Chapter 21
Political Damage Control
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    The somewhat astonished president looks at the Cabinet, CIA Director and Joint Chiefs gathered in the Oval Office.  With an extremely accusatory expression in his eyes and inflection in his voice, he asks the CIA Director, "How could such a thing happen!?  Where was the intelligence network!?"
    Very meekly, the director responds, "We've had to reassign certain personnel to preparing literature for public school systems and local governments on living in a diverse society.  They had to make a number of trips to Mexico, India and Asia to gather material."
    With the same manner, the president looks to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and pointedly asks, "Who authorized committing the military?  Only few have such authority."
    The Chairman simply shakes his head.  There is a long silence before General Preston Gallager, the Army Chief of Staff, says, "I did."
    The President is incensed and shouts, "What do you mean you did!?"
    Gallager has his hands folded on the table, seems somewhat amused and replies, "I mean I did.  That's what you asked."
    The other Chiefs look at one another as the President persists, "You mean you just took it on yourself to ignore the normal chain of command?"
    "No sir.  The process was a great deal more extensive than anything resembling a spur of the moment decision.  Let me tell you something you surely must know but fear the political risk to even admit, much less do anything.  For many years, the government has failed to acknowledge the existence of a number of subversive influences within the country that have been allowed to remain unchecked.  It's all been because of some insane idea that America should become a multi-national, diverse society with many races and cultures standing side-by-side in complete harmony, just because political theoreticians could come up with no other premise due to decades of uncontrolled immigration.  This insanity became obvious many years ago, and there is organization within The Restoration and a small portion of the military to defeat the covert and overt conspiracy of those responsible for the attack.  We've been waiting for many years to see the beginning of an overt campaign, just as you have just seen.  We knew it would come when the national identity had been weakened to the point it would be difficult to combat a guerilla war."
    The President looks at the other Chiefs, who seem more bewildered than he, and says, "He sounds more like a hate-monger than a commander.  I want this man brought up on court martial charges!"
    A sarcastic smile comes to Gallager's face as he says, "I'd think awhile before you did that.  How in the hell are you going to explain how the attacks occurred without your knowledge or preparation?  How  in the hell will you explain the response of some of the regular military, if you didn't order it?  What sort of plan do you have to combat the terror tactics we now must face in New York City.  It's nothing less than a combat zone.  If you think bringing me before a court martial is the politically expedient solution, you're a bigger damn fool than I thought.  How will you explain the involvement, if you want to call it than, of many other military commanders and units?  Mr. President, don't think this unseen command structure is something that came up overnight.  It's been building and gaining strength for many years.  The Restoration has infiltrated a number of combat arms units over many decades and many generations of military families.  They're all completely dedicated to the cause of restoring American traditions and values."
    The President gasps, "You mean we've got a damn civil war in addition to everything else?"
    "Mr. President, Mr. President.  We just met the attack.  Our goal is not an expedient coup d'etat.  We're going to work within the existing political system with party candidates willing to face and respond to the issues.  We're just trying to enlist your help in restoring the true American, since you haven't seen fit to do that on your own."
    There is a knock at the door.  A secretary enters and says, "Mr. President, that Jew is holding a press conference.  You asked to be notified."

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    The Restoration press room is overflowing, and as Rubenstein assumes the podium, there is a dead hush.
    Rubenstein's mastery in manipulating  the press has improved over the months, and he remains silent for a few moments, taking full advantage of the crisis mood suggested by the still.  Finally, he begins speaking very slowly.  "Restoration party presidential candidate Joseph Adamson suffered a fatal gunshot wound on the first day of his campaign and was declared dead at the Jefferson Memorial.  There are several means by which such a significant event can be evaluated.  Certainly, any such act of terrorism is tragic but  is also indicative of the substantial fear of Restoration activities against the subversive influences within the country.  After the assassination, there were coordinated, covert attacks on 4 objectives within the country by a combination of Chytinos, Indicos and mercenaries from Mexico, India and several Asian countries.  The attacks were preplanned, well-organized and were intended to serve the purpose of sustaining property damage in the sections of the economy that are being rebuilt as well as creating fear among the populace and further fragmenting the lack of solidarity that already exists."
    "The Restoration has known of this subversive outside influence for a number of years, long before our movement saw it was time to make its existence known.  We knew the attack was coming through good intelligence and knew the likely attack sites.  Restoration forces and attached units of the regular military met the attack with overpowering force and successfully defeated it everywhere except New York City.  I'm sorry to say that insufficient forces existed there, that city is now insecure and the site of widespread terror attacks and random guerilla action against targets of opportunity."
