Elevated Threat

by William Robson

  Unlike the July 1st speech, when Anne and Clyde met, their expectations were so low that Anne kept her laptop tucked away in its carrying case. Clyde barely even acknowledged the speech until just seconds before it began. They were still hoping for a strong challenge by the President, but the odds were low against it.

  July 4, 2015

  Washington, D.C.

  2 PM PST

  When the cameras panned across the crowd that had filled the Mall in front of the presidential podium, Anne noticed that the crowd consisted only of members of the United States Congress, United States Senators, and top-level officials from every part of the government and military. Instead of facing the podium and the President, the entire group were all facing outwards toward the cameras and the people who would be watching. Even more surprising, they were all standing shoulder to shoulder and in no discernable order. Democrats were mixed with Republicans, military generals were next to administration staffers. Even Texas representatives could be seen mixed in with Maryland senators. It was as if they were representing America and not their own bias or interest for once. Anne grabbed her laptop bag and connected it to the port’s wireless network.

  To everyone’s surprise, the President did not make the typical regal approach to the podium. He was already just standing there at full attention. There was no pomp or circumstance. There was no applause. There was just the President and the rest of our leaders facing the cameras. Clyde shut his trailer window and pulled up a folding chair next to Anne. Both were transfixed by the sight of unity that was displayed.

  The President went straight into his speech.

  “My fellow Americans, and our friends around the world. Two hundred and thirty-eight years ago this great nation was born. It was released from tyranny by men and women that understood the fight for freedom was worth any effort and any price paid. Some of the leaders at the time wanted to capitulate to the oppressors. The arguments between the nation’s leaders back in those days were legendary. Eventually, those leaders came to the conclusion that the need to be free of the oppression and tyranny that had been thrust upon them, was worth far more than the desire to achieve the individual goals some of those leaders had. From that moment on, a great wave overtook the colonies from New Hampshire to South Carolina. America’s leaders had the courage to fight back against those who would have held them captives, and the people came together and stood shoulder to shoulder to beat back that oppression. This great land was born on the backs of their fight for that freedom.

  The people of the colonies gave their money, their livelihood, their sweat, and even their blood for the universal right to walk as free men and women and to have their lives directed solely by their own hand. They were willing to die to obtain that freedom, and many paid that sacrifice for it. Yet despite the many losses they had to endure, they won their fight, because their fight was just and right. The current leaders of the United States stand here today in these memorial grounds which will stand for all time as a testament to their bravery and to their victory. But we have not come here to just create a political backdrop for this speech. We do so now out of reverence to their willingness to fight for our right to stand here. We also do so to remind every one of us of their sacrifice and to use it as a motivation to live up to their great legacy.

  There have always been those who have desired to defeat us because of these freedoms that were granted to us by those brave men and women who came before us. In the last thirteen years, we have been increasingly targeted by groups that are directly threatened by that very freedom and the prosperity it provides us. Some, as we know, have lain in wait from countries all around the world looking for a chance to strike. We have fought two visible wars, and numerous invisible wars, to try and beat back their hate. And yes, we too have paid a heavy price for that righteous goal of a free America.

  We have made progress against many of these enemies, but recently a new head-of-the-snake has arisen and it has directed its venom against us. This new snake does not move or strike like the others we have fought. It’s much more elusive and its venom has proven to be far more deadly. Where the other snakes have gone after our ankles, this snake has set its aim for our hearts. This serpent has proven to possess unique capabilities that has made it much more difficult to keep in check, and it has clearly declared that it will not stop its pursuit until the very freedom that this country stands for is dead.”

  Clyde looked over at Anne, “Holy crap, did he just say that?”

  Anne didn’t move a muscle, but was amazed that there was no clapping or mugging for the camera by the audience. The entire assembled body just stood quietly and faced the people. Then the President continued.

  “Like the early patriots, the group that stands before you now has bickered mightily in the days and years past. We have temporarily lost sight of the greatness and the sacrifices those original Americans put forth on our behalf. We have been enjoying the fruits of what they had provided us, but we lost sight of the sacrifice we should all be putting forth to keep it. Today, we are now standing here before you to declare loud and clear for all to hear around the globe that we have all decided to put on the cloak of responsibility that our forefathers require of us, and which you asked of us on election day. We stand before you today as one body, ready to give up the fight for self in order to live up to our responsibility to protect America’s heart.

