After the meeting with Zayed, Song Heping politely declined the heavily arranged "deep retreat" plan full of White Elephant Country charm.
Despite Zayed's chest-pounding assurance that his estate was safer than a North Atlantic Treaty Organization airbase and that his maidservants knew better than Persian princesses how to make people relax, Song Heping simply replied, "My battlefield is not here."
Actually, he didn't want to tell Zayed.
If he stayed here, and the news leaked even slightly letting the CIA know, it was not just his own life that would be at risk; Zayed would likely be doomed as well.
The reason for coming was to facilitate cooperation between the two sides, to show some sincerity.
Song Heping's current identity is too special and too sensitive.
The White Elephant Country is absolutely not a place to stay for long.
The gains from this trip to the White Elephant Country far exceeded expectations.
