Dancing with the Dragon

Chapter 22

Jackie opened her eyes and looked at the alarm clock on the night-stand. She crawled out of bed and gently pulled the curtain open to gaze at Waikiki Beach. The blue sky, clear emerald water, and soft trade winds promised another beautiful day in paradise. Jackie called room service to order coffee and orange juice, and then she turned on the television and selected a cable news station.

Feeling a bit groggy, Scott slowly sat up in bed and turned to look at the clock. "Eight-thirty?" he asked himself, and looked at Jackie. "What happened?"

She quietly chuckled. "We went to a luau at the Royal Hawaiian, made absolute fools of ourselves — at least you did — trying to do the hula, went out dancing until one-thirty, had way too many mai tais, and then walked barefoot on the beach for another hour." She tilted her head and smiled serenely. "That's what happened."

He started to respond and then caught the "Breaking News" logo on the television screen. "Turn up the volume."

The anchor looked up and faced the camera. "This just coming in to CNN — we have breaking news on several fronts — please bear with us. According to a senior White House spokesman, President Macklin is meeting at this hour with key members of his cabinet and high-level national security officials.

"Sources close to the president have told CNN that the purpose of the meeting is to consider the overall U.S. strategy in dealing with the ongoing confrontations with the Red Chinese military and their communist leaders in Beijing. We hope to have news from the White House in a few minutes."

The anchor shuffled his sheets of paper. "To recap the shocking events of the past few hours, we turn to Barry Pulaski at the Pentagon."

"Randall, we're receiving further reports of casualties from this morning's battle at the Panama Canal."

"Battle?" Scott sat straight up in bed. "What battle?"

"I don't know." Jackie was transfixed on the television screen. "The Panama Canal issue obviously erupted in the last few hours."

Pulaski continued at a rapid pace. "There have been several conflicting accounts on the number of Americans injured, but the latest information we have indicates that at least two hundred Marines have been wounded. The current list of casualties stands at thirty-seven."

Interspersed with live coverage from Panama and scenes videotaped during the intense battle, the reporter recapped the sequence of events during the bloody clash and then tossed it back to the anchor.

For ten minutes, Scott and Jackie quietly absorbed the details of the deadly skirmish with the Chinese.

"We have just been informed that President Macklin will address the country in approximately one hour. Please stay with us for continuing coverage of the crisis with China."

A financial planning commercial flashed on the screen. "I'm afraid this is only the beginning," Scott said.

The room service waiter knocked on the door.

"Newton's third law of motion," Jackie said, and then walked to the door. "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."

"Yeah, it's going to be a hot time in Beijing tonight."

President Cord Macklin, surrounded by his closest advisers on military matters and foreign policy, listened intently as each person expressed an opinion or suggested options for dealing with the brutal communist regime in Beijing.

The cabinet room was quiet when Macklin finally called a halt to the discussions. Everyone sensed the president was about to take bold initiatives, but no one could have anticipated what the commander in chief was about to say.

Immaculate in a dark gray suit, white shirt, and red tie, Macklin spoke in a steady, even voice. "I would have to agree with most of the views expressed here this afternoon. However, in my judgment, China has committed another act of war and we have responded accordingly."

Although his neck was red from the anger he felt, the president suppressed his emotions. "China has steadily become a more threatening adversary over the last decade, and their military will be a formidable world power in another ten to twelve years, perhaps sooner with the nuclear and laser-weapon technology they have acquired. Knowing their current capability and projecting what their future military capabilities will be, I have decided to deal with them now."

All eyes were riveted on the president.

"After the accidental bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, our already fragile relationship with Beijing started over in a deep freeze. Then we had the spy-plane incident that jacked the rhetoric back up. We have tried gradualism, a world of patience, quiet diplomacy — everything in the book — with virtually no success. Even the vaunted trade agreement hasn't thawed our relationship with Beijing."

He paused and then spoke more slowly. "Their denial of human rights and religious freedom isn't going to get any better. We need to be mindful of the literature of the Red Chinese military and the Chinese Communist Party. To this very day, they still refer to the United States of America as 'the main enemy.'"

The expression on Macklin's face was grim. "We know the dictators in Beijing are nothing more than thugs dressed in business suits. It's a foregone conclusion. The communist tyrants aren't going to voluntarily change from a system of brutal, repressive government to a democratic form of government. It just isn't going to happen — they're not going to give away their power."

Macklin looked at each of his advisers. "We no longer have the luxury of time on our side. As each day passes, the Red Chinese are adding to their nuclear capabilities. We have to deal with that fact and stop trying to coddle the bastards in Beijing. The only things they respond to are bluntness and brute force."

