" Previously..." " I need an hour with Sheikh Rashid." "So you want to use Sheikh Rashid to do an end run around Ihab?" " Does your brother even know you're here?" " Do it." "You understand our precautions." "Yesterday you were my enemy." "But today, you are my guest." "He is meeting Ihab Rashid on my orders." "Bassam's been nowhere near Ihab in the last 24 hours." "That is wrong." "We can try again." "That's all." "If we try and I fail, I will feel worse." "Change the subject." "I trusted you." "You are my blood, and you betrayed me." "Uh, you need to see something." "I demand to sit down with President Jamal Al-Fayeed." "He demands?" "Jamal, you can end this without firing a shot." "This is what you wanted." "Is it?" "General, tell your men to stand down." "But, Mr. President..." "You lied to me." "I failed to inform you of my every move, yes." "No." "You didn't fail to inform." "You lied." "And right now, you are lying again to me." "For God's sake, I'm your brother." "Your blood." "Jamal, can't we just talk about the result?" "It's the result that ultimately matters." "Fine." "You want to talk about the result?" "The result sickens me." "You were supposed to offer one tribal monkey... the opportunity to talk to me." "And instead, tribal monkey's father demands to talk to me." "I'm not a fool." "But you are making me look like a fool." "You won't look like a fool." "Yes." "It would have been nice if things had happened the way we wanted... but the net-net is the same." "The president of Abbudin is sitting down... with the legendary patriarch of the opposition." "Do you have any idea how huge that is, how great that is?" "Yeah, for him." "Meanwhile, in the country of Abbudin... citizens continue to overrun Founders Plaza with calls for everything... from student rights to the complete overthrow of the ruling Al-Fayeed family." "The elderly sheikh continues to attract enormous crowds." "Today's estimates place the number at upwards of 15,000... up significantly from yesterday's 12,000." "This makes no sense." "We have a wonderfully elegant way out of this." "Yes." "We simply bend over and try not to think about what is happening." "You just offered the sheikh the same package you offered Ihab three days ago." "Jamal, these are your deal points." "Why doesn't it rain?" "Anything, something to drive the people out of the plaza." "Hey, you know what?" "I'm gonna call Tariq." "They have a mole in the Rashid camp." "Maybe they can tell us what it is he's looking for." "Yes, it's a good idea." "Tariq only want to be of help." "He's a big fan of the sheikh." "Yeah." "Yeah, you're right." "Well, what about Ziad?" "Maybe if he got some presidential love, he'd be willing to play ball." "My point is, I'm gonna try and have all of the deal points locked down... before you even walk into the room, okay?" "So, just-just sit with him." "That's all you have to do." "In return, he'll tell everyone in the plaza to go home." "They're part of the process now." "And do you know who's gonna get the credit?" "You will..." "President Jamal Al-Fayeed... for being willing to sit down with him and for being willing to listen." "Bargaining with sheepherders." "Look, I know it's hard." "But sometimes you have to give something to get something... and I think what we get is huge." "So please, just... just sit with the man." "It'll be you, me and Yussef." "We'll do it in the council chambers... and I've told them they can bring two delegates if they want to." "Hmm." "And... what if I don't like what he has to say?" "It's not an issue." "If he asks for anything that you're not prepared to give... you just say, "Let me take that under advisement."" "Nice one." "Let me..." "Let me take that under advisement." "Let me..." "Let me..." "Let me take that under advisement." "If someone would have told me that the first visitor I'd be receiving... in my capacity as first lady would be the sworn enemy of your father..." "I would have roared with laughter." "The sheikh is going to clear the plaza." "He is going to clear the plaza?" "It's not his plaza." "It's not his country." "Why are you so frightened of him?" "Frightened?" "Do I look like a frightened person?" "You are naive." "You have some idea in your mind... that all a president has to do is mow down his enemies... that that is all there is to being a leader." "Call your cousin in Egypt." "It's not so simple anymore." "Everybody has a camera." "Everybody's on YouTube." "You just be sure..." "You just be sure... that you smile when he walk through the door." "You are welcome." "I'm proud of you, by the way." "Proud of a grown doctor who can't tie his own tie?" "Proud of you for getting people who thought they'd never be in the same country together... much less the same room, to talk about how they can move forward." "Well, tell me that at the end of the day when it's actually happened." "I keep feeling we're about an inch from this whole thing falling apart." "Are you certain you can do this?" "Everything that's happening here is ultimately for you." "For your brothers." "For your children." "I am an old man." "I am not long for this world." "I only ask you show the president the same respect... he's showing us by inviting us here." "He didn't invite us." "You demanded an audience, shamed him into it." "I took