Brown, Dale - Patrick McLanahan 10 (63 page)

 
          
“Because
Egypt
is powerless to stop Zuwayy,” Salaam said.
“I believe he will use neutron weapons against
Egypt
, certainly against Salimah and most likely
against a major Egyptian city or another military base, as he did against Mersa
Matruh.”

 
          
“Do
you have evidence that
Libya
was behind that attack, and that he used
neutron weapons?” Goff asked. “I know he’s the main suspect, and he would have
the most to gain by slaughtering all those people at Mersa Matruh, but as far
as I know, there’s no direct evidence that
Libya
did it.”

 
          
“I
know he did it. He’s crazy.”

 
          
“Certifiable,
I’d say,” Goff said. “But that still doesn’t mean he did it.”

 
          
“If
I got you your evidence, Mr. Secretary, then would you help me?” Salaam asked.
“Would you send your stealth bombers and armored commandos in against him and
shatter his military, destroy his weapons of mass destruction, and kill Zuwayy
if possible so he won’t threaten to do this again? What’s your price to assure
peace in
Africa
? Whatever it is, I’ll pay it.”

 
          
“President
Salaam, first of all: If you were briefed anything about this administration by
General Baris or your intelligence staff, you’d know that the President will
not order U.S. forces to get involved in squabbles between sovereign nations,”
Edward Kercheval said. “The
United States
’s position has been that we will not
interfere militarily with such matters unless it directly threatens the
national security or vital national interests of the
United States
. That has been our policy since the
beginning of this administration, and it has not changed. We will be happy to
act as a disinterested third party in negotiations, but we will not commit
American troops to help.”

 
          
“Second,
we have no idea what bombers or armored commandos you’re talking about,” Robert
Goff added. “The
United States
has bombers, of course, but they have not
been deployed or sent on any missions anywhere. And we have no armored
commandos. None.”

 
          
“What
about Patrick McLanahan?”

 
          
There
was a slight uncomfortable rustle of hands and shoulders; but, as if he were
reading the words from a cue card, Robert Goff responded, “We have heard of Mr.
McLanahan, and we know he has been linked with various organizations, none of
which have any connection whatsoever with the U.S. government. Mr. McLanahan is
under indictment in the
United States
for a variety of charges, the
specifications of which are sealed by the Justice and Defense Departments. He
is currently free on bond and awaiting a court hearing.”

 
          
“You’re
lying,” Susan said. “He helped me. He has saved
Egypt
from Zuwayy’s attacks.”

 
          
“If
that’s what he told you, I wouldn’t believe it,” Goff said.

 
          
“You’re
all lying,” Susan repeated. “He’s a hero. He’s been here. He saved
Egypt
from a terrible assault from Libyan
military forces.”

 
          
“We
may ask you to testify to that, Mrs. President,” Kercheval said, “at
McLanahan’s trial.”

 
          
“This
is some kind of trick,” Salaam said, the anguish apparent in her voice. “He
saved us. He has powers .. . weapons . . .”

 
          
“Any
of which are either fabrications or stolen, ma’am,” Goff said. “I’m sorry if
he’s bamboozled you. You may of course file charges against him in federal
court, and the U.S. Attorney General will see to the matter personally. But I
wouldn’t place my trust, or the safety of my nation, in his hands.”

 
          
“Why
are you doing this to him?” Susan asked, almost pleading. “He’s a wonderful
man. He cares about his wife and his men. He loves the
United States
and he fights for justice. Why won’t you
support him?”

 
          
“We
neither support nor try to hinder him, Mrs. Salaam,” Kercheval said. “He hasn’t
violated any laws in the
United States
that we know of. He is under investigation,
but I can’t discuss that. He’s a private citizen. If we have any knowledge or
evidence of wrongdoing, we’ll prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.
Otherwise, he’s free to do whatever he wishes as a free man. But he is not part
of the
U.S.
government, and his actions are not under the direction of or
sanctioned by the
United States
government in any way.”

 
          
“Mr.
President, gentlemen, I’m asking for your help in defending
Egypt
against probable attack from
Libya
,” Susan said. “I know you have two aircraft
carrier battle groups sailing in the
Mediterranean Sea
right now; I would like to offer you unlimited use of Egyptian ports
and air bases for your crews.”

 
          
“Frankly,
Madame President, after the warning you just gave us, I don’t think it would be
prudent to send any of our warships near an Egyptian port right now,” Robert
Goff said.

 
          
“My
warning is real enough so you won’t send your ships anywhere near
Egypt
, but not real enough to assist us?”

           
“Mrs. Salaam, I will discuss your
situation with my advisers,” President Thom said. “But at this point, I don’t
think we’ll be in a position to help. If the Libyan president’s threat is that
great, perhaps you might be better served by letting him have what he wants.”

 
          
“You’re
suggesting I
give in
to him?”

