Forge, Oct 2003, 24.95, 384 pp.
ISBN: 0765309289
United States President James MacPherson sends Secretary of State Tucker Paine and White House advisor Jon Bennett to the Middle East to broker a peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Accompanying the American envoys is Jon's Arabic speaking CIA body guard and lover Erin McCoy. The hope this time is based on a find of a major oil reserve that can make everyone wealthy and thus desiring stability and peace. However, the terrorist group Al-Nakbah assigns Arafat's personal bodyguard Khalid al-Rashid to commit suicide by blowing himself along with Arafat and Paine to death in the explosion.
Arafat's death leads to civil war in the Gaza Strip. Jon and Erin struggle to survive with their mission demolished by the suicide bombing. Al-Nakbah also brings their brand of terrorism to America and challenges Israel, forcing the Zion State to react with an invasion of the West Bank and Gaza.
The tale uses recent real world events like the Iraqi War to bring a sense of reality to the tale, with the story line taking place under the direction of the forty-fourth president. The action is fast-paced and never slows down from the moment Arafat is assassinated until the climax. Fans of the author (see THE LAST JIHAD) will enjoy this fantastic political thriller that is escapist fun especially for the Viagra enhanced action crowd.
Harriet Klausner
This report prepared by Harriet Klausner
