That was unfortunate but understandable.
But France! What France had done was unforgivable. For, as sure as Arnold Morgan was sitting right here in the Oval Office, the French government had deliberately plunged the world into despair, entirely for her own gain and to the detriment of almost everyone else.
The French government would naturally deny everything. But Arnold Morgan knew the President’s only chance was to come out fighting. And to accept that Saudi Arabia’s oil had become a world asset, not an Arab one. And that the industrial nations were right now waiting for the world’s policeman to draw his nightstick.
The President understood that millions of Americans had not forgiven France for her dogmatic stand against the United States during the run-up to the crushing of the murderous dictator Saddam, in Iraq in 2003. Nor had they forgotten the demands France had made to be given a share of the rebuilding contracts.
Seven years later, there were still restaurants in the United States that refused to serve French wine, even wine importers and wholesalers who refused to touch French products.
And here again was the world’s most self-centered nation — this time perhaps having overstepped itself in terms of pure national interest — casting itself into the role of international pariah…assuming that someone, somewhere, felt they could prove French compliance in the takeover of Saudi Arabia.
Arnold Morgan was sure he could prove 100 percent French involvement. And he said to the President, “Sir, I am going to lay this right on the line for you. France was the nation that agreed to help Prince Nasir. Those oil installations were hit by French missiles fired from French submarines. Those oil-loading platforms were blown with time bombs fixed by French underwater commandos. Those military bases at Khamis Mushayt were attacked by a brigade of French Special Forces, and that street rabble was marshaled into a fighting force by a former French Army officer who led the assault on Riyadh on behalf of the new King.
“During the course of the next twelve months, you are going to see France move into the jockey seat in the marketing of all Saudi oil. It is entirely a matter for you whether we get left behind in the coming stampede to join the line for Saudi oil and gas.”
“Arnold, do we have sufficient evidence to accuse the French absolutely of this treachery?”
“Damn right we do.”
“What about the submarines, the
“One of them is heading into the Arabian Sea, the other into the Indian Ocean.”
“And what if they don’t turn up at La Reunion, as you and the NSA expect?”
“Doesn’t matter a damn whether they turn up or not. There were only two hunter-killer submarines in all the world that could have fired those missiles. And they were French, in the area, and now they’re missing, having behaved most unusually.”
“Who has to speak to the French?”
“I suppose you do. Or your Secretary of State. Not that it will do any good. The French will just say they have no idea what you are talking about.”
“So how can we hang ’em out to dry?”
“We have to capture Le Chasseur and make him talk.”
“Is that likely to be difficult?”
“Extremely so. Especially if the French manage to assassinate him first.”
“You think they might?”
“I would.”
President Bedford stood up and walked to the other side of the room. Once more he stood beneath the portrait of General Washington. “Arnold,” he said, “I am asking you to come back here as my special adviser for a few months. You can name your salary.”
“Sir, I’m not good at advice. I give orders and they have to be carried out. I will not offer my views for a bunch of half-assed Democrats to sit around wondering whether to do something else.”
“How about I make you Supreme Commander of this operation, with powers to order the military into action?”
“Do you and your advisers have a veto on my decisions?”
“I would need to have that.”
“Then it’s time for me to go home. If you put yourself in my hands, you also put yourself in the hands of your most senior commanders in the Pentagon. And I will not order anyone to do anything without their agreement. I work
President Bedford ruminated. “Are you suggesting I give you supreme authority to take this nation to war?”
“Of course not. I am suggesting you give me supreme authority to kick a little ass with no questions asked. That way you’ll save your presidency and we’ll get back to where we want to be, dealing with the Saudis.”
“Arnold, I am putting myself into a precarious position where you essentially tell me what is going to happen? Is that more or less correct?”
“Yes it is. Because I’m not having anything to do with this, unless you give me the authority to act and act fast. If you don’t trust me, don’t do it. But if you do trust me, I should decide pretty damn quickly if I were you. Because this bullshit with the oil could get right out of hand.”
“Where do you want your office?”
“Right next to yours. And I speak only to you. I attend no Cabinet meetings, or any other meetings. I brief you, and you take your cue from that.”
“Arnold, I would not think of doing this with any other person except you.”
“Neither would I, sir.”
“Salary?”
“Forget it. Just all the backup I need.”
“Well, I guess that’s a deal then. I appoint you Supreme Commander of Operation…what? Desert Fuel?”
“How about Towelhead Treason?”
“Jesus, Arnold.” The President laughed. “I think something less inflammatory.”
“Okay, let’s make it Operation Tanker.”
“No problem. Operation Tanker. When do you start?”
“‘Bout ten minutes ago. Make sure my new quarters have a sizable anteroom for Kathy, and she’ll need a deputy secretary.”
“No problem. You speaking to France today?”
“Probably not. I’m concentrating our inquiries on the land battles, and I probably won’t stick a firecracker up the ass of the French until we get a sight of those submarines. Then I can act as if we know rather more than we do.”
“Uh-huh,” said President Bedford. “And then what?”
“Oh, I don’t think we’ll get anywhere. The French will just do a lot of shrugging and say they have no idea what happened in Saudi Arabia. It is none of their business,
“Then what?”
“We find them guilty in the courtroom of Uncle Sam. And then, as they say in the Pentagon, we’ll try to appreciate the situation.”
“Do we say anything to the media?”
“Christ no, sir. Nothing. NO announcements. NO press conferences.”
“And what about when someone notices you are ensconced in the White House right next to the President?”
“You have someone say that Admiral Morgan and the President are assessing a possible problem to the United States. They are working together as two former naval officers. Admiral Morgan is an acting, unpaid adviser on a purely temporary basis.”
“Right before you have the SEALs blow up the Eiffel Tower or something?”
“More or less,” replied Morgan. “But to set your mind at rest, we’re not blowing up anything on land. But equally, we are not anxious that France should carry on as normal, running tankers in and out of their ports with oil from Abu Dhabi…while the rest of us starve.”
“Oh, Christ,” said President Bedford. “This is going to be interesting.”
