The meeting was adjourned.
Oliver’s secretary’s voice came over the intercom. “Mr. Tager would like to see you, Mr. President.”
“Have him come in.”
“How did the meeting go?” Peter Tager asked.
“Oh, it was just your average meeting,” Oliver said bitterly, “about whether I want to start a war now or later.”
Tager said sympathetically, “It goes with the territory.”
“Right.”
“Something of interest has come up.”
“Sit down.”
Peter Tager took a seat. “What do you know about the United Arab Emirates?”
“Not a lot,” Oliver said. “Five or six Arab states got together twenty years ago or so and formed a coalition.”
“Seven of them. They joined together in 1971. Abu Dhabi, Fujaira, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Umm al-Qaiwan, and Ajman. When they started out, they weren’t very strong, but the Emirates have been incredibly well run. Today they have one of the world’s highest standards of living. Their gross domestic product last year was over thirty-nine billion dollars.”
Oliver said impatiently, “I assume there’s a point to this, Peter?”
“Yes, sir. The head of the council of the United Arab Emirates wants to meet with you.”
“All right. I’ll have the secretary of defense—”
“Today. In private.”
“Are you serious? I couldn’t possibly—”
“Oliver, the Majlis—their council—is one of the most important Arab influences in the world. It has the respect of every other Arab nation. This could be an important breakthrough. I know this is unorthodox, but I think you should meet with them.”
“State would have a fit if I—”
“I’ll make the arrangements.”
There was a long silence. “Where do they want to meet?”
“They have a yacht anchored in Chesapeake Bay, near Annapolis. I can get you there quietly.”
Oliver sat there, studying the ceiling. Finally, he leaned forward and pressed down the intercom switch. “Cancel my appointments for this afternoon.”
The yacht, a 212-foot Feadship, was moored at the dock. They were waiting for him. All the crew members were Arabs.
“Welcome, Mr. President.” It was Ali al-Fulani, the secretary at one of the United Arab Emirates. “Please come aboard.”
Oliver stepped aboard and Ali al-Fulani signaled to one of the men. A few moments later, the yacht was underway.
“Shall we go below?”
Right. Where I can be killed or kidnapped. This is the stupidest thing I have ever done, Oliver decided. Maybe they brought me here so they can begin their attack on Israel, and I won’t be able to give orders to retaliate. Why the hell did I let Tager talk me into this?
Oliver followed Ali al-Fulani downstairs into the sumptuous main saloon, which was decorated in Middle Eastern style. There were four muscular Arabs standing on guard in the saloon. An imposing-looking man seated on the couch rose as Oliver came in.
Ali al-Fulani said, “Mr. President, His Majesty King Hamad of Ajman.”
The two men shook hands. “Your Majesty.”
“Thank you for coming, Mr. President. Would you care for some tea?”
“No, thank you.”
“I believe you will find this visit well worth your while.” King Hamad began to pace. “Mr. President, over the centuries, it has been difficult, if not impossible, to bridge the problems that divide us—philosophical, linguistic, religious, cultural. Those are the reasons there have been so many wars in our part of the world. If Jews confiscate the land of Palestinians, no one in Omaha or Kansas is affected. Their lives go on the same. If a synagogue in Jerusalem is bombed, the Italians in Rome and Venice pay no attention.”
Oliver wondered where this was heading. Was it a warning of a coming war?
“There is only one part of the world that suffers from all the wars and bloodshed in the Middle East. And that is the Middle East.”
He sat down across from Oliver. “It is time for us to put a stop to this madness.”
Here it comes, Oliver thought.
“The heads of the Arab states and the Majlis have authorized me to make you an offer.”
“What kind of an offer?”
“An offer of peace.”
Oliver blinked. “Peace?”
“We want to make peace with your ally, Israel. Your embargoes against Iran and other Arab countries have cost us untold billions of dollars. We want to put an end to that. If the United States will act as a sponsor, the Arab countries—including Iran, Libya, and Syria—have agreed to sit down and negotiate a permanent peace treaty with Israel.”