[War] Russia: "Dose the Flames"

[Michael Downey]

"Dose the Flames"
President Leonid Nemerenko
Russian Federation
10 March 2014
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The Kremlin had been up in arms about the threat of embargo. Before
Nemerenko was happy to sit on the sidelines and let China and AMerica settle
their differences on their own. But the White House's threat of an embargo
had drastically changed the situation and forced the President's hand. Now
he had to become involved, because he already was. He had trouble seeing
genuine morality in the actions of either America or China, but the Chinese
were definitely the less reckless of the two and decisively winning the PR
war. Japan, America's closest regional ally, had voiced opposition to the
embargo. Russia.... well, Nemerenko's letter to Williams had probably given
the White House a clear enough picture of where Russia stood. Adding to the
fact that the Kremlin had refused to give Julius Abbot an audience on his
Eastern European tour to promote this half-baked scheme eliminated any
public doubts as to where Russia stood.

"You never received a reply from Williams," noted Denemetov. "I warned you
that the wording was far too harsh. American Presidents do not like to be
brought down of their high horse. Assailing him so harshly when his
government in backed into a corner might have cost us their attention."

Nemerenko shrugged. He had badly overestimated the competence of his
American counterpart and was actually rather cross with Williams for his
incompetence. If you were going to play games like the ones the CIA had in
China, you had to prepare to get caught. Laws had been broken and China was
within its rights to detain and prosecute the two operatives. Had they been
caught in Russia the situation would have been much more direct; an SVR
agent would have walked into the room after the men had been sufficiently
interrogated for information and promptly blow both their brains out with a
Makarov. No trial, no spectacle. Just quick and clean spy justice. The
corpses would have been returned to Langley through back channels.

"He's desperate," observed Oleg Tretiak, the new Russian Prime Minister
since Koretsky had retired a few months ago. "The erratic behaviour of his
government and his person all point to extreme panic."

"Which is tremendously dangerous," continued Denemetov. "What if the
Americans threaten military action? What then?"

"Congress is supporting Williams because they want to look like they care
about the lives of the two captured CIA agents," said Nemerenko. "And as
economic woes become worse in America and the population becomes more upset,
their support for him will fade. They will not even consider war as an
option." Indeed, the very threat of an embargo had caused markets across the
world to dip. It was an unforgivably stupid mistake on Williams' part. If
you wanted to ween yourself of China's cheaps goods, this was totally not
the way to do it. "You said we received word back from China, Irena?"

"Yes. Hong has agreed to attend a summit at Vladivostok provided an
invitation is also extended to the North Korean government."

That got a smirk from Nemerenko. It was a logical step. Hong would have to
drag along some puppet to spew China's orders to make at least the
appearance of democracy in the PRC's new client state. It was a good
strategy, one Russia had used quite often, and Nemerenko didn't find the
idea morally offensive in the slightest.

"Of course we'll give the North Korean government an invitation. Now that
China has agreed, the first major hurdle has been overcome. Have the Foreign
Ministry begin making preparations and send the relevant invitation to the
remaining states."

"If Williams refuses to attend?" asked Tretiak.

"He can't afford not to," said Nemerenko. Or at least that's what the
Russian President hoped. "Especially if I can convince Japan to attend as
well. Refusing to sit down and settle this in a civilized manner will only
shift world opinion even further in China's favor. The time has long passed
when the United States can just ignore the desires of the international
community."
---

Actions:
1) The Kremlin refuses to see Secretary Abbot on his Eastern European tour
to get support for the American embargo.
2) Russia is publicly against the embargo.
3) Extend invitation to Japan, South Korea, North Korea and the United
States to attend a summit in Vladivostok after Hong agrees to attend in a
private communication that has been sent to Russia.
4) The reckless and erratic behavior of the American government is beginning
to noticeably anger the Kremlin
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