hiddeninplainsight.html

"HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT" ©

Flag of al-Qaeda Abdul Aziz al-Muqrin

"The first principle is that terrorism,
and terrorism alone, is the path to liberation. . .
If what they mean by jihad is terrorism,
then we are terrorists."

Fawaz Damra, Imam 1989

al-Farooq mosque Brooklyn, NY 1986 to 1990

Islamic Center of Greater Cleveland 1991 to 2005.

Palenstinian protesters in San Francisco - July 13, 2006

(Photographs courtesy of zombietime.com)

Six years after the events of September 11, 2001, people are still learning to prevent such acts by pursuing advanced education in homeland security related fields. The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, (NM Tech), is on the forefront of technology to prevent terrorist acts. An attack on the campus of NM Tech brings the message home... nobody is safe from terrorism regardless of the knowledge you possess. The perpetrators and their methodology must be identified in order to deal with them individually. Their lines of communication must be identified and patterns utilized need to be learned to locate other networks within the US. Every act of terror is viewed as a boiling point but the source of the heat must be determined. Terrorism is far-reaching, and much of it is based in religious fanaticism that creates instability in people and deep emotion can't be dealt with overtly. The result is human suffering, death, and destruction. In the aftermath of a terrorist event people are left searching for personal safety which can't be realized regardless of where you live.

"A terrorist's success isn't in trying to change how you think, his success is in maintaining how he thinks."

Dan Sanchez is conflicted by his profession as a self-employed private investigator. For thirty years his manner of investigation has been to never get personally involved in the outcome of what he investigates. He only gathers facts which speak for themselves and what the client, usually an attorney, does with them is of no concern to him. Lately though the nature of some of his investigations have changed him; whereas before he saw how facts dictated events, now he understands people create the facts which cause the events. His drive to gather all of the facts that create the jig-saw puzzle has been dampened by events surrounding his daughters death. In the cloudy world of religious fanatacism Dan believed things to be just as obscured by a torrential rain, as by a penetrating mist. The further he delves into this investigation, he realizes that the secret of a terrorist's happiness lies in the mind's release from worldly ties, or so it was taught by a religious figure... Buddha.

Another conflict for Dan is FBI Agent Arthur Fleming. Dan will proceed with his investigation even though he risks being charged with a federal offense and going to jail, having been warned to stay-away. The issue of a governor's pardon wouldn't apply in a federal case but what the hell, he's really doing it for himself. It’s personal and it’s worth it. He realizes he must work alone or in a small group in order to move fast enough to track a terrorist. It is doubtful the same terrorist will strike again soon, but the team must be prepared to act at a moments notice. Thus, there would be no time to allow the "decision makers" the opportunity to make a decision.

Muhammad Qasim is a devout Muslim. He is of deep faith which calls for the removal of anyone who gets in the way of his view of how the world should exist. He grew up in New Mexico, and at first, didn't have the fanatical Islamic views of some at the mosque. He didn't want to simply slaughter everyone in his path as some talk about doing. But he doesn't mind going after the Jews that invaded his ancestral homeland and to safeguard Islam itself. From meetings at the mosque he realizes that the outcome, to whatever degree, even in the event of his own death accomplishes his personal goal of affecting as many people as possible in one act of terror.

Daniel Gonzales is a CIA agent who grew up in northern New Mexico. Having first started with the FBI he chose to transfer to the CIA after a stint in Afghanistan involving a special assignment. The U.S. Embassy was attacked and he was part of a select group of FBI agents to investigate the matter. While there he worked with some CIA agents who operated on the edge of the so-called Jihad, these guys were the tip of the spear. One of them led the group that tracked Osama bin Laden to the Hindu Kush Mountains. He actually had him in his gun-sights but was told to abort his mission and stand-down until further advised. He liked the idea of operating out in "Indian Country" away from supervision. He also liked the idea of anonymity and not always having to answer for his actions. The bureau on the other hand was all about accountability.

What is unknown to the public is that in order to prevent other terrorist acts by the same people, hunter/killer teams are dispatched to deal with them. One could suppose private security operators are utilized in this regard. Samir Rashad is a student at NM Tech, but is in fact a CIA mole and his recruitment to NM Tech wasn't by chance. He is there, as bait, to attract someone to contact him from the Albuquerque cell which the CIA has suspected contains an American al-Qaeda operative. Samir has been checked-out by people at the mosque, thus he isn't under any kind of suspicion.

More in the Fall....