Executive orders - Tom Clancy [391]
The Germans and the Brits?
Ding nodded. Mainly, especially the naval races.
Your conclusion?
People couldn't recognize the differences between tactical and strategic goals. The guys supposed to be thinking 'future' were thinking 'right now,' instead. Because they confused politics with statecraft, they ended up in a war that brought down the entire European order, and replaced it with nothing more than scar tissue. It was remarkable, Clark thought, listening to the brief discourse, that Ding's voice changed when discussing his school work.
And you're an SPO? SecState asked, with a certain degree of incredulity.
A very Latino grin reappeared. Used to be. Sorry if I don't drag my knuckles on the ground like I'm supposed to, sir.
So why did Ed Foley lay you two on me?
My fault, Clark said. They want us to take a little stroll around and get a smell for things.
Your fault? Scott asked.
I was their training officer, once upon a time, John explained, and that changed the complexion of the conversation entirely.
You're the guys who got Koga out! You're the guys who-
Yeah, we were there, Chavez confirmed. SecState was probably cleared for all that. Lots of fun.
The Secretary of State told himself that he should be offended that he had two field spooks with him-and the younger one's remark about being a knuckle-dragger wasn't that far off. But a master's from George Mason
You're also the guys who sent that report that Brett Hanson pooh-poohed, the one about Goto. That was good work. In fact, it was excellent work. He'd wondered what these two were doing on the SNIE team for the UIR situation. Now he knew.
But nobody listened, Chavez pointed out. It may have been a deciding factor in the war with Japan, and a very hairy time for them in that country. But it had also given him some real insight into how diplomacy and statecraft hadn't changed very much since 1905. It was an ill wind that blew no one good.
I'll listen, Adler promised. Let me know what your little stroll turns up, okay?
Sure will. I guess you have need-to-know on this, John observed, with a raised eyebrow.
Adler turned and waved to one of the attendants, the pretty brunette one whom Clark had tagged as a certain spook. She was just as charming as hell, and drop-dead pretty, but seemed a little too clumsy in the galley to be a full-time flight attendant.
Yes, Monsieur Minister?
How long until we land?
Four hours.
Okay, then, could we have a deck of cards and a bottle of wine?
Certainly. She hustled the twelve feet to get them.
Not supposed to drink on duty, sir, Chavez said.
You're off-duty until we land, Adler told them. And I like to play cards before I go into one of these sessions. Good for the nerves. You gentlemen up to a friendly game?
Well, Mr. Secretary, if you insist, John replied. Now they'd all get a read on the mission. A little five-card stud, maybe?
EVERYBODY KNEW WHERE the line was. No official communiqués had been exchanged, at least not between Beijing and Taipei, but it was known and understood even so, because people in uniform tend to be practical and observant. The PRC aircraft never flew closer than ten nautical miles (fifteen kilometers) to a certain north-south line, and the ROC aircraft, recognizing that fact, kept the same distance from the same invisible bit of longitude. On either side of the line, people could do anything they wanted, appear as aggressive as they wished, expend all the ordnance they could afford, and that was agreed to without so much as a single tactical radio message. It was all in the interest of stability. Playing with loaded guns was always dangerous, as much so for nation-states as for children, though the latter were more easily disciplined-the former were too big for that.
America now had four submarines in the Formosa Strait. These were spotted on-under-the invisible line, which was the safest place to be. A further collection of three ships was now at the north end of the passage, a cruiser, USS Port Royal, along with destroyers The Sullivans and Chandler. All were SAM ships, equipped