The Third Cell

by Anthony D'Egidio

  New York City

  October 7, 11:00 A.M.: The United States Military cordoned off the U.N. complex on the East River and unceremoniously marched all that were not U.S. citizens onto waiting buses, taking the occupants to John F. Kennedy Airport to be sent back to their countries, while throngs of New Yorkers cheered their exit. The following day the military annexed the building as United States property.

  World newspapers were screaming ‘Military Mad Man’ and nations were scrambling to come up with a solution. The problem was complicated by the fact that the western powers had U.S. military bases in most of their countries. They now considered the leadership in the United States as a hostile regime but none of these countries were willing to provoke a confrontation, risking they would be attacked.

  Several O.P.E.C. nations threatened an oil embargo, but through private diplomacy they changed their position. No one was willing to be the first to challenge the United States and risk a nuclear missile. As the oil cartels wrung their hands, off the coast of Venezuela the U.S. Navy’s second fleet had amassed. Within the borders of the country the Venezuelan Army had set up a military dictatorship, welcoming the United States as its ally. The world speculated that the U.S. military provided the logistics and Special Forces to the Venezuelan Army for its coup d’état.

  Within a week the Venezuelan military junta announced the building of three new high-tech refineries in Venezuela by United States oil companies that could extract and process the super-heavy tar oil reserves that the country possessed. A United States Energy Department report stated that Venezuela held ninety percent of the world’s super-heavy tar oil reserves in the Orinoco Belt region. The reserves were estimated to be a total of 1.36 trillion barrels — more oil than previously discovered!

  The United States in a few years would not be dependent upon Middle East oil. The United States and its new petroleum partner, Venezuela, would hold the entire oil-producing world hostage.

  Ocean City, Maryland

  Michelle Branson and Traci Sanders were having a late breakfast, watching television as news of the Venezuelan coup and subsequent alliance with the United States was being discussed. Both women had reverted back to their maiden names in an effort to keep some semblance of privacy. Traci had been released in June after a long recovery. Michelle was instrumental in helping her and for support they moved in together, living a quiet but comfortable life. They had been exonerated in the courts from any of the terrorist activities their husbands were involved in, but the stigma would be with them the rest of their lives.

  That afternoon a postal deliveryman rang the doorbell of the condo. Michelle answered.

  The driver said, “I have a package for a Traci Schonfeld that requires a signature.”

  “That’s me,” Michelle lied, signing for it.

  Wary and concerned, Michelle called out, “Traci, there’s a package for you, but it was addressed to Schonfeld.”

  “Who would know my married name here?”

  “I’m not sure. The return address is London, England.”

  Opening the package, Traci found another small sealed envelope with a one line note:

  You will be in my heart forever.

  The note was not signed, but when Traci opened it she let out a gasp. In her hand was the wedding band she had placed on Daniel’s finger with their engraved names and the date of their marriage, “March 12, 1994 Daniel and Traci.” She cried for over an hour as Michelle tried to comfort her.

  Traci finally composed herself. “I never imagined a man so caring and loving to be what he was. I can only carry the memory of his love for me and reject the rest.”

  Both women never remarried.

  Military Rule

  The U.S. military was in control of every aspect of an American’s life. The National Service Corps that President Conklin instituted had been absorbed into the U.S. military. All adults at the age of eighteen were required to serve at least two years in the military, with no deferments allowed. Astonishingly, sixty-three percent of the American people supported the military takeover. Years of mismanagement by Congress and corrupt administrations, combined with the terrorists attack, propelled the support.

  Crime and drugs were down, the economy was recovering, the borders were safe and America was in control. The Conservative Right fully supported the military takeover.

  Further studies of the radiation in Central and South Florida concluded it would not be habitable for at least thirty years.

  World Reaction

  Initially, Russia and China put their armed forces on highest military alert. When it became apparent that the United States would not encroach upon their countries, the fiery rhetoric from China and Russia quieted.

  China was not willing to sacrifice the loss of its largest trading partner for political ideology. Russia was concerned that oil, its main source of export revenue, was in peril. They quietly reached out to the United States for additional trade agreements. Financial gain transcended politics and the superpowers continued as trading partners.

