Fueling the Rage Page 13

The meeting resumed and the Director addressed the committee. He gave the SSIC facts on an unused mission that he had planned for Nigeria in 1987. He thought, it still sounds good. If they approve it, I may still do it.

  The chairman ended the meeting, “The committee will consider your operation and will meet in ten days. We will then invite you back for another meeting.”

  The DCIA and his assistant went directly to the office of the SOD. The three men sat around a small table. “Bill Burns gave me permission to kill Ayatollah Meslem Ali. His only demand was to keep the President clean. I want Ali. We need to keep The Group secret long enough to do this.”

  The SOD replied. “I like the idea of the visit to Libya. Start there. Ted, call the General and tell him to get started on the visit.” He then addressed The DCIA, “The good news is that our small war has reduced the risk for American citizens for now. The bad news is that the man on the other side, in charge of the peace, is a murdering terrorist monster. If this fails, I will stand beside you and yell to the heavens that this was the right thing for America. Ayatollah Meslem Ali has the disposition and the funds to wreak havoc, and every analysis says he will kill again. David Freeman, I am glad this administration has you.”

  The General received the call from Ted. He convened The Group. “We have approval for the visit to Libya.”

  Sam and Bill were ready for the trip. They each carried a suitcase with two suits and formal attire. Both wore civilian clothing and had altered their appearances. Sam’s short hair had been dyed gray, and he sported a stylish gray mustache and thick horn-rimmed glasses. Bill’s hair was dyed blond and his eye color had been changed to blue. The CIA agent and the General went without any disguises. They both had features not easily remembered.

  The Group flew on a Navy G5 to Rota, Spain, and the American Ambassador to Chad joined the Group at the Naval Air Station. The Group and the Ambassador boarded the G5 and headed for the great home now owned by Ayatollah Meslem Ali. On the flight, they discussed the strategy for the meeting. Libya has no American Embassy, and at the northern border of Libya, two Navy F-18s joined them. The three aircraft flew straight to Muzuk.

  The G5 landed and taxied to the end of the runway and the F-18s circled the field until they received a quick all clear. They headed back to the Mediterranean and the USS Enterprise. Two cars picked up the American visitors. A small white truck gathered their bags and followed. Henry and the ayatollah met them at the entrance of the great home, and they met in the “oval office” for a preliminary meeting. The ayatollah sat at the president’s desk and welcomed them to Libya and his great home. There were no discussions because it was 1700 hours. Henry had arranged housing for them in five side-by-side suites directly off the great hall. They would be served dinner at 1900 hours. Henry asked The Group and received approval for formal attire, and assigned a personal servant to each of the visitors.

  Each suite was comprised of a large bedroom, an elegant bathroom on one side, and a sitting area. The suites were recreations of a theme designed for Tara from “Gone with the Wind.” The focal point of the bedroom was four-poster bed on a raised platform. On the back wall of the main room were French doors that opened to private courtyard. Each door had a nametag and servants unpacked the suitcases, sat in small chairs in the sitting area, and waited for a call from their visitor. Each of the men bathed, took a short nap and then dressed for dinner. The five of them had arranged to meet at 1900 hours in the great hall.

  The servants warned them at 1855 hours that it was time for dinner. The men all entered the hall at the same time. They were not armed, but the F-18 pilots had promised them they would level the town and the complex if anything happened to The Group. It was a reassuring thought. They walked to the great hall and said a few words to each other in Navaho. A servant offered them a nice French wine as they waited and they all accepted. At the appointed time, Henry came into the room and greeted them for dinner.

  Together they walked into the Henry VIII dining room. The original design had come from some British movie. It was immense and the focal point was a huge stone fireplace with a roaring fire. An air conditioner kept the room cool. The walls were stone, and armor and period weapons were displayed everywhere. The dinner table was long and wide. The Ambassador was a collector and said that the chairs were possibly really from the period. Six servants, appropriately dressed, served a conventional French dinner.

