The Bin Laden Plot

Notably absent from today’s meeting was Brenda Verbeck, who was under investigation by the FBI. However, the matter had been withheld from the public and even the rest of the president’s cabinet and staff. Only the president and Hardison, a handful at the CIA, and a small cell at the FBI knew what Verbeck had done.

First up was Director Guisewhite, with an update on the simplest of the three issues on today’s agenda — the gas centrifuges.

“Good afternoon, Mr. President. The investigation into the illegal sale of gas centrifuges by Snyder Industries to Iran is proceeding well. We’ve collected enough information to charge Dan Snyder and two others within Snyder Industries with a violation of U.S. sanctions. The case is ironclad, in my opinion, with the only question being — how many years will Snyder and his accomplices spend behind bars. The CIA deserves significant credit in this matter for discovering the sale of the centrifuges from the UUV communication intercepts, plus locating the equipment aboard the merchant ship en route to Iran.”

“Good work, Bill and Christine,” the president said.

Following Guisewhite’s update, the topic shifted to the impact of the U.S. Navy’s intervention in the Persian Gulf. Secretary of State Perini continued the afternoon’s brief.

“As you’re aware, our engagement with the Russian warships escorting the merchant achieved its primary objective — preventing the centrifuges from being delivered to Iran. There’s been no significant blowback from sinking the merchant, partly because we revealed that the ship was carrying equipment that would have dramatically improved Iran’s ability to manufacture nuclear weapons and that the late identification of the merchant’s cargo and imminent arrival at an Iranian port required quick and drastic action. Another factor in our favor was that the merchant crew safely abandoned the sinking ship; no civilian lives were lost.

“Unfortunately, the secondary goal of preventing conflict with Russia wasn’t completely realized. While we avoided collateral damage to the surface warships, we sank one of Russia’s nuclear-powered submarines. Your firm stance with Russia on this matter — that if a country puts its warships in harm’s way, it has to accept that harm might occur — has proved effective. Additionally, the Russian submarine fired first, justifying Jimmy Carter’s response, counterfiring in self-defense.

“Regarding the incident, Yuri Kalinin has acquiesced. The Russian president remains indebted to America for our support during the military coup that temporarily deposed him, and while he’s posturing angrily in public, he has accepted the outcome privately. Helping matters, their submarine sank in shallow enough waters — above crush depth — and we assisted with the crew’s rescue. To summarize the issue, President Kalinin has assured us that there will be no Russian retaliation.”

After Perini finished her brief, the president turned to Secretary of Defense Glass, who was prepared to discuss the most delicate of the three issues — Iran’s sinking of Stethem.

“The evidence is clear,” Glass began. “Based on ONI’s analysis of the explosion’s acoustic signature and inspection of the damage inflicted, we know an Iranian heavyweight torpedo sunk Stethem. You’ve asked for a payback plan, and we think one of Iran’s new frigates would make an excellent man-made reef in the Persian Gulf.”

The president nodded. “A superb suggestion.”

Glass continued, “The plan is strictly quid pro quo. The frigate will be sunk by one of our heavyweight torpedoes. I was hoping to assign the honor to Captain Wilson and his BLUE crew aboard Michigan, but they’ve returned to their home port and the GOLD crew is now manning the submarine. However, Jimmy Carter is still in the Gulf, and pending your concurrence, orders will be sent to its crew.”

The president canvassed the men and women around the table for their thoughts on the matter, and after no one voiced an objection to the plan, the president announced, “Make it so.”

The meeting wrapped up, and as the president left the Situation Room, Hardison locked eyes with Christine. This had been the first of two meetings scheduled for this afternoon. In a few minutes, a second meeting would begin, between only the president, Hardison, and Christine.

79 WASHINGTON, D.C.

Inside the Oval Office, Christine took a chair facing the president at his desk, while Hardison selected a seat beside her. They had just spent an hour in the Situation Room discussing issues the public was aware of, and the president was now turning to the more delicate, confidential matters: Rolow, Khalila, and Verbeck. Each was a complicated affair with profound implications, especially with a presidential election only months away. Christine and Hardison had spent the last month hammering out plans to deal with each problem, with the president approving the way forward for two of the three issues thus far.