[War] US/Russia: A Russian Interlude

[John Penta]

"A Russian Interlude"
19 August 2014
Pres. John Williams, USA
Foreign Min. Irena Denemetov, Russian Federation
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<Madrid>

Foreign Minister Irena Denemetov appreciated the hot Spanish weather.
Nemerenko always complained that Southern Europe was always too hot
and gave him headaches. However he was back in Moscow enjoying his
beloved cold while she made the rounds in the Spanish capital. It
lacked that austere, industrial post-Stalin feel that Moscow had and
was instead more artful and decadent.

"The President will see you now, Minister," the Presidential aide said
to Denemetov. She nodded graciously and followed the young man into
the impromptu office Williams was using while staying in Madrid.

Williams had snagged this office from a member of the defense attache
staff currently on home leave. It wasn't meant to be a long stay in
Madrid, but 36 hours gave a good chance to get out of AF1, confer with
the State Department, and generally catch up on paperwork.

Oh, and meet with the Russian Foreign Minister about the situation in the world.

Not a minor detail, but it -had- been set up on the fly.

"Minister," Williams welcomed with a smile as he saw the door open,
walking over and extending a hand as the door shut softly behind the
Minister. "It's good to meet you."

"President Williams," replied Denemetov cordially. "I hope you are
enjoying the Spanish weather as much as I am. But enough idle chat. I
have been sent here to meet with you because President Nemerenko has
extreme reservations about the current situation occurring between the
Western allies and China in Iran."

"He is hardly the only one - not only do I not appreciate the Chinese
barging in on a carefully-planned redeployment purely out of what
appears to be spite, I really despise their attempt to redraw the
Inner-German Border in Iran," Williams offered  "I told Hong when we
met that I did not *anticipate* it being necessary to send troops in.
As it were, it turned out to -be- necessary to firmly enforce the
Armistice. I rather *resent* being deemed a liar for the situation
having changed under my feet. Also, I forget, when did the Chinese
claim the world to be but provinces of a Chinese Empire? Because the
peacekeeping excuse is getting a bit old. One does not peacekeep with
artillery pieces, *despite* the wish of the redlegs."

"Were either of our nations ever so different?" mused Denemetov
cynically. "But that was then and this is now, I suppose. The reality
is China can do whatever China wants to do and no one can stop them.
Just as America can do whatever America wants to do. And now we have
an immovible object being met by an unstoppable force. We have China
under siege by the West, you supplying weapons insurgents use to kill
Chinese soldiers and North Korean civilians and your Canadian allies
attacking mainlaind China, which leaves China to intefere with your
peacekeeping operation as revenge.

"The reality of the situation, Mr. President, is that we hold both you
and China equally responsible. There is no 'good guys' and 'bad guys,'
just two nations having a conflict of interest that is dragging the
world into a Second Cold War. Now my question is this: how are you
going to react? What is America going to do about it? Because right
now Russia is not a participant but a bystander, a bystander that
could get shot in the crossfire, just like the rest of the world."

"That's why I'm here in Europe, to consult on just that question,"
Williams replied. "If Hong is going to act on a tit-for-tat basis, as
if this is some logic puzzle written with human lives, then I wonder
seriously what you expect." 'Sit there and take it' was a plausible
answer, but not one an American President could afford - pacifism
never having been a serious strain in American politics anyway.
Nemerenko, and his FM, knew that, surely.

The grumpy part of him noted silently that had positions been
reversed, had it been Russia v China, there'd be a nuclear standoff to
make Cuba (or recent events with Canada) look puny. So the hypocrisy
inherent in the Russian position wasn't going unnoticed, either.

"Well if you want our consultation, then it is this: detente. Make
peace. We're not saying that America is the sole hostile force. We are
saying that you are BOTH as equally responsible." The reality of the
situation was that Russia wasn't the one starting all this, they were
watching while the world lurched towards anarchy. America and China
were at fault and now the rest of the world had to do something.
"Gorbachev and Reagan did it, we see no reason that you and Hong
cannot. This petty squabbling is bad for global stability and more
importantly to global trade. Both China and America are THE capitalist
economies on Earth. Surely that alone is enough common ground for you
to make at least an overture of reconciliation to Hong. If she accept,
fine. If she doesn't," Denemetov shrugged. "Well, that's her problem.
But the world cannot afford a new cold war."

"When she's as...difficult as she is at the moment, I doubt much is
possible. Nonetheless, we'll put out feelers. Be advised, though, her
exit from Iran is a precondition to anything happening. I refuse to
let countries be carved up like cake on my watch." Williams replied
simply.

Denemetov did not view that as an unreasonable stipulation but also
knew it was s total deal breaker; she did not view Hong as deciding to
leave Iran anytime soon.

"If that is your decision," nodded Denemetov. "I wish you luck."

"I have no doubt I'll need it. Minister, I want peace as badly as you
do - but a peace that means China may do whatever it pleases is no
peace at all." Williams replied. "That point seems...lost on many."

"Not on us," replied Denemetov curtly. "Not with one and a half billion
Chinamen desperate for land on our doorstep. Goodbye Mr. President."
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