“The Chechens are not running rampant—” Colonel Skachko said, angrily.
“The hell they aren’t,” Colonel Kortotich snapped back. “You have no control over the eastern—”
“Wait,” Steinberg said, holding up a hand and looking at the Georgian representatives. “Let’s get something straight. We’re here to talk reality. The Chechens use eastern Georgia, and especially the Pankisi Gorge, as a safe base. We know it, the Russians know it, the Chechens know it. That is a fact and all the posturing you can do in the world won’t change it. By the same token, you’re unable, not unwilling unable to change that fact. Georgia doesn’t have the funds or the resources to comb them out or even cut down on their movement. We know it, the Russians know it, the Chechens know it. In Russia’s case, they can’t gain full control of Chechnya, so you guys,” he said, nodding at the Russians, “need to keep in mind that with fewer resources, the Georgians aren’t in a position to do more than you have done. The U.S. has been helpful in training Georgian special operations, but we can’t fund the entire Georgian army; we’ve got too many other irons in the fire and too many political constraints. Also facts. What we’re here to discuss is what Mr. Jenkins can do about those facts and why, by a stroke of luck or genius, he picked a very good place to do it. Can I continue?”
“Go ahead,” the Russian ambassador said, evenly.
“As I said, the primary Chechen bases are in the Pankisi Gorge,” Steinberg said, pointing to the deep rift in southeast Georgia. “From the Gorge they can move into Chechnya through a series of old smuggler paths. But the Gorge has no industry and damned little in the way of agriculture. So they have to get all their support from elsewhere, notably by moving it through Georgia.”
“We have tried to stop this…” Colonel Skachko said with a sigh.
“How hard?” Colonel Kortotich snapped.
“Gentlemen,” Ambassador Wilson said, sharply.
“You have tried to stop it,” Steinberg admitted. “But you’ve had the same lack of success that the Russians have and for the same reasons. I won’t get into the reasons at the moment—”
“Because when you hit a checkpoint if you pass the guards a few rubles they wave you through,” Mike said, folding his arms. “I think you said something about no bullshit.”
“And you can change this?” Colonel Skachko snapped.
“I don’t know,” Mike admitted. “But it’s going to be interesting the first time one of the Keldara does it. For him.”
“The point is that while there is effective control over Chechen movement, in general, in the Tbilisi valley,” Steinberg continued, calmly, “there is very little control over areas outside the central authority’s region. A great degree of the reason for this is simply lack of forces, rather than low-scale corruption. But the amount of material that has to move, drugs and women out for sale and then guns back using both currency from the sales and external sources of funds—”
“And when are the Americans going to get the Saudis to stop funding these fucking black asses?” Colonel Kortotich asked, angrily.
“After we’ve changed regimes in Iran and Syria,” Mike said. “At a guess. If you want the timetable moved up, you might suggest to your government that when we target a country, they help rather than hinder. Not mentioning any names, Iraq!” he added with a cough, covering his mouth.
“Mr. Jenkins,” the ambassador said, sternly.
“Look,” Mike replied, angrily. “I told everybody and their brother I’m not a fucking diplomat. Maybe I can be of some help. But I’m not going to promise anything and I’m tired of ritual dick-beating. Let Steinberg finish his dog and pony and I’ll get back to doing something. Okay?”
The Russian ambassador held up his hand to stifle the colonel and then nodded at Steinberg. “Please, continue.”
“If you look at this series of valleys leading from the Gorge,” Steinberg said, pointing at the map, “you’ll notice that they funnel towards Alerrso. Mike, did you know that that pass you’re in has been a caravan route since time immemorial?”
“I’m living in a caravanserai,” Mike pointed out, dryly. “It’s fairly obvious.”
“Until the major road was built to Tbilisi, Alerrso was the primary route through Georgia,” Steinberg said. “And it’s, currently, the route of choice for Chechen movement. If you set up a functional militia, that regains control of that area, you’ll be cutting their throats.”
“And they’ll respond,” Mike said, frowning. “I’m going to be six months forming a militia up to the point I think they should be. We’re not going to be doing a lot of interdiction during that time. And I’m only looking at a company of light infantry who are going to be part-time. I’ll choke what I can, when I can, but I’m not going to guarantee to stop everything. And what I’ll be doing, the Russians will never see.” He looked over at the two and shrugged. “I mean, all you’ll be getting is negative data. Some attacks will still come through and every attack that gets through I don’t want you guys blaming on me.”
“You said that we should speak honestly,” the Russian ambassador said after a brief pause. “And so I will speak with ‘no bullshit’ as you said. My government is… I was going to say ‘extremely concerned’ but in honesty they’re more like extremely tired of the Chechens using Georgia as their base.”
“We…” Colonel Skachko said and then stopped as Undersecretary Svirska held up a hand.
“Please continue, Mr. Ambassador,” the undersecretary said, nodding.
“Yes, we all know why,” the ambassador said. “But it does not change the fact. And, yes, my government is considering armed incursion into Georgia, even knowing that it will lead to a border war. Which will simply create chaos and probably make it easier for the Chechens to move. I have argued against this but the decision will not be made at my level. The Americans have argued against this and that is perhaps why it has not yet occurred. But if there is nothing done to stop the Chechens, or at least slow them down, we will be forced by the circumstances to invade. For our own defense. Mr. Jenkins, honestly, what do you think you can do?”
Mike thought about the terrain and looked at the map. He hadn’t been giving any thought to the strategic situation, but he could see Steinberg’s point.
“What about going south to Azerbaijan?” Mike asked.
“There is support through that route as well,” Steinberg admitted. “But they don’t have the markets there for sales. Mostly what we’re concerned about is the trade to Eastern Europe. Weapons are available from Azerbaijan, especially being funneled by the Iranians, but not in the quantity, quality or cost that they can get them in Eastern Europe.”
“It will take months to get the Keldara to the point they can do more than local defense,” Mike said. “But by… say autumn, I’ll have them patrolling. The point to that is to see anything coming before it gets to us. But the effect will probably be to interdict movement through the area. To an extent. I won’t guarantee that we’ll get everything. I need something from both the Russians and the Georgians, though.”
“What do you need?” the undersecretary asked, sighing. “Money, unfortunately, is not available.”
“I’ve got some money,” Mike said. “But the end-user license is being held up somewhere. I need that expedited.”
“Done,” the undersecretary said, nodding. “I will ensure it is done this day.”