  Wine was served, but neither the ayatollah nor Henry partook. A servant whispered into Henry’s ear and he left the room. He returned leading the missionary pastor of the Muzuk Baptist Church. The pastor was wearing formal attire furnished by the ayatollah. They all stood and greeted the new guest. The Ambassador thought to himself. It is a nice touch. Orphans in the west wing and a Christian preacher are a very tolerant display for the ayatollah, but he is still a murdering terrorist.

  The ayatollah was at the head of the table. The preacher sat to his right and the Ambassador was to his left. Sam and Bill were in the seats next to the preacher, and the agent and Henry sat next to the Ambassador. The General sat next to Henry. The preacher was an historian and had special knowledge of Libyan history. He spoke Arabic and Farsi, and he and the ayatollah seemed to like each other.

  The agent stood and introduced the US Ambassador to Chad. He was a professional diplomat and well respected in Africa. The agent then introduced the General. The agent introduced himself and admitted that he worked for the CIA, but he gave no additional information. He introduced Sam and Bill as State Department political analysts. A servant had to remove the chair and table setting between Sam and Bill for them to be able to sit comfortably. Henry was a fan of American football and as he looked at Sam and Bill, he thought, maybe they are offensive linemen for the NFL.

  Bill knew that in the Islamic world eye contact was considered aggressive. He studied the ayatollah by allowing his eyes to move across the room. He was not a big man, but had deep black menacing eyes. He covered his head with a turban. His mustache was trimmed, and he had a long thick black beard. It was hard for Bill to guess his age, but estimated that the ayatollah was in his late fifties. He was dressed in a long white robe.

  Bill then turned to study Henry. He had read his bio and had seen his graduation photo from Cambridge. Henry was dressed in conventional formal wear and his head was uncovered. His skin was black, his face was thin and his hair was short. He had dark intelligent eyes and looked like a successful American executive.

  Then Bill realized what Henry was. He was a very good game player. In a way, he was like Ivan, but better educated. He was doing what he needed to do, not what he wanted to do. He was justifying his killing ways as simply a means to the end. He considered himself a military leader and not a bad man, because he was justified by war. Bill understood Henry because they were a lot alike. Bill was not a killer, but he killed. This is a dangerous man. His right hand felt the empty space on his hip and he wished he had his Glock.

  They completed dinner and returned into the great hall where the ayatollah had arranged for local community entertainment. There were young Libyan folk dancers, a very talented juggler, and a group of boys and girls that the Baptist preacher had taught Christian hymns. The evening ended with plans for tomorrow. They would meet Henry at 0900 hours. He would show them the new orphanage and give them a tour of the city of Muzuk. The servants woke them at 0700 hours, and helped them dress. Breakfast was at 0800 hours and Henry attended, but the ayatollah did not. By 0900 hours, they were inspecting the orphanage in the great home. The boys and girls were in several classrooms, depending upon their age. Henry appeared proud of his work and it was very convincing. Bill looked at Henry and had the feeling this was something he actually enjoyed showing off.

  They entered a white Ford van with a local driver and drove the narrow streets of the village as Henry told about the history of the town. The driver stopped at the town mosque. The cleric came out, greeted them, and gave a short tour. They visited the hospital and met the docto
rs. They returned to the great home for a tour of the grounds. Sam as very impressed with the picture of success and tolerance, but wondered. Why does this ayatollah want to kill Americans?

  Bill was also thinking. This is like the Somalia mosque. The mullah was building arms under the mosque. They like to hide their aggression, but this town looks like it is real. The ayatollah has a plan to hit us again.

  In one hour, they would have a formal meeting. The Ambassador asked if the Group could take a private walk around the grounds in the meantime. When they were alone and in a safe area, the General spoke to the agent, “You have an amazing memory. You must remember every word that is said.”

  “We must be diplomatic here. I have been an Ambassador for many years. If people talk long enough they give information that can be used. Sam, I want you to tell Henry that we appreciate the work that they are now doing. I will then give the ayatollah a warning directly from the president.”

