by Cliff Deane
“Whoa,” said Levi, “either we have found a golden nugget or one of the best liars I have ever heard. For now, I’m going with the golden nugget. If we find him to be truthful, we may have found our way around killing them all, and that pleases me. I know, earlier I said I would consider committing genocide, but that was just raw emotion talking. If we can rescue, or liberate the non-combatants, and allow them to convert to anything other than Islam, then we may accomplish our goals and avoid going down in history for causing a holocaust.”
Let’s hold our opinion for discussion until this evening; good day, gentlemen, we’ll adjourn the court proceedings until 0800, tomorrow, following the Sayed initial debrief.
As everyone filed out, Levi suggested that the questioning of Sayed begin with his military training, then ask about family and friends.
“Yes sir, Wilco, Boss.”
Majid became more frantic as the day, and then the night progressed, as he sat among those he had ordered beheaded. By the time SFC Carter and a squad of troopers came to take him to his reward, Majid was close to insanity as he felt the ghosts of the tormented haunt his mind.
Al-Rahman spent the night sobbing. The sentence of hanging was carried out at 0545 hours on 22 May 01.
*
21May 1345
WH Conference Room
DC
Ali Sayed was ushered into a White House Conference Room, accompanied by Colonel Murtaugh for questioning, while the guard waited outside. The only other person present was the ROA Historian.
Gus began by saying, “Hello, Ali, please have a seat and we can begin. The woman here is the ROA Historian; I hope you have no objection to her presence.”
Ali said, “Of course not; Hello ma’am, my name is Ali Sayed. It is an honor to meet you.”
Gus was impressed with the calm and welcoming demeanor of the prisoner.
“Ali, I would first like to know about your family; are you Pakistani?”
“No,” said Ali, “I am Jordanian. My father is a graduate of Isra University in Amman, with a degree in Pharmacy. He owns a small pharmacy in the Muslim district of Cleveland.
My mother is also a Jordanian. I have two brothers and two sisters, aged four to sixteen. My parents came to America twenty years ago, as immigrants, not refugees. My father brought my mother here in the hopes of becoming U.S. citizens. They accomplished this dream after seven years.
I know this sounds like he may have wanted to escape Islam, but this would be untrue. His belief in Islam is, I believe, unshakeable, but, at the same time, he did not support the violence of the Radical Islamists.”
“Thank you, Ali, but I must ask another question concerning your father and his belief in Islam; if he is so devout, why does he have only one wife?”
For the first time, Ali actually smiled and said, “My father told me that he had enough on his hands with my mother to even think about adding to his problems with four wives. He also recommended that I follow his lead. The Americans have got it right, one man, and one woman.”
“Ali, in America we do not discriminate against homosexuals; does this bother your beliefs?”
Ali looked Gus straight in the eye and said, “Sir, I do not consider those relationships to be my business. That is between them and their God. Since I am not God, I choose not to take a position other than to live and let live, with one possible exception. I do not want them to be in my face, you understand?”
Gus returned Ali’s gaze and replied, “Yes, Ali, I believe that I do. Tell me, if your father had the power, would he make any changes to the Quran?”
Ali looked puzzled and asked, “Changes? Sorry, but I don’t think I understand your question.”
“Okay, Ali, let me ask my question this way; would your father advocate the removal of those parts of the Quran which appear to direct radicals to attack and make war on non-Muslims?”
Ali said, “Oh, now I see. Honestly, I do not know, but I suspect he just might, that would be, if he had the power.”
“Tell me, Ali, if word of your assistance to the ROA was known to the Supreme Leader of the Caliphate, what would happen?”
Now, Ali held a look of horror on his young face as he said, “Oh, please, sir, that must never happen. At the very least my entire family would be stoned to death.
Colonel, if there is any intention on your part to expose my assistance to the Caliphate, then I am through assisting you, no matter the personal cost to me.”
“Easy, son, we will do everything in our power to protect your identity from being exposed.
