Lethal Trajectories - Michael Conley [166]
“How about you, General?” Mustafa continued, worried by what he was hearing.
“We are starting to experience shortages in precision avionics and weapon control systems, Your Majesty,” Ali Jabar answered. “We have instituted crash programs to train our technicians, but we can no longer call on Western arms manufacturers for equipment and expertise and are feeling the pinch.”
Mustafa looked down on the report in front of him and the room fell silent. His mood swings were becoming increasingly volatile, and they were frightened.
“I also am troubled by the reports I am reading,” said Mustafa in a rare moment of candor. “Our geologists say we’ve done irreparable damage to the flow rates of several oil fields by cutting back so abruptly on production—that we’ll never produce as much oil as we have in the past. I’m not overly concerned because we’ll still get our price; the real losers will be the oil-dependent infidels and not us. I’m more concerned, however, with the oil storage problems we are having, and to this I have no immediate answer.”
Mustafa took a swig of water and paused before adding, “What I am most troubled about is what I see as a weakening of our protectorate relationships with Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. We know, for instance, that all three are selling more oil on the black market than called for by our agreement. We also know that Kuwait has not been able to completely evict the Western military forces from their northeastern territories. These forces have emboldened our so-called allies, and they have become more defiant. Withdrawing our armored forces to our borders has not helped the situation, and I am concerned.
“Your Excellency,” interjected General Jabar in an uncharacteristically aggressive manner. “Would it make sense to drop a dirty bomb on one of Kuwait’s smaller oil fields as a lesson to others to not deal with our enemy?” The others waited, nervously, for Mustafa to respond.
“General,” said Mustafa, “I have been thinking myself along those very lines, and I think it might be a good idea. Do we have any available dirty bombs, and can we deliver them effectively?”
“Yes, King Mustafa, we do,” answered Ali Jabar, a wide grin on his face. “Surely such a move will convince our erstwhile allies that the infidels can not protect them from our wrath.”
“I would like to think about this, my brothers,” Mustafa replied thoughtfully, “but we must seek ways to regain the initiative and get back on course both inside and outside our borders. We can not let our plans for global jihad die through inaction.”
Though it had been a somber meeting, General Ali Jabar was relieved that Mustafa had not probed further into the death of Al Mishari. No one will ever know of the things I unwisely told Al Mishari. Still, he rationalized, if I had not brought him into the loop, we would not have had the radioactive material we need for the dirty bomb I hope we’ll drop on Kuwait. As for Al Mishari, he is a thing of the past. Or so he thought.
60
Situation Room
2 April 2018
A electrifying sense of excitement filled the crowded Situation Room as the NSC team arrived for the 9:00 a.m. meeting. The addition of several top military officers added to the speculation already fueling many hushed conversations. Unlike recent meetings, called all too often in reaction to a crisis, this gathering had a proactive tone.
Only a handful of people—most of them in the room—had been advised of the defection of Major General Aabid ibn Al Mishari and the treasure trove of information he was providing. The implications for Operation Steel Drum, the plan developed for the liberation of Saudi Arabia, were clear. The buzz of conversation stilled as everyone rose to their feet at the arrival of the president and his chief of staff.
“My friends,” the president said with determination in his voice, “for almost six months now we have planned diligently for the liberation of Saudi Arabia.