the same invitation he offered you... and turned it into a demand." "The point is... we are now facing our enemy across a table... instead of a battlefield." "And the world thinks it was our doing." "Now we must present ourselves accordingly... as statesmen, as civilized human beings." "No bombast, no fire." "Just an eagerness to get things done." "Can you help me?" "Ripped By mstoll" "Sheikh." "Come." "Sheikh, we'll take a photograph." "Can I have one here too?" "Thank you, Sheikh." "Wonderful." " Thank you, sir." " Thank you." " Walid." " Yes, my brother." "I know you wanted to accompany me here today, and now you have." "The pictures have been taken." "Now get back in the car and go home." "Uh, excuse me?" "I came here to assist you in these negotiations." "I've been working with the Al-Fayeeds for over a decade now." "I know how they think." "You've made yourself a friend... to the very people who drove me from my home." "Get back to the car and leave." " Salaam alaikum." " Salaam alaikum." "Wa alaikum assalam." "Sheikh Rashid." "My wife, Molly." " Hi." " How are you?" "Welcome." "Sheikh." "Salaam alaikum." "All set?" " I just heard Ihab is here." " Yeah, he's part of the delegation." "Apparently, it all happened at the last minute." "Here's hoping nothing else happens at the last minute." "Tell me, Ziad is sure about these bargaining points?" "Well, I asked him about a hundred times." "That Ihab so much as looks at me cross-eyed... and I'll throw him back into prison." "What about the sheikh?" "He can't help but look at you cross-eyed." "Mr. President." "Welcome, sir." "Mr. President." "Sheikh Rashid." "Please." "Excuse me, have you a toilet?" "His mouth is full of phlegm." "Yeah, of course." "Well, gentlemen... this is a meeting decades in the making." "Where should we start?" "Taxation?" "Representation on the council?" "Perhaps it's even time to rethink... the nationalization of some of Ma'an's natural resources." "You are very generous, President, and very astute." "I know you very much want the Founders Plaza returned to normal... people back in their homes... businesses able to receive customers." "I believe I can make all that happen." "There is really just one thing I want in return." "Tell me what is on your mind." "I would like to ask... now that your father has passed... that you allow there to be open and free elections... for the office of president of Abbudin... monitored by the UN... open to any candidate... no matter their political or religious affiliation." "Let me take that under advisement." "Very well." "Sheikh Rashid, can we now rely upon you to clear the Founders Plaza?" "Let me take that... under advisement." "Nothing to fear." "Just gravity." "He wants elections." "Is he out of his mind?" "I'm not begging the people for my right to lead them." "These talks were a horrible idea." "The talks were not a horrible idea." "Yes, he outmaneuvered us." "Yes, I would say so." "So, what do we do, Mr. Adviser?" "What do we do, Brother?" "It turns out he wants to be George Washington." "Typically with a crowd of this size..." "I believe the estimate for today is almost 20,000... the people will see... your heavy armor approaching, your tanks... and almost immediately... you will lose 2,000 or 3,000." "But in this particular instance... since we've been visible to the crowd... for several days without an order to proceed... we may not see quite so many flee initially." "But once we initiate use of the water cannons... the crowd will diminish by half." "It's that remaining 10,000..." "the semihard-core... that becomes a challenge to disperse." "We'll begin with the rubber bullets, then conventional ammo." "All the while, the tanks... are moving, converging on a center point." "And, obviously, anyone in their path..." "The whole thing will take about 45 minutes." "Although that's not counting the cleanup." "You're going to need at least a day... of scrubbing before that plaza... is once again presentable to the civilian population." "What kind of injuries can we expect?" "My guesstimate?" "2,000 injured." "Perhaps 200 fatalities." "Of course, every day you wait, every minute you wait... those numbers rise." "Any of the great minds here have any options to offer?" "Or is this it?" "We kill 200 today... then go to war with our people tomorrow." "Not to make light of it, but, uh... we're quite good at going to war." "I have every confidence we will prevail." "I need an hour to reflect." "Free and open elections..." "exactly what the sheikh said." "No, think about it." "It gives you everything you want... everything you could possibly hope for." " Um, what does it give me?" " Options." "All of them are good." "The first thing it gives you is the plaza will be empty." "What can the people possibly protest about... when the choice of who leads them is theirs?" "But then I have to run to regain leadership." "Okay." "And what's the worst that can happen?" "Bassam, I lose." "Uh, everything our father built, everything we achieved... everything we are ceases to be." "I get that." "I do." "But look, the days when a single family... can continue to rule by sheer force of will... are pretty much over with or without elections." "So if you lose, you lose." "And you wake up the next day and you start living the rest of your