by Uzi Eilam
“Don’t get carried away!” The NSA director resumed his intimidating tone. “And don’t think we don’t know about the role played by the industry in Taiwan, mainly the gallium nitrate micro components, in the system you’ve constructed. And where did this Dan Avni of yours acquire his knowledge? Wasn’t it developed at the California-based New Horizon company, which is classified as a DOD provider?”
“No, sir, I’m not getting carried away. As far as I know, Dan Avni acquired his basic experience in one of the elite units of the Israeli Intelligence Corps. I want to mention that the thing that propelled me to update you on the current situation and to ask for your help is China’s involvement, which has become increasingly clear and blatant lately. You were right, sir, to mention Taiwan as a supplier of electronic components. I stopped the Singaporeans from requesting these components from the United States.
“And one more important piece of information about the WIN Corporation in Taipei, sir: the Chinese are focusing on the company and its advanced technology. They’ve already managed to shut down the corporation’s activity for a few days, and there’s a risk they might try to obtain the company’s technological information using cyber techniques. I believe that assistance from the NSA to Singapore in these areas aligns with the strategic goals you mentioned.”
“Well, Dr. Deutsch, I hear you, and the heads of my technology divisions were on the line as well. We’ll look into whether we can make an exception to our security guidelines and give you a hand. This issue with China is interesting, and we’ll take it into consideration.”
Deutsch heaved a long sigh of relief when the conversation ended. He was exhausted, and not entirely certain to what extent he had conveyed the situation or the urgency of the required aid to the NSA director. Tyler, who had been by his side for the entire conversation, said he believed the director’s response had been positive, and the message regarding the current circumstances in Singapore had been clearly conveyed. He noted that the director had been prepared for the conversation and had certainly been briefed by the NSA’s staff officers. Deutsch listened and thanked the young man for his input.
A brief phone conversation with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering at the Pentagon proved to be the easiest of the consultations. Deutsch thanked him for his rapid response to the request to send tunnel-detection equipment and engineering crews. The assistant secretary consoled Deutsch in regard to the system’s failure to discover the branch in the tunnel. As in many countries, including Israel, he noted, the development of such systems in the United States was still a work in progress.
Deutsch reserved his questions regarding the more personal, internal topics relating to Tan’s team for his conversation with his friend from the FBI, John O’Connor. He knew he could reveal even the most sensitive information to this representative of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who had taken part in thwarting terror attacks in the past.
“Hi, John. It’s good to talk to you, even if it’s just over the phone. I’d have preferred to make it to DC, and anyway, you still owe me a seafood meal at Fiola Mare, that restaurant with a view of the Potomac.”
“We haven’t talked in forever, Deutsch, and I hear you’re thriving in Singapore. I received a summary of the events and attempted attacks in Singapore, and it looks like you’re dealing with a lot over there.”
“The overload isn’t the problem, John. There’s an issue of leaks from meetings and of highly classified activity by the international task force of which I’m a part. We’re attempting to thwart a series of cyber assisted attacks. We’ve done a pretty good job of securing our communication. So it looks like this leak is an inside job, someone in our inner circle. I remember you had some connections to the Singapore Police. What can you tell me about them?”
“The police and internal security agencies in Singapore operate at a very high level. As for the issue of the leak, I don’t intend to toss around baseless speculations. There are three ethnic groups in Singapore: Chinese, Indians, and Malaysians. There’s also a variety of foreign workers, some of them executives and senior employees in companies that have opened branches in Singapore, while others are part of the workforce streaming in from neighboring countries.”
“John, seemingly, our main enemy is Iran, which is using Malaysia as a base for sending out terrorists. But lately, we’ve discovered that China has entered the playing field to a worrisome extent.”
“Generally speaking, Deutsch, I’d say the Singaporean Chinese are loyal to Singapore, but this information about Chinese involvement doesn’t allow us to absolutely count on that. In contrast, the Malaysian minority in Singapore is in a position of inferiority, and it seems safe to assume that their sense of discrimination is exacerbated when they witness Malaysia, which has a significant Chinese minority, being run by the Malaysians. I’d focus on that angle and look for an emotional motive. There’s one more angle you can look into with the help of the Singapore Police. I’ve learned to appreciate their sense of professionalism, and I’m sure they’re familiar with the major players in opposition parties. Frustration by activists in the opposition might also result in an attempt to find ways of harming the regime.”
“Thanks, John. You’ve given me plenty of food for thought. It’s true, we can involve the police, and the National Security Institute, run by General Tan, also has a Counter Intelligence Division. We should also look into this angle of people who feel they’re subject to discrimination. I promise that when I do get to DC, that seafood meal is on me!” Deutsch ended the conversation with a smile.
It was nighttime by the time Deutsch left the embassy. He was tired, but still adrenalized following the series of conversations. He was pleased with the summary discussion he had conducted with the deputy director of the CIA and with the man’s commitment to helping him out. He was hoping the NSA’s stance would grow less combative as well.
Gideon was already at the hotel, and the two conversed in a quiet corner of the hotel’s blooming botanical garden. Deutsch had plenty of things to share with Gideon.
