The Scorpion's Gate by Richard A. Clarke Read Free Book Online

the Iranians.” This time the SECDEF actually pounded the table. “Ron, tell ’em. After all, they were trying to kill you.”
    From the back bench behind Secretary Conrad, Under Secretary Ronald Kashigian cleared his throat and stood. The thick glasses and buzz-cut hair made Kashigian look like a college basketball coach. “Well, I was in the hotel as it was attacked. And our intelligence people assume I was the target.” Red was rising into his ears. “They, the experts in the region, say this was definitely the Islamygians... Riyadh.” Kashigian sat back down.
    “We are convinced, Billy,” the Secretary of Defense said, stabbing his finger in the air at the National Security Advisor, “that this al Qaeda regime in Riyadh is sending a message to King Hamad in Bahrain to kick the Americans out, or else they will destabilize the place with bombings like these. These people are not satisfied with just their fanatical caliphate in Saudi Arabia; they want to export their revolution throughout the Gulf !”
    Dr. Caulder, a former University of Chicago professor who had stepped in as National Security Advisor six months ago after his predecessor had suddenly died of a stroke, asked meekly, “Who do the Bahrainis think did it?”
    The NCTC Director stood at his seat along the wall, said, “They don’t know, Dr. Caulder,” and sat down.
    “Well then, moving on, maybe we can agree on, what is it, Exercise Bright Star? General Burnside.”
    “Burns, sir.” The handsome and relaxed Air Force four-star had spent a career flying and was now the second most senior military officer in the United States, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “Bright Star is a CENTCOM exercise series with the Gypoes, ah, the Egyptians, going back over twenty-five years.
    “It lapsed for a while and in recent years has only been carried out on a small scale, but now with the revolution in Saudi, Cairo is interested in a show of force in the Red Sea, to demonstrate to Riyadh that Egypt has the full military support of the United States, just in case the Islamyah government is thinking about exporting their revolution to Egypt.
    “We plan the largest amphibious operation in recent history, the largest airborne drop, and one of the largest bombing exercises we have ever had. Three MAUs, Marine Amphibious Units, will go ashore at three points along the Egyptian Red Sea coast, about fifteen thousand men.” He used a laser pointer to put a red dot on the flat screen. “Two brigades of the 82nd Airborne will drop in behind the beachhead, about nine thousand personnel. The target areas will be softened up by Air Force B-1s and B-2s from CONUS and by Navair from the Bush and the Reagan battle groups in the Red Sea.
    “The Marines and Airborne will link up with the Egyptian First and Second Armored Divisions and then move up the Nile Valley in a combined operation to demonstrate interoperability. All of this will be done in a way that allows the folks in Riyadh to see on TV and through their sources what the awesome firepower of the United States of America can do.” General Burns turned off his laser.
    “Any questions of General Burns? No? Then thank you all. If I could ask everybody to leave except the principal or acting principal from each agency,” Dr. Caulder said.
    “I’ll meet you in the car, Susan.” MacIntyre turned from the table and whispered to his analyst, who had been back-benching behind him.
    After the shuffling had settled down, National Security Advisor Caulder turned to the Secretary of Defense. “What was it, Henry, that you wanted to talk about in a smaller group?”
    Tall and broad-shouldered, Conrad, dressed in what appeared to be an expensive double-breasted suit, radiated overflowing energy, fidgeting in his seat. “Well, it’s just very sensitive, you know, Billy,” Conrad said in a softer tone than he had used to the full house. “The reason I was so adamant, MacIntyre, I’m sorry, is that we have