George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 32

< Episode 31 >

Against a backdrop of candlelight shimmering like waves on the shore, wine glasses clinked softly, their sound a gentle celebration. The family, sharing stories in harmony, presented a picture of a warm, loving home.

‘Ah, shit.’

Except for George Bush, who felt like he was teetering on the edge of sanity. George Bush, or rather, Kim the construction worker, wasn’t naturally suited to this kind of domestic scene. After being discharged from the army, he’d cut ties with his family, and his experience with women was mostly limited to his college days. It would be stranger if he *wasn’t* out of sorts.

“Honey, thank you.”

“You’re just saying something nice for actually keeping a promise.”

“I thought you had completely forgotten because of work.”

“Hahaha! Isn’t family as important as the nation?”

“That’s right, Dad.”

Yes, there was ‘family’. ‘Family’.

It wasn’t just George Bush and Laura Bush present, but also their children, Jenna Bush and Barbara Bush. It was fortunate that siblings like Jeb Bush weren’t there. If they had been, George Bush might not have been able to endure it and would have cracked under the pressure.

“That’s right, son.”

‘But why are *you* here?’

George Herbert Walker Bush. The original Bush! The father Bush! He might not have been the best at domestic affairs, but he was a president who navigated diplomacy with keener insight and perception than anyone else. Moreover, he was so prescient that he perfectly predicted how the Iraq War would end. And that was 10 years ago!

“But your personality seems to have reverted quite a bit.”

Well, this much was fortunate. It’s not that George Bush was originally well-mannered; rather, he was a prankster that no one could control. So, the perception of those around him was, ‘Old habits die hard; he’s back to his old self since he’s been apart from his wife.’ The problem, however, was that his playfulness was no longer confined to personal matters but was returning to ‘world-class’ levels.

‘It seems the presidency suits him better than I thought.’

Father Bush thought so, but he didn’t want to say anything to his son for now. His son had free will and was even the president of a country. He was a man. In the beginning, he was a bit unstable, but for some reason, after the 9/11 attacks, he succeeded in perfectly gripping the reins of two wildly rampaging horses.

One was diplomacy, and the other was domestic affairs. However, as for diplomacy, whether it was luck or a plan he had made himself, he hoped it wasn’t the latter. As the head of a country, prioritizing his own nation was only natural, but if it went too far, it would ruin diplomacy. The key to diplomacy was to loosen the reins appropriately. If you tighten them too much, they might abandon their master and run away.

In short, if one superpower wields too much power, a counter-alliance will naturally arise to push back against the superpower. They always loudly proclaim, ‘America can fight the world alone!’ but if that actually happens, it’s not the world but humanity that will be on the path to destruction. Only those who properly utilize carrots and sticks can be winners in diplomacy.

Above all, cornering the Middle East might be beneficial in the short term, but it wasn’t good in the long term. Even today, it was visible to the eye that oil prices were rising more and more compared to the previous day.

‘I wonder what he’s planning to do about Russia.’

The only reason Russia wasn’t selling its natural resources was that it wasn’t profitable. If oil prices continue to rise like this, it will be too late. Russia might establish a strong sphere of influence throughout Eurasia and call for a return to the days of the Soviet Union. If Russia shuts off the oil and gas pipelines, saying, ‘Valve closed!’ no country in Eurasia would be able to respond properly.

Father Bush’s mouth was itching to talk about this. Not as a father to a son, but as one man to another. As men who had both been presidents of the United States, there were so many conversations he wanted to have. ‘How are you going to handle this? Oh! Then what about this!?’ He had an intense desire to share the cards and moves they each had, like in a game of chess.

Before a father who wanted to confirm his son’s growth, the fact that the chessboard was the world’s strongest country, the United States, was trivial.

However, he couldn’t say it out loud. For some reason, his son, who he thought would always be dragged around by aides or public opinion, had finally started to stand on his own. He couldn’t pour cold water on that. These questions could be asked after his son stepped down from the presidency.

“Ah, well. I guess you could say this job suits me better than I thought.”

“Well, go ahead and do as you please.”

‘Huh, it suits him.’ Still, he’s my son. If his father doesn’t believe in him, who will? Father Bush decided to trust his son for now and focus on cutting the thick steak in front of him.

“Honey?”

Yes, ‘Father Bush’, you see.

“Yes?”

Laura Bush suddenly approached and began to press her body close. Bush couldn’t refuse. If he refused here, everyone would look at him strangely. Furthermore, they might think he was having an affair, had fallen out of love, or even suspect his sexual identity. Truly a dilemma.

