Nah you were surrounded by NPCs. Burma, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet, all the way down into the Pacific. But yea, the first stages of the game are always stuff yourself fat on NPC countries until there's none left. Lol, I blitzed down into the Middle East to prevent Rocco from expanding that way. The ERE pledges its support for the elevator. I gotta wait 'till next decade to pay you back though (and Paul/Doom get their money first since they have less to work with).