Deterrence Page #6

nuclear rain all over the detonation area.

Possibly a friendly one. Exactly, ma'am.

We can also deactivate the bomb.

The problem is that, then, where

the bomb lands, it lands.

And that's like giving Hussein

a free nuclear weapon.

Sir, I'd say our only option is to

actually drop a bomb on Baghdad.

We could use our b-2s

based in Saudi.

How long to load her and put her up

in the air? On your orders, sir.

The good news is the b-2 can be recalled

at the last second if necessary.

We can strike within an hour.

This is problematic.

The b-2s we'd have to fly over Saudi

territory. We'd have to get permission.

This guy is invading their oil fields.

Of course we're gonna get permission.

There is no "of course."

I know these guys. Sharing a little

baba ghannouj at a state dinner...

Does not make you know them.

Okay. All right. We're gonna put the b-2 up.

We don't have time for protocol.

Sir, it is not a matter of protocol.

It's international law.

Understood.

Consider it an act of civil disobedience.

Get me secretary of state and,

give me a few minutes, folks.

What are you doing? Use

some common sense. Come on.

Specialty of the house.

Wow.

Thank you very much.

B*tch of a situation

you've got on your hands.

Yes. Yes, it is.

If I were you... - excuse me.

May we have a word here, please?

I'll get that. Okay. Would

you like something?

No, I'm fine. Thanks.

Mr. president, I was thinking... Gayle.

What can you tell me about admiral Miller?

Miller?

Yes.

Do you know him?

He was one of the president's nominees

for chair of the j.C.S. Two years ago.

He lost out to Lancaster.

He's been running

central command ever since then.

Southwest Asia, the middle east,

those are his territories,

but he's based in mcdill, in Florida.

The arab countries don't

want us in the Gulf area.

My guess is he's probably

feeling like a paper tiger.

Yeah, I think so.

That certainly explains

the giant chip on his shoulder.

It's a chip you need right now, sir.

Madam chairman, we just might

have to drop that weapon.

If we do...

You know, Truman debated

agonizingly before Hiroshima.

Not so much about dropping the bomb...

But whether or not to forewarn

the Japanese people.

We'd have won the war either way,

but he would have slept

better the rest of his life.

I'm determined to spare

as many lives as I can,

and I just, for the life of me,

can't imagine...

Hussein is gonna let

the city of Baghdad die.

Our strategy is to roll the dice...

That he'll comply.

With all due respect

to your Vegas metaphor, sir,

nuclear warfare is not about gambling.

It's about certainty.

Strategic certainty.

Moral certainty.

Secretary clift is on the phone.

Do I seem uncertain to you, Gayle?

Hussein, for example,

could withhold the oil from us,

or he could flood the world market.

In any case, Hussein will have the

leverage to manipulate oil prices at will,

and you can assume that...

Well, don't forget, Gerald,

in 1990, the only people smiling

were the boys at exxon and shell,

who saw gas prices and stocks...

Debra, where are you now?

I'm on my way to state.

And what are you sensing?

Well, I'm not sensing support.

Just about everybody

is demanding an audience,

and Andrea in Greece is going to defcon 1.

Defcon 1 has got to be the limit. It

cannot escalate one inch beyond that.

Understood.

Okay, I'm gonna,

issue an executive order

freezing all Kuwaiti assets.

Marsh, we need to get

on with treasury. Yeah.

Or is it the a.G.? No,

I think it's treasury.

Yeah. Okay. All right. It's treasury.

The oil lobby is gonna go ape-sh*t.

Yeah, I know,

but get on with Nichols anyways

and get that rolling on the stat.

I'm sure he can work off

my verbal directive for now.

Debra, you need to get on with any other

foreign nation that'll do the same.

We need to freeze those assets

before udei can get to them.

Got it. Okay, and I need gestaing.

My guess is that he'll follow the French

pattern of denying us use of their airspace.

Give me some time. I think

I can make his squares.

No, forget that, okay? What I

need is to speak with gestaing.

Very well.

As you will.

What has been much louder... this is

coming from the congressional side...

Is what several members

of the white house...

Excuse me, several members of the house...

Are calling a deliberate

violation of the war powers act.

Well, update us on that.

Sir, it's the oval office,

line two, Mr. Omari.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Mr. president,

this is inappropriate.

You should not negotiate with an

emissary from another head of state.

You should leave that to Gayle or myself.

Absolutely.

Normally, yes. Duly noted,

but I need to do this.

- On the record.

- Record.

Mr. Omari?

It's Alice, sir. I have Mr. Omari.

He's with a translator. Go ahead.

Mr. Omari,

this is the president.

I call you on a matter of grave concern

to my government, Mr. Emerson.

Yes, this is very grave.

Your announcement has created

havoc in our streets.

Our hospitals are flooded with young

children, the victims of stampedes.

I request of you

a taking back of your comment.

- Mr.

- Thompson, sir... Give us one second, please.

What is it?

Forgive me, Mr. president, but,

this man isn't translating

correctly for you, sir.

What do you mean? Well,

it's a lot of things.

They're small things, but they could

add up to something big. Like?

He said, "I request of you,"

when what I heard this Omari

really say is, "I demand of you."

He's got a tone in his voice, sir.

So you speak arabic?

Yes, sir.

I'm U.S. army, retired, m.I.

- I was a decryptor in desert storm, sir.

- Is that right?

Yes, sir. Yes, it is. All right.

Well, then, welcome aboard.

You're our translator.

What's your name?

I'm special agent Dexter, sir.

I'm in charge of your domestic

traveling detail. Sh*t!

I should know that. I'm sorry.

Please, sit down.

Excuse me, special agent. I just want you

to know, sir, that this is not prudent.

There's a special training that

goes along with this line of work.

Naturally. There isn't time for that.

I just want you to know that.

I appreciate it. Okay. You're welcome.

Listen carefully, speak

carefully, obviously,

and, do your best.

I will, sir.

Okay.

Okay, and all set?

Ready.

Everyone ready?

Go. Mr. Omari, I now have a translator.

We're ready when you are.

Mr. Emerson, your threats

are the most barbaric act...

Ever perpetuated against our

nation... peace-loving nation.

I believe your people

to be peace-loving.

Your leader, however, is clearly

in violation of u.N. Resolutions.

Our satellites have detected launch pads

for biological and chemical weapons...

In rabat and other locations...

Weapons which are outlawed

by u.N. Resolutions number...

I suggest that you reexamine your...

He sounds angry now, sir.

Belligerent.

We will not stand for your accusations.

Are you denying the existence of

chemical and biological weapons?

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