Chapter Two - part thirteen

   Finally James was released from all the questioning. He had hoped to be allowed to return, but that wasn't going to happen just yet. It seemed there were still some people who wanted to talk with him. James was quietly taken to Camp David. It seemed the President, himself, wanted to talk with James. When James arrived he soon found out it wasn't just the President. He found himself in a room with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and General Adams the Commander of the Air Force in Europe. There were several others there as well, but James wasn't sure who they all were. The first man to speak was the President. He stood up and moved to greet James as he was shown into the room. "Captain Cooper, I must say I was expecting someone much more like Superman, but I guess you do sort of resemble Clark Kent. It is good to finally meet you, though I must say I would have preferred it to be under less strained circumstances."

  James managed to snap a quick salute and then shake his hand as he replied. "Sir, I am honored to meet you, but I too wish it was under different circumstances." The President just smiled and motioned for James to take a seat as he did the same. Once they were all seated again the President spoke. "Well now that you are here I would like to hear what you have to say about things. Start where ever you want and tell me everything you feel I should know. I have been briefed and read your testimony, but now I want it in your own words. Tell it the way you think it needs to be told. What I have read was focused on placing blame. I want to hear the whole story from start to finish. I promise you that none of these people will interrupt you. I may ask you a few questions myself, but I will try to let you just talk if I can."

   This hadn't been expected by James. He had expected a lot more questions and a lot more frustrated politicians. Instead he seemed to have been given an open forum. Well he had been praying for a chance to speak his mind. Dad and Pastor David had often warned him to be careful what you prayed for... you just might get it! It looked like they had been right again! James nodded his head and took a moment to sort out his thoughts. Then he started talking. He didn't start with the meeting or the raid on it. James started from the very beginning, why he had been asked to go to Syria and how things had developed. He talked about the leaders he had worked with and about the slow progress of the talks. Finally he had gotten to the meeting, the sudden NATO attack, and their combined response to that attack. At least he told them what he could remember of it. A lot of that last day was very blurry and some spots were just blank to him. The doctors said that was because of his concussion. The President had never said a word, nobody did. Finally James was ready to wrap it all up.

  "That is about all I can tell you, sir. I have been trying to make everyone understand that we had to do what we did. I believed we had a real chance for peace. Maybe we still do sir, but I need to get back there. I was told that they won't talk to anyone except Aadila and Sabella. If you would let me get back there, then maybe I can get you some more answers. I know those men, sir. They may not like us and they may not agree with anything we say, but they are all concerned about their nation and their people. Please sir, I don't care what you decide to do about my actions, but let me try to get this worked out first. I know I can make a difference if you will just give me the chance. Then you can do whatever you need to do to me. Please just don't let this chance slip away. We have a chance to make a real difference in the lives of the people of Syria. Please sir, I am begging you. Give me a chance to do whatever I can to save this situation." James had been looking at and talking directly to the President the entire time. Now he continued to watch, wait, and pray. What would this man do? Would he give James a chance or would he sacrifice James in the name of foreign relations and politics?