“Good afternoon, Madame President,” Serick said. He nodded at the other members of the president’s National Security Advisors Group and sat down next to Sam Kennett, the vice president. He nodded at Bender and Mazie. As usual, the director of central intelligence did not even look up to acknowledge his presence and Richard Parrish, Turner’s chief of staff, was sitting against the back wall.
Turner gave Bender a little half smile. “Well, Robert, I believe your security-aid proposal has ruffled some feathers.”
“I must apologize,” Serick said. “I haven’t had a chance to review it.” He muttered something about “the press of other business.”
Turner enjoyed watching Serick squirm. “Robert, can you summarize the high points?”
“Basically, it’s a two-part package. We provide the Poles with the ability to create an FBI-type organization. Second, through the Defense Security Assistance Agency and the NATO connection, we upgrade the Polish Air Force.”
Serick grumped. “And the desired results?”
“The goal,” Bender explained, “is to give the Poles the capability to combat organized crime and to control their own airspace.”
“The first I understand,” Serick said. “But why the concern over the control of airspace?”
“Because the Russian Mafiya leapfrogs at will around and through Poland using air transport. It’s a fast, efficient way to move drugs and people and it avoids ground interdiction. You can’t arrest them unless you get your hands on them.”
Serick stood up and stomped around the room. “This is too simple and ill conceived. Besides, I am more concerned with what the Germans are doing.”
“I haven’t seen any recent intelligence in the ‘President’s Daily Brief’ about that,” Turner said.
The DCI coughed for attention. “We received a report this morning about a high-level meeting in Saint Petersburg between Mikhail Vashin and a group of foreign bankers. The Germans invited Vashin to a follow-up meeting with Chancellor Gunder. My analysts think they’re reconciling areas of conflict.”
Mazie was worried. “Are we seeing a new alliance?”
Turner rocked gently in her chair as the discussion went around the room. As always, Serick was at his best when playing balance-of-power diplomacy but this time, something felt wrong, out of kilter. She interrupted them. “What do we need to implement Robert’s proposal?” It was her way of telling them she had made a decision.
“We already have the funding,” Kennett said.
Serick muttered, “By what stretch of the imagination?”
“Discretionary funding in the Omnibus Crime Bill and under Foreign Military Sales to NATO,” Kennett replied.
“I’ll need two project officers to manage the programs,” Bender added. “Someone from DOJ and Defense.”
Serick’s face turned three shades of mottled red. He was losing control. “Madame President, I must protest. An embassy is an extension of your diplomatic arm, not an action agency.”
“Does the CIA concur with that statement?” Mazie asked sweetly, looking directly at the DCI. He tried to become invisible and not answer the question. As it did in many countries, the CIA maintained a formidable presence in Warsaw and the entire third floor of the United States embassy was occupied by the CIA.
Turner stood and walked to the front of her desk. The meeting was almost over. “Robert, work with Richard. He’ll get whoever you need from DOJ and Defense. Stephan, please keep Mazie informed from now on so we can react in a timely manner. Any questions?” There weren’t any and they all stood to leave. “Robert, please stay a moment.”
Serick led the way out, stamping his cane in frustration. A major policy decision had been shoved down his throat.
“There goes one angry man,” Richard Parrish said.
“He’ll get over it,” Turner replied. “Robert, are you familiar with the latest ‘Quadrennial Defense Review’?”
“I helped write it.”
“Please tell me exactly what it means?”
Bender took a deep breath. “Essentially it’s a question of readiness. Contrary to the official line, combat readiness is going down at an alarming rate. Our current state of readiness is at the lowest it’s been since before the Korean War in 1950.”
“But the secretary of defense tells me we are at an all time high. I haven’t heard a single general speak out in disagreement. Least of all, you.”
“The secretary of defense is telling you what he thinks you want to hear. I was the vice chief of staff of the Air Force and owed my loyalty to the chief of staff who, in turn, owed his loyalty to the chairman of the JCS. We’ve had some frank, even brutal, discussions about readiness. But when all is said and the decision made, we speak as one voice. As a subordinate officer, I could not contradict the JCS.”
“But you are now.”
“I’m no longer in that chain of command and you asked me a direct question.”
“If I had appointed you chairman of the JCS, would you have gone against the secretary of defense?”
“Absolutely. Or I would have resigned if he didn’t let me tell you the—” He stopped in midsentence. He had almost said “tell you the truth.”
Clearly upset, Turner paced back and forth. “Our poor state of readiness, is it a question of money?”
“Partially, but not totally.”
“What are the most critical issues I need to know?”
“Speaking just for the Air Force, three come to mind. First, strategic airlift is broken. We need to double the size of the C-17 fleet and supplement it with an equal number of tactical cargo planes similar to the C-130. Then we need to take a hard look at long-range aviation.” He paused, searching for the right words.
“And the third issue?”
He bit the bullet. “Madame President, women are in the military to stay but—” His voice trailed off.
“Go on.”
“We need to reevaluate their role in combat before it’s too late.”
Bender and Parrish braced for her explosion. But it didn’t come. Instead, a very quiet “Why?”
“We’ve got problems integrating women into combat specialities. Because of the political climate, a commander will be crucified if he, or she, even suggests there might be something wrong. How can we solve a problem we can’t talk about?”
She steepled her fingers and looked at the painting of Thomas Jefferson over the fireplace. Her silence was actually very brief but seemed to last a lifetime. “Well, I did ask the question.” Again, silence. Then, “Robert, we’re having a dinner party next week. Can you and Nancy make it?”
“We’d be delighted, Madame President.”
“Always so formal. Will it ever be Maddy?”
“Please forgive me, Madame President. It’s just my nature.”
Turner smiled. “Then until next week.” She settled into her chair and watched him leave. “My unbending Bender,” she murmured.
Dennis came through the door for the day’s wrap-up. “Senator Leland is stirring the pot again.”
“I wish that man would go away,” Turner muttered. “What’s he up to now?”
“He’s filed a congressional inquiry with the Pentagon and the FAA on behalf of Mr. Daniel Beason. It involves the death of his son in an air-show accident.”
“Leland and Beason in the same bed is bad news,” Parrish said.
Turner frowned. “Any fallout for us?”
“There shouldn’t be,” Parrish answered. “But I’ll check into it.”
“Don’t. Let the system handle it. Leland will see any interest on our part as interference.” She spun around in her chair and gazed out the window. The sun was setting and the President’s Park was encased in long shadows. “Dennis, I’ve invited Robert and his wife to the party next week. Please take care of it.” She turned around. “And I want to invite Gen. Matthew Pontowski to sit at my table.”