Line of Control - Tom Clancy [75]
"If we decide to move forward with a search and rescue, you'll be hooking up in the mountains north of there," Herbert said.
"That's where we've pinpointed the cell."
"Colonel August, if we decide to go ahead with this mission you'll have to jump your people into the Himalayas near the Siachin Glacier, link up with the cell, and get them through the line of control," Hood said.
"This is an extremely high-risk operation. I need an honest answer. Is Striker up for it?"
"The stakes are also high," August said.
"We have to be up for it."
"Good man," Herbert muttered.
"Damn good man."
"People, one thing I have to point out is that the Indians are not going to be your only potential enemies," Liz said.
"You also have to worry about the psychological state of the Pakistani cell. They're under extreme physical and psychological duress. They may not believe that you're allies. The nature of people in this situation is to trust no one outside the group."
"Those are very good points and we'll have to talk about them," Hood told her.
"There's something else we'll have to talk about, Paul," Coffey said.
"According to your file, the Free Kashmir Militia has acknowledged its involvement with at least part of this attack and with all of the previous attacks in Kashmir.
Striker will be helping self-professed terrorists. To say that leaves us vulnerable legally is an understatement."
"That's absolute horse shit," Herbert said.
"The guys who blew my wife up are still hanging out in a rat hole in Syria somewhere. Terrorists of warring nations don't get extradited.
And the guys who help terrorists don't even get their names in the papers."
"That only happens to guerrillas who are sponsored by terrorist nations," Coffey replied.
"The United States has a different form and level of accountability.
Even if Striker succeeds in getting the cell to Pakistan, India will be within its rights to demand the extradition of everyone who had a hand in the attack on the bazaar, on the SFF commandos, and in the escape.
If New Delhi can't get the FKM they will go after Striker."
"Lowell, India doesn't have any kind of moral high ground here," Herbert said.
"They're planning a goddamn nuclear strike!"
"No, a rogue element in the government is apparently planning that,"
Coffey said.
"The lawful Indian government will have to disown them and prosecute them as well."
The attorney rose angrily and got himself a cup of coffee.
He was a little calmer as he sat back down and took a sip.
Hood was silent. He looked at Herbert. The intelligence chief did not like Lowell Coffey and his disgust with legal technicalities was well known. Unfortunately, Hood could not afford to ignore what the attorney had just said.
"Gentlemen?" August said.
"Go ahead. Colonel," Hood said.
"We are talking about a possible nuclear conflagration here," August said.
"The normal rules do not seem to apply.
I'll poll the team if you'd like, but I'm willing to bet they say the same thing I'm about to. Given the stakes, the down side is worth risking."
Hood was about to thank him but the words snagged in his throat. Bob Herbert did not have that problem.
"God bless you. Colonel August," Herbert said loudly as he glared across the table at Coffey.
"Thank you. Bob," August said.
"Mr. Coffey? If it's any help. Striker can always pull a Lone Ranger on the Pakistanis."
"Meaning what. Colonel?" Coffey asked.
"We can drop them off then ride into the sunset before they can even thank or ID us," August said.
Herbert smiled. Hood did, too, but inside. His face was frozen by the weight of the decision he would have to make.
"We'll get back to you later on all of this," Hood said.
"Colonel, I want to thank you."
"For what? Doing my job?"
"For your enthusiasm and courage," Hood said.
"They raise the bar for all of us."
"Thank you, sir," August said.
"Get some rest," Hood said. He clicked off the phone and looked across the table.
"Bob, I want you to make sure we've got someone at the NRO watching the Pakistani