Blaze by Andrew Thorp King Read Free Book Online

conservative ideals but identified very strongly with the big government, social welfare driven compassion mantra of the “I am my brothers-keeper” doctrine typified by the post Obama age. All of this, she felt, was piggybacked by the uber-positive, gushingly empathetic sentiments of popular mega-preachers like Rick Warren and Joel Olsteen. She knew that Fitz, too, harbored many socially conservative ideals. He was personally not for gay marriage. He personally abhorred abortion. But when it came to policy and action, he clearly sided with his constituents on the left and publicly championed choice and gay rights. Gabriella understood that to Fitz, these issues were matters that largely would be settled beyond his humble judgment and be left to the intimacy between an individual and his or her Creator. At least, she suspected, that is what he rationalized in his own mind to mitigate the conflict that simmered within his heart over these issues.
    Moreover, Gabriella observed that Fitz’s core, driving beliefs and agenda aligned primarily with his vision for global equality and global synergy. He viewed borders as nothing but imaginary lines that sinful man had manufactured to create barriers and divisions. He very much was devoted to the “cult of multi-culti” as the right would mock. He intimated to her in sessions that he was actively lobbying and pushing for a global currency. Although he couldn’t say it explicitly, she knew he truly envisioned a world in which all nations co-governed. He confessed to her that the idea of eradicating the sovereignty of the United States would be a tough sell. Because of this, he told her he could never reveal this desire publicly. Instead he detailed his belief that the incremental fusion of international infrastructure and commerce could bring about a virtually borderless and seamless world without any overt relinquishment of sovereignty. He knew that as such a plan progressed, over time, the idea of merging nations into wider continental unions would be naturally and effortlessly achieved. He often explained to her that this was his utmost passion as President.
    â€œI have a meeting with Sapp and Mahoney in five minutes, Gabriella. I hate to cut this short, but duty calls. Time waits for no man.” Bob Sapp was Fitz’s high-strung chief of staff, and Hank Mahoney was Fitz’s vice president, the man who truly kept him from coming apart at the seams. His daily meetings with these two key staff members were the lifeblood of his productivity as a fairly green president.
    â€œUnderstood. Remember—emotional shield, but not emotional insensitivity. Feed the internal locus of control.”
    â€œThanks Gabriella. See you next week.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
    NATANZ, IRAN
    A rash Jafari sat at his desk sipping tea and clearing his head. He needed a break. He needed to gather his thoughts on the day. And on his life. He had been bouncing around troubleshooting all morning and he was exhausted. Typically, he found himself confined to the expanse of the underground structures of the Natanz nuclear facility, but today he was busy putting out a host of IT fires in the above ground area, particularly the centrifuge assembly plant. Every time Arash thought he had the system wired and bulletproof, another unintended consequence arose. Today was especially taxing since his boss was riding him to fix the glitches quickly. There was a lot on the test schedule as a result of a shipment that arrived that morning and contained a fresh batch of centrifuge components to be put to use for assembly and testing. The shipment was, in truth, many shipments that had arrived that day from a multitude of government-owned entities that had been feverishly producing the necessary centrifuge components to keep the Mullahs satisfied.
    Arash had been experiencing volcanic heartburn lately. He was taking medicine for it, but he knew that it was a futile effort and really only helped