as the ideal foundation for the “New World Order.’ But for most of its
history the UN has been anything but a reliable friend to the United
States. How many times did we have to impose our veto to protect our
national interests, or our allies’?”
“That was in the Cold War, Admiral,” Heideman said. “Now that we’re the
world’s only superpower, we’re in a much better position to influence
the UN agenda.”
“And when China is powerful enough to influence the agenda, are we going
to feel the same way? Or Japan? Or Europe? If the twentieth century has
taught us anything, it’s the fleeting nature of power blocs and
alliances and national status. Before World War I, England, France, and
Germany were the world’s superpowers. Less than a hundred years have
passed, and look at the world today. Major powers have come and gone,
alliances have changed, priorities are different. The world has changed
in ways they never could have imagined a century ago. And it will keep
on changing. New World Orders may be politically fashionable now, but
don’t gamble our freedom on short-term fashions that could change
tomorrow!”
“Your fears are groundless,” Heideman said. “The UN would never
intervene against the United States.”
“That’s right,” Reed said. “We’d still have our power of veto.”
Magruder paused, his fingers drumming the tabletop. “I wonder. Does
anybody here remember when the UN passed sanctions against Australia to
force them to overrule one of their state governments when it passed
laws against sodomy?”
“It was an archaic attitude.”
“Madam Secretary, it was an internal matter that the UN blatantly
decided to get involved in. They might just as well have decided to pass
sanctions against us because of the antisodomy laws still on the books
in Mississippi or Alabama. And the time could come when a United Nations
with all this symbolic prestige and real military power you want to give
it could turn that power against us for reasons that are just as
trivial.”
“Admiral, I think we all take your point,” Waring said. “Certainly the
question of giving the UN control over any part of our military forces
is one we shouldn’t decide on hastily. But I think you’re overreacting
when it comes to this Crimean matter. Frankly, the President is
concerned about the buildup of tensions in this part of the world. He
wants to send a message to the warring factions that this sort of
anarchy can’t be tolerated, not when the rest of the world’s population
could be at risk if this thing turns nuclear. Anything, anything that
will defuse this unfortunate situation should be seriously considered.”
He paused, frowning, then rapped twice on the tabletop. “I will
recommend to the President that our battle group in the Black Sea be
placed under UN command and cooperate with them in receiving the
surrender of the Crimea.”
“Sir-” Admiral Scott began.
“That is all,” Waring said. “This meeting is adjurned.”
With a rustling of papers and the scraping of chairs, the men and women
in the conference room began gathering their things and getting up from
the table. Scott exchanged a long, weary look with Magruder. Neither man
said anything, however.
One long-standing tradition of America’s military remained firm and
unshaken, and that was the tradition of political control of the armed
forces. Determining policy was the job of the politicians, not of the
military; admirals and generals could advise, but when the policy
decisions were handed down, it was their duty to shut up and carry out
their orders.
Magruder just hoped that this wouldn’t turn out to be one policy
decision that the United States would end up bitterly regretting.
CHAPTER 12
Tuesday, 3 November 1057 hours (Zulu +3)
cvic, U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson Jefferson’s main briefing room was part of
CVIC, the Carrier Information Center, and, like the department, was
generally known as “Civic.” It was located aft of Flag Plot, where the
admiral in command of the battle group maintained his command center
when he was aboard. Rows of folding chairs were set up facing one end of
the room, which was dominated by a podium and a rear-screen projector.
The walls were hung with artwork–a large painting of the Thomas