Chapter Eight - part eight

    The President seemed to shake himself back into awareness. He glanced around and then he looked back at James and spoke. This time his voice was low, but it was very hard and cold too. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you would be so kind as to excuse us for a few minutes; I believe that it would be best if Major General Cooper and I settled this issue in private." The President stood up and indicated that James should follow him out the door that only the President normally used. James walked out behind the President and followed him down the hallway. It was a short walk to the office the President used in the Pentagon. Actually they were still below the Pentagon, but it was still a part of it. Once there the President instructed the secret service to remain outside. They didn't like it, but they weren't prepared to face the wrath of a President who was clearly already furious. Once inside the office the President took his seat behind his desk. James had remained standing since the President hadn't offered him a seat yet.

   James remained there, standing at attention for a long while before the President finally spoke. "Major General James Andrew Cooper. Some people say that you saved this nation from total destruction. Some people say you will totally destroy it if you aren't stopped." He paused again for a while and then continued. "Frankly, I don't know which to believe! You have been both a blessing and a curse to me. You have indeed seemed to work miracles in some places, but you have also been at the center of all the major catastrophes I have had too. And now you do this!" The President shook his head and then motioned for James to take a seat. James took the seat, but he remained silent. It was easy to see that the President was still very upset with him. They just sat there looking at each other for a long time. James knew that he served at the pleasure of the President. He could easily be removed with just a few words. He had been willing to risk that. Now he would see if the President was willing to actually do that.

    Finally the President shook his head and began talking to James again. "I swear you are the hardest man to figure out I have ever met. The only thing that exceeds your courage is your faith. You are absolutely fearless and driven when you start at something. But this time you must let it go. I cannot keep this up. You have to understand that my decision is final! What is your problem with accepting my decision? You should understand better than anyone that when the commander makes a decision that is the end of it. As a Major General wearing only two stars you have been given command over full four star generals. You don't think that means that you have command over me do you? You serve at my pleasure! And right now I have little pleasure in that service! Can you explain to me why you simply refuse to let this go? The people are being governed fairly and things are getting better for them! Isn't that enough for you? Why do you want to risk everything you have gained? Why is this so important to you? I would like to hear you explain that to me."

   James waited for a moment to be certain the President was finished before he spoke. Taking a slow breath James started. "Sir, I will try to make you understand why this is so important. I have been working very hard to do what you have asked of me. I have regained control of all of the major cities and most of the nation. There are still isolated areas that aren't fully under control, but that is due the isolation of those places more than anything else. The people will probably always control themselves in those places. Martial law has served us well, but the time for it has past. It is time to let the people assume control again. Sir, we could hold them under martial law indefinitely as has been suggested by some, but that would be a greater risk to this nation than lifting martial law immediately will be." James took a moment and then continued.

    "Sir, martial law is meant to be used to establish control during times of war or civil unrest. It was the right decision when you imposed it upon this nation. I am certain that without it this nation would no longer exist. It has served a useful and needed purpose, but that purpose is over! We were never at war sir; though I do admit it would be hard to tell from looking at some of the results of what happened. We also no longer have the civil unrest that caused those devastating results. Yes, there is still unrest, but it is not to the level that warrants martial law being continued. This nation will never be completely free of a certain amount of civil unrest. There will always be some people who are dissatisfied with things. There will always be protests and objections to how things are done. That is what makes this nation what it is. Sir, the people must have the freedom to govern for themselves. Without that freedom what we have done means nothing. Without that freedom the America that we knew can't exist. Sir, we have to let the people try again! Maybe they will fail, but they must have the freedom to try!"

    James had leaned forward and was sitting on the edge of his chair now. The urgency and pleading in his voice had been heard. The anger had receded from the President's expression. He had leaned back in his chair as James had spoken. Now he remained like that; watching James and considering his words. Then he slowly leaned forward and put his hands together in front of him. After a minute he began to nod and then he spoke. His voice was no longer so hard or demanding. The anger seemed to have faded away. "I do hear your concerns. I understand how you feel. I do! That doesn't mean I have changed my mind. James the people did a tremendous amount of damage when they revolted and it was a revolt! If we give them control then we will lose control again. I am certain of that! I am not ready to let that happen. Perhaps in time things will become stable enough to let them have some control back, but that time is not now. I need you to let this go. This nation needs you. You have done what I don't think anyone but you could have done. I am asking you to continue doing that and let me decide when the people are ready. They did elect me twice as their President. You handle the military and let me handle the people and the politics."

