He has disrespected our allies and opened negotiations with our enemies, in which he gave them almost anything they requested.
Our enemies recognize his weakness and have taken full advantage of it. Russia is using military force to reclaim countries that had gained their independence. North Korea is taking provocative actions towards South Korea and has even threatened to launch a missile attack on Guam. China is building its Navy into one of the most modern fleets in the world. Iran is in the process of developing nuclear weapons.
Due to the lack of fear of any U.S. reprisals, General Baraz boarded a commercial airliner and flew to Russia to discuss an arms deal, and no one did a thing.
It was public knowledge that he was planning to talk to their defense minister about obtaining Russia’s S-300 Missile Defense System, but he also had a special meeting scheduled with the president of Russia.
“Ah, General. It is good to meet you finally. I trust our defense minister treated you well,” President Pulinav stated.
“Yes, Mr. President. A very satisfying and productive agreement has been made.”
“Well, let’s discuss the real purpose for you being here. Has your Premier agreed to the terms?”
“Yes, Mr. President. We will transfer 1.2 billion dollars’ worth of oil to Russia, and he also guarantees that once our “satellite” arrives at its destination, that Iran will make a public statement accepting full responsibility.”
“You do understand that we must condemn your actions in the United Nations? The United States economy is on the verge of collapse. There has never been a better time to implement your plan. But this is very dangerous, and you do understand they will retaliate?”
“Yes Mr. President, we understand that. But with this one act, we can bring the “Great Satan,” down to its knees. And without the United States, Israel cannot stand. The military’s only concern is how Western Europe will respond.”
“I can assure you that other than condemnation, Europe won’t take any serious action. We’ve made sure of that. After all, we do supply them with all their oil. Now, I cannot control the British. They will certainly be a problem. They will stand with the United States. But I will assure you that the rest of Europe won’t.”
He then confirmed that Russia would agree to supply the device and launch it for the Iranian government.
He continued, “You understand that even though our scientists assure me that the device will work, the concept is completely theoretical. You will have control of the navigation once it is launched. If you don’t carry out the procedures exactly as needed, the Americans will figure out what you’re doing. Plus, if it is not activated at the right time, it may not work as planned.”
“Yes, Mr. President. Anticipating your agreement to provide and to launch the device for us, our scientists have been using computer simulations on how and when activation is needed. I assure you, sir. It will work.”
President Pulinav then looked at the General sternly, “Let me give you one warning General. If for any reason anyone reveals that we had any pre-knowledge of what you were doing other than launching a satellite for you, your country will face the full wrath of the Russian military. I want that to be perfectly clear.”
Johnson Farm
I couldn’t sleep and had been sitting up in bed for most of the night watching the local news coverage.
The news was showing a live view of downtown Kansas City when suddenly there was two explosions, one right after the other one.
“Kim, wake up! Look at this crap!”
She came out of her deep sleep and just stared at the television, “Oh my God. What’s going on up there? It looks like a war zone.”
We both sat in bed watching the chaos.
“Oh, I’ve also been receiving some texts from Mike off and on. The city of Gladstone is under curfew, and there is apparently a large group of demonstrators heading right towards them. The tactical team has set up a roadblock, not allowing anyone but residents to enter the city…. you know, I’ve known since I was a kid that this kind of stuff was going to happen but watching it unfold before our eyes... Well, it’s unbelievable. I can’t come up with the words.
Earthquakes, drought, and wildfires are destroying California. All the major cities are like war zones across the country. Our economy is collapsing, and the dollar isn’t going to be worth anything. Plus, half the rest of the world is on the brink of war. I’m telling you, this is “end time” prophecy happening now.”
“You’re right. You know, you’ve been telling me this since I met you. I’ve read it in the bible, even though I have to admit I didn’t understand most of it. But it’s happening.”
“I guess the shock is, how fast it’s happening. I shouldn’t be shocked, as there are several scriptures that say that certain things will all happen in one day. But you can never tell if it means a real day or not.
You know, I know this won’t come out right, but we need to start “toeing the line.” We’ve talked about it for a long time, but we need to start doing the things we know God expects from us, and we really need to start going back to church. Everything that’s happening, as fast as it’s happening, makes me believe that all of this could be leading to the beginning of the Tribulation.”
I remember going to the same church since I was a kid but about the time I got married to my first wife, I quit going. I can’t remember what happened, but I just got sick of the judging by many of the church members. They seemed to forget about how Christ said that we shouldn’t judge others. That only God the Father has the right to judge. We’re all guilty of it, but so many churches take it to the extreme. They take a statement that the Apostle Paul made about if a member of the church is committing some serious sin and refuses to repent, that he or she should be put out of the church until they repent. So many churches have distorted that to think that they have the right to judge others that aren’t even in their church.
