“These ground attacks were preceded both by a well-orchestrated series of commando attacks and by air raids on our airbases, command and communications centers, and supply depots.” Simpson nodded to the display operator, and dozens of points across the length and breadth of South Korea glowed bright red.
The admiral nodded grimly at the murmurs that swept through the Situation Room. “Yeah. We’d always worried about North Korea’s commandos, but we’d always counted on the ROK’s tight internal security to help control the threat. Obviously, what we didn’t figure on was that the ROK’s security force might be too busy cracking down on its own military to keep an eye out to the North.”
Simpson turned back to the display. “Okay. The current situation is this. General McLaren has activated his field headquarters, but communications are still somewhat screwed up. What we do know is that North Korean armored spearheads have penetrated out MLR at these points.” Blobs of light sprang into existence on the map. “Casualties are reported to be heavy, and some of our forward positions have either been surrounded or overrun.” He shrugged his shoulders. “No one knows for sure.”
“We’ve also got some initial reports that suggest that some South Korean units folded up under the first attacks and are pretty well out of it. But that’s also unconfirmed.”
Simpson looked at the President directly. “That’s all I’ve got right now, Mr. President. I’m sorry there isn’t more, but we’re still trying to get a better fix on things.”
The President nodded and turned to the secretary of state. “Any more news from your side of things, Paul?”
The secretary looked ashen. The ambassador to South Korea had been one of his closest friends. “I’m afraid not, Mr. President. The survivors at our embassy are trying to sort things out, but things are still very confused. The ROK government also had a number of its own people killed in the first wave of these terrorist attacks.”
The secretary made a visible effort to pull himself together. “I would recommend a direct call to the South Korean president as soon as possible. Something to let him know we’re backing them in this crisis.”
The President nodded.”Agreed. And I’ll want to talk to the Japanese prime minister right after that. But not until I can give them a fairly detailed overview of the actions that we’re taking.” He looked at his communications people. “Set up a secure channel for use after this meeting.”
He swiveled his chair back around to face the rest of the NSC and signaled the display operator. The map expanded suddenly to show the Soviet Union. “All right. It’s pretty clear that things are bad enough in Korea. Now, what I want to focus on is this. Just what the hell are the Russians up to? Are they a party to this North Korean invasion? Is this just a prelude to something bigger?”
There was a momentary silence around the table as everyone waited for someone else to take the first crack at the President’s questions.
Finally Blake cleared his throat. Time to stick his neck out.
“Yes, Dr. Fowler?’
Blake looked up from his notes. “Well, Mr. President, I’d have to say that the best guess is that the Soviets were just as surprised by this attack as we were.” He heard a contemptuous snort from Putnam but ignored it. The national security adviser had been cut out of Pacific policy planning for months, knew it, and wasn’t happy about it.
“Is that just a plain guess, or do you have something to back it up?”
“Mr. President, I can’t tell you that we have anything solid yet, but I think it’s the most reasonable interpretation of the facts — at least based on the signals data the NSA has been picking up.”
Blake pushed his glasses back up his nose. “About an hour after the North Korean air and commando attacks began, the NSA intercepted an emergency signal from the Soviets’ Far East Military District HQ in Khabarovsk to Moscow. They’ve been in almost constant communication since then. But the pattern is consistent. Short transmissions from Moscow followed at intervals by longer transmissions from Khabarovsk. Based on that, I’d say that Moscow is asking pretty much the same sort of questions you’re asking, and that the Far East district is doing its best to find out the answers.”
The President considered that for a moment, looking at the map. “Okay. Sounds reasonable. Do you have anything else along those lines?”
Blake nodded. “Yes, sir. Our satellites and recon aircraft have picked up signs that some of their Far Eastern Voyska PVO air defense squadrons have been put on a higher state of alert — but not their Long Range Aviation bomber units. Again, that’s consistent with a defensive and not an offensive reaction — at least for the moment.”
“So there aren’t any immediate signs that the Soviets are planning to jump into this thing.”
“That’s about the size of it, Mr. President.” Blake flipped his notepad to a new page. “In addition, we’ve picked up similar signals from the Chinese. Their Shenyang Military Region fronting North Korea has gone on a defensive alert, but nothing beyond that.”
The President sat back slightly. “Well, good. We may only be facing a local crisis, then.”
Blake nodded. “So far, Mr. President. But if the Soviets or the Chinese scent real success developing in the North Korean offensive …” He shrugged. “At that point all bets are off.”
“Fine, so be it. Now then, that leaves the question of what we can do to make sure these North Korean bastards don’t succeed. Admiral?”
Simpson looked up. “I’ve had my planning staff and the other Chiefs put together a list of options. In the short run, I think it’s essential that we commit our F-15 squadrons based in Japan and Okinawa to the air battle. The ROK’s Air Force took heavy losses in the first raids, and our F-16 wing at Kunsan is almost certainly being worn down by sheer numbers. And I’d like to get a task force from the Seventh Fleet steaming to the area right away. North Korean subs and missile boats have already started trying to interdict the sea routes into the ROK.”
“Approved. Send the F-15s and the Seventh Fleet in ASAP.” The President waited while Simpson handed a note to an aide before continuing. “Okay, Phil. What are my other military options?”
“Well, I think we should start sending ground unit reinforcements to McLaren. He’s only got the Second Division over there right now, and infantry tends to get chewed up pretty fast in this kind of fighting.”
Blake agreed with the admiral. The South Koreans could mobilize a lot more men than the U.S. could possibly ship in, but every extra man would count. Besides, it would send exactly the right signal to Pyongyang, Moscow, and Beijing by demonstrating American resolve.
Simpson continued, “With your permission, Mr. President, I’ll alert the commanders of the Sixth Light in Alaska, Seventh Light at Fort Ord, and the Ninth Motorized at Fort Lewis for movement to the ROK. The ready brigade from the Twenty-fifth in Hawaii is already loading.”
He nodded toward the Marine four-star general to his left. “The commandant says the Third Marine Division on Okinawa is already packing, and the prepositioned cargo ships at Tinian will sail within six hours. They have the equipment for a heavy brigade already loaded. He has also alerted the First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, and some of the Force Troops Pacific at Twenty-nine Palms.”
The President toyed with a pen and asked, “Do we have enough sea- and airlift to move all those troops?”
Simpson shook his head. “Not even half of them. But I’m sure we can get help from the Korean merchant fleet and from their national airline. I’d also like permission to begin mobilizing the West Coast elements of the National Reserve Defense Fleet and a limited portion of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet. I expect the airlines will cry bloody murder for a few days, but we’re gonna need the transport.”
Again the President sat thinking for a moment and then said, “All right. Let’s do it. Cut the orders and I’ll sign them.”
“Excuse me, Mr. President.” Putnam leaned forward in his chair, his face flushed and his voice barely under control, obviously smarting at having been ignored in the discussion so far. “Shouldn’t you consult with our allies and with the congressional leadership before taking these steps? I mean, we don’t want to go this thing alone.”
Blake frowned. The President saw it and motioned to him to respond. “It would be wise to consult with our allies as soon as possible, Mr. President. But there’s no need to give them a veto over our discussion here. The actions you’re taking now are all covered under the UN Security Council resolutions passed back in June and July of 1950 calling on member states to meet North Korea’s aggression with force. They’ve never been rescinded. So, technically, our allies have the same obligations with regard to South Korea that we do.”
Blake pointed to the map. “But no one else has the ability to transport the needed troops and equipment into
