The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

'I don't like this,' Liz Elliot observed, watching the TV in her office. The
political furor in Israel was much stronger than she had expected, and Elliot
had called Ryan in for an assessment of the situation.
'Well,' the DDCI agreed, 'it is the one thing we couldn't control, isn't it?'
'You're a big help, Ryan.' On Elliot's desk was the polling data. Israel's most
respected public-opinion firm had conducted a survey of five thousand people,
and found the numbers were 38 percent in favor of the treaty, 41 percent
opposed, and 21 percent undecided. The numbers roughly matched the political
makeup of the Knesset, whose right-wing elements slightly outnumbered the left,
and whose precarious center was always fragmented into small groupings, all of
which waited for a good offer from one side or the other that would magnify
their political importance.
'Scott Adler went over this weeks ago. We knew going in that the Israeli
government was shaky. For Christ's sake, when in the last twenty years has it
not been shaky?'
'But if the Prime Minister cannot deliver . . . '
'Then it's back to Plan B. You wanted to put pressure on their government,
didn't you? You'll get your wish.' This was the one thing that hadn't been fully
considered, Ryan thought, but the truth of the matter was that full
consideration would not have helped. The Israeli government had been a model of
anarchy in action for a generation. The treaty work had gone ahead on the
assumption that, once transformed into a fait accompli, the treaty would have to
be ratified by the Knesset. Ryan had not been asked for an opinion on that,
though he still thought it a fair assessment.
'The political officer at the embassy says that the balance of power may be the
little party controlled by our friend Mendelev,' Elliot noted, trying to be
calm.
'Maybe so,' Jack allowed.
'It's absurd!' Elliot snarled. 'That little old fart hasn't even been there – '
'Some sort of religious thing. I checked. He doesn't want to go back until the
Messiah arrives.'
'Jesus!' the National Security Advisor exclaimed.
'Exactly. You got it.' Ryan laughed and got a nasty look. 'Look, Liz, the man
has his personal religious beliefs. We may think they're a little off, but the
Constitution demands that we both tolerate and respect them. That's the way we
do things in this country, remember?'
Elliot waved her fist at the TV set. 'But this crazy rabbi is screwing things
up! Isn't there anything we can do about it?'
'Like what?' Jack asked quietly. There was more to her demeanor than panic.
'I don't know – something . . .' Elliot allowed her voice to trail off, leaving
an opening for her visitor.
Ryan leaned forward and waited until he had her full attention. 'The historical
precedent you're looking for, Dr Elliot, is, "Will no one rid me of this
troublesome priest?" Now, if you're trying to tell me something, let's get it
clear and in the open, shall we? Are you proposing that we interfere with the
parliament of a friendly democratic country, or that we do something illegal
within the borders of the United States of America?' A pause while her eyes