[Chapter 682: A Favor for the Desert Tycoon]
For the Emir, his biggest headache was Saddam. Kuwait's plan was simple; if they couldn't take down Saddam quickly, they needed to find a way to stymie him.
[T/N: Emir Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is the Emir/ruler of Kuwait. Also referred as the desert tycoon in this novel.]
"Jason, that's pretty much the idea. Just make Saddam look bad. If he had any misdeeds back when he was in kindergarten, you can definitely bring that up."
"Cough, uh, boss, did this guy offend you?" Only someone like Jason could ask such questions; Barry Diller surely wouldn't dare.
"Who am I to claim offense? I just have a few wealthy friends, and since they don't like Saddam, tossing a couple of rocks his way would do," he replied.
"Alright, I got it, boss. Saddam will be thoroughly trashed."
The American strategy was quite clear. They had to first portray their opponent as unjust, and then they could start wielding their democratic weapons.
A man like Saddam, with a military background, wouldn't stoop to engaging in any sort of democracy. Without his weapons, he wouldn't last long even with American support.
That's how Saddam rose to power; there was nothing he didn't understand. Seeing the Americans play their games only made him angrier. It appeared they had no intention of letting him off the hook; if possible, he figured he should prepare some backup plans.
Saddam tragically realized that he seemed to have no friends. If calamity truly strode upon him, it wouldn't matter; he couldn't even arrange for his family.
...
"A no-fly zone? What is that invention?" William White expressed surprise. In his memory, Iraq had been in conflict, albeit on a small scale, prior to the bombardment by Bush.
"Master, Saddam's elite forces are gone. If he deployed every last one of them to fight, it would be easy for someone else to take him down. So, he started learning our methods," Tanner replied.
"With what planes? Those battered MiGs? Can they even fly?" White inquired.
"They're doing alright, really. Once the Russians became ineffective, many of their pilots and ground crew found themselves jobless. Saddam takes care of his folks; if a plane breaks down, they just cannibalize parts from others."
William White shook his head in disbelief. He thought that the no-fly zone was nonsense. First, why couldn't the country fly over its own territory? Second, soon these old scraps would just be rusting junk -- there was no need for all that effort.
"Well, it looks like the public opinion we're steering is just what they need," he remarked.
"Yes, the American public still fears war. If it's just some air support, they won't care too much. Besides, it's really being led by the Brits and the French."
"Fine, so be it. Saddam is destined for doom, and there's no point in worrying about his feelings," William said resolutely.
...
William White's actions in the desert garnered different interpretations from the outside world. Wall Street believed that the billionaire was very serious about entering the energy sector. Those traditional giants could be in trouble.
The analysts believed it was a warning from the billionaire. If they ignored him, there would surely be consequences.
By this time, they began to take this legendary figure seriously. Wealth was irrelevant; could you really be richer than someone from a Jewish background?
Military power didn't matter much either; dealing with some local goons might not be a problem. Regarding other issues, it was better to save their energy. The identity of media moguls was just a moderate annoyance.
However, putting all of that into one person's lap could not be taken lightly. The news from Washington was troubling; if they didn't handle it properly, it would be a significant mess.
...
As William White concluded his journey here, he prepared to head to his next destination.
No matter how the country faltered, it was still the world's second-largest economy. Whether it was iron ore or oil, the country was a decent customer.
"Heading to Japan?" he was asked.
"Yes, Dad. His plane will land in fifteen minutes."
"Ha, I almost forgot; this kid got the plane before me," the elder Bush said with a chuckle.
"I heard it has missile defense; if not, he wouldn't be going to the desert this time," his son replied.
Bush Sr. wasn't impressed; he thought his son was still too naive. William White's plans weren't dictated by his aircraft. He was sure those other guys were far more concerned about flight safety than anyone could imagine.
If something happened, who would know what backup plans had been arranged? If things escalated, it could be quite a mess to resolve.
"He's off to find buyers in Japan. Tsk, tsk, he just secured a source and immediately set off to find customers. How much money does this guy have? His recent moves have left many in shock."
"Son, when capital reaches a certain level, it truly is just a number. The Federal Reserve is engaging in quantitative easing, and he's obviously picked up on the change. That's why William White started borrowing; if I'm right, he's also going to find financing in Japan."
...
Bush Sr.'s estimate was correct. Still, what William White cared about most was the market.
The reason why the future China thrived, developing everything quickly, wasn't just their technology. It was because there was a market.
From a country that had no production capacity for liquid crystal displays, they managed to come out ahead against Japan and others. Did anyone think this was due to stronger tech development capabilities?
The core reason was market demand. If something was developed, the market would absorb it.
*****
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