Executive orders - Tom Clancy [307]
Number one, he asks any question he wants. That means you have to think about the answers.
I do try, Arnie, Ryan observed with a frown.
Emphasize the fact that you're a citizen and not a politician. It might not matter to Donner, but it will matter to the people who watch the interview tonight, van Damm advised. Expect a hit on the court thing.
Who leaked that? Ryan demanded crossly.
We'll never know, and trying to find out only makes you look like Nixon.
Why is it that no matter what I do, somebody-damn, Ryan sighed as Mary Abbot finished with his hair. I told George Winston that, didn't I?
You're learning. If you help some little old lady to cross the street, some feminist will say that it was condescending. If you don't help her, the AARP will say you're insensitive to the needs of the elderly. Throw in every other interest group there is. They all have agendas, Jack, and those agendas are a lot more important to them than you are. The idea is to offend as few people as possible. That's different from offending nobody. Trying to do that offends everybody, the chief of staff explained.
Ryan's eyes went wide. I got it! I'll say something to piss everybody off-and then they'll all love me.
Arnie wasn't buying: And every joke you tell will piss somebody off. Why? Humor is always cruel to someone, and some people just don't have a sense of humor to begin with.
In other words, there's people out there who want to get mad at something, and I'm the highest-profile target.
You're learning, the chief of staff observed with a grim nod. He was worried about this one.
WE HAVE MARITIME Pre-Positioning Ships at Diego Garcia, Jackson said, touching the proper point on the map.
How much is there? Bretano asked.
We just reconfigured the TOE-
What's that? SecDef asked.
Table of Organization and Equipment. General Michael Moore was the Army's chief of staff. He'd commanded a brigade of the First Armored Division in the Persian Gulf War. The load-out is enough for a little better than a brigade, a full-sized heavy Army brigade, along with all the consumables-they need for a month's combat operations. Added to that, we have some units set in Saudi Arabia. The equipment is almost all new, M1A2 main battle tanks, Bradleys, MLRS. The new artillery tracks will be shipped out in three months. The Saudis, he added, have been helping on the funding side. Some of the equipment is technically theirs, supposedly reserve equipment for their army, but we maintain it, and all we have to do is fly our people over to roll it out of the warehouses.
Who would go first, if they ask for help?
Depends, Jackson answered. Probably the first out would be an ACR-Armored Cavalry Regiment. In a real emergency, we'd airlift the personnel from the 10th ACR in the Negev Desert. That can be done in as little as a single day. For exercises, the 3rd ACR out of Texas or the 2nd out of Louisiana.
An ACR, Mr. Secretary, is a well-balanced brigade-sized formation. Lots of teeth, but not much tail. It can take care of itself, and people will think twice before taking it on, Mickey Moore explained, adding, Before they can deploy for a lengthy stay, however, they need a combat-support battalion-supply and repair troops.
We still have a carrier in the Indian Ocean-she's at Diego now with the rest of the battle group to give the crews some shore leave, Jackson went on. Which just about covered that atoll with sailors, but it was something. At least they could have a beer or two, and stretch their legs and play softball. We have an F-16 wing-well, most of one-in the Negev as well, as part of our commitment to Israeli security. That and the 10th Cav are pretty good. Their continuing mission is to train up the IDF, and it keeps them busy.
Soldiers love to train, Mr. Secretary. They'd rather do that than anything, General Moore added.
I need to get out and see some of this stuff, Bretano observed. Soon as