Prelude to World War III: The Rise of the Islamic Republic and the Rebirth of America

by James Rosone

  “That’s actually a good point; by continuing to provide them services, they are essentially giving them aid by greatly enhancing their ability to communicate and continue cyber-attacks against us. I guess I had not thought of it in that way,” responded Secretary Jim Wise. He flashed a look of admiration at Gibbs and Perez for pulling this deal off.

  “Since Russia has already been brought up, let’s discuss them briefly before we break. There are a lot of orders that need to get issued and a lot of coordination that needs to be done,” said the President. He was starting to feel almost overwhelmed by the enormity of the decisions he was having to make.

  An Army Brigadier General began briefing his portion of meeting. “General Dimitri Putin, their Central Asian military commander and the general who led their Red October War, has been transferred to Europe. He has brought the Third Shock Army, which has been battle hardened for the better part of the last two years in Central Asia. The First Shock Army has moved to the West Ukrainian border while the Third Shock Army is in Belarus, not far from the Polish border. Both Army groups have doubled in strength in the last six months, bringing their total number to 1.7 million soldiers each. They have also moved 4 million second tier troops that will be used for replacements and occupation duty when the time comes.”

  “They also have the Second Shock Army assembling in Turkey, which could threaten our forces in Israel or the EU via Greece,” General Branson added.

  “Will the EU be able to hold them?” asked the President, knowing the chances were slim.

  “Not a chance, Sir. The EU has activated their entire reserve force of 1.2 million soldiers, but they are not ready for combat. The EU’s active force is around 660,000, and most of those soldiers are under-equipped and under-trained to face the Russians. The Russian Army isn’t like the old Soviet Army; this new army is well-equipped and well-trained. At this point, the EU will be more of a speed bump unless they are seriously reinforced,” said the General.

  “Do we have a timeline for when they may attack?” asked the President.

  “Our agents were able to identify the launch date for their attack; it’ll take place on December 24th,” said Director Rubio.

  “What a Christmas present Fradkov is giving to the world. So we have less than two weeks. Do we have troops or equipment that can be diverted to shore up the EU positions until they can build up their own forces?” asked Monty.

  “We have 350,000 troops en-route to Europe, but they were slated to head towards Greece and open a second front against the IR in Turkey,” replied the general.

  “If the Russians are going to invade, then opening a second front against the IR is a moot point. As those troops deploy to Europe, have them head to our bases in Germany, Poland and Romania. Let’s initiate Operation Reforger and get the gravy train of equipment headed towards England, France and Germany,” said the President.

  “Once again, America is going to have to save Europe from their own inability to protect themselves. Something has to change in this equation or saving Europe is not going to be worth it,” the President thought to himself.

  “Sir, we can re-route troops and equipment, but we need to recognize that it will take us close to a month to get an Army group equipped and operationally ready to take on the Third Shock Army. We have 140,000 troops in Italy right now; they are supposed to join General Gardner’s Command. I recommend that we still send them. We obviously cannot fight on three fronts right now, so let’s finish and secure one front while we can. Then we can move more of those forces to the other fronts. The main issue our forces in Europe will face is air power. Most of our air power is supporting our forces in Israel,” the SecDef said.

  “It’s going to be tough gentlemen, and perhaps we end up trading land for a time, but we need to help the EU hold Germany. It’s their industrial center, and losing it will hurt the EU’s ability to build up their forces. To your other point, Eric, you are right. We cannot fight on three fronts. I want our focus to be on securing Israel and removing the IR as a threat. In Europe, we need to focus on delaying action and plan to make a stand in Germany. For Asia, I want the focus to also be on delaying damage. Until our naval forces are able to take on the Chinese directly, we are not going to be able to do much against them.”

  “With all due respect, Mr. President, the EU has really shot themselves in the foot in this situation. Once again, it’s America coming to their aid a third time with our military. I respect our EU military forces, but their people and politicians continue to rely on America to defend and save them. I know we cannot let the Russians just take them, but there should be something in it for us.” A few jaws dropped when National Security Advisor Mike Williams was finished. All eyes turned to the President.