What do you think your father would do if he were offered the chance for his family to escape the Caliphate?”
Ali thought for a few seconds before answering, “Sir, I do not know for sure. What I do know is that he does not support either the Caliphate’s goals or Sharia Law. Beyond that, I just do not know.”
“Ali, I believe you are being honest with me, so far; now I would like to ask about your military training. Did you go to a Basic Infantry Training Course?”
Ali gave a derisive laugh saying, “Training? We were given one day of political indoctrination, one day of learning the rank structure, and one-half day to learn how to shoot and clean our weapons. That was our Basic Training.”
Gus was actually expecting a similar answer; he replied saying, “Ali, just so I fully understand what you have told me; you had no training in marching or tactics?”
Ali again laughed derisively before he answered, “Why would we need such a foolish waste of time when Allah would provide this to us when the time was right.
Sir, the Caliphate fields many thousands of soldiers, but it is a hollow shell. They can barely feed the soldiers, much less make actual soldiers out of us. I don’t, of course, know this for a fact, but I believe that the Supreme Leader Mohammed bin Khan from the Pashtun Tribe fears an uprising against him if the army was well trained.”
The questioning lasted for four hours, at which point everyone present was exhausted. Now the ROA had solid intel on the size, quality, and disposition of major Caliphate strongholds across North America.
The last question asked of Ali was how he knew so much about the Caliphate as he was just a young private.
Ali told Gus that he was the clerk for Ruhollah Majid.
Gus then knew he had truly struck that golden nugget.
***
Chapter 2
The Caliphate
22 May 0800
Conference Room, WH
DC
The Command Staff gathered in one of the West Wing Conference Rooms to discuss the fate of Ali Sayed. Levi opened the meeting by saying, “Well, we’ve had a few hours to contemplate Sayed’s fate. Colonel Murtaugh, we’ll start with you and go around the table.”
Gus began by saying that he felt the ROA had little to lose by giving Sayed an opportunity to prove his worth. His briefing to the group outlined Ali’s questioning. Gus made it plain that he was no longer skeptical of Ali’s willingness to support the ROA.
He cast his lot with Levi’s comments of the night before in that this young man could absolutely prove to be the golden nugget in the war against the Islamic Caliphate.
“Levi, I also think we should try to make contact with Ali’s father, Akram Sayed and attempt to smuggle the family out of Cleveland. His father is an educated man, with distinctly moderate leanings toward Islam. The possibility of elevating him to a position of power following the defeat of the Caliphate could save thousands of lives and create a lasting peace.
Each member of the group, save one, felt the same and it was decided to continue the debrief of Ali Sayed in the hope of finding a way to end the existence of, at the least, those murderous Islamists in North America, without committing a genocidal ethnic cleansing.
Only the Sgt. Major warned the group to be very cautious. He reported that he had gone to his quarters the night before, and read the Book of Joshua. He related that our God, Yahweh, ordered the Israelites to kill every Canaanite, and th
eir livestock, for if even one escaped, future generations could build a new nation and send an Army to defeat Israel.
In finishing his remarks, he said, “I cannot agree with the extermination of a people, and we must remember that there must still be many hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions of Muslims across the world that will want revenge against us if we kill all Muslims here in North America.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that we must be very careful not to create a Holocaust while still ending the bloodstain of Islam.”
Levi and company agreed with the sentiments of the Sgt. Major and directed Gus to continue the interrogation. The meeting was concluded at 1015 hours.
Gus was asked to remain to discuss a couple of issues.
Levi told Gus that he should turn over the interrogation of Ali to Lt. Colonel Mike Guyardo.
“Gus, I want you to contact Scott Eldridge, at Lejeune and if he has a helo up and running to send one down to take you back for an inspection tour to find out firsthand how close we are to having a viable attack force. I also want you to see if we are ready to field some mortar teams, as well as those Sneaky Pete Intel boys. I’d like to get six teams on mission ASAP.
