The End of America’s War in Afghanistan (The Russian Agents Book 3)

by Ted Halstead

  The expected chorus of, “Yes, sirs,” followed.

  “Very well, carry on,” Pettigrew said.

  “Sir, General Robinson’s office is on the line,” Johnson said.

  Pettigrew nodded and picked up the handset. Now he’d see whether he’d be considered the savior of Bagram Airfield and its forty thousand personnel, or one of the greatest mass murderers in American history.

  He wasn’t sure himself.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  The White House, Washington DC

  President Hernandez looked up as General Robinson, the Air Force Chief of Staff, walked into the Oval Office.

  “So, General, that was the last nuclear weapon the Taliban had. Do we have a casualty count yet?”

  Robinson shook his head. “No, sir. Not for Afghan casualties from the town of Bagram. I’ve had confirmation from Bagram Airfield’s commander that they did not sustain any casualties, and are following all anti-radiation protocols. We have a specially equipped team from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center en route from Ramstein Air Base to assist.”

  Hernandez nodded. “I’m old enough to remember the bad old Cold War days. I’m not surprised we had the necessary equipment to deal with a nuclear incident at a base in Germany. I suppose we didn’t send it earlier because of concern about causing a panic?”

  Robinson rocked his hand back and forth. “That was only one consideration, sir. There was also the possibility we might need to send the team and their equipment to Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul if the strike against the Green Zone had been successful. Also, if we had been unable to prevent the strike against Bagram Airfield, we could have lost the team as well.”

  Hernandez winced. “Yes, I see your point. Glad you thought all that through. When will we be able to start helping the Afghan government with rescue and recovery?”

  “A matter of hours, sir. But from initial reports, I have to be honest. We expect few survivors and even fewer who we can successfully treat. Ironically, the largest number may be from the Parwan Detention Facility, which primarily holds captured Taliban,” Robinson said.

  It was easy to see this news didn’t please Hernandez. “Please explain, General.”

  “Well, sir, we built the prison. That means the structure held up better to the blast than the civilian buildings in the town, which were built to local construction standards. Also, the prison was almost directly adjacent to Bagram Airfield, which means it was relatively far from the blast,” Robinson said.

  Hernandez shook his head. “We turned Parwan over to the Afghan government in 2014. Any word from them on its status?”

  Now Robinson looked uncomfortable. “Yes, sir. They confirm that there are survivors at the prison, including prisoners, guards, and administrative staff. However, the Afghan President himself has asked us to give priority to assisting people in the town of Bagram, and only once that has been done to help survivors at Parwan.”

  Hernandez grunted. “Parwan holds the same prisoners who the Taliban were demanding be released when they bombed one girl’s high school and took three others hostage. And then bombed another one, and would have bombed the last two if they hadn’t been stopped by our troops, right?”

  Robinson nodded and said, “Yes, sir.”

  Hernandez looked thoughtful, and asked, “What do you think our assistance team would do, in the absence of guidance from us?”

  Robinson shrugged. “Once they deplane and organize, Parwan would hold the closest group of survivors to Bagram Airfield, so that’s where they would go first.”

  “That’s what I thought. Here’s what we’re going to do. Tell the Afghan President that we have heard his request, and will do as he asks. The Landstuhl medical team goes to the town of Bagram first. Now, I hope that the team will be bringing enough equipment to let our medical people at Bagram assist?” Hernandez asked.

  “Yes, sir. They’ll be bringing additional protective gear, but I’ve been warned that our medical staff at Bagram Airfield should not attempt to accompany them to the town since they’ve had no training for operations in a high radioactivity environment,” Robinson replied.

  “That’s fine,” Hernandez said. “What I have in mind is that at the same time the Landstuhl medical team is assisting in the town of Bagram, we have a well-armed security team with proper protective gear go to the relatively lower radiation threat environment at Parwan. They should be accompanied by Afghan officers we can trust. We have such liaison officers in place at Bagram Airfield, correct?”

  “Yes, sir,” Robinson said.

