Executive Intent

Despite the early hour, the residence of the president in the White House was already abuzz in activity. White House Chief of Staff Walter Kordus found President Gardner in his bedroom, throwing clothes into a suitcase. “Mr. President, I told you I’d have Mrs. Line do that for you,” he said. He held up a cordless phone. “The Security Council is meeting right now, and Marcus Colby is asking about the vote. Where’s Mrs. Line?”

“The first lady is out of town, I can’t find my lightweight suit for Arizona, and Mrs. Line doesn’t know the difference between golf shoes and scuba flippers,” Gardner complained. “I sent her to get me some coffee. What’s the deal with the Security Council?”

“They’re discussing Yemen and China,” Kordus said. “The motion before them right now is about letting Russian marines set up security around Aden so China can get their men and ship out of the harbor.”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake,” Gardner swore. “Russian marines in Yemen? How many?”

“A few hundred.”

“Doesn’t sound too bad to me,” the president said distractedly, throwing clothes into the suitcase, then throwing them back on the bed. “What does Stacy say?”

“Her secure phone isn’t working in Beijing. We’re working on an alternate hookup. She might have to go to the embassy.”

“Great. Perfect.” Gardner was about to pick up another rolled-up pair of socks, then gave up and motioned for the phone.

“Marcus?” He glared at the phone. “It’s dead. Great. All the phones are on the fritz.” Kordus took the phone back, hit the “HOLD” button, and gave it back to Gardner. The president scowled at him before speaking: “Marcus?”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

“What’s going on?”

“The motion offered by the Russians is to allow Russian marines into the port of Aden to secure it,” the United Nations ambassador responded. “ China is to stop all offensive and defensive operations as soon as the Russians arrive. Russia suggests a force of five hundred marines, about half of what they bring in their carrier battle group. The U.S., Russia, China, and Yemen can send an equal number of investigators to find out who attacked the Chinese destroyer, to be led by a Chinese official, and everyone has to share information with the others and with the council. France seconded.”

“What do you think?”

“It’ll stop the Chinese from bombarding the city,” Colby said. “That’s a start.”

Gardner looked over to Kordus, who was on the house line, motioning to him. “Hold on, Marcus.” He covered the mouthpiece and nodded at Kordus. “What?”

“The vice president is in the Situation Room and wants to know if you want him to come up.”

“Doesn’t that guy ever sleep?” the president asked. He thought hard for a moment; then: “Tell him I’ll talk with him in the Oval Office before I leave.” On his phone he said, “Marcus, I’m getting ready to leave for a campaign swing out west. What’s the bottom line here?”

“Five hundred Russians on the ground in Yemen backed up by a carrier task force, together with a Chinese carrier task force, all within a few miles of each other in one of the world’s most strategic sea choke points,” Colby said. “Our closest carrier battle group is about five hundred miles east; we have components of an amphibious ready group in Djibouti, just a hundred miles away or so. The upside: China stops bombing Yemen.”

“That’s it?”

“They took us by surprise, sir.”

“That seems to be the norm around here these days,” the president muttered, directing his remark sideways at Kordus. “What’s the council looking like?”

“ China is definitely the victim here so far, sir,” Colby said. “Everyone believes it was Islamist retaliation for the Chinese attacks against the pirates in Somalia. They’re surprised and maybe dismayed at the Chinese air attacks in the city, but I think everyone will give China the benefit of the doubt as long as the attacks cease right away. The Russian ambassador is popular and seen as a neutral arbiter.”

“What’s the bottom line, Marcus?” the president asked impatiently.

“You’ll have to veto to defeat the measure, sir,” Colby said. “Everyone else except Great Britain will vote in favor, and I don’t think they will veto. You can abstain or vote no, but if it passes it’ll look bad that the measure passed without the United States ’ concurrence.”

“Swell.” The president caught Kordus looking at his watch-he had to leave right away to keep to the campaign schedule. “Okay, Marcus, go ahead and vote in favor. I’ll be airborne in thirty minutes-you can update me then.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

Gardner tossed the phone back to Kordus. “I told Marcus to vote in favor. As long as China stops their little hissy fit, I don’t care if a few Russian marines look tough in Yemen.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll brief Secretary Barbeau and Conrad on the way to Andrews. The vice president is in the Oval Office.”