Dragon's Fury - Dragon's Breath Part 21

"I figure I'm going to ultimately work towards Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP). I got a knack for sneaking around and doing it quietly. I also figure I am going to be a crack shot."

"So, both of us have all our affairs with schooling worked out. We're both ahead in most of our cla.s.ses and can test out and get the credits for this semester so we can apply those later on down the line. We'll be done with our testing by December 5th, and from then on it's going to be Semper Fidelis!"

Sergeant Ken Bennett had been in the Marines for many years. He had been recruiting all over the country for the last four years. There had been many times when he came away disillusioned with today's American youth. But experiences like this one made up for that, and then some. Whenever he saw young men like Leon and Billy, who were willing to give up their lifestyles and willing to serve their nation, he knew America would always survive and that there would be good hands to which he could pa.s.s the torch.

"Well, it seems like you vermin have everything all figured out. Sounds like you got it planned down to the last detail, with all of your I's dotted and all of your T's crossed. You know what? I don't see any holes in your OPLAN either. Let's sit down and map out both of your strategies. One towards aviation and Super Cobras, and the other towards reconnaissance, sniper school and that LRRP spot."

"But before we do that, let me tell you that you boys have made my day. This deserves a real celebration and I'm going to tell you that a Marine takes advantage of such opportunities whenever he can. Yep, I feel a big feed comin' on and this one's on me!"

November 24, 2005, 20:45 National Reconnaissance Office Headquarters IMINT Directorate Chantilly, VA John Bowers looked at the a.s.sembled technicians and a.n.a.lysts. "Wow!" he thought. "They really have staffed up over here." It didn't surprise him. With all of the requests coming in from the Middle East, and with the continued demand for information on the Chinese, plus the normal activities, it was little wonder they didn't have more people than they did.

"Tom, let me first offer my congratulations on your promotion. You're going to do a heck of a job managing this operation and I cannot think of a more deserving person. Now, let's see what got you so fired up that you needed to call me over here this evening."

Tom Lawton had been promoted to Manager, Imagery Intelligence a.n.a.lysts just a couple of weeks ago.

His old boss, Bill Hendrickson, had also moved up the food chain and was now a Director of Imagery Intelligence. The promotion had not kept Tom from continuing to work like an a.n.a.lyst, though. He spent several hours each day personally reviewing imagery from the latest hot spots, and, in particular, from Red China-where his observations and a.n.a.lysis ten months earlier had warned the United States of Red China's extraordinary efforts in the Naval Aviation area. It was his recent discovery of further developments in this area that Tom wanted to show the National Security Advisor.

"John, take a look at this image."

Turning to his computer, Tom typed in a few commands on his keyboard and an overhead view of a Red Chinese Sea Control aircraft carrier was displayed on the screen.

"OK, Tom, that looks like the new Chinese aircraft carrier, the Beijing. It's a good shot of it for sure, but what is so special about this particular image?"

Tom typed in a few more commands. In the upper left-hand corner of the image, some text appeared, identifying the time the image was made, and its location. That text simply read: 11/22/05 03:25.34 Zulu 21:13:45 N 116:26:15 E.

South China Sea "John, notice the date and location."

John Bowers took just an instant before realization dawned on him.

"What! Wait just a second. Tom, those figures can't be right, can they? The Beijing was supposed to be off the Indian coast-in fact, I know it was off the Indian coast on that date. I remember the briefing.

How on earth could that date and location be correct?"

Tom had already gone over this same question in his mind several times. In resolving the dilemma, he had decided that the evidence pointed to the only conclusion possible.

"The picture and time stamp is correct, John. The answer is simple. That's not the Beijing. It's a second Red Chinese Sea Control aircraft carrier."

Taking a seat next to Tom, John's mind went into overdrive.

"But just last week we saw pictures of the second one still in its dry dock in the Tanjin s.h.i.+pyards. How could they have possibly completed, outfitted and rigged that s.h.i.+p in this amount of time?"

Tom displayed another image on his screen. This one showed a similar s.h.i.+p, still in dry dock, but nearing completion. The date stamp on this image was two days after the first picture, and its location was the Tanjin s.h.i.+pyards.

"John, that s.h.i.+p is still building in Tanjin. The first image is an entirely different vessel that the Chinese built and launched without our knowledge at all. What it means is that very soon the Chinese are going to have at least three of these things launched and on trials."

