"I assure you, with my credibility on this land and the strong relationships I have established with the local tribes, the area I control will never beco a haven or breeding ground for any anti-Arican ard forces. On the contrary, a region that achieves stability, restores order, and develops economically under my leadership will beco the most solid barrier against the spread of extremist ideologies, safeguarding the strategic interests of the United States in this region."
This statent sounds like empty flattery.
It also resembles a promise made by a scoundrel to a woman.
However, this big pie is indeed drawn quite large and slls quite good…
"Three years…"
Winslow pondered, his fingers unconsciously moving across the tabletop, exchanging a quick glance with Kote.
Kote frowned, seemingly evaluating the military feasibility and political risks of this ti fra in his mind, finally nodding slightly and almost imperceptibly.
Three years, although longer than they expected, is not entirely unacceptable, especially considering the higher risks of forcing a quick victory and Song Heping's "table-flipping" capability.
"Okay, I think three years might be agreeable… But to establish and maintain the necessary 'transparency' and 'strategic mutual trust' between us,"
Winslow proposed a reciprocal condition from the US side, which Peace had long anticipated.
"We need to send a 'Joint Observation Group' to your controlled area. They will enjoy convenient actions in previously agreed-upon regions and necessary knowledge rights to ensure we can accurately assess the progress of the situation."
"At the sa ti, to compensate your departnt for potential additional 'operational costs' due to adopting a 'gradual advancent' strategy and to support future regional security responsibilities your departnt may bear, we can allocate a portion of the logistic transportation support tasks currently undertaken by other contractors in the Afghan region, approximately worth six hundred million US Dollars, for your 'Musician' Defense Company to undertake. This should sufficiently demonstrate our commitnt to cooperation."
This six hundred million US Dollars serves multiple purposes: a sweetener and economic compensation for Song Heping, bait to entice his forces to extend into the Afghan region in the future, and a rein to deepen ties and increase Song Heping's cost of "betrayal."
Song Heping sneered inwardly, as expected.
The observation group was an obvious eye inserted, while this six hundred million US Dollar contract was a shackle wrapped in honey.
Old Arica's consistent tactics.
A mix of stick and carrot.
But he remained expressionless.
"The observation group can be stationed,"
Song Heping first clarified his principles.
"But for safety reasons and to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and conflicts, their specific activity range and operational procedures must be jointly coordinated with us in advance and strictly adhere to security protocols set by us."
He firmly confined the observation group's authority within the boundaries he set.
"As for the Afghan transportation contract,"
He truly desires it in his heart but deliberately shows only moderate interest.
"In principle, we can accept it, but this involves complex cross-border logistics and professional operations, requiring our professional business and logistics team for detailed assessnt before proceeding with specific liaison with the agency you designate."
He neither outright rejects this "generous gift" nor displays excessive enthusiasm.
"There's one more thing,"
Colonel Kote took over the conversation, his tone rigid and subtly assertive, "To ensure the 'comprehensive' and 'effective' regional security cooperation, we will introduce another private military company with rich experience and professional abilities—Thunder Defense, to establish a stronghold on the flank of your main controlled area for 'collaborative defense' and 'tactical cooperation.' This defense company consists of elite officers and sergeants who have retired from the US Special Forces. They can assist you in formulating anti-terrorism plans, provide more professional advice to help share your defense pressures, and promote mutual… professional experience exchange and sharing."
Everyone present understood that the so-called "collaborative defense" and "experience exchange" mainly serve as surveillance and balance.
Song Heping sneered inwardly.
Thunder Defense…
He had heard of it, not an old company, established only in recent years.
It is a small to dium-sized PMC mainly composed of retired personnel from forr US Delta, Seal Six, among other Special Forces, known for their well-equipped, tough styles, and often arrogance with their backgrounds.
Placing this unruly group, with official backgrounds as "peers" at his flank is equivalent to putting a potentially snarling watchdog at the bedroom door.
But he couldn't directly oppose it, as it falls under the US side's "reasonable" balance request.
Can't let them take all the advantages after all.
Negotiation is said to be the art of compromise.
As long as core interests are firmly guarded, a little compromise elsewhere is tolerable.
Negotiation requires calculating the overall account, not being fixated solely on an individual clause detail.
Moreover, there are many ways to handle such formidable outsiders.
Hehe.
Driving them away isn't hard.
Thus, Song Heping replied indifferently, "As long as Thunder Defense Company personnel do not interfere or intervene in our independent operational actions and local governance affairs, I can accept their presence in the designated flank area to engage in limited 'collaboration'."
He specially emphasized "independent" and "no interference," clearly stating the redlines.
On this point, both sides finally reached consensus.
"Regarding the condition you raised about granting 'political immunity' to you and everyone in your company…"
Afterwards, Winslow picked up a draft faxed by Song Heping to them yesterday, flipping to the page he needed.
"We have studied it, this matter is sowhat thorny…"
Finally, it cos to the matter of personal safety, an unspoken yet crucial hidden clause that cannot be inscribed into a formal text.
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