If all of us would only worry about how to change our own bad behavior instead of worrying about what everyone else is doing, maybe we could all get along with one another.
Recently, Kim and I started looking for a new church that we felt comfortable in that taught the gospel. We both started studying, and I made it a point to read the entire Bible.
We found a church and started attending on a regular basis, but when talking with the minister, I found out that their church policy was that members couldn’t serve in the military or as a police officer. Their justification was that we’re all to be Disciples of Christ, and even though the church supported our troops and law enforcement, members couldn’t actually be serving.
Understandably to most, we both had a serious problem with that. When I used scriptures to argue that point, the minister couldn’t prove that policy with scriptures. So, we quit attending. After that, we just gave up.
We both sat there a few moments thinking about the statement I had just made about looking for a new church and doing what we know we should be doing.
Kim finally broke the silence, “We just have to have faith and trust in God to protect and guide us. I have to admit; I haven’t been praying as I should, and as you know, it’s been some time since I really studied the Bible.”
After watching news stories from several different channels, Kim started getting up, “Well, I can see we aren’t going to go back to sleep. I’m going to go fix us breakfast.”
As we were eating, breaking news came on, “A source from the Gladstone Police Department stated that Jerome Jackson, the alleged leader of the demonstrations and riots in Kansas City, was killed by police when he was stopped at the Gladstone city limits. Apparently, Mr. Jackson and several of his associates were trying to escape after allegedly being involved in the bombings in downtown Kansas City. They also stated that Mr. Jackson had two female hostages that were rescued and the bus they were driving was loaded with explosives, and one of the assailants was attempting to set them off when he was shot by a Gladstone officer. Two of the assaila
nts were captured and are being treated at a local hospital. One police officer is also being treated for a gunshot wound.”
I immediately sent a text to Mike asking if he was ok and also called his cell, which went right to his voice mail.
I had been in a few situations like this but knowing my son was involved sent a chill through my body.
After about 30 minutes of not hearing from Mike, Kim stated, “I’m calling the Gladstone Police Department to try and find out some information.”
“They probably won’t tell you anything, and it may even be hard to get a hold of someone. I’m sure they’re being bombarded with calls.”
After several attempts and the frustration of hearing people say they couldn’t give out any details, she finally found out that Mike wasn’t the officer that had been hit.
I said with relief, “Thank you, God.”
Mike finally sent a text saying “I’m ok. Will be here a while. Story to tell.”
I could tell from the text that Mike had been right in the middle of it all.
As soon as the news of Jerome being killed hit the national news, the riots all over the United States turned even more violent, and in many of the cities, they had been turned into war zones.
White House: Washington, D.C.
President Prescott had been in non-stop meetings all day. From Congressional leaders to the Federal Reserve and had countless phone conferences with other world leaders. He was about to make the most important call of the day, which he didn’t look forward to. He felt he had no choice but to plead with Chancellor Kohl of Germany, the unofficial head of the European Union, for financial assistance and loan guarantees.
Europe and especially Chancellor Kohl, was already extremely agitated with the United States for their leadership withdraw in the world. Among world leaders, the present administration in Washington had developed a reputation for treating allies like enemies and treating enemies as friends.
There was an earlier incident in the year, where a German and French joint reconnaissance mission into Iran, which the President didn’t approve of, failed. The failure was because someone advised the Iranian government ahead of time. It was rumored that President Prescott, through diplomatic channels, was the one that warned the Iranian government.
Now because of the President’s record amount of deficit spending, even for European standard, the dollar collapsed causing many countries in Europe to face a major recession and depression.
Her real anger came when, even though much of the American Congress wanted to supply Europe with oil and natural gas so that they didn’t have to depend on Russia as their main source, President Prescott said no. This allowed Russia to keep a stranglehold on them. In her mind, she didn’t even consider the US a true ally any longer. Not while he was in office anyway.
President Prescott finally made the call and pleaded his case.
She replied, “Mr. President, I am going to speak frankly and very undiplomatically.
You come to us to ask us to bail you out of a situation that your own hand caused. You also remind us that we are your allies but where were you when we asked for you to supply badly needed oil and natural gas? You know the situation that we have with Russia. It isn’t as though you don’t have the oil. Since your country started fracking, you could be one of the largest exporters of oil and natural gas. Now I understand that it would go against your agenda and personal politics, but we face a crisis of our own by having Russia as our main supplier.
You also removed the missile defense platforms that would protect some of our countries from attacks from Russia or Iran. You give no real support with the problem with ISIS. France and a few Middle Eastern countries have had to take the lead. When your allies ask for weapons to fight ISIS, you turn them down.
You claim you put a coalition together, but you barely contributed to it and withdrawing all the troops from Iraq is the cause for ISIS in the first place.
