Because Hydra's assistance in helping the KGB infiltrate the US Congress had been exposed by the KGB, the United States came under immense pressure from international public opinion. But that country had never cared about international public opinion. What truly concerned it was the KGB.
After learning that Hydra might have been infiltrated by the KGB, their enthusiasm for dealing with Hydra surged to unprecedented heights.
It was fine if you, Hydra, committed every kind of evil at home, but you could not have ties to the KGB. You infiltrated Congress, bribed lawmakers, stole intelligence, and attempted to seize the country—I could turn a blind eye. But if you had dealings with the KGB, then I had to wipe you out completely.
That was the mindset of the vast majority sitting on Capitol Hill. Their severe allergic reaction was nearly beyond cure. So, they wanted to use S.H.I.E.L.D. as a blade. Nominally, they were eliminating Hydra within S.H.I.E.L.D.'s jurisdiction, but in truth, they wanted to use S.H.I.E.L.D.'s exceptional power to strike at the KGB.
At the same time, they could use the conflict between S.H.I.E.L.D., Hydra, and the KGB to weaken S.H.I.E.L.D., drain Nick Fury's energy, and prevent him from growing any stronger.
But would Nick, who had Scrooge practically tattooed on him, let them have their way?
Of course not. His left hand was connected to snakes, his right hand to communists. He would grasp both with equal firmness.
On one side, he worked with Pierce to strike at certain Hydra forces from within, capturing Hydra agents to account for himself and deal with the current pressure. On the other, he sent S.H.I.E.L.D.'s strongest agent, Black Widow, to engage the other side in communication more lethal than a fight to the death, creating trouble for Congress and the other