Middle Eastern tyrants

Chapter 7 Declaration of War
The once clean and tidy staff room is now in a precarious state, with several large cracks appearing on the walls and a corner missing from the roof.

They haven't found a replacement house yet, and a group of grown men are sitting in the house eating dust. Khalid muttered, "Maybe I should just sleep in the patrol car tonight."

"Major, there is an urgent telegram from headquarters."

Lu Lin answered the phone: "This is Nukoshir outpost. I am Commander Amir bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. What is it?"

The headquarters began reporting the situation, and after a moment he hung up the phone. He saw more than a dozen pairs of eyes staring at him expectantly from the staff room.

After a while, Lu Lin put down the phone.

"The situation isn't too bad."

He reassured everyone: "We've received word from headquarters that they shot down four Zion fighters today, but there were few casualties in critical facilities or among personnel."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

He continued, "But the bad news is that because Zion had the coordinates of the airports in advance, all the airports across the country were bombed, including the one leased to the United States."

There are no intact runways left in the entire Tabuk region.

There's one more thing he didn't mention: Shuangzhi's air force also suffered a devastating blow, but since it was basically just for show, it's best not to bring it up.

Ahmed frowned. "Zion dares to bomb Dharran Airport? Aren't the Zionians afraid of giving the United States an excuse to intervene in the war?"

The United States and Shuangzhi signed the Mutual Defense Agreement and the Dallan Airport Agreement, which can be summarized as "oil in exchange for security". By the 1970s, the United States had a considerable military presence in Shuangzhi and had also sent many retired generals to serve as military advisors (①).

“I think Zion is taking a do-or-die approach.” Lu Lin hadn’t expected Zion to be so brave. He analyzed, “Major General Thomas Jones, who is stationed in Tabuk, just said that he would immediately notify Washington. The United States will definitely take measures, perhaps even sending an aircraft carrier.”

But I don't understand why Zion would provoke the United States; there must be a reason.

"An aircraft carrier? Is that the big thing that floats on the sea?" a lieutenant couldn't help but ask, his eyes shining.

Shuangzhi had no navy and had virtually no concept of various warships.

“Yes, it’s a mobile maritime military base. The deck is an airstrip. You can think of it as a super-sized RV, except it’s on the sea, and fighter jets can take off and land on the roof,” Lu Lin explained briefly.

Ahmed asked a crucial question: "Where is that aircraft carrier now?"

"Uh, maybe in the Eastern Mediterranean?" Lu Lin guessed, recalling the naval deployments of the US and the Soviet Union during the Third Middle East War.

“If it were in the Eastern Mediterranean, at least 300 nautical miles from here, considering the number of their aircraft, they couldn’t even fly a few rounds a day.” Ahmed felt that the United States’ air force assistance was a drop in the ocean.

"It's better than shooting down planes with rifles," Lu Lin comforted him. "Besides, the United States' air force is far superior to Zion's. Once they decide to deal with Zion, Zion's collapse will be even faster than Mars's!"

"Getting back to the point!" Seeing that the meeting was about to turn into an interrogation, he quickly began to issue orders: "We just captured a Zion pilot, Ahmed. I need you to pry open his mouth and get him to reveal Zion's offensive intentions and air force deployment information!"

"Yes, sir." The bearded officer accepted the order.

As the tasks were assigned, Lu Lin's gaze swept over the group, finally skipping over the eager Khalid: "Zion's air force will launch a second round of air strikes against ground targets. I will personally oversee the artillery countermeasures."

“I heard you click your tongue!” Khalid protested.

Lu Lin patted him on the shoulder: "I have an important task for you."

Once the other person perked up their ears, he lowered his voice: "Go request reinforcements from headquarters. Remember, make sure the word 'tragic' is written as large as possible."

"Understood!" Khalid clapped his hands. "I guarantee they'll think we're about to smash Zion's fighter jets with stones!"

Zion, the Prime Minister's Office in Zion.

“Your Excellency, this is your prepared statement,” said Commander Morda, the Minister of Defense, respectfully, his right eye covered by an impressive black eye patch.

He had just taken over as Minister of Defense before the war; prior to that, this power had been held by the Prime Minister.