"And here's the shocker; at least a possible shocker. We know they were training eight air wings on those temporary landing decks they had installed at several airfields. We know that they are capable of moving these decks and then installing them on these container s.h.i.+ps, which they then structurally and electronically modify to produce these sea control carriers. Based on what we are seeing here, we're going to have to presume that the Chinese are building six to eight of these vessels, not just the two."

John absorbed this information, almost reluctantly. It was incredible. But it looked to be exactly what the Chinese were doing. If you added the two larger deck aircraft carriers the Chinese were building in Shanghai to the potential eight, it meant that the Chinese would have ten aircraft carriers operational within the next eighteen to twenty-four months!

"OK, Tom. You don't need to do any further convincing. This is a major development. Almost beyond belief, but the images don't lie."

"We're going to have to either divert more of our existing resources, or, more likely, launch more satellite a.s.sets to watch this twenty-four/seven. I want to find where these other carriers are being built.

We may need some HUMINT help from the Agency. I also want to do a much more thorough a.n.a.lysis of all of the PRC's s.h.i.+pbuilding activities, commercial and military. I'll get Bill into the loop, as well as the NRO Director himself. Use the equipment resources that you have available now, and request whatever overtime or additional personnel you feel you will need, so we can prepare a preliminary briefing for the NCA day after tomorrow."

"I'll set up the meeting with the President, the SecDef, the Joint Chiefs, CIA and State. We'll make the request for more equipment to be launched out of Vandenberg at the earliest window of opportunity.

Given what we are seeing here, I expect that particular request will be approved without delay. In addition, we'll discuss the potential for HUMINT operations during the meeting."

November 27, 2005, 22:47 WNN Broadcast Headquarters New York City, New York David Krenshaw was ecstatic. Here he was, sitting in the CEO's office being offered the position of which he had always dreamed, and which he had worked so hard to attain.

"David, I can't tell you how excited we are at your acceptance of our offer of a position on the Board of Directors at WNN, as well as your acceptance of the promotion to President and General Manager for our World Wide News Operations. In that role, in addition to our agreement to have you continue as an anchor and producer of Special Reports, your expertise, contacts and historical capabilities will help you in your management responsibilities. You will be responsible for the network's day-to-day news operations for Cable, TV and the net, including all aspects of programming and production. You have a very capable management team made up of Vice Presidents and Directors, most of whom you have known and interacted with for several years."

"Both your position on the Board of Directors and as President and General Manager of World Wide News places you on the WNN Executive Committee. It is an exciting day here at WNN, David, and we congratulate you."

"Finally, although the offer is not affiliated with WNN, my position in this organization allows me to extend to you another offer. On behalf of the Council on International Relations, and as a result of your significant ties with, and involvement in, international affairs, I would like to offer you members.h.i.+p in the Council. As you know, members.h.i.+p is an honor and a very prestigious form of recognition...it is also by invitation only. At the director level on the CIR, we have discussed you many times, David, and my recommendation on your behalf has been tendered several times. Your work over the last year has caught everyone's attention, and last week the application was approved."

David had desired a position on the CIR for several years. He knew he had to be recommended, and that an offer had to be made, but he had liberally spread the word that he was interested in being a part of the group, dropping the hint, whenever appropriate, to every member he knew. Apparently his behavior had finally "paid off." This new position of influence-wielding responsibility was going to give him the opportunity he desired to not only report the news and help shape it through that reporting...but to actually helpmake the news.

"Of course I accept, Phil. As you know it is an opportunity that I have wanted for a long time. I look forward to working with the Council in all its efforts to promote sound world wide foreign relations and to stimulate conditions throughout the world towards those ends."

Philip Rheinholdt was the Chairman and CEO of WNN. He had been helping mentor David for several years. Although, based on David's uncanny ability to break and then produce major news events on the international scene, David's spot on the Board of Directors had become a forgone conclusion, and quite frankly, Philip probably would not have placed him in the management position over World Wide News.

Really, it had been a purely political move. David's Asian and Near East allies and mentors were influential and had invested greatly in WNN. Promoting David over the heads of other Vice Presidents and Directors who had better management skills and more seniority would be a management issue he and David would have to deal with. But, all in all, it may not be a bad thing. Keeps the troops honest and a little off balance.

