Chapter 1717 Please give the right hand of the free world (third update, please subscribe)
Washington in January is shrouded in ice and snow. After a blizzard, the streets are covered with snow. If there were no snow sweepers to clear the snow, the road would even be difficult to pass.
There were few pedestrians on the road, but even so, in the snow and ice, there were still a group of people with long hair holding anti-war signs and shouting slogans, completely ignoring the biting cold wind.
Meanwhile, in the Oval Office of the White House, President Johnson and his staff were listening to the report of Secretary of Defense McNamara:
"…On January 22, the Navy's intelligence collection ship "Pueblo" was active outside the Yuanshan Sea, about 12 nautical miles from the coast.
The Kingdom of Light believes that the Pueblo has entered the 12 nautical miles area for up to 4 kilometers, invading their territorial waters.
So, they dispatched a submarine hunting boat and four torpedo boats to pursue, and also dispatched two MiG21 fighters to deal with the US fighter jets.
Despite Pueblo raising the American flag, their ships remained chasing. The Pueblo didn't even take off the rain cloth of the heavy machine gun because it was caught off guard.
According to the captain's report, the Navy of Light fired a gun to intercept it, and one of the guns hit the ship's deck. One crew member was killed, and many people, including the captain, were injured.
At present, the ship has been seized by the Kingdom of Light and 81 crew members have been captured. ”
Johnson frowned while listening to the report, and he asked:
"Why didn't we rescue them in time?"
"Mr. President, when the attack was encountered, the Pueblo had reported to the Japanese base. The Kingdom of Light quickly controlled the ships, but was escorted back to the Yuanshan Harbor, which was only 4 hours before and after, and we couldn't react at all."
In this era, the United States still lacks a mechanism for rapid response. Of course, even if there is one, it is impossible to send warships to rescue within 4 hours.
McNamara's answer made Johnson's brow frown even tighter.
"Mr. President, I think we must fight back with the toughest attitude. They have been challenging our bottom line. Since last year, they have adopted a series of fierce offensive measures: creating a large number of incidents near the 38th parallel demilitarized zone, killing 300 American soldiers; just yesterday, in the early morning of January 21, the sneak attack on the South Korean Presidential Palace; "
Dean Rusk, secretary of state, said:
"I think we need to use force to solve this problem! Otherwise, they will not be able to curb their counterattacks at all. They must have wanted to provoke a war again!"
"Dean, we have 81 people as hostages in their hands!"
McNamara said:
"If we use force to solve the problem, they will most likely attack our people."
"We can't do nothing just because they have captured our people."
"Yes, can we say that during the war, because there are prisoners, we will have to make a ceasefire?"
Listening to their argument, Johnson thought for a moment, and said:
"We are now all our attention in Saigon, where the Vietnamese are launching a full-scale attack on us, and almost all cities are attacked. In this case, it is almost impossible for us to take action in the Land of Light."
"Yes, yes. Mr. President, we must see a reality, that is, the washing machine is likely to be their long-planned plan, that the Land of Light and Hanoi are likely to be colluded, or that they have made corresponding plans.—Hanoi launches a full-scale offensive to attract our attention, and the Land of Light takes the opportunity to attack us, and I suspect that they will take further risky actions."
Although there is no evidence in this regard, everything is too coincidental. After all, Hanoi has just launched a comprehensive offensive. While the US troops stationed in Vietnam are running, the country of light suddenly took action again, which is a big doubt.
"Mr. President, this is the fundamental reason why they take risks, because they see our strength being held in Saigon. If we do nothing, the whole world will see our weakness."
"At that time, they will challenge us around the world. At that time, we will face more than just the problems we are going to have. There will even be Europe, Africa, America, the Russians and their allies who will attack us all over the world."
This is the situation that the United States had to face during the Cold War. If they retreated in one place, they would be challenged around the world.
In this case, it is almost impossible for them to retreat in a real sense. Unless they want to give up world leadership.
At this time, the Oval Office of the White House was quiet. When snowflakes floated out of the window, the door of the office was pushed open. The White House Deputy Director of the General Office, Tom Smith, looked at the Director of the General Office Marvin Watson as soon as he entered, and then turned his eyes to the president and said:
"Mr. President, the Kingdom of Light has released videos of the prisoners."
While speaking, Tom Smith turned on the TV, and videos of the US soldiers appeared on the TV. The 81 US soldiers were captured and displayed in the public - they were dragged to the square to show them to the people of the Kingdom of Light to feel their enthusiasm.
Of course, the TV news did not show that when the Land of Light was filming promotional TV for them, several of the soldiers raised their middle fingers and were beaten up by the soldiers. After that, they dared not to oppose the Kingdom of Light again.
Soon, a picture of Captain Id Butcher appeared on the TV, who read a declaration of confession and admitted to invading the territorial waters of the Kingdom of Light.
President Johnson frowned in a ball as he watched the video of the captain confessing his guilt.
"Has the Pueblo really entered the territorial waters of the Kingdom of Light?"
"Mr. President, it is impossible to determine whether the Pueblo invaded the territorial waters of the Kingdom of Light now. I am afraid that only the parties involved will know!"
McNamara said:
"Now, the most important thing is to save our people!"
Dick said from the side:
"Mr. President, there will definitely be a fierce reaction to the public now."
Public opinion... Johnson's brows frowned,
Now the United States is being beaten up in Vietnam, and the north is launching a New Year offensive and attacking everywhere.
Now that the US military is attacked by the Kingdom of Light and killed one person. How can domestic public opinion not be boiling?
