He returned the official note he had received and told him that he could not say such a thing during his press conference scheduled for the next day.
That as an Air Force General, these very words could drastically increase the already existing tensions between them and China.
And that he was, apart from that, skeptical about the hypothesis put forward: on what criteria was all this based?
The Minister of Defense takes the note in question from his hands, reads it superficially, then with a broad and forced smile, asks him how he was.
That it had been a long time since they had last seen each other and without even giving him time to respond, he said:

- As you know, we are living in serious times. We have to protect ourselves. China threatens us. Just look at the trade war it is imposing on us!

The General told him that he understood but that this note was not going to help things for them.
On the contrary.
Especially from a strategic and military point of view.
The Minister of Defense told him that with all the respect he had for him, that he was above all, a soldier, a soldier and that he had to follow orders and continue:
- I take note of your reluctance which is, in a sense, completely justified. And I will pass them on to whoever it may concern so that they can take a more informed look.
After all, you are the General, you are the strategist.
- “To whom it may concern”, that is?
- The president's office.
The General thanked him but reminded him that his press conference would be held tomorrow and that before the president received his comments, at least a week would have passed.
The minister looked at him and in an ironic tone said:
- What do you want... that's bureaucracy! Can you imagine if we could talk to the president whenever we wanted?
The General tells him that in truth, he would like to see the president. That this note was too “serious”.
The minister stared at him, smirked and asked:

- Do you want to see the president?
- Yes.
- Alright. Don't move.

The minister gets up from his chair, opens a door behind his desk and disappears into it.
Five minutes later, the minister returned followed by the president's spokesperson.
She sits behind the desk of the minister who had gone to pour himself a drink and was standing behind her.
- Hello General, how are you? The Minister of Defense informed me of your reluctance regarding the note.
How can I assist you? Do you need more information?
The General repeats to him the harmful side of this note and the potential damage as a result.
- You know that we work hard and that no decision is taken lightly. Do you know how many experts, many from your department, worked on this note?
Well let me tell you, there are a lot of them.
The General explained to him that he absolutely did not question the expertise contained in this note but that it was perhaps necessary to keep it internal and find an adequate strategy.
- Do you really want to see the president?
- ... Yes ?
She got up and disappeared behind the door as had the minister, who was looking at him with a certain air of pity.
Ten minutes later, the president's spokesperson returned, followed by the president who went directly to shake the General's hand and then sat behind the desk of the minister who was still standing with his glass and who handed another glass to the spokesperson.
- How are you, General? How is your wife ? And your children? I imagine they grew up a lot. It's been so long since we last saw each other! We should actually see each other more often.
The president turned towards his spokesperson and, with a wave of his hand, pretended that she was taking note of what he had just said.
- Two, General. Two years. We have two years to push back the Chinese and win the war for influence. If we are the first to anticipate a physical war, we are also the first to warn of this war that we do not want. And if there is war, we will be seen as those who did not want it even before it broke out.
And by the way, we would have demonstrated our unparalleled ability to predict risks.
The General told him that he understood but that he wanted to know on what basis this note was based. And above all, why make it public tomorrow.

- “Why, why, why” ... - the president replied annoyed with a nervous smile.

I want to answer you “why not!” - he laughed, turned around and once again told his spokesperson to take note of what he said.
Which she hadn't done yet but winked at him while taking a sip of her drink.
- More seriously, "the basics"... understand that if I knew them in depth, there would no longer be a need for experts. Only one person, the president, would have the capacity to analyze and decide on everything. This being does not currently exist.
I therefore trust our panel of experts who are among the best in the world in their respective fields.
You understand ?
The General confirmed that he understood but asked him again why make this note public.
- I understand... but you are indeed a General, aren't you?
- That's right.
-And you have a lot of stars on your uniform. You are a fundamental figure of our democracy. Besides, I was planning to award you a new star in a month.
Congratulations !
But as a General, you must follow orders. Which is clearly complicated.
But precisely, you are part of a cog which is the fruit of several millennia.
Like all of us.
You really need to make this note public tomorrow.
The General thanked him for his future medal but continued to express his skepticism about making this information public.
The president lowered his head and sighed in annoyance. He looked at him and asked him not to move.
He turned to the Minister of Defense and asked him to also pour him a drink.
The president stood up and disappeared behind the same door through which his minister and his spokesperson had come.
They continued to look at the General with the same look of pity.
Fifteen minutes later, the president reappeared, took the glass handed to him and stood in silence.
Forty-five minutes later, a man, who must have been in his fifties, entered through the same door, put his briefcase on the desk, took out a notebook and a pen, stared at the General and asked him:
- So, what is it? the problem ?
- Who are you ? - asked the General.
- It does not matter. How many do you want ?
- ... why should I ask for money?
-Then why don't you follow your president's orders?
Not understanding who this individual was who seemed to have more power than his president,
- Tomorrow morning, you will receive my resignation letter on your desk. - launched the General in a dry tone to his president.
The man in his fifties turned to the president and said:

- Was he rocked too close to the wall or something? Is it from birth?

- What did you say ? - said the General coldly.
- Nothing, nothing, just put your butt on your chair.
We haven't finished talking. That's the lesser of it.
You know why ?
Because I was with my daughter and I was making her breakfast. For me, making breakfast for him is like receiving medals for you:
it's priceless.
And more importantly, because the group I work for wouldn't hesitate for a single second to take away all your little medals.
The General explained to him that he did not like his tone and that he would inform the press of everything that had happened in this office and turned on his heel towards the exit door.
He stopped short when the man in his fifties said someone's last name, first name, age and address.

- ... better known under the pseudonym “La Grosse Bertha” on OnlyFans.

About thirty seconds of tense silence passed.
The man in his fifties invited him to sit down again, which the General did without being asked.
The man in his fifties explained to him that it was not necessary for his wife and children to discover his sexual antics with Fat Bertha.
That he had to read the note tomorrow.
That everything had been decided with the Chinese themselves.
That the populations had to be prepared.
That all of this was much bigger than his little person.
The next day, several newspapers headlined:
"2025: war against China", "Air Force General predicts war against China in 2025", "Top 10 reasons for war against China in 2025", "What diet to adopt in the face of a war against China in 2025", "The apocalypse in 2025?", "The best places to live if a war breaks out against China in 2025", "Will will the prices of all-you-can-eat buffets in Chinese restaurants increase if there is a war against China in 2025?", "A General who hopes not to be right about his hypothesis of a future war against China".
When will we see another Nostradamus revealing future armed conflicts between Russia and Europe?
To be continued...

*September 29, 2023
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https://www.reuters.com/world/us-four-star-general-warns-war-with-china-2025-2023-01-28/