 
          
“I
don’t see that you have much choice, Madame President,” Thom said earnestly.
“If the attack is as credible as you say, and if Idris is as unstable as
Secretary Goff seems to think he is, then the presence of American warships in
Egypt
won’t deter him—in fact, it might attract a
heavier attack with an even larger loss of life. You can appeal to the United
Nations or go in front of the world press, perhaps initiate an investigation on
where Idris got those weapons and hope that exposing him and publicizing his
threat will keep him from attacking—if you predict he’ll use neutron weapons on
Egypt
, he might be less likely to do so.”

           
“Perhaps an appeal before the
Muslim Brotherhood might be the strongest deterrent,” Kercheval suggested. “You
seem to have been very successful in bringing the diverse factions of the
Muslim Brotherhood together in
Tripoli
—they were even looking to you for leadership
in a united Arab republic. You may be able to head him off.”

           
“But I cannot count on help from
the
United States
?”

           
“Not military help, Mrs. Salaam.”

 
          
“No
matter how many Americans are killed if Zuwayy attacks?”

 
          
“We’re
concerned about any loss of life, American or not,” Thom said. “We have
condemned any use of nuclear weapons anywhere in the world, and if there was a
threat against the
United States
, we would take swift and deadly action.”

 
          
“Pretty
brave words, Mr. President—how about putting them into action?”

 
          
Thom
paused, letting the caustic remark wash over and past him; then: “But... the
United States
will not interfere militarily in the
affairs of sovereign nations, Mrs. Salaam. We are not a police force—you can’t dial
911 and get an American aircraft carrier battle group to protect you because a
deal you made goes south.

 
          
“We
will discuss and analyze the situation there, Mrs. Salaam, and we’ll decide on
a course of action,” Thom said. “But I suggest you give the man what he wants
until you have the backing of your fellow Arab nations and can rally enough
support to counteract his threats.”

 
          
“I
don’t believe you would actually turn your back on
Egypt
, Mr. President,” Susan said. “You would
actually stand back and watch as
Libya
destroys
Africa
’s largest oil field and kills tens of
thousands of innocent workers, when all it would take is to sail a few ships
through the
Gulf of
Sidra
and show him
that you disapprove of his threat? What kind of superpower leader are you?”

 
          
“A
superpower that shouldn’t need to throw its military weight around to promote
peace, Madame Salaam,” Thom said. “Peace comes in many different packages and
for many different prices, Madame. You appear to be too proud to give in to
Idris’s threats, but not proud enough to ask the
United States
to invade
Libya
and kill its leader. This is a situation
I’d rather not have the
United States
involved in. Once we learn more about the
situation and have had time to confer, we’ll contact you if we feel we can be
of help.

 
          
“But
again, I suggest you think about saving lives and give Idris or Zuwayy or
whatever his real name is whatever he wants. From what you said, he’s still
willing to pay for the shares of the partnership—you just need to take the
money out of his earnings over a period of time. Why not agree to that for now?
You all continue to pump oil and make money: Most importantly, everyone lives.”

           
“Thank you for your suggestion, Mr.
President,” Salaam said sarcastically. “It must be a great comfort to you,
giving sage advice from six thousand miles away, from the safety of your
continent and your bombers and missile shield.”

 
          
“I
wish you luck, Madame President,” Thom said. But the call had already been
terminated by then.

 
          
Kercheval
shook his head. “Ouch,” he said. “That had to hurt.” But Thomas Thom looked
fairly unperturbed—he went back to his computer and started to make notes about
the conversation. “You’re
really
not
going to do anything, Mr. President?” he asked incredulously. “You’re not going
to reposition the fleet?”

 
          
“I’m
going to do what I said I’d do, Edward—I’m going to ask for an independent
assessment of the situation, get some satellites repositioned over there to
keep an eye on things, and when we have our own take on what’s really going on,
I’ll make a decision,” Thom said as he typed. “But no, I’m not going to send
any ships anywhere near there. Robert’s right—it’s too dangerous. They’re
likely to be caught in the crossfire.”

 
          
“That
‘crossfire’ could be a
nuclear war”
Kercheval said. “If Salaam is correct, tens of thousands of lives could be
lost.”

 
          
“I’m
aware of that, Edward,” Thom said. “But my problem is not to go rushing in and
risk American lives in a fight we didn’t start and one in which we don’t know
what’s going on. I’ll direct CIA to brief me on the current political situation
in
Egypt
and
Libya
; I’ll get Justice to brief me on the situation with that oil
partnership; and I’ll get Robert to brief me on the military situation and the
threat to our forces in the Med. Until then, I’ll direct all
U.S.
forces to stay away from the area, and I’m
directing you to issue a warning to all American citizens not to travel to
Egypt
—in case there are any Americans still in
Egypt
, after what happened in Mersa Matruh.”