Objective- Freedom Page 4

  General Green, who had heard worse, remained in his chair, smiling at her, which made her so furious, she reached over the table and back-handed him. The Secret Service burst into the room, quickly subdued the attorney general, handcuffed her, and walked her from the room. She was under arrest for first-degree assault and battery. Robert Curtis didn’t allow such things in a meeting he chaired.

  General Green turned to the president. “Now we should have no further interruptions. We need to talk frankly. I admire you, and I approved of most of your ideas to further our troops’ morale.”

  “Then you let the welfare situation get out of hand. You never once considered cutting back on foreign aid or other giveaways. It’s always easier to cut the military, isn’t it? You just don’t want to offend any of our friends and allies.

  “That’s the first thing any politician does—cut the military. Now you see what it got you. This is the biggest mess this country has been in since Nixon or Lincoln. Do you want to be remembered with them? Of course not.

  “Now you must act. You can’t continue taking advice from the bunch who got us into this predicament. None of them, to my knowledge, ever owned a business, held a real job, or served in the military. Call in the speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader. Take their advice. Check with the Joint Chiefs, but don’t just give us orders. Each of us has knowledge and experience to offer.”

  “No. I’ll order the National Guard and Reserves to active duty, and they’ll take those states back. We still have a majority on our side, and we can press military action against these rebels”

  General Green stared. “I think you’re losing control of your common sense. You aren’t talking sensibly. Think about what you just said. You want American troops to wage war against other American troops?”

  “I see no other way. Do you? You’re my chief military advisor. What’s your grand scheme? You seem to find it easy to criticize me. How about it, Mr. High and Mighty? Tell me what your highly trained mind—at government expense, I might add— tells you how to solve this situation. How will the great General Green avert this catastrophe?”

  “Mr. President, I would start by staying calm. Since we’re assigning blame, I happen to work for the man sitting beside you. The Secretary of Defense works for you, too. Where has he been in all this?”

  “This situation demands action and diplomacy, not meetings and wringing of hands. This is the kind of situation I’ve been trained for. As you so concisely stated, I was trained at government expense, so let me do my job.

  “Do you think a military response is the first and only option? It isn’t. I happen to know Governor Raven, Governor Harris, and General Polk. I can talk to them and will do so if you order me. I won’t command troops to march on the people, though. If you insist on that, you must find a new Chairman. I’ll resign my commission. Whatever you do, you must do it quickly. You already look weak and have shown little propensity for action. If you don’t get on the ball, we’ll lose everything.”

  Stopping, he watched emotions play over the president’s face, fear, anticipation, action, worry, and confusion. The Secretary of Defense looked ready to hide under his chair cushion.

  The president stood, as did General Green and the Secretary of defense, who had been almost forgotten, so far.

  The president turned to General Green. “I’ve made my decision, General. I want you as our ambassador to the states currently in rebellion. You may go as General Green or as Ambassador Green, whichever you think best. I’ll support you either way, and I expect you to support me. I want your decision to stay on active duty and represent me as a military officer or to resign and accept the post as ambassador at large. Mr. Secretary, let’s go into my office.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  The ACLU came out quickly to defend the poor people of the coalition states who were being abused by “the power.” Denying people housing, food, health, and other entitlements wasn’t legal in the United States. Just because those people didn’t follow the rules of a tin-pot dictator didn’t mean they should be cut off from all the rights they once had.

  Manuel Ortiz, leading attorney for the ACLU, began with that statement and added, “The governors of the various states don’t have the authority to stop, change, or amend benefits already enacted.”

  He spoke of the changes needed before the downtrodden masses could once again feed off the government. They would be forced to give up their cell phones and miss payments on their new cars, which very few people could afford, especially with twenty- inch wheels. According to Manuel, that violated their right to happiness.

  It did no good to remind such radical racist groups, including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) or other self-serving entities, that the government was only trying to stay in business and help those who truly needed it. The ACLU claimed the government didn’t have the right to decide who needed help. Even though the government paid for it, it didn’t have the right to choose.

  That was the last straw for Texas Attorney General Dean Welsh. He called in General Polk, who, with permission from the governor, gave Polk the authority to remove the ACLU from state borders. Walsh also acted to have the right of attorneys working for the LULAC to practice law revoked in Texas.

  That evening, Attorney General Walsh went on local TV with feeds to various networks. He wanted the word to go out without mincing or political correctness.

  He received the full support of Governor Harris and General Polk. He walked into the capitol’s press room ready to speak.

  “I’ll make my statements. There will be no interruptions or questions until I finish. I’m making this speech on behalf of the governor of Texas, his cabinet, the speaker of the House, and former Vice President Elliott Randall, our ambassador. This was going to be Governor Harris’ press conference, but, since it mainly involves law issues, I’ll make the speech for him.

