Kenny O'Donnell: "The president has instructed me to pass along an order to you. You are not to get shot down."
Commander William B. Ecker (Christopher Lawford): "Uh, we'll do our best sir."
Kenny O'Donnell: "I don't think you understand me Commander. You are not to get shot down under any circumstances. Whatever happens up there, you we're not shot at. Mechanical failures are fine, crashing into mountains fine. But you and your men are not to be shot at, fired at, or launched upon."
Commander William B. Ecker: "Excuse me sir, what the hell is going on here?"
Kenny O'Donnell: "Commander, if you are fired upon, the president will forced to attack the sites that fire on you. He doesn't want to have to do that. It's very important that he doesn't, or things could very badly out of control."