Senator McPherson
by
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THE day finally arrives and all the ambassador’s pieces are in place. She welcomes Foreign Minster Dmitriy Sokoloff into the Spaso House library, closes the door and speaks.
“Thank you for coming Mr. Sokoloff. My invitation is something out of the ordinary but you’ll understand why in a few moments.”
“Yes, Madam Ambassador, I should hope so.”
“You’ll notice that the two of us are alone, no interpreters, no note-takers. This is to be a private conversation and I’ll do my best in my imperfect Russian to make clear what I have to say.”
“Your Russian is quite good, Madam. You needn’t worry.”
“Thank you. What I’m about to discuss has the endorsement of the highest levels of my government in Washington. You should understand that I am speaking for them.”
“Go on.”
“Good. As we—and now, the whole world—knows, your government has violated the territorial integrity of both Ukraine and Belarus. You have sent armed soldiers into the cities of Minsk and Kharkov where they now occupy the administrative centers in those two cities. Our intelligence sources tell me that their purpose in the Donets Basin is to appropriate the region’s valuable mineral deposits and its potential for building manufacturing facilities for the production of heavy industrial machinery. In Belarus, your plans call for the appropriation of that nation’s production of earth movers and other heavy-duty agricultural equipment.
“I presume you are aware of these facts.”
“Not necessarily, Madam. If what you say is accurate, then it is most likely that our military authorities have made these decisions.”
“As you can appreciate, that is of no concern to me. What does concern me is what are we to do about this intolerable situation?”
“Yes, what do you have in mind?”
“I’ll get right to the point, Mr. Sokolov. Everyone knows that your country’s economy is heavily dependent on your pipeline exports of crude oil and natural gas. Some estimates have it that nearly 35 percent of your gross national product depends on these exports.”
“Yes, I believe that is so.”
“Imagine what would happen if your customers in Europe were to renege on their purchase agreements and inform your government that, henceforth, they will reduce the purchase price by one-half? One doesn’t need to be a specialist in economics to know the answer. Your economy would collapse within six months.”
“In theory, yes, I suppose that would happen. But, surely, you don’t believe it will happen.”
“Mr. Sokolov, if you were to step outside and walk into our grand ballroom, you would find the representatives of Germany, France, The Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden, Italy and Spain. Every one of them will tell you that, yes, that is what their respective governments are prepared to do unless your government withdraws its forces from Kiev and Kharkov. And if you think I’m bluffing, please feel free to ask them.
“One more thing before I should return to my guests. Assuming your government complies with my suggestion, the world needn’t learn about this. We can watch it happen and let the media speculate as to why it has happened. As you know, Mr. Sokolov, diplomacy can work its wonders in mysterious ways, as it has here.
“Thank you for our time together. Now I must return to my guests.”
* * *
Ambassador McPherson’s comment about media speculation was spot on. Although the withdrawal required about six weeks to accomplish, the moment the first Russian soldiers entered Moscow and returned to their barracks, they were hounded by reporters from most European countries. In the United States, the Wall Street Journal had this to say.
Moscow, September 7, 2015
by Henry McGovern, staff reporter
In what appears to have been a major diplomatic achievement for the United States, Russian soldiers have been pulled out of Kiev and Kharkov and are no longer in control of much of Belarus and Ukraine. My sources are not certain, but they suspect that it was America’s new ambassador, Sara McPherson, who orchestrated what amounts to an embarrassing setback for the Kremlin’s leadership. I have tried to interview the Russian Foreign Minister Dmitriy Sokolov but his office responds that he has no comment. We’ll keep our readers informed as more information becomes available.
Meanwhile, Ambassador McPherson goes about her business, developing new friendships throughout Moscow’s diplomatic community. She has become one of the community’s favorite hostesses, using her home at Spaso House for informal gatherings, book readings, small-orchestra concerts and, occasionally, formal dinner parties.
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About the Book
In his latest novel Senator McPherson, author John Sager has created a character who can be at once admired, questioned, but never ignored. From her growing-up years in a small farming community, Sara McPherson morphs into one of America’s most influential and resourceful politicians.
Recently graduated from the University of Washington’s law school, she catches on as an intern in a prestigious Seattle law firm, successfully defends two of the firm’s clients and then is elected to the state’s legislature in Olympia.
There, she joins forces with a women legislator of Nez Perce Native American heritage, and the two write and pass legislation that enhances the living standards of Washington’s minority and indigent citizens.
She then is elected to represent her state in the national legislature and becomes a well-known and admired lawmaker, eventually rewarded with a seat on the US Senate’s Judiciary Committee.
Ms. McPherson’s crowning achievement is her appointment as the United States ambassador to the Russian Federation. There, she orchestrates the removal of Russian military personnel who have attempted to control the industrial output of Ukraine and Belarus.
At the end of her illustrious career, the American president recognizes her as one of the nation’s most influential and successful politicians and diplomats.
About the Author
John Sager is a retired United States intelligence officer whose services for the CIA, in various capacities, spanned more than a half-century. A widower, he makes his home in the Covenant Shores retirement community on Mercer Island, Washington.