  “Good. Those Afghan officers will help us identify all surviving Parwan guards and administrative staff. We will evacuate them to our hospital at Bagram for treatment. Our soldiers will then secure the Parwan facility until that task can be taken over by the Afghan government. Once the Landstuhl medical team’s work in the town of Bagram has been completed to their satisfaction, they will redeploy to assist the prisoners at Parwan,” Hernandez said.

  “Yes, sir,” Robinson said doubtfully. He hesitated, and then said, “Sir, what if we’re accused of leaving the Taliban prisoners to die at Parwan?”

  Hernandez looked at Robinson coldly. “You tell anyone who says that we’re following the instructions of the duly elected Afghan government. And remind anyone who is asking who set the bomb off that’s killing those prisoners.”

  Robinson now looked even more uncomfortable than he had before. “Sir, about that. It turns out we set off the bomb.”

  Hernandez, for a moment, was at a complete loss for words.

  “You’re going to have to explain that one, General,” he finally said.

  “Yes, sir. We had a Predator C Avenger drone monitoring the approaches to Bagram Airfield operated from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. Data from a Russian drone in the same area advised that a vehicle in the town of Bagram exhibited a radiation signature consistent with one of the stolen Pakistani nuclear weapons,” Robinson said.

  “So, the Russians have a drone that can sniff out nuclear weapons more effectively than anything we’ve got. And didn’t feel like telling us until now,” Hernandez said acidly.

  “Yes, sir. Well, as soon as that data was sent to Bagram Airfield, it was also available over our dedicated defense network, including Creech Air Force Base. The drone operator’s supervisor took command of the Avenger, and launched a Hellfire missile at the vehicle identified as the source of the threat,” Robinson said.

  Hernandez shook his head. “And the bomb detonated,” he said.

  “Yes, sir. Preliminary analysis from our experts suggests that the weapon failed to achieve its full yield. Still, it appears that at least half of the fissile material in the weapon was consumed in the explosion. So, if the Taliban had been allowed to detonate the weapon undisturbed, the damage would have been even greater,” Robinson said.

  “Maybe so, General. But I understand those Russian agents successfully defused the other stolen weapon. Couldn’t they have done the same with this one?” Hernandez asked.

  “No, sir. The Russians were too far away. At the speed the vehicle was traveling, Bagram Airfield would have been within the weapon’s blast radius in a matter of minutes. For the same reason, the drone commander decided a ground assault on the vehicle was impractical,” Robinson said.

  “And so this officer decided to make the call on his own? Without involving anyone else in the chain of command? Like, say, the Commander-in-Chief?” Hernandez asked.

  Then Hernandez held up his hand. “Hold on a second. You said Creech Air Base. This isn’t the same officer who saved that Seal team, is it?”

  Robinson sighed. “It’s the same officer, sir. Captain Pettigrew. It’s not really a coincidence, sir. We run armed drone operations for the region out of Creech, and both incidents took place in Afghanistan.”

  “Fair enough,” Hernandez said. “Continue.”

  “Sir, Pettigrew believed there was no time to seek higher authority. Based on the facts as I now know them, sir, I ag
ree with his judgment. Besides his duty to protect the lives of American service members and U.S. government property, Pettigrew also pointed out to me that there are far more people at Bagram Airfield than in the town of Bagram. He also noted that many Afghan military personnel, as well as Afghan civilian contractors, work at Bagram Airfield as well,” Robinson said.

  Hernandez grunted. “So, this wasn’t a straight trade-off between American and Afghan lives, and we would have lost more lives if he hadn’t acted. OK, good points. Now, how many people besides us know about this?”

  “The service members at the drone control center, who were all directly or indirectly involved in the attack. Pettigrew knows me and so decided to bypass the chain of command and call me directly. I have approved his request to designate all information regarding this incident as SCI,” Robinson said.

  “That’s all very well, General, but do you think none of them are going to talk?” Hernandez asked.

