Part 82 (1/2)
Tuesday, Deceton, DC
”Why the hell do I have to find out what's going on in the world from the Goddaence services in the world?” The President snapped sarcastically while sipping black coffee over his daily collec- tion of US and foreign papers
The earlyby Chief of Staff Phil Musgrave provided the day with a s for weeks about this coet is don't worry, Mr President,” he saidthe classic excuses he was sick and tired of hearing ”We have it taken care of, Mr President No concern of yours, Mr President, we have everything under control We temporarily have our thule behind his napkin
”I'm sorry, Phil,” the President continued, ”but it irritates the shi+t out ofthan we do Where the hell is that report I asked for?
The one on the bank hostage I've been requesting for a week?”
The President's h day for the inner circle
”Sir, as I understand, it wasn't ready for your desk yet”
”Do the Goddamned missiles have to land on the White House lawn before we verify it's not one of our own?”
Phil knew better than to atteot into these moods He took notes, and with luck it would blow over in a couple of days Today was not Phil's lucky day
”I want a briefing Two Hours”
”Gentlemen,” the President said from behind his desk in the oval office, ”I'd like to read you soeth- er” The efficiency of the White House Press Office under the leadershi+p of Brian Packard ell known The President had the best rapport with the press that any President had in a generation
He slipped on his aviator style glasses and pulled the lobe of his left ear while reading from his desk ”Let's start here
Phone Coe Halted by Gov- ernment Bomb; Computer Crime Costs Nation 12 Billion Annually; Viruses Stop Network; Banks Lose Millions to Computer Embez- zlers; Trojan Horse Defeats Govern Millions On Free Calls for Hackers” He looked for a reaction from his four key associates: Phil, Quinton Chambers, Martin Royce and Henry Kennedy ”If you don't know, these are headlines froazines across the country”
The President read further from his notes ”Viruses Infect Trans-Insurance Payments; Secret Service Co Millions on Coe; Sperm Bank Computer Records Erased; IRS Returns of the Super Rich” The President re on here, gentlemen?” the President asked directly
”I am baffled that everyone else but me seems to know there's a problem, and that pisses me off Answers?”
He wondered ould be the first to speak up Surprisingly, it was Henry, who norrams in place to protect classified computer systems”
”Then what are these about?” He waved a couple of sheets of paper in the air
”Of course we haven't fully i concern According to NSA, the rash of recent computer events are a co it all out of proportion”
”Do you believe Henry,” the President asked, ”that if there's smoke, a reasonable man will assuly ”And ould you think if there were a hundred plu?”
Henry felt stu under control and”
”As I recall Henry,” the President interrupted, ”you told o when the papers found out about the EMP-T bombs Do you recall, Henry?”
”Yessir,” he answered meekly
”Then what happened?”