  Just three days ago, I stood before you and said that I wanted you to trust me. I told you then that this group before you now would be talking in private, and with our allies around the world, and that when the plan was concluded, I would then explain what steps we would be taking to eliminate those behind the attacks against us and our global partners. Today, I am here to tell you in simple straight talk how we are going to be fighting back. I am here to tell you, and the entire world, that the evil elements who have challenged us have drastically underestimated our resolve and our might. I am here to tell you now that we ARE going to be killing the snake and all its siblings.”

  Clyde looked over at Anne again but could not even utter a sound before the President continued.

  “After the attacks perpetrated on us on 9/11, my predecessor told you how the people responsible for that act would be held accountable, and how those found harboring the people behind the attacks would be held equally responsible. We have made great strides in catching and bringing to justice the individuals and accomplices that were behind that attack. What we have not yet done is follow through on the second part of that promise. Starting today, we will begin to ensure that countries harboring our enemies feel the sting of that promise.

  We all well know that there are still countries that are providing a safe haven to those that have vowed to do us harm. There are still countries that through their own corruption and duplicitous intent have allowed our enemies to rebuild and rearm, even after we eliminated many of the individuals and groups behind these evil deeds. Various terrorist groups have been allowed to run free and preach their doctrine of hate against us openly. Schools of hatred, thinly veiled as religious organizations, have not only been tolerated but have been encouraged by these countries. Even the world’s most wanted man was found safely ensconced in the bosom of a country that vowed to us that all efforts were being conducted to help us find him.

  These countries have continually promised us that they would end these practices and reform themselves. They have taken our goodwill and vast amounts of resources from us after we have accepted their promise that they would be making those reforms. Unfortunately, they have not retreated one step from their duplicitous acts. We have continually rested our hopes for redemption on the words of the leaders from these countries, and we have not held them accountable for their actions. That practice stops today.

  This morning, a wide range of legislation has been drafted that will soon be unanimously adopted, and which will allow for a sweeping change in the way we deal with both our allies and enemies. The full range of options this legislati
on provides for will allow the United States and its allies to directly respond to any country we find hiding, or aiding the people who have perpetrated the recent attacks against us. The range of options at our disposal, which we will employ against these false partners, will include elements of our political, financial, strategic, and military capabilities. Please note, you did not hear me say that we will be bringing empty UN sanctions or paper rebukes against these enemies. No, these countries will quickly discover that, this time, the consequences for their choices are real and tangible.

  Let me outline some of the political steps we have undertaken to make sure our friends are who and what they say they are. Starting tomorrow morning, the US will be dramatically expanding our involvement in NATO. We will be investing heavily in building up both its humanitarian and military capabilities. Through this new organization, we will be coordinating with our allies to create a completely new method of providing financial, political, and strategic aid to the countries around the world that wish to work with us; and we will be enabling a dramatic new type of response for those that don’t.

  The United States and our allies have always provided financial and logistical assistance to countries, regardless of ideology, when natural or humanitarian disasters have struck. This humanitarian aid will continue to all unabated. When the people need our support, the US will be there to provide it. However, we have continually fallen into the trap of providing funds or support to countries that have ultimately proven to be aligned against us in the misguided hopes that we can buy their loyalty. We are no longer under that illusion.

  Therefore, as of this very moment, all financial, strategic, and political aid that is currently provided by the Unites States or its NATO allies to countries that are not a member of the expanded NATO alliance are being discontinued. Additionally, all assets held by these countries that are in US control have been frozen. We will no longer be sending bribe money to countries that hate us in a futile attempt to curry their favor.

  An aid reinstatement team has been created that will be providing a path for all non-NATO countries to reapply for new aid packages. Countries that have already proven that they value their relations with the West, and who have actively helped us ferret out the terrorists among them, will find that reinstatement will come quickly and they will be able to continue to receive our aid in all the various forms it takes.

  Countries that have shown by their actions that they do not value a relationship with us, will be given a one-year moratorium for any new aid package.

  Thirty days prior to the end of their one year moratorium, these countries will be eligible to reapply to NATO for one of the available aid packages. If they have sufficiently proven over the moratorium time period to the reinstatement committee that they truly wish to help the world find and destroy the snakes in their midst, our aid to them may be reinstated. However, if they choose to remain on the side of those who would oppose us, their declaration of that alliance will be unmasked and their intentions will be revealed to the world.

  No country will be coerced to join the NATO alliance. No member country within the alliance will be required to conform to any political, religious or public norms whatsoever. The only stipulation to receive an aid package, is that the country making the request do not allow themselves to become a breeding ground of hatred and that they help us ferret out those that previously used their borders for protection from us.