life." "Except no one's hanging you." "No one's shoving a bayonet up your ass." "The crowd isn't calling for your head." "You just go away." "You-you move your money to Switzerland or wherever guys like you move your money." "Buy your own goddamn island, and you're still one of the richest men in the world." "But here's the thing." "I don't think you're gonna lose." " I won't?" " No." "These elections are a year, a year and a half away." "First you got to change the constitution." "That's gonna take some time." "And then comes the campaign." "That's a year, a year and a half." "And in that time, the people are getting to know you." "And when they get to know you, they're gonna love you." "And while they're busy falling in love with you... you're gonna do what powerful people do." "You build 20 schools, 10 hospitals, a bunch of parks." "And what's the sheikh gonna build?" "Well, he's not going to build shit." "No, he's just gonna cough and spit and..." "look at people with that milky eye." "So... we are going to win this?" "I think we can." "Wake up." "Look who's back." "I'm pleased for you both." "Here's hoping the two of you will be very happy together." "What's wrong with you?" "What's wrong with you?" "Bargaining away our lives." "Not to mention your child's birthright." "I can't believe you are still mad about this." "Three weeks and you are still mad about it." "Don't you watch television?" "They are calling me "a beacon of hope in the Middle East."" "Good for them." "Maybe you can call them and have them play with your new friend." "I'm not interested." "Good morning, Yussef." "What can I do for you?" "What?" "Sixty minutes?" "What is..." "You mean the television show?" "They want to do a piece about me?" "Spending a day with the sheikh is like trailing a rock star." "Wherever he goes, he is besieged with requests for pictures and autographs." " Jamal?" " And he never hesitates to stop..." "Huh?" "The, uh, council's waiting." "It's a wonderful thing to want to build schools and hospitals and parks." "I don't think that's the Office of Budget Management's issue." "Then what is their issue?" "I'm the president." "L..." "I want this money." "I need this money." "The way we would normally fund these sorts of projects... would be to sell bonds on the world market." "And I don't think under normal circumstances that would be a problem." "Explain." "It's just..." " Ever since you announce elections..." " What about the elections?" "There's concern that the debt holder might change... and might not be interested in honoring the obligations these bonds represent." "No, no, no, no, no." "The debt holder is not going to change." "That's the whole point." "Now, we want the people to vote for me." "So we need money to build things." "Why?" "You are the president." "The constitution does not call for these elections." "There's no need for these elections." "We gain nothing from these elections... and in fact may have created for ourselves... the mechanism of our own demise." " Call them off." " And what about the people?" " We've already told them." " I'll deal with the people." "I always have." "Mr. President, please." "Embrace who you are and what is yours." "Let's put an end to this foolishness." " 60 Minutes called." " Pardon me?" "Didn't Yussef tell you?" "60 Minutes called." "They want to do a piece about me." "Have they ever wanted to do a piece about you?" "How about you?" "Well..." "I've been called... to an emergency meeting with a delegation from Norway." "When I return, I want to hear that... these new construction projects have been financed." "I also want to hear how excited the military is... about the prospects for free elections in Abbudin." "Thank you, gentlemen." "This meeting is adjourned." "Uh, Ziad." "The Norwegian president has asked me to meet him alone." "Something about a pipeline situation." "No one even knows he's here." "So I'll text you as soon as I am safely in the room." "No "hello"?" "No "It's been a long time"?" "No "I missed you"?" "Hello." "It's been a long time." "And as you can see, I've missed you." "You need to come see me more often." "That was like an explosion." "A presidential explosion." " A presidential eruption." " Hmm." "Can I ask you something?" "Mmm." "Do you think the people love me?" "Well, the people don't know you." "But if they did..." "I am sure that they would love you." "How could anyone not love you?" "May I?" "I know we, uh..." "we don't see eye to eye on a few things." "The elections, the sheikh." "If you've come here to tell me what to say or to drill me... the way you've been drilling my husband and the others... let me remind you..." "I've been in the public eye since I was 18." "I know what to say when the cameras are on." "And I know what to do when the cameras are off." "Of course you do." "What?" "You." "You're so... impressed with yourself." ""Look at me." "Look at what I did." "I'm bringing democracy to Abbudin."" "You really believe he can do this... win the votes and the love of the people?" "Yes." "Yes, I do." "I guess it helps to be away from him for 20 years." "Forgive the intrusion." "You cannot outrun history." "One would be a fool to stick one's head in the sand... and not see how change is sweeping the Middle East." "Change... and cell phones." "Everyone has