sf_actionMichaelsrecon : Combat ops 14 страница

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met a soldier who wasn’t smiling as he opened upof those packages.handwritten letter I’d received was from ayear-old boy from Huntsville, Alabama.Soldier:name is James McNurty, Jr., and I want to thankvery much for serving our country. I know it must beout there for you, but if you take good care of your-and eat good, you will have a good day of fighting.want to tell you about my dad, who was also a sol-. He died in Iraq while trying to protect us. He wasvery great man and he told me that whenever I see aI should thank him or her. So while I cannot see, I still want to thank you for helping us and forin our country. My dad always said that nowhat happens, he loved us and the United StatesAmerica. My dad said being a soldier is a great, so maybe I will be one someday, too. I hope youstay happy. I know it is hard.very much.friend, James McNurty, Jr.

“See this?” I tell Blaisdell, pulling the letter from mypocket. “This is the only thing keeping me sanenow. Some kid in Huntsville actually believes inwe’re doing.”sighs. “That’s nice. But they’re going to argue

GH OS T RE CONyou should have answered your phone, that youincoming communication and killed Zahed, anman.”

“My mission was to kill him. I carried out my orders.abort came too late. I was the commander on the, I saw the opportunity, I made the decision, andcompleted the mission. That’s what you’re going to. If higher can’t make up their minds about whatdo, then it’s my job to make that decision.”

“They’re not going to see it like that. You’re askingto take responsibility for their broken system, and as’ve implied, even General Keating can’t save you now.”snort. “Is there anything else you need? Did you getall? Because I’m going to be very busy for the rest ofday, trying to get drunk.”rises and pushes her glasses farther up her nose.

“Off the record, Captain, I’m very sorry about what’sto you. In some respects you’re a victim of the, but you had a choice. You could have at leastto take Zahed into custody. And they’re going tothat, too. You simply shot him. They’ll argue thatwanted to kill him.”

“You’re damned right I did.”starts to say something, thinks better of it. “I’mto review all of this with my colleagues, and I’llyou tomorrow.”shrug and lead her to the door. She looks back at, a deep sadness filling her eyes, as though she’sa man at the gallows.she just leaves. I get another drink, plop into

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recliner, and turn on ESPN, where I learn that evenReds lost their game, 9–4, damn it.must’ve dozed off and the knocking at my door con-for a while until I suddenly rush up and answer it.

“Holy shit.” The curse escapes my mouth before Icensor it.’s General Keating himself, out of uniform, wearinggolf shirt and Dockers. He pushes past me, slams shutdoor, then lifts his voice. “What the hell are youhere? Feeling sorry for yourself?”

“I’m confined to quarters.”goes over to my window and snaps open the, letting in the late-afternoon sun. “I flew in this. Then I spent the whole day in a videoconfer-with those assholes in Langley.”

“Well, I’m sorry I upset your day.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, son. Some of your tactics mightme heartburn, but you ain’t got enough horsepowerput a dent in my day. I think you underestimated Har-. That boy went to bat for you big-time.”

“What do you mean?”

“He used his friend, the humanitarian worker, to dodigging. Turns out that little girl you saved wit-Bronco and Mike on the scene of Warris’s tor-, and they failed to report any of it.”frown. “Then Warris can burn them, maybe getoff?”shakes his head. “We called in Warris. He made a

GH OS T RE CONwith the CIA to keep his mouth shut, so long ashelped him burn you.”

“He admitted that?”

“No, Bronco and Mike did. I can’t get to those two,I’m kicking Warris out of the Army for conduct.”

“So Warris wanted to bring me down with the CIA’s. His plan backfires, and he gets burned himself.”

“Enough justice for today.”

“Ramirez might disagree. Doesn’t he count?”

“An Article 118 murder charge is out of the question., integrity’s what you do when nobody’s look-. You won’t find thatin the UCMJ. That’s why War-is history.”

“What about me? Am I free?”

“You’re going on temporary duty to Walter Reed for.”

“What? You think I’m crazy?”

