“For those just tuning in, my guests tonight are two brilliant, retired American officers recalled to serve their nation in, shall we say, different ways. In the studio with me is General Franz Sigel of the US Army and, via satellite for obvious reasons, General Gideon Pillow of the URA military.”
A balding man in digital fatigues broke in over the monitor. “That’s the Free American Army, Mr. Gosling. The only constitutionally legitimate military force in this nation. Not to be confused with Washington’s murderous henchmen.”
General Sigel leaned forward as much as possible. A few years of soft retirement only made his stiff dress uniform even tighter. “You can call your criminal gang whatever you please, Gideon, but it won’t save you or the other mutineers from a firing squad!”
“Gentlemen, please keep things civil. War is the last thing I want in my studio.” Gosling held up his hands to calm them, despite loving every second of the tension. The interview couldn’t be going any better if he’d scripted it himself. Time to make things personal.
“As I understand it, you both once served together. General Pillow, what made you decide to fight against your former brother-in-arms?”
Pillow jabbed a finger at the screen, his self-righteousness pouring out louder than his words. “You should ask him that question. We’re simply defending ourselves. It’s a shame that this mad president managed to dupe so many of our military leaders into implementing his fascist program in America. Or perhaps it wasn’t hard to sell. Tell me, General Sigel, how long did it take from you signing that loyalty oath to getting that third star pinned on your collar and an independent command? 24 hours? I’ve also seen your memoirs jump up the bestseller rankings since you began holding weekly press conferences. My, my, loyalty has been pretty lucrative for you, but at what cost, sir? How many have perished in your reckless pursuit of wealth? Can all that money buy you a soul?”
Sigel slammed his coffee mug down so hard he spilt some on his dress uniform. “You son of a… I’m merely upholding my oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies. Of course, honor isn’t something I’d expect a traitor like you to understand. As I recall, you never had anything negative to say about the president before he forced you to retire. Then came the bitterness. How about you tell us something. How old was that female soldier accusing you of sexual harassment? 20? My God, it’s opportunistic snakes like yourself that made Dimone think he had a chance of defying Congress. How do you sleep at night?”
Pillow shook in rage, but the host interrupted. Sniping was great entertainment, of course, but his guests needed to pace themselves. With his trademarked cocked eyebrow and smug grin, Gosling raised two fingers and pretended to read from his notes.
“Actually, that brings up an excellent point. Senator Dimone is dead and most of his cohorts imprisoned. Your president’s term was officially extended by the US parliament and the decision upheld by your Supreme Court. There is no more succession crisis. So what the bloody hell are you Americans still fighting over?”
Pillow visibly calmed when the subject changed. He waved his hand dismissively. “First, the puppet Congress and courts in Washington have no authority. We’ve established the only constitutionally sound Federal Government here in California. Second, that moron calling himself president was irrelevant long before he died. His mini-rebellion in Florida simply showed the world the sitting president’s true colors. Dimone and the governor of Florida, oh, what’s his name… Picky? Anyway, they responded to the White House’s illegal hold on power with an admittedly silly, but yet non-violent political stunt. The Administration’s response? Drone strikes and storm troopers! Straight out of the Nazi playbook. Have you seen those photos of tanks at Disney World? Good God! With a Führer like that, of course freedom-loving people would rise up.”
Sigel threw up his hands. “I agree that Dimone’s succession claims were a joke, but unchecked extremism was, and remains, the real threat to America. How can you possibly call terrorism a ‘silly political stunt?’ Have you forgotten the assassinations and street violence? We sent in peacekeepers to pacify the state and restore law and order. You nuts out west just took advantage of the chaos with your rigged ‘Freedom Referendums’ and tore the country apart. As God is my witness though, we’re going to put it back together again!”
Pillow wagged his finger. “Assassinations? Typical federal paranoia. You have no evidence that anyone in Florida was behind the attack on the White House that killed Dimone’s chief rival, Congressman Pierce. You people can’t turn your propaganda machine off, can you?”
Sigel snorted and shook his head at his rebel counterpart. “Next you’re going to tell me you believe all that internet gossip about a lone wolf? That a US soldier from the initial mission, pissed off at the White House’s disastrous decisions that got so many of his comrades killed, somehow escaped and fired a missile into the Oval Office in revenge? Let me guess; was 9/11 an inside job? Or was it alien retaliation for shooting down their spaceship at Roswell?”
“That’s not what I’m saying! You people are always painting anyone who disagrees with you as a nut. I’m just pointing out—”
Gosling beamed indulgently. “Gentlemen, we’re running out of time. Let’s move on to an issue that’s dear to our audience’s heart. Especially the younger viewers. With the rapid buildup of military forces on each side, when will the US or URA reintroduce conscription? When is the draft coming back?”
His eyes twinkled. “Let’s take a short break and tackle that subject when we return.”
Theme music played and an assistant ran up to retouch the host’s makeup. From somewhere offstage a voice shouted, “One minute!”
General Sigel relaxed, finally able to scratch his nose. “Mr. Gosling, what’s with the conscription question? The president has repeatedly insisted he has zero interest in reinstating the draft. We’ve had an all-volunteer force for over forty years now. It’s not an experiment any longer. Our modern volunteers are exponentially more combat effective than conscripts ever were. Seriously, we have no desire to return to that barbaric practice.”
Gosling grinned wide. “All we have are the promises of a politician. During wartime. So try not to speak in absolutes on this theme. You chaps need to leave a little uncertainty to keep people tuned in and worried.”
Pillow pumped his chest out. He still felt like he was on camera. “That’s one area I’m in complete agreement with General Sigel. Never mind the moral betrayal of a free society defending itself with a slave army. There are too many practical problems with the idea.”
The theme music came back while he was still talking. Gosling rolled with their sudden uncooperativeness like a pro.
“Welcome back. The subject of forced military service is so controversial that our esteemed generals could not wait to dive in. General Pillow, you were detailing the delays and practical difficulties the URA faces trying to impose a draft. Please continue.”
All Pillow heard over the satellite feed was a signal from the producer to keep talking. “As I was saying, studies from the World Wars, Korea and Vietnam showed empirically that most draftees added little value to the fight. Only a fraction, between a quarter and a half depending on the source, shouldered the burden of battle. The rest of these forced warriors kept their heads down and generally tried to avoid trouble. Just hoping to make it out alive. Not that they weren’t aggressive or brave at times, or couldn’t accomplish impressive feats if directly threatened, but most wouldn’t dare take the initiative. They weren’t motivated to put themselves in harm’s way willingly; regardless of the mission need.”