by Jack Strain
Unlike Doron who looked like an Israeli male model with his smooth tan skin and piercing blue eyes, the short, barrel chested Shalev with his thick mane of brillo like dark hair was listening but looking around for something to drink in his unfamiliar surroundings until finally he saw a small refrigerator underneath a table. Opening it up, he smiled at the sight of six ice cold beers. He grabbed two, opened both and handed one to his old friend.
Doron couldn’t help but smile and accepted the cool to the touch bottle, put it to his head and then took a deep pull on it. “Bibi would shit himself right about now if he could see the two of us drinking beer in his old office. I heard the man is fit to be tied. Figured he was set to rise from disgrace and come to the rescue.”
Shalev drank half the bottle in a series of loud gulps and said, “Well the hell with Bibi, we have other matters to discuss my friend. I have to tell you that I am not sure which operation concerns me more. I know our people are angry and scared, but we are looking at serious casualties.”
Doron responded in an equally serious tone, “Gid, we’ve already suffered serious casualties, and I’m afraid it’s going to get much worse.”
“How bad?”
“You’ve seen the same studies that I have, and they haven’t improved in the past year. Hezbollah’s rocket arsenal is easily over one hundred and fifty thousand with nearly fifty thousand fighters under arms. Plus, these aren’t the short-range Grad rockets we dealt with in the past. No, thanks to those Iranian bastards there are thousands of longer-range guided or semi-guided rockets that can hit Tel Aviv. And their fighters are better armed and trained and more experienced than in 2006. Most of their fighters have been blooded in real combat in Syria off and on for five years.”
The former commando, now head of government put his beer down on the big desk Bibi was photographed behind so many times and started pacing…thinking. So much depends on the Americans this time. They are in this fight too. For once, we won’t be on our own with the whole world breathing down our necks…judging us. The big question remains…
“Will we win?”
Without a hint of hesitation, the Army Chief of Staff answered directly, “Depends on what you mean by winning. Can we re-occupy the territories, establish control again, break Hamas? This we can do, but for how long? The world is with us today but how long can that last. As for Lebanon, you and the cabinet made it clear that the objective for this fight up North is to break Hezbollah, so they are a hollow shell of their selves for a decade. This too I can do, but the cost Gid will be very high…very high.”
Listening as his old comrade spoke in the words of a soldier, not some political figure mincing words. Taking another deep pull on his beer, Shalev knew what was in store for the citizen-soldiers of the Israeli army. The moment he gave the order, truck drivers, bank clerks, and bakers would don their uniforms and report to their Reserve units. University students would leave behind empty classrooms. Fathers and sons and now even mothers and daughters would leave their children behind and fight for Israel’s survival.
This time must be different…it can’t be another minor victory. There can be no peace without security. Our enemies brought the horrors of war again to the people of Israel, so I will speak in the only way our enemies understand.
Suddenly adopting a more formal tone, the former commando stood tall and said to his old friend, “Ari, I promise you that this time there will be no half-measures, no international ceasefires, no political interference from the Government. I only demand one thing…victory, a true victory so that as we bury Israel’s sons and daughters we can do so knowing their deaths brought life.”
The two men shook hands and the Israeli Chief of Staff left the office knowing that he had less than twenty-four hours to begin waging a war to the death.
The Kremlin, Moscow
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov watched with besmirched amusement as the Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu acted out in his typical overbearing manner, “Comrades, what the Americans asking of us is impossible. It can’t happen, it simply can’t. General tell the President what you just told me.”
General Valery Gerasimov, the cagey Tartar who was made the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces four years ago was instinctively hostile to the idea but not one to raise his voice or get too emotional. His no-nonsense manner was put to the test during the Second Chechen War when his 58th Army fought block by block in Grozny and earned President Putin’s attention with the Carthaginian peace imposed on the survivors of that vicious war.
Gerasimov was a new breed of Russian commander less willing to throw raw numbers of men and tanks at an opponent. The Gerasimov Doctrine makes use of a broad range of tactics to engage the enemy in a non-linear or a hybrid type of warfare unlike the clumsy five-day war against Georgia in 2008. Instead, Russia’s armed forced now rely on a combination of special forces, cyber and electronic warfare, and the timely application of raw power supported by a range of new weapon systems with great destructive power. It worked in Crimea, eastern Ukraine, and most notably in Syria. His voice carried great weight with Putin.
“Comrades, Minister Shoygu is rightly concerned about the spate of requests, though really more like demands coming from the Americans. First, they just wanted intelligence, then they wanted a joint-operation, now these overflights. We must be cautious not to risk our recent gains. Too much Russian blood has been spilt fighting those terrorists in the mountains and the rubble.”
Lavrov was a Russian nationalist whose heavy smoking and drinking ways conjure memories and images from Soviet-era depictions of a powerful Party Apparatchik. Serving as Foreign Minister since 2004 was a singular achievement in the post-Soviet era. Putin and Lavrov agreed on one great issue, Russia’s role in the world had diminished as a result of concerted efforts by the West, primarily the United States, to keep Russia down.