  Bill guessed, “If someone messes with America we will kill them and the horses they road in on.”

  “Yes, he said something like that.” The meeting would be in the oval office, and they headed back to the great home.

  They sat in a circle with the ayatollah seated at the desk. They all talked freely for an hour before the Ambassador gave him the message from the president.

  “I have no hate for America. In fact, I own many American businesses.” The meeting ended, they shook hands, and headed for the G5. The servants had packed the men’s suitcases and had taken them to the plane.

  A small group of children were stationed at the stairs of the aircraft and waved and sang “God Bless America.” The Ambassador kissed all the children and was the last to board.

  During their flight to Rota, Spain, the CIA agent transcribed the meeting. The General was the first to see the final two lines of the ayatollah. I have no hate for America. In fact, I own many American businesses.

  Bill asked, “What businesses does he own in America? I need to talk to Ivan in person about Henry.”

  The Ambassador knew history, “The enemy has surrendered and the war is over. We must wait until they attack us again, and then we will destroy them completely!” They all hated what he said, but they knew that he was correct.

  The General wondered. Where will the ayatollah attack us?

  Peace time begs for introspection

  Never time to do it just

  Wage cheap wars without reflection

  Building teams and building trust

  Chapter 11

  Sam returned to San Diego, California to train more Seals. Bill received additional physical training at Mac Dill. The CIA agent and the Major were in Accra, Ghana working with their prisoners. The General was at the CIA, monitoring the communications of Henry and the ayatollah. Ivan was in Israel training with the Mossad. Henry was still buying assets in Africa, and businesses in Europe and America. For The Group this was a time of peace following a war. The strange part was that America was fighting overtly in Iraq and Afghanistan. This was the first lull in continuous action for Bill. His attention was now on his training and being part of a new ten-man team.

  On his enlistment, Bill received several tests. Each completed test built the next test. His answers qualified him for an important American project. The President needed highly qualified people to respond to terrorism. The SOD understood the simple directions of the President, and built a complex top-secret plan. He hired a small company to develop tests to identify the people who would fill his teams. They reviewed Bill’s test results and determined the specifications were too tight. Instead, they searched for candidates that filled the SOD’s requirements, but in groups of two or three. Using the new tests, in one month they found nine new candidates.

  The SOD gave the project to the General, and he created a special area at Mac Dill to train his new recruits. He modified Seal training to be more oriented for small teams. The new men needed training to operate in self-sufficient three man teams that could blend into diverse locations. The new men had varied ethnic backgrounds, but they had one common trait. The terrorist attacks on American soil had affected them. They all wanted to kill terrorists, and be part of a system that made America safer.

  Peace gave the General time to think about the future and his opportunities. The business of war had rules, just as games and sports do. Civilized countries set limits and developed conventions on warfare. Small countries did not attack large nations because they knew the response would be their devastation. Large nations did not attack smaller nations. The risk was high because somewhere a bigger nation would likely not be happy.

  Times were changing and small bands of radicals attacked nations. It was not possible to hold another country responsible, so the normal tools of war did not fit the circumstances. Around the world, a few nations were not able to repel the attacks and became areas of ungoverned chaos. These countries had no controlling authority and became launching pads for attacks called non-linear warfare.

  The American military had settled on their solution for non-linear warfare and presented a vastly superior force to counter it. For centuries, Islamic warriors battled other sects to expand their brand of religion. They perfected their style of combat for battles against western civilization with suicide attacks. The two styles of battle, in a strange way, neutralized each other, but American’s cost of battle was too high to be sustainable. The Secretary of Defense searched for a more cost effective route to victory, and the President’s request for a special group of fighters took him in the right direction.

  The SOD evaluated the success of The Group as part of as a top-secret cost effective solution to combat. At a meeting with a senate committee, during one senator’s never-ending criticism of defense spending, he found himself daydreaming. Back in his office, he read aloud the words he had scribbled on the cover sheet of his prepared remarks. “Senator Smalley wants CHEAP WAR.” He laughed, “For the first time in history, Smalley and I want the same thing. I will give it to him. Cheap War, now there is a name for my project.”

