Bjjonesmylife. Book 2

Sunday morning after breakfast I went to the Oval Office and read the new reports. The C5 bringing the bodies had been delayed in Germany and was not going to land in Dover until Monday at 1800. That delay was to allow the morticians more time to clean up the bodies and perform DNA test on body parts.
It would allow the families time to come to Dover if they wanted. It also gave me a day to spend with the family they could wait and go home tomorrow morning.
We went swimming in the private presidential pool for several hours before lunch. After lunch we played games in the game room with the boys. They had supper with me and we had a good night together.
With the family gone I started Monday’s routine only to be interrupted by Troy.
”There are four senators in the lobby anxious to see you,” he said
”Ok send them in,” I said.
”Senator Harcourt, Senator Johnson, Senator Williams and Senator Bright how you today?” I said.
”We are fine. People are mad, others are worried that you may lead us into an extended Middle East war again,” Senator Johnson said.
”There will be no extended Middle East war – I can assure of that,” I said.
”The Senate is going to take up your request and vote on the authorization after lunch. The Navy is sending someone to give testimony and update the Senate on the crew and the condition of the ship,” Senator Williams said.
”That someone is the Chief of Naval Operations and he has classified video of the attack. It is not for those that are weak in the stomach,” I said.
”Just where and how did you get video?” the Senator asked.
”It’s from the JBG fast ships under contract to the OPEC five. Vicky had to get the King’s approval to allow it to be released. All the fast ship crew wear Go-Pro cams on duty. It works similar to a body cam worn by police officers. It allows the job to be critiqued on attitude and efficiency or problem child.”
”The House is voting before lunch. There are several opposition groups there,” Senator Williams said.
”The Chief of Naval Operations should be showing the film in a few minutes there. There was a hold up with some of the members wanting to release the film to the public.”
After much bickering and grandstanding for the cameras, they were allowed back in. Special interest groups that some of the members were indebted to finally gave in and the House passed the resolution at 1145. The vote was four hundred for and thirty against with five voting present.
The Senate didn’t have the problems the House did. The Sergeant at Arms ran the media out, closed and locked the doors and turned off all recording devices.
The piece of film that we had chosen to be shown to both houses was from Squadron Six. Squadron Six was a six ship unit under the command of Commander John Fitzgerald, he also was the captain of ship six. There were three six ship squadrons at Ad Damman. Vicky was now getting the ship numbers into the contract numbers.
Lt Mickey Butler was the weapons officer. The weapons officer could pilot the ship when any of the fixed weapons were fired.
The fixed weapons were two Hellfire missiles, one on each side of the overhead. In between the Hellfires were 12 improved Hydra Seventy rockets. The Hydra Seventy rocket started its life as a dumb fin stabilized rocket that had to be carefully aimed at what you wanted to hit.
The Hydra Seventy rockets that JBG had were advanced models modified at the Israel Mossad secret research facility. They were still fin stabilized but now had target acquisition and lock on target ability. They were a foot longer than the original version.
Mack Rubble was the Mark 38 chain gun operator on the port stern. The Mark 38 was 25 MM or 95 caliber with an effective range of ten thousand feet and a maximum range of twenty three thousand feet. As a chain gun it was battery powered – in this case from the ships 24 volt power system.
Jeff Briggs was the operator on the twin fifty mounted on the on the starboard stern. He was also in charge of the depth charge rack.
Billy Hammond was on the bow Mark 38 chain gun. Eddie Foster was the odd man out; he was responsible for the engines and filled in any gun position on the ship.
We chose the helmet video of Commander Fitzgerald because it was the most complete video of the thirty minute attack and response. Squadron six was in the transition area with the other seven ships and the Hammann and maintaining position with the engines.
”What the hell was that?” John said.
”Missiles 11 o’clock, four helicopters, Iranian fast boats coming at 10 o clock,” Billy yelled.
”Battle stations, lock and load, belt in; going to full throttle,” John ordered.
”Ad -Dam control we need back up NOW; we are under attack, helicopters and Iranian fast boats,” he radioed.
Lock and load puts a round in the chamber; at that point the gun is ready to fire when the trigger is squeezed. All the guns are aim-able on restricted turret mounts limited by their location on the ship. For instance, the bow gun has a sweep of two hundred and twenty degrees.
Each of the stern guns has a sweep of roughly one hundred and eighty degrees. Two guns could be fired on any target by positioning the ship at a slight angle, easily done with the drive units on the ships. It could actually crab sideways.
Each of the gun mounts had an operator’s half seat with a safety belt. When all five thousand horsepower was put to the propellers, you better be belted in and hanging onto something.
”Squadron six – battle stations, attack targets at 10 o clock, fire at will, fire for effect; this is no drill!” ordered Commander Fitzgerald.
As commander of the squadron his head was on a swivel. He was looking for the backup and to see if any Iranian boats were anywhere else on the radar.
He was looking at the helicopters when the missiles from the Hammann took them out. He followed the missiles fired from the helicopters as the close in defense took all but one of them out.
He had the overview of the JBG ships destroying the Iranian fast boats and the four missiles from the fast boats getting through the close in defense systems. The Iranians had fired sixty missiles. It was a swarm offense strategy; fire missiles and then run. They had not planned on the JBG ships being there. They lost eighteen of their twenty boats.
”Ships one, two and three make sure the Iranians in the water are all dead. Ships four, five, seven, eight and nine render assistance to the Hammann – fire up the fire pumps and help them fight the fires,” Fitzgerald ordered.
The House and Senate were not the only things happening on Monday; it in fact started on Saturday after the attack. Every base went into full combat mode.
Tugs were pushing fuel barges to fill the tanks on ships that had been notified for departure. Refrigerated trucks were carrying provisions to fill freezers and food lockers with whatever the cooks thought they needed.
It takes an unimaginable amount of food to feed 4700 hundred men and women on an aircraft carrier. The kitchens never shut down, operating twenty four hours a day.
Barges carrying ammunition, rockets, missiles and bombs were filling the magazines. Medical supplies were being checked, the pharmacies were filled with supplies from lists that had been generated over the decades.
It was a huge task to outfit a task force to go to sea and keep it at sea. There were replenishment ships that delivered food and materials to them at sea. That was the job of the Sea Lift Command, another part of the Navy that was always on the short end of funding. When the Navy needs them, they are leased.
For refueling that many ships crossing the Atlantic going into the Mediterranean and through the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean, the Navy seized – force leased – the Esso Atlantic carrying light fuel oil to Galveston Texas.
It was to sail in a box in the area of Ponta Delgata and refuel all the petroleum powered ships. They would then sail into the Indian Ocean and the Saudi’s would supply fuel while they were there.
In the Pacific the Sunoco Ocean Blue was contracted in the same way. It was to sail in the area of Palau for the ships coming from the west coast and Pearl Harbor.
The Senate passed the resolution eighty five to fifteen, authorizing a military response and additional funding for the DOD.
As I left the White House, anti-war demonstrators were picketing in the street and had been all day. It wasn’t unexpected; Robert had intercepted a broadcast from Tiam with a message from the General. It was a general directive to their affiliates and activists to bring political pressure against the US government and the governments of our allies through marches and protests.
At Dover the C5 was going to be an hour late. The families had all flown in to see their loved one arrive. It was going to be a gut wrenching afternoon and evening.
The Secretary of defense, Sectary of the navy and the Chief of Naval Operations plus my close staff were with me.
I talked with every one of the family members that were there, a Chaplain was with most of them offering condolences and prayers and I prayed with them. I added my own private prayer.
I prayed for guidance and wisdom for the upcoming operations. I prayed that the military losses be few. I prayed that our missile defenses worked perfectly and that the laser weapons lived up to the sales pitch. They say Eisenhower prayed on the morning of D Day and that Patton ordered prayers at the battle of the Bulge so I felt it was OK if I prayed.
Finally it was over; the caskets all unloaded and the grieving parents comforted as best we could. There are some things that happen in life we never forget; for me this was one of them.
The ride back to the White House was quiet no one felt like saying much of anything.
At the White House the demonstrators and news people were still there. Still trying to make the world in their vision.
I made a VCATS call to the girls. I wanted to know about the arrangements for the three JBG men killed and the conditions of the wounded. The bodies were back. They came in the cargo bay of a commercial plane; United flight 651. The girls and Andy handled it all this time. I wished I could have been there to help but as I listened, I knew it wasn’t necessary.
I would see them on Wednesday night, they were coming with me to another fund raiser. All this would soon be history; there were less than sixty days to the convention.
On my desk was a note that there was to be a visitor late today. It was a Navy seaman from Norfolk. He had left a box that was now being checked for contamination by the FBI. They would have it back sometime tonight.
To take that long it must have been a big box or else whatever was in it was complicated.
I showered and went to bed after one more call to the girls.
Edit by Alfmeister
Proof read by Bob W.

I opened the folder with the CIA supplied satellite pictures from this morning and handed the two to Frank, “Did you know about the covered boat pens across from AD Dammam?” I asked.
‘‘No, we knew there was construction in the area several years ago, but it was abruptly stopped during the Iran Iraq war. Then there was a group of fishing huts there for a while until they fell down,” he said.
”The fishing huts were cover for what they were really doing. I think you need to have someone go back and look at the whole Iranian coast for abnormalities. I hate those kind of surprises and don’t want to see any more,” I said.
”It is already under way,” he said.
”I think we know where they are headed with all their maneuvers. It also means they have another method of communication other than the General’s coded broadcast by Tiam – likely buried cables. There were no broadcasts from Tiam so you need to look for the connections where they all come together,” I said.
”I will put a specialist on it,” he said as he stood to leave.
A call came in from King Eluad of Saudi Arabia – it lasted thirty minutes – expressing his sympathy for the losses on the Hammann. When the call ended I had an agreement from the Saudi’s to furnish fuel for the fleet and additional bases for the US forces to use.
Next in were the Joint Chiefs for the second time this morning.
”All leaves have been canceled and those on leave have been recalled to their duty stations. The other orders you wanted are in the works,” the Chief of Naval Operations said.
The other orders were ”I want the Stennis and its task force, the Thomas and its task force at sea in three days.”
That was the time it would take to finish the nitpicky things the uniforms wanted done from the overhauls.
They also needed to load fuel, arms and food. The same would apply to the escort group of destroyers, guided missile cruisers and submarines. The air groups would land on carrier deck once they left port.
In the Pacific the Reagan task force was ordered to depart Russia tomorrow and refuel the aviation tanks, take on additional weapons and supplies at the naval base in Japan and wait for additional orders.
