"Thank you!" The President answered, rising. "That will be all, Mary!"
The secretary bowed and left. After she had shut the door the General came to attention and saluted. The President smiled, returned the salute, and said "At ease, General! Be seated. Hot coffee there if you'd like some. Fix it to your liking then we'll have a talk."
The General fixed his coffee and The President poured his own beverage. He started to pick up his cup, sat it down a moment, then picked it up again. The General pretended he hadn't noticed.
"I'm told, General," The President continued, "you're our brightest and best. If I was to tell you to invade North Korea how would you do it?"
"I'd occupy them in the south," the General answered, "where they will be expecting a fight. I would then make amphibious landings on both coasts just below the Chinese border, strike east and west, until we meet then proceed south. The enemy would be caught between two armies, pushed into a tighter and tighter circle. Eventually they would realize the inevitable and give it up. But I would say not before they had spent at least half their army in a vain attempt to stop us. I'll warn you, Mr. President, we won't do it without casualties. Oh, we'll probably kill them five, six to one, but they're going to kill some of us, too."
The President nodded. "Of course," he put in, "we would have to wipe out their air force first, then their naval forces."
The General nodded. "Couldn't begin operations before we did," he answered, "wouldn't begin operations before we did. Just what will be my authority Mr. President?"
"Absolute authority over all operations," The President answered. "You'll tell The Air Force and The Navy what you want done. And if they don't do it they'll answer to me. I'll come up with the hair brain ideas, you'll have to carry them out, or find a damned good reason to tell me WHY you can't carry them out. If we succeed I'm going to be getting most of the credit. If we fail YOU'LL get the blame. I'm not ordering you to take this assignment, General, I'm letting you know right up front what could happen and leaving you the choice. You say no, I'll tell the Generals to suggest someone else, and it won't effect your carreer in any way. You think it is and you tell me about it and I'll fix it. But it's long passed time we DEALT with North Korea. Damn it should have been forty years ago! I have one question sir...China?"
The President nodded. "They'll make a lot of noise, General, bluster and posture, but they won't do anything, not en masse anyway. Oh, we may get a few fanatics, but China knows it's not ready to take on the world..not yet. They'll wait. Truth be known they're getting as tired of the North Koreans as we are."
"Well," the General put in, "I'm your man, Mr. President! When do you want me to depart?" "I understand The Airborne Boys are leaving tomorrow. I'd like you with them, General. The Marines will be with you in a couple of weeks. I don't think things will get too hot before then. But I want defense in depth, on the DMZ. If they're stupid enough to combat us first, I want you to bloody their noses and send them home worrying about us knocking on the door."
The General rose and saluted again. The President rose and answered. "If you'll excuse me, sir," he snapped, "I'd better go see to my personal affairs, say good-bye to the wife and kids."
"Children?" The President asked. "Five of them, sir. The oldest one's in West Point."
"Well, I sure as hell hope this is over with before he graduates!" The President snapped. "Dismissed, General!"
The General hesitated a moment then picked up the case he was carrying. "Speaking of my children, Mr. President," he reqested, "I've brought some of their books and, one of mine. If you'd be so kind as to autograph them...I know how much you're asked. I hate to impose, but the moment they heard I was coming to your office they begged me to ask."
The President smiled. "Good Lord, man!" he laughed, "I'm sending you into hell. If you want some books signed I'd sign a hundred for you! Bring them over here."
The General came to The President's desk, opened the case, and took out the books. "I had the kids put their names and addresses in them," The General remarked.
The President smiled, took a notebook from the drawer of his desk, chose a sentimate from it, and copied it into each book. When he was done he looked at them and smiled. "'Prisoner'," he remarked, "'Justice', 'Rebellion', and

Page 7