Power Games: Operation Enduring Unity I by R A Peters Page A
Authors: R A Peters
Tags: thriller, Historical, Literature & Fiction, Thrillers, Action & Adventure, Military, War & Military, Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, Political, Conspiracies, Men's Adventure, Terrorism, Thrillers & Suspense, Thriller & Suspense, Spies & Politics, Assassinations, Pulp
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quite a few, as a matter of fact. All current members of the Florida Guard…” Several aides nodded and moved on to other matters. He ignored them and raised his voice. The president was already walking away.
“Again sir, you shouldn’t base any course of action on what’s really circumstantial evidence.”
Another aide rushed in with something Oh-So-Important and bumped the FBI chief out of the way. This wasn’t his first time in the situation room. He’d seen the Administration pissed at him and pleased with him, but he’d never seen them uninterested in what he had to say. He caught a glimpse of a draft speech on the table. There’d been a few memos generated by his office with the same subject, but this just wasn’t in the same league. He couldn’t suppress the chill in his bones at seeing that one magic word repeated multiple times:
Terrorism .
The director tried to catch the president’s eye, but he was deep in quiet conversation with someone from the CIA and several new generals. He didn’t recognize any of them. There’d been a hell of a lot of personnel shakeups, resignations and transfers out west or overseas, among the senior military staff since the Florida fiasco last week.
Working his way closer around the big table, he caught a “…very high confidence, sir.” over the humming voices. The president whispered something about wanting to see a “target package” and then spun around suddenly.
“Yes, I heard you, Steve, but our course of action has been set by the rebels’ other provocations.” The FBI director raised an eyebrow at the R-word. While it was bantered about by some news organizations, this was the first time he heard that dangerous label from any official source.
“Sir, I understand your frustration, but please be careful with such catchphrases. They can influence your staff’s thinking and have a habit of becoming policy.”
“It’s a simple statement of fact. I’m afraid I don’t have the time now to give you a rundown. Watch the speech tonight. That will clarify everything.”
The nation’s senior cop used up every last ounce of his patience to keep from screaming. “ Sir ! With all due respect, when is the chief law enforcement officer in America left out of the loop on a matter of so-called terrorism?”
One of the new generals answered while the president tried to form a diplomatic response.
“When it’s a military matter. We’ll let you know if we need anything.”
While the president avoided eye contact with anyone, some Secret Service agent rested a firm hand on the FBI chief’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry sir, but you’ll have to leave now. We’re about to start a classified briefing. Essential personnel only.”
Tampa, Florida
10 February: 2000
Ever since the genius politicians closed the border, the state of Florida was on a war footing. There was an armed man behind every Palm tree. That paranoia grew as much from internal threats as from fear of Washington’s response. According to the opinion polls, ¾ of the population supported the acting governor and Senator Dimone. So many people so fired up, it was a classic case of the tail wagging the dog.
Of course, in a state of 19 million people, that left millions of potential agitators. Within their own borders existed an enemy far more numerous than the combined Federal Armed Forces.
You also had to reckon with the Floridians’ love of lawlessness just for the fun of it. For every IRS office burnt or ransacked during the first few days of heady “freedom,” a local county tax collector’s office went the same way.
Still, like most things in Florida, it was only for show. The “closed border” was one of the most active in the world. By conservative estimates, a quarter million people crossed every day. Mostly headed north to get out of the way of the oncoming storm, but a surprisingly large number coming south looking for trouble.
Another crumbling aspect of the facade were the
“Again sir, you shouldn’t base any course of action on what’s really circumstantial evidence.”
Another aide rushed in with something Oh-So-Important and bumped the FBI chief out of the way. This wasn’t his first time in the situation room. He’d seen the Administration pissed at him and pleased with him, but he’d never seen them uninterested in what he had to say. He caught a glimpse of a draft speech on the table. There’d been a few memos generated by his office with the same subject, but this just wasn’t in the same league. He couldn’t suppress the chill in his bones at seeing that one magic word repeated multiple times:
Terrorism .
The director tried to catch the president’s eye, but he was deep in quiet conversation with someone from the CIA and several new generals. He didn’t recognize any of them. There’d been a hell of a lot of personnel shakeups, resignations and transfers out west or overseas, among the senior military staff since the Florida fiasco last week.
Working his way closer around the big table, he caught a “…very high confidence, sir.” over the humming voices. The president whispered something about wanting to see a “target package” and then spun around suddenly.
“Yes, I heard you, Steve, but our course of action has been set by the rebels’ other provocations.” The FBI director raised an eyebrow at the R-word. While it was bantered about by some news organizations, this was the first time he heard that dangerous label from any official source.
“Sir, I understand your frustration, but please be careful with such catchphrases. They can influence your staff’s thinking and have a habit of becoming policy.”
“It’s a simple statement of fact. I’m afraid I don’t have the time now to give you a rundown. Watch the speech tonight. That will clarify everything.”
The nation’s senior cop used up every last ounce of his patience to keep from screaming. “ Sir ! With all due respect, when is the chief law enforcement officer in America left out of the loop on a matter of so-called terrorism?”
One of the new generals answered while the president tried to form a diplomatic response.
“When it’s a military matter. We’ll let you know if we need anything.”
While the president avoided eye contact with anyone, some Secret Service agent rested a firm hand on the FBI chief’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry sir, but you’ll have to leave now. We’re about to start a classified briefing. Essential personnel only.”
Tampa, Florida
10 February: 2000
Ever since the genius politicians closed the border, the state of Florida was on a war footing. There was an armed man behind every Palm tree. That paranoia grew as much from internal threats as from fear of Washington’s response. According to the opinion polls, ¾ of the population supported the acting governor and Senator Dimone. So many people so fired up, it was a classic case of the tail wagging the dog.
Of course, in a state of 19 million people, that left millions of potential agitators. Within their own borders existed an enemy far more numerous than the combined Federal Armed Forces.
You also had to reckon with the Floridians’ love of lawlessness just for the fun of it. For every IRS office burnt or ransacked during the first few days of heady “freedom,” a local county tax collector’s office went the same way.
Still, like most things in Florida, it was only for show. The “closed border” was one of the most active in the world. By conservative estimates, a quarter million people crossed every day. Mostly headed north to get out of the way of the oncoming storm, but a surprisingly large number coming south looking for trouble.
Another crumbling aspect of the facade were the
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