George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 4

< Episode 3 >

Immediately after his conversation with the Vice President, President George W. Bush visited the Pentagon.

Bush’s eyes reflected the devastating sight of a section of the Pentagon, that perfect pentagon, collapsing. He was visibly shaken by the damage, which was slightly more extensive than in the original timeline, but he quickly regained his composure, as it was within his expectations.

With the fire completely extinguished and the search underway, only a few rescuers and firefighters were visible. The Pentagon’s generals, having evacuated and survived, were scattered, but those in charge of the scene remained. Journalists and onlookers were also present beyond the security perimeter in the distance.

Their attire, gender, and even age varied, but they all shared one thing: they were American citizens, and their expressions were somber.

“Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, report on the extent of the damage.”

“The report should have gone to the White House.”

“Report? Those things change constantly depending on the situation on the ground. It’s most accurate to hear it directly from the field.”

Rumsfeld carefully considered his words before speaking.

“As you can see, a portion of the west side of the Pentagon has collapsed, and the terrorists and passengers are all dead. Fortunately, the backup server hub is intact, so data loss should be minimal.”

‘We need to rebuild the Pentagon to withstand a nuclear strike,’ Bush thought.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld seemed to be Dick Cheney’s mentor, and his influence in the political world was enormous. Both were equally opportunistic, but where Dick Cheney was like a bear patiently waiting for an opportunity, Rumsfeld was a snake, striking at any chance multiple times over.

He was a leading figure among the neoconservatives. In his youth, he was praised as a talented individual, but now he was often called a stubborn old man.

“Still, thanks to your foresight, the Pentagon’s generals and officials escaped safely. That’s something to celebrate.”

That’s why Dick and Rumsfeld were clearly similar yet different. But one thing was certain: their approach to managing George Bush was identical.

Rumsfeld was confident that he could manipulate the president of the world’s greatest country with his silver tongue.

“Celebrate? Is that something to celebrate? Fifty-nine people died here! Fifty-three of them were American citizens! Six foreigners died! I could have protected you with my orders, but I couldn’t protect innocent citizens! Do you know how tragic this is!?”

So, he was taken aback by Bush’s anger. He had expected that appropriate praise would quickly elate the president, like a child praised by their parents, but it seemed the shock of the terrorist attack had deeply affected him. Therefore, Rumsfeld decided to pursue his next best option.

“That’s not true, Your Excellency. I heard that you foresaw other terrorist attacks and didn’t stop them?”

“I initiated the events of United 93, but the miracle was entirely due to the captain and passengers.”

“The President is always humble.”

“Humble? If this is humility, even a stray dog would laugh.”

“It seems that the shock and grief over the terror are greater than expected. I will speak with the Vice President about arranging counseling.”

“Stop! Listen carefully. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

“Prepare the military.”

‘Army!’ Hearing those words, Rumsfeld had to physically restrain the corners of his mouth from rising with his fingers. The reflexive upward twitch seemed impossible to control with facial muscles alone. They say that as you get older, you lose control of your expressions, but why did the corners of his mouth keep rising like this?

“Prepare to rouse the fighter jets and bombers sleeping in the carrier group, filling their bellies with oil and gunpowder.”

It seemed the Vice President’s persuasion had worked. What a joyous thing this was! But Rumsfeld wasn’t foolish enough to display such an inappropriate expression outdoors, not even in a closed space or a room with eavesdropping protection.

Lowering the corners of his mouth, hardening his expression, he adopted a dignified, solemn, and stately demeanor.

“Yes! Mr. President!”

He didn’t realize it, but it was a typical Neocon face.

* * *

After the story of United 93 became widely known, the Presidential Medal of Freedom was discussed. The medal was already a certainty, and the biggest debate was where to award it. A single word from me ended all the armchair discussions derived from the various yellow media [sensationalist media outlets].

“The White House.”