  In countries where Islamic militants and clergy had enjoyed immunity and tolerance by sympathetic regimes, they were now under siege. Massive protests by the civilian population, fearing for their lives, clamored for the removal of the radicals that they had so warmly embraced. In some countries civil war had broken out.

  Many Arab nations had violent confrontations with the militants when they attempted to disarm them. With overwhelming military power, these nations crushed any insurgent or militant uprising. Unfortunately for the innocent caught in the bloodbath, thousands of women and children were killed, especially in the Palestinian refugee camps where militants had been operating with impunity for years.

  Halab, Syria

  Abdul-Aziz al Hummos and Rashad Ali Obeid had established an export company under their new identities of Hussin Yousser Shuli and Qusai Ismail Zahran. Their company shipped fine handcrafted cotton and wool carpets produced from the local mills to several countries including China and Russia. They reframed from ever discussing the changing landscape of Middle Eastern politics with anyone including personal friends. No one was the wiser and they were leading a comfortable life. They never knew of the demise of their leader, their comrade and their inspiration, Nasih Mahmoud Rahman.

  Abdul-Aziz al Hummos remarried a widowed Palestinian woman, with two young boys. Rashad Ali Obeid still considered himself to me married to Traci, and had no desire to be with any woman.

  Latakia, Syria

  Ahman watched in disbelief as fellow Muslims were slaughtering each other. He had grieved over his nephew’s death for months as he watched the Palestinian cause deteriorate. He could only think of how the death of his beloved Nasih was an unnecessary sacrifice. He only found peace while praying from the Qur’an to fill the emptiness in his heart. Ahman decided to contact Johara Araff in Damascus a year after Nasih’s death.

  Johara, while picking up her ticket for La Boheme at the Dar Al-Asad Opera House, noticed a note inside the envelope. “This is strange that a letter would be waiting for me at the opera house,” she muttered to herself as she opened it and read the contents.

  Johara,

  I wish to meet with you and tell you about your nephew. I will visit you on September twenty-eighth.

  Ahman

  Johara was surprised for she had no idea that Ahman was even alive. He and Nasih had been labeled terrorists by not only Israel and the United States, but by most of the world and she never expected to see either one again.

  Ahman contemplated his decision. I live in quiet peace, and going to meet with Johara is very risky, especially with the military crackdown on civilians. But I need to close this chapter in my life with my only other living relative.

  Dressed in blue jeans, a white shirt and a brimmed hat pulled down to cover his face Ahman entered the Latakia bus station and bought a round trip ticket for Damascus. The two hundred ninety kilometer trip would take over ten hours with the frequent stops along the way an
d a thirty-minute lunch break in Hims. He booked himself into the Oriental Star Hostel, a low-budget hotel, to not raise suspicions.

  The following morning Ahman flagged down a taxi and had the driver take him to Abu Rommaneh Street, where he was dropped off four blocks from Johara’s apartment. He was apprehensive as he approached her address, reviewing the surroundings wary of anyone who might be canvassing the area. After considering the area safe, Ahman rang the bell for Johara’s apartment.

  Johara, being cautious, went to answer the door herself. Peering through the glass pane she asked, “Who are you?”

  “Johara, I’m Ahman, the brother of Hussam Imad Rahman.”

  “What was your brother’s first name.” she asked?

  “Hussam, who was your sister Adara’s husband.”

  Satisfied she opened the door and let Ahman in.

  In an apartment across the street the Mossad was taping the entire episode. The agent recognized Ahman Imad Rahman and called headquarters in Tel Aviv to report the incident. Immediately his supervisor went to Mark Heckman’s office.

  Mark’s reaction was both surprise and relief, but he was unemotional when he spoke. “Well we finally got the fox out of his lair. Kill him!”

  Ahman followed Johara up the stairs to her apartment. It was well furnished from her stay in England, where she had amassed a spectacular array of antique furniture.