  However, from this moment forward, any country found to be intentionally fostering those that wish to do us harm, will be considered as enemy combatants, and equally responsible for the deeds of those they are harboring. These countries will soon discover that NATO’s expanded military strength will be overwhelming, and the response to the threat that now faces us all will come swiftly. The days of endless resolutions and diplomats arguing over the language of agreements have ended. Starting today, resolutions for problem nations will come in the form of defining actions, not endless rhetoric.”

  The President paused to let the impact of his words sink in. Then he continued.

  “In the last few days, we have borne witness to how fragile we have become with our commerce and our very financial security. Therefore, we have instituted a set of sweeping changes to protect our financial system and restore the public confidence in it and our ability to protect it.

  Over the last few years the ingenuity of America’s scientists has provided us with new methods to access and extract the massive amounts of oil and gas reserves right here in the US. By utilizing fracking and high pressure gas emulsion techniques, we have been able to build up our internal energy resources to the point where we will no longer need to purchase these resources from those that wish to do us harm.

  Thanks to these tremendous breakthroughs, I am now able to announce to you the new expanded version of the NATO Strategic Oil and Gas Alliance. Through this alliance we will be sharing our technical expertise and the techniques employed in these oil recovery capabilities to all member nations that have their own reserves, but not the ability to access them. Additionally, we have now received firm commitments from all of the NATO member states to expand the distribution of oil resources with the affiliated countries that do not have their own reserves.

  The NATO Strategic Oil and Gas Alliance will be the exclusive purchaser and distributor of oil from all producing countries that have chosen to not become a partner with the NATO Alliance. Prices will be set by NATO and all refinement and distribution will take place through NATO designated facilities. Petroleum purchases from the countries on our “no buy” list will cease on August 1st.

  In addition to this energy initiative, we have received a pledge from all NATO member countries to agree to a full and complete arms embargo and a cessation of all military assistance to the non-member countries. If future military action becomes necessary against non-member countries, we will no longer be facing the same arms we produced. Very few of the countries expected to be aligned against us have the ability to create advanced weaponry on their own. As their oil revenues start to become drastically reduced, they will no longer possess the ability to purchase those weapons. Those countries will rapidly find themselves falling even farther behind in their ability to threaten us with force.”

  The President paused again. The assemble masses before stood rail still. Then he continued.

  “As this latest direct challenge to us has demonstrated, with every technological advancement comes the opportunity for corruption. We have all seen this first-hand with the internet and its associated technologies. While its very openness and global reach provided a source of great advancement in the sharing of knowledge and the speed of transacting business, that same openness has provided people with evil intent a great opening to do us harm.

  We have recognized the possibility of such an attack for some time now. Over the last year we have been assembling a team of experts from 17 countries that representing some of the finest minds in the field. Their goal was to work on a solution to the endless hacking attacks against us. In the last few weeks, they have been putting the finishing touches on a new system called SPY, which will create a vastly more secure environment for government and business entities to work in. While nothing is infallible, this new system will drastically reduce the vulnerabilities enabled by our existing infrastructure. The system details and technical assistance for moving from the internet to this new system will be provided free of charge to all member countries and the business that reside in them.”

  The President paused for a drink of water.

  Anne was so transfixed on the screen that even though she had her fingers on the keyboard, she could not get them to press the keys. Clyde just sat with his mouth agape. What possibly could the President have left to say? He had made more changes in the last fifteen minutes than had been made in the last ten years. But as Clyde and Anne were about to find out, there was indeed much more to come. The President took a deep breath and then continued.

  “All of the
steps I have just outlined are designed to prevent or limit those countries that wish to do the free people of the world harm. They are a way to help persuade them that friendship with the United States and its allies means more than just providing political lip service. We will no longer be sending bags of cash to leaders of countries that prove by their actions to not support our goals. We will no longer provide military support to leaders only because they are the lesser-of-two-evil options.

  Instead, we will require that they first prove they are willing to help us rid the world of the snakes out there by stopping to tolerate the practices that create and promote these individuals in the first place. And when the individuals with evil intent do arise, as there will always be those that will choose to follow the path of evil, these countries must prove they are ready and willing to root them out and eliminate the threat they present.

  But what of those countries that have already proven to present themselves like a lamb in speech but continually hide the serpents in their wool and have no intention of changing their ways? What about those that have perpetually viewed our generosity and our restraint from acting out against their evil acts as a weakness on our part? We have seen how they have continually slapped us in the face, and each time we have turned the other cheek. If they give a close examination to my earlier statements today, they should now be starting to understand that the limit of our generosity with them has now run out.”