‘Hey! Don’t do that in front of family!’

Just as Bush was stammering, not knowing what to do, the phone rang at the right time. For Laura, it was an annoying phone call that disturbed the harmony of the family, but for Bush, it was a horn of salvation.

“Answer it.”

“Thank you.”

「Mr. President. I’m really sorry to interrupt your cozy family dinner, but you told me to contact you immediately no matter what if a decision was made…」

“Speak.”

He couldn’t bring himself to say, ‘No! You did well!’ but that was Bush’s sentiment. What good were the delicacies in front of him if he couldn’t tell whether they were going into his nose or his mouth? He wanted to get out of this place right away.

Laura’s gaze was burdensome, and Father Bush’s seemingly sparkling gaze was even more so. For some reason, he thought it was all because Kim had entered this body, and he was going half-crazy. To face this head-on, he needed more time and space.

However, he couldn’t keep avoiding it forever. He had no intention of doing so. A man who had worked in construction had suddenly become the President of the United States, an oil tycoon, and a millionaire. He had no intention of giving up this great fortune because of such trivial matters.

Bush decided to endure it. Or get used to it.

「Japan and Korea. All schedules have been set. As you said, Mr. President, in the very near future. Japan is tomorrow, and each country has a two-day journey…」

“Korea.”

「Pardon?」

“Korea! Go to Korea first, no matter what!”

‘No matter how thin my patriotism for my homeland has become, I can’t at least do anything good for Japan. Absolutely! It’s Korea, no matter what! Forget everything else and go to Korea first!’

Don’t people usually say that even non-existent patriotism arises when they go abroad? Well, in fact, it was better to think of it as an extension of the ‘Just beat Japan!’ ideology that is often found in sports.

Giving special treatment to Korea for no reason was out of the question, considering Korea’s position and the opposition from Congress, but since all these minor diplomatic powers were vested in the President, Bush could push for a trip to Korea.

Well, that didn’t mean he was going to exclude Japan, but diplomatically, Korea’s priority had just risen a bit.

「Mr. President. Japan is more strategically important for diplomacy…」

“Korea!”

「…Understood.」

“Oh, and this time, I’ll be flying in an F-18.”

「Excuse me? An F-18?」

Isn’t the F-18 a carrier-based aircraft? So, does that mean he’s going to fly from an aircraft carrier? In other words, does that mean he’s going to move a carrier strike group? No, no. The F-18’s ferry range was sufficient. He could arrive from the mainland.

Wait a minute, isn’t it a problem even if the carrier doesn’t follow? What if something happens? Who can take responsibility if something really happens?

「You’re not suggesting that you’re going to move a carrier strike group…」

“Then would you have me go alone?”

So, this guy again! He has to fly a fighter jet to be satisfied? The chief of staff swallowed the impudent question, ‘What? Are you crazy?’ that came out of his mouth and decided to try to persuade this reckless president as much as possible.

「If the First Lady finds out, she won’t be happy.」

‘Cough, cough!’

Is the chief of staff allowed to poke at such sore spots? Whose side is this guy on anyway? Bush glanced at his family through the window for a moment and closed his eyes.

“I believe she will understand everything.”

It was true. She was lenient about work. So, she could understand even if he didn’t go home for a month. She was a truly good spouse. George Bush, the husband, was very burdened by it.

Well, in fact, it was closer to the attitude of ‘It’ll work out somehow.’

「If you get shot down, it’s a world war.」

“Even the most reckless country wouldn’t want to start a world war…”

‘Yes, America.’

To be precise, it’s the Dick Cheney government that controls America, which is losing its president and going crazy with grief. If Bush dies, Vice President Dick Cheney will become president. Dick Cheney loved war more than anyone else. He wouldn’t be surprised if he tap danced on the red nuclear missile button with his finger.

“…There won’t be a country.”

Well, even so, surely not in East Asia, not in the Middle East. And not where there’s a carrier strike group. Even if he were shot down, he wouldn’t be shot down in an area with a carrier strike group. Even if he were shot down, he wouldn’t know which country shot him down right away, but the country that shot him down would really return to the Stone Age.

‘Ah, really!’

“What is it? Do you have any complaints?”

「Nothing, sir. I will proceed as is.」

Chief of Staff Card sighed. It was because not only he but everyone was going to be busy. In all my life, I’ve never seen anything like this. Who in the world wants to take a fighter jet and drag a carrier strike group to another country?

‘Ah, damn it, here it is.’