[War] UK/Canada: "A Day in Ottawa"

[Michael Downey]

"A Day in Ottawa"
Prime Minister Owen Eckley, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland
Prime Minister Jennifer Bindahri, Canada
21 July 2006
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

<Ottawa>

Not since his a summer trip during his Princeton days had Prime
Minister Eckley been to Canada. The Canadian capital was a very
inviting city, very clean and hospitable. His motorcade, accompanied
by an escort the RCMP had been kind enough to provide, quickly
approached Parliament Hill and the Central Block. The seat of the
Canadian government.

It was a quick walk from his limousine to the primary entrance with a
few smiles and waves to the waiting media. But for the moment he would
be meeting privately with the Canadian PM, away from flashing cameras.

For Jennifer Bindahri it had only been a few days since she and Mr. Layton
had shaken the political foundations of the Parliament Hill. Not only had
she signed a historic agreement with Jack Layton the leader of the NDP to
form a coalition of 'progressive' parties with 112 seats from the Liberals
combining with the NDP's 45 seats for at least three years, she had just
only yesterday receive approval from the Governor General to form Her
Majesty's government with herself as the PM Elect, Mr. Layton as the DPM.

With the media jumping ahead on these latest developments she had welcomed
the chance to focus attention from the coalition agreement and decided that
a good photo op with one of Canada's traditional foreign partners wasn't a
bad way to go. As she stepped out of her office escorted her security detail
and advisors she still taken aback by the fine oak finish of her wing. When
she arrived at the dignitary entrance of the hill she greeted the British PM
with open arms and with kisses on the cheek.

"Welcome Mr. Eckley" she said smiling, in full view of the flashing cameras
of the British and Canadian State Medias.

"Prime Minister Bindahri," replied Eckley. There were a few more pictures
for the benefit of the media before they made their way into the
building for more secure talks. "Allow me to be the first foreign
leader to congratulate you on your new position," he said to Bindahri.
"Hopefully our relationship can be as productive as that of our
predecessors."

"Pleasure, and let me congratulate you on winning the Labour Party
leadership and summarily the PMO… shall we proceed" she said as the two of
them moved away from the photography and the television cameras that were
beginning to drown her head out.

The two leaders were escorted to one the main halls for the start of three
part series of private meetings away from the media as part of Eckley's
three day state visit in Ottawa. Jennifer took on of the plush wine red
seats on the sitting opposite of Eckley and proceeded to pour two cups of
tea. "So I presume you've settled it at 7th Rideau?" she said mentioning the
official residence for foreign dignitaries.

"Yes, indeed. It reminds me a great deal of Downing Street, actually."

"That's good to hear… I'm presuming you've been keeping a close eye on the
Lebanon-Israeli Conflict?" she said pointing out to a headline where two UK
warships have redeployed to along their coast for evacuation of UK
nationals.

"A very close eye," said Eckley with a nod as he picked up his teacup.
"The latest reports are that the IDF has escalated its air campaign
and is moving ground forces into Southern Lebanon. Hezbollah have
stirred a hornet's nest, and the Israelis are out for blood. The
entire country is a de facto warzone."

The British PM suddenly lost his taste for tea and put the cup back
down. "Foreign Secretary Hollstadt is already speaking with the new
Indian president about trying to arrange a cease-fire."

Bindahri nodded she too was aware of the growing crisis that was stirring in
the middle east and believe that without any western intervention the region
would surely descend to an even bloodier mess than it was now. "The Governor
General will be swearing in my cabinet very soon, and I can tell you right
now that the Canadian government will do all it can to participate in any
way to arrange some sort of cease fire. If there is anything my government
can do please do tell, for now I've sent the world for the Chief of Defence
Staff to put the HMCS Protector and the HMCS Toronto to harbour and
immediately deploy security for the evacuation of all Canadian citizens from
the Lebonese-Israeli border. However it is the position of this government
that the state of Israel has the right to defend itself"

"And I agree. But this situation will do nothing but create more
corpses for Israel, Lebanon and the Middle East as a whole. The best
way to minimize the loss of life is to talk both sides into a
cease-fire, not simply standing back and let the pointless fighting
continue on."

"Agreed, we have to do everything in our power diplomatically to stop the
fighting, once my foreign affairs minister is sworn in you can be assured
that we will be getting very active on this file. My CDS estimates that HMCS
Protector and Toronto will be in the region in seven days. In meantime if
you can direct your warships to help evacuate any Canadians if possible we
will very much appreciate it."

"Of course," said Eckley with a nod. "I will have the Royal Navy move
additional ships into the area to compensate for the increased
activity."

Bindahiri was about to continue but was interrupted when one of his advisors
came in rushing towards the two leaders. As the advisor began relaying his
message privately into Bindahri's ear her eyes quickly widened before she
nearly dropped her cup. "I'm sorry, but i've just received news that the
President has been shot followed by the incapacitation of the Vice
President...US Armed Forces have been brought to DEFCON 3..." she said
before whispering back to her advisor, no doubt advising that Canadian
Forces be brought to conditioned alert until furthur information comes in.

Despite his years of political training, Eckley could not hide his
visible shock. The president shot and the vice-president unfit for
office meant that the United States was essentially  leaderless for
the time being. Not a pleasant state of affairs. "And news from
Washington as to who is in charge? Who is running the country?"

"I would suppose it be the Speaker of the House who is next in sucession"
she said, her face visibly shakened. She stood from her chair and turned to
one of her advisors. "Call up the Parliamentry Press Gallery, tell them I
have a statement I want to release...the leading free world is leaderless
and we need to address the public to quell any panic..." she said before
turning back to Eckley. "Mr. Eckley, you are welcomed to stay as long as you
want, but I'm sure you will want to release a statement to the BBC...these
talks can continue at another time..."
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Actions:
1) Britain will help Canada evacuate nationals from Lebanon
2) Move additional Royal Navy ships into the area to help with the evacuation