George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 71

< 70 >

Finally, the new year of 2002 dawned.

Tons of outdated 2001 calendars were piled up in landfills, and just as many 2002 calendars were sold. Christmas mail had turned into New Year’s greetings, and the TV was filled with New Year’s specials and articles that were less interesting than before.

The EU remembered 2001 as the most shocking year. The terrorist attacks caused many casualties, and the day was designated as a memorial day. At the same time, many cultural assets were lost, so the EU took action to restore them. With billions of dollars in donations pouring into this project, Europe proudly called it a ‘donation revolution.’

Russia was having a terrible time. China, which they firmly believed would soon form a military alliance, became a laughingstock. They had taken half of Iraq, but what Russia desperately needed was light industry and infrastructure, not oil. Countries without oil would be furious, but Russia tried to comfort itself by saying it hadn’t suffered any direct losses.

China had been secretly oppressing ethnic minorities, but now it increased its efforts. They began to consolidate their power, taxes were subtly increased, and investment in administrative power was increased to manage their shrinking influence. Furthermore, they boldly pressured Taiwan, claiming to be the true legitimate government because they were paying off the Qing Dynasty’s debts.

And the United States. So much was changing rapidly. Their president, who had suddenly become a different person after 9/11, had accomplished much and pushed forward many things. His actions were so unconventional and radical that the federal Congress and state governments were confused whether he was a Republican or a Democrat.

Everyone was having a hard time because of this human being who was like a rubber ball bouncing all over the place. The worst part was that he was aware of it and doing it on purpose.

The problem was that President George Bush was in a very bad mood.

“So, there are two pieces of bad news and one piece of good news?”

The Chief of Staff seemed awkward today. Maybe it was because he hadn’t seen him in three days and couldn’t get used to it, or maybe he was relaxed after taking a long-delayed vacation.

Or maybe it was because he fully anticipated the repercussions of delivering the ‘bad news.’

“Fantastic.”

“Which one would you like to hear first?”

“I’ll hear the good news first.”

At that, the Chief of Staff silently pushed a newspaper and a piece of paper onto the desk.

The newspaper contained a story about the Arsenal Ship that Bush was pushing. Most of it was negative, saying it was a waste of budget, and it was painful to admit that the criticisms were not entirely wrong.

Military experts had expressed many negative opinions about the Arsenal Ship, but the Navy, having undergone capital therapy, remained silent. Moreover, it was only a pilot project to introduce one ship, and there would be technological accumulation that could only be obtained from the development of the Arsenal Ship.

But now, Bush finally had an excuse.

The paper was a request, and the first paragraph was filled with praise for the Arsenal Ship and a love call. The watermark showed the mark of the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, a country known for its obsession with firepower.

“South Korea wants to introduce the Arsenal Ship?”

“Yes.”

The Chief of Staff nodded, looking as dignified as a triumphant general passing through the Arc de Triomphe. He could already picture the White House owner’s delight at this news. But ironically, Bush, the person who should have been most pleased, was more puzzled than happy.

“Do they even have the money to buy the Arsenal Ship?”

Thinking about it, South Korea was a concrete-level loyal customer of the American defense industry, but it seemed like they had never bought anything at full price. They either slashed the price or demanded excessive freebies.

“To be precise, they want technological cooperation in exchange for capital investment. They are considering reducing the number of missile launchers to about 100 and operating them in a smaller size.”

‘Their goal is a joint firepower ship.’

In South Korea, there had been occasional talk of introducing a Korean-style aircraft carrier, but it only started to be seriously discussed in 2017. That was when the South Korean military’s missile maintenance and storage capacity was reaching its limit. In other words, the warehouse was full, which had been predicted for a long time, and the South Korean Ministry of National Defense was working hard to find a breakthrough.

So it was clear that the Ministry of National Defense was determined to secure the ‘technology’ at all costs.

‘If they have the technology, they can build it themselves.’

South Korea’s shipbuilding capabilities were not lacking. Rather, they were one of the world’s leading shipbuilding powers.

But whether that applied to warships was another question. However, looking back on his time in service, it seemed that the reason why their capabilities seemed lacking was all because of ‘defense corruption.’

‘But that’s not something I can do anything about.’

Around the same time, there was talk of China introducing an Arsenal Ship with 300 launchers. It was just tabloid-level news in newspapers, but conversely, there was no reason why China wouldn’t build it.