Having David on the CIR would also be a mixed blessing. David was very connected, so much so that sometimes other members were worried about that influence on his loyalty. Phillip shared their concerns.

The CIR was interested in people loyal to promoting foreign relations and the network of ties that bound such relations together. In Philip's view such networks transcended ideology and nationalities. This was also the view of many of the senior members of the Council. There was concern that David's commitment to members.h.i.+p in the CIR would be much more a matter of David's desire to promote himself than it was a commitment to promote the goals of the Council.

Philip knew that, to one degree or another, the same was true of all individuals and he was confident that David's other positive and valuable a.s.sets could be used to advance the goals of the Council and of WNN, despite the drawbacks. After all, the CIR had been using all types of individuals, from Presidents, to University Chancellors, to Network CEO's, to Senators and military leaders for decades to formulate and build the international community and network as it existed today and as it would exist in the future.

Many of the members of the CIR were very self-centered and ambitious individuals. In a few cases they were downright despicable and sorry excuses for humanity outside of their brilliant abilities in specific areas. The Council used them all, just as it would use David Krenshaw. Just the same, his ambition and loyalties would bear watching, and Philip would relate as much to the Council along with Dave's acceptance.

"Great, David. Congratulations on you acceptance of members.h.i.+p in the CIR and all of your other achievements. I know it is a big day for you. We are going to have a small celebration tomorrow evening on your behalf in the corporate banquet room on the top floor...just down the corridor from your new office, in fact. Many of our WNN executives will be there along with quite a few members of the Council. Please extend the invitation to your wonderful wife, Jennie, too."

December 2, 2005, 06:20 30thAir Wing Operations, 2nd s.p.a.ce Launch Squadron s.p.a.ce Launch Complex 4E Vandenberg Air Force Base, California The 2nd s.p.a.ce Launch Squadron of the 30th Air Wing of the U.S. Air Force existed to conduct safe, reliable, and timely launch operations in support of Department of Defense and other governmental and commercial launches into s.p.a.ce. Its location at Vandenberg Air Force base near Lompoc on California's central coast allowed the 2nd s.p.a.ce Launch Squadron to be the only squadron in the U.S. Air Force capable of launching payloads directly into low-earth polar and sun-synchronous...o...b..ts. Using the t.i.tan IV heavy lift vehicle, the Atlas IIAS medium-heavy lift vehicle, and the t.i.tan II and Delta II medium lift vehicles, the 2nd had the capability for diverse s.p.a.ce launch missions unmatched by any other Air Force Squadron.

On this date, the operations personnel were monitoring the impending launch of a KH-12 (formerly known as the KH-11B or KH-11/I) reconnaissance satellite from s.p.a.ce Launch Complex 4E, as ordered by the NCA and carried out through the NRO and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. The KH-12 weighs over thirty thousand pounds at launch and requires a t.i.tan IV B heavy lift booster to insert it into orbit. That is what today's launch called for, and the 2ndof the 30thwas prepared to make it happen.

As to the capabilities of the satellite itself, the sensors of the KH-12 operate in visible and near infrared light, as well as thermal infrared for detection of heat sources. They also incorporate low-light-level image intensifiers to provide for imaging during night operations. The KH-12's have an infrared capability superior to that of the earlier KH-11 satellites, which is used primarily for detection of camouflaged targets and for observing differential thermal inertia in the target area. It is also used for looking at structures or targets buried underground, and for differentiating operating production factories from those that are not.

In addition, the KH-12's sophisticated electronics package provides sharper images than the older KH-11, with a resolution approaching ten centimeters. A periscope-like rotating mirror on the satellite reflects images onto the primary mirror, enabling the KH-12 to take pictures at very high oblique angles.

This means that the KH-12 can provide high resolution images of objects hundreds of kilometers to either side of its flight path.

All of these traits would serve this satellite well as it was launched into orbit to provide much more in-depth coverage of the Chinese coast and Chinese s.h.i.+pbuilding activities. Its mission would be to search for those s.h.i.+pbuilding activities related to the new Sea Control aircraft carriers the PRC was producing. Since noticing the 2ndat-sea carrier, the NRO had discovered yet another, this one conducting trials between the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea.

The information regarding the 3rdSea Control Carrier had produced rapid results when it was presented to the president and his key advisors by the National Security Advisor, John Bowers, and Tom Lawton of the National Reconnaissance Office. The concern it evoked at the highest levels of government in the United States was expressed by this expedited launch of a very sophisticated and expensive KH-12.

