[War] US: Back away, back away quickly

[John Penta]

"Back away, back away quickly"
4 Aug 2014
Pres. John Williams
USA
========================
<Washington>

"It was their idea. We provided satellite photos and didn't ask what
they were asking for, period. No support beyond that to the
operation." a still deathly-sick-looking Williams explained to a press
corps that clearly didn't believe him. "In future, we won't be so
trusting. If I'd known it was going to be for one of the
more...interesting ways for Canada to punch above their weight, I'd
have probably refused to help."

It was an understatement.

Since the world had already fingered the Canucks, there seemed no harm
in aiming things at Ottawa wholesale. Sure, it'd make US-Canadian
relations awkward to say the least, for a bit, but it seemed rather
more important to defuse the Cuba-level crisis currently on the
planet's radar.

Truthfully, a less medicine-addled head (and the utter silence from
Ottawa) had focused John Williams's attention on Canada's role in
things.

He -had- been entirely too trusting. He hated pitching Prime Minister
McColl under the bus like this in public, but the Canadians had been
dumb enough to pick the -worst- possible timing to execute their op.

"We are considering certain compensatory measures to the People's
Republic, yes. Namely, I am offering the families of those killed a
onetime payment of $50,000, equal to the death gratuity paid to US
servicemembers," Williams replied to a question.

"Let me be very clear," Williams replied to another question, this
time from Izvestia, "We had nothing to do with this beyond supplying
satellite photography to Canada. We are NOT saying 'we did it', and I
hope people understand the difference. We were at best an unwitting
assistant to this operation, at worst entirely too trusting.
Nonetheless, if American compensation would help to solve this, we can
offer it."

"It'll come out of the budget for US-Canadian affairs, yes," Williams
fielded a third question.
---
Actions:
1. Pitch Canada in front of the bus. Sorry, Ottawa.
2. Admit that the US provided Canada with satellite photos - not a
smart thing to be so trusting in retrospect.
3. Offer $50k per dead person to families of Chinese dead.
4. That's the ONLY compensation on offer.
5. Say sorry for supporting a rabid...um, Canuck.