I could put a dozen quotes here but i think people can work out what i am answering.
Going to war is a hostile act period. In no terms can this be seen as non-aggression. Establishing an embassy is not justification for doing so, no matter which way you look at it. I don't remember you going to war when KISS did the same thing arounf turn 60.
As to the comments that it must have been hostile since we cut all trade ties, is also rubbish. We cut our trade ties with MIA because we found out they were full of BS. Given Fe's comments about dealing with the dark side (which he snipped afterwards) and MIA's quick defeat of KISS we had reason to worry. We built the embassy to see what they had, simple as that. By establishing the embassy it gave MIA the same oppertunity to look at us. As for the accusation that we were stealing technology, i would like to see the proof. Had we tried to do so we would have broken the treaty and MIA would have justification for going to war, even the game gives you that option. But unlike some teams we uphold treaties, even the spirit of treaties, we don't look for loopholes.
We found out MIA were support TNT who we were at war with, while not only having a treaty with us, but wanting to make it a permanant arrangement for the rest of the game. That is why we cut our trade deals and did not wish to renew any treaties. Why would we want to deal with someone who was lying to us. Fe says its good game strategy, which it might be from his point of view, but lying and exploiting others isn't going to win you friends in the long term.
Donsig, your right diplomacy isn't always about being fair, but your wrong as to why so many people are annoyed. It is not because MIA were underhanded in their dealings with others, by all means good for them if they can get away with that. What is annoying is that they have been caught out but insist how innocent they are and how they have been completely honourable, which is plain and clear (and self admitted by fe in one of his posts) utter BS. Just spare us the crap, and get on the game. You have no friends because of your underhanded dealing and now you have to live with it.
Finally you get to stay in your phoney war as the admins have said its not against the rules, that phoney wars are only about WW not embassies. I wonder how quickly you will run to the admins when the WW start to cripple you because we wont be signing peace. Although i don't see how you could get them to make us go to peace since you started the phoney war yourselfs.
Good luck with the rest of the game as you will get nothing further from us.