George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 92

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The closing ceremony of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics began. The ceremony once again showcased the immense budget of the United States, reinforcing its image as a modern-day superpower.

Isn’t it true that art and invention often require patrons? Even the famous Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci thrived under patronage. In any case, a large budget doesn’t guarantee artistry, but it certainly expands the scale of expression.

Thus, the scale of expression displayed in the closing ceremony could be summed up in three words: ‘extravagant spending’.

Bush was watching the ceremony on TV in his office.

‘At least we avoided the embarrassment of being known as the drug Olympics.’

Bush had personally intervened to detect drug users early on. This Olympics would be remembered for detecting drug use, but not for stripping medals because of it.

Anton Ohno’s disqualification was unfortunate for him, but otherwise, the medal count remained largely unchanged. As expected, Norway, a traditional winter sports powerhouse, dominated, winning 13 gold medals. The United States won 12. Considering they initially projected 10 gold medals, their performance was commendable.

However, the United States led in total medals, with 12 gold, 18 silver, and 8 bronze, totaling 38 medals. This was two more than the 36 Bush had anticipated.

It was impossible to determine if this was due to the increased budget or the butterfly effect [a concept where small changes can have large, unpredictable consequences] influencing the athletes’ mindset or physical condition. Regardless, the positive outcome was all that mattered.

‘By the way, it seems my administration is a bit too relaxed these days.’

‘Yes?’

The Chief of Staff, a crucial figure in the administration, was alarmed. What outlandish idea was brewing now? There was already an overwhelming workload, much of it stemming from Bush’s ambitious initiatives.

Why ‘missiles’? Because every project Bush launched had the impact of one. Just off the top of his head, there was the Afghanistan support project, the pursuit of Qing Dynasty bonds from China [historical bonds issued by the Qing Dynasty that some believe still hold value], next-generation projects for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, domestic infrastructure reconstruction, intervention in Asia, and the recent construction of the North Korean embassy in Salt Lake City, among dozens of others. This was a simplified overview; the detailed tasks numbered in the hundreds of thousands.

This flurry of activity was fueled by the budget Bush had secured from various sources. Consequently, the United States was running on a cascade of interconnected projects.

This situation wasn’t necessarily negative. These national projects were diligently creating jobs, albeit often temporary, and the economy was experiencing a boom, coinciding with the Olympics.

So, the Chief of Staff wanted to convey, ‘Everything is progressing well without needing further pressure!’ Of course, not everything was perfect, but leading a country required compromise with reality. The problem was that the President, sitting with his feet propped on the desk, understood a fundamental truth.

The more the administration was pushed, the higher the people’s ‘quality of life’ became. Conversely, the more the lifespan of administration officials decreased, the more the people’s ‘life expectancy’ increased. It was a stark reality.

‘We are far from idle.’

‘That’s expected of those who serve the country. You didn’t accept this position to coast on taxpayer money, did you?’

It was irritating, but undeniably true. Shouldn’t it be the opposite? Perhaps that’s why he was the President of the United States.

It would be one thing if he were shirking his duties while overworking his subordinates, but he was diligently signing documents, even sacrificing his well-deserved ‘vacation,’ dedicating all his time outside of eating, sleeping, and exercising to his work. The Chief of Staff found it difficult to object.

Even his exercise seemed geared towards sustaining his work capacity.

‘Why don’t you try exercising too? It’s truly beneficial. I assure you, my back feels great when I wake up.’

Or perhaps not.

‘It’s nearly impossible for me to match your exercise regimen at my age. More than anything, I’m exhausted after work.’

‘Tsk tsk, if you dedicated a little time to exercise instead of complaining, you could function on just five hours of sleep.’

‘Can your body truly sustain that kind of lifestyle?’

Initially, Bush had been relying on espresso and instant coffee to artificially stimulate his mind, but he recognized the limitations of that approach and began incorporating exercise.

The results, as evidenced, were remarkable.

Of course, an average person attempting this would likely damage their health, but Bush was leveraging his vast wealth to employ scientific measurements and expert guidance to manage and optimize his physical condition.

In essence, Bush was buying time with money. Who says money can’t buy time? If you disagree, come to America. Here, you can buy time with money.

‘Of course, it can handle it. Who am I? I’m the President of the United States, aren’t I?’

The Chief of Staff couldn’t discern the correlation between combating fatigue and being the President, but he simply nodded.

‘North Korea has requested crude oil and the resumption of the suspended light-water reactor project in exchange for official diplomatic relations.’

The light-water reactor project was already under consideration, so that was inconsequential, but the crude oil request was more complex.

What is oil? It’s the lifeblood of modern society. This held true even in North Korea, despite its lower standard of living. However, North Korea doesn’t use this oil for daily necessities; they diligently stockpile it for military purposes.