“If they’re a military ally and pay the right price, there’s no reason why we can’t do it.”

‘If the South Korean Navy introduces a joint firepower ship, North Korea might freak out, saying that South Korea’s naval power is increasing.’

Well, then they would really be going back to the Stone Age, wouldn’t they?

Everything was going as Bush wanted, but life is beautiful because of its ups and downs.

Would it be fun if everything went so well?

“What’s the other news?”

Now it was bad news.

“We received a response from ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] regarding the specific proposal we sent. But….”

As soon as he heard that, Bush’s expression twisted strangely. It was rare for the Chief of Staff to trail off, and it was a sure sign that something was wrong.

“They won’t allow direct involvement in the ASEAN system.”

“So they rejected the investment too?”

That could happen. Intervening in the system itself was too much. That’s what the administration was there for. Bush could keep pushing until he got the answer he wanted. Diplomacy was originally a process of narrowing the differences between countries to the extreme.

“They still want that.”

“What?”

‘Don’t these guys know what it’s like to put themselves in someone else’s shoes? Didn’t they think about how we would react?’

For example, it was like going to a pizza place and buying a pizza, but being told, ‘Ah, you bought the pizza, but you don’t have the right to eat it!’

Doesn’t resonate with you? Then, since you’re half Korean and half American, let’s localize it with some ‘half-Korean’ sensibility.

‘Ah, kimchi [fermented Korean cabbage] is not listed as a basic side dish! This well-fermented kimchi is only ₩3000 [Korean Won] a bowl! Hey, boss! I’m feeling generous! Toothpicks are half price as a service! Only ₩1000!’ They would freak out if they were told that.

If you made an investment, you should naturally get a return. Why isn’t there a service that should be provided? Well, it was more like ordering *gukbap* [Korean rice soup] and they only took the money and didn’t give you the *gukbap*.

Bush’s brain, which was rattling like a washing machine in dehydration mode, finally came to a clear conclusion.

“Do they want to die?”

That was a very simple and clear answer. Maybe they were tired of environmental pollution and longed for the Stone Age. Living as a natural person, waking up in the morning and eating fresh fruit and freshly caught meat. It was 2002, so it was the height of the well-being craze.

It was a surprisingly rational judgment based on facts and evidence, considering Bush’s tendency to prioritize emotions before calculations.

But unfortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case, as the Chief of Staff shook his head.

“It seems they’re trying to push and pull as much as possible, as their future is at stake.”

That was to be expected. But pushing and pulling meant ‘testing the waters,’ and their situation was not one where they could afford to test the waters.

The fuel needed for growth was foreign currency, and their foreign currency reserves and domestic demand were in shambles, so they had to attract foreign currency to mitigate the effects of the Asian financial crisis.

Even if it meant making some sacrifices.

ASEAN-5, including Indonesia, was still in recession 20 years later. They were always followed by the threat of a sharp drop in asset prices.

In other words, they were in desperate need of dollar investment. They were rejecting the flashlight of salvation in the dark alley of collapse, where the streetlights were dimly lit.

‘What is it? Was it fashionable to test the waters with a knife to your throat in 2002?’

Just as Bush was seriously wondering if there was such a trend, the Chief of Staff opened his mouth.

“I don’t think it’s a bad option to push the Philippines or Indonesia, which are part of ASEAN, rather than ASEAN itself.”

It was like aiming for the *gamnamu* [persimmon tree] itself rather than poking at the *gam* [persimmon] you can’t eat. In other words, if you control Indonesia, the leader of ASEAN, you will naturally control ASEAN.

“Not a bad idea.”

But that would only strengthen the military power of that country. What Bush wanted was a perfect noose to strangle China from all sides. The tiger’s teeth had been removed, but the sharp claws remained, so shouldn’t we try to trim those claws as well?

“Then how about getting national bonds from ASEAN member states?”

National bonds were the easiest way to grab another country’s lifeline. For example, the United States was doing just that, grabbing China’s lifeline and shaking it vigorously.

“National bonds? If they grow to the point where they can’t be repaid, they’ll go bankrupt later and we’ll be singing a song about who’s responsible.”

But the national bonds of ASEAN member states were a vague thing. If they suddenly said, ‘ASEAN is over! Thank you for your hard work!’ and changed their flag and national name, saying, ‘We don’t inherit it! Therefore, we have no responsibility!’ there would be no answer.

