A Meeting with the Soviets (Uwanda-Mugabia War)

The Mugabian President invited the Soviet Ambassador and  Colonel to be seated.   As always the Ambassador was gracious in his manner, the Colonel was less so.  The three men exchanged brief pleasantries and focused on business.

During the discussion, the President addressed the idea of greater Soviet involvement in Mugabia's war and the conduct of offensive operations.  He was quickly cut of by the Soviet Colonel:

"Understand that we have no desire to fight your war.  We choose to fight in Afghanistan because it is in our national interest, don't mistake your war as being such.  We are here to keep you from vanishing into history, or to allow you vanish into history, whatever best suites the Soviet Union." 

The Presidents eyes widened, he was not used to being spoken to in such a manner.

The ambassador tried to intervene, without much success.  The colonel had been sent to deliver a message, and he was a direct man, not concerning himself with political etiquette.  A quiet moment passed, while the President considered the Colonel.  He was a fit, but small framed man, slightly balding, with narrow eyes a little too close together.  He exuded confidence and arrogance.  A hint of smile momentarily betrayed his enjoyment of the moment.  The President almost liked him, and understood that the Colonel was dangerous.

Then President Mpepo-Mfuko did something that he was not accustomed to doing; he remained composed, and responded in a subordinate manner:

"Colonel, of course, I understand now.  Please forgive me for having misunderstood the situation.  How shall we proceed?"

The tone of the exchange lightened, and the Soviet officer then explained that his troops would defend, stifling any Uwandan attack, but were not  going to conduct any offensives.  Soviet air assets would attempt to even the situation in the air as opportunity arose.  And, a solution to the situation would soon be... found.

The discussion progressed, the Colonel conveyed his plan, and the visitors left.  The President sat quietly in his office chair for a moment, the rage building, and finally boiling over.  He threw his telephone against the wall.  The trinkets on his desk, rocketed across the room; then. he picked up a chair and smashed in on his desk.

He paused a moment, smoothed out his uniform, and opened his office door.  Looking out to his wide-eyed assistant, he stated, "My phone seemed to have broken, have somebody come in and mend it."

"Yes Sir.  Immediately."

The President closed his office door, sat in his big chair, and considered the situation.