[War] US: Fiji's Old Habits

[pentaj2 at Scranton.edu]

"Fiji's Old Habits"
2 November 2006
Pres. John Williams
US
===================

John Williams rolled his eyes at the evening summary the Situation 
Room had just delivered him.

Turning to his computer, he typed a quick message to the SDO there:
---
Bob,

  Contact NSC. Reg attendees plus Pace and Negroponte. Would like VTC 
ASAP re Fiji. Also, see if we can get Ambassador Dinger in Suva in on 
the convo to brief.

-JPW
---

Bob Thompson, the SDO for the evening shift, sent back an 
acknowledgment a few seconds later, and Williams headed downstairs.

5 minutes later, he was in the Video Teleconference room in the 
Situation Room, as the other members of the National Security Council 
(including Gordon England, the Acting SECDEF) all dialed in.

"Alright, everyone," Williams began, "I call this meeting of the 
National Security Council to order at 5:44 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
November 2, 2006. This is in regards to events in Fiji. Ambassador 
Dinger is joining the VTC from Suva. You all know the basic situation. 
Ambassador Dinger, what're you hearing from parties on the ground?" he 
asked.

Dinger sighed. "Fiji's bad old habits are back again. Commodore 
Bainimarama, commander of the RFMF, seems hell-bent on either 
intimidating the government or forcing them out over the amnesty 
bills."

"Ambassador," General Pace asked, "What does the balance seem like to 
you between the RFMF and the Fijian Police?"

"RFMF wins, hands down. Just plain heavier forces. It'd be bloody, 
though."

"Mr. Negroponte, anything from the Aussies on either of the two major 
players?" Williams asked.

"Sent your way, sir." Negroponte responded. A glance showed two 
dossiers popping up on his laptop, and Williams sent them to the rest 
of the group.

"Alright. Ambassador Dinger, what exactly is the position of 
Commissioner Hughes on the Amnesty bills?" Williams asked.

"Opposed. He's seen as somewhat of Bainimarama's ally," Dinger noted.

"Okay...General Pace, get on the phone with Commodore Bainimarama 
ASAP, while he's still in Egypt. Inform him that if he makes any moves 
towards a coup, the US Government will be *very* unhappy with him.

"Secretary Rice, chat with our Australian and New Zealander friends. 
Let's have a joint chat with the PM in Fiji, inform him that we're 
paying attention.

"Additionally, General Pace, chat with Mr. Hughes. Like with the 
Commodore, tell him we really would not appreciate a coup.

"Now...I spent the time before you all connected scribbling out a plan 
in regards to Fiji, a way to resolve the crisis. Sending it around 
now, tell me what you think," Williams asked.

---
Plan for Fiji:

1. USMC will deploy FAST Company to Fiji to, w/ agreement of all 
parties (which will be badgered out of them if need be), secure the 
ammunition the RFMF grabbed.
2. DOS will attempt to negotiate the retirement of Commodore 
Bainimarama and the 
withdrawal of the Amnesty Bills.
---

"We can do that, sir," General Pace confirmed.

"That's it, Mr. President?" Rice asked.

"For now. Get both sides to step back from the brink, retire 
Bainimarama in exchange for not court-martialing him for 
insubordination," Williams noted.

A nod from Rice said that she understood.

"If that fails, we'll meet again to consider what kind of pressure we 
can put on everybody," Williams concluded. "But for now, I think we're 
done."
---
Source:
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2006/s1779313.htm
---
Actions:
1. CJCS to talk to Military Commander, tell him to step back.
2. CJCS to also speak to the Commissioner of the Fiji Police (Andrew 
Hughes, an Australian) and inform him that the US Government would be 
displeased if a coup were to occur.
3. SecState to get together with Australians and NZ, make a joint 
approach to the PM, tell him to step back.
4. State to offer US mediation. If accepted, following plan to be put 
forward:
   A. US Marine Corps FAST Company to secure the ammunition grabbed 
from the Suva wharf by the military;
   B. PM will withdraw the Amnesty bills and not bring them up again; 
In return, in lieu of being court-martialed for insubordination among 
other things, Commodore Bainimirama (the RFMF Commander) will step 
down.