“How does that system work for you?”
“I’m new at this, but it seems to work just fine, every day.”
“It doesn’t seem to be working fine now, does it?” Martindale commented. “And it didn’t work in Egypt, or Libya, or Kosovo, or Russia. It seems like Thorn’s foreign policy is a hopeless mess.”
“That’s not an accurate characterization at all.”
“So I’ll rephrase my question, Maureen: What are you doing about the Turkmen situation?”
“I’m in daily contact with the foreign minister from Turkmenistan and delegates from the United Nations,” she replied. “We are also in contact with representatives of all the other parties involved, including the Taliban, who are represented by the Saudi Arabian embassy.”
“And?”
“And we’re trying to get an official sense of exactly what the different factions have in mind before we issue a policy statement to the American people,” Hershel replied. “The president believes in carefully studying a situation; getting official, nonofficial, and intelligence information; and reaching a consensus with his advisers before making a decision.”
“Sounds like a fancy way of saying Thorn’s not sure what he wants to do and he’s stalling for time.”
“Again I disagree with your characterization.” She paused, then asked, “If I may ask, sir, what’s your opinion regarding this matter?”
“I believe the United States is the greatest nation on earth and the protector of liberty, freedom, justice, and democracy for the rest of the world,” Martindale said. “I also believe in concepts as simple as ‘a deal’s a deal.’ If Gurizev thinks he can hand over control of eight billion dollars of American pipe and petroleum infrastructure to the Russians, or if these Taliban insurgents think they can disguise their invasion of Turkmenistan as a fight for freedom and take American pipelines, they’re seriously mistaken.”
“First of all, Kevin, the Americans don’t own those pipelines — the people of Turkmenistan own them,” Hershel said. She held up a folder that had been sitting on the table beside her. “TransCal takes forty percent of all the income they earn from crude, refined products, flowage, duties, transshipment, storage, and even futures, for the next fifty years, in exchange for the cost of building and maintaining that system. A pretty sweet deal. According to the IRS, they’ve already recouped half their investment in Turkmenistan’s oil industry in just three years, and by the looks of it they’ll move into the black in less than two years.”
“And I’d like to make sure they have a chance to make it there,” Martindale said.
“With the help of the U.S. military,” Hershel said.
“Like you said, Maureen, the military is an important extension of foreign policy.”
“May I ask you, Kevin, if the CEO of TransCal Petroleum, William Hitchcock, has decided to spearhead your reelection campaign?”
“Bill Hitchcock and I are old friends. He’s a successful businessman and strategist, and he’s supported me and the party for years,” Martindale said. “If he offered, I would consider myself lucky to have him in my corner, in a variety of capacities. But I’m not here discussing Turkmenistan because TransCal’s pipelines are in great jeopardy — although they are. I’m here because intervening on their behalf is the right thing to do. The military is supposed to protect the American people.”
“The people, yes — not their bank accounts.”
Martindale just stared at Maureen without commenting.
“Speaking for myself, Kevin, I don’t see that many differences between my opinion of President Thorn and your position. President Thorn wants justice and freedom, too, but he doesn’t believe in using the military in every conflict, especially overseas. What do you think you’d be doing right now?”
“I certainly can’t speculate on that, because I don’t have access to the information you have.” He saw Hershel smile. It was well known that Martindale kept himself actively involved in foreign affairs, even to the point of supporting a quasi-mercenary group known as the Night Stalkers to perform clandestine paramilitary operations all over the world. “But I think I’d be taking a much more active leadership role — conferring closely with allies, sending high-ranking officials to Turkmenistan to talk face-to-face with those involved, and speaking more openly and forcefully on the subject to the American people at every opportunity. I think President Thorn has his work cut out for himself just winning back some allies. He’s done practically everything possible to destroy our alliance structure.”
“So you think I should be on the plane right now to Turkmenistan?”
“I think if President Thorn cared at all about American business and American prestige overseas, not to mention the faith and trust the American people have in him and his government, he should have put you on a plane to Turkmenistan last month.”
Hershel nodded, then turned and called, “Isadora?”
A moment later a tall, dark-haired woman appeared, dressed in a business outfit every bit as nice as Maureen’s. Martindale leaped to his feet as if propelled by a hydraulic lift — he couldn’t take his eyes off the woman.
“Mr. Martindale, may I present Assistant Deputy Secretary of State Isadora Meiling. Izzy, this is Kevin H. Martindale.” He aimed his People magazine smile at her, drinking in her deep, dark eyes. “Let’s get authorization and clearance for that SAM flight to Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan, right away.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She favored Martindale with a mind-blowing smile and hurried off.
As mesmerized as Martindale was, his attention was drawn away by the shock of Hershel’s order. “You… you’re going to Turkmenistan? Now?”
“Right now.”
“What about your preparation? Don’t you have security arrangements to make, briefings to organize, meetings to set up with foreign office officials, communiqués to the embassies, coordination of agreements and position papers…?”
“The planning for this trip was already in the works,” Hershel said. “I’m sure we’ll overnight in Washington, maybe meet with the director of Central Intelligence and get the latest situation reports. That’ll give the staff a day or two to organize. But it’s a long flight to Turkmenistan. I imagine we’ll be busy the entire way.”
“What about your appearances scheduled for the West Coast?”
“I think this is much more important, don’t you?” Hershel asked sincerely, watching Martindale carefully.
Martindale did not—could not — answer. He would never pass up any large political rallies or appearances, especially with major West Coast media involved, in favor of going to a shithole like Turkmenistan with virtually no press and the possibility of considerable personal danger involved. But if he said it wasn’t important, he would be contradicting himself.
He didn’t need to answer. Maureen Hershel could see the dilemma in his face. Instead of replying, he asked, “How do you know the Turkmen government will even allow you into the country?”
“You’re right. They might not like a State Department official poking her nose into their backroom dealing.” She looked over at Martindale. “But there’s one way to entice them to agree to see us.”
“What’s that? Offer them financial assistance?”
“Even better than that — I should bring you along. Would you like to accompany us, Kevin?”
“Me? Go to Turkmenistan with you? Now?”