@Monkey:
Haha yes, and I'm sure Waterworld has an a tank division.
Damn right this is stupid semantics.
Maybe. But I think people should know that Navy = Naval forces. Army = Land forces when you use "literally". If you didn't know that, now you do.
@Monkey:
More than simply that. Obviously if there were (and it's been suggested that there are) other political entities in the world. In the event of war the Marines would no doubt be utilized. Bellemere found Nami and Nojiko in the middle of some unnamed war that was never suggested to be some pirate skirmish, Bellemere says she went to war.
I'm not saying those non WG members are powerful or anything, but they do exist. It's been mentioned the Shichibukai have free reign of attacking them, and the fact that the WG has member countries means there must be non-members.
Skypiea by virtue of extreme isolation can be counted as a non-member.
This doesn't really disagree with anything I said. I know the Marines would used for war with outside entities. I was talking about keeping security inside. Also, the Shichibukai are used to "liberate" countries for the World Government. Which is a euphemism for taking them over.
@Monkey:
Guards are guards, I doubt it's anymore complicated than having as assigned security staff who are super strong. Like the staff at Impel Down, or the staff at Enies Lobby.
I'm sure Mariejois has something too. I'm not sure why you're directing this at me?
Well, you did use the Marines and the Cipher Pols as analogs for the Navy and the CIA/MI6/KGB etc. I was just adding to the discussion. Though, I should've added quotes from other people that interested me. That said, you might be right on that one. I wasn't putting that stuff out as a definite prediction, as in me believing all that will definitely appear.
@Monkey:
So some of the Cipher Pols then lol.
No. I didn't mention that because I believed they'd appear in Mariejois (In fact, I don't think they'll appear there at all). I mentioned it because I thought that maybe some of them might already deal with intelligence in other solely WG territories.
@Monkey:
You do know what paramilitary force is right…? It's not something that's gonna show up in Mariejois. Or...by the entire nature of what Paramilitary is...be some enshrined group we haven't met yet.
Yeah, I do. Here's an example of one. Not that implausible to me. But again, This isn't me saying "they're definitely gonna appear!". Just opening the door to the possibility.
@Monkey:
Um….where and when was it ever stated that the CP's dealt with foreign threats alone. Not to mention what do you even mean by foreign.
CP9's entire mission dealt with operations on Water7, which is very obviously a member of the WG, so not a foreign entity at all.
The series basically doesn't have much foreign at all, I'm pretty sure 90% of what we've seen has been territory under the governance of the WG. With the sole exceptions being Skypiea and uninhabited islands like Little Garden.
Hell even Tonjit on Long Ring Long Island talked about Aokiji like he was clearly a citizen of the WG. And that was just a bunch of grassy circles that a few nomads move around on.
It wasn't stated, but it seemed some of them do.
Basically what I meant by "foreign" is that while around 170 countries are member states of the World Government, they are, officially, only affiliated with them, and have their own autonomy. So CP9's operations in Water 7 would be treated as a foreign intelligence operation.
The WG is supposed to act like the UN, but apparently unlike the UN, it's its own superpower.
@Monkey:
Foreign threats have never ever been presented as an issue in the modern setting of OP. Pirates, Terrorists/Rebels, Scholars, Civil Wars of member countries…. when have we ever ever seen a foreign country involved against the WG excepting MAYBE the Bellemere flashback?
Seeing as how the WG has so much power I highly doubt they'd have even more than one CP group devoted to dealing with those few-non member countries, probably a group we'll never see due to no relevance (like CP2 or something wimpy).
I'm pretty sure the WG even considers Dragon and his army to be internal rebels rather than a foreign entity. It wouldn't be rebellion or revolution if it wasn't coming from inside.
Dragon is considered as a global-scale terrorist. In the Wapol arc there was a flashback in the World Summit with one the kings mentioning how much of threat he'll become to their kingdoms. The fact that there is a World Summit would suggest that the WG at least recognizes (or maintains some pretense) of some level of autonomy within those nations.
They sorta are examples of how the WG deals with countries outside them. They have the Shichibukai "liberate" them.
Also, I mentioned that some of the lower Cipher Pols might be the ones for internal security. Basically like the FBI, instead of the CIA. So obviously they wouldn't deal with Dragon, who instigates revolutions and uses warfare within, or perhaps between countries to spread his ideals. He's seems to be spreading a global movement, or ideology, but at this point, it's unclear what it is.
@Monkey:
Yeah I'm pretty sure we met them a long time ago.
As much real world ranking as Oda bases his stuff on, it's a huge mistake to think the WG has a real life basis system wise beyond a certain point. Even more of a mistake to assume it's similar to a western democracy. I mean it's pretty obviously NOT a democracy, even if some of the member states are democratic (Drum).
If I can think of anything similar irl to the apparent WG set up I'd go with Iran. People vote and have elections, but there's a permanent non-elected ruling council and boss above all of the democratic stuff that calls the real shots. The Gorusei = Ayatollah basically.
I mean you don't really think they get voted into those spots in the Gorusei right lol?
We've seen them handle direct instructions with all sorts of things. I'd not be surprised if at the end of the day, Kong, Sengoku/Sakasuki, the CP's (we've SEEN this), and whoever else all get their final orders and advisements from the Gorusei.
The Gorosei are the chief authority of the World Government. As in deal with everything, not just military-wise. They're not an advisory board to the commander-in-chief. The commander-in-chief reports to them. I'm talking about the possibility of someone, or maybe a board if (though that seems like a long shot), under the commander-in-chief, but technically over the Marines, who acts within a military function. Like a Chief of Staff, or as I call it over here, a First Sea Lord. Think of it as Kong getting his own personal Brannew. Also, those things don't require a western-style democracy, or any type of democracy to have them. Just a really large military organisation. Like the WG's Marines.
Also, Drum Kingdom (now Sakura Kingdom) being democratic would add to my point about the WG at least allowing some autonomy (They didn't handpick a leader).
@Monkey:
When was it ever said the bureaucracy was large?
Jimbei simply mentioned that people in the WG wanted Akainu. That could be five people. Maybe a few others, I'm sure there is some position held by Spandine for instance. But beyond that?
Jinbei mentioned the "echelons" of the WG. That would imply that it's got a lot of bureaucrats in there. Spandine, for all we know, may be the head of another Cipher Pol. Or, maybe the head of the WG's intelligence organisations in general