Bobby Akart - First Strike

Maybe those arguments were valid, but the president didn’t believe any nation was going to test his mettle based upon a limited nuclear strike in the Middle East. For now, he’d continue to study his intelligence briefings and allow the military to keep him abreast. If, and when, a threat of this type directly impacted the U.S., then he’d act accordingly.

Sunday, October 20

Zen Bistro & Wine Bar

Pentagon Row

Arlington, Virginia

Peter called Jenna and invited her to a late lunch at their favorite Asian restaurant, Zen Bistro. Located at Pentagon Row, it was a blend of unique retail stores and restaurants on the south side of the Henry Shirley Memorial Highway across from the Pentagon. He also called upon another acquaintance of theirs, Brian Stephens, an assistant to the White House director of political affairs, or DPA.

Peter felt guilty about failing to disclose the real purpose of calling the three friends together. He actually missed Jenna and could tell in her voice during the phone call that she was under considerable stress. Brian dealt with foreign policy matters on behalf of the DPA and might have some insight into the president’s opinion of North Korea.

Zen was referred to in the restaurant business as Asian fusion, a mix of several different Asian dishes and ingredients. Chefs served up sushi, Korean cuisine, Thai foods, and Chinese delicacies. The trio, who’d been frequenting Zen for years during happy hour, opted for sushi. After their tea was served and each of them snatched a piece of the red dragon roll, their favorite, the conversation turned to the president’s response to the nuclear attack.

“We’re all off the record, pinky sworn to secrecy and all of that, right?” asked Brian.

“Of course, man,” replied Peter. He might pinky swear, but he certainly would second-source whatever was about to be shared if he planned on revealing it to Beasley. “What are you thinkin’?”

“There’s a real concern in the White House that this thing could expand to a much larger, extra-regional conflict.”

“I can echo that,” added Jenna as she munched on a piece from her crunchy shrimp roll. “The Pentagon believes the president needs to act decisively to show the world America won’t stand down to despot rulers.”

Peter turned to Brian. “Whadya mean by extra-regional? Are you saying beyond the Middle East? Like Europe?”

Brian shook his head vigorously from side to side as he swallowed the hot tea. “No. South Asia. There’s chatter.”

Peter’s eyes darted from Jenna to Brian. He then fixed his gaze on his friend with benefits, although they hadn’t been friendly in a few weeks due to Peter’s travel schedule. “Do you know about this?”

She shrugged and looked guilty. “Vaguely. Echoes of conversations in the halls. You know how that goes. The Pentagon is a big place with a lot of conversations, if you know what I mean.”

Peter shook his head in disbelief. “Why would Pakistan and India go at it now? In the midst of what just happened? Didn’t they see the visuals out of Tehran and Tel Aviv. Nuclear war sucks.”

When he woke up that morning, he’d hungrily, yet with trepidation, scoured the internet for video clips and photographs of the devastation. Human beings, if not obliterated altogether, were left maimed and twisted. Buildings were incinerated. The entire landscape was covered with gray soot and ash. The sun was blocked out by the debris floating overhead. It was as if the world had turned whitish gray except for the raging fires all around.

“It’s complicated,” replied Brian.

Peter pressed them. “Pakistan and India seemed to have a working, albeit tenuous peace, for decades. Sure, their nuclear programs have advanced greatly during that time, but they’re next-door neighbors, for God’s sake. They’re not gonna shoot at each other, right?”

Jenna replied, “I never thought the Iranians would have the balls to fire on Israel.”

Peter chuckled. He liked when Jenna used locker-room talk. His mom had been the same way.

He shook his head and used his chopsticks to pluck a piece of sushi. “Well, it was stupid. Look how it turned out for those fools. I just can’t imagine Pakistan and India going after each other.”

Brian felt the need to defend the information he’d shared. “Actually, Peter, it isn’t that surprising. Listen, there’s a war going on in the White House between the Helton faction, who is adamantly opposed to war, and the longtime advisors to administrations, who see it as a necessary evil. The president sees America’s defense of its ally Israel as initiating an act of war on Iran. Others see it as a promise kept, one that has endured for decades.”

Peter looked over his drink to Jenna. “Is the Pentagon thinking this way as well?”

She nodded. “From what I’m hearing, the defense secretary firmly believes that bad actors like Pakistan will see the president’s inaction as a sign of weakness. They’re willing to take their chances on a head-to-head war with India if they believe Washington will stand down.”

Here was Peter’s opening. “Well, hell. If the administration’s opinion is to stand down in a nuclear conflict between two equally matched adversaries, what’ll they do if Kim fires off nukes at Seoul and Tokyo, two nations with no nukes of their own?”

Brian leaned back and sighed. “Personal opinion?” he said inquisitively.

“Sure,” replied Peter.

“That’s a different scenario. He’d defend South Korea and Japan.”

“With nukes?”

Jenna and Brian replied simultaneously, “Yes.”

Peter continued with his questions. “And this is because of the balance of nuclear power differential?”

“I think so,” replied Jenna. “At least from the Pentagon’s perspective.”

Peter looked to Brian. “Same from the White House?” He intently studied his friend’s facial expression, searching for clues.

Brian squinted his eyes and furrowed his brow. He looked around at the mostly empty restaurant. Most people were home tuned into the cable news stations. The nuclear showdown in the Middle East was high drama for most Americans. He leaned in to reply.

“Okay. This is totally water cooler talk, understand? This has never come out of the mouth of my boss and is strictly passed around the Eisenhower and EOB cafeterias.” There were two cafeterias open to White House staff. One was located in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, and the other was in the New Executive Office Building, both of which were part of the White House complex.

Brian continued after both Jenna and Peter nodded in agreement. “There is something personal between the president and Kim. Nobody knows what it is and where it originated. Did you notice during the campaign the subject of North Korea rarely came up?”

“Yeah, you’re right,” replied Jenna.

“Are you saying he and Kim are best pals or something?” asked Peter.

“I don’t know,” Brian quickly answered. “There is some kind of unwritten understanding between the two that none of us can put our finger on. It isn’t discussed much because, frankly, Kim has toned down his rhetoric since the election, and the president hasn’t found a need to address this particular foreign policy matter.”

“Well, I’m gonna throw this out there,” began Jenna. “Regardless of what the North Koreans are up to, I can say that Pakistanis are certainly on a war footing. That didn’t come from me.”

Sunday, October 20

McDowell Residence

Hayward, California