Choosers of the Slain

23

"Bullshit, sir!"

Harrison Van Lynden's words exploded within the Argentine President's office like a hand grenade.

"The proposition that your aircraft were acting in their own self-defense deserves no politer terminology."

"I do not enjoy being called a liar, Mr. Secretary," Sparza replied stonily from behind his desk.

"I do not enjoy calling a national leader and statesman of your caliber a liar, Mr. President. Could it be possible that your own military command has failed to fully inform you of the reality of this situation?"

"On the contrary, Mr. Secretary. I am quite aware of what has occurred off our coasts, and I completely stand behind the press release issued by our Ministry of Defense. Allow me to quote…" Sparza lifted a sheet of paper from his desktop and read aloud from it: " 'Realizing that the United States vessel was taking hostile action against them, the flight leader ordered his aircraft to open fire.'

"Those are the facts, Mr. Secretary."

Van Lynden's voice was controlled as he replied. "I have been informed by our own Department of Defense that a complete data download of the attack has been received from the USS Cunningham's Aegis computers. Analysis of that data will show that your warplanes and not our ship initiated aggressive action. The Cunningham did not return fire until she was fired upon and was in imminent danger of being sunk."

Sparza let the press release flutter back to the desktop.

"Perhaps we have a problem in semantics here. Our pilots did indeed see your ship conducting hostile acts against them. They are Argentine, and your ship has been interfering with Argentina's lawful freedom of the seas. This is clearly an act of aggression against their homeland; thus their actions were taken in defense."

"You might be able to sell that particular brand of sophistry to your own people, but the United States government isn't buying. I must warn you, President Sparza, that you have greatly escalated an already serious situation. My government will not accept having its ships fired upon and its sailors endangered!"

"Then withdraw your ships from waters where they do not belong! It was the United States that triggered this escalation with its reckless and unlawful blockade of the San Martin Peninsula!"

Sparza caught himself. Taking a deep breath, he cooled his temper. Van Lynden grimly waited for him to continue.

"Mr. Secretary," the Argentine finally said. "This kind of shouting match is as futile as the clash between our armed forces. This is a matter best dealt with by open and honorable negotiations among all of the involved nations. Argentina desires this above all else. Can we not put aside this childishness and proceed along more constructive paths?"

"The United States would welcome open and honorable negotiations, if they were in fact 'open and honorable.' However, we are aware of your plan to sow discord among the Antarctic Treaty states, and of the scenario by which you intend to seize power in Antarctica. It won't work, Mr. President."

Van Lynden rose from his chair and picked up his briefcase. "I have been in communication with my President. He wishes me to inform you that he condemns the Argentine attack on our vessel in the strongest possible terms. He also wishes me to inform you that he is authorizing the captain of the Cunningham to utilize whatever force is necessary to defend her ship and to maintain the blockade.

"Good day, sir!"