War with Russia

Then the phone was picked up. Bear heard an English voice speaking, in what he later discovered was a south London accent.

“Hello. Trev Walker, the PM’s Director of Communications.”

Bear was courteous. “I’m sorry, Sir. I guess there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m calling from the White House. I’d hoped to talk to the PM’s aide to set up a call with President Dillon. This is not a media issue.”

“Don’t worry, mate,” came the retort. “I’m on the inside track with the PM. And anyway, he likes to keep the staff to a minimum while he’s at Chequers. I’ll handle it. What’s the call about?”

“Russia, NATO, Latvia and the way ahead.” Bear was surprised to find himself talking to the Brit PM’s media guy and not his Military Assistant, but guessed that was the way they did things over there. Nevertheless, Bear felt his irritation rising at the Brit’s obviously false friendliness and doubtless feigned ignorance. After all, what else would the President of the United States of America be ringing the British Prime Minister about at this exact moment in time, other than the crisis in Latvia. But, as was his custom, he took people as he found them. He knew no other way.

“Hi, Trev. Bear here,” he replied, trying to keep his voice friendly. “Can you get the Prime Minister on the line, please.”

“No, mate. You put the President on first, then I’ll get the PM.” Walker was quick to try and take advantage of the American’s courtesy.

There was a strict protocol for arranging such phone calls and Bear knew it full well: the junior waits for the senior. And there was no question who was the senior leader here. Which meant that Bear was having none of this. What was more, he hadn’t grown up on the wrong side of the tracks in Atlanta without developing a sixth sense for a chancer. “Thank you, Sir. But no. I’ll wait for the Prime Minister.”

Walker obviously knew when he was not going to win, because there was a pause and next moment there was a different voice on the line. However, Bear noted that Walker clearly did not like coming second; his failure to tell him who he was going to speak to next was another clear breach of protocol and designed to wrong-foot him.

“Prime Minister here,” a slightly high-pitched, nasal voice speaking in what Bear recognized as the Queen’s English came on the line.

“Hold on, Sir. I’ll put you through to the President.” Bear waited for Dillon to pick up and greet the Prime Minister and then flicked to “monitor call.”

“My dear Lynn.” It was the PM speaking. “How wonderful to hear you. How are you?”

“Good thanks, William.” Dillon was big enough not to be rattled at being stood up by the sky-diving machismo of the President, but she still had to talk to the French and small talk had never been her strongest suite. Quickly she ran through her thinking and then announced her decision to deter the Russians from further aggression against Latvia with a rapid deployment by sea, land and air.

“But to be effective, William, the United States needs allies in this. I’ve worked on the Chancellor in Berlin and I’m reasonably confident we’ll get Germany to sign up to Article Five, but it will take time. And we haven’t got time. I don’t anticipate a problem with the French, but I really need the UK to join us and quickly. When all’s said and done, no other armed forces are as close to us as yours… And we trust you. Our two nations have been through a lot together and I’m told your airborne troops have been working closely with ours, practicing just this sort of operation. Can I count you in?”

The Prime Minister hesitated and then blustered. “Ah well, Lynn. Of course I understand where you’re coming from and I do agree that the Russians are playing a seriously dodgy game. But as for sending troops to Latvia… I’m really not sure. We’d be awfully concerned at winding up the Russians even more and there’s really not a lot we can do. After all, it’s very much their backyard… Don’t you think?”

“Prime Minister.” Dillon dropped the “William” and her voice turned cold. “Are you seriously telling me that the UK is not prepared to stand up and defend the freedom of a NATO ally, facing the most egregious aggression from a resurgent Russia, determined to defend Russian speakers, wherever they are, and by invasion if necessary?”

“Well, no. Of course not, Lynn.” The Prime Minister was squirming now. “But you have to understand. My hands are tied. I really can do nothing with the military without first putting it to Parliament. Besides, we don’t need to worry about Russia and any reductions in our conventional forces, because we’re well covered with our Trident independent nuclear deterrent.”