  “Sir, everyone at that drone control center already has an SCI clearance. If we didn’t think they could keep their mouths shut, they wouldn’t be there,” Robinson replied.

  “OK, but what about Bagram Airfield? How many people there know?” Hernandez asked.

  “Fortunately, Pettigrew cut off Bagram Airfield’s data feed before firing the missile. So far, at my order, there is no formal written report of this incident in any military computer system,” Robinson replied.

  “What about that Russian drone? Couldn’t it have seen what happened?” Hernandez asked.

  Robinson shook his head. “I’ve asked our experts, and they all think that’s unlikely. The drone had set course for its base in Tajikistan well before the Hellfire was launched, and was headed there at its top speed. So, it was probably too far away to see what happened.”

  Hernandez still looked skeptical. “This is the same Russian drone that was able to detect a radiation signature our drones couldn’t find. How can we be so confident its cameras and sensors aren’t better than we thought too?”

  “The truth is we can’t be sure. But the Russians’ priority had to be getting that drone back to base, not looking behind them. Our intelligence says they only have a few drones that advanced, so they sure wouldn’t want to lose it. Plus, we haven’t heard a peep from the Russians since the explosion,” Robinson said.

  Hernandez nodded. “So, do you think we can keep a lid on this? What about the Afghans? Would they have been able to see the Hellfire strike?”

  Robinson shrugged. “It’s certainly possible. But any Afghan close enough to see it…”

  Hernandez finished for him. “Almost certainly died in the explosion.”

  “Yes, sir,” Robinson said softly.

  “So, right now, the Afghan government is blaming the Taliban, and the Taliban are denying responsibility as loudly as they can,” Hernandez said.

  “Yes, sir,” Robinson said, obviously puzzled. Why restate what they both already knew?

  “That video from the Taliban mullah we intercepted. You remember I said we were going to make sure it was never broadcast?” Hernandez asked.

  Robinson nodded.

  “Well, I’ve changed my mind. I’d like first to plant the portion claiming credit for successful attacks on Bagram Airfield and the Green Zone in Kabul on a website known to be used by the Taliban. Then, as soon as we can confirm copies have been downloaded, remove it and replace it with the one only claiming responsibility for the attack on Bagram Airfield. Can we do that?” Hernandez asked.

  “I’m not sure, sir, but probably. Cyber Command will either have the capability or will coordinate with any other agency necessary. So, you think we can let people know the Taliban were planning to attack the Green Zone in Kabul, and successfully blame the Bagram explosion on the Taliban?” Robinson asked.

  “Blame, General? I’d say more like set the record straight. We didn’t steal that warhead from the Pakistanis, rig it to explode, and put it in a populated part of Afghanistan next to an American military base with the intent to attack it. We didn’t fake those videos. Technical experts can poke at them all day long, and they will still come up as the real deal because they are just what they appear to be—a full confession,” Hernandez said.

  “Yes, sir. If people believe the videos, and since as you say being real they should, then I think they will do real damage to the Taliban’s reputation,” Robinson said.

  “I think they may do more than that, General. How important would you say popular support has been to the Taliban’s battlefield success?” Hernandez asked.

  “Well, critical, sir. With the people on their side, they get warning of our movements. Afghan women and children willingly mingle with Taliban fighters to make our targeting more difficult. They provide food and shelter, bandage wounds, pass messages—sir, without their support, the Taliban would be finished.”

  Robinson paused. “A lot of people forget that Mao Zedong started as a guerrilla fighter against a Japanese occupation force. Mao compared guerrillas to fish and the people to the water in which they swim. He said take away popular support, and they’ll have the same chance that fish do tossed ten kilometers inland by a typhoon’s storm surge. None.”

  “Good,” Hernandez said, nodding. “I want you to get the rest of the Joint Chiefs here to meet me in the Situation Room this afternoon. I’ll have Chuck coordinate it with you because I want to keep it quiet. This opportunity won’t last long, and I want to take full advantage of it. I’m going to hit the Taliban harder than they’ve ever been hit before.”