The reason was as follows: the suicide bombing target confessed by the terrorists arrested on United 93 was the White House. In the history I knew, the terrorists simply crashed into the ground due to the passengers’ rebellion, so later many people speculated that the original target was either the Capitol Building or the White House. But in the history I created, I was able to find out definitively.

Not only the pro-Republican media outlet FOX, but also CNN, ABC, and even progressive-friendly media like the New York Times, praised the president this time.

So, I stood on the temporary platform set up in front of the White House and looked down. There, seven crew members and thirty-three citizens, who would have died in the history I knew, were lined up to receive the Medal of Freedom.

“Before we begin, I would like to tell you a story.”

I smiled as playfully as possible and began to speak.

“One of my aides told me that there are important meetings and conferences in the afternoon, so how about giving the medal directly to only one person and making the rest formal?”

It was true. It may have been disappointing from the recipient’s point of view, but unfortunately, it was also common sense to do so. No matter how significant the Medal of Freedom award ceremony was, it would be pointless if the country’s work was delayed at a time when war could break out at any moment. Moreover, this was even more true when there were forty people to be awarded.

“I personally reduced the salary of the friend who came up with that idea. How could you suggest that! The Presidential Medal of Freedom! The country you have protected is not that cheap!”

Guards in black suits emerged from behind with boxes, exactly forty of them.

“Leroy Homer Jr.!”

When his captain’s name was called, the captain walked forward as dignified as a soldier. In fact, he was from the Air Force. I didn’t know it originally, but as if the title of president was not just a facade, a file with his personal information, neatly organized, came into my hand with a single gesture. His final rank was apparently Major, a C-141 transport aircraft instructor.

In the history I know, he received all sorts of awards and commendations after his death. His name was engraved with other passengers at the National Memorial, and his wife established a foundation to award aviation-related scholarships.

What good is that!

The honor you receive after death is like a dog biscuit with good lighting.

“Good job. Not just anyone can make such an emergency landing.”

George W. Bush also served in the Air Force when he was young. He followed his father, who was in the Air Force, and joined the same branch, but he felt pressured to become as great as his father. However, the place he was assigned to was the 149th Fighter Squadron in Texas, and all he did was fly around Texas in an F-102, but he knew how difficult an emergency landing was due to his years of flying experience.

Of course, it wasn’t me, but it existed in George Bush’s memory. It had the disadvantage of having to work quite hard to remember it. But it was better than nothing.

The captain stood on the platform and began to speak.

I was going to give all the medals myself, but the captain was given a special opportunity to stand on the platform and give a speech. It was because of his earnest request. I readily agreed because I was going to do that anyway.

“I, I.”

He tried to say something, then swallowed it and cleared his throat.

“It was a normal voyage. I felt bad after hearing the news that there was a terrorist attack. It could have been my plane. But after the control tower transmitted an order to lock the plane’s doors, I had to calm down.”

All the cameras and flashes were focused on him, even more than when I, the president, came out.

“The captain is responsible for the plane. That also means that the captain is responsible for the safety of the passengers. But God gave me a test.”

Regardless of officials or reporters, the audience was extremely nervous, as if they were listening to a scary fairy tale told by a grandmother on a rainy day.

“I heard English with an Arabic accent outside the cockpit door, and I ordered the co-pilot to use the hijacking code and block the door. The co-pilot was saying his last words into the black box [a device that records flight data and cockpit audio]. I didn’t know what the terrorists were going to do. Knife? Gun? Bomb? I wanted to open the door right away and find out what was going on, but I had a duty to land as quickly as possible before anything happened.”

Due to the vividness of the scene, not even a single flash went off.

“The speed was precarious, so I was nervous, but the runway was already visible, and I had to land now. I could have tried again, but I was afraid of what the terrorists would do during the time I tried again.”

The reporters couldn’t see it, but I could see his fists trembling.

