Oil? Was it all about oil? The Russians were selling oil to everyone now and at prices that were unthinkable before it all began. A nation could become incredibly wealthy selling oil at a time like this — a likely motive. They had been building up their oil business for many years. What if they had been planning this for a decade? That would account for a lot of the events falling so well into place.
Iran ran the nuke test and that was the beginning. Kuznetsov and Vissarionovich began making back room deals at the UN a day or so later. They had approached Landenberger and told him that they were speaking “double speak” and that you could not believe a word they said in public — that they were secretly going to cut off the Iranians. They announced that they would begin doing “favors” and forming new alliances. They laid it all out right there at the UN. How could I be so blind not to see it? They came right out with it; things were going to be different — very different. No one could have imagined the forces they would set in motion. They had the Venezuelans already primed for their part of the plan.
Yes — there was a cadence to it all right.
The Somalia operation began the very same week — clockwork and precision. The drum was beating. They had a hundred thousand troops on the ground in a week and brought out their best military mind, General Dimochka to pull it off. They had to be planning that far in advance. What a coincidence that the Somali pirates could not be found. They simply vanished and then pop up a couple weeks later armed with a new bag of tricks and pull off the biggest coup in modern history.
And who was selected to pull off the tanker and hostage crisis? Admiral Mahdi, the pirate who hated the Iranians. He was the one man in the entire world who could pull it off with such precision — the son of a fisherman. That was no coincidence.
The airliner filled with Iranians with the USS George H.W. Bush. as the target — it was a masterful stroke of diversion that brought heated tensions from both sides. While everyone was focused upon it, the Russians were operating behind the scenes with the final details with their back room deals.
It was a beautiful setup. Others did the dirty work and they simply sat around as mystified as everyone else with all that was occurring.
Were they evil? Some would say so. They were acting in their best interests as every country does. Who is to say that the US would not have done the same thing under the same circumstances? The world needed a makeover. Why not shape it to your best advantage? Iran had to be eliminated. It was too radical and was becoming more dangerous with each passing moment. The Russians drew a line in the sand — nukes would not be tolerated. The oil deliveries would come to a dead halt and there would be a scramble to fill the gap. The Russians filled it, and suddenly Iran wasn’t important to anyone. They could be written off. “Good riddance” most would say.
He glanced at the TV. Kuznetsov and Vissarionovich were leading the motorcade through Red Square. Lenin’s Mausoleum, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Kazan Cathedral and the famous Liberian Gate and Chapel stood in the background as the bands marched by. Kusnetsov was holding a phone to his ear while he waved at the cheering crowds.
Robinson answered his BlackBerry. He recognized the familiar voice of the Russian President. “Hello Robinson. I called to say that we should get together in the next day or so.”
“I would like that.”
“There are delicate things that we should discuss — things that cannot be mentioned on a phone.”
“I understand.”
“Iranians will lash out in every direction and attempt to vacate their lands. They need a new country. They will begin with Turkey and our troops are arriving to defend the border as we speak. When they see that they cannot have Turkey they will turn to Iraq. It is the second weakest border. They will be like water seeking weakness for their escape. This is an opportunity to contain them as never before. Whether your country wishes to do this is another matter. The alternative is to allow them to raid the borders and overrun the Middle East. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I see that time will not wait. I will call him immediately and I will ask that he reach a decision and that we work together as you suggest.”
“I hoped you would understand the gravity of this suggestion.”
“I assure you that I do. Look for a call within the hour.”
Robinson was alarmed. He pulled out his laptop and brought up a map of the Middle East. “My God — we must act now!”
Turner turned off the sound to the record player. “What?”
“The Russians are behind the whole thing and the Iranians are going to raid the borders of Turkey and Iraq!” He knew it made little sense after he said it.
“That sounds pretty serious.”
“I’ve got to call the president NOW!”
He speed dialed the president and listened to it ring.
Chapter Thirty-six
A trio of F-14 Tomcats raced mach .8 over the shore of Oman and made a ninety-degree turn then headed out across the Arabian Sea. Unidentified aircraft had been trespassing twenty km off the shore and it was their mission to confirm and destroy.
“Bluebird has a visual,” said the captain. “I see a squadron of helicopters that look like bats out of hell. It appears that they are covered with… oil.”
“This is the third group today. They are Iranian military. Confirm if they are Sikorsky Sea Kings”
“We will take another look and report shortly.”
The Tomcats did a 360 around the helicopters. “Confirmed — Sikorsky Sea Kings.”
“Destroy the targets.”
“Affirmative.”
The trio swept over the squadron and opened fire with outdated M61-Vulcan 20 mm. Sometimes the Gatling guns jammed from overheating — today they worked without any problem. The choppers burst into flame and dropped into the sea.
“Targets destroyed.”
“More hostiles 120 km northwest of your position.”
He smiled.
It was going to be a busy day.
Landenberger set down the pistol and picked up the phone. He was busy trying to figure out why it hadn’t fired when the call came in. He listened to Robinson.
“Mr. President — the Russians are behind it all!”
“Behind what?”
“Everything that has happened in the last month was probably planned many years ago — the hostage crisis was not your fault. There was nothing anyone could have done…”
Robinson talked for an hour and ran all the details by him including the Turkey and Iraqi decision that had to be made immediately.
“Good God, Robinson — it is little wonder they call you the Watchdogg!” He tossed the pistol in the drawer, then crumpled up the scribbled note and tossed it into the wastebasket. “I want you to get here as soon as you can. We’ve got a ton of work to do.” He set down the phone and pressed the intercom button. “Get the Cabinet members in here ASAP. We have a crisis on our hands!”
While the members were rushing into the room he called the Pentagon. “Get our brass together. I’m coming over there in thirty minutes. We need a strategy for dealing with the Iranians.” He had made the decision, but needed to run it by the Cabinet members.
“I’ve been talking to Watchdogg and he has brought to my attention that we have the Iranians by the throat and we have an unprecedented opportunity to eliminate the source of the terrorist threat for all time. We may anticipate that Iranian lands are uninhabitable and that they will use every means necessary to spill across the border and into the Middle East.