  “Yes, sir,” Robinson said doubtfully.

  Hernandez grinned. “I know. Everyone says victory can’t be purely military, and they’re right. What I’m going to do after the Taliban lose popular support and take some real battlefield losses is offer them a place in an Afghan coalition government. We both know that in a fair election, they’d get some votes.”

  Robinson shook his head. “I don’t think you’ll get the Afghan government to agree, sir.”

  “Oh, I think they might, General. If they know that the other option is the withdrawal of all our forces, so they’ll be facing the Taliban alone. We did that before the same way we did it in Iraq, and just like in Iraq, the enemy was almost in sight of the capital when we were asked to come back,” Hernandez said.

  “Yes, sir, I remember that well,” Robinson said grimly.

  “This is our chance, General. One way or the other, this will be the end of America’s war in Afghanistan,” Hernandez said.

  “Yes, sir,” Robinson said as he stood, having correctly guessed that their meeting was over.

  “General, if you see Fred Popel out there when you leave, please send him in,” Hernandez said.

  Robinson nodded. The Secretary of State? Yes, that seemed like a good person to talk to next.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  The White House, Washington DC

  President Hernandez could see that Secretary of State Fred Popel looked worried. He mused that if he ever did a survey of the most common expression worn by officials coming to see him in the Oval Office, “worried” would probably win.

  “Mr. President, I think the Taliban’s attack on innocent civilians in the town of Bagram will have far-reaching implications for the entire region. I’d like to know how you plan to respond, and then I have a few ideas of my own,” Popel said.

  “Good,” Hernandez said with an approving nod. “First, we’ve had on-again, off-again talks with the Taliban in Qatar for a while now. They really haven’t come to anything, right?”

  Popel nodded. “Correct, sir. Those low-level talks have led nowhere so far. It’s been weeks since they last met, and no follow up meeting has yet been scheduled.”

  “Let’s keep it that way. No announcement that we’re ending talks, or anything like that. Just…no action. For your ears only, I’m planning a military strike against the Taliban with more resources than we’ve used in years. I think it will be effective after the drop in popular support I’m expecting
for the Taliban,” Hernandez said.

  Popel frowned. “Are you thinking that military defeat will make them more inclined to negotiate?”

  Hernandez shook his head. “Not by itself. But if we couple a new reality on the battlefield with an offer for participation in free elections and a place in a new coalition government, I think they might listen.”

  “They might, sir. But what about the current Afghan government? Many of them, including the President, may resist including the Taliban in their government in any meaningful way,” Popel said.

  Hernandez nodded. “You’re right, Fred. And as a sovereign country, they have that right. Just as I have the right to pull out all U.S. forces.”

  Popel grunted. “Well, the trick would be to communicate that to the Afghan President, and only him. And then hope he stays quiet about it. If the Taliban learn we’re ready to leave, they’ll be as difficult as they can in the negotiations just to get that outcome.”

  “You see, Fred, that’s why we have pros like you. I’m going to leave details like that in your capable hands. Now, let’s talk about Pakistan,” Hernandez said.

  “Are we going to strike their nuclear weapons production facilities, sir? There’s been a lot of speculation in the press that we’d do it if one of the stolen Pakistani nuclear weapons was used against U.S. forces. Everyone knows Bagram Airfield was their target. Of course, Pakistan still denies publicly that any of their nuclear weapons were stolen,” Popel said.

  “I’m not taking that option off the table, but for now, no. The hundreds of nuclear weapons they have now are dispersed, mobile, and so extremely difficult to target. Their production facilities would be much easier to hit, but it wouldn’t take the Pakistanis long to replace them. So, Fred, any other ideas?” Hernandez asked with a smile.

  Popel was visibly relieved. “Sir, I hope it’s one you had too. Let’s tell the Pakistanis we’re shelving the idea of striking them, even though we came very close to losing a base with thousands of American troops to one of their weapons, on one condition. They begin good-faith negotiations with India to first freeze and then gradually reduce each side’s stock of nuclear weapons.”