[Chapter 616: Gaddafi's Trouble]
The war ended too swiftly, and a lot of people were dissatisfied. Running into these damn idiots was just bad luck for the old Bush.
This group of guys has no belief system; all they think about are numbers. What's the big deal about dying for profit? They're not the ones doing the dying, anyway.
"Master, something seems off with the CIA. They keep popping up in Africa, and the people accompanying them look like your classic British types."
"Ha! Something's wrong? It should be. It could very well be related to the Lockerbie incident. With no results for so long, nobody can accept the situation."
"Right, their initial suspects were, after all, Gaddafi. They have the motive, they have the power, and it fits since they also don't get along with us."
"Alright then, those kids' vacation time is over. It's time to reorganize. Heh, my interests, naturally, will stay mine."
...
On the other side of the globe, Gaddafi wasn't without his own resources. His intelligence network far surpassed that of the bumbling Saddam.
At this point, whether or not it was his men behind all of this was becoming less important. If the U.S. thinks it's you, even if you present proof otherwise, they'll still say it's you.
What Saddam presented previously was likely true to a large extent.
If it wasn't, he wouldn't have gone nuts so suddenly. But evidence doesn't help. The U.S. denies it, Kuwait claims ignorance. So, at this point, isn't this just Saddam's fabrication?
Gaddafi's situation is quite similar to Saddam's in many ways. The difference is he still maintains decent relations with his European partners. As for sanctions, he probably won't escape that. For direct combat? As long as the U.S. isn't completely insane, they're too scared to dare that just yet.
You have a powerful air force, we get that. But we can't catch up. It's better to strengthen our air defense.
Saddam's biggest blunder was placing his elite forces in others' backyards. If they didn't suffer for that, it would be unreal.
"Moussa Koussa, what's the situation with those diamond mines? Any changes?"
"None, Mr. President. The CIA and the French aren't making any moves. The tribes, however, are really causing trouble. With all the fighting, if it continues, there won't be anyone left to mine."
"By the way, what's happening with that so-called billionaire? What's he up to?"
"He hasn't returned. His security firm left at least half in Kuwait. A significant portion even got dissolved. They've caused quite the mess in South America."
"Dissolved?" Hearing this, Gaddafi was clearly surprised, but he didn't dwell on it. To him, these guys weren't much of a threat; it was the CIA's gang that posed the real danger.
...
Receiving a mobilization order, the team that had been partying hard began to pack their gear. To them, military life was everything. Unless they aged out or died, it was tough to go back to normal civilian life.
The current boss wasn't half bad. Generous goes without saying; if he wasn't, no one would risk their necks for him. The greatest advantage of William White was his very limited use of power.
That part was crucial; if you acted recklessly and without discernment, it wouldn't matter how elite your troops were.
"Sir, Max is here."
"Good, send in two cups of coffee, and don't let anyone disturb us."
"Sure thing, sir." William White swallowed hard. This was getting more tempting by the minute. Should he eat or not? It was really a dilemma.
"Sir, the Montana farm is set up, though it's a bit far, the environment is quite nice."
"We've got quite a few people. Setting them up anywhere will cause problems."
"Thankfully, the farm is cheap. Otherwise, that would be quite an investment."
"It won't be that cheap for much longer, especially for farms near the city. You know, Max, prices for White Farms in Texas have gone up quite a bit. If you're looking to snag a small farm, it's best to act now."
"Got it, I'll arrange for my agent to negotiate."
William White wasn't calling Max over just for casual chat. Eventually, the U.S. would impose sanctions on Gaddafi; he was determined to take this opportunity to hit hard.
"Sir, that means the latest will be by the end of the year."
"Yes, all signs indicate that Gaddafi is going to be held responsible for this. I believe that old coot knows it, too."
"Sir, are you implying...?"
"Heh, I always love a good sneak attack. Haven't they been causing a ruckus lately? Let them stew in it."
"I understand, sir. I'll make sure to give them a proper welcome. Those bastards must pay for what they've done."
"Hmm, Africa's been a bit chaotic lately, with Sierra Leone and Congo at each other's throats. Besides South Africa's production, diamond prices are skyrocketing these days."
"I understand, sir. They won't be able to take anything away."
"There's no intense animosity between us. So as long as the goods are left behind, the people don't matter."
"Alright, let's hope they behave themselves."
After seeing Max off, William White found himself at a bit of a loose end. Planning ambushes was Max's job. As a military novice, it was better to observe.
...
The sound of sandbags slamming against each other was a constant torment to the assistant's eardrums. Watching that guy sweat it out was quite a sight.
Human nature drives attraction, and that's the same for both men and women. It's our instinctual reaction.
Researchers have studied that the incidence of flirtation in gyms is far higher than in other settings.
Okay, there's some truth to that. The so-called sweaty odor doesn't kick in until after a brief pause. The scent wafting now is indeed very enticing to the opposite sex. Well, or maybe the same sex.
Uh-oh, he's pretty strong; am I going to get killed here?
The assistant's wild thoughts didn't affect William White's good mood. The situation in Africa was on the verge of being resolved. Some of the things best kept hidden were better not to come to light; the greatest deterrent is when the fist hasn't been thrown yet.
"Sir, what are you having for lunch today?" The assistant asked as she handed him a towel, not that she didn't want to help, but she really couldn't reach, plus she was feeling a bit weak.
"Beef, but rare."
His gentle words paired with a predatory gaze made the assistant feel a little dizzy.
William White shook his head with a bitter smile and turned toward the bathroom. This girl was just adorably dense.
Thinking he would tear her apart, Lisa was taken aback that her worries didn't materialize. While she felt some discomfort, there were no horrific memories.
Having driven a new car more often, she naturally had some experience. Besides, this wasn't a bus; it needed to be treated with care.
A pleasant lunch break indeed left one feeling uplifted, though still a bit stirred.
...
"Mr. President, we've received word that the U.S. might take unfavorable actions against us."
"Possibly? Moussa Koussa, are you stupid? From the beginning, they've targeted me. Ah, it's too bad if Saddam had held out a bit longer; I could have prepared better. By the way, where's this information coming from?"
"From the French; this intel is quite credible, leaked from high-level sources. According to the intelligence agents, it seems intentional."
"Interesting. Looks like the U.S.'s little buddies aren't quite so trustworthy after all."
*****
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