Pacific Command HQ
Joint Base Hickam Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
“Thank you for speaking to us and our viewers today, Admiral.”
“My pleasure, Ms. Monroe.”
“Can you please explain to our viewers why American military forces killed over three hundred Chinese civilians yesterday?”
The Admiral leaned back in his chair. He wasn’t used to giving press interviews, but the Pentagon had insisted on this interview to help offset the negative press resulting from the downed Chinese airliner. “I don’t think that is the correct characterization of what happened yesterday.”
“Can you tell us what you think is the correct characterization, then?”
“Yes, during the course of enforcing a well known and highly publicized no fly zone, the US Air Force intercepted a Chinese civilian airliner. They attempted to establish communications and ordered the airliner to change course. The airliner refused. When the airliner attempted evasive maneuvers to avoid the US fighter aircraft, the civilian pilot lost control of the aircraft which then crashed, killing all souls aboard. It was a very unfortunate incident, but the US military did not kill those people.”
“Tell me sir, what would have happened if the aircraft had continued to fly straight and level?”
“The aircraft would have been within the ROE to engage.”
“You’re saying they were authorized to kill those civilians.”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that a violation of the Geneva convention?”
“First, the Geneva Convention does not discuss civilian airliners. There is no provision for that in the Geneva Convention. Second, the correct international agreement in force is the Chicago Convention on International Civilian Aviation. Third, it is a well-established principle that a military organization should seek to avoid civilian casualties, but it does not mean that civilian airliners can simply wander into closed areas without consequences.”
“That seems a cold comfort to the families involved.”
“It is not my intention to comfort. I am simply telling you what happened. It is up to the Chinese government to decide how long to continue this war. We did not start the war, but I can guarantee that we will carry out our orders. The President of the United States has declared a no-fly zone for five hundred miles from the Chinese coast and that no-fly order will be enforced.”
Much later, the Admiral collapsed gratefully into his desk chair, behind the familiar desk in his office. The office with so much history. “Well?”
Braverman smothered a grin. “Well, sir, I think the good news is that you won’t have to do more interviews.”
“Was it that bad?”
“No, not at all. I think the issue is that the press isn’t used to talking to people who answer their questions honestly.”
The Admiral laughed. “Well, I already know this is my last command. At this point, I just want to last long enough in the job so that I don’t hand my successor a complete shit sandwich. What’s the word on Long Snap?”
“Three weeks.”
“Let’s hope this does it. After this, all our options go from bad to worse.”