Executive orders - Tom Clancy [372]
Good news, Daryaei knows that, and he can't move all that fast. If he starts moving troops south-
The Agency will give us warning, Goodley said confidently. We know what to look for, and they're not sophisticated enough to hide it.
If we run troops into Kuwait now, it will be perceived as an aggressive act, Adler warned. Better we should meet with Daryaei first and sound him out.
Just so we give him the right signal, Vasco put in.
Oh, we won't make that mistake, and I think he knows that the status of the Gulf countries is a top-drawer item with us. No mixed signals this time. Ambassador April Glaspie had been accused of giving such a signal to Saddam Hussein in the summer of 1990-but she'd denied Hussein's account, and the latter wasn't all that reliable a source of information. Maybe it had been a linguistic nuance. Most likely of all, he'd heard exactly what he'd wanted to hear and not what had actually been said, a habit frequently shared by heads of state and children.
How fast can you set it up? the President asked.
Pretty fast, the Secretary of State replied.
Do it, Ryan ordered. All possible speed. Ben?
Yes, sir.
I talked with Robby Jackson already. Coordinate with him for a plan to get a modest security force rapid-deployed over there. Enough to show that we're interested, not enough to provoke them. Let's also call Kuwait and tell them that we're here if they need us, and that we can deploy to their country if they so request. Who's on-deck for this?
Twenty-fourth Mech, Fort Stewart, Georgia. I checked, Goodley said, rather proud of himself. Their second brigade is on rotating alert-status now. Also a brigade of the 82nd at Fort Bragg. With the equipment warehoused in Kuwait, we can do the match-up and be rolling in as little as forty-eight hours. I'd also advise increasing the readiness state of the Maritime Pre-Positioning Ships at Diego Garcia. That we can do quietly.
Nice job, Ben. Call the SecDef and tell him I want it done-quietly.
Yes, Mr. President.
I'll tell Daryaei that we offer a friendly hand to the United Islamic Republic, Adler said. Also that we're committed to peace and stability in that region, and that means territorial integrity. I wonder what he'll say ?
Eyes turned to Bert Vasco, who was learning to curse his newly acquired status as resident genius. He might just have wanted to rattle their cage. I don't think he wants to rattle ours.
That's your first hedge, Ryan observed.
Not enough information, Vasco replied. I don't see that he wants a conflict with us. That happened once, and everybody watched. Yes, he doesn't like us. Yes, he doesn't like the Saudis or any of the other states. But, no, he doesn't want to take us on. Maybe he could knock them all off. That's a military call, and I'm just an FSO. But not with us in the game, and he knows it. So, political pressure on Kuwait and the Kingdom, sure. Beyond that, however, I don't see enough to be worried about.
Yet, the President added.
Yes, sir, yet, Vasco agreed.
Am I leaning on you too hard, Bert?
It's okay, Mr. President. At least you listen to me. It wouldn't hurt for us to generate a Special National Intelligence Estimate of the UIR's full capabilities and intentions. I need broader access to what the intel community's generating.
Jack turned. Ben, the SNIE is ordered. Bert's on the team with full access, by my order. You know, guys, giving orders can be fun, the President added, with a smile to break up the tension that the meeting had generated. This is a potential problem, but not a ball-buster yet, correct? There were nods. Okay. Thank you, gentlemen. Let's keep an eye on this one.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES FLIGHT 26 landed five minutes later, coming to the terminal at 10:25 A.M. The first-class passengers, having enjoyed wider, softer seats,