Baffling Puzzle

Rick went to his office to review the overnight traffic from Iraq. One message caught his eye. It stated that a young low-level member of Sadr’s Shiite Militant group, Samir Talabi, had come across a list of Sadr operatives who had been trained in Iran to lead Jihadi cells in Iraq and the West. Under his father’s guidance, he’d offered to trade the list for a U.S. education and a new life in the U.S. Being aware of the situation in Bagdad as well as the potential of well-trained terrorist operators in the U.S. following 9/11, Rick thought the trade-off might be a very cost effective way to monitor and silence such operatives. The message had also stated it was none other than Dr. Rafik Talabi, a noted Lebanese heart specialist throughout the Middle East and the West, who was the young man’s father. Apparently, he had convinced Samir, his eldest son, to help himself and the U.S at the same time. Samir had been studying at a Beirut University when he was recruited to fight with Sadr. Not being a true Jihadi, his brutal experiences in Iraq against his fellow Muslims, along with his father’s pleadings, had forced him to rethink his involvement Sadr’s forces. Lady Fortune had stepped into the picture recently. One of his warrior friends who worked closely with Sadr’s staff was given a flash drive to deliver to another messenger in Basra, but he was blown up fighting with Samir in Baghdad during a surprise Iraqi military ambush. Samir had barely gotten away himself. His weapon had jammed. However, without a second thought, he’d grabbed his friend’s AK-47 and fought his way out killing a couple of Iraqi soldiers in the process. When his fellow Jihadists had reassembled later, nothing had been said of his friend’s mission or death. Later that day, Samir was cleaning the AK-47 when he came across a small compartment in the stock of the weapon. Opening it, he discovered a flash drive. Without saying anything, he reviewed its’ contents and recognized there significance. While knowing the information was valuable, he wasn’t sure what to do with it. In the next conversation with his father, he said, “Dad, some truly significant information which could help the Americans has fallen into my hands. I am so tired of watching Muslims killing Muslims and this war…I need to get my old life back.” “Samir that’s great! You know I have wanted you out of Iraq since you went there. I think the best place for you would be in the U.S. studying and resetting your life. I’ll contact my old tennis-playing friend, Ron Perry, the U.S. Defense Attache here and see what can be done.” When Ron had gotten off the phone with Rafik Talabi, he shot a message to Washington immediately relaying this information and requesting instructions. He also indicated the problem would be separating Samir from the Sadr forces and getting him out of Iraq. Then he’d relaxed awaiting Washington’s response. Rick sat back in his chair and mused about the significance of the Talabi’s desire to turn such critical information over to the U.S. Interestingly the Bush Administration had completed the biggest overhaul of the U. S. intelligence community since 1947 when the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act became law on December 14, 2004.1 Additionally, this act set in motion an outreach to the Muslim world designed to improve the image of the United States abroad and slow terrorist recruiting.2 Thus, Rick speculated the Talabis’ request would be met with favor. As he completed this thought the office clock struck a quarter to ten, reminding him of his meeting with the boss. He grabbed his notebook, told Jamie he was off to Colonel Hooper’s office, and dashed out . Chance didn’t waste any time. As Rick entered his office his head came up and he said, “Got a hot one for you in Baghdad.” “Okay…I’m ready.” “Did you get through the overnight message traffic this morning, Rick?” “Yes, I did.” “Do you remember the message from our Defense Attache in Beirut?” “Yes.” “Well you are part of the answer to the Defense Attache’s request for instructions,” said Chance. “You’ll leave tonight from the base here. You’ll be accompanied by a retired warhorse by the name of Sam Flynn who is currently working with the agency. Sam has the distinction of going to school with Rafik and knowing Samir as a child. We are hoping Samir will remember him. If he does, it should assist you both with his extraction. In any case, you’ll have several hours to consider the best way to get Samir out as you fly to Iraq. When you get to Joint Base Balad tomorrow Colonel Monk Smith, our liaison officer from the Green Zone in Baghdad, will meet you and escort you to your assembly area. He’ll have been briefed and will coordinate your efforts with everyone in the loop. A special forces A Team has been alerted to your coming along with the Base Commander. The A Team is available to participate in Samir’s removal while the Base Commander will have forces on standby to assist should you get in trouble. You and Sam will remain with Samir to Washington. Dr. Talabi will be there to greet his son and stay with him through the out briefing. Once everything has been completed you will resume your duties in Tampa. Any questions?” “No,” responded Rick. “We’ll have to wait until we are on the ground before making final arrangements. Sam and I are old friends. We have worked together before and I am certain we can handle this.” “Okay,” Rick. “Good luck!” “Thanks, Colonel.”