  “We have problems in the Southwest which have been ignored and set aside by power brokers in Washington, DC, mainly because Washington has been the cause of these problems. When a problem arises, twelve or more committees are formed to confer and decide if there should be a meeting to get something done. We won’t allow that anymore. Such people have no say here, and it will remain that way as long as we stick together and get through what we expect will be a difficult time.

  “At seven o’clock this evening, the borders of Texas are closed to all traffic. No airplanes, trains, trucks, cars, or foot traffic is allowed. Ground-control approach systems will be turned off at all airports immediately, and arriving planes will be diverted. Any plane flying within Texas air space is immediately grounded.

  “As we speak, units of the Texas Rangers and Air National Guard are taking control of our airports and sea ports. To put a finer point on these actions, there will be no incursions from the south or west by the Rio Grande River. You have been warned. It will be a felony for American citizens to assist incursions and will mean immediate incarceration. For citizens of other countries, it means immediate arrest and deportation.

  “The prohibition on traffic does not include the following territories: Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona. We will maintain open borders with them. At this time, they are establishing the same rules within their states. Do not test us on this. General Willis Polk, the Commander of the Texas Rangers, has assured me he will enforce this with whatever interdiction he deems appropriate.

  “We are willing to negotiate, with Washington, about any problems these actions may cause. Washington will do the most work. The United States government is not recognized within these borders, and, until it is, its citizens must remain outside.

  “Once again, do not test us on this. Our resolve is firm. Washington will no longer be allowed to take our citizens’ tax money. It is used mainly to support an ineffective, corrupt government whose only wish is to satisfy fringe groups and nonproductive citizens and noncitizens.

  “We now control all means of production. Clayton Sherm
an is null and void in this area. Habeas corpus is suspended. Don’t get any big ideas. We’re resolute and determined.

  “The final note today is that the ACLU, LULAC, NAACP, and other racist and undermining organizations are well advised to pack their bags and leave. No ACLU attorneys will be admitted to the bar here, and none are allowed to practice law in our states.

  Tort reform has been discussed, and it will now come to pass.

  Press releases will be given to each of you.

  “That’s it for today. Any questions will be handled by my assistant, Ms. Hidalgo.”

  He walked out and told Ms. Hidalgo, “Let them know the press holiday is over.”

  Bernadine Hidalgo, grinning, set her jaw, then turned to face the feeding frenzy the media was about to unleash. She was more than capable of handling it.

  “I’ll have order here,” she said. “Raise your hand and ask your question when I call on you. If you don’t want to work that way, or it you interrupt another reporter, you’ll be asked to leave. If you refuse, you’ll be escorted out.

  “Now for your questions. Mr. Andrews, Houston Chronicle, your question, please.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The emergency meeting of the US House of Representatives was missing the Congressmen from Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona. When the Senators filed into the Senate gallery, they were missing the Senators from those states, too.

  The Joint Houses realized people’s representatives from the neighboring states of Louisiana, Kansas, Utah, Idaho, and Arkansas walked out, too. Virginia, Iowa, Montana, and Wyoming wavered. They would listen, consult with their home areas, and decide how to proceed.

  The vice president and speaker of the House opened the joint session, which quickly dissolved into chaos. Finally, the attendees settled down. Ronald Sutherland, the new vice president, took the podium to address the joint session.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas have contacted the president and issued a declaration of secession. They enacted portions of their individual state constitutions to allow for this action.

  “This is an abomination. We must decide what to do. I’ve been offered advice that US marshals be sent to those states to arrest and incarcerate the governors. I’m opening the floor to ideas, not political harangues, as to what to do and how….”

  Pandemonium broke out. The vice president pounded the gavel for order to no avail. There was some pushing and shouting, but it came up short of a brawl. The president’s problems aggravated the vice president’s position of leadership. The uprising in the combined houses reminded the Sergeant at Arms of news reports he saw about Senators in other countries attacking the one who spoke. He called for the Capitol Police to restore order.

  When order was finally restored, the debate began. What should they do? How should they do it? Would it hurt anyone’s feelings? Were there any minorities involved? How much would it cost? Who owned what?

  Each of those topics triggered arguments. As the attorney general of Texas said, committees were being formed to study possible courses of action. Impact statements would be prepared, and alternate meeting plans would be published.

  It meant that nothing would be accomplished that month. The old guard in the Legislature never expected to have to do any actual work or to solve real problems. They didn’t know where or how to begin. The new members were still fresh and naïve enough to think they might accomplish something. Again, the meeting dissolved into chaos.

  Nine states refused to cooperate with the US government. The impact of that realization came suddenly to the members of Congress. One Senator suffered a heart attack while trying to argue a point. With his dying breath, he asked, “What have we done to ourselves?”

  That was the crux of the matter. The situation had been a long time coming and was ignored for over fifty years. Suddenly, it was a monster at the door. The soft life of the professional politician seemed doomed.