a voice." "Everyone has an opinion." "And everyone has a camera." "It simply stands to reason, then... that everyone would expect... to have a say about how they are governed." "Well, he's my son." "So of course I think he's special." "And he's always seen things differently than his father." "So I'm not entirely surprised that he's turning everything on its head... trying things that have never been tried before." "But the main thing is that I think he wants what's best for the country... even if it's not him." "And I think that gives you a hint of just how special he is." "I don't say these things for effect." "I say them because... this is..." "the reality." "This is how I truly feel about it." "We are coming to this place one way or the other." "We can either be in front of it or behind it." "Just look at me." "Here we go." "You served for three decades... as the head of the military for an ironfisted dictator." "Now here comes the son... and he's freeing political prisoners... sitting down with opposition leaders... calling for elections." "Isn't your head spinning?" "Yes and no." "My nephew is a visionary." "But he is also very much like his father, my brother." "My brother looked at the vast desert, the warring tribes... the hostile outside forces conspiring against him... and nonetheless felt that he could build a nation." "Insane." "And yet here we are." "A nation with abundant schools... and hospitals and a vibrant economy." "And now my nephew says, "What if we have elections?" "What if we let the people choose?" "Do you think they might choose me?"" "An old dog like me thinks... insane." "But then I remember his father." "And I think..." "crazier things have happened." "Are we through?" "All right, set." "A wife always wants to believe... she's her husband's greatest love." "But long ago I made peace... with the fact that I'm in second place." "I'm sorry." "Second place to who?" "To Abbudin." "Your opponent, Sheikh Rashid... a sworn enemy of your family for over two decades... calls you either the bravest or the most foolish man on the continent." "That's really funny." "I didn't know Sheikh Rashid has that sense of humor." "Uh, but, uh, I like Sheikh Rashid." "Uh, I would not vote for him, for sure." "But I like him." "The people like him too." " He is leading in the polling." " It's early to say." "The elections are a long way off." "And I think, in time... people will realize that what they feel for the sheikh... is actually what you feel for an uncle... that you haven't seen for a long time." "Uh, nostalgia." "But if you look around... you can see what we have built together, as a nation." "And I'm sure you will say..." ""I love that." "I want more of that." "I want more of the people... of the family that did that."" " You sound very confident." " Uh-huh." "Would you be interested in hearing what the sheikh had to say about you?" "What do you make of this new young president Al-Fayeed?" "Obviously, he marches to the beat of his own drummer." "And when you sit with him in a room, you know you are sitting with a lion." "Of course, not all lions are friendly." " And every so often..." " How's it going?" "One will bite your head off." "But you have to admire his courage." "He didn't have to allow these elections." "He could have simply said no." "Yes." "He knows wise counsel when he hears it." "Wise counsel?" "He has a younger brother." "Bassam." "An American." "Like I said, Jamal may be a lion... but I suspect his brother is the lion tamer... the brother who tells the lion what to do." "We are getting reports that for the first time in 30 years... a significant number of young men of draft age... are simply not showing up for induction." "This is despite the fact they know the penalty is death or life imprisonment." "Additionally, among men already serving... we are seeing a measurable uptick in deserters." "Again, these men are staring at certain death... and yet... they don't care." "And finally, assaults against officers by conscripted men... are up 11% compared to this same time last year." "And why do you think this is?" "Shifting sands, Mr. President." "The country is sensing change." "And change is not good for the status quo." "People don't obediently serve in a military they suspect of being disbanded." "And those already in service start looking for an exit strategy." "It's human nature." "Are you saying this is... because I have announced elections?" "Well, when you look at the latest polling..." "Latest polling?" "Mr. President, there is new polling." "And unfortunately it shows you just with 33% of the vote... while the sheikh has 44% of the vote." "That's not perfect, but still early." "And 44 to 33 is not really terrible." "No, Mr. President." "It is not." "Although it is somewhat troubling... that just two weeks ago, you had 37 and he 41." "Let me think about all of that, okay?" "Thank you very much for your patience... for your support and encouragements." "Thank you." "Forgive me for not getting up." "Some days, the legs cooperate happily." "Some days, they don't." " Please." " Thank you." "Thank you for, uh, seeing me at such short notice." "You made it sound urgent." "What was urgent was my brother not having to see me for a few days... after hearing what you said on 60 Minutes." "You knew