  Chuckling slightly, the President responded, “I spent several years working for the DOD in Europe during the 2010s. I couldn’t agree with you more Mike; the question is, what will make it worth it? We cannot let Russia have all of Europe. We also cannot continue to defend Europe when they should be able to defend themselves.” Rubbing his eyes slightly, the President stood. “I appreciate everyone’s hard work and effort. These are trying times for America, and we as a country are going to have to rise to meet this challenge. I do not have all of the answers, and neither do any of you…what we do have is a will to win and a determination to make that happen. I will think about what you said Mike, and tomorrow we can discuss it further. With that, I want to end this meeting. We will reconvene tomorrow.”

  *******

  19 December 2040

  Day Twenty One

  Kramim, Israel

  Sgt. Joe Thornton’s platoon had advanced steadily once the 4th Marines had hit the IR forces near Be’er Sheva the day before. Despite the numerical advantage the IR had, the American fighter drones had been pounding the IR for days. “Lt. Lee, are we going to advance with the 4th further into the Jordan Valley?” asked Sergeant Thornton.

  “No Sergeant, our orders are to hold this location, so have the rest of the platoon dig in to defensive positions. Word has it the IR is about to be pounded from the air and then we move in and mop up what’s left.”

  That afternoon the 307th Bomber Wing, consisting of eighty-four B5 strategic bomber drones, flew over Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley (the West Bank) and the bulk of the IR army. The slow and relentless whistling of tens of thousands of bombs being dropped in a pattern designed to saturate every square foot of land below them was nothing short of sheer terror. The mixture of high explosive and incendiary bombs were designed to not just destroy, but to incinerate everything in their path. The ground shook and rumbled as if a long and deep earthquake was happening. The Israeli and American forces watched the death and destruction being rained down throughout the valley in awe. Nearly twenty miles deep and sixty plus miles in length of the valley was a burning cauldron of death that few, if any, could survive.

  After nearly 90 minutes of continuous bombing, Private Thomas and the rest of his platoon began to stand up and survey the damage in the valley. “Do you think anyone lived through that?”

  “Listen up people, the Lieutenant says the platoon will be moving out soon to see what’s left of them after the bombardment, so get your gear ready. Remember the rules of engagement--if they are unharmed and they surrender, accept it; if they are wounded and need more medical assistance than what the corpsman can provide, shoot them. The higher ups have said that we do not have the medical supplies and support to treat both their wounded and ours. We are not going to sacrifice a wounded Marine for one of theirs—understood?”

  “Yes, Sergeant,” echoed the chorus of voices through the platoon.

  The Day America Changed Forever

  19 December 2040

  Day Twenty One

  New York Harbor, New York

  Coast Guard Harbor Patrol

  The Coast Guard boat was bouncing around as it sped through New York Harbor as the crew began their inspection shift. They were responsible for conducting boar
dings and inspections of ships as the higher headquarters or DHS directed. Since the start of the war, DHS had been directing the Coast Guard to conduct an increase in cargo ship inspections before ships were allowed to move up the Hudson River.

  “I was watching the news before we left on the boat, those videos they were showing of that air attack in Israel were unbelievable,” Mike said while lighting a cigarette.

  “I missed seeing it, I heard a few of the guys say they wiped out most of that Muslim army,” said George as he sped the boat towards a group of freighters entering the harbor.

  “Cut the chatter guys. Take us towards that freighter near Ellis Island; it’s not answering the harbor master’s hails and DHS want us to investigate before it enters the Hudson River,” said Petty Officer Ed Phillips.

  While the small Coast Guard boat headed towards the freighter, they could see it begin to pick up speed as it moved past Ellis Island heading into the Hudson River. “That freighter is moving a bit fast into the Hudson, don’t you think George?”

  “Ed, that ship looks like its speeding up, not slowing down” George said.

  As the new sun began to expand into lower Manhattan and Jersey City, it rapidly began to gain in speed and temperature, quickly rising to 20 million degrees Fahrenheit vaporizing everything--buildings, trees, cars, and people--in a 2.5-kilometer radius. In an instant, nearly one million people were killed and four million people received fatal doses of radiation and deadly burns. As the several hundred mile an hour winds swept through the city and surrounding boroughs, it blew out windows, pushed cars into each other and threw tens of thousands of people on the streets of New York to the ground and into buildings like ragdolls.