The Roosevelt task force was ordered to depart for the coast of East Africa in three days. The Lincoln task force was ordered to depart for India in three days. In seven days all the carriers would be within two days sailing of the Indian Ocean if a call to action was ordered.
That would leave only the Fordson – with all its problems – at the docks.
The next one for the hot seat was the State Department. I listened for thirty minutes while Secretary of State Dean read messages from various allies and from countries aligned with Iran.
All of those that were allied with Iranian were urging that the US use restraint in responding to the Iranian attack. Some were even pressuring that we take no actions. I ordered the Secretary of State to advise all our allies to remove all citizens from Iran.
Even though I couldn’t say it out loud, I had shown all the restraint I was going to show when I had not pushed the nuke button ten minutes after the attack. Absolutely everything else was on the table.
The Generals laid out the general plan for a retaliatory military action. The Navy was up to bat first and second then the Air Force third, fourth and finally the Marines and the Army.
The Marines were leaving in the amphibious assault ships by the end of the week. The amphibious assault ships in the Atlantic ports would follow the same route as the carriers.
The amphibious ships in the Pacific would sail to the Indian Ocean and stand by until the Navy and Air Force bombing campaigns were done.
The close in support would be from the Air Force and Marine A10s and various ground support helicopters. The Army would be flown to Saudi Arabia then ferried across the Strait of Hormuz in the assault ships. I liked the plan.
All the Atlantic Navy task forces would transit to the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal. The target date for the first round was ten days; that was when all the carriers would be in the Indian Ocean.
The joint chiefs selected the Indian Ocean as the center of activities for the opening round because aircraft launched from there could hit all of Iran without needing flyover permission from countries that were in favor with Iran.
If they were launched from the Mediterranean Sea, they would have to fly over Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Jordan. All of which had people aligned with Iran who would certainly warn them. Plus Iran still had several military bases in Iraq from the supposedly demise of ISIS in the area. Those bases would soon be rubble as would be many more.
I called Frank to come back in and he did quickly.
”I believe there are several sites publishing our Navy’s ship movements every day and one or two doing the same for aircraft. Politely ask them to cease reporting US ship movements for a month. If they don’t, shut down their operations. If all else fails, threaten to have the Air Force destroy the satellites they are using and then do it,” I said.
The joint chiefs, Troy and I looked at the thumb drives Tom had given me this morning of the action as captured by the Go-Pro cams the JBG men were wearing. We were looking for shots that could be released to the media tonight at the 1800 news conference.
Troy had called several key Senators to sit in but none were available. So we did all the work. We picked twenty five stills of missiles being shot down, hitting the Hammann and also Iran’s fast boats be blown to bits. Four of the stills showed the massive damage to the ship.
At 1300 I was walking back to Marine One. I was going back home to eat with the family and then coming back in a couple hours. I was hoping there would be more updates and information.
The Navy was expecting to have a list of the injured and deceased and that was important. Families wanted to know about their loved ones. They needed to hear that knock on the door and be told something.
The flight was quick – too quick – I still had a thousand thoughts rambling around in my mind. Marine One landed behind the office again. This time the customary ambulance and fire engine was there. Somehow I knew there would be a TV camera there – and it was.
I stood waiting for my case as the officers were handing out briefcases and gear through the door. The case I was handed was the football with the pair of handcuffs still attached. People would flip out when that picture was shown.
I was not supposed have access to the case unless it was deemed we were under nuclear attack.
Then the officer holding it would insert his ID card, then my ID card and the case could be opened. Once opened a second ID card from the officer would be inserted, then a second card from me and the case would then go active. I could launch missiles to pre-assigned targets by flipping toggle switches. There were six rows of switches.
I waited for the officer to step out of the helicopter and handed him the case, ”I believe this belongs to you,” I said.
”Yes Ma-am, thank you,” he said.
I walked into the garage that was set up – like we usually did – with tables, chairs and food on four long tables. I was just in time for Lisa to give the blessing for the food, the hands that prepared it, and prayers for the wounded and deceased.
I helped fix plates for JJ and RJ before I fixed my own. My family, mates and I were at one table. Jason, Lisa, Jake and Mindy with her twins were at another.
The food was good, really too good. I ate too much. All the agents had an over flowing plate as well.
My phone was beeping with text messages. Most of them I could put off to later, but one or two I had to respond to, I made the answers short and sweet.
Two hours later I was back in Marine One. The rest of the family was coming over in two of the 406s later for the fireworks. I spent the trip sending text messages.
Back at the Oval Office the Navy had left two lists on my desk. One was the injured and a short assessment of their injuries, the other a list of the dead, their home towns and rank.
` I looked through the injured list. Most of the serious injuries were burns from the missiles exploding, concussions and injuries caused by flying debris. These had been transferred to hospitals in the area.
The C5 set up as an air-medic from Germany was on the ground with a full medical group aboard. Those that could be moved would be in the Army Hospital in Germany by midnight. The hospital and its doctors were the best at caring for war injuries.
I looked through the list of those killed, first on the list was Captain Wallace Binghamton and Commander McHale; both were killed when the third missile fired by the Iranian helicopters hit the bridge. The other ninety eight were from different sections of the ship.
An attached note said clergy and officers had started to notify the families. The bodies were coming into Dover tomorrow morning after a stopover in Germany for the forensic people to take DNA and tidy up the bodies first.
I wrote the statement that I was going to give tonight at 1900. The fireworks were to start at 2100. I thought it appropriate that there be time between them.
I had thirty minutes to get ready. I went to dress better than I was. At 1900 I walked to the podium as the last notes of Hail to the Chief drifted away. I gave the speech I had written.
I spoke for fifteen minutes heaping praise on the founders of our country and the celebration of our nation’s birthday. I again asked for prayers for the wounded, those that had died and all the families.
I walked back to the Oval Office with my family. We were going up to the balcony at 1945 to watch the fireworks.
Admiral Beck followed me into the office.
”The intel is showing that the Iranians are getting ready to send their submarines out to sea,” he said.
”We need to sink them with all the ships headed in that direction. Do we have any hunter killer submarines in the area that can go the job?” I asked.
”Yes, there are two in the area that can do the job. The SSN- 790 South Dakota is in the Indian Ocean as we speak and SSN-791 Delaware will be there tomorrow,” he said.
”Issue orders for the South Dakota to sink any and all Iranian submarines as long as they are in deep enough water not to be a marine navigation hazard,” I said.
I joined my family on the White House balcony and watched the fireworks. It was a great show; the boys were excited at every boom and flash. It took Takeo and Sara a while to relax and enjoy.
Edit by Alfmeister
Proof read by Bob W.

I slipped on a tee shirt, pajama bottoms and slippers, then with agents and the football in tow made my way to the elevator for the tunnel and then the command center where any conversation could be secure.
Tom was working the control panel as we went in.
”I guess you have been told what has happened. Aaron is sending the video from the fast ships in a few minutes, Andy is on his way over. He should be here in the next few minutes.”
”Ok – I need you to connect to a government link.” I gave him the connection information. After a few minutes I was looking at the night crew from the joint chiefs.
Rear Admiral John Beck was the Navy representative tonight. ”Madam President, at 1000 Saudi Arabia time 0300 local, the destroyer USS Hammann was attacked in the Persian Gulf off Al Jubayl in the transition area to enter Ad Dammam international seaport. The ship was severely damaged but is still afloat. One hundred sailors are dead and over one hundred injured,” he said.
”Who were the attackers?” I asked as if I didn’t know.
”Iranian fast boats and several helicopters,” the rear Admiral said.
” All the video from the GoPro cameras has loaded,” Tom said just as Andy stepped into the room.
”Add Aaron to this conversation. Let’s find out what happened!” I said.
Aaron came on the screen that was now divided into four smaller ones.
”Aaron, can you tell us what happened?” I asked.
”Last night at 2000 hours four of our escort ships from the Dubai site escorted the tanker Exxon Orient out of the Persian gulf and into the Arabian sea where they were picked up by four more from the Masqat site. The USS Hammann was steaming into the Persian Gulf to dock at Ad Dammam.”
”Our ships accompanied the Hammann into the gulf. The four ships handed off the Hammann to four of our ships from the Ad Dammam site at the Dubai – Qatar temporary anchorage,” Aaron said.
”The four Ad Dammam ships picked up the tanker Global Mystic from the temporary anchorage and the USS Hammann and along with two of the Dubai escorts that were going to the Ad Dammam maintenance site dry dock for service.”
”The Ad Dammam harbor master directed the USS Hammann to the transition site to wait until it’s docking and display area was ready. It was to be a thirty minute wait. Our six fast ships also went to the transition area because of congestion in the harbor.”
There were two transition areas. One encompassed the Saudi Arabia territorial waters and other Iranian territorial waters. A buoy marked neutral zone between the two for ships transiting further up the gulf.
”Minutes after the radio message four Iranian helicopters came over the horizon from the north east and twenty IRG fast boats came out of the marshes off Fars Island,”
”The helicopters opened fire with missiles when still twelve miles away. The close in defense systems disposed of fourteen of the missiles, but two still hit the ship. The ship fired anti-aircraft missiles and destroyed all four helicopters just before the missiles hit the ship. The Iranian fast boats moved in to attack firing more missiles as the JBG ships moved in to help the Hammann.”
”Four missiles from the fast boats made it past the close in defenses and struck the Hammann. They had fired over twenty.”
“The JBG fast ships took on the Iranian fast boats. The Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70s sank ten of them. The other ten were raked with gunfire from the Hammann and the JBG ships sinking eight more. The last two fled the area,” Aaron said.
”I have serious injuries and three casualties in the JBG force, all ships have battle damage,” Aaron added.
”Tom, copy all the GoPro video to thumb drives, I will look at them in Washington,” I said.
”Admiral Beck, do you have an update from the Hammann? I is it going to stay afloat or sink?” I asked.
”The report indicated damage control has stopped the flooding, it is under its own power. Fires are still burning but contained and nearly out,” Admiral Beck said.
”The ship’s triage teams are treating minor injuries aboard ship, the serious are being taken to the hospital in Ad Dammam. As soon as they are transportable they will be flown to Landstuhl Army Medical Center in Germany and then home,” Admiral Beck added.
”JBG ships are assisting in transporting the injured to awaiting ambulances. When that is complete they will assist in transporting the deceased to shore,” Andy said.
