“I agree,” said Lantini. Palmer nodded also.
“Is there any way to negotiate our way out of this thing?” Davis said, turning to Secretary Fleagles.
“Sir, I think we’ve already been out-negotiated. If they’ve got four divisions’ worth of equipment moving into Manila Bay, in my opinion they’ve already attacked. They did this whole thing behind our backs, lying to us every step of the way,” Fleagles said.
“Still, why can’t we just call up the prime minister and tell him not to attack?” the president asked.
“Once again, sir, the Japanese do not appear to be concerned with our response. Mizuzawa wouldn’t even see me when I flew out there, so I came straight back. I think they truly believe we will not respond—”
“Then we must make them continue to believe it,” Meredith said.
“Right,” said Fleagles, unsure of how to treat Meredith. “If we’re gonna fight this thing, we need to make up our minds. I’ll go negotiate, but they’ve been bullshittin’ us for a couple of years, and as far as I’m concerned, that constitutes breaking diplomatic relations. In effect, sir, they declared war on us when they developed this plan of theirs.”
“This thing has the potential to get way out of hand,” the president said. “They need to know that I will do whatever is right for the American people, even if that means waiting to deal with Iraq. Okay? That’s the plan then. We wait for their attack on the Philippines to commence, then we sink the six ships in the water as we launch our forces. I assume we’ve still got the carrier group moving to Korea.”
“Yes, sir,” Stone responded. “I’ve got a team working up an assessment of the impact this will have on the Iraq time line also.”
“That’s fine, but if we get locked down here, I want to do it right,” Davis said.
Meredith cocked her head. Good move, she thought. It was clear guidance.
A military aide stuck his head in the door and said, “Sir, the Japanese ambassador is here to see you. He’s waiting outside the Oval Office.”
President Davis looked at the gathering and declared, “Showtime.”
He walked past Meredith, caught a whiff of her perfume and wondered if Stone was getting any yet.
Chapter 74
Kaitachi was waiting for the president in the anteroom to the Oval Office. He shook hands with the Japanese diplomat and placed an arm around him as they walked in.
“Good afternoon, my fine Japanese friend,” the president said.
“Good afternoon, Mr. President,” Kaitachi responded with a slight bow.
They walked into the Oval Office. The military aide closed the doors behind them. The president walked to a window and looked at the Washington Monument. The cherry blossoms were in full splendor around the tidal basin. It was a beautiful, tranquil sight. The trees were a gift in 1912 from the Japanese ambassador’s wife, Davis recalled. What other gifts are they bearing today?
“I’ve considered your plea for a response from us,” the president said.
“Oh?” Kaitachi said, sounding surprised.
The president shot his eyes to the side, measuring the inflection in the ambassador’s voice.
“Yes,” he said, turning and looking at the old man. “We will send a carrier battle group off the coast of Korea and warn them against any aggression.”
“That is not necessary,” Kaitachi said, backtracking. “We were only hoping for satellite assistance in observing the region.”
“Well, why didn’t you say so? Now I’ve moved an entire carrier group over there.”
“You are free to call them back, sir. My intentions were not to have you send forces, simply provide us intelligence in keeping with the spirit of our alliance,” Kaitachi said.
I bet that’s all you wanted. He’s smooth. Very smooth.
“Whatever you say, but it may take some time to get them turned around. How do you guys feel about this situation in the Philippines?” he asked. The president grabbed a handful of peanuts from a bowl on his desk and popped them into his mouth.
“We are still concerned, but now believe that we can handle the threat in a regional sense,” Kaitachi said.
“What do you mean?” Davis asked, interested. Could this be it? Are they finally going to come clean?
“Through statecraft, we can ensure our sea-lanes are not intercepted. We do not believe the Muslim insurgents, the Abu Sayyaf, will be a large threat to the region, as Bin Laden is to the world. Though we will watch. If it is more of an internal revolution that may, in the long run, improve the condition of the average Filipino, then, naturally, we support such improvement. But the primary reason I am here is to relay to you that my prime minister is very satisfied with your leadership in this crisis.”
I bet, you sneaky son of a bitch.
“Well, thank you. Send my regards to Prime Minister Mizuzawa.”
“I shall.”
“Oh, by the way. My condolences on the death of your emperor. He was a good man,” the president said sincerely. He had known Emperor Shigazawa to be a kind and caring person.
“Thank you. I will pass your remarks on to the prime minister.”
President Davis watched Ambassador Kaitachi leave his office, knowing full well that the diplomat was lying. He wanted to stop him and tell him that they knew everything, but that would have been a mistake.
Davis felt confident for the first time in days. He finally had the upper hand.
The president, still seated in his office, was wondering if they might be able to let Japan attack the Philippines, then counter with American force, eschewing the United Nations initially. After which, they could petition the UN for a peacekeeping force and mandatory trade concessions that would regulate trade imbalances. The key was forcing Japan into the “Hitler” aggressor role as America had rightly done, and was doing, with Saddam Hussein. That shouldn’t be too hard.
President Davis jotted a note on White House stationery, then called his press aide and gave him some instructions regarding packaging his speech to the American people, the one that would inform the world of impending American action in the Philippines.
Not against the Islamic insurgents, but against Japan.
He picked up a remote and turned on the television, flipping through the channels rather quickly, then stopping and backing up. Then forward again. He recognized someone. There it was.
Kaitachi was on television. The president noticed the small c-span symbol in the corner of the screen. Kaitachi was briefing the General Assembly of the United Nations. He raised the volume and listened as the interpreter spoke after Kaitachi talked in his native tongue. The ambassador must have taken the Japanese diplomatic jet to LaGuardia. Door to door from DC to the UN was less than two hours with the efficient transportation that a head of state or ambassador typically commanded.
“I have just received word from Prime Minister Mizuzawa that I am to address the body today concerning the revolution in the Philippines. Also, I briefed the president of the United States this morning on my remarks today.”
What the hell is he talking about! The president sat forward in his chair, pressed an intercom button, and screamed into the receiver, “Dave, get in here, now!” The National Security Advisor came running into the oval office and saw the president watching C-SPAN.