  The next week, there were several resignations and recall elections held in some of the forty-one other states. Status quo rapidly turned into a state of confusion, the only state fully approved by the government.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The phone in General Polk’s office rang early that morning. Since Lieutenant Colonel Scott Roberts was away on an important errand, and no one else was there, Polk took the call.

  “Will. Ray Green here. Did I wake you up out there in the Central Time Zone?”

  “Hello, Ray. I wondered if it would be you who would call. I’m kind of glad it is. I’m a bit sad, too. We seem to be at opposite ends of this dilemma. Are you calling on your own, or did your president put you up to it?”

  “Will, I’ve been appointed ambassador to your Coalition. I understand you aren’t the ambassador there, but we know each other, and you can clear the way for me.”

  “I suggest you contact the governor’s office, General Green. There’s not much I can do from out here. I have the Coalition Armed Forces to run. You know how it is. Call his office, General.” He hung up on his old friend and combat mate.

  General Green stared at the handset in astonishment. It was many years since anyone hung up on him, and suddenly, his old friend and war buddy did it. He needed to speak to either Polk or Harris face-to-face.

  Through his contacts, he tried to get the governor’s private phone number, but he hesitated to use it. It might be better to save it as an ace. Instead, he would request Texas to allow him passage over the border. Someone could meet him in New Orleans, and he would be escorted to Austin. Louisiana wasn’t yet committed to either side of the dispute.

  Green hoped to settle matters before the country faced a massive insurrection. Several other states had already opened dialogues with the Southwest and were undecided about staying in the Union.

  Ambassador Green decided to contact Governor John Raven. Since Ray was an Oklahoma native, he felt Raven could help him talk to the other governors. Green wanted to do anything he could to stave off war.

  His call was put through immediately, and he was pleased to hear Raven speaking in a cheerful voice, which was unusual for the big man.

  “Ray, we wondered when you’d call. What can this poor old cattle drover do for you?”

  “Cattle drover? You haven’t ridden herd since we were in high school. Play that song for the voters, Johnny Boy. I need help, and I need it bad. Can you talk?”

  “Sure, Mr. Ambassador. Yes, I know about your appointment. I know Menton’s looking at doing time in Danbury. That might do her some good. Didn’t hurt you, did she?”

  They laughed.

  “No, Governor, she didn’t. I hoped to get that worthless SECDEF to take a shot at me. He wouldn’t do it, though. That timid little cat couldn’t make up his mind or take the initiative to poop without a study paper being presented first. Bob Curtis is mistaken if he thinks Secretary of Defense Carlock can hold onto anything in the Pentagon. He still hasn’t appointed a new Chairman. You know that, too, don’t you, Governor?”

  “Yes, Mr. Ambassador, I do. I have my sources. The other governors do, too. We’re in constant communication. What exactly did you want to discuss? I don’t want to be rude, but I don’t have the time or inclination to exchange courtesies. I’ll leave that to the Arabs. They’re accomplished at that. Just ask your buddy, Bob Curtis. What can I do for you?”

  “John, I need to speak to all the governors in one place. Is that possible? When will you be meeting and where? I’m presenting myself as a representative of the president and the people of the U. S.”

  “I’ll check with the others. When we have our next meeting, I’ll contact you and give you instructions for joining us, assuming the others will consent to see you. We aren’t a democracy here. We govern by total consent. All of us must agree. It’s a good system and hasn’t proven awkward. I’ll get back to you. By the way, tell the president that his cyber spying isn’t working.”
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  That made Green pause. He didn’t know the president was using national resources to spy on the cyber activities of the citizens of the Southwest. He should have. Fort Meade could listen to radios inside people’s houses. Green should have assumed the president might be using airborne drones, too.

  What did the governor mean? How could all surveillance be interdicted? Then he remembered that the satellite surveillance system was at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. It was the home of the Military Intelligence Branch that conducted Military Signals Intelligence.

  The Army’s Military Intelligence branch held the responsibility for unmanned aerial vehicles due to their intelligence-gathering capabilities. They shared space at the Air Force base for convenience and central location in the middle of the state. Additional operations in human intelligence, including interrogation, counterintelligence, imagery intelligence, and electronic intelligence and analysis were also conducted at Holloman.

  The breakaway states kept their intelligence community in an iron grip. Fort Meade, Virginia, might be the intelligence center, but without input, it was blind. All the input came from Holloman Air Force Base, and Major General Frank Salazar held that command under the auspices of Governor Wilson.

  The situation suddenly looked much worse for the US government, and it was just the beginning. Ray Green hung up feeling shocked for the second time that day.

  Governor Amalia Espada was next on his list of contacts. He felt he might be able to sway her by presenting himself as an advocate of State’s Rights. That was her pet peeve, and she was very vocal about her objection to infringement by the federal government. Ray knew he needed to make a breakthrough with her. She controlled several military bases and a good amount of Interstate highway.