You turned your back on us, you turned your back on your friends, and you even turned your back on Israel. You make an idiotic treaty with Iran, and you do nothing to resist the Russian expansion.”
The President was furious that she would dare talk to him that way. After trying to lecture her about political protocol, she continued, “Mr. President, I will take your request to the Union, but I assure you that there will be very strict requirements for any monetary assistance. Such as, we will have to hold all your gold and silver reserves as security. Your government spending must be cut to 50% of the current level, and within three years you must work off a balanced budget. Most of all, the European Union must consent to any spending your government plans, until of course, the monetary aide is paid back.”
President Prescott was outraged and brought up the point that her requirements were completely against the Constitution. He insisted that he needed to increase government spending to try and repair the economy.
“Well, Mr. President, I can tell you that the European Union must deny your request for assistance then.”
He reminded her that she was required to take it to the Union before a denial could be given.
That’s when she showed her true colors, “Mr. President, Germany IS the European Union. I lead the Union, and I will decide what we do. Let’s just say; I am giving an executive order as you repeatedly have when both houses of your Congress would tell you no.
If you want our assistance, then you are just going to have to come up with a way to get around your constitution, just as you have several times over the length of your administration. Until such time, we will provide food and medical aid for your people. I will make arrangements for cargo ships to start loading and heading your way as I know your people are going to need it.
If you decide to comply with our requirements, please feel free to contact me. Good day, Mr. President.”
The President was steaming. “No one talks to me that way.”
He didn’t say; no one talks to the President of the United States that way, but to him, personally.
The more he thought about it, the more he lost control. He was like a spoiled brat that didn’t get his way and had the attitude of, “I’ll teach her.” He would call President Pulinav of Russia.
He realized that due to the low oil prices, Russia couldn’t and probably wouldn’t offer any financial assistance. But just maybe he could bribe Russia into pressuring the Chancellor into giving the U.S. the financial aid by threatening to cut off their oil.
President Prescott decided that he would withdraw any troops or remove any weapon systems that Russia required if President Pulinav would agree.
He made the call. After talking for a long while, he made his request.
Finally, President Pulinav responded, “I will have to discuss it, and it may take some time. We will let you know our decision.”
As one last desperate plea, he reminded the Russian leader how he had removed the missile defense platforms, which he had requested earlier in his term of office and how the U.S. didn’t take any serious action when Russia started annexing countries which had declared their independence from the old Soviet Union.
“We will take that into consideration, Mr. President.”
President Pulinav was delighted with the phone call. The President of the United States just gave him exactly what he needed. He just had to figure out the best way to work it. One thing for sure though, he would be advising the German Chancellor of the request by the U.S. But the timing was critical.
Johnson Farm
Mike had finally made it home after several hours of debriefings. He told us the story. We sat there in amazement.
He also said that his Captain was putting him in for the Medal of Valor as if he wouldn’t have made the exact shot that he did after the ceasefire was called, a lot of them would probably be dead.
I asked him how he felt as those were the first people he had killed as a police officer. “Does it bother you?”
“No! Not at all. How many people had they ki
lled or caused to be killed? And more than that, how many would they be responsible for killing in the future? Anyway, you taught me that. We even talked about it when I became a police officer.”
“I know, but I just wanted to make sure that’s how you truly felt. It’s one thing to talk about it and say you accept it but it’s something else when you have to face the reality of it.”
“Trust me Dad, I have no regrets. The world is much safer with them out of the picture. Oh, by the way, I decided to fill up my car on the way home. I almost didn’t get to. I had to drive down to Garden City to get gas. All the stations in the city were closed. I had to pay $4.79 a gallon, and it was cash only. What did we pay when we filled up the cans? It was $2.38, wasn’t it? It’s a good thing that we filled those when we did.”
Kim gasped, “$4.79 a gallon! If gas keeps going up, how are people going to afford that?”
“Most aren’t for very long and trust me, that isn’t even close to what it’s going to get to.”
The rest of the day was uneventful. Mike got called back to work close to when his normal shift would’ve started. He thought he was going to get the day off, but he should’ve known better.
Little did we know that this was one of the last uneventful days we would have.
White House: Washington, D.C.
President Prescott was working with his speech writers as he finally decided that he needed to address the nation. He had realized that even though he just knew that the Russian President would decide to pressure Germany into giving the U.S. the aid it needed, that until such time, he needed to start taking steps in complying with the Chancellors requirements.
“What better way to show my intent to the Chancellor than by addressing the country and telling the American people what steps we must take.”
Chancellor Kohl had been on the phone calling for a secret, unofficial meeting of the European Union members but the meeting would not include the representatives of Britain. Britain earlier in the year, had voted to dissolve their membership in the European Union, even though it wouldn’t take effect until the end of the year.
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