Page 10 of Enemy of My Enemy
“Condemningme,” Jack corrected. “We can call it what it is. Me and Ethan together.”
Elizabeth looked down at her notes. “We’re preparing for every possibility, Mr. President. Including a statement denying you entry to the Kingdom. We’re also preparing to recall our ambassadors from Saudi and the other countries. I believe we should recall them before any expulsion order is given. We don’t want to look reactive.”
Jack braced his elbows on his knees and clapped his hands in front of his face. His index finger bounced off his pursed lips.
“Should we be talking about cutting off these guys’ foreign aid?” Pete sat up again, glaring. “Whynotthreaten to pull out our bases from Uganda? Forget them! And, Mauritania is one of the world’s biggest shitholes. Good riddance. Somalia sucks. Iran still hates us. Whynotcut off our aid? Most of those countries get something. Some of them quite a lot.”
“Yemen has been getting military assistance against Al Qaeda for years,” Meredith Peterson said quietly.
“And about twenty million dollars from us.” Pete slapped his knee, his face twisted into a frustrated grimace.
“Seventy-five other nations also outlaw homosexual behavior, Mr. President.” Elizabeth pulled out a sheet of paper from her padfolio. “Their governments haven’t said much so far, but we’re expecting statements.” She glanced at Pete. “If we’re cutting off aid to one nation, do we cut it off to everyone? You’re talking about changing our entire foreign policy. We need to keep the moral high ground. America does not waver in the face of other countries’ invective—”
“Why not cut italloff?” Pete spread his arms wide. “These countries want to be dicks—”
“That’s enough.” Jack sat back, but he gave Pete a smile. “Thank you for your support, Pete. It means a lot. But, we can’t go changing the global order because backwater dictators are trying to spit in my face. If we pull out of Uganda, the rebels there would mount a counterstrike and we could lose the stability in East Africa that wedohave. Elizabeth—” He turned to her. “I agree with you. We’ve got to play this carefully. Reach out to the ambassadors in-country, in those six, and in Uganda and Nigeria. Ask them for their take. If there’s even a hint of insecurity or turmoil, recall the whole staff and shut down the embassy, but be sure to say that this is a temporary measure for the safety and security of our personnel. And, I think we’ll be okay in Saudi.”
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows but said nothing. “And what about the condemnation of you and the first gentleman, Mr. President?”
Jack turned to Pete. “Pete, I need you to craft a statement shaming these countries with kindness while keeping our diplomatic and strategic position unchanged.”
Pete sighed heavily and scrubbed at his eyes with his fists. His shoulders bounced back and forth as he thought, humming. “How about… ‘The United States wishes the people of blah blah country well and stands for equal human rights for all LGBT citizens everywhere. We… invite the government to join the world on the right side of history?’”
“Something like that, yes.” Jack nodded to Pete and Elizabeth. “Get together and craft a joint statement. Right now, I’m not ready to cut off any aid or draw down any military missions. And I don’t want to sink to their level. I’m not going to compromise America’s moral standing in the world to hurl insults at a bunch of narrow-minded dictators.”
“Pretty sure they think you’re already morally compromised.” Pete spoke quickly, but ducked his head as Irwin shot him a death glare that promised a private reprimand away from the Oval Office.
“We’ve got to prove them wrong. Elizabeth, get your people working on a project to fund LGBT rights groups in those countries. Let’s take an affirmative stand for equality everywhere. And put our money where our mouths are.” Jack stood and buttoned his suit jacket. His hands trembled, but he hid them in his pockets quickly. “Thank you, everyone. Have a good morning. I’ve got to make a call to President Puchkov.”
* * *
International Reactions Mixed to President’s Announcement;
Embassies Evacuated Due to Security Concerns
International reactions have been mixed to President Jack Spiers’s announcement that he was moving his homosexual lover into the White House. Six nations immediately banned the president from their borders, and others took to their national media to loudly denounce the president and Mr. Reichenbach.
Riots broke out in several countries across Africa and the Middle East. Embassies in Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria, Mauritania, and Zimbabwe were temporarily closed, and all staff were flown out of the country. Secretary of State Elizabeth Wall said that the closures were done out of an “abundance of caution” for their staff, as the United States evaluates her continued and ongoing diplomatic relations in light of the negative statements from some world leaders.
Not all world leaders were negative, however. The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister offered her congratulations, as did the President of the EU and the Chancellor of Germany. Canada’s Prime Minister issued a statement to their media, congratulating President Spiers and Ethan Reichenbach. And, in a surprising move, Russian President Sergey Puchkov took time at the end of his briefing at the Kremlin to offer his personal congratulations and best wishes to the president and his partner.
* * *
Chapter 3
White House West Wing
“Mr. President!”The booming voice of President Sergey Puchkov, erupting through the Oval Office’s telephone with such glee, never failed to put a smile on Jack’s face.
“Mr. President,” Jack greeted the Russian president warmly. Somehow, he and Puchkov had grown to be almost friends as the United States and Russia had partnered closely to combat the Caliphate in Iraq and Syria. Once, Sergey had called him apidorpresident—a faggot president—and had shut Jack out. He’d called back with a very Russian non-apology after Ethan had saved the world, and ever since, Sergey had repeatedly invited Jack and Ethan to visit Russia together. He asked about Ethan on every call. He stood with Jack at the UN, and he’d rescinded Russia’s infamous homosexual propaganda law. Whatever had happened in the past, Sergey was making a real effort with Jack.
It was a bright spot amid an ocean of negativity.
“There is still time for you and Mr. Ethan to come to Russia for Russian winter.”Sergey’s voice held a faint hint of teasing. “I promise you. You will never have a winter like Russian winter. Is good for you. Good for the soul!”
Jack laughed. “Sergey, that’s very kind of you. We had to promise the Secret Service that we’d stay put for a while, though.”
“Ah, yes, yes. What with your big announcement.” Even over the phone line, Jack could hear Sergey’s grin. “Congratulations are in order for you and the first gentleman, Mr. President.Za Lyubov!”
