“Mobilizing? I think you’re overreacting, Roger,” Franco hurriedly added.
Of course, you would think I was overreacting, Roger thought. Why?
Because you didn’t think of it, you little shit.
President Crawford mumbled through the doughnut twirl he was chewing.
He swallowed. “Franco’s right, Roger. It’d be political suicide to go on television and tell the nation that we are mobilizing. No, wouldn’t go down well at all. We need to put the proper spin on something like that, or we’ll have the American public screaming and hollering. Find a better word than mobilizing — just in the event we have to do something.” He laid the remainder of the twirl on the tabletop momentarily, then picked it up to spread a napkin under it.
“What do we have along the DMZ if the North Koreans decide to do something?” President Crawford asked.
“Not too much, Mr. President. We removed the land mines nearly five years ago in accordance with the international agreement signed by your predecessor. The only land mines along the DMZ are on the North Korean side, and those fields are miles thick. If they decide to cross in mass, then what we have are ditches, barbed wire, antitank weapons, and devices. Plus, we have clear fields of fire. If they cross, we stop them by outfighting them.”
“We can do that,” said the president. “An American is worth a Korean any day in battle, wouldn’t you say?”
“That’s a patriotic statement, Mr. President, and it’ll play well, with some tactful tuning, to the American public.” Franco said.
“Roger, where do we stand on our troop buildup in South Korea?”
“Mr. President, we have two carriers with complete air wings on board off the coast of the Koreas. The Air Force completed forward deployment of three squadrons of F-15s and two squadrons of F-16s yesterday. One squadron of A-10 tank killers arrives today to augment the two squadrons already in South Korea. The 82nd Airborne deployed yesterday and, after they complete unloading the maritime preposition ship that docked two days ago, they’ll move toward the DMZ. We are flying the main infantry elements of the 101st Airborne to a point directly south of the DMZ to mount the largest paratroop drop since World War II. We want the North Koreans to see a major demonstration of our ability to respond rapidly anywhere in the world when necessary. Fort Stewart has completed loading its mechanized infantry brigade. They sailed yesterday for Korea. The Army chief of staff flew down to Savannah. Georgia, and gave them a rousing pep talk as they departed. He returned late last night and said that the morale of the troops was high and they were ready to fight on arrival. It will take about twenty-five days for them to arrive. The Seventh Fleet has moved an amphibious readiness group off the coast of South Korea to provide a flexible Marine Corps response. If the North crosses the DMZ, then plans call for the Marines to mount one of the largest amphibious landings since World War II.”
“What are the Chinese saying about this muscle-flexing by their ally?”
“The Chinese are saying they have no influence over the North Koreans,” Bob Gilfort replied.
“Well, we know that’s bullshit!” Roger Maddock said.
“Roger, please,” Franco Donelli said.
Roger opened his mouth to say something, thought better of it, and kept quiet. He gripped his knees. Just below his emotional gate was this primitive urge to reach over, grab Donelli by the throat, and pop his head like a pimple. Let’s see how he’d spin that in the national newspapers! Secdef Strangles National Security Advisor in Oval Office Ax President Crawford Pontificates and Sec State Sips Coffee. He grinned. Be a hell of way to resign and go back to the private sector.
“This isn’t funny, Roger,” Franco added, glancing at the president.
“Yes, sir, Mr. President,” Bob Gilfort said from the leather winged armchair, watching his fellow cabinet member wrestle with his anger. In a way he sympathized with Roger. Franco could be an arrogant bastard sometimes. Maybe most times. Well, maybe all the time. “We know they have the influence to stop this, and they know we know. We can put economic pressure on them. Of course, it’s never worked before on the Chinese, and I don’t see it working this time. Didn’t work with the EP-3E incident years ago. The United States has grown to be the biggest customer for the cheap goods that China produces. We may have more influence this time, though they could ride out any economic pressure in the time it takes for North Korea to invade. The Chinese economy has been rapidly growing since most-favored-nation trade status was awarded to them in the nineties. I don’t see them risking this economy on the Korean Peninsula. United States forces have been in Korea since the Korean War. Additional U.S. forces should not bother them.”
“Have we let the Chinese know that we know they can influence the North Koreans?”
“Yes, sir, in diplomatic terms we have, Mr. President.”
“Well, tell them in less diplomatic terms that if the North Koreans attack, we will view it as an attack against the United States and will take appropriate actions to resolve the two Koreas problem.”
“We’ve been saying that for years, Mr. President. I think they are aware of our position, but I am not sure if they or the North Koreans believe it. The North Koreans still celebrate what they view as us losing the Vietnam War, and some in the north believe that if a North Korean offensive causes sufficient American casualties, the American people will demand a disengagement — that we will throw South Korea to the wolves.”
Franco looked up from his computer notepad. “Mr. President, do we really want to flex our muscles in that tone with the Chinese?”
Bob rolled his eyes upward, and quickly pinched his nose to hide his expression of displeasure over Franco’s interference. When he opened them, Roger winked at the elderly secretary of state. Their mutual distaste and distrust of the president’s national security advisor was one of the few things they both agreed on. No one could ever accuse President Crawford of surrounding himself with yes-men.
“What do you suggest, Franco? I can’t let this situation continue to deteriorate. Did you see the Washington Post polls this morning?”
“I recommend a quiet, tactful comment to the Chinese that we believe they have more influence than they suggest and would hate to see a large Western military presence on the Korean Peninsula because of the propensity for a misunderstanding between our nations. Then within twenty-four hours of passing that quiet diplomatic demarche to them, we flood the Korean Peninsula with American military presence.”
“Franco, we’re flooding Korea now with American military presence, and you want the president to threaten war against the Chinese? I don’t have that much more military capability to flood Korea with,” Roger Maddock added testily.
“Quite true,” added Gilfort, nodding in agreement.
“I am not threatening war against the Chinese, Roger,” Franco said.
“Give me credit for some intelligence. We are constrained by the situation in the Mediterranean and that ties our hands somewhat.” He turned to the president. “I propose, Mr. President, we divert the aircraft carrier Roosevelt from the Red Sea and send her to the Sea of Japan. Let the USS Stennis continue into the Mediterranean and we tell General Sutherland, as commander in chief European Command, to handle the situation with theater forces. What we need to do, I believe, is — first and foremost — stop a second Korean War. We can do that only by putting enough presence and force in the region so the North Koreans will go home and starve quietly.”