“Nah. I might if you’d answered that phone. Scott,bivouacked a long time in that fucking valley of. Let’s placate them for now, okay?”sigh deeply.

“Look, son, this has been tough for all of us.”

“Tough? A hangover is tough. This has been a god-nightmare, and yeah, maybe I should sit my assa psych ward so I can decide whether I want to do this...”

“Are you kidding me? When you get out of the hospi-, I’m promoting you to major. You’ll be general by the

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I get through with you. I told you the Army’s, and we old-school boys need to adapt.”couldn’t hide my twisted grin. “One minute I’mto Leavenworth, the next I’m being promoted.’m crazy. The system’s crazy...”crosses to the kitchen, lifts my empty scotch. “You’re crazy drinking this crap. We only drinksingle malt. Didn’t I teach you that?”

“You did, sir.”

“All right, then, pack your bags, soldier.”

“I will. But first I want you to read something.”hand him the note written by James McNurty, Jr.reads it, then looks up, a sheen now in his eyes.

“Being a soldier is a great honor,” I remind him. “Butwe honoring the profession? Or maybe, just maybe,’re asking too much of us. Just a little too much.”takes a deep breath, returns the letter, then says,

“Hurry up and pack. Then we’ll get some real scotch.”

by Tom ClancyHUNT FOR R ED OCTOBERED STOR M R ISINGIOT GAMESCAR DINAL OF THE K R EMLINAND PR ESENT DANGERSUM OF ALL FEARSR EMORSEOF HONOROR DERSAINBOW SIXBEAR AND THE DR AGONED R ABBITTEETH OF THE TIGEROR ALIVE

(written with Grant Blackwood): STR ATEGIES OF SUBMAR INE WAR FAR EINE: A GUIDED TOUR INSIDE A NUCLEAR WARSHIPMOR ED CAV: A GUIDED TOUR OF AN AR MOR ED CAVALRY R EGIMENTWING: A GUIDED TOUR OF AN AIR FORCE COMBAT WINGINE: A GUIDED TOUR OF A MAR INE EXPEDITIONARY UNITBOR NE: A GUIDED TOUR OF AN AIR BOR NE TASK FORCER IER: A GUIDED TOUR OF AN AIRCR AFT CAR R IERFORCES: A GUIDED TOUR OF U.S. AR MY SPECIAL FORCESTHE STOR M: A STUDY IN COMMAND

(written with General Fred Franks, Jr., Ret., and Tony Koltz)MAN A TIGER

(written with General Chuck Horner, Ret., and Tony Koltz)WAR R IORS: INSIDE THE SPECIAL FORCES

(written with General Carl Stiner, Ret., and Tony Koltz)R EADY

(written with General Tony Zinni, Ret., and Tony Koltz)

CLANCY’S HAWXCLANCY’S GHOST R ECONR ECONOPSCLANCY’S ENDWARHUNTEDCLANCY’S SPLINTER CELLCELLATION BAR R ACUDAMATEby Tom Clancy and Steve PieczenikCLANCY’S OP-CENTERCLANCY’S NET FORCECENTERFORCEROR IMAGEAGENDASOF STATEMOVESOF WAREAK ING POINTOF POWEROF IMPACTOF SIEGENATIONAND CONQUEROF WAROF CONTROLOF THE GUAR DOF HONORINGBOAR DOF FIR EARCHIMEDES EFFECTTO TR EASONOF EAGLESby Tom Clancy and Martin GreenbergCLANCY’S POWER PLAYSAWAR.COMEDGEWATCHHOURSTRIKECARDOutline_Page_Books_by_Tom_Clancy_Page_Page_Page_One_Two_Three_Four_Five_Six_Seven_Eight_Nine_Ten_Eleven_Twelve_Thirteen_Fourteen_Fifteen_Sixteen_Seventeen_Eighteen_Nineteen_Twenty_Twenty-one_Twenty-two_Twenty-three_Twenty-four_Twenty-five_Twenty-six_Twenty-seven_Twenty-eight_Twenty-nine_Thirty

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