Chapter 32
The Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur was located in a lavish building, surrounded by a brick wall and barbed-wire fences, on Jalan Ampang Street. Anyone who entered had to undergo a meticulous security screening. This included Generals Razek and Ja’afari, who had been summoned for an urgent meeting with the Chinese ambassador. The ambassador was seated in the luxurious chamber of ceremonies, with the assistant serving as translator sitting by his side and slightly behind him. The two generals entered with their heads bowed, positioning themselves near the center of the semicircle of seats, beside the ambassador. A small table bearing a kettle of fragrant tea and delicate china cups was placed before each guest.
The ambassador was direct and blunt. “Beijing is very displeased. We heard reports of the utter failure of the attacks you attempted to carry out yesterday. What happened with the attack that was supposed to paralyze the seawater desalination facility? Beijing is demanding clarification from you.”
The room grew silent as the two generals exchanged looks, unable to decide which of them would answer the ambassador. Razek, the usually vocal and arrogant head of Malaysian intelligence, looked like a reprimanded child. He cleared his throat nervously before commencing to speak.
“Ambassador, your excellency,” he whispered, “we still haven’t finished looking into these events, but it appears as if the fighters, members of Hezbollah, were not cautious and didn’t act precisely according to the plan and the instructions.”
“Someone guided them at your training facility, not far from here,” the ambassador interrupted. “And everyone claimed these people were well trained and ready for action. What went wrong?”
“We don’t know yet,” Razed claimed. “It’s under investigation.”
“The fact is that Singapore’s antiterrorism forces knew enough to deploy themselves around th
e secret tunnel and were ready precisely at the targets you planned to attack,” the ambassador said, displaying knowledge that surprised the two reprimanded generals. The sharp, direct language the ambassador was using resembled military jargon. Razek and Ja’afari knew about the ambassador’s military past, characterized by a toughness and ruthlessness that had helped him ascend to his lofty position within the party’s leadership.
“Ambassador, sir,” Ja’afari ventured, “as General Razek said, we have to complete the investigation into the event in order to know the reasons why the operation failed.”
“I’m sure our inquiry will reveal whether there was an information leak and where, exactly, it occurred,” Razek said, trying to defend himself against the accusation of a failure by Malaysian intelligence at which Ja’afari was hinting.
“We’re aware, sir, of the international task force established in Singapore. It includes three Israelis, Gideon Ben Ari, General Rogel, and Dan Avni, who are known to be experts on communication and surveillance. The American, Dr. Deutsch, is a talented and dangerous man as well. I’m sure the inquiry General Razek has initiated, as you’ve heard, will show us exactly what role those four played.”
“We’ve gone out of our way,” the ambassador continued, his voice severe, “to shut down the facilities of the WIN Corporation in Taipei. You led us to understand that the gallium nitride-based micro components constitute a severe danger. We risked an open confrontation with Taiwan and its main supporter, the United States.”
“We know what you did, Ambassador,” Ja’afari said. “And we’re all grateful for it.”
“Gratitude isn’t enough.” The ambassador was relentless. “We opened a door for you, and you simply failed to enter it in order to continue efforts to suppress this technology in Taiwan. Were you relying on us to continue being your technological nanny?”
“I promise you, Ambassador, sir, that once I arrive at the office, I’ll look into the course of the inquiry and find out the source of the leak, if indeed it does originate with us. We’ll do everything to prevent another failure, perish the thought.” Razek could not stop worrying about the financial compensation he had been promised in return for successfully executed attacks.
“There’s a chance, Ambassador,” Ja’afari ventured to suggest, “that the leaking of our plans was actually a result of the activity of an advanced surveillance network utilized by the enemy. If that proves to be the case, your technological support is still vital to us. We acknowledge our limitations, and it would be important to make use of your people in order to upgrade our communication and ensure that it’s immune to infiltration.”
“I’m not done with my questions.” The ambassador resumed his threatening tone as he noticed that his interlocutors had relaxed prematurely. “Do you know what’s going on in Singapore’s central bank?”
“W-w-what do you mean?” Ja’afari was hesitant, thinking of the top-secret maneuver his assistant, Fakari, had carried out—managing to empty some hefty accounts belonging to customers of the Singaporean bank.
“You haven’t noticed the bank’s involvement in monitoring fund transfers in Southeast Asia? You haven’t noticed that your freedom to act has decreased?” he berated them.
“We actually have a pretty good idea of what’s going on at that bank,” Razek dared to reveal. “And we haven’t received any alerts of such initiatives at the bank.”
“Then you haven’t heard of an Israeli agent appointed to a senior position at the bank? While seemingly managing private banking, she’s sabotaging money transfers, yours and ours both. Beijing is starting to feel the damage, and if you haven’t noticed, you’d better wake up!”
“They’re everywhere! I bet she’s making use of the three Israelis we already know about.” Ja’afari’s concern increased as the Chinese ambassador continued berating them. He knew the ambassador’s reprimand could easily reach Tehran and serve as a severe blow to his plans to return to Tehran victorious, reclaiming his lost leadership role.
