“Primary strike forces would be ship-or sub-launched cruise missiles, followed by carrier-based bombers,” Venti replied. “Those strikes could be launched within six hours if needed and would be focusing on neutralizing air defense, surveillance, and antiship forces, softening up the beachhead in preparation for an amphibious landing. Bombers from the CONUS would then follow up and strike larger targets deeper inside Libya—infantry bases, ports, warehouses, docks, and supply lines, as well as defensive positions—concurrently with a Marine beach landing, well within twenty-four hours.

“I need a decision on whether or not to generate the nuclear forces to alert status, sir, and what targets you would like loaded up,” Venti added. “The Peacekeepers can be reprogrammed for Libya-Sudan-Syria-Iraq target set in about two hours. The naval forces in the Med will take about a day to reprogram targets after they receive their messages—the subs take a little longer to decode valid messages. The B-2 stealth bomber fleet needs seventy-two hours to generate both squadrons, eighteen planes, to full nuclear alert status.”

Most of the President’s advisers were surprised by the swiftness of the President’s decision: “I want a flight of B-2 bombers loaded up for nuclear strike sorties against Libyan, Sudanese, Syrian, and Iraqi targets,” he said. “Then I want them launched to positive control orbits over the Med.”

“The subs and surface forces in the Med can be ready to fly nuclear sorties in half the time,” Secretary of Defense Goff pointed out.

“But then the whole world will think I’m ready to go to war” Thom said evenly. “I want the carriers and subs on full alert, but I don’t want them going nuclear unless this situation gets completely out of hand.”

“The rest of the strategic force, sir?”

“Get them warmed up and ready to go,” the President said. “Russian and Chinese target sets—I think we’ll have enough forces ready in the Med if it goes nuclear without the ICBMs.” General Venti nodded as he made notes to himself. “What kind of reconnaissance do we have in place over the theater, General?”

“Strategic and theater recon is by satellite,” Venti replied. “We usually fill in with U-2 spy planes and carrier-based unmanned reconnaissance aircraft when requested.”

“You said ‘usually’?” Thom asked. “I take it in this current political climate that Egypt is not allowing us to use their bases or fly freely through their airspace?”

“Yes, sir,” Secretary of State Kercheval said. “Egypt has currently suspended overflight privileges for American military aircraft. Because of the upcoming elections and because of the confusing situation over the area now, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry says that no overflights by military aircraft or landing privileges by combat-coded aircraft of any kind will be allowed—only civil transport and humanitarian missions permitted.”

“When did this happen?” Busick asked.