Have they not seen cruise ships? I think they may be iterating on engineering problems that are largely solved.

If they want their own country, do it the old fashioned way and either declare independence or conquer one. This isn't an engineering problem, or rather, the only meaningful one involved is that of how to establish air superiority. The rest is economics and blackmail. Unexceptional people have been doing it for milennia.

It's pretty simple, you just say, "here are the new rules, and we regret to inform you that we intend to kill anyone who doesn't abide by them. However, here's some bread and circuses while you think it over." Probably even easier than reading half way through one of their tedious internet screeds I'd bet.