On May 14, the world's largest supertanker, the MV Seawise Giant, was sunk by Saddam. The pouring out of hundreds of thousands of tons of crude oil was truly a disaster.
Saddam seemed to be throwing a tantrum, desperately seeking attention. His message was clear: if they didn't attend to his demands, they shouldn't expect affordable oil anymore.
From an outsider's perspective, one couldn't argue against his shocking strategies. However, he seemed indifferent to the consequences of his actions.
The Americans were increasingly frustrated. They realized that the situation was spiraling out of control, and their deterrent capabilities were waning. No aircraft carrier nearby meant that all vessels in the surrounding waters were at risk.
"Filson, I just got word; a huge oil tanker went down," said William White.
"Yes, sir. The international oil prices shot up unexpectedly. If things don't stabilize, we might be looking at another oil crisis," Filson replied, his concerns not being without merit.
"Still, my initial assessment stands; Iraq has lost it. The U.S. will likely bolster the ship escort fleet," William continued. "On the bright side, the Soviets are pulling out of Afghanistan within a week."
William White's comments were a relief to Filson. Compared to the Soviets withdrawing, the supertanker incident seemed trivial.
"So, this ship sinking is just on a last-ditch effort?" Filson asked.
"Ha, even if it isn't, I bet Washington's patience has run thin. If he keeps it up, it won't end well."
The dark oil brought more than just riches; it was also tainted by violent strife.
"Sir, the recent fluctuations in precious metals are significant. Should we...?"
William White pondered for a moment and said, "Forget it. I'm like a wildfire to the futures exchange; better to secure physical gold and not poke the bear. I don't want to end up like the Hunter family."
Since the boss insisted, Filson kept quiet and chose to convert large amounts of money into physical gold.
...
"William, you regretting giving up on the oil industry? Our family's assets have been steadily increasing," said the voice on the other end, Bush Jr., clearly showing off.
"Ha, congratulations to you. Seriously, had I your family's roots, you think I would've let go? The fact is, the Brits are privatizing, and I could've scooped up BP during the stock market crash."
Bush Jr. fell silent. Whenever William opened his mouth, he hit hard. No matter how fancy his oil empire was, comparing it to BP was a stretch.
"Pfft, rest assured, they're never going to sell," he retorted, still reluctant to concede.
"Alright, alright, George. I genuinely don't want to touch oil. I mean, communications, steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals -- I've steered clear of them all," William admitted.
After a brief moment of silence, Bush Jr. commented, "My old man says you're smart. I had my doubts, but you certainly seem to know what you're doing."
"Ha, let's not dwell on this. What's on your mind?" William asked.
"Cough, I believe the next phase is crucial for economic development..."
"Fine, I get it. I truly appreciate your insight."
Bush Jr. seemed confused, wanting to soften his approach, but it felt like he only got halfway through his thoughts. Why did William already say he understood?
William White was well aware of the current electoral climate. The U.S. economy was rebounding heavily, and this put pressure on the big players -- they didn't want any undesirable shifts in public sentiment.
If they didn't utilize William White now, it would be a wasted opportunity.
...
"That's what he said?" George Bush Sr. inquired.
"Yes, old man. Does he really understand?"
"Ha, it's my fault. It's inconvenient to talk over the phone, and now is a critical moment; don't forget the lessons from Watergate."
"They wouldn't go that far," Bush Jr. protested.
"Hmph, who knows? But that kid knows what's at stake. If something comes up, use a satellite phone or go directly."
William wasn't merely being paranoid; the allure of power often outweighed money. When it came down to it, risking it all for power wasn't such a big deal.
...
The day after the supertanker was bombed, the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan. They announced that due to outdated maps, they had wandered a bit off course during their retreat.
Well, there was really no explanation. That's just how big powers operate. If they don't like you, they hit you. If it doesn't seem to do any good, they back off. If you have any grievances, well, keep them to yourself.
Most countries welcomed the Soviets' timely correction of their mistakes. As for the battered Afghanistan, it seemed everyone chose to forget about it.
The third installment of Rambo hit theaters at just the right moment. It had to be said, they really caught a break. The US helped the brave Afghan people achieve their final victory.
Well, that's a Hollywood favorite, isn't it? Many stubbornly believed that Rambo was the one who helped Afghanistan win. Sure, that Stinger missile played a crucial role too.
Ambushing helicopters with Stinger missiles did have a high success rate. But if you were planning to attack a Soviet base, that would just be laughable -- the levels of strength were simply not comparable.
Sinking a supertanker ended another war. The restless precious metals market calmed down. Some commodities that had surged earlier even showed signs of pulling back.
"Boss, have you seen that movie? Is the Stinger missile really that effective? Should we buy a couple and try them out?" Jason fired question after question, leaving William White feeling rather exasperated.
With a weary glance at him, he said, "Jason, I wish that thing had never been invented. If it had to be, I sure hope it showed up after my super 747 came into service. If someone gives me that thing now..."
"I hear ya! That's the truth, though. Besides us, who else would have one?"
"Come on, it can't be that tough, right? They sent over two thousand to Afghanistan; you think it's impossible for the Soviets to snag a couple?"
"Boss, your new planes aren't scared of this, are they?"
"Of course not! I mean, that's what I say, but better safe than sorry. This isn't a movie where you just thrill-seek. Besides, I expect the ones they sent over don't have the latest tech; they won't be giving out the very best."
"Boss, that flick turned out great! Sylvester Stallone did a nice job; you should team up with him for a film!"
"Well, I'm considering it. The success of that film was just a stroke of luck. If it hadn't coincided with the Soviet withdrawal, it probably wouldn't have made that much at the box office."
"Columbia got lucky; when they bought them out, the price might go up again."
William White was strong enough not to worry about the likes of Columbia. But keeping Coca-Cola as a major stockholder in Columbia could lead to trouble. After increasing their holdings, White's fund became the largest single shareholder.
With White Films plus Disney, if Columbia came into the fold, it would be like William White controlled three major film companies. That raised a red flag about potential antitrust investigations.
"Boss, I heard they managed to get over a thousand various planes; is the Stinger missile really that powerful?"
"Cough, who said that?"
"It's what everybody's talking about outside; they say there's an 80% success rate."
"Ha! It's true that the success rate is high, but the cost is heavy too. It's like mutual destruction -- only in the early stages, mind you."
Once Jason realized it wasn't as magical as it sounded, he lost interest quickly. Judging by what William White said, it seemed they had to lie in wait for the right moment, ensuring a perfect hit took massive sacrifices.
*****
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