An interesting suggestion overknight. I would tend to agree that Durazzo is more trouble than it is initially worth.
Here's what you get from Durazzo:
1. You get an early warning system against Venetian and Sicilian incursions.
2. You get a much needed, easily built castle province that won't interfere with your greater trade policies in the Greek Isles.
3. A great place to defend, in the mountains and passes, against any invaders.
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Here's what you get if you don't take Durazzo:
1. A base of operations for your enemies right next to a major city of yours.
2. No real warning against invasion, because once you let them have Durazzo, they can wait on the border and threaten to strike you, but not strike you, requiring the long term commitment of troops to defend a core province.
3. The land route between Corinth and Thessalonica can be easily cut off by marauders
4. Al Qaeda may in fact form a base in Durazzo. That is why we need to invade it, and then occupy it for 100 years. Otherwise the people of the Eastern Roman Empire will be made less safe. I've asked Congress to renew the bill which allows our spy network to intercept messengers on horseback and to covertly view scrolls that others may be reading. But Congress has not passed that bill, and it's making us unsafe. I know I was not elected Emperor, but if I were elected, it would mean that I had the will of the people.
A mandate, to make the people more safe. And that is why I created the spy network. There are some allegations of hidden interrogation centers and prison camps for captured prisoners. Some have questioned my policy of not releasing prisoners from the battlefield. My assassins are currently dealing with those people. I'm just kidding, there Jonathan Q. Publikopolous. Heh heh heh.
(Shoulders flapping up and down.)
(Suddenly serious)
As for the energy bill before Congress, I propose that our horses begin a regimen of eating nothing but sugar cubes rather than waste valuable oats. I know the price of oats has gone up to 3 denari per amphora. Some analysts predict it will go up to 4 denari. However, raising taxes on the oat companies will only raise the price of oats even higher. I suggest we begin looking for more sources of oats at home. We must find a way to rid ourselves of our dependence on foreign oats.
As for the border, there has been a rise of illegal immigration from the nearby Catholic province of Sofia. Several priests are inside our borders attempting to convert our population to Catholocism. I've met with the leader of Hungary, and I looked him in the eyes, and I think he's a good man. I trust him. So when he says that these evildoers crossing our border and making mischief is not the first step in an invasion, I believe him.
I also understand there is some contention between my chosen heir, Jonothan Makain, and his rivals, Hillarious Klintonopolous and Barack Obampolous. However, I will not comment on which should be the successor to the Empire and what their individual foreign policies are, as that would be improper for a sitting Emperor. Besides, there's still a chance that Ronnious Paulopolous could win the nomination. And that Baptist guy.
Folks, we are currently engaged in the pivotal struggle of this, the twelfth century. We are currently engaged in a battle with an
axis of evil; Venice, Sicily, and one of those Koreas. If we turn our backs on the province of Durazzo, the Catholics will establish a base there from which to attack us. In this moment of great uncertainty, we must not withdraw our troops from Durazzo.
Thank you, and good night.
https://i255.photobucket.com/albums/...guy2/prez2.jpg