Dead Edge: the gripping political thriller for fans of Lee Child. Jack Ford
Читать онлайн книгу.
either been forced to become slaves, married off or used as suicide bombers… The main objective for Boko Haram? To overthrow the government and create a caliphate state. Most tellingly, and a growing concern, is they’ve also pledged their allegiance to ISIL. The US designated them a terrorist group in 2013.’
Woods looked at his watch. ‘How does this all fit in?’
‘Well, what we’ve been doing is working on fresh information in regards to the movements of Boko Haram. Human intelligence tells us the bomber, David Thorpe, who we now have in our custody, and are questioning in one of our sites in Turkmenistan, has direct links with a group we’ve been following in Nigeria.’
‘How reliable is your HI?’ Woods asked.
‘Very. And that’s why it’s important we question him rather than the FBI. So our operation isn’t at all compromised.’
‘Ok, so here’s my questions. Do you think he’s linked to the suicide bomber at Memphis airport, as well as the bombers in the other states last week? You think they were in a cell, or could it be a case of a wave of copycat lone wolves, who were perversely inspired by one another?’
‘I think it’s the former, Mr President. The suicide bombings were definitely coordinated attacks and it’s a likely supposition, well, more than likely according to HI, that this attack from this particular bomber was spaced a week apart from the others to create an even greater impact on the country. As in, we had the first spate of bombings, then over the following two or three days everything was on code red, the American people were afraid. Then, like a mass movement, there was a sense of a united front amongst everybody. A determination to carry on with life regardless. Stats show cancelled flights throughout the country were re-booked. A surge in people going to the movie-theater. Showing the terrorists they won’t win. And then, bang. Right out of nowhere, another bomb. Only this time bigger. Much bigger. Everybody’s worst nightmare. Causing maximum psychological impact to the American people.’
Woods glanced over at the black and white security tape. Un-paused it. Watched it again. The bomber, David Thorpe, had walked into a coffee shop, hence the Washington Post – much to his irritation – naming the guy ‘the coffee shop bomber’ and even going on to report how the guy took his coffee.
Non-fat.
No whipped cream.
Eggnog Latte complete with cinnamon sprinkle.
Afterwards David Thorpe had sauntered over to the truck he’d driven. Locked it then walked away, only for it to explode twenty minutes later, taking down half a government building in Chatham, Illinois. It seemed almost miraculous that there hadn’t been fatalities. A lot of the area had been closed down, after reports of a chemical spill had forced evacuations across three to four blocks. However, there’d been a hell of a lot of destruction
Thorpe’s face had been clear on the CCTV, and the FBI had picked him up easily from a small place near Willowbrook, just off state 55. A two-and-a-half-hour drive from where the bomb had exploded. Reports said, the guy had just been getting on with it. Getting on with his business like everyday folk did. Like nothing had happened.
‘I don’t agree,’ Lyndon said.
Chuck leant forward. Tilted his head. ‘Excuse me?’
‘I don’t agree. This bomb that Thorpe used was sophisticated. The others weren’t. Far from it.’
‘I don’t see what difference that makes, Lyndon.’
‘Oh come on, it’s elementary, there’s no way a cell group jumps from the most basic of basic suicide vests made with common household products to a highly complex and powerful bomb. You don’t go down to the local drug store for that. I say this is something different. Not connected.’
‘Everyone’s a counter terrorism expert.’
Lyndon strained to hear. ‘Did you say something, Chuck?’
‘No… No, I just think you’re wrong. So wrong it’s untrue. Boko Haram, who we think all these recent bomb attacks are linked to, have also developed connections and taken on philosophies of other militant groups, such as Al-Qaeda and, as I say, ISIL. Therefore, using such an elaborate bomb isn’t so far removed as you think.’
Woods said, ‘What do we know about David Thorpe personally?’
‘Born 1966. Nigerian descent. He’s single. Newly divorced, though he separated from his wife five years ago. One child aged ten, but apparently he doesn’t see them much if at all. He works full time at a local car showroom. After his wife left him, he rediscovered his religion, though it wasn’t long before he began to study Wahhabism – a form of Islam widely practiced in Saudi Arabia. Wahhabism is seen as an ultra-conservative branch of Islam and is often referred to as the revolutionary branch. It also forms the fundamental ideology of ISIS, Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab, as well as several other jihadist groups. And what they say is the reason behind all their actions is to form a caliphate.’
Woods nodded. ‘And the problem with a caliphate is that it’s the model of Medina, all about expansionism.’
Chuck said, ‘Give me a government and a foreign policy which isn’t all about that and I’ll give you Switzerland.’
Against his better judgement, Woods smiled and Lyndon shook his head, speaking thoughtfully. ‘Boko Haram just don’t travel though, Mr President. I don’t buy it.’
Woods looked at Lyndon. ‘Think about it, though. When Al Qaeda first started out, AQ wasn’t an operational organization like it is now, but only an idea. There was only Bin Laden and Abdullah Azzam. But unlike his counterparts, Bin Laden decided on the idea of fighting the far enemy instead of the near enemy which had previously been targeted, and over time his idea became a franchise. Jihadists from all over the world came to him based on his philosophy of the far enemy. He trained them in guerilla techniques and warfare – basically how our CIA had trained him during Afghanistan’s war against Russia. He is also funded these franchise associated groups, and lone wolf operators, who were deadly and driven on by Bin Laden’s philosophy. So maybe these bombers, although linked to Boko Haram, have taken on the philosophy of the far enemy… Us. America.’
Taking a sip of water, Chuck looked at the President. ‘Dar al-harb. Land of war. That’s what’s happening here. Terrorist groups feel they can validate what they do, attacking the far enemy, because they feel they’re fighting a holy war. And that’s my guess on what was driving David Thorpe.’
Woods, feeling the first tingle of pins and needles in his fingers, stretched his hand out. ‘I mean, I understand you’d want your own land and county. Right now in the world there isn’t an official Islamic state. That can only happen when there’s a Caliph and Caliphate, and apart from the problem with expansionism, there’s nothing wrong with a Caliphate in its purest form. People don’t get that Islam isn’t just a religion, it’s a way of life for an individual and a society as a whole. It’s a system; a ruling, economic, administrational, social, penal and personal one. But what’s happening here with all the jihadist movements, well, that’s about terror and our job is to stop it. But the damn problem is the whole thing has created such a divide, not only within the Muslim community, but within the world as a whole.’
Chuck agreed. ‘Which goes back to our bomber, David Thorpe. He became very vocal about his allegiance to such groups, but in particular to Boko Haram. Hate preaching. Speaking of violence. And eventually he drew the attention of the authorities. A few years ago Thorpe was put on the federal No-Fly List.’
‘He’s still on it, I take it,’ Woods said.
Chuck shook his head. Contemplated taking a sip of water. Changed his mind before stifling a yawn. ‘Nope.’
‘Jesus, Chuck, you kidding me? What happened?’
‘What I can see from the data he was taken off about a year ago.’
‘You need to bury that one.’
‘Well,