“Personally, I would go with the decapitation strike, for starters. We have a network of moles, agitators, and if need be, guerrilla cells, that are salted through Iranian society. Some of that network has been rolled up in recent years, but some of it is still functional. Once we hit the leadership, the Supreme Council, then I would call for acts of sabotage and the organization of street demonstrations. Through a fairly narrow attack, combined with support for the resistance in-country, we may be able to destabilize Iranian society to a surprising degree.”

He paused.

“What is the Iranian response to our preparations?” Baylor said.

The general shrugged. An aide leaned over to him and whispered something in his ear. “Well, we do have vulnerabilities. As you know, Iran has issued threats against the American airbase outside Doha, in Qatar, as well as our embassy in Baghdad. We have ten thousand servicemen and women stationed at the Doha air base, along with another twenty thousand family members living on the base and nearby.

“To be fair, Iranian missiles could reach Doha in minutes. And CIA and NSA listening stations are reporting advanced states of readiness throughout the Iranian military—including their fast boat navy in the Persian Gulf, their air force, missile command, and the Revolutionary Guards. Missile silos are preparing to launch, with more reporting a state of combat readiness all the time. They’re on a bit of a hair trigger. That’s what we’re hearing.”

“Does that concern you, General?”

Stark shook his head. “Not really. The Iranian air force is more of what I’d call an air farce. And as much as they have a robust arsenal of conventional missiles, despite a lot of saber rattling in the past, they have never used it. My hunch is that their reluctance stems from knowing the kind of overwhelming, Biblical response they would get from us if they did dare to launch. I’m confident that we can engage in a surgical strike against them and receive almost no reply.”

He waved his hand in dismissal. “Other than, you know, an appeal to the United Nations and some hand wringing and condemnation from the usual suspects. China, Cuba, Venezuela, a few others.”

Keller’s breath was taken away by the man’s offhand confidence in his own assessments. He was suggesting a massive attack against a large, well-armed regional power, and expecting nothing in return. Meanwhile, he would nonchalantly put more than 30,000 American lives at risk.