"We are a go for launch. All systems are checking in good to go. I repeat, we are go. T-minus 15 seconds and counting."

"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...Launch!"

Out on the launch pad, the gantry suddenly became visible in the darkness as the t.i.tan IV B's three ma.s.sive stage "O" solid-rocket motors ignited. Slowly, then with increasing speed, the rocket lifted its payload into the air trailing a ma.s.sive gout of flame.

"All systems are nominal. Down range tracking is on. Stage "O" separation and Stage 1 ignition coming up on my mark...mark!"

Approximately two minutes into the flight, the first stage LR87 liquid-propellant rocket ignited as the solid rocket boosters fell away. Then, Stage 2, using a LR91 liquid-propellant engine ignited. Mission parameters used a final Boeing Aeros.p.a.ce inertial upper stage to lift the Kh-12 to the desired orbit.

Within the hour, the Air Force K-12 satellite had achieved its optimal orbit and was completely checked out and p.r.o.nounced in perfect operating condition for its mission.

December 5, 2005 Along the Kuwait/GIR Border The Greater Islamic Republic The entire region surrounding the Persian Gulf was arrayed like a ma.s.sive chessboard whose the playing pieces were the various Army, Navy, and Air Force groups deployed in the region by the opposing forces. As would occur in any difficult chess match, at times the two opponents observed their adversary's disposition of forces and the intent behind that disposition and then prepared to make countering moves accordingly with their own 'pieces.' In the Persian Gulf, on December 5, 2005, the movement of forces as a result of the initial clash was underway.

The GIR was maintaining a relatively large force in the vicinity of Irbil, and had established the headquarters for its 2ndArmy group in Basra. This army group would be responsible for maintaining order in all of the former Iraq and providing for the defense along the Turkish/Saudi and Kuwaiti frontiers. To that end, this army group was being organized into a force of three hundred thousand troops along with several thousand artillery pieces, over fifteen hundred tanks, three hundred helicopters and seven hundred fighter and attack aircraft. The northern areas were to receive about one third of this force while the southern sector, which faced Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, fielded two thirds of the strength.

The GIR 1stArmy group had been reconst.i.tuted and pulled out of the former Iraq back deeper into the Greater Islamic Republic, but only as far as Ahvaz, a distance of one hundred miles. This force would consist of close to one hundred and fifty thousand troops, two thousand artillery pieces, five hundred tanks, one hundred and fifty helicopters and six hundred military aircraft. These forces would be tasked with the security and defense of the GIR Persian Gulf coast from Abadan to the Mand River and the security of the internal regions, primarily the Karkeh, Dez and Marun river drainages.

With the reduction in forces in the former Iraq on the GIR's part, and with significant political pressure from opposition political leaders at home who claimed that the reason for the force buildup had vanished, the United States and its allies were also downsizing in the Gulf region. This downsizing would result in the United States and Great Britain maintaining a total reaction force of twenty-five thousand troops (20K U.S. and 5K British) in the Kuwait area who were backed up by the Kuwaiti Army of twenty thousand active duty personnel and a Saudi contingent of ten thousand. It was antic.i.p.ated that these force numbers would be reduced over the next several months as tensions continued to reduce, but Weisskopf was in no hurry-particularly given the proximity of the GIR 1stArmy group.

The U.S. Navy kept a single carrier battle group in the Mediterranean and another in the Arabian Sea.

The U.S. Air Force was downsizing its force to one hundred fighter and attack aircraft in Saudi and another one hundred in Turkey, augmented by the Kuwaiti, Saudi and Turkish Air Forces.

Incirlik Air Base in Turkey was in the process of being repaired and rebuilt. U.S. aircraft were already flying CAP missions and surveillance missions from the repaired runways and ground radar installations were operating out of temporary facilities. It would be another two weeks before longer airstrips accommodating E-3, KC-135 or B1-B aircraft were complete.

As these reductions and movements continued, an uneasy calm settled over the entire region. In the chess game, the players eyed each other's movements and tried to divine intentions. They both realized that the brief, violent exchange that had resulted in the termination of the Kurdish independence efforts in all likelihood only represented the opening moves in a longer, more difficult match.