For the past thirteen years, Lavrov worked the world stage slowly, yet surely enhancing Russia’s role in the world. These Jerusalem attacks threatened recent accomplishments, not least of which was Russia’s most significant role in Middle East affairs since Brezhnev.
Lavrov longed for a cigarette, but Putin’s rabid anti-smoking views were well known putting him into an even more foul mood. With a heavy deep voice, Lavrov interjected, “Yes Comrade General, we cannot forget the sacrifices of Russian patriots, but neither can we allow spilt blood to deter us from making sound policy. The use of chemicals by that Iranian devil clearly changes things.
This American President will not be bound by rules or threats. SVR (successor to the KGB’s First Directorate of Intelligence responsible for overseas intelligence) reports that the American people are in a frenzied state. They want blood and this Wolfe is ready to give it to them.”
Finally, President Putin felt compelled to offer his views, “I agree that what the Americans are asking is risky, but we also have much to gain. Our oil exports alone stand to gain billions in the coming months.”
Defense Minister Shoygu who harbored a longstanding grudge against the United States was less moved by President Wolfe’s recent loss and answered back, “I say we can’t be seen to be supporting the Americans. We have taken advantage of the turmoil they created with their stupid invasion of Iraq and the so-called Arab Spring. If anything, they loss even more face three days ago. I say no to their requests and in fact we should warn our Iranian friends. They spent good hard currency on our weapons, let’s see what they can do in the days to come.”
Waving his hand in disgust, Lavrov said, “Sergey, this man is not rational right now. Who knows what he will do. Already some American papers are linking us to Assad’s chemical program, claiming without us then these terrorists never could have staged such an attack. We must be seen to be standing with the Americans in this war against these Muslim fanatics. And let us not forget that we have made more in-roads with this President then the last one…we can do business with this man once his faculties return.”
Cautiou
s, General Gerasimov added, “Comrades, I feel that we may be standing at a crossroads in many ways. All of us, the Americans, the West, we have been fighting these fanatics for decades. For what? They are mostly animals, a plague on the world. No one understands this better than the Russian people. We have been at war with Muslims for many hundreds of years and still nothing changes. Perhaps now is the time for concerted action.”
Lavrov quickly added, “The Europeans won’t be whining about International treaties and Muslim rights in the days and weeks to come. Perhaps, Valery is right. If not now, then when.”
Gerasimov’s words struck Russia’s all-powerful leader quite profoundly. Leave it to Gerasimov to ask how long do we continue to play these games with these people?
Suddenly feeling a bit energized, Putin pushed back from his desk and came to his feet. He thought better when moving. He slowly began walking around the spacious office, eyes distant ignoring the three other men in the room. The others had seen him do this before, so they waited for him to end his ruminations.
Moving slowly, until his gaze fell upon a Lucite display case holding a collection of luminous green crystal-like mineral deposits found deep in a Siberian mine. Scientists suggest this could be the answer for an advanced fuel cell design that could power all sorts of engines of the future. Putin kept the display in a prominent place on his Mahogany book shelves to remind him that Russia’s future was very much tied to the East…to the untold riches buried deep in the heart of Siberia.
All this terror business is bad for everyone. So many potential riches in the Siberian steppe, but so many Chinamen and so few Russians. We have played the Chinese off the Americans for so long that perhaps it’s time for a pivot. The West is growing weaker, even the Americans though they don’t really know it yet. But the Chinese have been quietly getting stronger while we have all buried our heads in the sand these years.
Lavrov’s right, we can do business with this man, and he did lose a daughter to those animals. The Russian people will understand his need for vengeance. And understand, why we must be seen to be on the right side of this.
Dramatically announcing, “Comrades, this is what we shall do. Lavrov tell the ambassador that we will allow their overflights this one time and quietly turn a blind eye to the other requests, BUT they must not take Russia for granted. No matter what happened in Jerusalem, Russian interests must be respected.”
He paused for the briefest of moments to let that sink in to everyone in the room, then added, “And I will allow the one special request President Wolfe asked of me directly as a gesture of good will on behalf of the Russian People…tell him that. Then we pick up the pieces together.”
Lavrov nodded his head and took a few notes, Smart Vladimir, very smart…I’ll be asleep when this American talks tonight, but let’s see how the world treats the Americans when they flex their superpower muscles.
Chapter Fourteen
ABC News Special Report
“Good morning, I’m George Stefano, and this is ABC Breaking News. At this hour, the White House remains in a complete news blackout. The president’s address to the nation is scheduled for tonight at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time, but the big story is what’s coming out of the Pentagon - or should I say what’s not coming out of the Pentagon. We can report that the American military is standing at its highest state of alert and continues to mobilize its forces all over the globe, but the Pentagon will not confirm or deny anything regarding troop movements or overseas deployments. So, the big question on everyone’s minds: Are we going to war and if so, with who?
“ABC News has footage of American planes taking off from a dozen different stateside bases and leaving for parts unknown. Active duty U.S. Army and Marine Corps units have canceled all leaves while National Guard armories have suddenly come alive with activity. U.S. naval vessels have been seen leaving ports both here and abroad, and an unconfirmed report indicates that the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, which was heading home after a nine-month deployment, has been hastily turned around and is apparently heading back to the Persian Gulf.