“Soon, the co-pilot’s last words recording ended, and I was encouraged to do the same, but I didn’t want to leave a will. But I felt like I had to say thank you. If it hadn’t been for the order from above to close the door, I wouldn’t have even been able to attempt that unstable landing. It was the moment just before the landing gear touched the runway. The control tower told me: ‘It’s an order from above, but it’s actually an order from a higher place, so thank that person.'”

After saying that, he gave an Air Force salute instead of a handshake or greeting.

“Thank you! Mr. President!”

Tears of relief were flowing from his bloodshot eyes. Does emotion spread? Some citizens were also crying, and reporters and officials wiped away tears.

The captain’s sense of responsibility was the most respected in this industry.

Thus.

“Welcome home.”

I hugged him.

* * *

The CIA didn’t even have to search like crazy. Al-Qaeda. In other words, Osama bin Laden sent a tape to the Middle Eastern news channel Al Jazeera and celebrated. The tape, which showed the United States, which had risen as much as it could, being mocked, was enough to unite all support classes under the flag of Americans.

Americans were angry and longed for justice to be served.

Therefore, as soon as the mastermind was revealed, Congress was urgently convened, and before all the members of the House and Senate could gather, the debate became fierce as always. Republican neoconservatives were shouting about Iraq as always, and the congressmen, swept up in the heat of the terror, were throwing out all the countries, forces, and organizations they suspected.

The buzzing soon became a commotion, and by the time it became a commotion, everyone, regardless of party, had a common thought in their heads.

Where will the spearhead of the world’s strongest country, the USA, turn?

And I didn’t like that very much.

“Stop! Quiet! Be quiet!”

I kicked open the door of the Capitol Building and shouted without hesitation. The congressmen, who initially didn’t pay attention, gradually realized who had entered the Capitol Building and shut their mouths. Politics is not about grades or personality, but about tact, and it was really as they said.

‘It seems like we’re finally ready to have a decent conversation.’

The congressmen, who thought that the angry president would shout ‘Let’s go to war with terror!’ right away, would have been very embarrassed. It would be even more so if the president suddenly made a solemn expression.

“Let us take a moment of silence to commemorate the victims of this terror.”

A quieter atmosphere flowed than at any other time since the Capitol Building was built, and a moment of silence was held in silence, regardless of Republican or Democrat.

The neocons had expressions like, ‘This isn’t it,’ but they couldn’t go against this atmosphere.

“Members of the House and Senate. September 11, 2001. Our United States was attacked by Osama bin Laden, who is too disgusting to even mention. Those hateful people are celebrating their short victory.”

Osama bin Laden. If you leave the Anglo-American world, you will often know him as the leader of Middle Eastern terrorists. It wasn’t wrong, but it was actually more complicated. From England to Europe to Africa. Also from Africa to India. Also, he was the leader of Al-Qaeda, an international terrorist organization that encompasses everything from India to Indonesia.

“God told us to turn the other cheek when we are slapped, but we cannot become such saints. About 3,000 citizens were sacrificed to the monster of terror. Thousands of citizens who watched the scene may have suffered from PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder].”

Just as the heat of revenge, which had gone down again, was about to rise again, the president continued to speak without stopping.

“But we must not lose our reason. We must not become monsters just because they have become monsters. We must never take out our anger on innocent and powerless people.”

The neocons, especially Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, had quite a sight, but what did I know? I had no intention of indulging their petty patriotism.

“But the enemy has finally been identified. Al Qaeda. Osama bin Laden. Now everyone here knows the name.”

The enemy has been identified.

“This is not a war. It will be an arrest operation for a just trial.”

World Police. Doesn’t everyone in America like it?

“I hereby request Congress to approve this arrest operation.”

A voice announcing unanimous passage echoed through the Capitol Building, followed by a standing ovation. World Police. Even the neocons mostly liked the word, but some of the neocons’ expressions were not very satisfied.

In particular, the Vice President’s expression was the most hardened, and the reason was obvious.

“I now declare that the Osama bin Laden arrest operation, that is, the ‘Shock and Awe’ operation, has been officially approved.”