”Andy, give all the help you can to the Hammann. Transfer men to do it, whatever it takes! We will work out the details later. It’s going to take hours for the Navy to get there. I don’t want that ship sinking there,” I said.
”A C5M out of Germany is on the way to pick up the deceased. They will be flown to the morgue in Dover for identification and prepared for funeral. A 747 medical unit with staff is flying in to pick up the injured. It will be there in three hours,” Lt General Rogers said. He was the Air Force duty officer to the joint chiefs.
”First is to find out if the ship will survive or do we need to take other measures quickly. Next is the injured to see if they are getting the care they need, make sure it is timely and then get them home. It looks like that is in progress. Third is the deceased and their return to the US. I will be in Washington within the hour; I want to be updated when I get there,” I said.
”Order Marine One to pick me up in the marked landing area by the parking lot in twenty minutes,” I instructed the Secret Service officer.
My mates and JBG employees were flying out so much that Marcy had a landing pad poured behind the offices for helicopters. The marsh and tree line deadened the noise.
I went back to house to dress and tell everyone I was going back to Washington for a while.
Jenny was awake as I dressed so gave her a quick overview and that I was going to Washington and planned to be back in time for the cookout, at least for a while. A hug and a kiss finished the conversation.
I was sitting in one of the Suburbans when the helicopter touched down. I ducked low and was in it while the blades were still turning. It was a quick trip back to the White House. I was on my phone the whole trip.
The world knew by now and the media was out in force, shouting and screaming for a response. It was 0500, just two hours after the attack. I fast walked to the White House and just waved at them.
I went straight to the Oval Office and called down to the national security room, ”Send someone up to update me.”
I sent the same message to the CIA desk and to the joint chiefs office. The kitchen sent up my usual breakfast and two pots of coffee. They were rightfully expecting a long day.
Messengers started placing reports on my desk and quickly exiting. The CIA satellite was overhead and taking pictures thirty minutes before the attack started and as usual, until it went over the horizon and out of view of the gulf.
I flipped through the pictures; they were one minute apart. The helicopters came from one of the forward bases where the Iranian troops had staged after the live fire drills.
The IRG fast boats appeared to come from nowhere. One frame there was nothing, the next there were twenty fast boats. That meant there were covered boat docks. Covered with marsh grasses and there long enough to be green and shaped in to the surrounding greenery.
That was one question to ask Frank when I saw him. Did the CIA know about them, how long had they been there and last but not least, were there any more?
The Chief of Naval Operations came in to give the update personally. “The USS Hammann is still afloat. The deceased crew number is one hundred including the captain and first officer. The injured are one hundred and four, thirty four are serious or critical.”
”The captain and commander were killed with the first missile. Lt. Commander Kelly Martin immediately assumed command and kept the fire teams and damage control organized and the ship fighting,” he said.
”Sounds like a sea promotion is in order for him if he is keeping the ship afloat with only a third of the crew available,” I said.
”Kelly is female and finished in the top ten in the class at the academy,” he said.
”Put it in writing, I’ll sign it!” I said.
”Yes ma-am, consider it done,” he replied.
General Ingram walked in as the conversation ended.
It was 0600 when the full joint chiefs came in; Troy came in a few minutes later. For the next hour and thirty minutes orders for military operations and ship movements were put into play.
Troy sent a clerk to deliver a message to the media that there would news conference at 0800. Messages and phone calls were coming in from our allies.
The green phone rang – it was the British Prime Minister offering condolences for the dead and prayers for the injured. Also, an offer to help any way they could.
”I would suggest that you order all British personnel out of Iran immediately, including embassy staff. You should remove all submarines from the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman,” I said.
”I understand; it will be done,” he said.
The red phone rang while I was talking. Troy answered if for me while I finished the call.
President Orbatch and I talked a few minutes. I informed him that the bomber group and the Naval task force would be leaving in a week for a couple weeks and then be back to continue our agreement.
”Is this going to change any part of the other agreement?” he asked.
”No – there will be no changes. The teams disassembling the missiles will stay there and continue their work. Agreed payments, grain and food deliveries will continue on time,” I said.
”I would suggest that if you have any Russian people in Iran, to remove them immediately – including all embassy personnel,” I said. I repeated what I had told the British about submarines.
At 0800 I walked out to the podium in the news room.
”At 0300 this morning the USS Hammann DD 412 was on a ‘show the flag’ open ship port call to AD Damman in Saudi Arabia. The ship was in the Saudi transition zone waters.”
”While waiting for the dock to become clear, it was attacked by units of the Iranian Republican Guard – by four helicopters and twenty fast boats. The Hammann was hit by at least six missiles and raked by gunfire.”
”Even though taking heavy fire, the Hammann returned fire and destroyed the four helicopters and sank ten of the fast boats. JBG escort ships which were working assignments in the anchorage and gulf area came to their aid and assisted the Hammann, sinking eight more fast boats.”
”Several JBG fast ships took heavy fire and are damaged with three casualties and several wounded. JBG ships are now transporting wounded to shore where ambulances are taking them hospitals in the area.”
”Even though I do not need it under the circumstances, when they return on Monday, I am asking Congress for authorization to carry out military operations against Iran ”
”We mourn for those that died and for their families, we pray for the injured for a speedy recovery.”
”At this time that is all the information I have. As more becomes available it will be passed along. I will take no questions. Thank you, ”I said as turned and walked off the stage.
The Oval Office and lobby was full with everybody wanting a turn for my attention. Several Senators and Representatives were waiting along with Generals, Admirals and several country’s ambassadors. Frank was already in my office with a folder and two of his analysts.
Edit by Alfmeister
Proof read by Bob W.

An hour later Tammy was finished with the project. The first draft was just like I wanted. I had her transfer the drawing to the bottom of the letter I was returning to the General.
I called Ambassador Al Farsi to come pick my reply tomorrow morning – July first. The Ambassador was out of town and would not be able to pick it up until the afternoon of the following day – July second. It would take at least a day or more to get to the General.
If Ambassador Al Farsi handled it personally, he would have to take a flight to Europe – most likely through Germany – then a flight to Pakistan. The letter would then be taken by a VIP to Tehran to be hand delivered to the General on the afternoon of July the third or the morning of the fourth.
There was all kinds of planning for events for the Fourth of July. The Jones always had a big family cookout. It was going to be a noon-time cookout this year. I was going home Friday night to help set everything up and try to help with some of the cooking. At least that was my plan.
Then we were coming back to Washington for the big fireworks display at the mall. It was customary that the President be in attendance to give a patriotic speech to kick off the celebration. My family and I were going to watch the fireworks from the White House.
Frank brought in new satellite photos of the day from the Middle East and from Africa. We spent an hour going over them with a magnifying glass. Africa was still the same. My guess had been correct – it was a fake message – a security check for General Bashir’s communications.
The Middle East pictures were a different story. Iran was still building up troop vehicles and munitions at its forward camps. There was still no information on the target or targets.
Thursday night I was going to break the routine. I was going to sit for an hour in the Roosevelt room doing a live news interview. It was ZNN’s Washington Thursday evening political wrap up.
It was a politics only current events news show. Senators and representatives were always trying to pull strings to be a guest on the show, especially as elections came closer. They were one of the many political news shows.
ZNN’s was the most level headed out there. They were far more respectful of their guest than many of the liberal political shows. Melinda had been trying for months to get me on one of their shows. I finally agreed.
For an hour I answered rapid fire questions. They covered most everything that had happened politically for the last six months. There were extensive questions about the California, Oregon, Washington and New York homeless problems and the resulting actions I had taken.
The last twenty minutes were on Nigeria and Russia agreements. The reporter and I discussed the merits of the agreement and the long term ramifications. I glossed over areas where I still had concerns.
I did a video call to the girls and listened to JJ and RJ as they told me about their garden before going to bed. The girls and I talked an hour; it was in this conversation that I learned that Mom and Lisa were doing most of the cooking tomorrow for Saturday. I would be able sample some of the foods tomorrow night for supper.
I went back to the Oval Office. While there I read over some bills that had been sent to my desk to sign into law. As with everything, there were notes stuck to them with various opinions from different advisors.
Legal always had pages attached with how the law would affect the courts, the general public and – if they thought the law would be pass muster – with the courts.
The White House budget office broke down the numbers as to how much it would cost the treasury or if it would enhance revenue. Money was always an issue.
Then there was the political opinion on how the general public would react. Most of the time I didn’t even bother reading that one. I was more interested in the merits of the law. Was it necessary, would it make lives better or was the bill just a smoke screen for some special interest group?
Two of them I signed into law, two others I vetoed. They needed some corrections and improvements. As always, whenever I vetoed a bill I wrote my objections and sent it back to the Senate and a copy to the House.
I slept soundly even though I wished one of my mates could be with me.
Friday I was up early – I was sitting in the dining room waiting for my breakfast at 0530. As I waited I read more updates.
Today I was somewhat surprised that the CIA had included in their file several pages of top secret documents from the German prime minister, his cabinet and their top military officials regarding the Russian agreement.
They were anticipating – and correctly so I might add – that the US was going to cut military aid to Europe. They were discussing ways to counter our planned cuts and ways to convince me and the next US president to increase our in Europe spending so – of all things – they could cut their defense spending and shift it to desperate social programs.
The Pentagon was already working on a plan to cut European military aid by twenty five percent. My plan was to do it by a gradual monthly drawn down of troops first and at the same time stop sending replacement military hardware there. All of this was dependent on Russia honoring the new agreements.
I already had a long conversation with General Ingram about life extension for major military equipment. It had long been proven that aircraft could continue to fly long after the engineers said it would be obsolete. Examples of that were the C130, B52, A10 and the F16 and F18s. They were living far longer than the F35 model.
I had the last security council meetings of the week and the last intelligence meetings until Monday. Not much had changed, just the same old same old stuff. Most of my staff were going home to various places. I had told all of them to be gone at noon to miss the heavy Fourth of July traffic.
I was staying until 1600; I had some things I needed to finish up and then Marine One was carrying me to Morton.
One of the things was to have Vice President Harrison in for a private talk after lunch. Vice President Harrison had been making the rounds with visits to our European allies, filling them in on the progress of the Russian treaties and agreements.
I wanted a personal assessment from him on the mood of the group before I went to the G8 meeting next Thursday and Friday. I wanted it while it was fresh on his mind.
He brought with him transcripts of each meeting and his private notes. The private notes were as valuable as the transcripts. The transcripts were just spoken words on paper, but the private notes conveyed impressions of body language and expressions.