exactly what you were doing." "Does it serve my interests for there to be friction... between the man I'm running against... and the man I've come to believe is responsible... for any success he's experiencing?" "The answer is yes." "Be flattered." "You remind me of your father." "Really?" " And is that a good thing or a bad thing?" " This may shock you... but I considered your father an extraordinary statesman... right up until the moment he betrayed me." "Don't you mean right up until the moment you betrayed him?" "You bombed an army barracks." "Killed dozens of Abbudin soldiers without provocation." "Did I?" "It's what happened." "You bombed us." "We gassed you." "Our sin was greater, but I doubt it would have happened... if you hadn't attacked first." "I was looking for a peace with a man I believed wanted the same thing." "I never struck first." "I never struck at all, nor did any of my people." "Then who did?" "Maybe a man who wanted to gas 20,000 people in Ma'an... and needed a reason." "So you're saying my father sacrificed his own men... to give himself a reason to attack Ma'an?" "I am offering a possible scenario." "No more, no less." "But you didn't come here to debate history with me." "I'm here to extend you an invitation." "My brother would like you to be present for the signing... of the motion to amend the constitution... to allow free elections in Abbudin." ""The motion to amend."" "A tiny first step." "I mean what I say." "Those days before the attack on Ma'an..." "I really thought your father was... one of the most extraordinary individuals..." "I had ever met." "I disagreed with almost everything he stood for... but I admired his will to get things done... his willingness to listen to other opinions and ideas." "You are... your father's son." "I don't know why, but..." "I can't seem to get the people's love." "I give them elections." "I free prisoners." "Doesn't matter." "Perhaps I'm just not lovable." "Well, I find you very lovable." "Yeah, I know." "I think I'm lovable, too, but the point is, when I... when I... when I think about who actually loves me... well..." "My father, he liked me sometimes." "Sometimes yes." "Sometimes no." "My mother, you know, she's my mother." "She..." "She loves her children no matter who they are." "And my brother..." "My younger brother." "My little brother." "I see him look at me with pity." "I think he thinks that is love." "But I know it's just pity." "That sounds very lonely." "What about your wife?" "Well." "I love you." "Well, I know that." "L..." "I can tell." "With all your heart, right?" "With all my heart, Mr. President." "Hey, don't jump." "Screw the sheikh." "Does your boyfriend know you talk about him like that?" "So, long time no see." "Hmm, I've been busy." "You know, it's not easy... hanging on to 33% of the vote." "I wanted to talk to you about that." "You know these polls are only accurate to within five points, right?" " You know what that means?" " It means I'm losing?" "No." "It means you could have 38 points and he could have 39... which basically means you're in a dead heat." " Tell that to my trusted council." " Down the hall... there are people that have come from all over the world... to see you do what you're about to do today." "When you put your pen to that document, the world will be different." "How many men get the chance to effect that kind of change in their lifetime?" "You are making history today." "Really?" "Are you sure it's not you?" "Wow." "Look at these two." " Which one do you want?" " Are there two?" "I see only one." "So, we'II, uh..." "We'll see you guys down in the ballroom." "They're setting up for some pictures with the sheikh... and then we'll move to the actual signing." "We were just out there." "People seem to be very excited about what you are going to do." "Are you?" "I think that you have it in you to be... a great man and do great things." "But do I think this is one of them?" "I'm not sure." "That doesn't change how I feel about you." "And how do you feel about me?" "Jamal, if you don't know by now..." "Oh, I plead for your love... and all I get is... anger." "That's not true." "Then... give me your love." "Here." "Now." "Don't be ridiculous." "I'll meet you down there." "We are so honored by your presence here." "Mr. President." "He's a force of nature, isn't he?" " One more, sir." " Thank you for your time." "Excuse me." " I will be right back." " Sure." "We are very honored, Sheikh." "Very honored." "Right through this door, Sheikh Rashid." "So... this is where you are hiding." "Great minds think alike." "You are amazing to watch." "The people, they really love you." "Well, of course they do." "I am a benign old man." "What's not to love?" "I also love them right back." "And my brother..." "Bassam... do you love him?" "I don't know about love, but he is a very clever fellow, your brother." "Very wise, very principled." "I'll tell you another thing." "There is not a morning I don't wake up... and thank God I am not running against him." "Ah." "You're okay?" "That's it." "Cough it up." "Cough it up, old man." "Cough the whole lung." "You want me to get Bassam to help you?" "You need a whack in the back." "Did that help?" "How about that?" "You think everybody loves you?" "Well, forgive me." "I don't." "Ripped By mstoll"