A Proportional Response

Well, if it’s what we do, if it’s what we’ve always done, don’t they know we’re going to do it?

They know we’re going to do that, 

they know we’re going to do that. 

Those areas have been abandoned for four days. 

We know that from the satellites. 

We have the intelligence.

" My fellow Americans, good evening. 

A short while ago I ordered our Armed Forces to  attack and destroy four military targets in Northern Syria, this in response to the  unwarranted, unprovoked... "

BARTLET
Keep your seats. 
[Everyone sits back down.]

FITZWALLACE
Good morning Mr. President.

BARTLET
What have we got?

FITZWALLACE
Three retaliatory strike scenarios.

LEO
When are they operational?

FITZWALLACE
At the President’s command.

LEO
No prep time?

GENERAL
We’re there.

FITZWALLACE
All three scenarios are comprehensive, meet the obligations of proportional response and pose minimal threat to U.S. personal and assets. 
To turn our attention to scenario one, or Pericles One, to use its code name...

BARTLET
What is the virtue of a proportional response?

FITZWALLACE
I’m sorry.

BARTLET
What’s the virtue of a proportional response? 
Why’s it good? 

[beat] 

They hit an airplane, so we hit a transmitter, right? That’s a proportional response.

FITZWALLACE
Sir, in the case of Pericles...

BARTLET
They hit a barracks, so we hit two transmitters?

FITZWALLACE
That’s roughly it, sir.

BARTLET
It’s what we do.
I mean, this is what we do.

LEO
Yes sir, it’s what we do, 
it’s what we’ve always done.

BARTLET
Well, if it’s what we do, if it’s what we’ve always done, don’t they know we’re going to do it?

LEO
Sir, if you would turn your attention to Pericles One.

BARTLET
I have turned my attention to Pericles One, it’s two ammo dumps, an abandoned railroad bridge and a Syrian intelligence agency.

FITZWALLACE
Those are four high rated military targets, sir.

BARTLET
But they know we’re going to do that, 
they know we’re going to do that. 

Those areas have been abandoned for four days. 
We know that from the satellites. 
We have the intelligence.

LEO
Sir.

BARTLET
They did that, so we did this, it’s the cost of doing business, it’s been factored in, right?

LEO
Mr. President...

BARTLET
Am I right or am I missing something here?

FITZWALLACE
No sir, you’re right sir.

BARTLET
Then I ask again, what is the virtue of a proportional response?

FITZWALLACE
It isn’t virtuous Mr. President. 
It’s all there is sir.

BARTLET
It is not all there is.

LEO
Sir, Admiral Fitzwallace...

FITZWALLACE
Excuse me Leo, but pardon me Mr. President, just what else is there?

BARTLET
A disproportional response. 

Let the word ring forth from this time and this place, you kill an American, any American, we don’t come back with a proportional response, we come back 
[bangs fist on table] 
with total disaster!

GENERAL
Are you suggesting we carpet-bomb Damascus?

BARTLET
General, I am suggesting that you and Admiral Fitzwallace and Secretary Hutchinson and the rest of the national security team take the next sixty minutes and put together a U.S. response scenario that doesn’t make me think we are just docking somebody’s damn allowance! 

[gets up and leaves the room. Everyone stands.]

******

FADE IN: INT. THE SITUATION ROOM - DAY
Bartlet walks in and sits down.

BARTLET
Keep your seats. There’s a delegation of cardiologists having their pictures taken in the Blue Room. 

You wouldn’t think you could find a group of people more  arrogant than the fifteen of us, but there they are right upstairs in the Blue Room. You called me?

FITZWALLACE
Yes, sir. Mr. President we put together a scenario by which we attack Hassan airport. Its three main terminals and two runway. 

In addition to the civilian causalities, which could register in the thousands, the strike would temporally cripple the region’s ability to receive medical supplies and bottled water. 

I think  Mr. Cashmen and Secretary Hutchinson would each tell you what I’m sure you already know sir. 

That this strike would be seen at home and abroad as a staggering  overreaction by a first time Commander in Chief. 

That without the support of our allies, without a Western Coalition, without Great Britain and Japan and without Congress, you’ll have doled out a five thousand dollar punishment for a fifty buck crime sir. 

Mr. President, the proportional response doesn’t empty the options box for the future, the way an all out assault--

BARTLET
[waves him off] 
Thank you. 
[beat] 
Does anyone have a cigarette?

An officer pulls out a pack and a lighter and slides it towards the President. 
Bartlet pulls out a cigarette and lights it.

BARTLET [cont.]

This other plan...


*****

Bartlet: 

We are doing NOTHING. 

They dest...

Leo: 

We are not doing nothing. 

Four high rated military targets.

Bartlet: 

And this is good?

Leo: 

Of course it's not good, there is no good. 

It's what there is. 
It's how you behave if you're the most powerful nation in the world. 

It's proportional, it's reasonable, it's responsible, it's merciful. 

It's not nothing, four high rated military targets.

Bartlet: 

Which they'll rebuild again in six months.

Leo: 

So we'll blow 'em up again in six months! 

We're getting really good at it. 

(beat) 

It's what our fathers taught us.

BARTLET 

When do we get the BDA? 

[ Battle Damage Assessment ]

TOBY 

Uh. 

SAM 

There’s a problem with that sir.

 BARTLET 

Why!? 

TOBY 

Ordinarily we get help from inside the Syrian Intelligence.

Josh and Charlie enter.

BARTLET 

So what’s the problem? 

TOBY 

We just blew up the Syrian Intelligence. 

BARTLET 

Oh, for crying out loud, will somebody get on the phone to CNN and find out if we 
hit anything! 

 STAFFER 

Mr. President, it’s the BDA sir. 

[hands Bartlet a report]

" We've just fired 59 Missiles - ALL of which hit, by the way."

NONE of them hit ANYTHING (in use) - that was The Point.

That's why those targets were selected (and more than likely pre-approved in dialogue with, and evacuated by The Syrian Government.)

 https://youtu.be/i3tmD5znhh0