That brief military exchange was being called simply the "Kurd War," or the "Two Day War." It was agreed that, in terms of military measurements, the confrontation had been a virtual draw, with the GIR losing far more equipment and personnel while achieving its goals, while the Americans lost less materiel and personnel, but failed to prevent the pacification of Kurdistan by the GIR.

However, diplomatically and strategically the outcome was viewed as a clear victory for the GIR. Most nations (outside of the United States and its immediate allies) believed that the unification of the Kurdish areas with the GIR was acceptable on the international scene. Still, there was an underlying feeling that business had been left unfinished. This meant that tensions remained high even though force levels continued to reduce.

Some history enthusiasts began to refer to this tense situation and standoff between the GIR and the United States as the "Persian Gulf phony war." This was in reference to the time period during World War II after Germany had defeated Poland, but before hostilities between major powers ensued when France was attacked. Politicians and military a.n.a.lysts on both sides wondered how long this "phony war"

might last before erupting into a more major conflict.

December 7, 2005, 10:00 local time Government Conference Center, Beijing The People's Republic of China Jien Zenim considered the historic gathering that he had arranged. Here in the secure conference room with him, with no one else but their most trusted advisor in attendance, were: Imam Hasan SayeedThe Political, Military and Spiritual leader of the Greater Islamic Republic.

President KP NarayannenThe President of India.

President Jien ZenimThe leader of the most populous and (at least from his own perspective) the most powerful nation in the world.

The three of them made up the executive council of the CAS, or Coalition of Asian States. Through years of discipline and commitment, with unfailing focus and unflinching resolve, he had formed the most powerful economic coalition the world had ever known. Between the People's Republic of China, India, The Greater Islamic Republic and their exclusive rights to Siberia, the Coalition of Asian States was poised to dramatically s.h.i.+ft the balance of world economic and political power. One would have to be a fool to think that the military balance would not also be correspondingly s.h.i.+fted.

It was to discuss this eventuality and their plans for it that the great leaders had come together here in Beijing at Jien's invitation. Throughout the weekend they had discussed their economic plans and their response to the current American sanctions. They had agreed that between themselves and their own markets, a divided European market and a hungry Russian market they had the demand and the resources to survive, intact, the American economic and international pressure.

Now the time had come to discuss the other matter. The potential for their political and economic activities to produce a corresponding military reaction had been recently displayed to them in a direct way over the Kurd issue. Although Jien had recommended against any premature military adventure by the GIR against the Kurds, correctly predicting the reaction of the Americans...the more information that had come out regarding it, the better he felt. Particularly now that force levels were reducing.

"Imam, you are correct. The benefits that have resulted from this exchange far outnumber the detriments.

I still believe the risks were far greater than what materialized, but that is of no concern now. We have several issues we can make great use of as we build towards our ultimate goals."

Through good planning, commitment and attrition, the American military machine can be held at bay and denied their desire to control the battlefield. In the process, if it is forced upon us, we can achieve our goals while so occupying their forces or those of their allies.

The Americans can be kept from ama.s.sing an overwhelming international or political coalition against any one of us. With our own influence and satellites, we can effectively block the creation of any such coalition by the west against any CAS member state.

The Americans have shown their hand in their a.s.sa.s.sination attempt of Hasan. The evidence provided to us by Hasan is incontrovertible.

"Imam Sayeed, congratulations on your victory. I believe the planning, the tactics and an explanation of the events surrounding your successful attack on the American air base at Incirlik, Turkey and your defense of you own ground forces the next day should be distributed to every military commander within each of our nations. It will be something they can learn from and take heart in. We should derive the basic strategies, how they played on American weakness and then school our own people in these strategies until they know them instinctively.

"I believe we can use these three issues to enhance our own plans."

As he said this, Jien motioned and an aide brought in several copies of a leather-bound doc.u.ment and handed one to each person present.

"These plans represent a formal compilation and formulation of what I have discussed with each of you personally over the last several years. We have been successful beyond expectation to date and it is now time to turn these plans into reality. The plan, should it be required-and I believe from my study of history and my study of the Americans that it will be unavoidably necessary-is called "Breath of Fire."

Please open to the first section and follow along both within the doc.u.ment and on the screen."

At this, Jien Zenim motioned for his advisor, Li Peng, who turned on the multi-media video equipment and prepared to display the various images that would follow along with Jien's presentation. Jien continued.