     James took another deep breath and spoke again. "With respect sir, that is another reason why you must lift martial law now. Sir, the people did elect you as their President. They did it twice, but your second term will end next year. Sir, we need to have elections. That can't happen under the current martial law. There should already be candidates and politics flooding the people with choices that only the people can make. We simply cannot fail to allow the people to freely elect who they want to govern them. That was and still is the very foundation of our nation; a government of the people, elected by the people, serving for the people. Sir, I do serve at your pleasure, but as one of those elected by the people you also serve at our pleasure. I know that you understand that and so you must understand why I say we must lift martial law. We must allow the people to hold elections and make their own choices. If we don't do this, then we have already failed. We will have failed our founders, we will have failed our nation, and we will have failed the people. Sir, I can't let that happen. I won't fail them, sir."

     There was red creeping up the President's neck and anger flashed in his eyes, but he spoke calmly in reply when James was done. "Young man, you walk a very fine and very dangerous line. You seem to imply that I want to use martial law to stay in power. That is ridiculous and offensive to me. I was indeed elected by the people of this nation and I fully intend to do my duty for them every bit as much as you have proven that you will. It is that duty which makes me certain that we must maintain martial law for now. In time I want to lift it, but not until I am certain that the people are ready to handle things again. That same sense of duty is preventing me from throwing you out of my office and out of my military. But I warn you that you will obey your Commander and Chief or you will be removed. The nation may need you, but it needs order and control more. I am giving you a direct order. This is the end of this discussion about lifting martial law. It will remain until I am certain we can lift it safely. Is that understood?"

   James came to his feet and snapped to attention as he answered. "SIR, YES SIR!" Then in a lower tone of voice he added a request. "May I have permission to speak, Sir?" The President gave a nod of approval, but he spoke a warning along with that nod. "You may speak, but I warn you to be very, very careful what you say." James didn't hesitate. He spoke with a calm low voice, but he spoke very clearly. "Again with respect Sir, I mean no offense to you when I say this. I have heard and fully understand your orders. That said I feel it is my duty to once more remind you of the other purpose of martial law. It is also what is imposed upon a defeated country. Sir, this nation hasn't been defeated. The people have never been conquered. The nation and the people in it have taken a beating, but they are still standing. I will follow your orders, because it is my duty. You are my Commander and Chief. That doesn't mean I will like those orders. It also doesn't mean there won't be a time when I can no longer fulfill my duty to obey them. I am not making threats or trying to cause unnecessary problems, Sir. I am just informing you that you also walk a fine and dangerous line; the line between being the freely elected President of a free nation and becoming a dictator of that defeated nation."

    James knew full well that he might have just signed his dismissal from the Air Force. That made no difference to him. He knew in his heart that unless they lifted martial law and soon; he couldn't continue to serve. He wanted to serve! He wanted to continue his work to restore the nation as it was meant to be! But that wouldn't be possible if he was forced to remain in command of nothing less than a national military police force. James watched and waited for the explosion he expected to come. Instead the President leaned back in his chair and studied James. The red faded away as he did. It was several long minutes before he stood up and looking James in the eyes spoke to him. "You do indeed have even more courage than you seem to have faith or common sense. I have heard you. I do understand you. Now you understand me! I cannot and will not allow this country to destroy itself! It will be returned to the people, but only when they can take care of and preserve it rather than destroy it! I see now that you will do what you believe to be right no matter the cost to you or even those around you. While I must question that kind of faith I still admire it. I should probably dismiss you right here and now, but I am not going to do that... not today. I want you to give your position a lot of thought and I think a lot of prayer too. Then I want you to give me an answer immediately after the Thanksgiving holidays. I want to know that you are willing to leave this martial law issue to me and just do what you do so well. I want to know that you will give your full attention and effort to restoring this nation to a point where I can be confident enough to lift the martial law that you are so against. I want to know who you serve. Do you serve your Commander and Chief or do you serve the people? Who will you serve? If you want the chance to give me that answer after the holidays then I suggest you get out of my office right now! If you say one more word today; I will dismiss you and find someone who can follow orders! After the holidays I want you to be prepared to give me your answer. Now get out!"