Read Online Executive Power by Vince Flynn - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Vince Flynn
Tags: thriller
Ads: Link
fully briefed on the failed hostage rescue in the Philippines."
"Yes," answered the President in a sour tone, "and needless to say I'm not happy about it."
"I'd like to remind everyone," interrupted the President's chief of staff, "that I thought that entire operation was a bad idea from the start."
Ignoring Jones, Kennedy held up one of the two red folders and said, "I think I can shed some light on what went wrong, sir."
Hayes, his curiosity piqued, placed his forearms squarely on the desk and said, "I'm all ears."
"In this file"-Kennedy held up her left hand-"I have a list of e-mail and telephone transcripts. You will remember that before launching the rescue operation we decided that for reasons of operational security our embassy in the Philippines would not be notified until the teams and the hostages were safely extracted."
Jones had just finished taking a sip of coffee and began to shake her head vigorously.
"Again, I'm on the record as saying that was a bad idea. We're going to be smarting over that one for some time. This thing is a real mess. The press is getting more curious by the hour. The press office has already received three calls this morning, the Philippine government is demanding answers and our own State Department is furious."
The President also chose to ignore Jones for the moment and stayed focused on Kennedy, saying, "I remember the issue was hotly contested."
Without looking up, General Flood grumbled, "And you made it very clear, sir, that our embassy was not to be notified."
The President was caught a little off guard by the general's tone.
The soldier was in an unusually foul mood, which was very out of character.
"Sir," said Kennedy as she opened the file and handed the President the first page.
"This is the transcript of an e-mail that was sent by Assistant Secretary of State Amanda Petry to Ambassador Cox. In it she clearly states the time and date the operation was to commence."
Kennedy gave the President a second to look over the text and then handed him another piece of paper.
"This is Ambassador Cox's reply asking for more specifics, and this is Amanda Petry's reply that outlines the rescue operation in detail." Kennedy handed him the third sheet.
The President looked over the documents in silence, and a frown slowly darkened his expression as each word hinted at what may have happened, and the twisted dark road where this might take him.
Patience not being one of her virtues, Jones got up from her chair and stood over the President's shoulder. She began scanning the documents and trying to make sense of what Kennedy was up to.
Pulling his reading glasses down to the tip of his nose Hayes looked at the director of the CIA and said, "This is serious stuff."
Before she could answer Jones said, "The State Department is going to be livid about this. Beatrice Berg is a living legend… are you out of your mind?" Jones was referring to the recently confirmed Secretary of State, who was quite possibly the most respected person in Washington. She was currently in Greece leading a delegation that was trying to jump-start the Middle East peace talks.
Kennedy nodded and said, "Valerie, none of us are happy about this."
"No," said Jones in an icy tone.
"I'm not talking about the operation.
I'm talking about you spying on State. You can't just go around intercepting State Department cables. I mean, are you insane?" Jones's face twisted into a scowl as she tried to calculate the damage that would be done if this were leaked to the press.
"Ms. Jones," General Flood gruffly replied.
"It is routine business for the NSA to intercept embassy traffic. And beyond that I don't think the State Department is in much of a position to complain about anything."
"General, I don't like this any more than you do," the President's chief of staff said a little defensively, "but the State Department will not take kindly to being spied on by the CIA, the NSA or whoever."
"Tough shit," answered
"Yes," answered the President in a sour tone, "and needless to say I'm not happy about it."
"I'd like to remind everyone," interrupted the President's chief of staff, "that I thought that entire operation was a bad idea from the start."
Ignoring Jones, Kennedy held up one of the two red folders and said, "I think I can shed some light on what went wrong, sir."
Hayes, his curiosity piqued, placed his forearms squarely on the desk and said, "I'm all ears."
"In this file"-Kennedy held up her left hand-"I have a list of e-mail and telephone transcripts. You will remember that before launching the rescue operation we decided that for reasons of operational security our embassy in the Philippines would not be notified until the teams and the hostages were safely extracted."
Jones had just finished taking a sip of coffee and began to shake her head vigorously.
"Again, I'm on the record as saying that was a bad idea. We're going to be smarting over that one for some time. This thing is a real mess. The press is getting more curious by the hour. The press office has already received three calls this morning, the Philippine government is demanding answers and our own State Department is furious."
The President also chose to ignore Jones for the moment and stayed focused on Kennedy, saying, "I remember the issue was hotly contested."
Without looking up, General Flood grumbled, "And you made it very clear, sir, that our embassy was not to be notified."
The President was caught a little off guard by the general's tone.
The soldier was in an unusually foul mood, which was very out of character.
"Sir," said Kennedy as she opened the file and handed the President the first page.
"This is the transcript of an e-mail that was sent by Assistant Secretary of State Amanda Petry to Ambassador Cox. In it she clearly states the time and date the operation was to commence."
Kennedy gave the President a second to look over the text and then handed him another piece of paper.
"This is Ambassador Cox's reply asking for more specifics, and this is Amanda Petry's reply that outlines the rescue operation in detail." Kennedy handed him the third sheet.
The President looked over the documents in silence, and a frown slowly darkened his expression as each word hinted at what may have happened, and the twisted dark road where this might take him.
Patience not being one of her virtues, Jones got up from her chair and stood over the President's shoulder. She began scanning the documents and trying to make sense of what Kennedy was up to.
Pulling his reading glasses down to the tip of his nose Hayes looked at the director of the CIA and said, "This is serious stuff."
Before she could answer Jones said, "The State Department is going to be livid about this. Beatrice Berg is a living legend… are you out of your mind?" Jones was referring to the recently confirmed Secretary of State, who was quite possibly the most respected person in Washington. She was currently in Greece leading a delegation that was trying to jump-start the Middle East peace talks.
Kennedy nodded and said, "Valerie, none of us are happy about this."
"No," said Jones in an icy tone.
"I'm not talking about the operation.
I'm talking about you spying on State. You can't just go around intercepting State Department cables. I mean, are you insane?" Jones's face twisted into a scowl as she tried to calculate the damage that would be done if this were leaked to the press.
"Ms. Jones," General Flood gruffly replied.
"It is routine business for the NSA to intercept embassy traffic. And beyond that I don't think the State Department is in much of a position to complain about anything."
"General, I don't like this any more than you do," the President's chief of staff said a little defensively, "but the State Department will not take kindly to being spied on by the CIA, the NSA or whoever."
"Tough shit," answered
Similar Books
