[War] US/CAN: Blue and Crimson

[John Penta]

"Blue and Crimson"
15 July 2014
Pres. John Williams, USA
PM James McColl, Canada
=======================
<Camp David>

    Today was not a day for ceremony, John Williams had decided.
Temperatures, even in the mountain retreat that was a perk of the
Presidency, were well over 38 degrees Celsius, and the shade didn't
help much. Nonetheless, it would be impolite not to greet the Canadian
PM when he arrived. That said, he'd made sure Aspen was on the chilly
side today. So he was outside at Aspen's helipad, waiting for the
Marine helo carrying his guest for the next few days.

     As the helicopter landed, McColl could see POTUS waiting in the
shade, dripping with sweat. Indeed, in the helo as well, it was pretty
toasty. The flight south had been marked with the pilot's nervous
chatter as he watched the temperature guage keep rising. Eventually,
they had stopped and let the helo cool down for awhile on some
airfield way out in the boonies of Pennsylvania.

    Even memories of worse - Baghdad at this time of year, anyone? -
didn't keep the sweat from POTUS's face. Which is why, after the helo
touched down, his military aide - yes, the guy with the Football -
conducted everyone inside quickly. Introductions went all round, and
everyone was aqcuainted with each other. Soon enough, they were alone.

    Except, that is, for Luke, who'd crawled onto dad's preselected
chair and gone to sleep while the grownups were busy.

    That just got a grin from dad, who put the 8-month-old in his
bassinet/car seat and shook his head. "I shoulda known he'd try that."
POTUS's bodyman - otherwise known as his personal assistant - took the
bassinet, bringing Luke to someplace cool where he wouldn't disturb
the grownups.  With that, the leaders of Canada and the United States
were really alone, as the door clicked shut.

    "Well they certainly have minds of their own at any age.  My two
were both were independent."  McColl said, just to break the awkward
silence.  "But I am glad that you have it nice and cool in here, very
pleasant change from that helo, I must say."

    Williams laughed. "The AC is usually pretty good on the helos, but
today's been brutal." He looked across at the PM. "Coffee? Water?"

    "Water, please; do you have ice by chance? Those bottles of water
that warm up before you have time to drink them just don't cut it on a
day like this."

    "This place was designed for people to get out of the hellhole
that is DC," Williams replied with a grin, pouring ice, then water,
into a glass for the PM. "It'd be wrong of us not to."

    John set the glass by the PM, then grinned, pouring a glass for
himself. He would let the PM choose where to begin the conversation.

    McColl drank deeply, sighed, and then looked at his feet while
gathering his words.  "Ah, that's much better, thank you.  May I
presume to call you John?"

    "Go ahead."

    "Alright.  So I would like start with the issue of Iran if you
don't mind. We seem to have been very successful in getting a war
started.  But we need to be planning for Iran's future once this mess
is done.  The massive Chinese presence will be problematic at best,
and quite possibly dangerous.  I am aware that if we continue to
advance into Iran from Azerbaijan, we may just end up fighting the
Chinese too if NATO isn't careful.  It is also possible that Iran
might end up divided into two armed camps.  What are your thoughts?"

    "I've been pondering that myself. My current mode of thinking is
that we go in, *keep the government structures of Iran intact*, but
focus our PsyOps on turning them against the 'Godless hordes' of the
Chinese...Or however the Psych War guys choose to term the Chinese.
All we really care about is that they get out of Azerbaijan. Whether
that means a military junta or just a less-repressive Islamic sort of
democracy - they have all the structures of one after all - or even a
revival of the Shah, I could care less. I just don't want Chinese
influence in Iran. Because, yeah, I don't trust Hong."

    McColl nodded thoughfully.  "Mmhmm, Nor do I.  China must be
denied, but at what cost?  At any rate, I've no doubt your
intelligence picked up that letter sent to me from Hong.  I was
shocked at how fast she got that done.  As I'm sure you're aware, any
letter from her is a two-edged sword.  It was a given that she wanted
the economic opportunity, but really, she had nerve asking for those
military concessions."

