How do you save theUnited States President from himself? What if the President isincompetent to deal with the greatest crisis of all? Jack Ryan neverthought he would have to ask those questions as, the world orderchanging, he prepares the ground for the Middle Eastern peace plan that,at last, might be the one to work.But too many groups have investedtoo much blood. Shunned by their erstwhile Soviet sponsors, increasinglyisolated by the realignment of the Mideast, these terrorists have onemore desperate card to play, requiring a degree of ruthlessness neverbefore seen. With one terrible act, the world is plunged into an instantnuclear crisis -- and the floundering President is plunged into theultimate nightmare. Forces collide. Shots are exchanged. What had seemedto be an isolated and horrible incident appears to each side as theincendiary mischief of the other. With the world poised on the brink ofnuclear war, Ryan and his FBI counterpart, Dan Murray, frantically seek asolution before the chiefs of state lose control of themselves -- andthe world.