“Life is sure going to be different when that boy in the president’s office has to retire. No more vetoes and no more of this religion crammed down everybody’s throats.”
“It can’t come soon enough,” Crow agreed, “but we have to defeat his protégé, this vice president.”
“That should be no problem since he has publicly aligned himself with religious excess and against peace,” Howard replied.
Elsewhere in Washington, Baqir Dawood arrived from Saudi Arabia with the envelope for Ahmad Habid from the Sheik. He had a flight already set up to take him to Phoenix, where he would arrive Thursday afternoon. For now, he had a few days to enjoy Washington in all its glory in the final days before MD.
The Search for Targets and Weapons Continues
Officially, Washington was a hub of activity as the Joint Chiefs, the Survival Commission, Senator Lieberman, Attorney General Rodriquez, David Barnes, Darrell Reed, Kayla Walker and others raced to find answers and prepare a response to the MD threat. It was non-stop activity after Darrell Reed’s interpretation of the meaning of the video message was heard. The window for preemptive action was rapidly closing. Time was short.
“Do you know how many refineries, power plants, dams and water and electric systems there are in the United States?” General Hedge asked with great frustration.
“How are we to know the specific targets? We can’t defend them all.”
“There are over 75,000 reservoirs and dams in the United States alone,” Barnes answered.
“Someone has been doing their research,” Tom Knight commented.
“I have, and I’ve learned a lot about the possible target list the Joint Chiefs have suggested,” Barnes continued. “I agree it is an impossible job without more intelligence on specific targets.”
“Don’t lose your focus,” the president interrupted. “Obviously, we prepare first for the largest and most critical of the possible targets, and we must have a national strategy. If their goal is to cripple the country, they have to hit us everywhere. Divide the country into manageable sections and prepare for the most damaging targets in each.”
“What about the weapons? How are they going to do that much damage?”
“I got a report this morning from Darrell Reed on the truck issue,” Barnes began again. “The terrorist training camp was an oil terminal operation; they were training on gasoline delivery trucks. I know from a source that some of the many calls to report suspicious activities involve large trucks being used to transport people throughout the US who have gotten across the Mexican border. Something is definitely going on with the trucks, and I am sure that is not all. Lest we forget, gasoline explosions and fires brought down the World Trade Center and also caused significant damage to the Pentagon. One cup of gasoline has the explosive power of two sticks of dynamite, and then it burns. Trucks, I believe, are one of the weapons.”
“You could be right,” General Hedge agreed. “We have been testing that possibility and the capacity of fuel trucks to do substantial damage if positioned properly. But how could they get that many trucks filled with gasoline, and what kind of explosive mechanism could be used for maximum effectiveness?”
“I don’t care how you divide this up,” the president said, “but I want answers to those questions and a way to protect the major possible targets from a gasoline bomb — whether driven over land or launched from the air.” Pausing in frustration, he said, “Look, we have to be missing something here. These people cannot possibly hijack enough aircraft and gasoline delivery trucks to do this. They have to have access to the vehicles and airplanes, but how? Also, have you looked into the ammonia bombs like the one that brought down the federal building in Oklahoma City?”
“Mr. President, we are looking at everything,” General Hedge assured him. “Can we have a minute to discuss troop deployments here and abroad? We have to reposition our forces to address what may happen here and in the Middle East on MD.”
“Absolutely, General,” the president said. “We want maximum flexibility to deal with the danger here and in the Middle East.”
“Eric, you need to be at this meeting to coordinate with Israel. The vice president will be called in when we have our plan in place.”
“Mr. President, before you leave, I want you to know that we have moved quickly to impanel a grand jury to investigate the Harkins student or faculty terrorist. Subpoenas have been issued. We have also noticed the deposition of Harkins’ president on an emergency basis for tomorrow, and have issued subpoenas for the records they will not give us. These records may disclose not only the identity of the J-14 leader but perhaps the whole gang if the plot really was hatched at Harkins.
“One more thing, we have found some unusual business activities in the US trucking and aircraft industry as well as in Mexico. We may be onto something about how they will get the weapons of choice without having to hijack them.”
“Great, everyone, stay with it,” the president said excitedly. “We have to find out before they can strike.”
“General, Eric, let’s retire to my office and discuss troop redeployment. After we are through, I would like a little time with you two,” he said, pointing at Tom Knight and David Barnes. Then he rose and excused himself for the next meeting.
Varvel Returns to Williams
Back in Williams on Wednesday, Carl Varvel was again on the move looking for the Bookseller. He had another message from Iran, and as he walked to the warehouse, he still wondered what this could possibly have to do with the National Security of the United States.
Opening the envelope, the Bookseller’s whole countenance changed. He understood immediately what was meant by the message from the Iranian brothers. “Margaret, come here and look at this,” he said, walking into his study away from the ears and eyes of the waiting Varvel.
“Every message is more intense and more direct. Whether this threat is against America, clearly it is increasing in urgency, and the battle for the hearts and minds of the people is where it will be won. There has never been a comparable period in our lifetime where the spiritual issue has so clearly been drawn. These messages from the Iranian brothers seem to affirm what God has been showing so directly that it almost appears to be from the hand of God Himself.”
“I think, you’re right, Samuel. This note seems to be clear guidance from God,” Margaret said as she read again:
Brother, the days are now much shorter, and God’s protection is essential to prevent disaster and open eyes to deception. Don’t believe what you see. Ezekiel 3:17, Jeremiah 8:11, 15.
“When I read this, I almost want to turn off all the news channels and throw away the newspaper,” the Bookseller responded.
“Don’t be silly,” she answered tenderly but forcefully as only a wife can. “You must hear and read what the public is hearing and reading to know how to pray and how God would have you respond when He gives you the opportunity to speak. How can you identify the deception if you hide in a cave? Clearly, this message refers to the false video offer of peace which some have already foolishly embraced, and the verses are instructions to you. Please don’t start the ‘why me’ stuff. It is you because God has called you.”
“I surrender to you and to God,” he responded. “The verses are clear. I am accountable to God as a watchman appointed to warn the people, and I am not to be out there like others saying ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.
“The one that really troubles me is that last one, Jeremiah 8:15.” He read, “‘We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there was only terror.’ Hope is not going to get us through this time. God will protect us, or we are finished just like