by Uzi Eilam
“The control and supervision systems,” the man began, nearly whispering, “are becoming more and more dependent on computer software—”
“Would you speak up a little?” Razek berated him. “We old people have a hard time hearing.”
“I apologize, General Razek.” The man continued to whisper. “This situation enables infiltrating most systems through cyber means. Paradoxically, you can say that the more sophisticated such communication-reliant systems become, the easier they are to infiltrate. We can assume that the container terminal’s system is still not hermetically protected.”
“This is an interesting and important direction,” Razek noted, “but let’s not neglect good old traditional warfare. Twenty of our fighters are currently at our commando warfare training facility. We’ve recruited our finest commando warriors for this training mission. You should remember that the fighting techniques of Malaysia’s Special Forces are based on a long-standing infrastructure established here by the British. After the end of World War II, a long, bloody war took place against the Communists from the North. This method of fighting has been passed on from generation to generation, in combination with modern tactics and new weaponry.”
“That sounds good,” Ja’afari commented. “What are the unique aspects of the training regime? And how long does the course of training last?”
“The program includes various methods of attaining our goals, as you can witness yourselves when you visit the facility and observe the training. You’ll be able to watch mountain bike riding, ATVs driven under difficult field conditions, and racing-style getaway driving. I’m sure you’ll be impressed by the use of speedboats and diving aimed at sabotaging naval targets. In the aerial field, we’ll show you how our fighters are taught to pilot light planes as well as commercial aircraft in the course of a hijacking. Also in the aerial field, you’ll see them traveling via silent paragliding, ambushing peripherally protected targets. We’ve allocated five more weeks to the current training cycle, and we’re equipped to conduct additional cycles if necessary. I ask that you provide us with the required information to smuggle personnel and materials into Singapore undetected. Tackling the topic of the container terminal seems particularly important to me, and I understand, General Ja’afari, that you’re handling it. We want to thank the people of the Iranian embassy for sharing this important information, as well as our team here at the division.”
Everyone rose simultaneously, turning to leave the room. Only after they had left did they dare speak to each other, sharing their impressions.
“Ja’afari,” Razek addressed his friend. “Could you stay a few more minutes? I have a couple of things to discuss with you.”
“Yes, of course,” Ja’afari replied, signaling his people to wait for him outside.
“Ja’afari, my friend, you have no idea how glad I am that you’re here in Kuala Lumpur,” Razek said, unusually emotional. “This will allow us to come full circle on a journey that began at the end of your war in Iraq, back in the eighties.”
“Those were the days…” Ja’afari was nostalgic. “I liked you even back then, when you stood your ground as head of the UN observers’ team.”
“I wanted to emphasize,” Razek whispered, returning to the present, “that you and I are the only ones who know about our people who are already in Singapore, just waiting for our signal to carry out an attack or to join someone arriving from the outside.”
“Of course, there was no reason to mention it in the presence of your people and mine. I want to thank you for assisting the two Hezbollah financial experts currently using a sophisticated cover to launder money in Singapore and convey it to our activists in the area. I was impressed by the way you treated the Hezbollah activists and the Hamas fighters in your commando training. I’ll report this meeting to Tehran as early as today. You can be certain they’ll approve,” Ja’afari said.
“I’m glad to hear you say that, my friend. By the way, that reminds me that this month is nearly over, and I have yet to see any tokens of your appreciation for my assistance…”
“Ahhh… you’re right. I’ll take care of it as soon as I return to the embassy,” he promised.
The two generals parted with a firm handshake and a hug. The ambassador, accompanied by his team, headed for his limousine, which was waiting directly at the bottom of the Ministry of Defense building’s staircase. The head of Malaysian intelligence returned, with a vigorous stride, to his office, where he picked up the receiver to his private line.
“Darling,” Razek whispered when a feminine voice replied on the other end of the line. “How are you today? I’ve had a busy day, and I need your special pampering massage. I’ll see you in twenty minutes…”
Chapter 5
The bureau of the head of the National Security Institute, General Tan, was continuously active. Three men and one woman were seated around the heavy mahogany table. The general addressed one of them.
“Mr. Rogel, you have directed our attention to some new threats regarding terror attacks in Singapore. Please meet Ho Ming, head of the Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Division. I believe you’ve already met Ms. Damia Nur, head of the Technology and Communication Department at our agency.”
Reserve Forces Brigadier-General David Rogel had formed a good relationship with Tan. One advantage he had was his service in the Intelligence Corps of Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He had acquired the reputation of being a consummate professional, within a very short time, due to his ability to update his colleagues with reliable information. Tan knew that if Rogel had information to report, it was important for him to listen and take appropriate action.
“This topic is very important for security in Singapore,” Rogel said. “During the last few days, we’ve discussed the growing threat originating in neighboring Malaysia.”
