Vice Admiral Parker viewed the enlarged photos. “It would be a suicide to bring our troops into that encampment.”
Lieutenant Nathanson acknowledged. “Best way would be to unload a few Tomahawk missiles.”
Vice Admiral Parker continued to view the terrain. “Based on the cave openings that I can make out, I doubt that would have any real effect unless we caught the whole group out in the open. What has the Pentagon to say about this? I can’t imagine them spending so much time and money on such small potatoes.”
Lieutenant Nathanson read the last communiqué. “They just say to keep monitoring. I’ve no idea what they’re looking for.”
Over the next several days the fleet commander reported back to the Pentagon that a massing of insurgents was taking place at latitude 29’55’40.29 longitude 66’09’40.37. They were told to continue monitoring.
The Encampment
Nasih had seen the increase of Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters enter the area but there was still an absence of leadership, only low-level leaders who had no real planning expertise. He was beginning to think that he had miscalculated bringing the cache of arms and was trying to figure out how he could accomplish the same task again without being discovered.
All of a sudden there were shouts of excitement coming from the guards at the narrow passage that lead to the encampment.
Spilling from the cave openings were hundreds of men gathering and shouting, “Alhamdu Lil-Lahi Rab-Bil `Alamin. (Praise be to Allāh, Lord of the worlds.)” Nasih and Wasim worked their way towards the group who had just entered the site and as they drew closer, they recognized two of Allama Muhammad Ali Usmani deputies.
Wasim turned to Nasih. “Something big is going on here that I haven’t heard of. Allama has his two second-in-commands here, Hanif Hussain Shah and Imran Nawaz Abro, and that never happens. They’re usually kept apart to prevent total collapse of the leadership if they were killed. They must feel very safe in this location.”
Nasih and Wasim pressed their way forward towards the two leaders.
The gathering of the ragtag militia was breaking up when again more shouts from the guards at the passage reverberated through the opening, louder than the first time, “Alhamdu Lil-Lahi Rab-Bil `Alamin, Alhamdu Lil-Lahi Rab-Bil `Alamin.”
The departing men turned to see what the commotion was about. There, on the first camels back, was Allama Muhammad Ali Usmani. Two men helped him off of his camel.
The men were shouting praises as Allama looked around at the surrounding cliffs with the multiple cave openings. He then quoted from the Qur’an, Surah Ash-Shu’ara Chapter 26.
“Watanhitoona mina aljibali buyootan fariheena.”
(And ye carve houses out of mountains with great skill.)
Allama, seeing Nasih and Wasim, beckoned the two men to come forward. He shouted above the crowd, “These two men are the benefactors of the armament!” He turned to his deputies, “This is Wasim Ali Dani and Issa Abdullah Gara who brought us the magnificent rifles.”
Allama held up his hand to quiet the men, “Tomorrow after morning’s prayers I will tell you of the great plan to punish the infidels.”
The gathering erupted in cheers and there was great joy amongst the men in anticipation of tomorrow’s cunning plan.
The Eisenhower
Lieutenant Nathanson was examining the recently downloaded images from the U-2S on the computer using an enhancing software program. He zoomed in on the large crowd of militants then shouted, “I’ll be damned, we have him!” He immediately sent the image to the printer and called Vice Admiral Parker. “Sir, I believe we’ve found something you should see immediately.”
Both men were examining the enlarged photo imagery. Lieutenant Nathanson pointed to the figure circled. “I checked this several times and I believe this small group of men to be the leadership of al-Qaeda. Look at the photos leading up to this person. You can see the men pushing and shoving to get closer. I’ve zoomed in and enhanced the image. From our database I’ve run a facial recognition algorithm against it and the system gave a ninety-five percent positive match. I believe it is Allama Muhammad Ali Usmani who is now reported to be in command of al-Qaeda.”
The vice admiral studied the photo for an almost five minutes before answering. “Send a message to the Pentagon and ask them what action they want to take.”
The Pentagon
By the time the message was sent to Admiral Blair, he and General Knight had already been briefed by the CIA and were looking at the same photos.
Admiral Blair commented on the discovery. “It looks like we’ve got them. Do you want to strike now?”
General Knight paused, reviewing the photos and also the message from Vice Admiral Parker. Both the CIA and the Navy had reached the same conclusion. General Knight asked, “Has the operative signaled for a strike?”
Jack Shelby answered, “We only have the location signal, not a strike signal. We’ve concluded the timing is not right. Of course, the man could be having second thoughts. He also knows it will take at least an hour before the target would be hit. He just might be waiting for the right moment.”
The group conferred for another forty minutes before deciding to wait for the strike signal.
The Encampment
Nasih watched as the Baluchi tribesmen riding their camels, left the encampment. The majority of the men in the encampment had dispersed. Dusk was falling over the encampment and an ire silence had replaced the men’s chanting and boisterous shouting. The al-Qaeda leadership was taken into the deepest caves and tunnels to keep them from harm’s way. He would have to wait until morning before he could activate the strike signal. Leaving the encampment was not an option for him and he returned to where his sleeping bag was located, carefully avoiding any contact with Wasim.
