Lethal Trajectories (25 page)
“Oh, one other thing; the CIA has prepared a global oil analysis report based on the Saudi situation. I know what’s in it, and it might be useful to send Wang a copy if he’s interested; it’ll help get us all on the same page. Check it out, and if they’re okay with everything, we’re good to go for a Friday evening arrival.”
Jack marveled at the efficiency of their plan. For the first time, he truly grasped the power of the presidency to cut through red tape. As Jack made his call to Wang, he couldn’t help but reflect on his new duties as incoming chief of staff to the president of the United States.
If this is what it’s all about, and if this works, it could be
… “Hello, Peng, it’s Jack.”
28 September 2017
P
rime Minister Yakov Nachum looked around the table and saw nothing but drawn faces and tense shoulders. The Security Cabinet of Israel had assembled to assess their state of readiness for a response to the Saudi coup and to prepare their response to a radio broadcast from King Mustafa scheduled to air at 1900 hours, Jerusalem time.
“Mr. Kahib,” Nachum asked Mossad head Meir Kahib, “what are your operatives telling you?”
“We are seeing early signs, Mr. Prime Minister, of stepped-up underground activities in the West Bank and Gaza. We have ordered a crackdown on all suspected cells operating in those areas, but it is only the beginning. We expect they will take heart in Mustafa’s overthrow, and we are trying to ascertain now what level of support Mustafa might be capable of giving them.”
While not surprised by Kahib’s observation, Nachum was painfully aware of the distraction these uprisings could have on a large-scale military operation against the Saudis or even Iran, for that matter. He next called on the defense minister for a report.
“All reserve units have been called up,” reported the Minister of Defense, “and the armed forces are on a full wartime footing. Fighter-bombers are fueled and ready to go, and we have begun deployment of our armored units according to prearranged tactical plans.”
Nachum nodded and then asked his war cabinet, as it was informally known, to stand by for the announcement that was about to be made by the new Saudi government.
“Good evening, citizens of Saudi Arabia and freedom-loving people throughout the world. This is King Mustafa ibn Abdul-Aziz, broadcasting live from the Royal Palace in Riyadh.
We greet you with good news: the Zionist and CIA-led plot to overthrow the sovereign government of Saudi Arabia has been smashed, and the country is in safe hands. The perpetrators are being brought to justice, and we will ruthlessly weed out the infidel insurrectionists wherever they are found.
“I am also pleased to announce that today at 6:30 p.m., Riyadh time, we have detonated an atomic bomb producing almost fifty kilotons of energy—more than double the size of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima by the infidel Americans—to demonstrate that Saudi Arabia is a nuclear power. We have the delivery systems to reach almost any target on Earth and the capacity to destroy a city like Jerusalem. If necessary to the survival of Saudi Arabia, we have at our disposal electromagnetic pulse weaponry and cruise missiles armed with dirty-bomb warheads that could render any oil field or port city a radioactive wasteland.
“We are a threat to all infidels, but you are not a threat to us. We have the ability to destroy your satanic ways with either our bombs or our oil. As peace-loving people, we hope to do neither, but that will depend on you. We hope to reach an accommodation that will satisfy the needs of all peace-loving people of the world and eliminate the evil that poisons Allah’s creation.
“To provide clarity, we have summarized our positions in what we call our Five Demands. I will read each demand carefully and then tell you the consequences for your failure to comply with our most reasonable requests.
“First, all nations shall sever diplomatic relations with and support for Israel.
“Second, Israel shall turn over and forever relinquish control of all territories in Gaza, the Golan Heights, and the West Bank, and Jerusalem shall become an open city with access for all and an abolition of all checkpoints.
“Third, all Arab prisoners held anywhere shall be released by the infidels, and there shall be no retaliation of any kind, nor restrictions on travel, religious practices, or property rights of Arab people anywhere.
“Fourth, all foreigners shall leave Saudi Arabia within seventy-two hours of this announcement unless given formal permission to stay. Further, all foreign properties will be nationalized, with appropriate compensation provided for said property.