  The SOD thought. Cheap War. I will develop a direct challenge to foreign terror. I am creating American terrorists. Politically, the idea is impossible to sell. No, he thought, it is a very hard sell, but not impossible. Everyone knows that cheap sells, but it must have the right packaging and marketing.

  The Military Industrial Complex was normally against the concept of cheap. The threats to America continually changed in intensity and defense workers made house and car payments in times of both war and peace. The high cost of the complex was a way to fund the dry times, so it did not have to be rebuilt with each new threat.

  The SOD financially evaluated the battles in Somalia and Cameroon. He thought about his argument. The battles in Africa involved less than a hundred personnel, and had resulted in no loss of American life. A thousand enemies were killed at a cost of 2 million dollars, or two thousand dollars per kill. Sam and Bill had killed about seventy of the enemy in Paris and Lebanon for less than a million. For less than three million dollars, The Group had convinced the other side to stop killing Americans in America.

  *****

  Bill had joined the new men late into their training and it felt good to once again run and swim long distances with a group. However, this was a difficult time for the General. The Tampa Mall bombing had given him a natural direction to follow. Peace had ended that direction. Now that the men had finished their training, the General was ready to put them to work. Two months earlier a drug cartel on the eastern border of Columbia, South America, had murdered a DEA agent and six Americans. Retaliation for that event would be their first mission.

  The cocaine factory, located in a dangerous section of secluded woodland in eastern Columbia, processed two tons of cocaine weekly, where there was access to both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. On Thursdays, two Ford F350 four door pickups arrive at the camp. They load with the week’s proceeds and drove to a secret ocean front dock where they loaded a small boat. Fi
fty miles off shore, they transferred the cargo to an ocean-going freighter. They delivered Pacific cargo to the port of Los Angeles, California, and the Atlantic cargo to the port of Miami, Florida.

  Julio Cortez had once worked for Armando Contera, a major cocaine dealer in Bogota, but the Columbian government cracked down and defeated the dealers in the area. Contera was once the owner of a one hundred million dollar enterprise, but the Columbian government killed him in a raid of one of his cocaine factories. Julio escaped to remote eastern Columbia with a few million dollars. In three years, Julio built and ran a franchise as large as Contras’.

  It was then that Julio Cortez had his first interaction with the American DEA. A twin engine Cessna with seven onboard toured the coca leaf production in his area, and one of his men foolishly fired his AK47 at the slow flying aircraft. His thirty rounds of automatic fire disabled its engines and the Cessna made a forced landing in a grass field behind the cocaine processing facility.

  The Columbian pilot and the six passengers all had DEA connections. The unwritten rule was that Americans used minimum force against the cocaine manufacturers, and they did not kill Americans. In a few cases, drug dealers captured Americans and traded and them for low-level dealers held in Columbian prisons. As the Cessna crash-landed, a beacon automatically alerted a satellite of the crash and its location. Julio Cortez’s men filled the plane with thousands of rounds from their AK47s, and Julio burned the aircraft. The DEA watched the entire event on a satellite that covered the South American drug trade. Photos of the killings landed on the President’s desk, and he sent word to the SOD that he was not happy about this escalation in Columbia. The SOD decided it was a case for the new men when time allowed.

  The CIA did a complete analysis of the cocaine camp and manufacturing facility. There was a bunkhouse or barracks for the factory workers and armed cocaine soldiers. Thursdays at noon two trucks carrying eight armed men would arrive. They would all eat lunch together and then Julio would hand out various numbers of American hundred dollar bills to the workers and guards. At 1600 hours local time the trucks moved to the loading area. Workers carefully filled them with wrapped packages of cocaine, and covered the truck with a gray tarp. By 1700 hours, the trucks were on their way to the Columbian shore. The workers ended work for the day and would start the process of extracting and packaging cocaine again the next morning.