Mindful Deed

By Jack Kassinger

There was much that Cali didn’t understand—his feelings for Jonathan, the message he had receive from Allah, and why his father acted the way he did? Was quitting his job and striking out on his own, the answer? He didn’t know for sure, but ultimately, he decided that it was the right thing to do. He said goodbye to his best friend and left to find the uncle who, according to his father, held the same religious convictions as he did.

It was a long and dangerous journey and took most of the money he had saved to make the trip. When he arrived at the airport in Mogadishu, he was lost, still unsure of the religious message he had received, and more importantly, where to find his uncle—the man who would introduce him to the Emir of Al-Shabaab and to whom he would eventually become an understudy.

The young Somali-American soon learned the ways of Al-Shabaab, learned how to fight, and learned that the United States Government was the biggest impediment to the successful overthrow of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia—an al-Shabaab objective in the civil war they were fighting to convert the country into an Islamic State.

The Emir, wise in his ways, soon realized that Cali had been sent by Allah, to be used as an instrument, a means that would enable him to strike back at the United States. He wanted to show the Americans that Al-Shabaab could strike the U.S. homeland in a deadly, devastating manner, just as the U.S. military had done to his people in Somalia. Now, after two years of understudy, Cali Mahdi was heading back home, on a mission, a mission of deadly consequences.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brighton Publishing LLC
• Release date: Dec 10, 2017
• ISBN: 9781621834656

Jack Kassinger

In terms of spy genre, Jack Kassinger, as an author, is one of the best there is. His novels include: Noble Cause: A CIA Spy Thriller, Storms Over Zimbabwe, and The Hunt for Njonjo and each provides the reader suspense and drama based on real life experiences. PURSUED is his fourth novel to be published, and is a continuation of his masterful writing.As a former United States Marine and CIA veteran, Jack Kassinger spent his formative years growing up in the small rural town of Livermore, Kentucky. After high school, he joined the Marine Corps and served in Viet Nam. He was wounded in action on Memorial Day 1969. Following his tour with the Marines he joined the Central Intelligence Agency and served overseas in various locations. He retired from the CIA in 1995 as a Senior Intelligence Officer.During his service with the CIA, he received numerous awards for valor and heroism. His awards include the Intelligence Medal of Merit, twice awarded, the Intelligence Star for Valor, and certificates of appreciation from the Joint Special Operations Command.He currently resides in Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas with his wife Cherie. They have two married children.

Book preview

Mindful Deed

Jack Kassinger

Brighton Publishing LLC

435 N. Harris Drive

Mesa, AZ 85203

www.BrightonPublishing.com

ISBN13: 978-1-62183-465-6

Copyright © 2017

eBook

Smashwords Edition

Cover Design: Tom Rodriguez

All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. The characters in this book are fictitious and the creation of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to other characters or to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher or copyright owner.

CIA Disclaimer

The Central Intelligence Agency requires all former employees to submit their work for review, before publication, to prevent the inadvertent disclosure of classified information.

All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official positions or views of the CIA or any other U.S. Government agency. Nothing in the contents should be construed as asserting or implying U.S. Government authentication of information or Agency endorsement of the author’s views. This material has been reviewed by the CIA to prevent the disclosure of classified information.

Prologue

He was known as The Provider, the man who despots, dictators, and other ruthless leaders turned to when the need for a specific item could not be purchased due to internationally imposed sanctions, weapons embargoes, or other forms of prohibition. He was a callous businessman who traded, bartered, and bought everything from military materiel and related hardware to computers and sophisticated software to satisfy the needs of those desiring his services. He had an extensive network of contacts, inside and outside governments throughout Europe, Africa, and parts of the Middle East. His reputation for being able to deliver the goods, even under the most difficult of circumstances, was widely recognized. The diplomatic status that he held was a tremendous asset that enabled him to satisfy his personal business transactions.

Sometime earlier…

He had just met with an Iranian, a courier transiting Khartoum on his way back to Tehran after delivering a money pouch to Mukhtar Abu Zubaya, the man in charge of waging war against the TFG, the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. He met with the courier on a regular basis. It was part of an intricate deal that he, as the Eritrean ambassador to Sudan, had negotiated between his government in Eritrea, the Ayatollahs in Tehran, and Zubaya, the leader of al-Shabaab in Somalia. The courier, in confidence, told him that Zubaya was seeking a more sophisticated form of military weaponry from his government to counter the increased aid being provided to the TFG by Western governments.

It’s not going to happen, though, the courier said while returning his alias Eritrean documents to the ambassador. The risk is just too great, he concluded.