Of course, they could be forced to repay through intellectual and cultured dialogue like China, but that would ruin America’s most important ‘Asian strategy.’ One of the fruits that the United States would reap, the ‘economic effect,’ should not be the main goal, but a ‘secondary income’ from the Asian strategy.

‘No matter what, I can’t let the tail wag the dog.’

“ASEAN is basically a group of anti-communist countries from the Cold War era. As long as they don’t fall apart, they have no choice but to be pro-American.”

“So?”

“Maybe it’s just my opinion, but I think their goal is to break away from American influence in order to have an independent system centered on ASEAN-5.”

This made sense. They were saying that they wanted to gradually break away from American interference.

‘But I still don’t understand. No matter how much I think about it, I can’t understand.’

He could understand that they wanted to break away from American interference and that they wanted to receive dollar investment. But at the same time, he couldn’t understand because he understood. He had sent a document detailing the path that ASEAN should take and how to coexist with the United States, as well as issues to be resolved, so something should have come out, but the result was Schrödinger’s ASEAN, which was perplexing.

“So, they don’t want our investment?”

Bush raised the corners of his mouth. That smile heightened the Chief of Staff’s anxiety strangely.

“Judging from their attitude so far, I don’t think it’s that they don’t want it.”

But why did his anxiety fit so well?

“Then we can withdraw the investment.”

“No, I’m sorry, but what kind of crazy idea is that? Aren’t we talking about our ‘Asian Grand Strategy’ right now?”

“Indonesia is out. The Philippines is out. Then we should at least foster Vietnam.”

“Vietnam?”

‘Oh my god! Did he do drugs before his vacation was over?’ Just as the Chief of Staff was worried that he might have hurt his head while working out, Bush, who had been chuckling to himself, finally opened his mouth.

“No, it’s still a communist country. And the Vietnam War ended only about 30 years ago.”

“That’s why I’m saying it, isn’t it?”

“Yes!?”

“Anyone would think so. Right?”

After saying that, the Chief of Staff’s excellent brain, which had been piecing together the circumstances and logic like puzzle pieces without being told to do so, came up with an answer.

“…Don’t tell me you’re going to use this to pressure ASEAN?”

“Of course. What else would be the purpose?”

If they don’t need investment, then we can make them need investment.

“What if they still don’t budge then?”

Bush was almost about to burst out laughing, but suddenly he became serious.

“Then we can just invest in Vietnam.”

‘This is crazy.’

The Chief of Staff covered his head. ‘Yes, damn it. This is the taste. This is why I’m the Chief of Staff. Oh, the beautiful three-day vacation in Hawaii, be eternal!’ The Chief of Staff longed for his vacation, but it was now just a memory lingering in his head.

“Next.”

“Yes?”

“The next news, the next.”

Bush urged the last piece of bad news.

“Ah…. The next one is North Korea.”

He felt dizzy, but this feeling was strangely familiar. Now he felt like ‘George Bush’s Chief of Staff.’

“North Korea? Don’t tell me there’s a problem with the light-water reactor project?”

“Unfortunately, the answer is ‘yes.’ There have been large-scale protests near the construction site on the North Korean side.”

“A protest in North Korea? Not South Korea?”

“Yes.”

The Chief of Staff seemed to be repeating ‘yes?’ today.

According to the information from the construction site, North Korea wanted to overturn the light-water reactor project, but they couldn’t handle the aftermath of using actual force. So they were having the people hold large-scale candlelight vigils.

The North Korean government’s position was that the people had risen up on their own, and as a socialist republic where the people’s voice was the foundation, they could not suppress the people’s voice.

Of course, that wasn’t the case. There were several suspicions, but the most convincing point was the ‘candlelight vigil,’ which was a very expensive consumer good in North Korea, unlike in South Korea.

In South Korea, you could buy a box of products with incense for a single bill, but not in North Korea.

‘Are you telling me to believe that they’re holding a candlelight vigil with those precious candles in a republic that likes to drop a drop of sesame oil in *guk* [soup] and be happy that it’s oily?’

“Chief of Staff. Is it fashionable to commit suicide in various ways these days?”

Oh well.

“I guess so.”

The Chief of Staff decided to look into the abyss to understand the abyss.