Mounting Fears Read Free

the silos; they are armed by radio after firing.”
    “We don’t know that for sure,” the general said.
    “ We know for sure,” Cabot replied. “We’ve known since before the missiles were deployed. I would have thought the Pentagon would know it, too.”
    “If we sent a few cruise missiles in there with conventional warheads,” Will asked, “could we knock out the nukes before they could be fired?”
    “In theory,” Cabot said, looking at Boone. “General?”
    Boone turned to the president. “Sir, the site was chosen to make that difficult, with high mountains surrounding it. An air strike would be more vertical—and more precise.”
    “What defenses would the site have against an air attack?” Will asked. “I presume that the surrounding mountains would reduce the effectiveness of radar until the aircraft were right on top of them.”
    “That’s probable, sir,” the general replied. “There are ground-to-air defensive missiles on the site. We don’t know how many.”
    “All right,” Will said. “We need more information. General Boone, I think you should contact your counterpart in the Pakistani army and get a full report on the defensive capabilities of the missile site, and then you should start plans for both an air strike and a ground assault immediately following.”
    “Mr. President, the Pakistanis are probably in a position to make both efforts before we could.”
    “For planning purposes, assume that they can’t or won’t do it in a timely manner,” Will said.
    “You understand, sir, that such a move on our part would constitute an attack on the soil of a friendly nation?”
    “Of course, but I would rather deal with that than with the after-math of a nuclear explosion,” Will said. “Now Madame Director and gentlemen, the vice president and I need the room for a while, and I assume you all would like to speak to your respective headquarters.”
    Everyone stood and filed out, except the president and vice president.
    “Now, George,” Will said, “let’s talk.”

3

    WILL LOOKED AT HIS VICE PRESIDENT. HE HAD NOT SEEN HIM FOR MORE THAN A week, and he seemed to have lost weight. “How are you, George?” he asked.
    “Will, I’m not well. I’ve had a recurrence of the prostate cancer, and I’m scheduled for surgery this afternoon.”
    “I’m sorry to hear it. Have they given you a prognosis?”
    “I’m afraid it has already spread. I know this is an awkward time to hear this, but I’m not going to be able to be on the ticket.”
    “George, you warned me when we teamed up four years ago that you would only serve one term, but I had hoped you might change your mind. Your advice on foreign affairs has been invaluable.”
    “Thank you, Will. I appreciate that. As a parting gift, may I give you my assessment of Mohammed Khan during this crisis?”
    “I was going to ask you for that,” Will said.
    “He’s an odd duck—strong in some areas, very weak in others. In the past, he has not performed well under this sort of pressure, not that anyone has ever had this sort of pressure weighing on him.”
    “What do you think he will do?”
    “I think he will be forced to act immediately, perhaps rashly, in order not to appear weak. If he does, given the state of the Pakistani forces, I think he is likely to fail, and if he fails, it’s going to be very bad, and his own military will want his head.”
    “He’s been a good friend to us in a number of ways,” Will said, “but I have to say I concur with your views. My immediate inclination is to send in our aircraft and the SEALs.”
    “That would be my view, as well,” Kiel said, “but it’s a move fraught with risk. We’ve never confronted a situation where a terrorist group has got hold of a nuclear weapon, and now these people have two.”
    “Yes,” Will said. “I’m also inclined to think that this act was extremely well planned and executed, and I expect that they decided what they were going to do with the