"Breath of Fire" involves, foremost, our desire to establish the CAS as the dominant economic power in Asia, and an equal compet.i.tor in Europe and the Americas. If this goal is interfered with militarily, then it involves leading the Americans and their allies onto fatal terrain. This is a Chinese strategy put forth by the greatest war strategist in history, Sun Tsu. It simply means providing the Americans with the options that they expect where the range of their responses will all lead them into a position where they have no defense and no escape."

President Narayannen carefully considered what Jien said. To date, the CAS had proved a huge economic boom for India. The Indian exploration teams in Siberia were finding and developing tremendous resources. The markets for Indian labor, manufacturing and technology in China, Russia and even in parts of the GIR were growing rapidly, and the European markets were continuing to grow as well.

Thus far, this economic windfall had all been accomplished with minimum risk. As an added benefit, this progress was steadily eating into areas where American firms and markets had long been entrenched. As a result, the Americans had attempted to establish sanctions and policies that would place pressure on India. Although Narayannen was favorably disposed to America's ideological foundation...he just didn't believe the current crop of American politicians and businessmen were disposed to being truly committed to it themselves. Zenim and Sayeed were also committed. Their fundamental ideology might be less appealing, but the results to India were clear, and the unwavering nature of the commitment to the principles that produced these results was something he felt he and his people could count on.

"Let us examine this plan together, Mr. President. We in India will move forward with a determination to avoid conflict if at all possible and establish the CAS as the influence in Asia that we all desire. At the same time, while it pains me, it is only prudent to prepare for the implementation of "Breath of Fire"

should it become necessary."

Hasan Sayeed knew that "Breath of Fire," or something like it would be necessary. The Americans were realizing the true nature of the opposition. Hasan knew personally how serious they viewed that opposition and to what lengths they were prepared to go to forestall or eliminate it.

"President Zenim, we were truly blessed to have been successful in our short, but sharply fought efforts to retain the northern regions of the former Iraq. Do not be fooled. We were successful, but it was the type of success any of us could only stand so much of. I am confident that the Islamic people have the heart and the commitment to sustain such losses longer then the Americans, but do not think it will be an easy thing.

"Having said this, I will freely share with you that it is my conviction that "Breath of Fire," as I see it explained here in the overview, will be absolutely necessary. It will be so, not because we desire it, but because it will be forced upon us. I do not believe the Americans, or their allies-several of which I am sorry to say are unfaithful Islamic states-will accept a second place status, economically or influence-wise, anywhere on the face of this globe we call earth. They will not accept such a status particularly in areas where they have traditionally been recognized as supreme. So I believe we must study this plan, voice our input, revise it accordingly, and then stand prepared to implement it.

"Finally, I agree wholeheartedly that the tactics and the strategies that proved successful for us in holding off the American air superiority should be shared throughout our command structures. It amounts basically to this: throw more at them than they imagine. Make them use up all of their expensive weapons and then overwhelm them with what you have left.

"Your people must be absolutely disciplined in such an effort, because they must persevere in the face of horrendous losses. We threw approximately four hundred aircraft at the American base at Incirlik.

Initially they had only twelve aircraft airborne. To this they added another eight, and then twelve more.

These thirty-two aircraft shot down well over one hundred of ours. Their air defenses shot down another sixty. We lost over one hundred and sixty aircraft to accomplish our goals that day. Do not forget the basic math of this equation."

Jien Zenim was impressed by both of these leaders. As they studied "Breath of Fire" they would find ample economic, political and military challenge and reward for their perspective nations and peoples.

Much of it would come down to the discipline and will of which Sayeed spoke. But even more of it would come down to their ability to lead the Americans to the fatal terrain Jien had mentioned earlier.

Jien Zenim was very familiar with, and respectful of, the Americans' capability, and, by extension, the capabilities of their allies. He had no intention, except where absolutely necessary, of directly challenging their strength. Hasan had used brute force and good planning and he had been successful. But as he himself admitted, you could only afford to "win" so many of those kind of battles. No, Jien was not afraid to pay the butcher's bill when required, and though he had the will and the resources to acc.u.mulate such bills more so than any other sitting in this room, he preferred to manipulate circ.u.mstances so that the bill was paid by his adversaries instead. This was particularly true for the western allies because they had fewer resources with which to pay such bills, and, every time they did, it would substantially lessen their ability to force such payment terms on Jien and his people.