advantage.’
‘There’s another one?’
‘Joel, this isn’t about that. When he spoke on this the president was very clear in saying that, first, the United States has a duty and obligation to protect its own citizens – thirty-nine of whom were killed in cold blood by this group, if you remember – and, second, that we have a duty and obligation to anyone in the world when they need protection and their own governments aren’t able to give it to them.’
‘And don’t tell me that point there, right there, doesn’t rile the Chinese all the way to the Great Wall and back again.’
Marion smiled knowingly. ‘Come on, Joel, let’s not muddy the waters. I said “aren’t able”, not “aren’t willing”. That would be a whole different doctrine. The Chinese know we’re talking about a restricted, contained operation where the Ugandan government itself has invited us in. That makes all the difference. Now, I agree with you, completely confidentially between you and me and Dave, I’m not a great fan of the way the president’s chosen to do it. And if you ask me does that make it harder for the Chinese, I would say, yes, it does. But that doesn’t change the main thrust of what we’re doing. There is absolutely no agenda underlying Jungle Peace that’s about establishing some kind of strategic advantage for the United States in Central Africa. That’s not what this is about and the Chinese have been reassured on that numerous times.We’ve made it very clear to them at every level, at every contact, at every opportunity. Me included. I’ve said it any number of times to Liu at the UN.’
‘And what have they said?’
Marion shrugged. She had seen the content of the note that had been delivered to Steve Haskell, along with his report of the meeting with the Chinese vice-foreign minister, but she wasn’t at liberty to reveal it.
Joel watched her.
‘Like I said, I’m not saying China doesn’t have reason to feel a little aggrieved at the way we’ve done it, I’m not saying that going in with a coalition wouldn’t have been better.’
‘Or that at least you could have been told you wouldn’t have time to build one,’ said Joel, who was aware, like everybody else in the international relations community, that the State Department had been hung out to dry while the Pentagon was going full steam ahead.
Marion didn’t take the bait. She had no intention of revealing to Joel the full extent of her irritation with the manner in which the president had acted. ‘Look, does China perceive this as a challenge? The loss of face, I accept, is an issue, and I don’t mean to minimize it. But is that the question, do they see this as a bigger challenge? Joel, I can’t say for certain, but my guess is that they don’t. As long as we do it like we’ve said we will, and as long as we’re not there so long that it looks like we’re trying to establish some kind of permanent presence, I think they understand what we’re saying.’
‘Well, that’s good,’ said Joel, ‘because we’re going to need their help to get out of there.’
‘Meaning what?’
‘Meaning when something goes wrong, they’re going to get dragged in.’
‘You’re assuming something’s going to go wrong.’
‘Show me a military operation where it hasn’t. Say we end up chasing some LRA into Sudan. You’ve got the seeds of a confrontation right there and it can go a thousand different ways. The only one who’s got any influence with Sudan is China.’
‘No one can guarantee everything’s going to go right,’ said Marion. ‘That’s a risk.’
‘And I’m saying we’ll end up with China having to rescue us. You know, it’s possible the Chinese have lured us into this whole thing.’
‘Joel, that is so ridiculous …’ Marion couldn’t help laughing. Now she knew he was being contrarian just for the hell of it.
‘I’m serious! Why do you think it’s impossible?’ Joel turned to Dave with a look of
‘There’s another one?’
‘Joel, this isn’t about that. When he spoke on this the president was very clear in saying that, first, the United States has a duty and obligation to protect its own citizens – thirty-nine of whom were killed in cold blood by this group, if you remember – and, second, that we have a duty and obligation to anyone in the world when they need protection and their own governments aren’t able to give it to them.’
‘And don’t tell me that point there, right there, doesn’t rile the Chinese all the way to the Great Wall and back again.’
Marion smiled knowingly. ‘Come on, Joel, let’s not muddy the waters. I said “aren’t able”, not “aren’t willing”. That would be a whole different doctrine. The Chinese know we’re talking about a restricted, contained operation where the Ugandan government itself has invited us in. That makes all the difference. Now, I agree with you, completely confidentially between you and me and Dave, I’m not a great fan of the way the president’s chosen to do it. And if you ask me does that make it harder for the Chinese, I would say, yes, it does. But that doesn’t change the main thrust of what we’re doing. There is absolutely no agenda underlying Jungle Peace that’s about establishing some kind of strategic advantage for the United States in Central Africa. That’s not what this is about and the Chinese have been reassured on that numerous times.We’ve made it very clear to them at every level, at every contact, at every opportunity. Me included. I’ve said it any number of times to Liu at the UN.’
‘And what have they said?’
Marion shrugged. She had seen the content of the note that had been delivered to Steve Haskell, along with his report of the meeting with the Chinese vice-foreign minister, but she wasn’t at liberty to reveal it.
Joel watched her.
‘Like I said, I’m not saying China doesn’t have reason to feel a little aggrieved at the way we’ve done it, I’m not saying that going in with a coalition wouldn’t have been better.’
‘Or that at least you could have been told you wouldn’t have time to build one,’ said Joel, who was aware, like everybody else in the international relations community, that the State Department had been hung out to dry while the Pentagon was going full steam ahead.
Marion didn’t take the bait. She had no intention of revealing to Joel the full extent of her irritation with the manner in which the president had acted. ‘Look, does China perceive this as a challenge? The loss of face, I accept, is an issue, and I don’t mean to minimize it. But is that the question, do they see this as a bigger challenge? Joel, I can’t say for certain, but my guess is that they don’t. As long as we do it like we’ve said we will, and as long as we’re not there so long that it looks like we’re trying to establish some kind of permanent presence, I think they understand what we’re saying.’
‘Well, that’s good,’ said Joel, ‘because we’re going to need their help to get out of there.’
‘Meaning what?’
‘Meaning when something goes wrong, they’re going to get dragged in.’
‘You’re assuming something’s going to go wrong.’
‘Show me a military operation where it hasn’t. Say we end up chasing some LRA into Sudan. You’ve got the seeds of a confrontation right there and it can go a thousand different ways. The only one who’s got any influence with Sudan is China.’
‘No one can guarantee everything’s going to go right,’ said Marion. ‘That’s a risk.’
‘And I’m saying we’ll end up with China having to rescue us. You know, it’s possible the Chinese have lured us into this whole thing.’
‘Joel, that is so ridiculous …’ Marion couldn’t help laughing. Now she knew he was being contrarian just for the hell of it.
‘I’m serious! Why do you think it’s impossible?’ Joel turned to Dave with a look of
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