Executive orders - Tom Clancy [138]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, the President.
He had to get out in public fast. Everyone agreed on that. Ryan walked into the press room, stood behind the podium, and looked down at his notes. It was easier than looking out at the room, smaller and shabbier than most parts of the building, built atop the former swimming pool. There were eight rows of six seats each. Every one, he'd seen on the way in, was full.
Thank you for coming in so early, Jack said in as relaxed a voice as he could manage.
Recent events in Iraq affect the security of a region which is of vital interest to America and her allies. We note without grief the death of the Iraqi President. As you know, this individual was responsible for the instigation of two wars of aggression, the brutal suppression of that country's Kurdish minority, and the denial of the most fundamental human rights to his own citizens.
Iraq is a nation which should be prosperous. It has a sizable fraction of the world's petroleum reserves, a respectable industrial base, and a substantial population. All that is lacking in that country is a government which looks after the needs of its citizens. We would hope that the passing of the former leader offers an opportunity for just this. Jack looked up from his notes.
America therefore extends the hand of friendship to Iraq. We hope that there will be an opportunity to normalize relations, and to put an end once and for all to the hostility between Iraq and its Gulf neighbors. I have directed acting Secretary of State Scott Adler to make contact with the Iraqi government, and to offer the chance of a meeting to discuss matters of mutual interest. In the event that the new regime is willing to address the question of human rights, and to commit to free and fair elections, America is willing to address the question of the removal of economic sanctions, and the rapid restoration of normal diplomatic relations.
There has been enough enmity. It is unseemly for a region of such natural wealth to be the site of discord, and America is willing to do her part as an honest broker to assist in bringing peace and stability, along with our friends among the Gulf states. We await a favorable reply from Baghdad so that initial contacts might be established. President Ryan folded the paper away.
That's the end of my official statement. Any questions? That took about a microsecond.
Sir, this morning, as you know, the New York Times shouted first, Vice President Edward Kealty claimed that he is the President and you are not. What do you have to say about that?
The allegation by Mr. Kealty is groundless and totally without value, Jack replied coldly. Next question.
Having forsworn the game, Ryan was now condemned to playing it. Nobody in the room was the least bit fooled by his appearance. The announcement he'd just made could as easily have been delivered by his press secretary or the official State Department spokesman. Instead, he was here in front of the lights, looking at the assembled faces, and feeling rather like a lone Christian in a Coliseum full of lions. Well, that's what the Secret Service was for.
A follow-up-what if he actually didn't resign? the Times insisted over the shouts of others.
He did actually resign. Otherwise, I could not have been appointed. Therefore your question has no meaning.
But, sir, what if he is telling the truth?
He isn't. Ryan took a breath, as Arnie had told him to do, and then went on, saying what Arnie had told him to say. Mr. Kealty resigned his position at the request of President Durling. You all know the reason. He was under investigation by the FBI for sexual misconduct while he was a senator. The investigation was in the matter of a sexual assault-not to say-which Ryan then said-rape of one of his Senate aides. His resignation was part of a deal, a plea bargain, I guess, to avoid criminal prosecution. Ryan paused just then, somewhat surprised to see the assembled faces go a little pale. He'd just hurled down a gauntlet, and it made a loud noise on the floor. The next one was even