    "Until now, the power of The Restoration has been a closely guarded secret but circumstances no longer permit that.  The attackers were unaware such a base of power existed but the failure of their attacks does not change their goal which remains to manipulate the divided interests of the races, exploit the weakened political system through the loss of central control and play upon the interests of special interests such as labor unions to gain political and economic power."  He pauses a moment and stares at the reporters.  "The first step the nation must take is to admit such a condition really exists.  Call it neo-Nazi or what you may.  There can no longer be doubt that firm and decisive actions are needed on many fronts.  The covert plan now becomes one of guerilla and terror tactics.  Firepower and superior military force is not especially effective in combating such an insurgency.  One need but look to the Vietnam War and Iraq War for history's confirmation that adapted tactics demanded by the tactical situation must be innovated and forcefully pursued.  Defensive action requires localized will and organization to achieve effective and immediate response to guerilla tactics.  Towards that end, may I first introduce Major General Ware of the Military Police."
    Ware is a very stern-looking man and gets directly to the point.  "Although the precise tactical condition at various places throughout the country is unknown at this point, we must initiate certain steps that are essential, regardless of the insurgent's future intents or strength.  With assistance by local police departments, marshal law must be established with the assumption of wartime powers by all law enforcement agencies, Restoration forces and regular military units.  Local commanders are authorized to initiate and follow through with any degree of force deemed necessary to defeat any specific overt act or the guerilla campaign in its cumulative intent.  The first concern is the security and safety of loyal citizens and the protection of properties against further action with no attention to privacy laws and legal requirements pertaining to searches of any residence or business premises.  The primary mission, therefore, becomes destruction of subversive personnel and materials.  The very nature of such a response demands immediate action with no legal entanglements."
    As bluntly as his comments began, he steps down from the podium with no questions from the reporters.
    Rubenstein stands and says, "Lieutenant General Burgess of Military Civil Affairs."
    General Burgess hardly looks like a soldier.  He is quite small, has a pale complexion and seems to belong more on some board of directors trying to devise ways to market inferior products at lower production costs and higher profit margins.  His manner greatly differs from General Ware's.  He's very soft-spoken and gives the impression of someone giving careful attention to detail.  His voice is much less forceful than Ware's, and all the reporters lean forward to hear what he is saying.  "As suggested by General Ware, we cannot reasonably expect local police, Restoration and regular military units to effectively contain a widespread insurgency.  No doubt, the very intent of the enemy is to draw our defenses into conventional military action which will unquestionably fail as they certainly did in the past conflicts already mentioned.  We must organize an intricate system of listening posts and quick response resources in many sectors throughout the country.  Much of this responsibility falls on the citizens of the United States, all within the intent of the spirit of nationalism that is the first building block of defeating the insurgency.  The listening post and communications network can be established fairly quickly and easily but response units will need to be recruited, trained and armed.  This will require some weeks but at this moment, recruiting offices are being set up throughout the country.  Defeat of the insurgency will require substantial volunteers from the general public.  The worse mistake we can make at this point is to expect a solution to occur overnight.  This isn't going to happen.  A long period of determined preparation and implementation must follow, and I urge each citizen to first look into his or her heart and then conscience and volunteer what skills you may have.  The largest need, however, isn't for special skills.  It is only a determined and organized effort of determination.  Surely, the essential nationalism will follow."
    Just as General Ware, he does not allow questions, and Rubenstein reassumes the podium for the reporter's questions.
    The first question is very hostile.  "Mr. Rubenstein, do you mean that this supposed intelligence network provided you with information the attack was coming, but you did nothing to alert the general public?"
    Rubenstein's head tilts before it begins to slowly move from side to side as he says, "Just for a moment, let's imagine the attacks had not occurred, and I had just announced The Restoration had an intelligence network that somehow had come by information that had escaped the CIA.  What would you have said, if I had just announced this and predicted a widespread attack was soon to follow and be continued by a sustained guerilla war?"
    For some few moments, the reporter tries to gather his thoughts before saying in a low voice, "I would have probably questioned it."
    It's unclear if Rubenstein's building mood is one of amusement or contempt but he loudly responds, "You must certainly would have and would have seized the opportunity to accuse The Restoration of employing fear tactics in its quest for power.  Worse of all, such a response from the news media would have accomplished much of what the enemy had hoped to gain in the attacks.  They simply would have called off the attacks and waited for political infighting and tabloid journalism to achieve much of their goals in creating further divisions within the country before mounting even larger attacks."
    Another reporter seems eager to change the subject and asks, "What did you mean when you said The Restoration had existed long before its presence became known?"