"Just leave it there, Moda. I'll look at it later. Anyway, it's enough to boost the morale of the people."

Zion's Prime Minister Albert Maimonides is looking in the mirror. In the mirror, the man who launched the Middle East war that shocked the world does not look tall and strong, but rather like a retired old man.

"Help me decide what color tie would suit me best?" "I think it would be most suitable for you not to wear a tie," Commander Morda said.

“You’re thinking the same thing,” Prime Minister Albert muttered. “The tie is suffocating me.”

“Perhaps you should reduce your intake of sweets. The doctor says your heart health is a concern,” Commander Morda advised. “Chocolate isn’t a healthy food, and your daughter advises you to eat less of it.”

“Oh, that would have really killed me.” Albert seemed somewhat displeased. “Why did she advise me? Why didn’t she advise my doctor?”

Commander Morda could only stand aside somewhat awkwardly. He knew that his father-in-law had a bit of a temper, but he always managed to figure things out in the end. After all, he was the one who would eventually lead the people of Zion to revival.

“Okay, I’ll eat less sweets.” Albert seemed a little helpless. “Let’s go see who’s waiting for us.”

"this way please."

Commander Morda made a gesture.

Several people were already waiting in the Prime Minister's meeting room.

In addition to Defense Minister Moda, there was Finance Minister Faisal Andy, Supreme Council Speaker Lucas Halmer, Chief of the General Staff Ali Lazars, leaders of various political parties, and senior military officers.

At this moment, almost all of Zion's top officials were gathered here, except for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

At that moment, the Foreign Minister was engaged in a heated debate at the United Nations General Assembly, trying to buy time to delay international aid.

Chief Rabbiabraham greeted him with a smile. The people of Zion are all religious, and the chief rabbi is equivalent to the head of the religion, the leader of the nation's religion, and holds a transcendent position.

Albert shook hands with Chief Abraham, beaming, and asked, "You are as healthy as ever. Do you have any secrets to longevity?"

Abraham laughed and said, “The secret is to go with the flow. The Lord has said, ‘The fear of the Lord makes a man’s days many, but the years of the wicked will be few.’ This is more reliable than any health regimen.”

“I will visit him in person another day and listen to the teachings of the saint.” Albert clasped his hands together.

Abraham hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, “I heard that you sent troops to destroy Shuangzhi’s airport, including those of the United States. But you should know that the United States also believe in Jehovah, and they are also our brothers.”

Albert's smile faded slightly: "The United States doesn't lack an airport; what they lack is oil."

Furthermore, they don't care which country sells them oil; whether it's an Arab country or Zion makes no difference to them.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The United Kingdom is on our side. If we can seize the Gulf of Aryan before the United Nations can react, we will control the lifeline of the Middle East. Then, not only the United States, but also those Western countries will be easy to persuade."

"Our only adversary to be wary of is Ant."

Abraham sighed and said nothing more; he had crossed the line.

Seeing this, Albert smiled again. After saying goodbye to Chief Abby, he resumed chatting with others.

As Abraham watched his retreating figure, he recalled the promise the old man had made to him six years earlier in an attempt to win his support.

"Make Zion great again."

As everyone cheered for the latest battle report, Abraham looked at the room full of proud and fierce soldiers. Albert had indeed fulfilled his promise, but faced with the unfathomable future, the chief rabbi felt his old heart pounding violently in his chest.

Amidst deafening applause, the old man silently made the sign of the cross.

He prayed to God, asking for inner peace.

"May the Lord forgive our sins, Amen."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Note ①: The Mutual Defense and Assistance Agreement was an important agreement signed between the United States and Saudi Arabia in 1951, marking a further deepening of the military alliance between the two countries.

However, in 1958, Saudi Crown Prince Faisal publicly accused the United States and Britain of pursuing an "aggressive" policy towards Lebanon and suspended the Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States. Relations between the two countries subsequently plummeted, with the United States ceasing military support for Saudi Arabia and withdrawing its military advisors. It wasn't until the Fourth Arab-Israeli War in 1973 that relations began to significantly improve.

This arrangement is because the original timeline has changed. At this point, the two countries are still in a period of ambiguity, and the "Joint Defense and Mutual Assistance Agreement" still stands. Please be gentle with your criticism.

(End of this chapter)