The accepted chain of events is that Mr. Morden (Shadow agent and all-round nice guy) contacts Vice-President Clark and offers to arrange his succession in return for future unspecified favours. Clark fakes a viral infection to excuse himself from EarthForce One just prior to its destruction and with President Santiago gone now his future is secure. This interpretation is supported by evidence uncovered by Mr. Garibaldi (just prior to being shot in the back), the communication intercepted by Commander Ivanova when using the Great Machine on Epsilon 3, and the testimony of Dr. Jacobs who examined Clark shortly after the assassination and found no evidence of any illness.
Well, maybe.
Firstly; the assassination of President Santiago is a prime example of “amateur hour” from start to finish. It uses entirely home-grown (Human) technology leaving loads of loose ends, plus blowing up EarthForce One live on screen just screams “assassination” right from the get-go. Furthermore, just what was the Gold Channel jamming supposed to achieve apart from raise suspicion? We’re supposed to believe that Morden was able to infiltrate the military-political hierarchy on Earth, subvert and/or contact rogue elements willing to kill their president, set up the hit – and all in the few months between the Icarus reaching Za’ha’dum and the end of 2258? I’d love to know just what he was using for influence…
Secondly; if the Shadows were really interested in giving Clark the Presidency they would have ambushed EarthForce One and its paltry escort after they jumped, leaving no survivors and probably no evidence either. It would certainly arouse less suspicion than a debris field the size of Nebraska.
Thirdly; given the similarities in ethos between the US and EA wouldn’t you expect the Vice-President to travel aboard EarthForce Two, just in case of accident? I don’t see anything suspicious in the VP disembarking after a pre-flight conference and having his own travel plans.
Fourthly; the medical evidence. Even assuming that Clark was scheduled to travel with the President I don’t think a minor (but unspecified) viral infection would normally be sufficient grounds to get him off the flight – given the expected level of medical support that would accompany the Executive entourage. It would be a terribly weak excuse given that he was bound to be examined straight away, and doubly so in the light of subsequent events, so not exactly the best way to cover your back.
So, what do I think really happened?
President Santiago was removed by xenophobic elements within the Earth Alliance who had had enough of his pro-alien ways. The driving force since the Minbari war was the acquisition of alien military technology to safeguard Earth and enable further colonial expansion. “Down the road” would be a second war to put those “damn bone-heads” firmly in their place, but any form of peaceful co-operation with alien governments would come with strings attached and probably at the expense of EA influence amongst the minor powers. The abortive war-time attempt to purchase Narn weaponry was seemingly not repeated and Interplanetary Expeditions were revealed as a front for a bio-weapons arms dealer - but subsequently as an arm of the new technologies division (e.g. plausible denialability). The port-war EA ethos was seemingly for covert acquisition at any price, ethical or financial.
In Clark the anti-alien lobby saw a replacement for Santiago who was either genuinely like-minded or would adapt to new influences once in office. By staging a ham-fisted assassination, and sparking an official cover-up, you make Clark look guilty from the outset, thus confirming your hold over him. Furthermore, using a fast acting and untraceable toxin to get him thrown off EarthForce One – “we don’t know what’s wrong so get him the Hell away from the President” – you set him up with no alibi and a seemingly obvious involvement.
Once in office and now aware of just how shaky his position was, President Clark increasingly abused his position to remain in power. This is not to defend his actions, but they can be explained by understanding the influences upon him; the undue prominence of “interest groups”, appointing chosen men to sensitive positions (B5 amongst them), establishing Nightwatch, and the early recourse to military action are all symptomatic of an individual in a weak position grasping not at straws but the big stick. Even if not subject to overt blackmail, Clark as President faced a situation where covert “advice” on certain policy initiatives was to be taken – or disastrous consequences would follow.
Into this already poisoned political-military atmosphere comes Mr. Morden. I believe he had little – if any – influence on events prior to Clark taking office apart from encouragement, but he is in the perfect position to apparently offer the President both influence and support. The military now get the technology they crave so badly, which will allow them to ultimately produce EA-Shadow hybrid destroyers, while the increasingly overt Minbari support for B5 feeds the anti-alien hysteria being promoted at home.
Not that Mr. Morden wants President Clark to be, or feel, too secure. To this end their supposed conversation during which the impending assassination was openly discussed is just too convenient for words – it’s a Shadow fabrication aimed at undercutting Clark’s position and released “into the ether”; give with one hand, take with the other. The Shadows want a preoccupied Earth, an inwards looking Earth Alliance unconcerned with alien events, no threat to the Centauri.
Clark found that the office of President was a poisoned chalice, and like Macbeth or Richard the Third, resorted to increasingly desperate measures to remain in power. From the outset he was suspicious and fearful of the existing political/military “establishment”, a hierarchy he believed contained elements responsible for the assassination of his predecessor. Weakened by intrigue and goaded by alien-inspired rebellion he attempted to crush both domestic and colonial opposition through the militarisation of policy – ignoring conventional political and administrative means of government. Increasingly isolated, with only the “apolitical” military responsive to his will, he felt betrayed and despised by the EA he ruled. The loss of military support (the fleet immobilised around Mars) was the last straw, and his plan of “scorched earth” a final act of defiance.