After learning what they were asking for, the ambassador knew as well that Iran would not risk further international condemnation and increased economic sanctions if it were later learned that they had provided al-Shabaab with a weapon capable of killing hundreds of people in a single attack. He, on the other hand, would have to give the matter some further thought. Somalis were killing Somalis, so what difference would it make if one side killed more than the other, regardless of how they did it?

A few weeks later, while on a diplomatic trip to Syria, the ambassador decided to call on old acquaintance, someone he had known for many years. If an opportunity existed, as the courier had indicated, then why not check out the possibility of satisfying al-Shabaab’s needs?

The man he called upon was a former Syrian military officer who bought, but mostly sold, weapons to those who could afford the high price of his goods. It was a short visit, but long enough to satisfy the ambassador’s curiosity about availability and costs. They talked in circles, with the ambassador never deliberately speaking of the type of materiel or quantity that he was seeking to purchase.

I’m just making an inquiry, my good friend, he said to the Syrian, to see if you can provide assistance to help me satisfy a pressing business opportunity.

The ambassador took a small notepad from his pocket and wrote two words. He turned the notepad around so the Syrian could see the words he had written.

This would not be a large purchase in terms of quantity, my friend, but nevertheless, a purchase that I assume you can handle. Right now, I’m just looking for confirmation that we might be able to make a deal, stated the ambassador while ripping the page from his notepad.

Yes, I understand, Jabir, replied the Syrian while watching the ambassador strike a match to burn the page. And, yes, it is possible to obtain what you have asked about, but the price will be very high, depending on quantities desired.

The ambassador dropped the burning page into a nearby ashtray. Thank you, he responded. I shall not take up more of your time. He rose to leave. Perhaps I will visit again in the near future with more specifics. Good day, my friend.

Good day, Jabir. Some advance notice of your next visit would be most beneficial.

The ambassador left the meeting thinking about the reply from the Syrian. A high price meant there was potential for a hefty profit, and with those thoughts, he returned to Khartoum.

A few days later, he was on another trip, this time to Mogadishu. He had decided to proffer a business deal with al-Shabaab—one that if accepted, would allow him to retire early from the nefarious business he had built up over the course of the past several years. As he walked out of the terminal, he could smell the stench of a war-torn city. He held a handkerchief over his nose and mouth to purify the air as he looked for a taxi. There were but a few waiting for hire. He motioned for one, climbed in, and gave the driver instructions to take him to a hotel near the Bakara Market, located in central Mogadishu. As they motored away from the airport, the devastation he saw of a city besieged by civil war was unreal. He paid the driver, got out, and walked into the hotel. A few hours later, he was sitting at a table in a small café located deep within the market.

They arrived clandestinely and unannounced. He watched with keen interest as two men entered from the front. They quickly looked around and then abruptly left. Bodyguards, he surmised, part of the emir’s security force. Moments later, another man entered and walked directly to his table and took a seat. Jabir knew the man as Mohamoud, the emir’s most trusted aide. Seconds later, apparently given a signal that the café was safe, the emir entered from the kitchen area and joined them. Jabir greeted him with an Arabic phrase often used when meeting an old friend.

Thank you, Jabir, but I have little time for pleasantries, as there are other important matters that I must tend to tonight. Please tell me, why have you called for this meeting?

Jabir spoke softly, outlining a means to provide a much-needed service to al-Shabaab. He immediately had the emir’s attention as soon as he mentioned sarin gas.

The price, he said, will be high, but it can be made available.

Price did not seem to be a major concern to the emir. However, after conferring with Mohamoud, the emir wanted more time to consider the deal.

How much time? the ambassador asked.

Two days, responded Zubaya. Mohamoud will provide you with an answer in two days.

The ambassador agreed to give them the two days they needed to make a decision. They left his table, and he later headed back to the hotel. The ambassador decided to wait in Mogadishu for their response, even though it meant being away from Khartoum much longer than he had planned. Later than night, he could hear gunfire not far away followed by a loud explosion. Zubaya’s other urgent business, he surmised.

When they met again, Mohamoud informed Jabir that they were ready to make a deal if he could satisfy two requirements, which he considered to be somewhat unusual. First, the weapon that he proposed to purchase for them had to be delivered in a specific manner and, second, they wanted him to arrange sea passage for one of their members on a tanker out of Jizan, Saudi Arabia, bound for the United States. He didn’t know why they wanted the materiel delivered the way they had requested or why they needed to get one of their members aboard a tanker bound for America. Someone less greedy might have connected the dots and raised some concern with the aide about how or on whom al-Shabaab planned to use the sarin gas, but he didn’t. Jabir simply told the aide that he felt confident that both requirements could be accomplished, but it meant that he would have to do some additional checking to make sure.