It was one reason why I liked the VCATS and MTAC communications so much. The body language and expressions said a lot more than words sometimes.
At 1545 I was walking to the steps to Marine One with the football and the control with two agents. My bags and portable office were already aboard.
At 1700 I was walking in the door to the garage. I was a few minutes early. I quietly snuck up on two boys laying on the floor in the den.
”Got you this time,” as it became a tickle fest.
Mom and Lisa had just finished cooking in the big kitchen with the Secret Service supplied chef. I had forgot about that and was happy that they had gotten along perfectly. There was no shortage of pots, pans, burners and microwaves, plus the kitchen had plenty of AC to keep everyone cool even though it was ninety five outside.
I did find out I was going to be the official taster of various goodies tonight for supper. It looked like I might be the only one eating; the cooks and boys had sampled foods all day.
Then there was the case of the missing apple pie. There were rumors that a special investigation may be needed to find out where it went. However, there were several more.
My mates were still over in the office. I decided to use the tunnel to go over and surprise them. I knew many of the employees were given the day off if they wanted, or they could take a different day with pay if they liked. Several agents and the football made the trip with me.
I was in time for Marcy’s Friday meeting – one that I should sit in on – so I walked through and gave them a hug and kiss then went to my old office. My desk was still clean; someone had dusted recently. I wondered why Marcy had not moved into it. It was one of the bigger offices.
I took the elevator down to the command center and spoke to the controller for the day. I had a conversation about events that happened today. I was interested in the cameras from Andy’s teams who were assigned to the OPEC nations. I looked at the cameras from each of the stations.
AD Dammam was my main interest. That was where the destroyer USS Hammann was doing the port call tomorrow. Everything looked quiet and in the camera sweep of the port, it looked clean.
I called Aaron Percell, who is commander of all the fast JBG fast ships in the gulf, and had a good conversation. I discussed that the destroyer was to arrive at 1100 their time. Even though JBG had no part in the activities, it would be nice if some of our fast boats were visible at the time of arrival.
My mates were on the way to the house and came to drag me along, ending my conversation.
I did sample today’s prepared foods; I stopped eating before I became uncomfortable. I played with the boys, Sara and Takeo. It was a good evening away from the politics of Washington. I had a wine cooler in the hot tub with my mates before turning in early. Everyone was tired and wanted to be rested for tomorrow but there was a little touchy-feely and enough good night kisses to melt the heart.
At 0330 my cell phone started ringing; before I could answer it there was a light knocking on the door. Before I could get to the door an agent and the night DOD man entered the room.
”Ma-am, we have an emergency; we have been attacked. You are wanted in MTAC right away.”
Jenny was in the process of waking up. “Go back to sleep, I have to make a call,” I said.
Edit by Alfmeister
Proof read by Bob W.

Monday was long, all morning was with the joint chiefs and updates – one right after the other. The Secretary of the Navy and the representative from Newport News Shipbuilding came with a positive attitude for the first time in months. Usually they acted like I was the dentist.
The Fordson was back at the dock and engineers had solutions to many of the problems. It was going to take weeks to complete all the fixes and another shakedown cruise. They also had an update on the Stennis post repair shakedown.
The Stennis would need two, possibly three weeks to complete final repairs. Most of it was minor checklist items. They wanted to shift employees back to the three new carriers.
”The timetables you have given me I view as firm deadlines, as you progress towards completion on the Fordson and Stennis you can shift employees back to the new USS Kennedy and the new USS Thomas.” The Secretary had approved the name change on the third Fordson class. The forth ship was canceled.
The Navy had finally decided that more of the smaller carriers and lots more of the improved destroyers were the future of the Navy after the agreement with Russia. Newport News Shipbuilding was already designing the new ships with the Navy engineers, based on the proven Burke design.
The Kennedy was sixty percent complete and the Thomas was 45 percent complete. Both were too far along to cancel; to do so would be throwing away fifteen billion dollars. The fourth ship in the class was just modules and a keel laid out so it was canceled The Thomas would be the last Super carrier ever built.
Monday and Wednesday I did more fundraisers with my family; I was glad to see them and the boys.
All the listening posts that JBG, the CIA, and Army intelligence had were recording every peep that was coming out of the Middle East and Africa. So far there was nothing happening out of the ordinary in Nigeria or Cameroon.
General Bashir – by all appearances – was doing as I suspected. He was double checking his troops, issuing orders for more fitness training at the forward sites. Hard fitness training was a double edge sword; it kept morale up along with rumors of impending action.
Nothing was harder on soldiers that sitting around in sweltering heat with nothing to do. They may gripe about it but they wouldn’t be fighting each other by being bored.
Along with training, he was using them to build up material at the storage and ammo dumps. To our advantage, satellites were finding underground bunkers we did not know about.
We were now at the twentieth of June; still no evidence of events in Africa. Troop movements in Iran were picking up.
I ordered Andy to step up actions near the invisible border in the strait that Iran claimed. By the end of the week he was to destroy all the mines they had placed in the channel.
On the twenty fifth the Navy announced that destroyer USS Hammann would do a ‘show the flag’ port visit at AD DAMMAM Saudi Arabia on July the fourth in celebration of our country’s birthday. It was well above the no foreign Navies line that Iran said existed.
I read and reread all the information I had collected about General Bashir. I began to think I knew more about him than I did my brother. Israel had sent me two books he had written on tactics and field operations. Both were used in officer classes he taught at the Iranian war college and at the Iranian Republican Guard military academy.
I learned some new things about him. Some of them I already knew – he had a short fuse and was easily sent over the edge. When he went over the edge, his thinking became irrational and emotion driven.
He sent a whole battalion to their deaths in the Iran Iraq war by refusing to believe reports that Iraq was anticipating his movements and was waiting with chemical and gas weapons. Those reports were from a junior officer who was executed after the battle for poor performance.
He was deep into planning – very detailed and anything that upset his planning infuriated him. As a result junior officers never crossed him even when they thought other things were better. Once his mind was made up, that was the plan.
I talked several times a week with President Orbatch. Things were going well with the agreements. Dozens of missiles had already been disassembled. Lots of grain had already been unloaded at Russian ports. China was still yelling but satellites showed them moving troops from the area and Russia had finally been paid for months of gas that had been turned back on.
The joint basing was still working better than everyone expected. The admirals and generals had met for working dinners several times.
The Senate had ratified the Arctic treaty, the Russian missile agreements, and the food and grain aid. On the other side of the hall the House was calling for hearings, declaring that there had been too much secrecy in the Arctic Circle treaty and the agreements with Russia.
As usual they wanted hearings with all the various agencies and individuals involved in the negotiations. The White House legal team could handle that with ease; that was what they had done for previous presidents.
On June thirtieth Pakistan Ambassador Fazel AL Farsi was in the lobby waiting to see me.
”We meet again Ambassador- how have you been?” I asked as I stood to shake his hand.
”I have been good. I see you have been working with President Orbatch on many things; most of them have been good. I will tell you some countries in our area are worried about any expansion of agreements between Russia and the US.”
”Are they worried about the de-escalation of tensions between us or are they worried that they won’t be able to play us against each other for foreign aid or military equipment?” I asked.
”I will only say there are concerns,” he said.
”I can assure you that our foreign aid programs are going to be looked at much closer than ever before. Congress and I both anticipate cuts in the programs and long term savings in our military budgets. We will still maintain a reasonable military, but smarter, more efficient, faster and more mobile,” I said.
”I have been asked to deliver a letter again. They are expecting an answer back soon,” he said as he handed it to me.
”It will have to go through the process, then I will read it and do a reply. Then I call you,” I said.
I called the resident FBI agent to take the letter to the Congressional post office to check it for possible poisons and other harmful contaminants. The letter came back in a plastic bag with a report of their findings.
I had Ziva read it to me after I ran it through the translator. Both said the same thing, but the translator lacked the dicey wording that Ziva was able to point out.
I had tripped a nerve – the letter was on General Bashir’s IRG official stationery. He was terribly upset that I had plans to send a US Navy war ship across their ‘Neutral Line’ in the Persian Gulf. That line was from the HASA National Park across the northern tip of Bahrain and east to Bandar-lengeh.
”Such actions will lead to a continuing escalation of hostilities between the two countries including the risk of war. This proposed action clearly violates an agreement between the Carter administration and the Iranian government. It is not acceptable, it will not be tolerated,” he said.
The letter went on with several pages of demands that they had repeated for the last decade.
I wrote a one half page response. ”I can find no such agreement with the Carter administration – or any administration for that matter – on any neutral area in the Persian Gulf. I can find no information for any UN actions or on any agreement,” I said.
”Troy, do we have a trusted cartoonist? I want to add a couple of illustrations to the bottom of the letter,” I said.
”I am sure I can find one,” he replied.
An hour later I was explaining what I wanted to a twenty something administrative clerk from the executive office building named Tammy Bottoms. As I was explaining what I wanted, her eyes kept getting bigger and bigger.
”Tammy, are you sure you can do this?” I asked.
”I’m sure that I can do it, I just can’t picture it in my head. I have to think about it for a minute,” Tammy said.
”Do you need me to model it for you to get the vision you want?” I asked.
”No, no I think I can get it but I might have to research it on the net,” she said as the blush rose from her neck and to her face.
”We don’t have time for a lot of delays,” I said.
”Why don’t you draw a test one for me to look at first, then I can suggest changes,” I said.
Edit by Alfmeister
Proof read by Bob W.

Marine One landed at the Norfolk Navy Yard shortly before 0800. A group of VIP vans carried me and the group that always traveled with me. Today there were additional officials; Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations and General Ingram were among them. Of course there were a couple of news people that had won today’s lottery.
I waited at the base of the stairs with the Chief of Naval Operations to be piped aboard. All the other officials had already boarded; I was the last to board along with part of my security.
As I waited to climb the stairs, the others in my group went first. Each was announced as being aboard stepped by their rank and position. As I stepped from the stairs to the deck the loud speaker announced, ”Attention all hands! The Commander In Chief is now aboard.” That was followed by ‘Stars and Stripes’ as I walked across the deck to the Island.
”Prepare to cast off all lines.”
I felt the ship move as tugs started to pull the ship away from the dock. It takes several large tugs to maneuver a ship this size to or away from the dock and into the channel. Tides and currents play havoc in narrow channels and ports with large ships. Tugs make sure they do not run aground or are pushed against docks or other ships.
Once the ships are underway and in deep channels, the tugs are no longer needed unless there are high winds.