They’re already hoarding all the crude oil they’ve received, and now they’re asking for more? Initially, he wanted to reject the request outright, but since Bush had initiated this reconciliation, it was difficult to refuse.

‘No. Well, it’s actually perfect.’

Regardless of how much oil they stockpile, that’s all it will be. They can’t sell it, so it will simply accumulate in warehouses, only to be used for military training with outdated armored vehicles.

What can you expect from a country where infantry soldiers fire only two bullets a year due to financial constraints? Even if North Korea becomes slightly wealthier with American funds, unification will likely be underway by then. If not, the regime we’ll be dealing with will be a more democratic one, more compliant with the United States, rather than the Kim family dictatorship.

‘No matter how hard they struggle in their impoverished state, we’ll be advancing even further in the meantime.’

In military strategy, it’s crucial to avoid underestimating the enemy. However, if you transform the enemy into a non-threat, that’s all that matters, isn’t it? The Wujing Zongyao [a comprehensive military compendium written in China during the Song Dynasty] states that war is like mathematics. Before engaging in battle, you can mathematically assess each other’s capabilities, and the results are generally accurate.

Of course, that’s assuming the calculation is precise. Even if there’s a discrepancy, the difference must be significant enough to warrant complacency, right? In the worst-case scenario, even if North Korea becomes reckless and aggressive, a single aircraft carrier fleet or two can relentlessly bombard their haphazardly dug tunnels with bunker busters day and night, effectively neutralizing them.

However, as the Vietnam War demonstrated, superior technology and overwhelming national power don’t guarantee victory. Even with advanced technology and resources, a sluggish and indecisive leader can lose the war. But North Korea is different. If war erupts now, South Korea, determined to advance north, and the United States would be there to support them.

Moreover, the Cold War era, with its divided world, is over. Pax Americana [a period of relative peace in the world, often associated with the dominance of a single superpower] has arrived, so China can’t simply intervene with a massive army like during the Korean War. Russia, ostensibly an ally, can only provide covert support with weapons and can’t directly mobilize its forces.

This applies to other countries friendly to North Korea as well. Who can resist when the world’s strongest nation wields the fire bat of discipline? If North Korea initiates a war, they will vanish into history without offering significant resistance.

‘Unless they’re requesting weapons, adjust the amount appropriately and send it. However, the specifics of what and how much to send must be approved by me.’

Bush had implemented a safeguard to prevent the administration from acting independently.

‘And how is the White House security enhancement progressing?’

Having made enemies across the globe, Bush was significantly bolstering the White House security, believing it was better to be safe than sorry. In the worst-case scenario, a deranged terrorist might drive a truck laden with explosives into the White House, right?

Furthermore, there might be assassination attempts. This might seem like paranoia to an ordinary person, but Bush was the President of the United States. It was a plausible threat. Considering the assassinated presidents of the past, there were four: Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy.

John F. Kennedy’s assassination was vividly etched in Bush’s memory. That was George W. Bush’s experience at the age of 17.

‘Still, isn’t this a bit excessive?’

‘What’s excessive?’

‘I agree with using a sturdy desk with bulletproof capabilities instead of an antique Resolute Desk, but increasing the firepower of the bodyguards to this extent is a bit…’

According to the newly revised plan in Bush’s hand, they were carrying proper assault rifles, not just P90s [a compact 5.7x28mm personal defense weapon]. Moreover, some bodyguards were requesting hybrid bulletproof vests with quasi-EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) capabilities, inspired by the assault engineering units created by the Russian army in 2016.

While an EOD suit might hinder movement, they would be constantly optimizing its weight, and not all bodyguards would wear it, only those specifically assigned to that role.

‘No, what are you talking about? Consider this: do you think anyone who breaches this room will only have pistols or assault rifles?’

The problem was that this wasn’t entirely unfounded. If someone infiltrated the White House and reached the office, they wouldn’t be an ordinary individual.

‘No, but even if I concede a hundred steps, I can understand machine guns. But what about grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, and Javelins [a portable anti-tank missile]? The office is where the President works, not an armory.’

The fact that this wasn’t wrong was a significant concern. The Chief of Staff wanted to retort, ‘Why don’t you just work in a bunker then?’ but he refrained, knowing it would be futile.

‘It can’t hurt to have them.’

‘It would be better to evacuate by the time you deploy those.’

‘You never know how the world will unfold. There might be a war.’

‘If it’s that dire, will anyone even be able to reach this room? Missiles will be flying.’

‘Will you take responsibility if I die?’

‘It’s an excessive waste of the budget.’

After a heated debate, they reached a compromise to exclude the heavy machine guns and Javelins, including only the remaining items.

‘Someday, this decision will save both you and me. Trust me!’