Washington, White House, 8 AM.
The President is sitting in the Oval Office with four intelligence briefs spread out before him. The first: Iran's 5th Brigade has pushed five kilometers towards the Jordan Border, and the Jordanians are anxious.
The second: British consultants have been captured by Syrians, and the British are anxious.
The third: Turks have been blocked in Homs, and the Turks are anxious. The fourth: Israelis are still waiting by Lake Tiberias; they aren't anxious but also haven't moved.
The Chief of Staff stands before him, his hair a tangled mess. "Mr. President, there's a call from the Jordanian King again. He says if the Iranians don't retreat, the Jordanians will fight on their own."
The President doesn't speak. He gets up and walks to the window. Outside, the Washington sky is gray and overcast.