At the Island we went up three decks to the control room. It was glass enclosed with a three sixty visibility. All the ships functions were controlled from decks of the Island.
Where I was on the third deck with the ship’s wheel that guided the ship, there were fancy chairs for the captains and there were several already seated; the Rear Admiral and a couple more other important officers. Flight operations on the flight deck could be observed from here. A lowly captain was ordered to give up his fancy swivel seat for me.
By now we had passed over the section of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel that connected the eastern shore of Virginia to Virginia proper. Several Burke class destroyers followed the Thomas out of the Hampton Roads harbor. As we moved further out to sea we were met with several more ships, including a missile cruiser and a couple more destroyers.
The Fordson and the Stennis were behind us – we were a couple miles at sea when I saw them move to into formation and picked up speed to join us.
We were picking up speed; I could tell by the vibrations and by looking at the instruments that were on all sides. Ships operations were under way with all the officers doing something. It was here that Rear Admiral Scott and Captain McCoy turned to talk to me.
”Our air operations will begin in about twenty minutes. We will land twenty aircraft initially and they will do a series of launches and landings. For some of the pilots it will be the first actual carrier landings. Pensacola Flight School has deemed they are carrier qualified so we shall find out if they remember all the training,” Captain McCoy said.
They talked navy for twenty minutes, explaining carrier operations and how the escort ships fit into the picture. The carrier is the center of the task force. It was the job of the escorts to mirror the movements of the carrier for a lot of reasons.
The escort’s primary job was to protect the carrier from damage by the enemy from submarines, aircraft, and missiles. Escorts ships came with specialized duties. Some were submarine hunters, others were designed to do antimissile functions and anti-aircraft duties.
Another important function was to rescue pilots that ejected from troubled aircraft in launch or landing modes. They were also tasked in hunting for anyone that fell off the carrier.
The announcement that aircraft were inbound and the ship turning into the wind to assist in the process of landing ended our conversation. I watched as the hook of the first plane caught the arresting cable bringing the plane to an immediate stop. The second plane missed the cables and had to go around. On the second try the pilot caught the second cable. The Thompson’s air group continued to come aboard – twenty planes in all. It was a mix of F35, F37 and late model F18 H models.
With binoculars I watched the Fordson air group trying to get aboard. It wasn’t going well. I saw five planes land and then the remaining aircraft were in a holding pattern; the deck was full of people. Twenty minutes later the planes were still in a holding pattern.
”Admiral Scott, can you monitor the Fordson’s air group radios?” I asked.
”Yes ma-am,” he said as he ordered it to be put on the speaker.
We listened as the problems with the landing system were discussed. The fifteen pilots in the air were told that if the problem could not be fixed in fifteen minutes, an order would be given that they were to return to Oceania air station.
Oceania was one of the places that carrier planes were sent to as the carriers came to port. The planes were also flown from there to carriers leaving for a duty tour.
”What a shame. I’m sure some of those pilots are just out of training and need the experience to gain confidence in their abilities. Do you have room on deck or in the hangar to add them to the training group today?” I asked.
”Plenty of room! We only have twenty but we can carry eighty,” Captain McCoy said.
”Do it!” the Chief of Naval Operations said.
”Page the Fordson; I need to speak with Admiral Bramble,” Admiral Scott directed the radio operator.
”Admiral Bramble – per orders of President Jones and the Chief of Naval Operations, the fifteen planes in the air are to be assigned to the Thomas air group until you get your problem repaired. Have the planes contact Thomas air control for instructions at one niner niner point five,” Scott said.
Five minutes later the first of the planes hooked the cable, twenty minutes later the last one was on deck. As soon as the deck was clear, planes were coming up the elevators. The Thomas’ twenty planes were launched in pairs. Twenty minutes later the Fordson’s fifteen were launched.
Control was forming them up in five plane squadrons. Young pilots were learning that carrier life and flying was going to be a lot different than Pensacola Naval Air station. The squadrons were vectored back one at a time to land and repeat.
Admiral Scott winked at me and moved his head to look out the window to the Fordson. The deck was still full of men trying to fix the problem. He looked back at me and smiled.
He was old school and had faith in old school technology. I was sure Admiral Bramble was going to get a ribbing back at the officers club.
”Captain McCoy, have you got an old school Chief Petty Officer that can give me a tour below decks while you teach them virgins how to grab the cable the first time?” I asked.
”Yes Ma-am, Chief Stevens will meet you at the hatchway to the flight deck,” he said.
Two Secret Service agents and I made our way to the hatch and waited for the Chief.
”Madam President, what would you like to see?” he asked.
”Everything you think I would like to see, especially the things you think the captain would not want me to see. Somewhere along the way I would like a cup of coffee,” I said.
”Follow me,” he said as he tried not to smile.
Two hours later, a thousand stair steps, a thousand salutes and handshakes and several cups of coffee along with an interesting trip to the head, I was back in the island with the Admiral and Captain. There was no mistaking that there were air operations happening on the flight desk; no matter what part of the ship you were in, they were that noisy.
”Fordson has resolved their flight arrester problems and others – they think. We are launching their planes for them to recover,” Captain McCoy said.
”It’s been a great tour. I have seen enough to be satisfied that things are going in the right direction. Do you have a helicopter that can carry me back to Norfolk or do I need to call for one?” I asked.
“We have a Grumman C2 Greyhound landing in a half an hour; it can carry you and your group back to Oceania,” the Admiral said.
Both my cell phones went off; the JBG and the White House one.
Andy and Frank wanted an MTAC. For that I was led to the Admiral’s office which was spacious – considering some of the places I had seen earlier. I connected both calls together as I assumed they wanted to talk about the same thing – correctly for a change.
Robert, Vicky and Andy were on one screen as the controller tried to connect with Frank. When it finally came on Frank, General Ingram and Bob Smith were on the other one.
“What’s up? Who wants to go first?” I asked.
“In today’s intercepts from Tiam, General Bashir is ordering a lot of unknown units in Africa to meet up and attack the Nigerian town of Mubi and then move on to Garoua Cameroon. Both of those are pipeline transfer towns where several regional lines come together, merging into one that goes to the coast,” Andy said. Then added, ”Both lines are under the new contracts.”
”Are there any signs of any groups moving in the direction of Mubi in the latest satellite pictures?” I asked Frank.
”No, there are no signs at this time,” he said.
”What about field reports – anything from them?” I asked Andy.
”Just normal reports,” Andy said.
”How do you think we should prepare? I am looking at pulling security out of Mexico and Fort Dean; about fifteen hundred men,” Andy said.
”No, do not move any men or react in any way that could be viewed as we are reading their radio traffic. You can make plans on paper to shift forces but that is all and have nothing in our radio traffic. Increase the purchase of satellite time to look more often,” I said.
”You see something that I do not,” Andy replied.
”Yes but it would take too long to explain it today, here is the short version. He is checking to see if his communications have been breached. We have no evidence the groups the messages were sent to even exist. We have never heard of them before. They are watching to see if we respond in any way. If we do, they will change the message coding. We cannot take that risk right now.”
”The next part is he is trying to send the JBG resources on a wild goose chase, drawing them away from his intended objective. He wants our people either out of the strait or the numbers reduced. We would have to do that in order to handle the threat from his broadcast,” I said.
”This is the diversion we have been expecting,” I said.
”That said – do nothing, watch and wait. It would take them weeks to put together the manpower to carry out those kinds of raids and it would be visible to the satellites. There will be plenty of time to react if you see any real evidence,” I said.
”And if you are wrong? Nigeria and Cameroon are not going to be happy,” Andy replied.
”Then it’s on me. I will be the one to make the calls,” I said.
”Ok. I will keep you informed,” Andy replied as the screen closed.
”Frank and Bob, I need you in my office at 0800 with the latest updates, we will talk in more depth then. General Ingram, please stay on the line,” I said.
”Admiral, page the Chief of Naval Operations to come join the meeting,” I said. The Chief of Naval Operations came in and found a seat.
”General Ingram, based on historical actions and events that General Bashir has been involved with, he usually begins major actions three to four weeks after he starts checking his communications links. In the next few days his actions will be to double check everything. We should be able to see results of that. We should be able to pick up the increase in radio transmissions.”
”That puts whatever he plans to do into the middle of July. We know he already has large numbers of troop and armor near his southern border and they are being resupplied after live training, instead of returning to their normal bases.”
”He also begins a series of diversions – he did both today. In four weeks or less there is likely to be a major military event out of Iran. We know they will try to stop all oil exports from the region because they have said so.”
”We know they intend to destroy Israel and now Lebanon and Jordan are on that list. With Iraq in their pocket, that would give them a deep water port in the Mediterranean. That would give them a fast direct shipping route to all of Europe and cut Turkey out of the picture.”
”We know they have pledged to destroy all US military installations as a first strike.”
”The Roosevelt task force is at dock in California. I want it to be ready to go to sea in three weeks, get that in the works today,” I said for the Chief of Naval Operations benefit.
”General Ingram, I need to see the Joint Chiefs tomorrow at 0900; we will discuss the things you and I have discussed privately and put them in play,” I said.
”Yes Ma-am! I have it all worked out on paper,” he said.
I heard the Grumman hit the wire. If the Secret Service did not interfere, we were going to get the thrill G ride of a lifetime – a 0 to 120 in five seconds catapult launch.
Thirty minutes later the Grumman was unloaded and we were strapped in the passenger seats.
”Air control, Workhorse 2 5 Baker; all systems green, passengers secured with thumbs up. We are ready to launch,” the pilot radioed.
”Workhorse 2 5 Baker air control, call sign change – you are now Navy 1.”
”Air control, Navy 1 Roger.”
”Air control – Navy 1 we are ready to depart,” the pilot said.
”Launch is approved, contact the Flight Deck officer.”
The pilot was now taking direction from the launch control deck officer. The turbine engines went to full throttle; the plane vibrating like it was in a hurricane. Seconds later we was glued to the back of the seat by the G forces created by the catapult.
It was a smooth ride and landing at Oceania Naval station – a flight to remember.
The flight from Oceania to the White House on Marine One was boring.
Edit by Alfmeister
Proof read by Bob W.

Monday I left early for the White House – good bye was a little harder this time. But at least I had no more visible hickeys, although there were one or two more. They were coming over Wednesday for another fund raiser. This one was in Kentucky.
I went through the normal updates looking for anything unusual. Things in the Middle East kept bouncing around as always.
For Russia the first shipment of frozen beef and pork had been delivered on Saturday. It was delivered to the Russian markets on Sunday to lines of waiting old Russian ladies. Another hundred tons was being delivered tomorrow.