While the president was pondering, Dick said:
"Mr. President, I think we must respond directly anyway and should respond with our allies."
When the Secretary of State mentioned his allies, McNamara said directly:
"Mr. President, we should go on with the SEA, they just served a large aircraft carrier!" "Yes, Mr. President, and they are very deterrent!"
In this way, while the United States negotiated with the Kingdom of Light and sent troops to the Far East, Chang'an also faced a choice.
"The two sides are currently negotiating fiercely, but the negotiations are not going well. During the negotiations, representatives of the Country of Light left the seat many times and refused to negotiate..."
In the study of the official residence, Li Guoren said again:
"At present, domestic public opinion is also very fierce in the United States. Polls say that 60% of American people insist on solving the problem by force. Some extremists even demand that atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs be used to deal with the Land of Light."
"It's just the crazy words of some people!"
Li Yian sneered:
"Johnson is still relatively rational. He doesn't even dare to cross the line drawn by Vietnam from the air. Besides, when he can't get out there, where can he go to the Land of Light to start a war?"
Li Yian didn't know much about the "Pueblo" incident, but what is certain is that it definitely did not trigger a war in the end.
"Your Excellency, the United States hopes that we can send a fleet to act together!"
Li Guoren continued:
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"They asked us to send the Borneo."
"Your Excellency, they want to attract people to be brave!"
It must be arousing people to be brave. Li Yian nodded and said:
"It's just a strong momentum. This is what Americans like the most, just like the Tokyo Bay cruise."
The Tokyo Bay cruise that Li Yian mentioned was after the Tokyo Bay incident. The United States not only sent a fleet to Tokyo Bay itself, but also brought SEA and Australia and other countries. When it finally took action, of course, it was the Americans who did it themselves, but the United States needed to pull their friends together to boost their momentum.
"The most important thing is that they need to use a group of friends to tell the world that they are acting together."
After thinking about it, Li Yian said:
"Reply to them, we can send a fleet to the joint cruise operation, but hope that the incident can be handled peacefully, and at the same time..."
After pausing for a moment, Li Yian said to Li Guoren again:
"Contact with South Korea and tell them that we will provide them with 50 million yuan in emergency military aid and provide them with weapons including F2 fighters. Well, Guoren, you go to Seoul personally to cheer Park Jung-hyung and tell him that the Free World will definitely stand on his side, and..."
Li Yian stood up and paced while thinking that the reason for increasing assistance to South Korea was not just to cheer Park Jung-hyung up, but more importantly to the future.
"Your Excellency, Park Jung-young will definitely be very grateful. After all, he was just touched by someone."
When Li Guoren mentioned the "Blue Wa Dae", Li Yian raised his eyebrows. He didn't know whether it was the Korean soldiers or the special forces in the Kingdom of Light that were too awesome. He almost made people behead him.
In this case, the assistance to South Korea will naturally be exchanged for gratitude from the other party. After all, at this time, Park Jung-hyung was almost at the underground fortress of the Three Army Command.
Of course, this aid is also a sign of an attitude, that is, sEA is unswervingly standing on the side of the United States, and sometimes some things need to be taken more initiative.
Especially for the fact that only requires work but not work, if such things are still pushed back, it will definitely cause dissatisfaction and affect the relationship between the two parties.
Therefore, this matter not only requires work, but also a little effort can be put into the circle of interests. After all, South Korea has been classified by itself. At this time, the original work is also expressing its attitude to South Korea and giving them a reassurance.
However, the actions of the Land of Light cannot achieve any effect except that the United States has strengthened its naval and air force in the Far East, significantly increased its military aid to South Korea, and Park Jung-hyung used this to incite anti-North Korean sentiment.
What is the only effect?
It is to let South Korea see the support of SEA for him.
This kind of support is to pave the way in the future. If you want to become the leader, you always have to pay some price. Now, it is most appropriate to show your attitude in such a tense situation.
In this way, as the new year approaches, the situation in the Far East suddenly became tense due to the actions of the Kingdom of Light. The USS Borneo aircraft carrier, which had just entered service at the end of last year, and the four destroyers, Yongping, Yongjing, Yongsui and Yongding, and auxiliary ships, sailed to the north.
It also makes the situation even more tense.
But while in a state of tension, the representative of the Kingdom of Light, who had originally left, finally returned to the negotiating table again, but the negotiations between the two sides were full of gunpowder.
In order to force the Kingdom of Light to make concessions, the US military has also made various plans, including the same seizure of a Kingdom of Light ship.
However, the plan did not receive permission from the White House.
Since 81 people were held by the Kingdom of Light, the United States, which was afraid of being attacked, could only continue to silence the Kingdom of Light on the negotiating table.
During this period, the United States repeatedly asked the Soviet Union to come forward to coordinate, but never thought that the Kingdom of Light ignored the Soviet Union's advice.
After the mediation was ineffective, Brezhnev, who lost face, was naturally very angry - after all, in the eyes of the Western world, he was the leader of the Eastern world, but he could not control such small things.
Brezhnev, who just came to power through a coup a few years ago, originally this was a great opportunity to reflect his ability to control the Eastern world, but he did not expect that the Land of Light would say it straightforwardly!
Uncle can't bear it, aunt can't bear it. Brezhnev, who was ruined, didn't care about anything else. He not only warned the Kingdom of Light through diplomatic channels, but even publicly accused the Kingdom of Light of its rash actions, which would harm everyone's interests.
In fact, such public accusations are generally manifestations without any binding force.
(This chapter ends)