He paused a moment to collect his thoughts. "Let's not forget the explosive matter of Taiwan. A Chinese invasion of Taiwan would make Kosovo and the Middle East look like a tea party. The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act commits us to defend Taiwan against an attack from the mainland. I fully intend to honor that commitment and I want Beijing to think long and hard about our obligation — and the absolute power of our armed forces."

Macklin looked at his briefing notes. "Having voiced my opinion on Chinese leadership, the real crux of this matter is Beijing's overt attack on our military aircraft with laser weapons, SAMs, and antiaircraft fire. The weapons experts have no doubt about what happened to the RC-7 reconnaissance plane."

The president reached for his reading glasses. "It was ditched in shallow water and has been raised. According to the experts, the plane was definitely hit by a surface-to-air missile — probably a Soviet-built shoulder-fired weapon."

"You have to wonder what the hell the Chinese were thinking," Pete Adair said lightly.

"You know what they were thinking," the president said, slamming his fist on the table. "It couldn't be more crystal clear!" Silence prevailed while Macklin schooled himself.

"Since Beijing regained control of Hong Kong, almost every aspect of that world-class city has deteriorated or become corrupted. They gained control of the Panama Canal and look what happened. Hell, they're sitting in our backyard, literally nine hundred miles from the U.S. border, with control over a vital choke point between the Atlantic and the Pacific.

"Let me rephrase that statement. The Chinese will not have control over the canal anymore. We have taken control of the canal, and the matter isn't open for discussion. We'll work with the Panamanian government to reach an agreement that works for both our countries. I will give President Liu Fan-ding one month to get the remainder of his communist storm troops out of Panama."

The other men and women in the cabinet room looked at each other with wide-eyed expressions.

"For the reasons I have previously mentioned, I'm going to take a vigorous approach with China and stop tiptoeing around the elephant in the living room. I'm going to send Beijing a very straightforward message. If we are provoked, the United States of America will strike back swiftly and with devastating results."

Macklin noted with great pleasure that Hartwell Prost had discreetly nodded his head.

"Simply put, ladies and gentlemen, I have chosen this time in our history, and this set of circumstances, to take a hard stand against the Red Chinese. If anyone in this room has a problem with my position on China, speak now and don't hold anything back."

Silence filled the room.

The president turned to Brett Shannon, his Yale-educated, bespectacled secretary of state. "Brett, I know you just returned from Beijing, but I want our remaining State Department people out of there as quickly as possible."

"Yes, sir."

"And I want all U.S. citizens living in China to be notified immediately that it would be in their best interest to leave China as soon as possible."

"I will make the arrangements directly after we adjourn." Dressed as usual in a suit that was a size too large for him, Shannon looked bone tired and somewhat irritable. "I need to brief our friends and alliance partners in that region to make sure we're on the same page."

"Another thing," Hartwell Prost said. "We need bipartisan support from Congress and the American people. Mr. President, you will have to make the case to the citizens of our country. If the people are with you, Congress will follow."

"Let's see if our distinguished congressional leadership will invite me to a special joint session."

Prost shook his head. "In my view, sir, that would be too formal, as if we're looking for a fight or are ready to declare war."

"What do you suggest?"

"The Oval Office. It's the setting most Americans relate to, and you're the only person they'll see. You'll have a captive audience without distractions from cameras panning around a roomful of celebrities — each vying to get their mug on television."

"That makes sense."

"And I recommend a private meeting with key members of Congress, before the telecast, of course. We have to be forthright and honest with the American people, and we have to be willing to listen to both sides of the aisle in Congress. That means keeping the leaders of both houses and every American informed about every step we take."

"I concur. If we're pressed into a major military confrontation with China, I'm going to openly request congressional support." The president looked at the chairman of the joint chiefs. "Les, do you have any recommendations?"

"Yes, sir." He composed his thoughts. "First, I want to say that we've made great strides in the recent past toward rebuilding our military, but we aren't there yet. There's always the danger that we could be backing ourselves into a corner where we would be forced to use our nuclear weapons."

Chalmers kept eye contact with Macklin. "If we engage China, North Korea is sure to see an opportunity to make mischief — we could find ourselves pressed on two fronts and get waylaid in the Middle East."

The president showed no emotion. "I know it's your duty to give me the worst-case scenario, and I appreciate it."

"Yes, sir."

"You mentioned recommendations?"

"Yes — when I recalled the Roosevelt battle group to the South China Sea, I requested joint military exercises with Australia and New Zealand. They have really pitched in for us and joined Roosevelt. I strongly suggest we move Roosevelt closer to the southern end of the Taiwan Strait and leave Kitty Hawk at the northern opening to the strait."

"You want to keep them in deeper water?"

"Yes, sir. We have three submarines in the area, and by tomorrow evening we'll have another sub rendezvousing with Roosevelt."

