Chapter 91

Tuesday morning was spent with Andy’s group going over all things Mexico. The logistics plans were complete; MRAPS, trucks, food, the sleeping buses, the 802s, water, fuel. The men were given times for assembly and locations.

We had been working on logistics for the security zone and getting materials and equipment ready for it. We had everything ready to go including three staging points near troublesome border areas.

Our agreement said that we had to complete part one before starting on the security zone. We initially thought it would take a month with the first plan.

With the success of the Paris and Oklahoma operations - maybe I was over confident - but I thought two weeks was all that were needed for the first pipeline part.

The first runway designated ‘Apple 1’ and the second one ‘Baker 2’ - a hundred miles further south - would be taken at the same time on the first day. The men split up into four groups.

The planning was interrupted by a frantic call from Louis and French President Spaghettis.

‘‘The Iranian embassy is demanding that they be allowed to interview all the prisoners. It seems they are missing some VIPs that should have been at the training center or the mosque,’’ Louis said.

‘‘Not only no but Hell No,’’ I said.

‘‘First, they just admitted that the government of Iran is sponsoring terrorism in France and Europe. They did that by saying their VIPs were there just hours before the terrorists were scheduled to go forth and commit mayhem on innocent civilian across the continent.”

‘‘Second, they are implying that the prisoners are Iranian citizens, not French citizens. Once upon a time sending Iranians to carry out organized terrorist attacks in France would be considered an act of war.”

‘‘Third, tell them that the prisoners are being held under control of the Pact Security group. That is JBG and France cannot authorize visitations or interviews without authorization from me,’’ I said.

‘‘Did you take facial pictures for identity of all the dead with their IDs as I requested?’’ I asked.

My men had done the same thing for our benefit but I wanted to make sure Louis had done the same thing.

‘‘Yes and the same thing with the living prisoners,’’ Louis replied.

‘‘Good. Assemble the information on the dead and living in two notebooks. Worst case scenario we may let them look at the notebooks.’’ I said

‘‘ Just tell them to contact me as head of Pact Security, ‘‘ I said.

‘‘How can they do that?’’ President Spaghettis asked.

‘‘They have used the Pakistan Ambassador Fazel Al Farsi in Washington to voice their displeasure with me before,’’ I said.

Louis was laughing so hard he knocked something over on the table.

‘‘ I should have known after the air show incident there would be a method. Ok - I can do that but that is not the only problem that may be happening. Lawyers are coming out of the woodwork demanding to see their clients. Several have filed court papers to see them.’’ Louis said.

‘‘How do they know any of their clients are under arrest? You followed Pact rules and released no names of prisoners. Didn’t you,’’ I asked.

‘‘No names have been released,’’ Louis replied.

‘‘Under the Pact laws you can hold them for suspicion of terrorism for sixty days before any court appearance or legal consul. You did charge all of them under the pact laws didn’t you?’’ I asked.

‘‘Yes, but the lawyers are questioning the validity of the Pact agreement as a treaty and if the court rules the Pact is in violation of the French constitution and not enforceable,’’ Louis said.

‘‘It would seem to me that the courts first have to decide the validity of France’s participation in the Pact and if it is indeed a treaty which is stated multiple times in the agreement. Your current houses of government ratified it as a treaty.

‘‘That alone should tie the matter up in the courts for months before the question comes up of the terrorists’ rights in court proceedings,’’ I said.

‘‘It should but a superior judge could rule it is unconstitutional and order the lawyers immediate access to the terrorists. He could order them available for bail and release pending appeals until the constitutional matters are settled,’’ Louis said.