  Within seconds of the blast wave dissipating, thousands of taxis, delivery trucks and other vehicles that travel the busy streets of New York began to explode as the firestorm from the blast created thousands of secondary explosions. Gas and water mains started to explode, further adding to the chaos and destruction that was being wrought on Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs.

  Battery Park, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty were obliterated in the blast, destroying one of the most recognizable symbols of America. As the Statue of Liberty fell apart into New York Harbor, so too did any restraint President Stein or the military were using in the war with the Islamic Republic. More Americans had died in this single act of aggression than any other in American history. The Islamic Republic was showing no restraint in their war against Israel and the US. It was time for not just the muzzle to come off of the American military, but the leash as well.

  Acronym Key

  ABML = Anti-Ballistic Missile Lasers

  ACLU = American Civil Liberties Union

  AFC = America First Corporation

  AG = Attorney General

  AIR = Advanced Infantry Rifle

  AO = Area of Operations

  AT = Anti-tank

  BCT = Brigade Combat Team

  BG = Brigadier General

  C3 = Command Control and Communications

  CAG = Commander, Air Group

  CAP = Combat Air Patrol

  CENTCOM = Central Command

  CG = Commanding General

  CIC = Combat Information Center

  CIO = Chief Information Officer

  CMC = Central Military Commission

  CNO = Chief of Naval Operations

  DHS = Department of Homeland Security

  DIA = Defense Intelligence Agency

  DOD = Department of Defense

  DOE = Department of Energy

  DOJ = Department of Justice

  EMP = Electromagnetic Pulse

  EO = Executive Order

  EU = European Union

  EUCOM = European Command

  FP = Freedom Party

  FSB = Russia’s version of the CIA

  GC = Grain Consortium

  GDP = Gross Domestic Product

  GRU = Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Russia’s equivalent to America’s Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

  HEAT = High Explosive Anti-Tank

  HUD = Heads Up Display

  HUMINT = Human Intelligence (Information gained through spy craft, interrogations, and source operations)

  IAF = Israeli Air Force

  ID = Infantry Division

  IDF = Israeli Defense Force

  IDS = Iron Dome System

  IED = Improvised Explosive Device

  IFV = Infantry Fighting Vehicles

  IR = Islamic Republic

  ISI = The Pakistani Interservice Intelligence Agency

  ISR = Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance

  J2 = Joint Intelligence Directorate

  JAG = Judge Advocate General (military lawyer)

  JDF = Japanese Defense Force

  JSOC = Joint Special Operations Command

  KIA = Killed In Action

  LDT = Light Drone Tank

  LNG = Liquid Natural Gas

  LNO = Liaison Officer

  LTC = Lieutenant Colonel

  LTG = Lieutenant General

  LTV = Light Tactical Vehicles

  MANPADS = Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems

  MBT = Main Battle Tanks

  MG = Major General

  MIA = Missing In Action

  MEF = Marine Expeditionary Force

  MLRS = Multiple-Launch Rocket System

  MRE = Meal Ready to Eat (packages of meals that are shelf stable for a long time and used by the military)

  NAD = New American Dollar

  NAFTA = North American Free Trade Agreement

  NCO = Non-Commissioned Officer

  NIC = National Identity Cards (biometrically enabled cards for identification and tracking)

  NSC = National Security Council

  OPEC = Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries

  PACOM = Pacific Command

  PEOC = Presidential Emergency Operation Center

  PGA = Provisional Governing Authority (temporary government set up by the US)

  PLA = People’s Liberation Army (Chinese Army)

  PLAN = People’s Liberation Army Navy (Chinese Navy)

  PLAAF = People’s Liberation Army Air Force (Chinese Air Force)

  PM = Prime Minister

  PMC = Private Military Contractor

  POW = Prisoner of War

  PRC = People’s Republic of China

  QE = Quantitative Easing

  RPG = Rocket Propelled Grenade

  SCZ = Suez Canal Zone

  SecDef = Secretary of Defense

  SMEs = Subject Matter Experts

  TDF = Taiwanese Defense Force

  WIA = Wounded In Action

  WMD = Weapons of Mass Destruction

  VBIED = Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device