"Good, let's muster the troops," Macklin said boldly as he rose from his chair. "We have a lot to do before I leave for Bangkok."

Despite the United States's questionable decision to ease sanctions on North Korea, famine, starvation, corruption, sabotage, black-marketing, and exposure to the world of the country's irreversible problems had shaken the teetering system.

Unable to disguise the growing economic and political disasters, not to mention the 3 million people in a country of 22 million who had starved to death, the dictator of the rogue nation was rapidly losing control of his minor nuclear power.

Unstable and desperate, North Korea posed a serious threat to South Korea and the 40,000-plus U.S. troops stationed there. Along with the White House the South Korean political and military leaders were preparing for the worst.

With more than 1,065,000 military personnel, 3,600 tanks, 432 naval surface combatants, 82 bombers, 780 fighters, and 10,400 surface-to-air missiles, North Korea would be a formidable enemy.

The USS Stennis battle group was steaming at flank speed to the Yellow Sea, and the Pacific Air Forces, headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, were sending additional bombers and fighter planes to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam; Yokota Air Base, Japan; Osan Air Base, South Korea; Misawa Air Base, Japan; and Kadena Air Base, Japan (Okinawa). If the North Korean government collapsed and their military attacked South Korea, far more lives could be sacrificed than had been lost to starvation.

High above the Hungnam Seaport in the city and provincial capital of Hamhung, a Lockheed Martin U-2 reconnaissance plane was documenting the arrival of thirty-two MiG-21 fighters from Kazakhstan. The long-lived spy plane was observing the fifth shipment of warplanes from the former Soviet republic.

North Korea was rapidly adding more jets to the 140 MiG-21s it had previously purchased. The total force of jet fighter aircraft now totaled 803 and was growing. Sixteen Russian attack pilots were augmenting the training of North Korean fighter pilots. The Russian instructors were handpicked and very experienced veterans.

Southeast of North Korea's capital city of Pyongyang, a Central Intelligence Agency Gnat unmanned aerial vehicle was using an improved synthetic aperture radar to spot tanks and troops moving toward South Korea. A product of General Atomics and Sandia, the SAR was observing the lines of military equipment and personnel through clouds and light rain. The soldiers were going to one of three staging points that were increasing in size by the day.

Analysts at the CIA's Global Response Center were certain that North Korea was on the verge of invading their neighbor to the south.

The president appeared to be relaxed and calm as he walked to his desk. It was framed on one side by the American flag and on the other by the presidential flag. He took his seat and adjusted his tie, while making eye contact with his staff and the camera technicians from major media outlets. The lights came on and he was given his cue.

"Good afternoon," he began without expression. "As many of you know, early this morning U.S. forces went ashore in Panama to liberate an American warship being held captive by Chinese military forces in the Panama Canal. This was an intolerable act of blatant aggression by the Red Chinese military and the Communist Party leaders in Beijing."

Macklin's neck muscles began to tighten. "Furthermore, intelligence sources have confirmed that Chinese military forces were responsible for shooting down a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft and damaging a Marine Harrier jet — both of which were over the Panama Canal."

The network crews were riveted on the president. This wasn't the friendly, jovial man they had come to know.

"I have spent my entire adult life dedicated to protecting and preserving the freedom and security of our United States of America. I will not tolerate this aggression against the American people. Under the Panama Canal treaties of 1977, we reserved the right to intervene militarily if the canal and its operation were threatened. I invoked that clause this morning."

Feeling tension creep into his shoulders and neck, Macklin forced himself to relax. "As president of the United States, I am assuming jurisdiction of the Panama Canal as of this date. I will ask Congress to render the treaties null and void."

Macklin's words deeply impacted those who were present. Looks were exchanged in an effort to gauge reactions to what the president had said. There was no doubt President Macklin was showing the same fortitude and courage as president that he'd shown in Congress and in fighter planes during Vietnam. Who was going to tell the president of the United States that he couldn't have the canal back?

"I am sorry to inform you that a number of American lives were lost today in the process of freeing our ship and reclaiming the canal. Our fine men and women in uniform performed their duties in an extraordinary manner. Every American should be proud of them."

Macklin had to slow his breathing. "No president ever wants to put American military men and women in harm's way, but we have been called upon to do so many times in the history of this great country. It is the price we must pay for freedom."

The president's mouth quivered. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends who lost loved ones in Panama."

He tried not to show any emotion, but it was coming to the surface. "Let me make it very clear to our allies, and most importantly to those who choose to be our enemies. While I am president of the United States of America, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies and we will not tolerate any form of aggression."

Macklin stared at the camera for a long moment. "May God bless America — our wonderful country built on freedom. Thank you."

Stone faced, Macklin waited until the lights went out and quietly walked out of his office. No one dared ask him a single question.