On Sun, 27 Oct 1996 xerxes@hkstar.com wrote:
> At 04:36 PM 10/25/96 -0500, Wayne H. Yin wrote:
>
> >At 11:26 AM 96.10.25, Mark David wrote:
> >
> >>> Nukes aren't used in surface battles; only in space. That's the "unwritten
> >>> law," which is why the Westerland incident was so shocking, even to
> >>> the Imperials.
> >>
> >> Speaking of which, letting it happen was the wrong discision on the
> >> part of Reinhard.
> >>
> > actually, didn't reinhard ultimately to decide to dispatch a fleet to
> >intercept the nukes? as i recall, oberstein lied to reinhard about the
> >nukes' ETA to westerland and sent a scout vessel to make sure the incident
> >was caught on film (or whatever they use in the empire).
>
> > as angry as he was with oberstein, he assumed responsibility for
> >allowing the disaster to happen.
>
>
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>
> This is one of the parts where the anime differs from the novel.
>
> According to the novel, Reinhardt considered Oberstein's proposal
> strategically wise and was thus obliged to refrain from intercepting the
> nuclear attack in spite of his great detest for the idea and full
> anticipation of Kircheis's displeasure. Much of his remorse was the result
> of the sight of the horrible scene of the disaster at Westland.
>
> IMO, the change in the anime is probably made to transfer the blame to
> Oberstein and portray Reinhardt's personality as one more acceptable to the
> general audience. This arrangement compares strangely with the other parts
> of the story. For being indecisive is untypical of Reinhardt - more so when
> urgent action should be taken. Leaving the crisis unattended as if it
> simply slipped one's mind is unpardonable.
>
> As Reinhardt's faithful servant, Oberstein's conduct was irreproachable.
> Oberstein might be accused of conspiring against the "potential enemies" of
> the Reich without reporting to Reinhardt but, if one is to follow the Mr.
> Tanaka's novel strictly, one finds no occassion in which he ever lied to
> Reinhardt or defied Reinhardt's instructions. Doing so contradicts his
> scheme to establish Reinhardt as the ultimate authority in government of the
> Reich. If Reinhardt explicity rejected/disapprove his proposal, I am of the
> opinion that Oberstein would drop it.
> _______________________________________________________________________________
>
> Xerxes J.
> <xerxes@hkstar.com>
>
>