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The chanting women and children were only a few short meters away from the troops entrenched a short distance back of the shoreline Those at the head of the snakelike colue were already close enough to look up at the gun muzzles of the tanks

General Curtis Chandler had a long and illustriousto look forward to except a guilt-stricken conscience His wife had died the year before froadier General, he had no more rank to attain in the short ti hundreds of thousands of illegal inunigrants flood into his nativ land and wondered why his life had cruelly culmanated at this place and time

The expression on his aide's face bordered on frantic "Sir, the order to fire"

Chandler stared at the little children nervously clutching theirtheir wide, dark eyes

"General, your orders?" the aide implored

Chandler , but the aide couldn't hear it over the chanting "I'm sorry, General, did you say 'Fire'?"

Chandler turned and his eyes glistened "Let them pass"

"Sir?"

"Those are rave a baby killer And for God's sake don't even say the words 'Don't fire,' in case some dumb platoon commander misunderstands"

The Major nodded and hurriedly spoke into his microphone "To all commanders, General Chandler's orders; h our lines, repeat, stand down and let theh"

With immeasurable relief, the American soldiers lowered their weapons and stood stiff and uneasy for a fewwith the woently cajoling them to wipe away their tears

"Forgiveinto a ca a direct order from my Commander-in-Chief, but I felt that under the circumstances

"Not to worry," replied the President "You did a nificent job" He turned to General Metcalf "I don't care where he stands on the seniority list; please see that Curtis receives another star"

"I'll be more than happy to take care of it, sir"

"Good call, Mr President," said Schiller, realizing the President's silence had all been a bluff "You certainly knew your man"