Congrats, Michael. I threw in the towel, but the End was already done.
 
World Dip was interesting, and the 28 Supplies was rather abrupt, but this game was dragging at this point, so I welcome the resolution.
 
Obviously no one was watching the victory line, because while Quebec shouted at me that I was basically handing over the game to Congo with our ill-conceived war, there was not talk of the 28.
 
It was an interesting open for me, since my early parlays with Europe suggested a sound alliance, but then he did what I thought was unthinkable, and went all fleets, and I just couldn't resist the early stab since there would be no way for him to defend. An early agreement with Quebec ceded control of London for a loose arrangement and no fear from the west.
 
I initially sided with China as he was beset on other sides, and I figured Persia was a country I could not withstand if he grew. Attempts to work with Persia were fruitless.
 
Sahara was engaged as a natural ally, but that fell through.
 
After ongoing pleading to Persia to not tie up units in the center, he of course tied up units in the center. I had no choice to pound away, and gave him several outs and several arrangements to work out a mutual position. All the while, Congo grew without pressure from his northern neighbors.
 
The new China was failing, but I wanted a prop between myself and Oceania, and supported him.
 
A new Sahara seemed to change some dynamics, but the unappealing nature of diplomacy between the new Sahara, engaging a three-way with pleading and demands that brought in Quebec soured me. Instead of propping up Sahara, I schemed with Congo to divide and conquer.
 
Sahara/Quebec relationships strained the loose agreement in the North Atlantic. Talk of landing troops in Europe killed the Non-agression pact assumed between the two of us. Unfortunately, it tied up my units, prevented me from expanding, and the slow gains against Persia also doomed my chase to victory.
 
I tried to assist Mexico, but obviously it was futile to run a race against a Country (Congo) that had twice as many centers.
 
In hindsight, I should have been part of an anti-Congo alliance, but as was noted, there simply was no direct means of attacking Congo, and by apparent arrangements with Persia and Oceania, there was no direct threat to Congo hegemony in the Southern Hemisphere.
 
Well played.
 
Joe Babinsack