Re: Will of the Senate - Senate Deliberations II
Debeltos, Byzantion... I care not for these places. We are told that we must pursue and destroy the Greeks and Macedonians once and for all. Yet are not both of those nations surrounded by hostile empires of great size who are also at war against them? They will be gone in due time. We are also told that these are strategic locations and profitable trade centers. Yet their entire strategic significance only comes into play when all territory to their west is in our hands. Isolated as they are, they would be liabilities rather than benefits.
No, Senators, the only reason to take these places is to force a war between us and Alexander's successors. Why is this a war Rome needs to fight? Why should citizens die in the fields against these civilized nations who have done us no harm? I shall not support such an endeavor.
If you wish war, I promise you that one will soon be upon you in the west. Iberia has made clear their intentions many times and they are far more powerful than the Gauls ever were. A single defeat in that theatre resulted in the occupation of a Roman province south of the Alps. Can the same be said of such a defeat in the East? Even after Amulius Coruncanius was killed and his army laid waste, there was no panic in Rome. Yet one defeat at Massilia Ford and many were afraid the Gauls were marching to this very place. We have an enemy at our very doorstep, an uncivilized and fearsome race which does not understand honor and proper civilized politics. If we must engage in yet another war immediately, let us do so there, where our interests are truly at stake.
Still, I would prefer a rest to restore the Legions and build infrastructure to support them. We can accomplish greater conquests after a short rest than we can if we continue to push.
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