    "For centuries, it's been known but seldom acknowledged in the present political system that only nationalism can sustain the interests of a nation.  Throughout history, many great cultures have fallen because they were systematically picked apart by divided interests or ultimately became corrupt by a government that ceased to recognize the needs of the general public through political expediency and forfeiture to special interests to gain and maintain political power.  Over the years, American nationalism has been contaminated by expedient political theories that ceased to be based on firm direction but only offered a responsiveness to appease fragmented demands.  Ultimately, it all led to what we see today.  Such an outcome was very predictable.  This movement began many years ago with the belief that a national religion should be the paramount and uniting force in creating nationalism.  You've all asked why The Restoration's activities to this point have assumed more of a political and military approach rather than one of religion, and we've explained a number of  necessary preliminary steps to gain credibility in assisting the sick, homeless and unemployed.  These preliminary steps have been completed, and any objective critique of the progress we have made, without the assistance of political office holders or special interests I might add, must lead one to the opinion our efforts were sincere and have been effective.  From this day forward, the para-military operations of The Restoration will be known as the Zani.' Political activities and voter registration will continue to operate under the name the name National Artisans.  These drives will be intensified but with no effort to gerrymander and exploit racial and social divisions - quite the contrary.  Our effort is to unite and not divide.  We will not offer a candidate for president in the next election.  With the tragic assassination of Joseph Adamson, we simply do not have a suitable candidate with enough national and international experience or background to seriously seek that office.  The local campaigns will, of course, continue."
    Without being recognized, another reporter says, "The Zani' has the same letters as Nazi."
    "What's your point?" Rubenstein asks.  "Please tell us and all the viewers why a relationship, or assumed relationship, with anything is more important than the sincere efforts and accomplishments of any political party?"
    The reporter does not respond, and there is another question from someone else.  "There's been reports all day about rampant vandalism and drive-by shootings in New York City.  You haven't mentioned that."
    Rubenstein closes his notebook; and as he steps down from the podium, says in a confident voice, "Field Marshall Kesselring, who commanded the Atlanta defenses, has been reassigned to that sector.  His tactics and methods are proven and quite effective."

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    The president's mouth slightly opens but words are not forthcoming.  Finally, he leans back and utters, "What in the hell?....They act like they've already taken over the damn government."
    Everyone waits for him to say something else but when he doesn't, the White House Chief of Staff says, "Mr. President, we've got to make some type statement."
    The President's eyes traverse the gathering, and he says, "Suggestions."
    The Press Secretary says, "We've got to act within existing law and be careful not to upset the voting blocks we're counting on in the coming election.  Adamson's assassination might have a benefit we're not seeing in that it may create a need for stability at the national level and reluctance to place anyone else in office.  I don't know how many local candidates The Restoration, or what did he say, the Zani', will offer, but we must emphasize stability at the federal level is needed now more than ever."
    One of the White House Councils speaks up and asks, "How can we do that when the party platform has long been one of localized government and states rights?"
    The president begins waiving his hands and says, "We'll worry about that later.  We've got to put something together for our statement.  That damn Jew took the liberty of saying we would make one later today."
    The Press Secretary gets the impression it will be him that faces the press and volunteers, "I'll put together the wording.  It should be concise and leave grounds for open-ended interpretation.  We don't know which direction this thing will take, and we can't commit ourselves to anything until we know."
    General Gallager says, "I'm a son of a bitch.  I can't be a part of this travesty any longer.  You can't fire me you spineless bastard, I quit!"  With that, he takes off his uniform, throws it in the trash can, reaches down to his carry case and leaves the Oval Office in the uniform of a Restoration Major General.

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    There is the same nervous mood of anticipation in the White House Press Room  as seen and felt during Rubenstein's press conference a few hours earlier.
    The Press Secretary timidly assumes the podium and says, "The President wishes to extend his heartfelt condolences to all the families whose loved ones were killed or wounded in the recent attacks.  He also commends the armed forces of the United States that successfully turned back the attacks everywhere except in New York City.  We must not, however, allow the panic of a crisis such as this to turn back the tremendous gains in human rights and privacy rights we have seen during this administration.  Under existing law, since no attack was on a federal installation, it is the responsibility of the governor of each state, through employment of police and National Guard forces, to mobilize resistance to any form of insurgency that may develop.  The founding fathers were very careful to set out definite  checks and balances and separation of powers among the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government.  Now is the time that these principals under which the country has existed for hundreds of years must continue.  It is indeed in the American tradition that our established system of government, now oriented towards local government and states rights, not be abandoned.  It must continue to protect each citizen just as it always has in the past."