afghan Mercenaries: Approximately 120 personnel divided between three training camps. The operational plans for the West Khali Armed Forces focus on the three security districts and the protection of the off shore oil fields near Assam. Security District No I, which is the northernmost district and includes the capital of Ramel, and the off shore oil fields are the primary factors in all military decision-making. The El-Ghir Commando is a 500-man unit highly trained in urban warfare, hostage rescue, maritime ops, and the assault of off shore and free standing structures. The Revolutionary Guard is a tough and determined force and they are willing to conduct offensive operations in the face of incredible odds. Wargaming Khali: 1969 War of Independence, The Coastal War of 1989, and The Millenium Conflict Back to MWAN #103 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2000 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com