That night Nasih, knowing of his demise, was not able to fall asleep. I find no peace for my soul. This was not what I envisioned at sixteen when told of the great plan to give my people the rights that they had been so unjustly denied or to bring vengeance upon the Zionist. A lesser man would have taken the coward’s way out enjoying the wealth he had established and lived the rest of his life in peace with his family. My commitment to restore dignity to the Palestinian people has been denied by the leadership of al-Qaeda. The forces of change are happening in the Middle East, but still my people are suffering. I can’t wait any longer for the world to help the Palestinians. I must sacrifice my life in hope that justice will be done.
After several hours of restlessness he fell asleep as he silently repeated the eleven verses of Chapter 101: Al-Qaria (The Calamity, The Stunning Blow, The Disaster).
“AlqariAAatu
Ma alqariAAatu
Wama adraka ma alqariAAatu
Yawma yakoonu alnnasu kaalfarashi almabthoothi
Watakoonu aljibalu kaalAAihni almanfooshi
Faamma man thaqulat mawazeenuhu
Fahuwa fee AAeeshatin radiyatin
Waamma man khaffat mawazeenuhu
Faommuhu hawiyatun
Wama adraka ma hiyah
Narun hamiyatun.”
(The Day of Noise and Clamor
What is the Day of Noise and Clamor
And what will explain to thee what the Day of Noise and Clamor is
It is a Day whereon men will be like moths scattered about
And the mountains will be like carded wool
Then, he whose balance of good deeds will be found heavy
Will be in a life of good pleasure and satisfaction
But he whose balance of good deeds will be found light
Will have his home in a bottomless Pit
And what will explain to thee what this is
It is a Fire Blazing fiercely.)
Nasih woke before first light. He knew the call “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest),” for morning prayers would be given soon to assemble the men together just after dawn. He walked out to the center of the plateau. Then, following the directions given to him ma
ny months before, he took the ring, passing it horizontally over the transmitter three times, followed by once vertically. The effect was immediate, with the warming sensation again reaching from his left shoulder to this neck, but this time it was more intense. As the warmth spread over his body any apprehension of his impending plight disappeared for he knew his revenge would soon be implemented.
As Nasih stood gazing at the morning sky turning from black to dark blue he kept repeating the three verses from Chapter 110: An-Nasr (Succour, Divine Support).
“Itha jaa nasru Allahi waalfathu
Waraayta alnnasa yadkhuloona fee deeni Allahi afwajan
Fasabbih bihamdi rabbika waistaghfirhu innahu kana tawwaban.”
(When comes the Help of Allāh and Victory,
And thou dost see the people enter Allāh’s Religion in crowds,
Celebrate the praises of thy Lord and pray for His Forgiveness:
For He is Oft-Returning in Grace and Mercy.)
Wasim quietly crept up from behind, interrupting Nasih’s thoughts. “Are you getting an early start this morning with Allāh?”
Nasih was not happy about Wasim being there, but he didn’t want to make anyone suspicious of his actions. “Yes, I wanted to have a little time alone before the rest of the men arrived.”
“You seem to be shaking a little bit. Are you okay?”
“It is just the morning cold and I’m not dressed properly,” Nasih lied.
“Well, soon you’ll be surrounded by thousands and they’ll help you become warm.”
Nasih only nodded in agreement waiting for the prayers to begin.
CIA headquarters
7:00 P.M.: There was a scramble to contact key personnel. Jack Shelby was trying to reach General Knight who had just left the Pentagon with his entourage. Since taking control of the country he had a complete armed guard of forty men surrounding him everywhere he went.
Jack finally got through. “General Knight, we have positive contact indicating a strike signal.”
“Are you absolutely sure?”
“Yes, and it comes from latitude 29’55’40.29 longitude 66’09’40.37. The same as reported on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.”
The general immediately turned around and headed back to the Pentagon. Calling Admiral Blair he gave the command. “Tell your carrier strike group to hit the target.”
Indian Ocean Strike Group
Within seconds Vice-Admiral Parker aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was given the order from Admiral Blair in the Pentagon. “You’re to fire the B61-11 with the 100-kiloton warhead to the identified strike zone immediately.”
Vice-Admiral Parker hesitated then asked, “Sir, if I understand you correctly, you said the B61-11 nuclear strike missile?”
“That’s correct, immediately!”
Aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio the executive officer was given the command to fire the B61-11. He went at once to the cryptography room, where a sequence of coded messages were received, deciphered and verified by four of the Tactical Action Officers. Once completed, the four officers took up positions, each with an individual key awaiting the commanding officer’s orders. The ship had been brought to almost a complete stop and the coordinates loaded into the computer guidance system. On command of “Fire,” the four TAO’s in the assigned sequence turned the inserted key. The force of the missile launch required the ship’s automatic guidance system to adjust the vessel, keeping it on course.
The Anzio’s Commanding Officer reported the successful launch in a message sent onto the Pentagon. At the same time a U-2S was nearing the same coordinates to join the KH-12 reconnaissance satellite already in position. All waited in anticipation. It had been less than nine minutes since Nasih had given the strike signal.
