Wrong Enemy, Wrong War

De: Jeffrey Freeman

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

WRONG ENEMY, WRONG WAR: what happens when the military-industrial complex drives national defense. A fictional confrontation between Iraq and the United States in 1996-1997. “I just got this book . . . and have yet to put it down!” “ highly recommend this intelligent and intriguing book.” Matisse 74. “This is the best book that I've read in a long time!” K. Winkle. “the sitting President is . . . set on "dealing" with Saddam Hussein's Iraq . . . (and) getting "that oil flowing in the right direction" as demanded by the corporate big boys.” “accurate view of the real powers that be.” Jayp. This is a story of the often conflicting motivations between the President, his appointed political advisors, and his senior military advisors who are charged to render their best military advice to the commander-in-chief irrespective of personal consequences. It is also an intimate look at the inter- and intra-Service relationships among generals and admirals. It provides a first hand look at how the Pentagon operated in the early to late 1990’s. Following his re-election, the President is concerned with his historical legacy. He wants to be remembered as a man of peace and prosperity but the admonition that it takes a war to make a great president nags at him. Saddam Hussein is still defying UN sanctions and probing America’s willingness to maintain the no-fly zones. The intelligence community is divided as to his intentions. There are reasons to believe Saddam may try to annex Kuwait again. The President’s newest protégé and Under Secretary of Defense, B. Charles Summers, pushes to eliminate Saddam any way possible. Believing Saddam to be a threat to Israel and the US, Summers suggests assassinating Saddam, an idea that Army Chief of Staff General James MacDougall regards as immoral and illegal. MacDougall favors continued sanctions and a blockade. When the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Creighton, suggests nuking Iraq, MacDougall voices concern that such action might set off nuclear retaliation by other countries, which could have the unintended effect of creating nuclear winter. “If we didn’t have to fight the Syrians,” the President asked of the Chairman, “how many American dead does your plan call for?” Silence dropped like a rock. Every military muscle in the room clenched. For a moment, no one responded. Then the Chairman said quietly, curtly, almost to the point of disrespect, “Our plans do not call for any American dead. We plan for the enemy to die, not our own. All of our plans minimize American casualties.” “Well prepare for this,” the President broke in. “I am sick and tired of this cat and mouse game with this two hump camel plucker.” “Maybe we just ought to slit the throat of the snake,” he said conciliatory. “And how do we do that, Charles?” the President asked, acting surprised. “Surely there are people who can get to Saddam if the price is right,” Charles replied. “You mean assassinate him?” Dr. Dean scoffed. “It’s been tried,” he said disparagingly. “A lot.” The idea of assassination did not sit well with any of the military present. It offended their sense of honor. MacDougall responded for the group. “There is one other thing, Chuck. It’s illegal. Assassinations are against American law.” Jeff is a Transportation Officer who uses his seventeen years of being assigned inside the Washington, DC beltway to bring a sense of reality to this work of fiction. Wrong Enemy, Wrong War is the second part of the trilogy contained in We Were Warriors Once. The manuscript was reviewed and approved for publication by the Department of Defense.