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“One analyst thinks the Israelis dropped a low-yield tactical nuke into the place.”
“Interesting. One of my people brought up a similar scenario last night. What led your analyst to decide it was a nuke?”
“Not so much evidence as plausibility. He says the other way is too complicated. Too many variables.”
Kennedy thought about it for a moment and asked, “How does he say the weapon was delivered?”
“That’s where his argument gets a little thin. Possibly a cruise missile.”
“Our satellites would have picked up a missile launch.”
“More than likely. He also thinks there is a good chance the Israelis must have developed a stealth bomber.”
Kennedy glanced at the president and then looked back at England. “Your people probably have a better handle on this than my people do. Do they think it’s that Israel developed a stealth bomber?”
“No,” England said emphatically. “I put the question out last night and all my experts are in agreement that they just don’t have the money.”
“They might not need as much money as you think,” Wicka said.
“How so?” the president asked.
“They have a history of stealing what they need. That’s how they developed their own nuclear weapons program. We did all the research, development, and testing and they came in and stole all of our data. They even stole nuclear materials from us to make their first bomb.”
The president looked at Kennedy. “Is this true?”
“I’m afraid so. It happened in the sixties. They stole approximately two hundred pounds of highly enriched uranium.”
“I agree it’s possible,” England said, “but it is still highly unlikely. Remember this attack happened in broad daylight. My imaging people went back and reviewed every airfield in the country. They paid special attention to the bases in the Negev. They came up with nothing. Every takeoff they discovered was corroborated by other tracking assets. It’s too big of a leap of faith to buy into the idea that Israel secretly developed a multibillion-dollar plane and then flew it during the day.”
“So you agree with Mitch’s theory,” Kennedy said.
“Yes.”
The president took a sip of coffee and then said, “And we’re all in agreement that Mitch’s plan could work?”
One by one the president’s three advisors agreed.
The president looked at Secretary of State Wicka. “You have any problem lying to the United Nations?”
Wicka beamed with amusement and then laughed. “If I was afraid of skirting the truth in that den of pathological liars, I would not be a very good secretary of state. What did you say Mitch called it? Creating an alternative truth.”
“Yes.”
“I like that. The UN runs on alternative truths. All of them self-serving, of course.”
“Wonderful.” The president turned to Kennedy. “What about your meeting with the Iranian intel chief?”
“It has been agreed to in principle. The details are being worked out.”
“Where will it take place?”
“Mosul. That is where we have met in the past.”
The president glanced at Wicka. “Do you have any problems with this?”
“The State Department has no official and very few unofficial ties with Iran. I think this is the right move.”
Glancing at Kennedy he asked, “Have you heard from Mitch?”