“Fifth and finally, the current petrodollar transactional system for all OPEC oil transactions will be discontinued and hereafter based on Saudi and a basket of other OPEC currencies. Our OPEC partners, who will benefit from this new currency system, are expected to actively participate in this effort.
“These are not unreasonable demands, but there are consequences for noncompliance. All Saudi oil supplies will be cut off immediately until compliance can be monitored, and all OPEC nations are encouraged to follow suit or risk an adversarial relationship with the royal Saudi government. After such time as oil supplies are restored, a ten percent penalty will be added to the price of oil for each and every week a nation fails to comply with our most reasonable requests.
“Further, we encourage and promise support to all Arab freedom movements that are suppressed by the Zionists or other infidel countries.
“Last, we will monitor all countries purchasing OPEC oil through side arrangements of any kind, and OPEC countries discovered to be selling their oil in unsanctioned arrangements will risk an adversarial relationship with Saudi Arabia. Let this be considered your one and only warning.
“To the infidels and satanic countries everywhere, your days of tyranny and oppression are over. Take heed, your time has passed. This is a new world, and you would be well advised to acquiesce to our just demands.
“To our Arab brothers throughout the world, take heart. Your time has come. Allahu Akbar!”
The entire Israeli war cabinet erupted in anger, and Prime Minister Nachum had a difficult time restoring order. Even then, every new question resulted in voices raised in anger—not to mention fear—despite the critical need for calm and efficient responses.
“Gentlemen!” Nachum nearly shouted, “We are agreed. Israeli fighter-bombers will commence round-the-clock patrols of our eastern borders, through the Gulf of Aquaba to the Red Sea and back. We will also activate our nuclear weapon systems for instant launch should the signal be given.
“Jerusalem and all port cities will be locked down tight with a nighttime curfew. All security forces in the West Bank and on the border will be reinforced. The Dimona nuclear facilities and research centers will be bolstered with three additional antimissile batteries. All submarines and naval forces will deploy and take their assigned positions, and you will make sure the submarines are carrying their full complement of nuclear tipped cruise missiles. Is that understood?”
The war cabinet nodded their concurrence as Nachum continued.
“I will address the Knesset at nine o’clock tonight and make a general address to the Israeli people tomorrow morning. Gentlemen, I regret to say that we must be prepared for war. We will meet again at ten o’clock tonight. In the meantime, I have scheduled a call to the president of the United States. I leave you to your preparations—and your prayers.”
28 September 2017
Mustafa’s bombastic broadcast spurred well over an hour of vigorous debate among the SWAT team members gathered in the Situation Room. Finally, President Burkmeister called for a break.
“Folks, I’m due for a call with Prime Minister Nachum of Israel. Clayton, I’d like you to stay here with me, and I’d like everyone else back here in an hour.”
The door had barely closed behind them when Admiral Coxen informed Burkmeister that Nachum was on the line.
“Hello, Prime Minister Nachum, this is President Burkmeister, and I am on the phone with Vice President Clayton McCarty.”
“Thank you for taking my call, gentlemen. As you can well imagine, we are shocked and horrified by the news out of Saudi Arabia and what amounts to an open attempt to exterminate Israel. I’m calling to find out where we stand with you and what the United States’ position will be.”
“Like you, Mr. Prime Minister,” Burkmeister responded, “we are shocked by events in Saudi Arabia and the threatening position taken by King Mustafa, but we have not yet formulated an official position.”
“I understand your caution, Mr. President, but we do not have the luxury of time for debate. Allow me to summarize our preparations so far.” Rather abruptly, Prime Minister Nachum rattled off the countermeasures Israel had already taken.
“I understand your concern, Prime Minister Nachum, and I stand by you in maintaining the highest readiness for defense. I only ask that you refrain from any immediate actions against Saudi Arabia until we can sort things out. A premature strike on your part might cause them to detonate dirty bombs in the Ghawar or other major oil fields, and the loss of this oil would cause the economic engines of the world to grind to a halt. We can’t let that happen,” Burkmeister said firmly.
