Super Zoo

Chapter 490 I Demand to Speak with the President

The United Nations Observer Group comprised more than a dozen members, but at this moment, only three carried weight when they spoke: the United States representative, the Huaxia representative, and the Russia representative.

"Huaxia has always opposed all forms of terrorism and is willing to contribute our strength in counter-terrorism," said the Huaxia representative with an expressionless face, "At present, it is very likely that a Huaxia compatriot is trapped in the war zone, and we hope that your government can take concrete actions. Our side has already authorized the combat personnel of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force to accept assignments from your military."

The Major General really wanted to strangle this ambiguous fellow!

You talk about contributing strength, yet you sent hundreds of technical staff into our oilfield last night! Claiming to help Iraq extract oil, but you took away 52% of the oilfield shares!

As for the strength of Huaxia in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force? To hell with it, they only have one platoon, what good is this handful of people? Even though Huaxia's troops are indeed more capable than the Iraqi Government Army, their numbers are too few. Besides, this involves diplomatic issues; sending them to the front line requires Iraq to provide full protection!

Reconnaissance planes have confirmed that Lure settlements have been occupied by IS, meaning the first Huaxia person who encountered trouble is likely still in the war zone, in the hands of IS.

All things considered, what Huaxia meant was still to coerce the Iraqi Government into resolving the situation on their own, to send troops for the rescue!

"The American Government will absolutely not compromise with terrorists, and we will not pay a single cent of ransom!"

The United States representative pounded the table with a righteous fury, telling the Iraqi Major General, "Rest assured, I have already submitted a report to the President, and the President will do his utmost to persuade Congress to agree to send troops to Iraq again! But before that, we hope your side can make the greatest effort to rescue our journalists!"

Several other representatives could barely restrain their laughter at these words.

Who doesn't know how complicated the American procedures are, especially for major decisions involving troop deployment, which require joint deliberation by both houses of Congress and a two-thirds majority agreement, from proposal and review to voting and, finally, the President's approval... Even if everything goes smoothly, it would take at least two to three months, plus military preparation... God, can the American military march into Iraq in half a year?

Moreover, with the severe anti-war sentiment in the United States, the government has already made up its mind not to directly dispatch large-scale military forces to the quagmire that is Iraq anymore.

So, every time the United States representative says 'yes, I will ask the President to let Congress discuss it,' everyone understands that his real meaning is actually NO!

The Major General kept a stiff face, turning to look at the Russia representative: "There's no need to say it, your country also plans to stand by and watch?"

"General, I don't understand why you would say that!" The Russia representative had an expression as blank as the white tile in mahjong, but his tone was firm: "Our President ordered the air force yesterday, a paratrooper squad is already flying to the scene to search for Miss Ludmila, of course, if conditions permit, they will also commence the rescue of the two American journalists. Moreover, our bombers and missiles are ready to go, and as soon as the hostages are recovered, they will immediately carry out a carpet bombing on the IS-occupied mountains. Isn't this help enough?!"

Before the words were fully out, a rocket with a fiery tail exploded ten meters away. The paratrooper who asked the question was blown away by the blast wave.

"Get down!" another comrade roared, pouncing on Ivanov from behind.

The debris and dirt fell from the sky like rain, and Ivanov's ears buzzed from the blast, his face scorched by the heat.

Ivanov turned his head, only to see a massive gash across his comrade's neck, cut by shrapnel, blood spurting out like a fountain.

"Damn IS!" There was no time for grief. Ivanov yelled, "Vasily! How many of us are left?!"

The radioman Vasily gave no response. Ivanov tugged at Vasily's arm... then suddenly felt a ghastly lightness as he pulled half of a blood-drenched arm out from their makeshift trench; Vasily's body had been blown away.

"Beep beep... calling Commander Ivanov!" The palm of the radio operator's arm still clutched the communicator tightly.

"I am Ivanov! I am Ivanov!" Ivanov's eyes were filled with rage.

Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

"Ivanov, this is command, what's your situation!"

Ivanov looked up at the rudimentary defenses they'd cobbled together... it couldn't really be called a defensive position, as the airborne soldiers were individually fighting from a few naturally formed shelters.

"We're surrounded, heavy losses, the brothers have almost run out of ammo! Damn it, there are at least a battalion's worth of IS militants nearby!" Ivanov screamed into the communicator.

"Ivanov, His Excellency the President has ordered you to abandon the mission and break out as best as you can!" There was a pause on the other end of the communicator. "If you cannot break out, His Excellency the President authorizes you to surrender!"

In the midst of a thunderous explosion, a shell landed in a shelter five meters away from him; the paratroopers inside didn't even grunt before they were blasted into a mist of blood.

A resolute expression crossed Ivanov's face, "Sir, may I speak directly with His Excellency the President?"