The Encampment, Sarlat Ghar, Afghanistan
The small flat plateau was filled to capacity. The morning prayers had just been completed. It had been one hour twenty minutes since Nasih had given the signal. Allama Muhammad Ali Usmani, on a makeshift podium, was giving a Khutba on the lessons of patience and obedience in the goal of overcoming the infidels and reclaiming Afghanistan once again as an Islamic-ruled country. The sun had slightly risen in the sky and only the upper parts of the cliffs were bathed in sunshine. The masses below were still in the shadows.
6:32 A.M.: One of the sentries guarding the entrance to the encampment happened to look skyward to see a silver object glistening in the sunlight. Perplexed he pointed to it then he opened his mouth to shout, but before a word could be uttered the B61-11 nuclear warhead exploded, vaporizing every living thing in its path.
Because it was such a confined area, the shock wave filled every opening and tunnel in the cliff walls, causing all the stored explosives to ignite and killing everyone who was inside the cave complexes, collapsing the entire structure. The blast effect contained within the cliff walls forced the fireball upward, creating a mushroom cloud that rose rapidly into the stratosphere.
Nasih Mahmoud Rahman, the anointed savior of the Palestinian people, never knew what happened as his body was instantly incinerated by the fireball.
The residents of Nushki forty-two kilometers away, felt the earth tremble and ran outside, fearing an earthquake. They stood in bewildered silence as the mushroom cloud rose high into the northeast sky partially blocking out the rising sun. Many couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.
The Pentagon
The military personnel in the Joint Chiefs conference room certainly comprehended what had happened as they watched the downloaded images from the KH-12 satellite on the massive LCD screens.
General Knight checked his watch; it was 8:32 P.M. The general was most satisfied as he sat back in his chair directly under a no-smoking sign and lit up a Cohiba-Piramide a Cuban cigar given to him by Canadian Minister of National Defence. I just sent one hell of a message and the rest of the world be damned!
The United States of America, under the command of General Theodore Alexander Knight, had just created the new world order. It was a very simple message. If you tread on me, I’ll blow you to kingdom come!
CHAPTER 37
REPERCUSSIONS
World Reaction
The seismograph stations in Yazd, Iran and New Delhi, India, about equal distance from the blast site, were the first to detect the seismic waves, followed by the seismograph station in Xinjiang, China.
Reports were coming in from foreign news stations that a large explosion, possibly nuclear, was experienced near the Afghanistan and Pakistan borders in the Kandahar region of Afghanistan. As the news spread, the United States said nothing.
Within an hour the New China News Agency reported that the blast was definitely nuclear in the 100-kiloton range, making it six times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Speculation was rampant that the United States had detonated a nuclear weapon on Islamic extremists.
In Tehran, Islamic websites were reporting the massacre of thousands of Taliban and al-Qaeda militants including major leaders of both groups. Spontaneous demonstrations against the United States were breaking out in several Middle Eastern cities. It was also rumored that entire leadership of al-Qaeda was dead. Still the United States said nothing except that a major news conference would take place in Washington, D.C. on August 14.
Washington, D.C.
August 14, 10:00 A.M.: General Knight didn’t make public appearances. He had no need to go amongst the masses to obtain votes and win popularity contests, something he detested about all politicians. His news conference would take place from the Pentagon, or, as some in the press now called it, The Gray House.
A confident and beaming General Knight sat in front of the television cameras. There were no reporters or other news agencies in the room. The only network broadcasting from the Pentagon was the U.S. Military Television Network, a military cable company launched in 2006. The feed was picked up and distributed to television networks worldwide.
The general was not one to mince words. “I
’m here to end the rumors about a nuclear strike in Afghanistan. Yesterday at 8:32 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, a United States B61-11 missile from our naval carrier strike force in the Indian Ocean detonated a low-yield nuclear warhead in the Sarlat Ghar Mountains of southern Afghanistan. In this location, we had identified a large massing of Taliban and al-Qaeda militia along with several key members of their leadership.”
The general pointed to one particular photo on the easel alongside him. “From surveillance photos we’ve identified these persons as being the top leadership of al-Qaeda and the Taliban. It is our belief that they, along with a majority of their followers, were destroyed and their entire organizations are in complete disarray.”
The general paused for a moment to let the weight of his words sink in. He then made his intentions known. “This is just the beginning of our campaign to rid the world of Islamic militants. If governments around the world refuse to cut out this cancer upon the earth, then we’ll do it for you. No city, no state, no country is immune from our wrath. To simply put it, nuclear weapons are now our first mode of attack. If you don’t rid yourselves of this evil, we will do it for you!”
With that, the now Commander and Chief of the United States Armed Forces got up and left the room while the cameras were still running.
The cards were on the table and the general held all the aces. The United States had more nuclear warheads and delivery systems than the rest of the world combined. The nations of the western world had over the past decade reduced their armed forces. Why spend the money when the United States was willing to be the world’s policeman?
Protests were launched from governments around the world, led by Russia and China. Calls were made within the United Nations Security Council to have the United States sanctioned. With the United States being a permanent member, it vetoed the action. General Knight, tired of the rhetoric from the U.N., made his intentions known about the world body.
The Third Cell Page 53