  Inviting Ahman to have tea, she had her maid set the service before dismissing her for the day. It was awkward after so many years to have a conversation about anything tangible in their separate lives.

  Johara took a deep breath before she spoke. “Are you responsible for faking Nasih’s death?”

  “I must confess it was my plan to take these Palestinian boys and give them new identities as Jews. It was our only way to deceive the entire world of our actions.”

  “Did you ever think how your deceit caused me and the parents of the other boys such great pain? I wept for years whenever I thought of Nasih. I always blamed myself for letting him go on the trip and that I was responsible for his death.”

  “You must understand that the noble cause these boys embarked on was for Islam and the Palestinian people.”

  Johara was not impressed. “What did he accomplish? Nothing has changed and nothing ever will as long as men fight instead of peacefully working for a solution.”

  Ahman, not known for patience, stood up. “I didn’t come here to debate political objectives. I came here to tell you about Nasih.”

  “Then why didn’t he come himself and face me like a man?”

  “Because he has sacrificed his life for the cause and now he’s truly dead.”

  “I don’t believe you. Is it another one of your lies?”

  Ahman explained. “He took it upon himself to seek out those who would undermine our cause, our mission in life. Those responsible for the destruction in the United States didn’t care about the Palestinians, about women and children suffering in refugee camps or about wanton poverty, sickness and death. They only wanted to show the world that they were the guardians of Islam and only they could be in control. It was all about them, not the downtrodden people for which these unworthy followers of Allāh have no compassion.”

  Ahman paused for a moment. “Nasih infiltrated their world with promises of money and arms. It was he who gave the signal to the United States to launch the nuclear missile. Nasih sacrificed his life in belief that the Palestinian people had been persecuted long enough and deserved their rightful place on this earth. He’s now in Allāh’s presence and has been blessed for his deeds.”

  Johara was in tears. Once again she wept for Nasih as she remembered his goodbye to her so many years ago. Ahman tried to comfort her.

  “Ahman,” Johara cried, “please go and leave me to grieve alone.” She picked up the phone, but the line was dead. “It’s not working, but you should have no problem finding a taxi.”

  Ahman bid his farewell and walked down the stairs. Opening the door he spotted a man in a Syrian Telephone Company uniform working on the pole outside the apartment building. As Ahman passed by, the repairman climbed down. Without hesitation he pulled a Tanfoglio TA90 pistol from underneath his jacket, firing several high velocity 9mm caliber bullets into Ahman’s back and head. Ahman’s body shook as each bullet penetrated his frame. He attempted to keep his balance before dropping face first.

  Hearing the gunshots, Johara ran to the window just in time to watch Ahman fall to the sidewalk. She turned in horror. Am I also a target? She was overcome with grief and fell to the floor crying uncontrollably.

  The few pedestrians who witnessed the shooting had scurried in every direction.

  The shooter calmly picked up the spent shell casings, placing them in the tool bag hanging from his waist. He walked across the street to a waiting automobile then sped off.

  The pool of blood that surrounded the body of Ahman Imad Rahman was dripping down the curb when the police pulled up.

  The officer grimaced as he got out of the car. He turned to his partner. “What a bloody mess. Whoever this poor bastard was, the assassin made sure he could never survive.”

  The body was moved to the morgue and finally identified. Officials were astounded to find that one of the world’s most wanted terrorist was shot on the streets of Damascus and no one bragged about the killing! It certainly wasn’t a squabble amongst rival Muslim groups for surely someone would claim responsibility. Speculation ran wild that the Mossad had done the killing, but the rumor was squashed by the Ministry of Justice, for fear that if word got out that the Israelis were operating freely on Syrian soil it would create a massive embarrassment for the government.

  The body lay in the morgue for three days before a contingent from the Muslims For Justice came to claim Ahman’s body and took him back to Ramallah. His funeral was held to an overflowing crowd at the Jamal Abdel al-Naser Mosque where no less than twelve different speakers gave eulogies of his quest for the Palestinian people. Many who spoke called for renewed attacks against Israel, which was continuing to populate the West Bank with new settlements.

