When you visit our website, if you give your consent, we will use cookies to allow us to collect data for aggregated statistics to improve our service and remember your choice for future visits. Cookie Policy & Privacy Policy
Dear Reader, we use the permissions associated with cookies to keep our website running smoothly and to provide you with personalized content that better meets your needs and ensure the best reading experience. At any time, you can change your permissions for the cookie settings below.
If you would like to learn more about our Cookie, you can click on Privacy Policy.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO 2:50 p.m. Eastern Standard Time The Situation Room The White House, Washington, DC “Iran is one of the oldest civilizations known to man,” Kurt Kimball said, his voice a deep monotone that threatened to put his audience into a coma. “For thousands of years it was known to outsiders as Persia—the word Iran appeared in writing for the first time in the 200s AD. Iran’s fortunes have ebbed and flowed throughout history. Six hundred years before Christ, Persia was probably the greatest empire the world had ever seen.” Susan was barely listening. She tried to think of where Stone might be at this moment. Was he safe? Was he injured? Was he dead? She looked around the egg-shaped room at the tired, sallow faces. It was a packed house. Another day, another crisis. Susan h