“I promise to look into it with our sources in Singapore,” Razek said. “I’ll try to figure out how such important information didn’t come to our attention.”
“I’ll inquire with Beijing how we can help you enhance your communication security. We can’t afford to leave you with such vulnerable communication. I’ll let you know the moment I receive authorization and when the communication experts arrive from Beijing,” the ambassador concluded.
***
“A tough man,” Ja’afari said once they had convened in the sitting nook in Razek’s office. “We barely got a word in edgewise.”
“I’ve known him since he was first posted here, and he’s not usually like that. He’s receiving orders from Beijing, and he’d be in serious trouble if he didn’t carry them out accurately.”
“You’re right, especially since there are undercover party-appointed inspectors working at the embassy. Everyone knows they’re there. But to get back to the heart of the matter, my friend, we have a series of real problems. What do you suggest we do?”
“I’ll summon my officer who’s in charge of all topics pertaining to Singapore, as well as my communication and computer man,” Razek said. “I suggest you get your Dr. Fakari here. He is an expert on communication and cyber topics, after all. We’ll analyze the situation for as long as we need to, and decide how all the tasks should be allocated.”
Throughout the afternoon hours, the two generals and their assistants delved into ways to ensure the next attacks would be successful. Dr. Fakari presented his assessment of the source of the information leaks regarding the planned attacks. He expressed complete confidence in Singapore’s ability to monitor everything taking place in Kuala Lumpur, as well as communications to and from the city. Fakari singled out Dr. Gideon Ben Ari as the architect of Singapore’s defense strategy and the Israeli Dan Avni as the “brains” behind the entire emerging defense system.
“If we managed to eliminate the Israelis, would that pave the way to success in the next attacks? Have you thought of a way we could do it?” Ja’afari challenged the young man. The series of disappointing failures had placed the experienced general in a position in which he would be grateful for any piece of advice.
“From everything I’ve managed to learn about the defense task force headed by General Tan, gentlemen,” Fakari replied confidently, “their top priority is defending the container terminal.” He looked at the two generals and at Razek’s assistants, all following his every word with anticipation, and took a deep breath. “I would suggest combining Singapore’s sensitivity in regard to protecting the container terminal with the knowledge and experience we’ve acquired in hacking the terminal’s computerized control system.”
“And what exactly will this combination consist of?” Ja’afari inquired. The younger generation, he thought in frustration, knows better than us “old men” how to conduct the wars of today.
“My intention is to combine hacking the port’s control system with a physical infiltration by a cell of our terrorists. This cell has to be properly trained and guided, unlike all the ones who have already failed.”
“We’ll take the selection and training of this cell upon ourselves,” General Razek stated. “We’ll choose the best Hezbollah fighters currently staying at our training facility here.”
Like his friend Ja’afari, Razek understood the implications of having the next attack fail. He knew this would endanger his status and, perhaps more importantly, dry up the source of his financial aid.
“The cell chosen,” Fakari continued, “will be smuggled inside the terminal in a special container. In the past, we’ve successfully smuggled a container into the terminal without it being discovered by the computers monitoring container conveyance at the port.”
“What else is included in this plan?” Ja’afari was beginning to feel enthusiastic about this direction, which he had begun to perceive
as promising.
“Using the cyber tactics I learned from the Chinese experts, we could create circumstances where it would be impossible to defend the terminal remotely.”
“Then what happens?” Ja’afari persisted.
“The defense task force technological team, consisting of Dan Avni, David Rogel, and perhaps Dr. Gideon Ben Ari as well, will have to activate the defense system from the container terminal’s control room…”
“And then what?” Razek intervened.
“That’s exactly where the cell that you’ll select and train in preparation for the port mission has to arrive,” Fakari replied. “The cell members will exit the smuggled container once it’s very close to the control center. From there, it shouldn’t be that difficult to enter the control center and carry out the eliminations, or take one of the Israelis prisoner.” Fakari paused, his bright eyes bouncing between General Razek and General Ja’afari.
“Sounds promising,” Razek said after several moments.
“Promising? Genius!” Ja’afari called out. “And what happens then? Have you thought about how to get the cell members out of the terminal?”
“Yes, sir. They’ll have to run to the container they came in, along with the hostage, and hole up in there. Using the hacked terminal control system, we can extract the container concealing the cell members, safe and sound.”
“Razek, my friend.” Ja’afari turned to him, borne on the waves of his enthusiasm.” I don’t need to remind you that everything we’re preparing here is a pilot, of sorts, for our ultimate strategic goal, a massive attack in Israel. We’ve managed to teach Hamas members in the Gaza Strip to build assault tunnels that could lead hundreds of warriors into the heart of the Jewish settlements. Unfortunately, the enemy has found ways to detect the tunnels. This new direction, smuggling fighters in via containers, will ensure the success of attacks in Israel in ways they aren’t expecting. The container strategy is also very appropriate for attacks on the United States, and I’m sure Tehran will approve of our perfecting this method of attack.”
