Terminal Compromise - Winn Schwartau (fiction book recommendations TXT) 📗

He understood that. So he blamed Reagan, not

Hussein. And he blamed the American people for their stupidity,

their isolationism, their indifference to the rest of the world.

They are all so smug and caught up in their own little petty

lives, and there are causes, people are dying for causes, and the

American fools don’t even care. And Reagan personified them

all.

How does a lousy movie actor from the 1950’s get to be President

of the United States? Ahmed laughed to himself at the obvious

answer. He was the most qualified for the job.

His commentaries and orations about the Imperialists, the United

States, England, even the Soviet Union and their overwhelming

influence in the Arab world made Ahmed Shah a popular man on the

campus of Teheran University. His highly visible infirmities

assisted with his credibility.

In his sixth semester of study, Ahmed’s counselor called him for

a conference. Beside his counselor was another man, Beni Farja-

ni, from the government. Beni was garbed in Arab robes and tur-

bans that always look filthy. Still, he was the officious type,

formal and somber. His long white hair snuck through the turban,

and his face shoed ample wrinkles of wisdom.

He and the Counselor sat alone, on one side of a large wooden

conference table that could easily have seated 20. Ahmed

stopped his motorized wheel chair at the table, Farjani spoke,

and curiously, the Counselor rose from his chair and slipped out

of the room. Ahmed and the Government official were alone.

“My name is Beni Farjani, Associate Director to the Undersecre-

tary of Communications and Propaganda. I trust you are well.”

Ahmed long since gave up commenting on his well being or lack

thereof. “It is good to meet you, sir.” He waited for more.

“Ahmed Shah, you are important to the state and the people of

Iran.” Farjani said it as though his comment was already common

knowledge. “What I am here to ask you, Ahmed Shah, is, are you

willing again to serve Allah?”

“Yes, of course . . .?” He bowed his head in reverence.

“Good, because we think that you might be able to assist on a

small project we have been contemplating. My son, you have the

gift of oration, speaking, moving crowds to purpose. I only

wish I had it!” Beni Farjani smiled solemnly at Ahmed.

“I thank Allah for His gift. I am only the humble conduit for

his Will.”

“I understand, but you have now, and will have much to proud of.

I believe you graduate in 6 months. Is that correct?”

“Yes, and then I go to Graduate School . . .”

“I am afraid that won’t be possible Ahmed Shah.” Farjani shook a

kindly wrinkled finger at him. “As soon as you graduate, your

Government, at Allah’s bidding, would like you to move to the

United States.”

“America?” Ahmed gaped in surprise.

“We fear that America may invade Iran, that we may go to war with

the United States.” The words stunned Ahmed. Could he be

serious? Sure, relations were in pretty bad shape, but was

Farjani saying that Iran was truly preparing for War? Jihad?

Holy War against the United States?

“We need to protect ourselves,” Farjani spoke calmly, with au-

thority. “America has weapons of mass destruction that can reach

our land in minutes, while we have nothing to offer in retalia-

tion. Nothing, and that is a very frightening reality that the

people of Iran must live with every day. A truly helpless feel-

ing.” Ahmed was listening carefully, and so far what he heard

was making a great deal of sense.

“Both the Soviets and the Americans can destroy each other and

the rest of the world with a button. Their armies will never

meet. A few missiles and it’s all over. A 30 minute grand

finale to civilization. They don’t have to, nor would we expect

either the Soviets or the Americans to ask the rest of the world

if they mind. They just go ahead and pull the trigger and every-

one else be damned.

“And yes, there have been better times when our nation has had

more friends, when all Arabs thought and acted as one; especially

against the Americans. They have the most to gain and the most

to lose from invading and crossing our borders. They would love

nothing more than to steal our land, our oil and even take over

OPEC. All in the name of world stability. They’ll throw around

National Security smoke screens and do what they want.” Farjani

was speaking quite excitedly.

Ahmed was fascinated. A man from the Government who was nearly

as vitriolic as he was about America. The only difference was

Ahmed wanted to attack, and Farjani wanted to defend. He didn’t

think it opportune to interrupt. Farjani continued.

“The Russians want us as a warm water port. They have enough

oil, gas and resources, but they crave a port that isn’t con-

trolled by the Americans such as in the Black Sea and through the

Hellespont. So they too, are a potential enemy. You see don’t

you, Ahmed, that Allah has so graced our country everyone else

wants to take it away from us?” Ahmed nodded automatically.

“So we need to create a defense against outside aggressors. We

do not have weapons that can reach American shores, that is so.

But we have something that the Americans will never have, because

they will never understand. Do you know what that is?”

Before Ahmed could answer, Farjani continued.

“Honor and Faith to protect our heritage, our systems, our way

of life.” Ahmed agreed.

“We want you, Ahmed Shah to build a network of supporters, just

like you, all across the United States that will come to our

service when we need them. To the death. Your skills will

capture the attention of those with kindred sentiments. You will

draw them out, from the schools, from the universities.

“Ahmed Shah, there are over 100,000 Irani and Arab students in

the United States today. Many, many of them are sympathetic to

our causes. Many of them are attending American Universities,

side by side with their future enemies, learning the American

way so we may better fight it. You will become one of them and

you will find others that can be trusted, counted on, depended

upon when we call.

“Your obvious dedication and personal tragedies,” Farjani pointed

at the obvious affliction, “will be the glue to provide others

with strength. You will have no problems in recruiting. That

will be the easy part.”

“If recruiting is so easy, then what will be the hard task?”

“Holding them back. You will find it most difficult to restrain

your private army from striking. Right under the American’s

noses, you will have to keep them from bursting at the seams

until the day comes when they are needed. If could be weeks, it

could be years. We don’t know. Maybe the day will never come.

But it is your job to build this Army. Grow it, feed it and

keep our national spirit alive until such time that it becomes

necessary to defend our nation, Allah and loyal Muslims every-

where. This time, though, we will fight America from within,

inside her borders.

“There hasn’t been a foreign war on American soil since 1812.

Americans don’t know what is like to have their country ruined,

ravaged, blown up before their eyes. We need a defense against

America, and when it is deeded by Allah, our army will strike

back at America where is hurts most. In the streets of their

cities. In their homes, parks and schools. But first we must

have that army. In place, and willing to act.

“You will find out all the details in good time, I assure you.

You will require some training, though, and that will begin

shortly. Everything you need to serve will be given you. Go with

Allah.

Ahmed trained for several months with the infamous terrorist

group Abu Nidal. He learned the basics that every modern terror-

ist needs to know to insure success against the Infidels.

Shah moved to New York City on December 25, 1986. Christmas was

a non issue. He registered at Columbia as a graduate researcher

in the engineering department to legitimize his student visa and

would commence classes on January 2.

Recruitment was easy, just as Farjani had said.

Ahmed built a team of 12 recruiters whom he could trust with his

life. Seven professional terrorists, unknown to the American

authorities, thoroughly sanitized, came with him to the United

States under assumed visas and the other 5, already in the

country were personally recommended by Farjani.

His disciples were located in strategic locations; New York was

host to Ahmed and another Arab fanatic trained in Libya. They

both used Columbia University as their cover. Washington D.C.

was honored with a Syrian