State of Siege - Tom Clancy [111]
While the president's executive secretary shut the door, the president showed Secretary-General Chatterjee to a seat. Chatterjee's shoulders were straight, her neck tall and stiff. Dressed in a gray suit, no tie, the president was more at ease as he used a remote to click off the TV. The set had been tuned to CNN.
"I heard your remarks to the press," the president said. "When you talked about the events that undermined the sovereignty of the United Nations, were you referring to the terrorist attack?" Chatterjee sat in a yellow armchair. She folded her hands on her lap and crossed her legs.
"No, Mr. President," the secretary-general said. "That is very much a separate issue. I was referring to the uninvited attack by Mr. Paul Hood of your National Crisis Management Center and two as yet unidentified members of the United States military."
"You're referring to the attack that ended the hostage crisis," he said pleasantly.
"The result is not the issue," Chatterjee countered firmly. "At the moment, I am deeply concerned with the means."
"I see," he said. The president sat behind his desk. "And what would you like to do about it?"
"I would like for Mr. Hood to return to New York and answer questions pertaining to the attack," she said. "You want him to go right now?" the president asked. "While his daughter's recovering from the attack?"
"He doesn't have to return immediately," she replied. "The middle of the week would be acceptable."
"I see. And these questions," the president said. "What do you hope to accomplish?"
"I need to formally ascertain whether laws were broken and whether boundaries were overstepped," she replied. "Madam Secretary-General," the president said, "if
I may, you're failing to see the larger picture here." "And that is?"
"I believe that the New York Police Department, the State Department, the FBI, and U.s. military units in the region acted with extraordinary restraint and respect, given how many young Americans were at risk. When the situation deteriorated and your own security forces were repulsed- yes, three of our people did go into the Security Council. But they did it selflessly and effectively, like U.s. soldiers have always done."
"Their courage is not being questioned," Chatterjee said. "But the law-abiding nature of the many does not outweigh the heroic lawlessness of the few. If laws were broken, then legal remedies may be required. This is not whim on my part, Mr. President. This is our charter. This is our law. And there have already been demands that those laws be upheld."
"Demands made by whom?" the president asked. "By nations whose terrorists were killed in the attack?" "By the civilized nations of the world," she replied. "And to satisfy their civilized bloodlust, you'll want to put Paul Hood on trial," the president said. "Sarcasm noted," Chatterjee said. "And yes, a trial is a possibility. Mr. Hood's actions demand it."
The president sat back. "Madam Secretary-General, last night Paul Hood became a hero to me and about two hundred and fifty million other Americans. We had a few villains in this, including a rogue CIA agent who will probably spend the rest of her life in prison, But there's no way on earth that man is going to stand trial for saving his daughter from a terrorist.."
Chatterjee regarded the president for a moment. "You will not turn him over for questioning?"
"I think that pretty much sums up this administration's position," the president said.
"The United States will defy the will of the international community?" she asked.
"Openly and enthusiastically," the president replied. "And frankly, Madam Secretary-General, I don't think the delegates to the United Nations will care for very long. his
"We are not the Congress, Mr. President," she said. "Don't misjudge our ability to remain focused." "Never," the president said. "I'm sure the delegates will be very focused trying to find suitable schools and apartments when this administration supports removing the United Nations from New York to another