Well, maybe.
Firstly; the assassination of President Santiago is a prime example of “amateur hour” from start to finish. It uses entirely home-grown (Human) technology leaving loads of loose ends, plus blowing up EarthForce One live on screen just screams “assassination” right from the get-go. Furthermore, just what was the Gold Channel jamming supposed to achieve apart from raise suspicion? We’re supposed to believe that Morden was able to infiltrate the military-political hierarchy on Earth, subvert and/or contact rogue elements willing to kill their president, set up the hit – and all in the few months between the Icarus reaching Za’ha’dum and the end of 2258? I’d love to know just what he was using for influence…
Secondly; if the Shadows were really interested in giving Clark the Presidency they would have ambushed EarthForce One and its paltry escort after they jumped, leaving no survivors and probably no evidence either. It would certainly arouse less suspicion than a debris field the size of Nebraska.
Thirdly; given the similarities in ethos between the US and EA wouldn’t you expect the Vice-President to travel aboard EarthForce Two, just in case of accident? I don’t see anything suspicious in the VP disembarking after a pre-flight conference and having his own travel plans.
Fourthly; the medical evidence. Even assuming that Clark was scheduled to travel with the President I don’t think a minor (but unspecified) viral infection would normally be sufficient grounds to get him off the flight – given the expected level of medical support that would accompany the Executive entourage. It would be a terribly weak excuse given that he was bound to be examined straight away, and doubly so in the light of subsequent events, so not exactly the best way to cover your back.
So, what do I think really happened?
President Santiago was removed by xenophobic elements within the Earth Alliance who had had enough of his pro-alien ways. The driving force since the Minbari war was the acquisition of alien military technology to safeguard Earth and enable further colonial expansion. “Down the road” would be a second war to put those “damn bone-heads” firmly in their place, but any form of peaceful co-operation with alien governments would come with strings attached and probably at the expense of EA influence amongst the minor powers. The abortive war-time attempt to purchase Narn weaponry was seemingly not repeated and Interplanetary Expeditions were revealed as a front for a bio-weapons arms dealer - but subsequently as an arm of the new technologies division (e.g. plausible denialability). The port-war EA ethos was seemingly for covert acquisition at any price, ethical or financial.
In Clark the anti-alien lobby saw a replacement for Santiago who was either genuinely like-minded or would adapt to new influences once in office. By staging a ham-fisted assassination, and sparking an official cover-up, you make Clark look guilty from the outset, thus confirming your hold over him. Furthermore, using a fast acting and untraceable toxin to get him thrown off EarthForce One – “we don’t know what’s wrong so get him the Hell away from the President” – you set him up with no alibi and a seemingly obvious involvement.
Once in office and now aware of just how shaky his position was, President Clark increasingly abused his position to remain in power. This is not to defend his actions, but they can be explained by understanding the influences upon him; the undue prominence of “interest groups”, appointing chosen men to sensitive positions (B5 amongst them), establishing Nightwatch, and the early recourse to military action are all symptomatic of an individual in a weak position grasping not at straws but the big stick. Even if not subject to overt blackmail, Clark as President faced a situation where covert “advice” on certain policy initiatives was to be taken – or disastrous consequences would follow.
Into this already poisoned political-military atmosphere comes Mr. Morden. I believe he had little – if any – influence on events prior to Clark taking office apart from encouragement, but he is in the perfect position to apparently offer the President both influence and support. The military now get the technology they crave so badly, which will allow them to ultimately produce EA-Shadow hybrid destroyers, while the increasingly overt Minbari support for B5 feeds the anti-alien hysteria being promoted at home.
Not that Mr. Morden wants President Clark to be, or feel, too secure. To this end their supposed conversation during which the impending assassination was openly discussed is just too convenient for words – it’s a Shadow fabrication aimed at undercutting Clark’s position and released “into the ether”; give with one hand, take with the other. The Shadows want a preoccupied Earth, an inwards looking Earth Alliance unconcerned with alien events, no threat to the Centauri.
Clark found that the office of President was a poisoned chalice, and like Macbeth or Richard the Third, resorted to increasingly desperate measures to remain in power. From the outset he was suspicious and fearful of the existing political/military “establishment”, a hierarchy he believed contained elements responsible for the assassination of his predecessor. Weakened by intrigue and goaded by alien-inspired rebellion he attempted to crush both domestic and colonial opposition through the militarisation of policy – ignoring conventional political and administrative means of government. Increasingly isolated, with only the “apolitical” military responsive to his will, he felt betrayed and despised by the EA he ruled. The loss of military support (the fleet immobilised around Mars) was the last straw, and his plan of “scorched earth” a final act of defiance.
