Chapter 590: Prelude to War

In the conference room of the Presidential Palace in Gold State, the President and some senators sat together.

Actually, the President didn't like sitting with these people, because of the last election, he felt he had been abandoned.

If he hadn't come up with a trick to solve those problems at the end, maybe he would have retired by now.

He didn't like these senators who didn't support him, but he had to sit with them, because on the matter of war, whether to participate or not, it still had to be decided by Congress in the end.

The Federal President has war privileges.

Many people believe that the President has the qualification to launch a war against a country, or respond to a country's declaration of war and enter a state of war.

But actually, it is not.

The Federal President only has the right to military action, and it is short-term.

Three months, at most half a year. If the military action cycle exceeds half a year, he must request Congress to pass it before he can specifically implement it.

The declaration of war threat from the Republic of Dantela military alliance is something he cannot deal with independently. It must be discussed by Congress, and then he, the highest ruler in name on the surface of the country, goes to read the result to the people.

It is precisely because he reads it that the vast majority of people believe that the Federal President has great power.

Senator Cleveland is also here. Everyone here represents a political interest group. The process of them sitting together discussing is not like "tuning a pot of mushroom cream soup," but more like the second-hand market in those poor and backward streets.

For a little bit of interest, they have to argue for a long time.

"Gentlemen!"

"Let's all talk about it!"

"Sitting here without speaking all the time, we can't solve this problem."

"The Minister of Dantela (the diplomatic level has been lowered after the last incident) is protesting. If we insist on stationing troops in Jincheng, they will directly sever diplomatic relations with us."

The Secretary of State sat beside the President, his face serious, his gaze flowing over the faces of every gentleman at the table, "I believe you understand what this means."

Of course, everyone understands. Severing diplomatic relations is for the purpose of declaring war.

It's just that in diplomatic wording, it cannot be said so nakedly. That would be because of some emotional problems, making problems that could have been solved peacefully become unsolvable.

This is like... a person taking something from another person.

The person whose things were taken says: If you don't return the things to me, I will take action against you!

If the person who took others' things says at this time: How do you plan to take action?

Then they might still be able to continue communicating. As long as there is a channel for communication, the problem will eventually have a way to be solved.

But if this person says at this time: Try touching me, damn it?

Then what follows must be escalation and white-hot!

They didn't say declare war, but the meaning has already been implicitly expressed. They won't compromise. This is the root.

Of course, this matter cannot be entirely identified as the problem of the Republic of Dantela. Jincheng is located in the southern coastal area of the Federation, not only the largest port in the Northern Hemisphere.

Going south directly from here is the coastal area of the Republic of Dantela. The Federal government has been very hot with another military alliance recently, and both sides have negotiated quite a few cooperations, which made the Republic of Dantela feel nervous.

Now they are going to station troops in this position again. If they collude privately and formulate some kind of strategic plan, suddenly advancing by sea and land, they really won't be easy to deal with.

From their own perspective, the country's interests, no one has a problem.

It's just that now they have put forward their own requirements. Whether to agree or not will bring serious consequences. The President doesn't really want to bear this part of the responsibility himself.

What if a war breaks out and they win? That's fine.

But what if they lose?

So he intends to let Congress pass a vote to decide, minimizing his responsibility.

Senator Cleveland's gaze fell on the Speaker and the Majority Leader. The two big figures didn't seem to have the intention of setting the tone at the beginning.

His gaze turned around the surroundings. At this time, the executive member of the Military Committee spoke, "We are not afraid of any challenges. Our Navy and Army have made preparations to deal with various threats."

"I'm not saying I support us going to war. I'm just considering the problem from the perspective of 'what if a war breaks out'."

"Whether it's offense or defense, we can advocate our national interests!"

It seems he said it, but it also seems he didn't say it. However, Senator Cleveland figured out some flavor.

What he expressed wasn't "we are not afraid of them," but "we can fight them"—this kind of meaning.

The Military Committee is a very important standing committee of the Senate. Its work is to coordinate the problems between the Federal military and the government, and at the same time take into account the development of the military, etc.

Anyway, anything related to the military, including military actions, they have the right to intervene.

