Invisible Sun (Empire Games #3)

by Charles Stross

But cowboy games like this crap about a runaway princess isn’t helping. And neither is gaslighting the people we need to sign treaties with.” She paused again, then looked at Irving: “I expect to have your resignation letter, signed but undated, on my desk within the hour. I’ll decide whether to act on it once the current crisis is resolved, or as soon as I think it will make a positive contribution to improving relations with my counterpart.” She looked at Dr. Scranton: “yours too, and whoever is running this idiotic destabilization scheme—” “—Colonel Smith—” Irving chipped in, to Eileen’s disgust. “—Whoever. If hanging you out to dry will save us from a nuclear war with the Commonwealth, I will not hesitate to do so. On the other hand, if you can figure out a way to defuse this mess safely, then you can retire with dignity and this will never be mentioned in public. Either way, you’ll never work in government in any capacity ever again. Or in the private sector, as a contractor.

In thie book's Time Line 2, the USA has a tough, smart president.