The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

'Any congressman who bitches about this will have his career cut short,' the
Chief of Staff said confidently.
'So, it's just a matter of eliminating Israeli opposition?' Fowler went on.
'Correct, Mr President,' Talbot replied for the assembly.
'What's the best way to do that?' This Presidential question was rhetorical.
That answer was already delineated. The current Israeli government, like all
which had preceded it for a decade, was a shaky coalition of disparate
interests. The right kind of shove from Washington would bring it down. 'What
about the rest of the world?'
'The NATO countries will not be a problem. The rest of the UN will go along
grudgingly,' Elliot said, before Talbot could speak. 'So long as the Saudis play
ball on this, the Islamic world will fall into line. If Israel resists, they'll
be as alone as they have ever been.'
'I don't like putting too much pressure on them,' Ryan said.
'Dr Ryan, that's not within your purview,' Elliot said gently. A few heads moved
slightly, and a few eyes narrowed, but no one rose to Jack's defense.
'That is true, Dr Elliot,' Ryan said, after the awkward silence. 'It is also
true that too much pressure might have an effect opposite from what the
President intends. Then there is a moral dimension that needs to be considered.'
'Dr Ryan, this is all about the moral dimension,' the President said. 'The moral
dimension is simply put: there has been enough war there, and it is time to put
an end to it. Our plan is a means of doing that.'
Our plan, Ryan heard him say. Van Damm's eyes flickered for a moment, then went
still. Jack realized that he was as alone here in this room as the President
intended Israel to be. He looked down at his notes and kept his mouth shut.
Moral dimension, my ass! Jack thought angrily. This is about setting footprints
in the sands of time, and about the political advantages of being seen as The
Great Peacemaker. But it wasn't a time for cynicism, and though the plan was no
longer Ryan's, it was a worthy one.
'If we have to squeeze them, how do we go about it?' President Fowler asked
lightly. 'Nothing harsh, just to send a quiet and intelligible message.'
'There's a major shipment of aircraft spares ready to go next week. They're
replacing the radar systems on all their F-15 fighters,' Secretary of Defense
Bunker said. 'There are other things, too, but that radar system is very
important to them. It's brand-new. We're just installing it ourselves. The same
is true for the F-16's new missile system. Their air force is their crown jewel.
If we are forced to withhold that shipment for technical reasons, they'll get
the signal loud and clear.'
'Can it be done quietly?' Elliot asked.
'We can let them know that if they make noise, it won't help,' van Damm said.
'If the speech goes over well at the UN, as it should, we might be able to
obviate their congressional lobby.'
'It might be preferable to sweeten the deal by allowing them to get more arms
instead of crippling systems they already have.' That was Ryan's last toss.
Elliot slammed the door on the DDCI.
'We can't afford that.'
The Chief of Staff agreed: 'We can't possibly squeeze any more defense dollars