Such an important executive member of the committee said such words at this time. If he said there was no Speaker or Majority Leader remote-controlling behind him, he wouldn't believe it.

If Congress's tone has already been determined, then the rest is for everyone to add bricks and tiles.

However, he is not in a hurry to express his stance. Politics is not crashing, but taste! The executive member of the Congressional Budget Committee also took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Currently our reserve funds are still very sufficient, and the inventory of materials is also sufficient. At any time, we can ensure that we have enough funds and materials to be used for protecting our national rights and interests."

Good, understood. Everyone understood.

The fist is ready, the money bag is also ready. You might as well just say "fuck them"!

Senator Cleveland, as well as other senators and people participating in the meeting around, all gave birth to a kind of heavy sense of mission and sense of history in their hearts.

They realized that they were just like their ancestors sitting together, reading the declaration, pushing the new history forward!

The President's face also had some more smiles, but soon he restrained the smiles.

Other senators also figured out the big figures' decision and expressed their support for the war one after another.

Of course, there were also people who opposed it, but there were few people who opposed it, and it was more like expressing a kind of free country where the Federation allows anyone to have any point of view.

After another senator finished his point of view, Senator Cleveland nodded, "The Republic of Dantela has repeatedly used threats and intimidation in the international arena, attempting to force us to make decisions unfavorable to our current national development direction."

"This has already caused us to lose points internationally."

"We can retreat once, that is humility."

"We can retreat twice, that is loving peace."

【Author's note: Content is being checked!】

"But if we retreat a third time, that can only be weakness!"

His voice was a bit louder, "The Federation is not a country of cowards. We have the courage and blood to sacrifice for the country. If they think our policy is conveying some kind of message to them, and therefore want to declare war..."

His right hand clenched into a fist and knocked on the desktop twice, "Then come!"

The Speaker and the Majority Leader nodded slightly. Although they didn't notify Senator Cleveland in advance, the people sitting here weren't fools.

Two key figures spoke one after another, and they knew which way the wind was blowing.

Just like now, the "Small Congress" had unified opinions, so the rest was for Congress to formally vote and pass, and then for the President to announce the result.

After several others added a little opinion, the Speaker opened his mouth, "War is not just a challenge, but also an opportunity."

"The Federal economy has been declining very severely in these years. We are at a critical node."

"We recruited some experts to discuss the problem of depression with us. It will appear once every period of time, and it will be longer each time."

"We are not sure how many years this one will last, but if possible, it is best to interrupt this process."

"War might be a direction."

The Majority Leader nodded, "We need more territory, more resources, more population, more wealth."

After he finished speaking, he paused for about two or three seconds and added, "For the people."

The Secretary of State didn't speak this time. The President knew it was his turn.

"I have always believed that making military arrangements on our own territory is our country's internal affairs."

"They tried to interfere in our country's internal affairs by means of threats and intimidation. This is unforgivable."

"Many people's eyes are staring at us. If this time, we show cowardice, then the international situation we face will become worse and more severe."

"Since everyone thinks we shouldn't avoid it, then let Congress vote."

"I will unconditionally support Congress's decision!"

The Secretary of State continued at this time, "I will follow up on the development of this aspect. Any news will be forwarded to everyone separately."

Next was a series of detailed problems, such as transporting a large amount of the Navy to the south, and responding to the possibility of "attacks" that might appear.

If the Republic of Dantela really went crazy and suddenly launched a surprise attack on the Federal port, it would also be a huge loss!

They need to be prepared. The core reason why Congress and the high level supported the war this time was because the internal contradictions generated by the Great Depression were escalating. People were striking and parading, and it began to affect the middle class.

This is a very dangerous signal. Some experts believe that this Great Depression will be more fierce than in previous years, and the duration will be longer!

War is a good opportunity to change the country's fate, obtaining all interests to solve domestic contradictions through war plundering, and at the same time outputting pressure.

If the Republic of Dantela didn't do this, they actually didn't know what to do.

Rashly joining the war is not what the Federal people long for.

Last time the Imperial Emperor said he wanted to launch a war, their fierce protest emotions showed that they didn't like war.

If they actively launched a war, they would lose the people's support.

But passively...