    "Not really. She sees you wanting to renegotiate NAFTA - which I'm
putting off even thinking on til December because of the midterms;
Crass politics but I have the rest of my agenda to think about - and
presumes the alliance that produced an undefended border and, hi,
*NAFTA* has gone byebye," John replied. "That was very nearly the
guess here too, until I told people to calm down.

    "No offense, but it gets hard to do that when I can't be sure
whether my credibility is going to be shot by you pandering to your
base. Which it really has felt like. I *get* your objections to NAFTA,
but I also hear the same cries from every town where a plant has
closed down. I have sympathy, but at some level, you're either in the
free market, or not. After that...Really, you want me to renegotiate
NAFTA...To what benefit to my country? Because it'd better be *really
good*, for something which would take all my political capital to even
open a discussion on."

    "I can understand that you are frustrated John.  You and I are
both national leaders, and we must each look out for the interests of
our respective nation.  Those interests between us include maintaining
our alliance, military cooperation, and trade."  McColl paused, took a
sip of water, and smiled sadly.  "Sometimes I wonder if NAFTA was
really such a good idea after all.  Sure, our respective industries
have prospered mightily, but at what cost?  Lost jobs to Mexico,
foreign takeovers, et cetera.  Don't take this as a sign that I'm
getting Canada out of NAFTA, because we're not.  We are willing to
open negotiations to change certain things in the agreement, namely, a
control on foreign takeovers, agricultural tariffs, and a total ban on
exporting bulk water.

    "The fact of the matter is, the United States has an economy that
is just so much larger than Canada's we can't compete.  Really, the
only way we can maintain some degree of control is to impose
legislation like the recent anti-takeover bill.  I am really sorry
that this has been a drag for you, but the way I see things, this is
the only way.  Because right now, they way things are going, your
northern ally has basically become your economic storehouse.

    "I'm sure the United States hasn't been without issue either.
Like you said, there are many lost manufacturing jobs in this country
too.  We can't rush this.  But neither can we afford to ignore it any
longer.  Are there not things the United States would like to see
changed in the agreement?"

    "There are, but I'd need to consult with the Senate for their
advice as to specifics. That can't happen until at least December."

    "I understand. Perhaps we can start cooperating on attracting
industry of all sorts back to our respective countries?  I believe
that would be beneficial to both our nations."

     Williams looked thoughtful. "In principle, yes. In practical
terms, did you have any ideas?"

     McColl smiled warmly. "I'm glad that has you interested.  Well to
start with we could establish a joint committee of experts from
various public and private companies as well as our respective
governmental departments which would conduct research on that subject.
 It would then table a report to our governments on the findings of
their research.  We could then coordinate together on implementing any
necessary policies.  I see this as essential because Canada's and
America's patterns of production and economic growth so closely mirror
each other."

     "Report in 90 days, budget of $50M?"

     "90 days, sure.  Evenly split the $50M between us?"

     "Yes."

     "Very well, consider it done Mr. President."  McColl grinned a
big grin, and then stood and stretched.  "Time for a swim with the
families?"

      "My thought exactly."

      Changing rooms were provided for all, and in 15 minutes, POTUS
was in the pool along with a gleeful Luke, who was in a floaty-thingy
for babies over his swim diaper. Mom preferred to sit and watch from
alongside.

      The President of the United States was in excellent physical
condition, with extremely-well-developed musculature. On his chest was
one of his distinguishing marks - a scar just below the right
shoulder, with another one along his right arm.

     Meanwhile, McColl's children, Erik [8] and Anna [12] were playing
in the shallow end of the pool.  He and his wife, Jennifer, were
chatting while sprawled on the lawn chairs at the pool's edge, dressed
in their bathing suits.

     Soon enough, McColl and Williams would be discussing other
matters, but for now, why not some fun and relaxation?

------------------

Actions:
1) Getting to know you chatter
2) Establish a joint policy on Iran's future.
3) Commission 90-day, $50M (costs shared 50/50) report to conduct
research on attracting industry to the US and Canada.
4) Relax