Saint by Ted Dekker Read Free Book Online Page A

Iranian.”
    â€œNo, but it’s been proposed by their minister of defense, and they are backing him. The United States is now the only Western nation openly opposing the plan.”
    â€œAnd how many Middle Eastern countries are paying lip service with no intention to disarm?”
    â€œIf they don’t disarm, Israel doesn’t disarm.” Bromley shrugged. “The execution could stall and fade into oblivion like every other treaty signed in the Middle East. But by backing the plan, we gain considerable political capital.”
    The president closed his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck. There was some good logic behind the plan. Each Middle Eastern country would be allowed an army large enough to carry out regional defensive operations only. No air forces, no nuclear programs, no mechanized armies.
    The United Nations would establish a full-scale nuclear defense in the region under the strict obligation to deal immediately and force-fully with any threats.
    It was a bold, audacious, improbable plan that made sense only on paper. But his staff had analyzed it for nine months now, and the fact remained, it did indeed make sense on paper. The Iranian minister of defense, Assim Feroz, might be a crook to the bone, but he certainly wasn’t short on intelligence.
    All of Europe and Asia had provisionally endorsed the plan.
    Israel had rejected the plan outright, but that only played into the hands of her enemies.
    â€œOur alternative is to dissent along with Israel, further degrading our good standing with Europe and Asia,” Bromley said.
    â€œThe Israelis will never agree.”
    â€œIf we back the UN force, they may have to.”
    Still no comment from David Abraham. The man was biding his time. He sat in his black tweed suit, legs still crossed, one hand still rubbing his beard.
    â€œThe initiative will come to a head at the United Nations Middle Eastern summit next month,” Bromley said.
    David Abraham spoke quietly, but his voice was thick. “This is unacceptable. If you agree to the terms of this initiative, pain and suffering will haunt the world forever.”
    They stared at him in silence. David had never really concerned himself with policy—why the strong reaction now? What had prompted him to suggest the meeting in the first place? Robert gave him space.
    â€œI’m not sure I understand,” Bromley said.
    â€œWithout an army, Israel is powerless against an enemy sworn to her destruction. I don’t profess to be an adviser of world politics, but I am a historian. A simple glance down the corridors of time will reveal the foolishness of any disarmament on this scale. You can forcibly disarm a country, but you can’t disarm the heart. The hatred of Israel’s enemies will find its own way.”
    â€œWhich is why the United Nations—”
    â€œYou assume the United Nations will always have Israel’s interests in mind.” David lowered his hand from his beard and drilled Bromley with a stare. “Don’t forget that the United Nations is made up of Israel’s enemies as well as friends.”
    â€œI think the secretary’s suggesting that we play ball without intending to follow through,” the president said.
    â€œAssuming that’s possible. You agree one day, and the next day you are bound by your word. You must not do this, Robert. As your adviser on spiritual matters, I cannot overemphasize my strenuous objection to agreeing to this initiative.”
    David was now out of character. He was known to give strong opinions at times, but always with a smile and a nod. Robert couldn’t recall ever seeing the man so agitated.
    â€œYou see this as a spiritual matter?” the secretary asked.
    David settled back in his chair. “Isn’t everything? At the risk of sounding arrogant, let me suggest that I know of things in this matter that would make no sense to either of you.” He shifted his gaze to