  As in times past, the Mossad taped the entire funeral. Many who attended were identified as militants and would be targeted for assassination.

  Ironically, Ahman’s burial was in the family plot at the small cemetery belonging to the Holy Family Catholic Church. There Ahman Imad Rahman lay with his father Mahmoud Abdel Rahman, his mother Amila Sara Rahman, his twin brother Hussam Imad Rahman and Hussam’s wife Adara Araff Rahman.

  The family, who had been driven from their home in al-Ludd so many long years ago, was finally at peace.

  Across the Middle East the Islamic extremists had taken their fiery rhetoric from the Mosques into small coffee shops, the backrooms of businesses and into private homes to spread their word. It was much too dangerous to voice one’s view in public. They would just bide their time, for time always had been on their side. Time would eventually see the erosion of the U.S. military takeover in the United States. Time would make people of a lesser will, complacent. It could take ten, fifty, or a hundred years. The fastest-growing religion, the Muslim religion, would eventually become the dominant faith of the world. All they needed to do was wait.

  THE END

  Acknowledgements:

  [1] Excerpts from the Wikipedia Internet Post: Death of Osama bin Laden http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Neptune%27s_Spear#Operation_Neptune_Spear

  [2] “Phone call by Kuwaiti courier led to bin Laden”, May 3, 2011. Associated Press.

  [3] Mazzetti, Mark, May 2, 2011. “Behind the Hunt for Bin Laden”. The New York Times.

  [4] Kimberly Dozier; Robert Burns, May 5, 2011. “Raid raises question: Who’s soldier, who’s spy?” The Boston Globe. Associated Press.

  [5] Jim Miklaszewski, May 5, 2011. “Bin Laden ’firefight’: Only one man was armed”. MSNBC.com.

  [6] Viegas, Jennifer, May 2, 2011. “A U.S. Navy Seals’ Secret Weapon: Elite Dog Team”. Discovery.com. />
  [7] Drew, Christopher, May 5, 2011. “Attack on Bin Laden Used Stealthy Helicopter That Had Been a Secret”. The New York Times.

  [8] Ross, Brian, May 4, 2011. ABC World News.

  [9] David Axe, May 4, 2001. “Aviation Geeks Scramble to ID bin Laden Raid’s Mystery Copter”. Wired.

  [10] “CNN live blog of Osama death”. May 5, 2011

  [11] “Osama bin Laden dead”, May 2, 2011. Huffington Post (USA).

  [12] Ross, Brian; Jake Tapper, Richard Esposito, Nick Schifrin, May 2, 2011. “Osama Bin Laden Killed By Navy SEALs in Firefight”. ABC News.

  [13] Katie Couric, May 2, 2011. CBS Evening News.

  [14] Martin, David, May 3, 2011. CBS Evening News.

  [15] “How U.S. forces killed Osama bin Laden”, May 3, 2011. CNN.

  [16] “Osama bin Laden dead: son and presumed heir also killed in raid”, May 2, 2011. Daily Telegraph.

  [17] Mark Landler; Mark Mazzetti, May 5, 2011. “Account Tells of One-Sided Battle in Bin Laden Raid”. The New York Times.

  [18] President Obama to National Security Team: “It’s a Go”. May 2, 2011. ABC News (Blogs.abcnews.com).

  [19] Crilly, Rob, May 10, 2011. “Osama bin Laden son disappeared during compound raid”. Telegraph.co.uk.

  [20] CBS Evening News, 12 May 2011.

  [21] Duparcq, Emmanuel; Tarakzai, Sajjad, May 4, 2011. “Two quiet men lived in house of wonder”. Agence France-Presse. The Australian.

  [22] Christina Lamb and Nicola Smith, May 9, 2011. “Geronimo! EKIA 38 minutes to mission success”. The Australian.

  [23] Sherwell, Philip, May 7, 2011. “Osama bin Laden killed: Behind the scenes of the deadly raid”. The Telegraph.

  [24] “US: Only Single Bin Laden Defender Shot at SEALs”, May 6, 2011 Pauline Jelinek and Robert Burns. The Associated Press.