“We have, mainly the new Iranian ambassador in Kuala Lumpur, General Ja’afari, who has been ousted from his lofty role as commander of the Revolutionary Guard and relegated to a position away from the heart of the action in Tehran,” Tan concurred. “So what’s new?”
“From the pieces of information accumulating, my impression is that, unlike in the past, Malaysia is very actively involved in assisting in the execution of terror attacks. Preparations are currently in progress for a ‘mega-attack’ in Singapore. Apparently, General Ja’afari has managed to convince the heads of the Ministry of Defense in Malaysia that they would benefit from supporting terrorism in Southeast Asia.”
The head of the Intelligence Division intervened in the conversation. “This process in Malaysia is engineered by one person: General Anwar Razek, head of the Malaysian Royal Intelligence Corps, whose connections with Iran began at the end of the Iraq-Iran war, back in the eighties. At that time, he was serving in a senior role in the UN’s observer task force after the fighting ended. As part of his role, Razek met a young, ambitious major named Ja’afari. Now that they’re both in positions of power, apparently, their relationship has resumed, which seems to be allowing Iran to expand the infrastructure of terrorist activity directed against us…”
“What else do we know about this General Razek?” Tan challenged. “The name sounds familiar to me, but I don’t remember the context.”
“The man climbed up the ranks of the Malaysian Army thanks to his talents. He’s intelligent, cunning, ambitious, and has no problem trampling people who prevent him from achieving his goals. He’s corrupt, a hedonist, and a lover of women. No one in Malaysia’s defense apparatus has dared oppose him. It’s very possible that he’s being generously paid by the Iranians in return for the services he’s providing,” the head of the Intelligence Division said.
“I’ll add that Ja’afari was demoted from his lofty position as the omnipotent commander of the Revolutionary Guard and was sent off to serve as ambassador in a distant and not particularly valued destination in Iran’s foreign relations network. Such an
ousting must have been made based on a decision by the Supreme Leader. To this day, it remains unclear what exactly happened there. The most reasonable assessment relates to the Revolutionary Guard commander’s connection to the mysterious accident that ended the lives of technology expert General Jamshidi and the president of Iran,” Rogel said.
“And how is that related to our matter here?” Tan asked.
“General Ja’afari has never relinquished his ambition to return to the centers of power, and we have to assume he’ll use impressive terror attacks in our area as a springboard. We should also keep in mind that, several months ago, the Supreme Leader of Iran was forced to resign due to health reasons. A new Supreme Leader is another factor galvanizing the ambitions of this frustrated general who has been relegated to the role of ambassador to Malaysia.”
“I certainly concur with General Rogel’s analysis,” the head of the Intelligence Division chimed in. “Which confronts us with a tricky challenge. Rogel’s analysis indicates the importance of an intelligence focus on Iran’s new ambassador in Malaysia and on General Razek, head of the Malaysian Royal Intelligence Corps.”
As Tan continued to converse with the head of his Intelligence Division, Rogel’s thoughts drifted to his own failure to attain a prominent position in the army, as well as to be promoted to major general. What does anyone actually want? Recognition and a sense of belonging. In that regard, he was no different from the demoted Iranian general. The difference lay in the way different people tried to attain these goals. And now, as part of his role as representative for Rafael, he was trying to impress the Singaporeans and his superiors in Israel with achievements that could be portrayed as resulting from his personal efforts. David Rogel was still dealing with a harsh argument with his wife, who had not wanted to accompany him to faraway Singapore.
General Tan addressed him, cutting his contemplation short. “Identifying the major players acting against us does seem highly important to me. But what do we know about their plans, my friend Rogel? What made you sound the alarm so insistently?”
“This current threat doesn’t resemble the 2001 terror attack by the Jemaah Islamiyah organization, which was thwarted at the last moment,” Rogel replied. “I hope that such a large-scale explosion couldn’t take place today, after the lessons learned in Singapore. Lessons have also been learned from the murderous attack on the island of Bali in Indonesia in 2002. But we can’t just count on the lessons of the past, as the terrorist organizations are also drawing conclusions and coming up with surprises.
“You now face threats reinforced by a country that is, in fact, a terrorism superpower. Iran has established a commando unit of the Revolutionary Guard called Quds Force. This unit is responsible for all operations outside the borders of Iran. It has already proven its ability to harm Jewish targets in various countries throughout the world. In addition to the Iranian terrorism units,” Rogel added, “the Iranians also operate units of Hezbollah, and recently Hamas activists from the Gaza Strip, as well.”
“And how is all that connected to us?” General Tan challenged Rogel.
“The link is what’s going on in Malaysia,” Rogel explained, “as well as the galvanizing activity by the new ambassador, Ja’afari, who has found an ally in Razek, head of the Malaysian intelligence service. There’s information regarding a training facility that Razek and his people have built for the ‘trainees’ from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The emerging trend is not just activating explosive charges, but also hitting financial targets in Singapore. We have some leads indicating the container terminal as a preferred target.”