Partner, we got to get a firm handle on what we’re facing. I really think Ali is being truthful, but I want, as President Reagan said, trust through verification.”
“Roger that, Boss, I wonder which pilot they’ll send? Oh, that’s right, so far we only have one fully qualified, now don’t we?” chuckled Gus.
Levi tried to look innocent, but failed miserably before saying, “Okay, ya’ caught me; yeah, I’d like to share another meal with her and maybe sneak in a kiss or two. But, you old curmudgeon, the reason I’m sending you is valid. Damn you, Gus, now I feel guilty about seeing her when the other men don’t get to see their sweethearts.
Oh, crap, maybe you should just take a jeep down there.”
“Oh, hell no! If there is air transport, then that’s how I want to go. I have no desire to turn a four-day trip into two weeks,” said Gus.
Levi smiled and said, “Oh, well if that’s the way you feel about it, then okay, I see your point, and I agree.
Oh, Gus, please tell Bradley not to allow the cooks to go wild this time. No Chateaubriand, just regular fare; ten-four?”
“Gotcha, Boss, ten-four. If there’s nothing else, I’ll get right on it.
*
22 May 1400
WH Helicopter Pad
DC
A Marine Corps AH-1Z Zulu Twin Engine Super Cobra lightly touched down on the White House Helo Pad. This beautiful attack Cobra verily bristled with weaponry and carried a crew of two; Pilot and Co-Pilot/Gunner. On this flight, only the pilot was aboard to allow Gus to fly back to LeJeune in the Gunner’s seat.
When the radio reported the flight only ten minutes out, Levi, Gus, and Bradley made their way to the Pad to watch the Cobra swoop in for a landing.
After exiting the aircraft, the Pilot, Major Susan Turner removed her helmet shook out her hair, saluted General Levins and said, with a smile, “Sir, if it’s all the same to you, I’d kind of like to spend the night and depart first thing in the morning.”
When Levi saw Susan shake out her hair, he was reminded of Rita Hayworth’s hair flip while saying, “Who, me?” Both sent a chill down Levi’s spine.
Upon returning her saluted greeting, Levi asked how much fuel she had used.
What she said was, “Well, gee, sir, it’s nice to see you again, too.” Then she laughed and added, “It took just under half a tank. Sir, this bird is unbelievable, it’s built on the AH-64 Apache frame, but this model is so much more maintenance friendly. Would you believe that the rotor system has no ball bearings, and the transmission is like, well, WOW.”
Levi smiled and said, “Oh, my, Susan, it is wonderful to see you again, you look beautiful. I’m truly happy that you want to stay the night; it’s just so good to be able to just look at you again.”
“Well, all right,” gushed Susan, “that’s more like it. I can’t wait to give you a big hug, and sneak a smooch.”
“Me, too, come on, but first things first. Gus and I want to brief you on the current situation and get your input on how to best use this beast you flew in on.
On second thought, I think I need to slip in that hug and smooch before the meeting.”
As they turned toward Gus, they saw him smiling like a Cheshire Cat. He and Susan exchanged salutes and led them to the briefing room. As Gus opened the door, he snapped his fingers and said, “Oh, darn, I left something in my quarters; please excuse me while I go to retrieve it.”
“What did you forget?” asked Levi.
Gus smiled at Susan and said, “Isn’t he just as innocent as a babe in the woods. He then turned to Levi and said, “I’ll be right back, sir, I have to get my, um, my laptop, yeah, that’s it,” and nearly slamming the door he took a five-minute walk to the Orderly Room and back.
In the Conference Room, Levi said, “Laptop? Oh, right, yeah, I guess I am a babe in the woods, come here, Susan.”
“Come here, Susan? What am I a pet? You know, a girl likes to hear things like, how much you’ve missed me before she starts playing kissy-face.”
