Executive Orders
Encyclopedia
Executive Orders is a political and military thriller novel by Tom Clancy
. It was published in 1996, and is a canonical part of the Jack Ryan universe.
minutes after becoming Vice-President. With most of Congress
, the Joint Chiefs of Staff
of the U.S. military, much of the senior staff of the Executive Office of the President, the Supreme Court
, and all but two members of the Cabinet dead in a terrorist attack committed by a lone Japan Air Lines pilot (avenging the death of his son and brother in Debt of Honor
), Ryan is left to represent the United States virtually all by himself. This novel follows Ryan as he deals with various hardships and crises, ranging from domestic and foreign policy, to reconstituting the House and Senate, a challenge to his legitimacy by his Vice-Presidential predecessor, scandal-tainted Ed Kealty
, and a brewing war in the Middle East. After learning that the majority of the government is dead, two bigoted and fanatical militia-men decide to capitalize on the situation by killing both Ryan and Kealty.
When the President of Iraq
is assassinated by an Iranian member of his own security detail, the leader of Iran
(Ayatollah Mahmoud Haji Daryaei) takes advantage of the power vacuum and launches an unopposed invasion of Iraq, uniting the two countries into one called the United Islamic Republic (UIR).
With assistance from India
and the People's Republic of China
, the UIR plans to transform itself into a superpower by conquering Saudi Arabia
. Following a series of Iranian-backed terrorist attacks designed to cripple the United States, including a failed kidnap attempt on Ryan's youngest daughter and a bio-warfare attack using a new Iranian-developed airborne strain of the extremely lethal Ebola
virus, the UIR goes to war against Saudi and Kuwait
i forces. Meanwhile, Iran's ally China 'accidentally' shoots down a Taiwanese airliner.
Ryan restricts interstate travel, declares martial law
and closes schools and businesses to contain the virus. The bio-war attack sputters out; Ebola is a virus that tends toward fierce yet limited outbreaks. The travel restrictions derail the extreme right-wingers' assassination attempt. During a routine police check at a truck stop, one of the Mountain Men panics, drawing police attention to their unusual truck.
In a matter of days, with the combined strength of the Kuwaiti, Saudi Arabian and American forces, the tide is turned in the battle with UIR. At the same time, President Ryan sends Ding Chavez
and John Clark
on a secret mission. They infiltrate Iran and facilitate the assassination of Ayatollah Daryaei. At the same time, an assassination attempt by an Iranian sleeper agent
within the U.S. Secret Service
is foiled. During a press conference, President Ryan shows the destruction of Daryaei's residence on live national television. Ryan threatens to bomb bio-warfare targets in Tehran unless the surviving people responsible for the attacks are extradited to America to face charges.
Disgraced Former Vice President Kealty's challenge to President Ryan's legitimacy fails in court. In the aftermath of the crisis, appreciation of the unelected President grows. President Ryan decides he will seek reelection.
Tom Clancy
Thomas Leo "Tom" Clancy, Jr. is an American author, best known for his technically detailed espionage, military science, and techno thriller storylines set during and in the aftermath of the Cold War, along with video games on which he did not work, but which bear his name for licensing and...
. It was published in 1996, and is a canonical part of the Jack Ryan universe.
Plot summary
Jack Ryan is sworn in as President of the United StatesPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
minutes after becoming Vice-President. With most of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
of the U.S. military, much of the senior staff of the Executive Office of the President, the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
, and all but two members of the Cabinet dead in a terrorist attack committed by a lone Japan Air Lines pilot (avenging the death of his son and brother in Debt of Honor
Debt of Honor
Debt of Honor is a novel by Tom Clancy. It is a continuation of the series featuring his character Jack Ryan. In this installment, Ryan has become the National Security Advisor when the Japanese government goes to war with the United States...
), Ryan is left to represent the United States virtually all by himself. This novel follows Ryan as he deals with various hardships and crises, ranging from domestic and foreign policy, to reconstituting the House and Senate, a challenge to his legitimacy by his Vice-Presidential predecessor, scandal-tainted Ed Kealty
Ed Kealty
In the Jack Ryan series of novels by Tom Clancy, Edward "Ed" Kealty was Roger Durling's Vice President.In the novel Debt of Honor, Kealty was serving as a Senator from New England, before being appointed Vice-President following the resignation of President J. Robert Fowler ...
, and a brewing war in the Middle East. After learning that the majority of the government is dead, two bigoted and fanatical militia-men decide to capitalize on the situation by killing both Ryan and Kealty.
When the President of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
is assassinated by an Iranian member of his own security detail, the leader of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
(Ayatollah Mahmoud Haji Daryaei) takes advantage of the power vacuum and launches an unopposed invasion of Iraq, uniting the two countries into one called the United Islamic Republic (UIR).
With assistance from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, the UIR plans to transform itself into a superpower by conquering Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. Following a series of Iranian-backed terrorist attacks designed to cripple the United States, including a failed kidnap attempt on Ryan's youngest daughter and a bio-warfare attack using a new Iranian-developed airborne strain of the extremely lethal Ebola
Ebola
Ebola virus disease is the name for the human disease which may be caused by any of the four known ebolaviruses. These four viruses are: Bundibugyo virus , Ebola virus , Sudan virus , and Taï Forest virus...
virus, the UIR goes to war against Saudi and Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
i forces. Meanwhile, Iran's ally China 'accidentally' shoots down a Taiwanese airliner.
Ryan restricts interstate travel, declares martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
and closes schools and businesses to contain the virus. The bio-war attack sputters out; Ebola is a virus that tends toward fierce yet limited outbreaks. The travel restrictions derail the extreme right-wingers' assassination attempt. During a routine police check at a truck stop, one of the Mountain Men panics, drawing police attention to their unusual truck.
In a matter of days, with the combined strength of the Kuwaiti, Saudi Arabian and American forces, the tide is turned in the battle with UIR. At the same time, President Ryan sends Ding Chavez
Domingo Chavez
Domingo "Ding" Chavez is a fictional character described as a "passionate Latino" by American author Tom Clancy and appearing in many of his novels and video games.-History:...
and John Clark
John Clark (Tom Clancy character)
John Clark is a fictional character created by Tom Clancy who appears in many of Clancy's novels. He is an Irish American Catholic.-Personal life:...
on a secret mission. They infiltrate Iran and facilitate the assassination of Ayatollah Daryaei. At the same time, an assassination attempt by an Iranian sleeper agent
Sleeper agent
A sleeper agent is a spy who is placed in a target country or organization, not to undertake an immediate mission, but rather to act as a potential asset if activated...
within the U.S. Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
is foiled. During a press conference, President Ryan shows the destruction of Daryaei's residence on live national television. Ryan threatens to bomb bio-warfare targets in Tehran unless the surviving people responsible for the attacks are extradited to America to face charges.
Disgraced Former Vice President Kealty's challenge to President Ryan's legitimacy fails in court. In the aftermath of the crisis, appreciation of the unelected President grows. President Ryan decides he will seek reelection.
See also
- Assassinations in fiction