20/40

“I wouldn’t mind attending a strategic meeting. Jed said. “Do you meet in a dark room with a map of the world and blinking electric lights to show plane movements, like in Doctor Strangelove.” The General shook his head. “Don’t think of national security meetings as exhilarating. National security is exhausting. We have to look at everything. We have to show special concern when we see a change in a pattern. The Chinese have always been very, very consistent in their actions. Then a few years ago they started to get more adventurist. Balloons over the U.S. Technology theft on a much greater scale. Exploring how they could interfere with out electric grid. They’re spending a lot of cash in Africa and we think they may even be looking to build a port in Morocco, with access to the Mediterranean. And they’re flexing their military muscle.” “So that’s your principal concern right now? A move in the South China Sea?” “That’s certainly right up there . . . because it would mean we’d be playing in their ballpark. They’d have the home field advantage.” The General pressed his lips together tightly. “We’ve been worried about that for forty years.” “From what I understand they have they have some important trade routes they want to protect.” “That may be true, but I think they’re primary goal is getting all of our nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers out of the area.” “What are their real intentions? Are they just rattling the cage, or are they getting ready to take specific action?” “Wouldn’t I fucking like to know?” the General said tartly. “The answer to that question is going to consume us for the next few years.” “Sounds like a real gallimaufry,” Jed said. “What the hell is that?” the General asked. “Gallimaufry? It’s a new word I learned this week. A colleague of mine used it in a paper. It means a confused medley. A jumble.” “Never heard of that word. The Army has a useful expression for just about everything. When I was at West Point our instructors used to say that if you had an intractable problem you had a “bag of dicks.” Jed gave him a sympathetic smile. “Well, I wish you the best of luck with your bag of dicks.” Later that night when Jed was home he did some basic research on Chinese general and military strategist Sun Tzu. He had authored the ancient military treatise “The Art of War.” He had believed that success was dependent on thorough preparation. His most famous military quote was “Every battle is won before it’s ever fought.” The next day Jed called up the library and asked one of the reference clerks to send over books about Sun Tzu. “Books about military strategy or books about his life?” she asked. “Both,” Jed answered. The clerk continued to probe. “Can I ask whether this is for general knowledge or for your class?” “Not really something you need to know,” Jed said, hoping to stop the questions. “Curiosity killed the cat.” “Yes, but satisfaction saved her,” she said sagely.