Levi was a bit embarrassed and taken aback and said, “Oh, damn, I’m sorry, Susan, I really am kind of new at this, and…”
“Levi, shut up and come here…”
Their embrace was still going strong when Gus knocked on the door and asked, “You decent?”
Susan laughed and said, “Who me?”
Levi was in love.
Levi cleared his throat and said, “Uh, yeah, come on in. Are we decent; what a silly question?” but Levi was smiling.
Gus just shook his head and said, “Uh-huh, right, silly question. Can we now please get some work done?”
Levi had now regained his composure and was close to having his blood pressure back to somewhere near normal, and asked Susan to brief them on the progress at Lejeune, especially with Mortar Crews, and the Intel Insertion Teams.
“Yes sir, of course; the Mortar Crews would be ready in just another two or three days. I’m sure they could be here in say, six days. As to the Insertion Teams; their progress is going well, but they won’t be ready for another couple of weeks. Right now they are engrossed in how to make Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and that cannot be rushed.
The first graduating teams are made up of Israeli’s who were at Lejeune undergoing inter-army training as Flight Mechanics. Every one of them speaks fluent Arabic, well, the Palestinian dialect anyway. They also volunteered for Insertion Missions to a man. We have twenty-one Israeli’s, and another twenty Americans who are just beginning training.”
Levi was dumbfounded to learn of this incredible stroke of luck and said, “Twenty-one Arabic speakers; how is that possible?”
“Yes sir, I know, but what they told us was that there were regularly scheduled American/Israeli cross training classes. When the lights went out, they decided to see if they could survive right there in the hopes of an Israeli rescue.
Sir, I’ve gotta tell you, these men are really something. After a week it became obvious to them that no help was coming, so they did a recon of the Walmart Distribution Center and found that it had been taken over by some really bad guys. I’ll bet you can guess what they did, yep; they took it and created a distribution outlet for other survivors. As time went on, a lot of the people we need just gravitated to the distribution center.
It was incredible how a small pool of survivors created an organized community. By taking out the bad guys, they probably saved hundreds of lives by helping people in the area. Without the distribution center, they would have been forced to leave, and we would have had some very slim pickings, if any pickings at all.
At any rate, as the old song goes, all the chaos makes perfect sense.”
“Holy cow,” said Levi, “I have to tell you that was the helping hand of God, well, from my perspective it was.
Wait
; who’s doing the training for the Intel teams?”
Susan smiled and said, “Oh that was easy; some of the Marine Force Recon (MFR) NCO’s had joined up at the distribution center. I was talking with one of the MFR guys, and he said that there were two attempts by roving bikers to take the center, but with the military types in control, well, that just didn’t work out well for the biker gangs.”
Levi interrupted and asked, “How is the Air Wing progressing? I certainly hope that you are not going to be the only combat pilot we have.”
“No sir, I’m not the only one, but in that category, the pickings have not been good. Currently, we have two instructor pilots; both are rotary wing, with eight pilot trainees. The helo trainers were assigned to HMLA-269, aka The Gun Runners out of New River.
The course is set up for six weeks of Pre-Flight training, and a minimum of six weeks of being in the air. Our course is six weeks longer than the old Marine requirements because we just don’t have the assets to risk losing aircraft or pilots because we rushed them through. I don’t think we’ll be seeing them before July or August, at the earliest.”
Levi looked concerned and said, “Susan, please do not get shot down.”
Sensing Levi’s dilemma, Gus asked, “Major, how are we fixed for mechanics, spare parts, munitions, and such.”
Susan seemed relieved to be able to move ahead and said, “Sir, mechanics are currently fully staffed. Since it takes four mechanics per aircraft, the pool of applicants was significantly greater. As for spare parts, weapons, munitions, etc., New River has a huge quantity of parts in the Depot Repair Facility, there.”
Susan continued to brief Levi and Gus on the progress at Lejeune and related that by August a contingent of nearly one thousand would be prepared to move to join Task Force Levins.”
