us.”
“Perhaps, Herr Chancellor, the Americans do not trust us.” Both Ruff and Schacht turned toward Paul. When he saw that he had their attention, he continued. “This is in my opinion nothing more than a matter of operational security. And given the sensitivity of the operation and the involvement of nuclear weapons, I can appreciate the American concerns. A success will in their eyes justify their actions. It is the way Americans conduct business and in the past have waged war.”
Paul’s comments infuriated Ruff, as Paul had expected. Ruff exploded. “So long as those forces continue to trace their line of communications through Germany, using German rail systems and German facilities, the Americans have no right to act without first consulting us. No right! Justified or not, we will become implicated in this action if we allow the Americans to continue to use our nation as a springboard for their military adventures.” Ruff, his face red, stopped. He needed to compose himself, to calm down.
When he was ready, Ruff continued to question Paul. “Will the Americans be able to achieve their goal using only one reinforced brigade?”
Glancing from Ruff to Paul, Schacht watched and waited for Paul’s response. “Their operation, from what we know, relies on speed and surprise. The ranger battalion, supported by special operations helicopter units, will have little trouble securing the two depots where the nuclear weapons are secured.
This is a drill that they have practiced many times. The rangers will be reinforced later in the day by a dismounted infantry battalion airlifted into Svalyava. Together, rangers and infantry, supported by attack helicopters and close air support, will be able to hold the airhead while the weapons are evacuated. All of this will take less than forty-eight hours.”
“Then, Colonel, why the ground attack?”
Now, Schacht thought, it was the colonel who was acting like a university professor.
“The ground attack is insurance, Herr Chancellor. If the weather prevents the removal of the nuclear weapons by air, the Americans will be able to open up a ground corridor that will be used to move the weapons as well as the rangers and the infantry out of the Ukraine. In addition, the Ukrainians will need to commit forces against the ground attack, forces that would otherwise be free to counterattack the American rangers. In the initial confusion of the American attacks, the Ukrainian commanders in the region may hesitate if they are unsure which is the main effort. It will take them time to gather intelligence, determine where the greatest threat is, and then develop plans and issue orders to deal with the situation.
And while they do this, the Americans will be removing the weapons which they came for.”
“And where,” Ruff asked, “will the Americans take these weapons?”
Paul, not knowing, did not answer. For a moment this surprised Ruff. It should not have, since Paul’s section was compartmentalized from other sections under Schacht’s control. Schacht, wanting to put his energetic subordinate in his place without making a scene, allowed the pregnant pause to continue for a few more moments before he finally answered Ruff. “Sembach Air Base, Herr Chancellor. The Americans will use tactical airlift C-130s, I believe, to move the nuclear weapons either directly from the depot in the Ukraine or from a temporary site in Slovakia. From Sembach, the weapons will be transloaded to C-141s and flown to the United States for disposal.”
“How sure, General Schacht, are you of your information?”
It was Schacht’s turn to brag about his knowledge. “I was handed, this afternoon, a copy of the United States Air Force Europe’s security and movement plan for what they are calling Operation Desperate Fumble.”
Though Ruff was curious as to how such a document had been obtained, he decided not to pursue the matter, not now. There was much to be done, much damage that needed
“Perhaps, Herr Chancellor, the Americans do not trust us.” Both Ruff and Schacht turned toward Paul. When he saw that he had their attention, he continued. “This is in my opinion nothing more than a matter of operational security. And given the sensitivity of the operation and the involvement of nuclear weapons, I can appreciate the American concerns. A success will in their eyes justify their actions. It is the way Americans conduct business and in the past have waged war.”
Paul’s comments infuriated Ruff, as Paul had expected. Ruff exploded. “So long as those forces continue to trace their line of communications through Germany, using German rail systems and German facilities, the Americans have no right to act without first consulting us. No right! Justified or not, we will become implicated in this action if we allow the Americans to continue to use our nation as a springboard for their military adventures.” Ruff, his face red, stopped. He needed to compose himself, to calm down.
When he was ready, Ruff continued to question Paul. “Will the Americans be able to achieve their goal using only one reinforced brigade?”
Glancing from Ruff to Paul, Schacht watched and waited for Paul’s response. “Their operation, from what we know, relies on speed and surprise. The ranger battalion, supported by special operations helicopter units, will have little trouble securing the two depots where the nuclear weapons are secured.
This is a drill that they have practiced many times. The rangers will be reinforced later in the day by a dismounted infantry battalion airlifted into Svalyava. Together, rangers and infantry, supported by attack helicopters and close air support, will be able to hold the airhead while the weapons are evacuated. All of this will take less than forty-eight hours.”
“Then, Colonel, why the ground attack?”
Now, Schacht thought, it was the colonel who was acting like a university professor.
“The ground attack is insurance, Herr Chancellor. If the weather prevents the removal of the nuclear weapons by air, the Americans will be able to open up a ground corridor that will be used to move the weapons as well as the rangers and the infantry out of the Ukraine. In addition, the Ukrainians will need to commit forces against the ground attack, forces that would otherwise be free to counterattack the American rangers. In the initial confusion of the American attacks, the Ukrainian commanders in the region may hesitate if they are unsure which is the main effort. It will take them time to gather intelligence, determine where the greatest threat is, and then develop plans and issue orders to deal with the situation.
And while they do this, the Americans will be removing the weapons which they came for.”
“And where,” Ruff asked, “will the Americans take these weapons?”
Paul, not knowing, did not answer. For a moment this surprised Ruff. It should not have, since Paul’s section was compartmentalized from other sections under Schacht’s control. Schacht, wanting to put his energetic subordinate in his place without making a scene, allowed the pregnant pause to continue for a few more moments before he finally answered Ruff. “Sembach Air Base, Herr Chancellor. The Americans will use tactical airlift C-130s, I believe, to move the nuclear weapons either directly from the depot in the Ukraine or from a temporary site in Slovakia. From Sembach, the weapons will be transloaded to C-141s and flown to the United States for disposal.”
“How sure, General Schacht, are you of your information?”
It was Schacht’s turn to brag about his knowledge. “I was handed, this afternoon, a copy of the United States Air Force Europe’s security and movement plan for what they are calling Operation Desperate Fumble.”
Though Ruff was curious as to how such a document had been obtained, he decided not to pursue the matter, not now. There was much to be done, much damage that needed
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