Brown, Dale - Independent 01 Read Online Free Page A

War II. “The old efforts to consolidate the Transcaucasus under our
rule by kindling this wasting, bloody war between Iran and Iraq have
failed. Our former leader, more concerned with his television image than the
needs of the future world Communist state, failed to anticipate that religious
fanaticism can be a powerful, sustaining force—particularly in Iran. Our lack
of success in supporting the Hussein regime in Iraq has seriously hurt our prestige. The result is that we are in danger of losing
all our influence in the whole Middle East .”
                “Could this
really be so, Comrade Marshal?” Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of Ground
Forces General Yegenly Ilanovsky asked. “Surely the hatred that the Iranians
have for the Americans cannot be erased overnight? Thousands were killed in the
American bombing raids on Tehran and Kharg Island just a few years ago.”
                “Raids
which the Iranians themselves foolishly invited by attacking American shipping
in the Gulf and staging that Christmas terrorist attack on Washington ,”
Admiral Chercherovin, commander in chief of the navy, said. “They seem to have
an instinct for self-destruction.”
                “Which may
play into our hands nicely,” Lichizev, the KGB representative, put in. “As for
how the Iranians feel about the Americans at the moment, my agents in Iran report a distinct softening in attitude. Public memory can sometimes be
conveniently short, and official memory can be adjusted. The CIA has given
vital military support to the puppet regime of the Ayatollah Falah Alientar.
They have helped crush his enemies very effectively, much as they did when the
Shah Pavelirili Rezneveh was in power, before they got an attack of democratic
conscience....”
                “It is
obvious that past transgressions have been forgotten,” Czilikov summed up. “And
if the United States and Iran sign a
friendship and cooperation agreement, the Iran-Iraq war will be over within days. Iraq will not
fire on an American vessel, and the skies over Iran will be nearly impenetrable if American planes are allowed to land there. We
will be as powerless as we were in Egypt twenty years ago.”
                The
Kollegiya became silent. The next question hung over the group like a poised
guillotine blade, but no one was going to ask. Czilikov’s gaze swept over the
gray-haired men at the table, but he met few direct glances.
                They were
waiting for their orders, Czilikov decided. Well, give them the order....
                “Operation Feather has been approved
by the Politburo,” Czilikov finally said. “The plan for the
occupation and control of Iran and the Persian Gulf . Swift execution is essential. The United
States must be prevented from entering the Persian
Gulf with a major naval air force. We do not want a repeat of
their flagging operation of five years ago. We must take tactical command of
the Persian Gulf theater before Iran formally
asks the United States for assistance. Ayatollah Larijani has established a govemment-in-exile in Syria and has been persuaded to help us. He will announce that it was the pro-West
members of Alien- tar’s party who precipitated the war with Iraq .
He will denounce the war as an American plot to divide the Islamic brotherhood.
He will call for a holy war against Alientar’s puppet regime.”
                Czilikov
paused, letting his carefully chosen words sink in. “Then he will announce an
alliance with President Hussein of Iraq to unite the two warring nations under a new flag, creating the Islamic Republic
of Persia.”
                Czilikov
returned to his seat and motioned to First Deputy Minister of Defense Sergei
Khromeyev, chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. Khromeyev stepped
before a wide flat-lens computer screen set up in a comer of the room.