So far the joint basing had few problems. The bombers had made two mock runs towards the China border, unnerving the Chinese. Their ambassador tried to get into the White House on Sunday to see me. He did meet with State Department Director Dean.
I had a meeting with Dean at 1400 to hear the grievance and demands.
I had a lunch meeting with the Secretary of the Navy and the DOD representative from Newport News Ship Building. My salad was just placed on my desk when General Ingram brought them in.
”I’m pleased to be able to tell you that the USS Thomas is going out for final shakedown exercises tomorrow, repairs and modifications are done from the first shakedown. It should be smooth sailing.”
”It will be joined with the USS Fordson – the engineers have given up on correcting the problems at the dock. At the dock most things worked perfectly, but at sea everything seems to have a mind of its own. Every engineer that has any part in this fiasco is going,” the Chief of Naval Operations said.
”The USS Stennis is going on the first post overhaul shakedown run at the same time,” he added.
”We were wondering if you would like to go along,” the Chief of Naval Operations asked.
”It would be too much of a distraction for me to be on the Fordson. Too many engineers would be getting their asses kicked or walking the plank off the stern,” I said.
”I will go on the Thomas, is the air group going to be aboard and doing launches?” I asked.
”Part of the air group will be flown aboard and launched as a final test on the catapults and arresting systems. The Navy will fly you back to Norfolk and the ship will continue to work on various skill drills,” the Chief of Naval Operations said.
”The ship will leave the dock at 0800,” he said.
”Who is the Captain and the Rear Admiral on the Thomas?” I asked.
”The Rear Admiral is Montgomery Scott and the Captain is Leonard McCoy – two excellent men with great records,” the Chief of Naval Operations said.
”I’ll have the Secret Service and the press office make the necessary arrangements,” I said.
Secretary of State Dean was standing at the door as we finished.
He handed me a translated letter from the Chinese government and read out loud his copy for emphasis as I read along. They were demanding we remove our ships from Russian naval base and the planes from the Russian air base. Having our ships and planes there would severely damage our international relations and could greatly affect trade.
Their presence would affect the stability of the region and could affect stability of international decorum. They also announced that an official complaint would be lodged at the UN and a motion to condemn the military move and the treaties that were negotiated in Washington.
The letter continued – the Arctic treaty was in violation of international code of ethics and international well being because the treaty was negotiated outside the influence of the UN. It was also a violation because the bounty of the Arctic region was not shared worldwide.
”What happened to sharing the bounty of the South China Sea with the nations that bordered the sea? You claimed every damn inch of it and tried to strip every nation of any claim,” I thought.
The United States actions were meddling in Asia proper; that could lead to regional war, the letter continued.
That was an interesting statement considering the US and Russia both had veto power, so the threats of any UN action were a nonstarter.
Secretary Dean and I talked for an hour and formed a letter that told them diplomatically that the United States and Russia were capable and had written treaties that we were both committed to and didn’t need the UN or anyone else to do it for us. On the other items the US and Russia would work together as often as was necessary. Regional stability was assured with our joint cooperation on many matters. We diplomatically told them to go fuck themselves.
A few hours later it broke on the intelligence reports that there was a critical shortage in natural gas in China, causing some industries to be temporarily shut down until a replacement energy source was located.
I could just imagine the scrambling to decide which factories received what little gas was available. A six foot high pressure pipeline carries a lot of gas.
That thought on my mind when the red phone started ringing.
”Good even President Orbatch, are things better in Russia this week?” I asked.
”I wanted to call to tell you again that we thank you for the quick shipments of frozen foods. The first arrived on Saturday and another shipment arrived this morning at the airport. It was the frozen chicken today. It is being divided up and shipped to different cities as was the beef on Saturday,” he said.
We talked about how well the joint basing was going and the bomber flights. Both the US and Russia were using the flights to gather intelligence on the Chinese military response to the flights. China was always doing the same on US and South Korean territories, now it was our turn. Turnabout is always fair play, I was told.
We talked about the upcoming G8 meeting and agreed to meet privately to review the progress of the missile and bomb reduction and have a private dinner.
The afternoon went quickly. I had one more meeting today with Bob Smith of the terrorist task force. He wanted to review the latest intercepts from the gulf.
All of our sites on the gulf had three CIA and three other intelligence people in them. Sometimes there were three additional men there, they were either Army intelligence or NSA.
I spent an hour with Bob going over the latest intel. It was the same as the summery that I received from Robert two days ago. But Bob’s group always had a little different slant on things.
This time they were in agreement, Iran was getting ready to heat things up. They had planned a diversion in Africa to draw attention away from Iran proper to allow positioning of troops and equipment. The question – was what was the diversion and when would it start?
I went up the elevator and to the Oval Office to close out my desk. Then I started to walk to the kitchen for a fresh cup of coffee before going to my living quarters. I was intercepted in the kitchen by Troy.
”Madam President, have you got a few minutes to look at something for me?” he asked.
”Sure,” I said.
I stepped into the cafeteria to a surprise birthday party.
My mates and the kids had been snuck in the delivery entrance for the kitchen while I was down in Section Twelve. My staff, the people from Section Twelve, the Joint Chiefs and their aides and the White House security detail along with the military security detail were waiting. I was surprised – I thought the small party at home had the issue covered and we had tried so hard to be low key with it.
There were small gifts that the staff had bought, trying to make my day easier or go smoother. The gift that I liked the best was from the military security group. The military security group were men and ladies from the four services. They worked every day in dress uniforms; they rotated duty every day on all shifts.
They gave me camo uniform pants and shirts – the real military issue from the Quantico base store. They had it simply monogrammed on the name line with ”CIC Jones. ”
After the work day, when I went to the private living quarters I always changed out of the best clothes into something I could relax in. That usually was JBG gym shorts and tees or my old marine camo clothes that were showing signs of the years of wear. Some were so old one could barely read the SGT Jones on the shirts. I would have the laundry wash them tonight and wear them tomorrow when I went on the Thomas.
The kitchen had prepared several large cakes and had buckets of ice cream; it was a nice party. I got to see my family once again today and say another good bye.
Edit by Alfmeister
Proof read by Bob W.

The boys met me at the door. They had been shopping today with Jenny and Pop-pop. They had new work boots and two new John Deere pedal tractors with wagons. They had been to the John Deere dealer in Queen Anne with Dad and Jason to look at a new combine – a five hundred thousand dollar investment without the corn or grain heads.
The combine they had was bought used from the farmer that we bought the farm from near Morton Field. It had a lot of hours and was nearly worn out. It was OK as a backup or a second machine, but not as the primary when it was harvesting season.
I wondered why they had not bought two and traded in the old one to get rid of it, with the amount of land they were tilling. They had two full time employees in the farming operation plus themselves – when they weren’t helping us.
I wondered where the boys were going to ride them, the house and yard was too small and they certainly weren’t going to ride them at Morton. Jenny must have sensed my thoughts.
”The Pop-pops have made a plot at the farm for a late vegetable garden for them to tend and teach them how to farm and grow vegetables they like. They even bought them garden tools to use,” Jenny said.
Dad always said idle hands breed mischief and if they were doing something they wanted to do that was productive, all the better. With school over for the summer they needed something to do to direct their energies.
Friday night – it was good to be home, my mates were looking forward to Saturday night, there were plenty of discreet kisses and affectionate touches and little hugs out of the sight of the agents. Some things might not wait until Saturday night – fun for the whole weekend might happen.
Over supper I listened while they paid out plans for the weekend. By luck it was one of those weekends where there were no fund raisers planned.
Supper was light and then we went over to the gym to work out as a group – something that I missed at the White House. There were always agents to assist. No longer was I allowed to work out on the weights alone; they wanted someone spotting all the time. I guess they were afraid I would drop the barbell on my head or big toe or something.
We worked out for over two hours before showers and the hot tub. The boys were put to bed and Takeo and Sara were sleeping soundly. I looked at the latest pages of updates before I headed upstairs with my mates.
We showered together and the dresser was covered with dildos, strap-ons and other toys.
”Vicky and I are ovulating tomorrow – we think. We both want you to try to make us pregnant tonight and tomorrow night. There is enough left for six attempts for both of us,” Marcy said.
That answered why all the hugs and feeling; they were in the mood and ready. I didn’t ask if they were sure this was what they wanted. I knew it was.
We made love to each other, feeling, fondling, a kiss here, a kiss there, sucking and nibbling here and there. Fingers where and when it counted and strap on when they wanted. The room was filled with the sounds of pleasure, I was sure the agents could hear if they were downstairs.
When we were all satisfied at least twice, Marcy was first with her legs spread wide. I inserted the speculum and inserted the tip of the syringe’s plastic tube into her uterus and pushed Jake’s semen in. As I did my mates were holding her hands, kissing and hugging. I slid a large pillow under her butt and withdrew the tube, closed the speculum and closed her legs. It was my turn to kiss and hold her.
We repeated the process with Vicky as she lay beside Marcy. Silence filled the room as we lay together and drifted off to sleep.
At 0600 I sitting at the table with a cup of coffee reading the morning updates. JJ and RJ were sitting on the other side with a glass of orange juice.
They were excited to be going with Pop-pop to the farm. JJ explained how they were going to plant peas and carrots in their garden this morning. Dad was going to show them how to cut planting potatoes so that each piece had an eye to grow into a potato plant for a row of potatoes.
”What else are you going to plant?” I asked.
”We were going to plant a row of sweet corn but Pop-pop said they have a whole field planted in sweet corn for the canning company,” RJ said.
“You could plant cucumbers or late tomatoes and cabbage if you can find some plants somewhere,” I said.
”Pop-Pop already looked for us,” RJ said.
”Well, you could always plant two rows everything and have enough to share with Pop-pop and Mom-mom,” I said.
”We plan to do that,” JJ said.
My mates joined us at the table looking no worse for wear. The first pot of coffee and pitcher of orange juice was quickly gone. The cook brought more and announced that breakfast would be brought out in a few minutes.
With breakfast finished Dad and Pop-pop stopped in to pick up the boys who were checking the window, waiting for them. At 0800 we took the tunnel over to the basement. Already in the meeting room were Andy, Paul Drake, Rich Hyland, Calvin Dickerson, Lonnie James, Milton Bear and Charles Black.
Cameroon had contacted JBG about pipeline security not long after Nigeria had asked if we would provide pipeline security for them.