“And, in our assessment, what will this mega-attack focus on, and how close is it to being executed?” Tan asked the head of his Intelligence Division.
“General Rogel was right to direct our attention to the port terminal. We should prepare to thwart attacks on the apparatus controlling container traffic, as well as take into account that container transport management might be disrupted, resulting in major financial damage. It’s also important to consider the threat of smuggling materials and people. Singapore is not necessarily the sole target of this variety of terror; Israel, the United States and some European countries might also be targeted for Iranian terrorism campaigns.”
The attendees waited for Tan’s response. The general bowed his head, retreating into his thoughts, while everyone waited tensely for his verdict. Rogel was the first to break the silence.
“Since the threat is strategic in nature, we should think of addressing it on an international level. You should even consider cooperation with the United States and with us, the Israelis, in the field of intelligence in general, and particularly in regard to cyber terrorism. Such a collaboration would serve all our interests, and let me remind you that Israelis Dr. Gideon Ben Ari and Mr. Dan Avni are currently in Singapore and could help us with cyber warfare.”
At this point, Tan turned to his office manager.
“Instruct my administrative assistants to convey a report to the prime minister and the minister of defense tonight. My conclusion to this update will consist of a recommendation to handle this complex threat through international cooperation, as Rogel phrased it.”
Chapter 6
The head of the International Relations Department of the Israeli Mossad2was in a volatile mood when he entered Yitzhak Nahari’s office. He had heard of the plan to assign Gideon to the campaign to enhance defense efforts in Singapore, and he was mustering the courage to express his objections. Boldness was certainly required in order to face Nahari’s cold, piercing gaze when someone was attempting to alter his decisions.
“Yitzhak, I insist you listen to the reasons why it wouldn’t be right to add Gideon to the efforts to assist Singapore—”
Nahari cut to the chase. “I’m willing to listen, but spare me your long lectures.”
“Gideon has been a businessman for many years now, and he’s understandably keen on advancing his business in Singapore as well…”
“And what’s so bad about that?” Nahari asked.
“It’s a conflict of interest,” the head of the department continued. “And we think he might have an agenda of his own when he’s dealing with these sensitive topics in Singapore—”
“And who’s ‘we’?” Nahari interjected.
“My department… Everyone.”
“Look, I’ve known Gideon for quite a few years. He’s been through some tough challenges and demonstrated integrity and courage. His connections in Singapore could have positive aspects as well. The locals know him and trust him, which is important considering the state of uncertainty associated with the terrorist threats they’re facing. And as for the conflict of interest, I trust Gideon to conduct himself with the necessary sensitivity.” Nahari relented somewhat. “I’ll make my final decision after I talk to Gideon.”
Nahari considered what he had just heard, wrote down some notes on the conversation, and quickly called Gideon in Singapore from a secure phone line.
“Hi Gideon,” Nahari’s voice emerged from the receiver of the secured line. “What have you been doing there for so long?”
“I’m here with Dan Avni, and we’re trying to interest the Singaporeans in some projects relating to advanced communication technology—”
“Isn’t this stuff classified? Don’t you need authorization to export defense technology?”
“This is entirely civilian, and is based on the knowledge Dan Avni acquired within his company.”
“This is the young man who was with you in Paris, in the campaign to thwart Iranian purchases in Europe, right?”
Obviously, Nahari knew all about Dan Avni, Gideon thought, and this was one of the methods he had chosen to employ. He decided to play along with Nahari’s game.
“Dan was an outstanding technology officer in an Intelligence Corps unit, displaying impressive intelligence and judgment calls in the many cases assig
ned to him. He turned down numerous requests to stay on in the army, preferring to join the company his father had founded in Silicon Valley. Dan possesses valuable knowledge in the field of IOT, and I was considering using his services to promote commercial projects in Singapore. But I understand you wanted to discuss the current situation here in Southeast Asia regarding terrorist activity.”
“That’s right. We think you’ll have to take some time off from your commercial ventures in order to assist Singapore in establishing a defense system against the variety of threats they’re facing,” Nahari replied. “I hope you won’t have to dedicate a lot of time to this. I’m sure you know that your success in providing solutions to the terrorist threats against Singapore will ultimately promote your civilian projects as well.”
“That is indeed true.” Gideon sighed.
“I understand you’re leaning toward joining the task force,” Nahari continued, with uncharacteristic gentleness. “We could also approve adding Dan to the task force if you’re in.”
“Yes,” Gideon confirmed. “I see there’s no choice but to join this campaign.”
“You’re making the right choice,” Nahari said. “I suggest you browse the detailed threat report that our research department has prepared. It’s been dispatched today, via special courier, to our attaché in Singapore. I suggest you specifically focus on the chapter written by our research department’s cyber attack defense team. They know a lot more than your generation, with your focus on submachine guns and explosives. Also, pay attention to the information and assessments regarding China’s involvement, and its technological and strategic considerations.”