Strike Eagle Read Free

grooming an image, one of competence and élan to get the job done. Everything would fall into place with sufficient exuberance. It was a sure mark of presidential material to look beyond the mundane duties of the Vice-Presidency, and strive to excel in those same mundane responsibilities.
    Adleman almost missed Cyndi’s concluding remarks, but her inflection pulled him out of his thoughts.
    “Although the last item isn’t part of the Agency’s agenda, I feel that it has a propensity to affect our operatives and thus deserves your attention.”
    President Longmire coughed violently, expelling fluid. His nurse hastily wiped up the majority of the spittle. He wheezed and motioned for the CIA Director to continue.
    Adleman raised his eyebrows at the exchange. The President’s health had worsened lately, contrary to the glowing reports given to the press. Adleman pressed his lips together as Cyndi concluded her briefing.
    “The lease extension to cover our military bases in the Philippines runs out at the end of the next calendar year. The extension was originally granted a few years after we re-opened Clark Field and Subic Naval Station, but there has been no progress since then on a permanent treaty. The administration has being going round and round on this for years, and—”
    “Mr. President, Ms. Fount is correct. This is a matter for State,” interrupted Francis Acht, “and not the CIA.”
    Adleman bit his lip at the exchange. Like everyone else in the room, he thought that Secretary Acht was an egotistical boor—but the man knew his stuff and would win any altercation. Many despised his demeanor yet respected his insight.
    Longmire spoke quietly, plunging the room into silence so his words could be understood. “Please continue, Cyndi.”
    Acht promptly shut his mouth. The CIA Director continued without breaking stride.
    “The United States has been debating the Philippine question for several years now, Mr. President. We have reason to believe that the leases will not be extended. The Filipinos will play hardball, just as they did when they kicked us out in the ’90s. I don’t have to go into the implications of the importance of the lease—losing the Philippines as a staging area will not only result in degrading our ability to project naval and air power, but will adversely affect our intelligence operations in the Far East. That is my concern.”
    Acht tapped a pencil on the table. The sound echoed around the chamber and focused attention on the Secretary of State. “It more than threatens our military options in the Far East, Mr. President. It affects the entire Pacific Rim, the security of a hemisphere. If something happens in the South China Sea, especially with the way the Chinese have been so territorial, it’s not a sure bet that we will come out on top. Maintaining our bases there is a critical necessity—the threat to the U.S. would probably not be an immediate military one, but something just as drastic, and probably not even geopolitical, but economic.
    “The Pacific Rim is following Japan’s lead, jockeying to dominate world economy,” said Acht warily. “Aside from China, Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, New Guinea, and even Australia have all jumped on the bandwagon. Without a strong U.S. presence in the Philippine Islands, we would lose our economic foothold and become a mere player—and an outsider.” He paused. “I concur with Ms. Fount’s concern, but for a farther-reaching reason. As for how to do it,” he shrugged, “I haven’t a clue. We can’t even keep our fighter aircraft there now for more than a few months at a time.”
    Silence; then, over wheezing: “What do you propose, Cyndi?”
    “Immediate Cabinet-level negotiations. Negotiations in good faith and at a high level, to let the Filipinos know that we take them seriously.”
    Vice President Adleman interrupted. “She’s got a good point, Mr. President. The usual channels have been stalled for years.