Paul had shifted some of the JBG forces to protect the Nigerian pipelines temporally while additional contracts were negotiated.
Vicky and Ching Lee sent Milton and Charles as the advance team to work out the details. We listened for thirty minutes while Charles and Milton described the request and special needs of Cameroon and those of Nigeria.
Andy and Paul both suggested that we add another group similar to the one we did for Mexico, with the supervisor reporting to Paul for now.
I asked what they thought the manpower requirements would be for each of the Nigeria and the Cameroon units, since it would be two separate agreements.
”With the distances required to give reasonable coverage to the pipelines and necessary crews to widen the right of way of brush and trees, it will take five hundred initially. Once brush and trees are cleared so that drones and motion sensors can be used, the numbers may be able to be reduced,” Charles said.
“One note I should make is there has only been one pipeline actually damaged. It was owned by African Oil Ventures. Since then they have paid twenty nine million this year alone to several groups,” Charles said.
”We need to get the intel group looking at the blackmail letters and payoff communications to try to find the culprits. My guess is that it may be an inside job or at least someone supplying information,” Vicky said and we all agreed.
”Who is the lucky one to lead the new group?” I asked.
”Daren Hale and Taylor Messick both have extensive knowledge in the region. To handle the necessary foliage removal – Albert Prescott – he has only National Guard experience but his full time job was with Duke Power as a supervisor over ten right of way maintenance divisions,” Paul said.
“They are putting together the necessary equipment list and looking for supervisory people. Most of the crew people will be locals. It’s going to take a few weeks but everything will be in place as soon as they sign the proposed contract,” Paul said.
”They have seen the numbers and found them acceptable. They are waiting on the right people to sign off on them,” Milton said.
There were further updates on the progress of the truck stops and other things that they thought I needed to know. Marcy and Lorrie had started a program they were calling revenue offset. Marcy and Lorrie – on the advice of our tax people – were buy lots and more rental houses to offset income from the current rental houses and vacation rentals resorts. Both segments had been doing very well and very large tax bills were looming at the end of the year; buying both made sense.
When everyone was done with business updates I asked everyone to leave except Andy, I wanted a few minutes of private conversation with him.
”Andy, starting on the fifteenth I want the fast ships to start harassing the Iranian fast boats and other defenses. Don’t do anything to get a bunch of our people killed, just make the Iranians mad and jumpy.”
”Run multiple ships to and through their imaginary line in the strait and across it like you are checking defense responses, things like that,” I said.
”We have found out that running by the mines at high speed blows them up and executing a high-speed turn and putting all the propeller wash against them will do it too,” Andy said.
”That’s interesting but wait until the last week of the month, then blow up all of them by whatever means you need to,” I said.
”Robert’s intelligence is picking up some of their planning – it looks like they are leaning to action the middle of July. I want to reinforce that thinking, possibly making them move early,” I said.
”I understand completely,” Andy said.
I was getting ready to go over to the house when the receptionist called down from the lobby to say I had visitors wanting to see me. I asked who they were.
”Mossad special agent Ben David and Ambassador Ableman,” the voice said.
”Have someone take them to my office. I will be right up,” I said.
When I walked to my office, that someone had been two Secret Service agents that knew Ben.
Ben and I talked about the special weapons Andy had been asking for. There were issues with the export licenses for the American versions that was going to take time to resolve. The Israeli versions were available but with needed upgrades that were going to drive up the cost.
”Will the Israeli versions still work with the control systems we have, or are there other modifications that will have to be made to make them usable?” I asked.
”Depends on the computer software version you are running,” he said.
”Well I don’t know what we are using so I will need to hand that off to Andy to get that information. He should still be in the building; let me have him paged.”
Andy returned and the technical discussion began. Ambassador Ableman and I walked away and began a conversation of our own on the Russian agreement and how it would affect the Middle East.
It was perfect timing! I wanted all the secret information they had acquired on all of Iran’s military installations, including underground installations.
It was noon before the agents took me and my mates to the farm where the boys and gramps were planting their late garden. They were just finishing up. We went to the airport restaurant for lunch. It would be the first time for me in months.
Saturday night – after hours of passion – my mates and I made adult play again and I deposited more of Jake’s wigglers where they would find those precious eggs – if Mother Nature cooperated.
I hadn’t realized just how passionate we were until I showered Sunday morning to find a hickey low on the side of my neck and one on each breast. Worst part of it was it was too hot for turtleneck anything. But I did find a collared shirt that would cover most of it, most of the time.
Tonight we were going to be more careful. The media would spend hours analyzing and then weeks speculating.
One thing that happened Sunday night was a small birthday party for me, Lorrie, Marcy and Jason; we all had birthdays in June. Mine was today, Lorries and Jason’s tomorrow and Marcy’s the following day. I gave small gifts to Lorrie and Marcy. The Secret Service had taken me uptown one night just as the big jewelry store was about to close. Cake and ice cream for all in the family – including the Secret Service agents and my JBG security.
Edit by Alfmeister
Proof read by Bob W.

I knew when I got out of bed that today was going to be hectic, but I was going home at the end of it. I had breakfast brought to my desk in the Oval Office.
I had two patties of pork sausage, one egg and toast with orange juice. Lunch would be a salad. The security briefs were twice as thick today. It was going to take a while to read through them. I was glad there were no appointments for today.
Iran was at it again; one of their fast boats came within inches of colliding with one of the JBG ships assigned to the Boxer. It was the second time in two days that they harassed the JBG ships. They were assigned to the Navy, but were still operating under the Boxer’s orders. If they had been under Andy’s control they would have been fired upon and sunk.
Since Andy had sunk several of their boats, they had been giving the JBG boats more room. That was slowly changing. The General was getting either more courageous with his orders or reckless – whatever your point of view was.
Satellite and radio intelligence had shown the live fire training and war games had been finished earlier this week. The troops and equipment were not moving back to their home bases. They were being sent to bases in the south west area.
There was a lot of transportation from the military warehouses to where the troops were being stationed. They were being resupplied with weapons in the field.
There were orders being sent to previously unknown new groups in Gaza, Syria and Iraq from Tiam and the General. I had to wonder if it was a disinformation trick. The general broadcasts were getting more threatening every day.
While I had been meeting with the Russians, Andy’s men in Nigeria had eliminated another Boko-Haram group headed for Gusau. The Emir was very pleased. He was even more pleased with the progress on his infrastructure projects.
After replacing damaged equipment, exports of raw materials were slowly increasing to acceptable levels. The first road and bridges construction had started.
BM&M was doing that part of package and was training local workers to do the construction. The locals were ready for work and to learn. Wanting something was always a plus.
There was another issue brewing in Nigeria and several other countries in the region and that was about the oil pipelines that went to the coast. As wells were drilled or repaired and there was safety for drill rigs and operators, the pipelines became targets for rebel groups.
They weren’t interested in the oil for their own use, they wanted to hold it hostage. They wanted millions not to blow up the pipelines and production equipment.
It was going to require a different approach than was used in Mexico. With BM&M running the oil production operation, they were expecting JBG and or Nigeria to furnish security.
Providing security to a pipeline to stop pilferage was one thing. Trying to stop someone from placing a bag of explosives with a timer under the pipe and walking away was difficult.
Wide and clear right of ways would be needed – a problem in itself and then surveillance; eyeballs, drones, helicopters and more.
Saturday – when I was home – Vicky had scheduled meeting with Ching Lee, Andy, Paul and Drake. One of the topics was an expansion of Africa operations to counter the pipeline threats and that included another senior person or two reporting to Andy.
Andy and Vicky wanted me to sit in on that meeting – another ethics violation, if anyone was counting. The Emir understood the problem and was willing to expand the agreements with JBG.
Frank Love – Director of the CIA – knocked and came in with the latest pictures from the China and Russia border. Russia had started moving heavy artillery in that direction. President Orbatch had indicated that he was going to, just as a precaution. He needed to show some response to the buildup and I understood that.
News from Russia was more positive. Pravda had a full front page story on the aid package with pictures. They had pictures with freighters loading grain destined for Russia.
Another note from State Department said the arrangements had been made to get the first one hundred tons of frozen beef to Moscow. Another shipment of frozen chicken was being shipped, sent a couple days later. These first shipments were being shipped by air freight. The rest would be shipped by refrigerated freighter.
Frank – being nosey – tried every roundabout way he could think of to ask about the two hundred billion, but I didn’t bite. Before he could ask more I changed the topic to Mideast intelligence and CIA assessments of it.
If the money had been in any other bank than Thimble Shoals Pirates Bank, the CIA had a process to seize it if they could connect it to elicit activities. Pirates Bank didn’t play those games. I was sure Frank had visions of billions more than had been discussed.
The CIA could seize funds and use it to carry out clandestine operations without Congressional knowledge. Congress could not threaten to cut off funding for any operation if they had never supplied the money in the first place. Plus, it gave the CIA plausible deniability when asked during hearings.
After I became President I found out there was a secret agreement between the DEA and the CIA on captured drug money. It was to be split between the two agencies. The cover was the CIA supplied the intel for the DEA to capture vast amounts of drug shipments. That supply of information could dry up. The CIA had a very large undercover operation in Central and South America.
The afternoon was filled with last minute issues that I had to address. In the last four weeks twenty four federal judges had turned in their retirement papers. The federal appellate courts ran in a session that started in October and ended in June, same as with the Supreme Court.
If something was to arrive that needed an immediate decision, a judge would come to court, don his robe, listen to the arguments and render a decision. The only time this seemed to happen was with death penalty cases. The defendant’s lawyers planned it this way, hoping they would get a liberal judge who would stay the execution.
The worst thing that could happen would be that the judge refused to intervene. They then would do an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court. In most cases the Supreme would reject the appeal, unless there was something drastically wrong pointed out in the emergency brief.
My large staff had a group that did nothing but review federal cases that made their way into the lower federal court system. They rated the judges by how they ruled on different cases and how their legal opinions applied.
As with everything, there were lower court federal judges who should have never left the state courts. They were simply over their head and it showed in their rulings and court statements
I wanted to only nominate the best to move up. I wanted sensible rulings based on the Constitution and not a judge who thought he or she could legislate from the bench.
There would be twenty four folders to go with me over the weekend if I was bored and felt like reading. I was sure I would not be bored as I had plenty of things planned. The family was condensing several birthdays into one party. Then on Saturday night my mates and I had a plans to carry out in the bedroom.
Then Sunday morning we were going on another fishing trip in the bay. Also, I was spending time with the boys and girls.
