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The president looked to Berg, ignoring her historical comparison and asked, “Are they bluffing?”
Berg, who seemed to be taking the news better than anyone else, said, “I’m not sure, but the Gulf States do have a history of false bravado.”
“Meaning?
”
“Meaning … they might be unified at the moment, but who knows what next week will hold. Some of them are in the red … a few are barely in the black.” Berg gestured with her hands that it was a toss-up. “I can’t see a unified embargo holding for very long. We need the oil and they need our money.”
“We can’t allow this embargo to last a day,” announced National Security Advisor Haik. “The mere mention of it could precipitate a worldwide recession. Markets would plunge overnight ten to twenty percent.”
“But what about our reserves?” asked Culbertson. “We can increase our imports from Venezuela and Russia and the former republics … and if we have to we can drill in Alaska.”
“Who says Venezuela and Russia won’t go along with them,” replied Haik. “And besides, all of that will take time. Two months from the onset of the embargo we could probably get back to near normal supply levels, but that’s not what worries me. What worries me is the devastating effect it would have on an already strained economy.” Haik turned his attention to the president. “The last time they really hit us with an embargo was in seventy-three, and it took us a decade to climb out of the hole.”
Valerie Jones hurried back into the room catching the end of the national security advisor’s comments. She quickly added, “And we ended up with interest rates at seventeen percent, runaway inflation and unemployment approaching double digits. Mr. President, we cannot let that happen again.”
Her implication was clear. If the embargo was put into effect any chance he had at serving another four years would be dragged down with the floundering economy. Looking back at Jones, Hayes asked, “What did he say when you walked him out?”
“He says they are resolute in their decision. Now is the time for a Palestinian state.”
Hayes sighed. “We have no choice.”
The defense secretary wasn’t quite ready to give in. “Sir, let’s engage the French and see if we can get them to delay the vote … even a day or two. In exchange we could demand that Israel withdraw its forces from Hebron.”
Hayes shook his head in desperation. The French would never go along with such a plan. They had center stage right now, and were not about to miss the opportunity to ram Palestinian statehood down Israel’s throat.
“Sir, we can’t do it this way,” Culbertson stated with great conviction. “Israel will never honor the resolution until a real cease-fire is in place and they have been given assurances from all the Arab states. We need time to make this work.”
“Unfortunately,” said Hayes, lifting his head, “we don’t have time.”
“Let’s at least try.”
“I agree with Rick, Mr. President.” Secretary of State Berg looked at her watch. “The vote isn’t scheduled to take place for another five hours. We should see if we can get a withdrawal in exchange for a cease-fire. Maybe even propose a peace summit in Paris for next week.”
“All right. See what you can do with the French.” Hayes motioned for them to get started and both cabinet members got up. The president turned his attention to Kennedy. “Is there a chance the Saudis are bluffing?”
“There’s a chance, but I think there’s a better chance they’re serious. I put a call in to Charlie to find out what we’ve picked up in the last forty-eight hours. If they’ve been talking we should have picked something up.”
65
David sat in front of his monitors and sipped a bottle of water. Everything was going according to plan. The traffic cameras were all on-line and working properly, his media source had confirmed the ambassador’s appointment at the White House, and the world was watching. Washington D.C. was about to be rocked, and David couldn’t have been more pleased with how things were playing out. As he’d predicted, the Israelis had sent their army into Hebron and the international community was busy filing protests. Palestinian suicide bombers were throwing themselves into the breach and making the Israelis pay the price. French Ambassador Joussard was playing his hand perfectly at the UN, and if Omar had been successful in convincing his brother the crown prince that now was the time for an embargo, the United States would be boxed in. All that was left to do was raise the level of violence one more notch, and his lifelong dream of a free Palestinian state would be a reality.
The black limousine came into view on the predetermined screen in the upper left corner. David put the bottle of water down and glanced at the remote firing device sitting in the heavy black case on his right. The bomb was already armed and ready to go. All he needed to do was pop the clear safety cover and press the red button.
The limousine made a turn and showed up on the next screen. David tracked it carefully through the city. It was close to the White House. The explosion would undoubtedly be heard by the president and the Secret Service would go into lockdown mode. David watched with great anticipation as the limousine neared the crucial intersection. At this point everything depended on its taking a right turn. David wiped his sweaty palms on his pants and counted the seconds.
The vehicle began to slow and then just as anticipated it turned onto Virginia Avenue midway between the State Department and the White House. David breathed a brief sigh of relief and looked to the next monitor, his fingers poised above the keyboard, prepared to manipulate the traffic light two intersections away. He could see the parked van now visible on two of the monitors. He entered the proper command and held the traffic light on red for another fifteen seconds. The limousine’s brake lights came on almost immediately. David popped the plastic cover on the remote firing device and waited. The long black vehicle inched its way into position and then when it was a few feet short David reached over and pressed the red button.
66
Rapp appeared in the doorway of the Oval Office with Secret Service Special Agent Jack Warch. Rapp caught his boss’s attention and motioned for her to join him in the hall. Aides and staffers were now coming and going, shuttling back and forth between other members of the president’s staff and cabinet. The political machine was coming together for a unified assault on forestalling the UN vote.
Kennedy excused herself and joined Rapp and Warch. The Secret Service agent led them across the hall and opened the door to the Roosevelt Room. Rapp thanked the head of the Presidential Detail and promised to keep him informed.
Kennedy studied Rapp suspiciously and asked, “Keep him informed of what?”
“Our John Doe, who met with Omar and then flew to New York … Well, Olivia just found out that he left Penn Station at ten oh five the night Ambassador Ali was killed.”