“Does this mean you are not willing to come to Israel’s support in our greatest hour of need, Mr. President?”
“Of course not, Mr. Prime Minister, that’s not what I mean at all. But you must agree that a preemptive strike by Israel under these conditions would result not only in disastrous retaliation against Israel, but also a chain of events that could destroy the global economy. We need time to better understand what we’re up against before committing to a course of action.”
“This does not give me a good feeling, Mr. President. Israel will not stand idly by while the Western powers ruminate over policy. Israel is at grave risk. At a distance of less than fifteen minutes from a nuclear bombardment from Saudi Arabia, we do not have the luxury of waiting for long.”
Irritated by Nachum’s posturing, Burkmeister was about to respond when the agitated Prime Minister added a curt interjection.
“Mr. President, I am most sorry about your health, and as I know you will be turning over leadership to Vice President McCarty, I would like to ask for his position on the situation. Mr. Vice President, how do you think this should be handled?”
Burkmeister seethed at Nachum’s undisguised end-run, even though he appreciated the tremendous pressure Nachum must now be under. He nodded to Clayton nonetheless.
“Of course, Mr. Prime Minister, that’s a fair question. The president and I are of one mind on this. First, we support you and have no intention of letting Israel go under. We’ll do whatever is in our power to dissuade other nations from severing diplomatic relationships with Israel. You may also rest assured the terrorist government in Saudi Arabia will pay dearly for any attacks on Israel.
“Having said that, all bets are off if Israel attempts any unilateral action against the Saudi government without our express agreement. That’s the deal. You trust us and play ball with us up-front, and we’ll be there for you. But if you go it alone and, in the process, jeopardize the well-being of all nations, you cannot count on any support from this government. Am I clear on that, Mr. Prime Minister?”
Burkmeister winced at McCarty’s directness but couldn’t disagree with the message. Perhaps it was important to set the tone early on for what might be expected from the new administration.
“Is that a threat, Mr. Vice President?” asked the prime minister, sounding like he had been slapped in the face.
“Of course not, Mr. Prime Minister,” McCarty replied in a polite but firm voice. “You asked me an honest question, and I gave you an honest answer. The stakes are too high to screw around with diplomatic niceties, and it is critical that you know where the boundary lines lie. President Burkmeister may differ with me, and of course he calls the shots, but that is my personal reaction to the situation and your question.”
“We’re both in total agreement on this, Mr. Prime Minister,” Burkmeister interjected. “Now, if we can get beyond this, let’s talk strategy.”
Both parties settled down, and a thirty-minute discussion followed on strategy and tactics. The Americans approved of the steps taken thus far by Israel and agreed to release a statement in support of Israel within the next hour or so.
This mollified the prime minister temporarily, but all parties knew that if Saudi Arabia penetrated so much as one inch of Israeli airspace, it was game over. The line between peace and a nuclear conflagration in the Middle East had never been finer, and the next twenty-four hours would have the entire world on edge.
29 September 2017
J
ack McCarty was delighted to have a free hour to play tourist at one of the most secluded and exclusive areas on Earth—Camp David. He could almost imagine strolling its peaceful mountain pathways with the likes of Winston Churchill, Nikita Khrushchev, Menachem Begin, and dozens of others who had once walked this same trail.
As an amateur historian of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidency, he knew what Camp David had meant to FDR. Dubbed Shangri-la by Roosevelt and later renamed Camp David by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in honor of his grandson, David, it was designed to be a safe haven for presidents. Nestled in Catoctin Mountain Park in Frederick County, Maryland, at an elevation of 1,700 feet, it was ten degrees cooler than Washington and a soothing haven for FDR’s nagging sinus and health problems. While only a two-hour drive from the White House in FDR’s day, it was now a thirty-minute helicopter ride on Marine One. Its atmosphere of serenity and seclusion—as well as its outstanding security and state-of-the-art communications facilities—seemed tailor-made for the informal summit meeting about to take place.
Jack wished he had more time to explore the trails, but it was now five thirty and time to get down to business. Walking back, he spotted Clayton coming out of the Main Lodge with umbrella in hand.