Executive orders - Tom Clancy [176]
The Boston Globe leaped to his feet. Mr. President, what about where the life of the mother is in danger, the Catholic Church-
The answer to that is obvious. The life of the mother is the paramount consideration.
But the Church used to say-
I don't speak for the Catholic Church. As I said earlier, I cannot violate the law.
But you want the law changed, the Globe pointed out.
Yes, I think it would be better for everybody if the matter was returned to the state legislatures. In that way the people's elected representatives can write the laws in accordance with the will of their electorates.
But then, the San Francisco Examiner pointed out, we'd have a hodgepodge of laws across the country, and in some areas abortion would be illegal.
Only if the electorate wants it that way. That's how democracy works.
But what about poor women?
It's not for me to say, Ryan replied, feeling the beginnings of anger, and wondering how he'd ever gotten into this mess.
So, do you support a constitutional amendment against abortion? the Atlanta Constitution demanded.
No, I don't think that's a constitutional question. I think it is properly a legislative question.
So, the New York Times summarized, you are personally against abortion on moral and religious grounds, but you will not interfere with women's rights; you plan to appoint conservative justices to the new Supreme Court who will probably overturn Roe, but you don't support a constitutional amendment to outlaw freedom of choice. The reporter smiled. Exactly what do you believe in on this issue, sir?
Ryan shook his head, pursed his lips, and bit off his first version of an answer to the impertinence. I thought I just made that clear. Shall we go on to something else?
Thank you, Mr. President! a senior reporter called loudly, so advised by the frantic gestures of Arnold van Damm. Ryan left the podium puzzled, walked around the corner, then another until he was out of sight. The chief of staff grabbed the President by the arm, and nearly pushed him against the wall, and this time the Secret Service didn't move a muscle.
Way to go, Jack, you just pissed off the entire country!
What do you mean? the President replied, thinking, Huh?
I mean you don't pump gas in your car when you're smoking a cigarette, God damn it! Jesus! Don't you know what you just did? Arnie could see that he didn't. The pro-choice people now think you're going to take their rights away. The pro-life people think you don't care about their issue. It was just perfect, Jack. You alienated the whole fucking country in five minutes! Van Damm stormed off, leaving his President outside the Cabinet Room, afraid that he'd really lose his temper if he said anything more.
What's he talking about? Ryan asked. The Secret Service agents around him didn't say anything. It wasn't their place-politics-and besides, they were split on the issue as much as the country was.
IT WAS LIKE taking candy from a baby. And after the initial shock, the baby cried pretty loud.
BUFFALO SIX, this is GUIDON SIX, over. Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Masterman-Duke to his peers-stood atop Mad Max II, his M1A2 Abrams command tank, microphone in one hand, and binoculars in the other. Before him, spread over about ten square miles in the Negev Training Area, were the Merkava tanks and infantry carriers of the Israeli army's 7th Armored Brigade, all with yellow lights blinking and purple smoke rising from their turrets. The smoke was an Israeli innovation. When tanks were hit in battle, they burned, and when the MILES gear receptors recorded a laser hit they set off the marker. But the idea had been for the Israelis to count coup that way on the OpFor. Only four of Masterman's tanks and six of his M3 Bradley Scout tracks were similarly dead.
GUIDON, BUFFALO, came the return call from Colonel Scan Magruder, commander of the 10th Buffalo Armored Cavalry Regiment.
I think this one's about concluded, Colonel, over. The fire sack is full.
Roger that, Duke. Come on down for the AAR. We're going to have one really pissed Israeli in