Executive orders - Tom Clancy [622]
These new developments-can it be true? his official host asked.
That is the public position of my President and my country, the Secretary of State replied. Thus it had to be true.
Do you have sufficient forces to protect your interests in that region?
Minister, I am not a military expert, and I cannot comment on that, Adler replied. That was entirely true, but a man in a position of strength would probably have said something else.
It would be a great misfortune if you cannot, Zhang observed.
It might have been fun to inquire about the PRC's position on the matter, but the answer would have been neutral and meaningless. Nor would they have said anything about the presence of the Eisenhower battle group, now flying patrols over the international waters of the Formosa Strait. The trick was to make them say anything at all.
The world situation occasionally requires reexamination of one's position on many things, and one must sometimes think carefully about one's friendships, Adler tried. It lay on the table for half a minute.
We have been friends since your President Nixon first courageously came here, the Foreign Minister said after reflection. And we remain so, despite the occasional misunderstanding.
That is good to hear, Minister. We have a saying about friendship in time of need. Okay, think about that one. Maybe the news reports are true. Maybe your friend Daryaei will succeed. The bait dangled for another fifteen seconds.
Really, our only area of permanent discord is America's position on what your President inadvertently called the 'two Chinas.' If only this could be regularized the Minister mused.
Well, as I told you, the President was trying to express himself to reporters in a confusing situation.
And we are to disregard it?
America continues to feel that a peaceful solution to this provincial dispute serves the interests of all parties. That was status quo ante, a position established by a strong, confident America whom China would not challenge openly.
Peace is always preferable to conflict, Zhang said. But how long must we show such great forbearance? These recent events have only served to illustrate the central problem.
A very small push, Adler noted: I understand your frustration, but we all know that patience is the most valuable of virtues.
At some point, patience becomes indulgence. The Foreign Minister reached for his tea. A helpful word from America would be most gratefully received.
You ask that we alter our policy somewhat? SecState wondered if Zhang would speak again after altering the course of the conversation ever so slightly.
Merely that you see the logic of the situation. It would make the friendship of our two nations far more substantial, and it is, after all, a minor issue to countries such as ours.
I see, Adler replied. And he did. It was certain now. He congratulated himself for making them tip their hand. The next call on this would have to be made in Washington, assuming they had the time there for something other than a shooting war.
THE 10TH ACR crossed back into Saudi territory at 03:30L. The Buffalo Cav was now spread in a line thirty miles across. In another hour, they would be astride the UIR army's supply line, having gotten here without any notice. The force was moving faster now, almost thirty miles in an hour. His lead elements had found a few patrol and internal-security units in UIR territory, mainly single vehicles which had been dispatched immediately upon sighting. There would be more now, as soon as they hit the next road. It would be MP units at first-whatever the enemy called them-used for traffic control. There had to be a lot of fuel rolling down the road to KKMC, and that was the first mission of the Buffalo Soldiers.
SECOND BRIGADE OF the Immortals had been under fire for nearly an hour, when orders came to go forward, and the armored vehicles of the former Iranian armored division moved with a will. The two-star in command was in back of the flanking 3rd Brigade now,