Chapter 5
Office of John Harford, President
Strategic Initiatives, LLC
Arlington, Virginia
February
“I don’t pay your firm two million dollars a month so I can leave a message on your voice mail. That’s more than I pay my bloodsucking lawyers. For that kind of money, I damn well expect you to be available 24/7.”
John Harford stood behind his massive desk, his eyes boring into the visitor who had just entered his office, the door closing behind him. Harford’s company. Strategic Initiatives, was known in the military world as SI, a multi-national security firm specializing in government contract work around the globe, legal and not so legal. Harford was used to employees, or sub-contractors, which was how he saw Ted Rowley’s PR firm, placing him at the top of their priority list. And from Harford’s perspective, since he paid the biggest fees, everyone would put him at the top of their priority list or he’d find someone else.
Forty-two, a West Point graduate, and a self-professed hard-ass, Harford had served as an Army Ranger and a Delta Force operative. He left the Army after eight years when a fellow ring-knocker recruited him to work with the CIA. Within three weeks of his recruitment, two Latin American citizens had died of apparently self-inflicted gunshot wounds. When Harford discovered that his partner on that job, a freelance, contracted “security expert,” had made over three times the money the CIA had paid him, Harford quickly left their service. Thirty-one, ten years out of West Point, he had resigned from both the Army and the CIA.
Recruiting a few of his former associates, Harford branched out, starting his own security firm with primarily bodyguard work initially, then progressing to contract killing, mostly on foreign soil.
A decade later, Harford remained in top physical shape, although his current position did not require “wet” work or even strenuous activity. He now had “people” for black ops. The only killing he did personally was character assassination of politicians who stood in his way.
Within those ten years, Strategic Initiatives had signed contracts with multiple U.S. government agencies and about a dozen foreign governments, ranging from personal protection to outright destabilization of smaller governments with shadow leaders who thought it was time for a change at the top. The bread-and-butter work came from domestic security in malls, sporting arenas, and federal buildings.
SI employed over 10,000 people, with several hundred more black ops staff who were paid off the books. Gross revenues in the previous fiscal year had topped fourteen billion dollars. Security work had been good to him. The prospects since 9/11, with the increased concern for domestic terrorism, had only enhanced his reputation and his revenue.
Noting the tone of rebuke in Harford’s voice, Rowley responded cautiously. “I apologize, John. I called you within twenty minutes of receiving your message, but I was in the South African bush with a client. In your business, I know you can appreciate the need for occasionally being out of touch.”
Harford just looked at the man standing before his desk for several long seconds, grunted his acknowledgement, then waved his hand toward a chair.
“Clay Cumberland’s dead, as the whole world knows. I put five million into his presidential campaign, and I got three hours from him. Worst investment I ever made. Where will Snow stand on issues of importance to SI?” Harford asked.
“In all candor, I don’t know,” Rowley said, “but it doesn’t matter. We have the votes we need in Congress, and our inside Pentagon source is moving, even as we speak, to close the loop. Snow won’t even find his private toilet before we have this locked up.”
Theodore Justin Rowley, T.J. to his associates, was the president of his own company, a public relations firm that worked exclusively for politicians, governments, and the military, both domestic and foreign. Not in any respect as large as SI, T.J. Rowley amp; Associates was, nonetheless, a force to be reckoned with when image was needed. From political campaigns to outright deception and manipulation of public interest, Rowley knew exactly how, and just as important, when, to present the “truth” through his vast media resources. No longer referred to as public relations, the high concept term had become “perception management.” T.J. Rowley and Associates was the best in the world at creating it. His boiler room Internet chat sites spewed forth his personal brand of truth twenty- four hours a day, ridiculing anyone who thought differently. If you wanted your idea to be “true” and popular with the public, Rowley could make it so. On Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and a hundred other blogs his operatives, mostly stay-in-their-room teenage nerds, had specific orders to combat any ideas contrary to T.J. Rowley amp; Associates’ opinion de jour.
Harford picked up where he left off. “And what about our progress for passage of the Domestic Tranquility bill? Is everything in place in the House and the Senate?”
Rowley nodded. “All done. Your choice of a project name was masterful. Even the liberals are onboard with the concept. Every congressman who addresses the issue invokes the Constitution when he’s speaking about it. I love it. It’s made my sales job that much easier.”
“That’s fine,” Harford commented. “On the operational side, I’ve arranged for an Irish associate to drop information into the European underground network. If all goes well, they’ll troll the bait. Then either the CIA or Homeland Security intelligence operatives will pick up on a warning, and if they act quickly, they’ll be fully aware of the coming domestic threat. Internal intelligence briefings to the congressional committee should do the rest, as far as passage of the bill is concerned.”
“Excellent,” Rowley said. “Are your operational people ready to react?”
Harford remained quiet for several long seconds before responding. He had long ago learned his basic premise: don’t share any information with subordinates. “You create the public perception, T.J. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Consider it done. Our congressional supporters have planted the seed, and General Wainscott has already created the position paper to reflect the insufficiency of an Army National Guard response to domestic terrorism. John, the upcoming California secession, whether it happens or not, only adds to our cause. America is in turmoil. SI will be the resource they turn to when domestic violence commences. Wainscott’s on it.”
Harford raised an eyebrow and cocked his head. “Don’t let him get too far ahead, T.J. Being prescient is one thing-being clairvoyant is another. Do you believe California will follow through? Will the president let them go without military action or declaring martial law?”
“We’ve had four presidents in as many months. What this newest one will do is uncertain, but after the Battle of Capital Mall in Sacramento-well named, I might add-who knows? I doubt he wants military bloodshed any more than Eastman did. A civil war over freeing the slaves was a moral cause which much of the world understood. Sending troops to keep California in the Union is another matter. In my opinion, it would not justify open combat- body bags-in American cities.”
Harford nodded. “And Senator Culpepper? Is he convinced of the need for more domestic security resources- that the Domestic Tranquility bill is the answer?”
Rowley chuckled. “Culpepper used the term ‘promote the domestic tranquility’ himself the other day in committee. Ironic, isn’t it?”
“You better hope it’s only irony. We need Culpepper to support our White Paper on the need for increased domestic surveillance measures and arrest powers for the private security guard force. We need the Patriot Act expanded, more law enforcement authority. We also need to be able to offer a private security alternative to an unpopular activation of the National Guard.”
“I’ll stay on it. Culpepper is not quite as susceptible as some of the others. He’s in his last senatorial term and looking for his legacy, not more campaign funds. But he’s always been in support of security measures, and from the tone of his last public announcement, he understands that Americans are going to have to make some tough choices between personal liberty and security.”
“If he’s not going to be with us, T. J, then it’s time he retired, voluntarily or otherwise. I’ve got over fifty million tied up in the latest generation metal detectors, bomb sniffing apparatus, unmanned aerial vehicles, camera equipment, and public building security measures, not to mention getting ready for over 150,000 security guards in