“Diplomats from Iran are calling for a special session of the UN Security Council, but so far, the U.S. along with Great Britain and France have shown no indications of allowing such a meeting. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been warning the United States and Israel not to use the Jerusalem tragedy as an excuse to launch another unwarranted attack on the Islamic world. He promised to unleash a sea of fire on whoever dared to threaten the Islamic state.
“The Pentagon just released footage of Iranian ballistic missile units performing drills and dozens of Revolutionary Guards gunboats flooding into the Persian Gulf, clearly signaling to the West their ability to close the Strait of Hormuz and threaten the millions of barrels of oil that pass through every single day.”
The White House, Washington D.C.
Baxter Davis’ ears perked up when outside his office door, he heard the loud, high-pitched voice of his secretary yell out, “Mr. Schultz, you can’t go in there! He’s with someone. Mr. Schultz . . .” Then the door suddenly swung open, and a seething Chief of Staff Dutch Schultz burst in with his hands wrapped around a handful of papers, eyes on fire. Without warning, he threw the papers straight at Baxter’s head and shouted, “What the hell is this shit?!”
About a dozen pieces of papers flew through the air, some striking Baxter’s face while others harmlessly fluttered to his desk and the ground. Rather than losing his cool, Baxter came to his feet and turned to a shocked Susanna Hastings and calmly said, “Sorry, Susanna. Apparently Dutch and I need to have a chat.”
A furious Schultz said, “You’re goddamned right we do, and if you want your little hatchet woman to stick around that’s fine by me.”
Hastings cautiously came to her feet, unsure of what to do. Clearly, the Chief of Staff somehow got wind of tonight’s speech and was looking for a fight. She glanced towards her mentor and boss, and Baxter shook his head and said, “That’s okay Susanna, Dutch and I have some issues to sort out. Go take care of those other matters right away.”
Susanna simply nodded back, turned towards the president’s longtime friend and quietly said, “Mr. Schultz . . .” and walked out of the office.
Look at that smug bastard with his bullshit 80’s slicked back Gordon Gekko hair, thinking he’s already won. Well, fuck him.
Glaring at Davis, Schultz lost any pretense of civility and said, “That goddamned speech is a travesty. For fuck’s sake Baxter, you practically have him declaring war against the whole damn Muslim world.”
That’s it, Dutch, get it all out of your system. You’re here because your stock with your old friend has never been lower. The stockbroker in him could hear the words “sell, sell” and he had to stifle a smile.
“That speech is a masterpiece. Read your history books Dutch, this is a war that goes back a thousand years. The whole country saw what those butchers did to Liliana, the time for half-measures is over.”
Invoking Liliana struck a nerve. Dutch took two steps closer to Baxter and forced himself to stop. His face was flushed, and his hands clenched tight at his sides. He took a deep breath and in a menacing tone said, “I watched that girl grow up. For you she’s a fucking prop, my heart broke when she died, and I’m trying to protect her father because that is what she would want me to do. You are turning him into a monster. I’m not going to stand here and let you get away with it.”
Both men were in their early sixties, smart, successful, self-made men who came from tough neighborhoods in their youth and memories of schoolyard fights and bar brawls were still spoken with pride. If anything, Baxter seemed to relish the growing menace in the room. Slowly walking around his desk towards Schultz, he stopped three feet away and made it clear that he wasn’t intimidated.
I’m right here, Dutch, and you should know by now that I don’t scare that easy.
Davis stared Schultz down with his yellowish rheumy eyes and sneered, �
��Let me get away with it? Are you really that thick? Your buddy loved every word of it. He especially liked my little PR twist to it. In fact, he loved that part, so take your outrage and bullshit sentimentality out of here, and while you’re at it, I wouldn’t get too comfy around here. How many whispers do you think it will take to convince the president that you’ve gone soft - can’t hack it when things get rough? And believe me, things are about to get pretty goddamned rough.”
Baxter’s words struck home in a way Dutch hadn’t expected. He could feel his influence over his friend start to slip during the election, really ever since the transition when Baxter and his cronies had more and more pull. That last conversation in the Yellow Oval Room suddenly came back to him. Baxter had him in his grips now, maybe the S.O.B. was right. Maybe forty years of friendship wouldn’t be enough after all.
Baxter could tell by Dutch’s expression that he touched a nerve, so he added, “What’s a matter Dutch? Cat got your tongue?”
Closing his eyes and slowly shaking his head from side-to-side, Schultz offered up the barest hint of a smile and said, “You know something, Baxter, until he met you I never heard a single person ever accuse him of being a racist. Maybe a sexist, but no one’s perfect. People who have known him for years, his sons, hell even his ex-wives say that sometimes they don’t recognize him or least this public one you’ve created. As far as I’m concerned, you’ve ruined the man.”
Pointing his finger inches from Dutch’s face, Baxter said, “Ruined him? I made him President of the United States, not you and that circus you ran before I came on board. And now this man is going to purge the world of these extremists.”