The afternoon was gone before I knew it and I was walking to Marine One to make the trip home. At Morton I transferred to the Beast for the ride to the house in a convoy.
Edit by Alfmeister
Proof Read by Bob W.

I had breakfast with my mates at 0600 and then walked them back to the 406s. All of the men had driven back home last night.
Back in the Oval Office I had a list of calls to make before the Russians came.
One was to the Treasurer of the United States – Albert Morrison. I asked questions for over ten minutes, finally telling him what I needed from him and when.
I was sure from his attitude he was going to call members on the House and Senate finance committees informing them of my request and ask them for guidance.
By 0730 the Arctic Circle countries were starting to come in. I had Vice President Harrison doing the greeting of each of them. I was busy meeting with everyone it seemed.
General Ingram was keeping me updated on the progress of the Reagan Task Force voyage into the Sea of Japan and Vladivostok. The Reagan would be docking around 1600 and the B52s landing around 1630. Both would be in prime time news.
The Russian group came in as we were finishing up. At 0800 we went to the meeting room with the other five Arctic Circle nations. They had all been given a draft of the proposed treaty, its amendments, bylaws, and guidelines.
It was along here in the discussion the Secret Service agent handed me a note that a group from the UN was in the lobby demanding to be a part of the meeting.
I asked the group if anyone had notified the UN of the meeting and invited them to this meeting. No one admitted to notifying the UN but they were here.
The group decided to allow them in to observe the vote and discussion. A Secret Service agent brought the four representatives. One was from India, one from China, one from Indonesia and the other from Belgium. India and China had been problems for the last twenty years; they were both in a desperate search for raw materials for their industries. I knew as soon as I saw them they were going to try to leverage their way into the agreement.
The main table was full – the five countries had brought aides with them to help then digest the information. I had a small table brought in and placed off to the side for the UN to sit at.
The agreement was read then we went down the amendments one at a time in the first section. That section identified the participants and how much land area each claimed to have within the Arctic Circle. There was no objections with that section.
The next section was formation of a council to oversee all exploration. The council was to approve or reject any contracting firms that were to extract the minerals. It was also to have a science division looking at best practices for restoration and new and unknown minerals.
It was in this section that the UN people tried to get involved. They wanted the UN scientific committees to take control of all scientific matters, all environmental matters and control all development and extraction of all items found.
”You were allowed to join this final reading to observe and are not part of the negotiations or discussions in the meetings. We have spent days working through this treaty with hundreds of hours in discussions with the seven affected countries,” I told the four.
”If you cannot abide by those terms I will have you escorted out,” I said.
They were not happy campers. The leader of the group left to go call the UN Secretariat to voice his displeasure. We continued on with the discussion.
The rest of the proposed treaty was read section by section with a few changes. By 1000 we were finished. My staff made the final changes to the documents and they were printed with spaces for the nations to sign.
We signed all of them except one copy that was to be signed in public.
At 1100 the Rose Garden had been set up with a podium and tables for the signing of the treaty. For the US, the final step was a Senate vote to the make it official.
Speeches by the other leaders ran the news conference into lunch. The day was quickly getting away from me. There was a state lunch with the leaders before they left to return home.
After lunch the Russians and my group finished the last of the aid package we were going to offer. After fine tuning the wording and a final printing, we were close to signing.
We were going to sign all the agreements in the Oval Office to get them out of the way and under one folder. Then we would publicly sign a cover sheet with a list of all the other documents. It would be a less confusing event that way.
In the Oval Office I was joined by Vice President Harrison, Troy, Senators Whitby and Fordes, Kansas Rep Harvey Wallbanger and Arizona Rep Kirtland Jasper, the speaker of the house, the house minority leader and the majority and minority leaders of the Senate along with State Department Secretary Dean and Under-Secretary Borden.
The Russian delegation was led by President Orbatch and senior advisor Anton Pavlenko.
Arriving late was treasury director Albert Morrison. He and an aide were carrying four attaché cases.
The senators and two reps were invited because their committees support would be needed to pass the treaties and make them official.
For the benefit of all, copies were passed out to all present. Then my aide read through each group of documents that completed each treaty of agreement. At the end of each I asked President Orbatch and Anton if they were factual representations of our discussion and agreements. As he indicated they were, we moved on the next agreement.
We finished all the agreements and treaties then signed all of them. The last step was up to the Senate to make the treaties law.
General Ingram knocked, then came in and handed me a note, ”Media will be allowed to go live in ten minutes for the Russia ventures. ”
I gave it to Troy and said, ”Turn on the big screen – mute it and find the channel.”
The last item was the cash funds I had promised. I asked Treasury Director Albert Morrison if he had brought the items I had requested.
”Yes Madam President – two hundred billion; four thousand treasury notes, one hundred million on each,” he said as he placed the cases on the table and opened them.
”Do you have the paperwork for me?” I asked.
”Yes,” he said as he handed me the paper.
I moved the cases over to President Orbatch and Anton, ”I believe that completes the initial financial agreement we have discussed. The six fifty billion dollar payments will be started thirty days from today based on percentage of destruction of the missiles and submarines as we agreed,” I said.
I took out the Thimble Shoals check book and wrote out a check to the US Treasury for the two hundred billion dollars.
I placed the check on the papers Albert had given me, ”Pass that down the table to Director Morrison so he can mark it paid for me,” I said.
”A personal check for two hundred billion dollars! You have got be fucking kidding me!” Rep Wallbanger said.
”If you can’t run with the big dogs, you get to go sit in the corner and lick your gonads with the puppies. I haven’t had to sit in the corner in a long time,” I said.
He looked at it one more – time shaking his head – and quickly handed it to Albert.
The TV went live as Troy dropped the mute. ”Breaking news – this is ZNN news aboard the USS Reagan with its task force, we have entered Russian territory and are docked at the Vladivostok Russian Navy Base,” the reporter Toby Nash said as the film they had taken earlier was being shown.
”Toby, why are the US Navy ships there?” the desk asked.
”We have been told that this is now a joint US-Russian navy base. That is ALL we have been told. I do understand there is going to be a news conference here in an hour or two after the Admirals set the format and have discussions. We were also told a news conference was happening at the White House very soon.”
There were various clips of the entry into the harbor escorted by Russian frigates with the decks filled with Russian sailors in dress uniforms. The dock was full of Russian sailors in their best uniforms, cheering as the USS Reagan was tied up and the gangplank was lowered.
The media was furious; they were witnessing the news break of the century and could not broadcast a word until it was approved and a connection made. That was not going to happen until 1600 Eastern. They had known about the arrival and docking for three hours.
The shipboard media was in a frenzy – a Russian military harbor pilot had been placed on by a Russian helicopter. The task force had been escorted by several Russian frigates.
I made the announcement that all discussions related to the agreements and treaties were to be considered as classified. The treaties and agreements themselves would be de-classified as necessary for congressional approval.
I had barely finished when the next news break came with video of the bomber group landing at the Russian airbase. It was the same as at the navy bases. There were cheering Russian officers and airmen and angry US media people.
They had been flown in an advance plane for the bombers. They had portable communications radios, several tow bars to fit the B52s and a variety of refueling adapter fittings. They had been in Russia for four hours, however, not knowing what for. They were only told fifteen minutes before the first bomber touched down – just long enough to set up broadcast equipment and contact their stations.
With the media in an uproar, we signed the last document for the cameras and answered questions for thirty minutes before shutting it down.
With their bags already packed, President Orbatch, Anton, their wives and I went back to Andrews for their return to Moscow. It was raining and nasty so there were quick goodbyes; it had been a busy week. I was glad I was going home for the weekend.
I rode in the Beast with a couple of Secret Service agents while deep in thought.
Other Presidents since Lynden Johnson had done money transfers to foreign countries to buy favors, influence foreign policy or make foreign policy. They had used the CIA, the Defense Department and sometimes the State Department.
The money transfers – more often than not – proved to be bad foreign policy. Johnson couldn’t buy loyalty or victory in Vietnam with the bundles of cash he sent there. Nixon, Carter and Reagan couldn’t solve turmoil in Central America and the Middle East with buckets of money – our money. The drug war rages on and the Middle East is still at war with itself.
Clinton and the Bush’s tried unsuccessfully to buy favorable foreign policy in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt and nearly everywhere else with piles of money and failed.
Obama had thrown caution to the wind by trying to buy a deal with Iran, only to have them take the pallets of cash with no real strings attached and laugh at him. They dug in their heels demanding more, an end to embargoes for them to reduce their supporting terrorists and a nuclear agreement.
They did neither – I had fought Iran supported terrorists for years and they were still trying to kill me and my family.
Presidents Trump and Thomas after him had reduced foreign and military aide to many countries, calling on them to do more instead of us doing so much.
The nagging fear was that the Russians would turn around and bite my ass. Only time would tell, but I had attached bull ropes to the money they could get. The biggest amount was dependent on firm action to carry out the agreement.
In reality, it was their money. I could give it back and possibility change the future or we risk war and they would have to wait a century to get it by the bank’s rules.
It was the lesser of two evils – a chance of a war that would eventually engulf all Europe or try to prevent it. I chose the last.
At the White House a mob was waiting on me. All the members of the Joint Chiefs and their staff, Secretary Dean of the State Department and the under secretary plus my staff were waiting for me. I was in no mood for anything except a chance to clear my head and take a few deep breaths.
With the door closed behind me, the kitchen staff brought in bottles of champagne and tubs of cold beer.
Troy and Secretary Dean took turns reading cables they had received from the European countries since the announcements. Most were positive and encouraging, pledging to assist in any way possible. They understood what war in Europe could do; they had lived through it twice and the never ending consequences.
I wondered why they had not done all they could do three months ago.
The Joint Chiefs took turns reading cables from our military allies located around the world – the reductions in nuclear weapons numbers alone were making some happy and some worried.
Maybe the reduction of twelve hundred missiles meant something after all. But then in the end, it would be a total of twenty four hundred when the new limits went into effect.
Even at that, we would still have enough to destroy the world a thousand times over.
China – on the other hand – was furious. Tomorrow they would be even more. The B52s and the Russian bomber group were flying to the border and then along it with fighter escort.
The gas valve was going to be closed at 0800. With the high pressure in the pipeline it would be noon when the flames went out in Chinese factories, then the crap would hit the fan for sure.
The announcements that the other two carrier groups were moving immediately was not lost on them, even though I had done it for other reasons.
The cold beer was refreshing; I had two.
Edit by Alfmeister
Proof read by Bob W.