Yes, we understand, continued Mohamoud. We will provide a tank that is to be filled with eighty cubic feet of gas and pressurized to three thousand psi. As for the traveler, he has credentials, which we think will facilitate getting him passage on a tanker. You are at liberty to show these documents to your contact, he said, handing them to the ambassador, but only if you are sure that his travel arrangements can be made in complete confidence and without anyone else’s knowledge.

The ambassador took the documents and looked them over. They were photocopies of two IDs that identified the man as an American mariner by the name of Cali Mahdi.

Yes, I agree, the ambassador replied, thinking of the additional travel arrangements that he would have to make in order to assure himself that the requirements specified by the Somalis could be met and what the cost would be for meeting their demands. I will do the necessary checking and plan on meeting with you here again in two weeks, if that is acceptable.

Without any further consideration, they agreed, and the ambassador left the next day. While on the plane back to Khartoum, he thought of the requirement to fill a tank with sarin gas. To him, pressurizing a tank should be the same regardless of the mixture, but he had no way of knowing without talking to his contact. As for getting sea passage for the traveler, he was confident that it could be done. He had been tasked with a similar requirement in the past, albeit for another client and to a different location. The American was a documented merchant marine, and it shouldn’t be a problem for his contact to get him passage on one of their tankers. The shipping executive could make anything happen if the price was right, and Jabir knew it; he had dealt with him before on similar requirements. It will take a lot of money to complete both activities, he thought, and that was something he was beginning to feel very good about.

***

Two weeks later, he was once again sitting at the small café located in the Bakara Market.

I have confirmed that your requirements can be met, stated the ambassador to Mohamoud, but the price is higher than I had anticipated.

The aide did not blink an eye when the ambassador informed him of the price. It was a lot of money, yes, but sales proceeds from their lucrative charcoal business in the Lower Shebelle Region were extremely profitable for al-Shabaab, plus they were being funded millions of dollars by Tehran each year to continue the war against the TFG.

The emir had told Mohamoud to make the deal if their requirements could be met. Concerns about money, the emir had stated, should not be a factor if it means that hundreds of infidels from the West, particularly the United States, can be killed as the result of us acquiring this weapon.

All right, Jabir, replied Mohamoud. We are willing to give you one-third of the money up front to cover your operational expenses. As for the remaining payments, you will be given another one-third when the materiel is delivered and the final payment when our man calls and notifies me that he is aboard the tanker. If you agree to these terms, I will deliver the equipment and money to your hotel within the hour.

These are very acceptable terms, Mohamoud, yes, I agree.

Very well, then, replied Mohamoud. The tank is equipped with a yoke and DIN valve—an added safety feature. It is a new tank and comes with a roller board carrying case. Make sure the case is returned with the filled tank when you make delivery.

I understand, replied the ambassador.

The next morning, with advance money in hand, the ambassador headed for the airport. No questions were asked when he checked his baggage. No one seemed to care about the contents of the roller board. The only concern at the check-in counter was weight, and as long as the bag was within the authorized weight for free checked baggage, there was nothing more to be concerned about.

***

The ambassador returned to Khartoum ecstatic about the prospects of making more than $2 million in profit from al-Shabaab, but first, he had to take care of some pressing government business, which took more of his time than he wanted to give. He couldn’t take his mind off the al-Shabaab deal, even though his undivided attention was necessary to complete the task given him by his superiors in Asmara. As he thought more about the mechanics of delivering sarin gas to al-Shabaab, Jabir knew that operational security would be important, just as important as it was to complete the government’s business. Elaborate planning and good operational security would be necessary to accomplish the deal with al-Shabaab, and it took several weeks for him to put a plan into effect.

He had searched the Internet regarding the shipment of scuba tanks and discovered that pressurized tanks could not be shipped on a commercial airliner; the risk of an explosion was just too great. He read of experiences where scuba tanks had exploded accidentally, most while being filled and, in rare cases, some by being dropped and exploding due to metal fatigue or the valve accidentally being knocked off. A standard 80 cubic foot scuba tank pressurized to 3,000 pounds per square inch has an explosive force of approximately 1.3 million pounds, he learned—the equivalent of an exploding hand grenade. He understood the danger. An accidental explosion during flight would be catastrophic.

It is a concern, yes, he thought. But if handled in the proper manner, Jabir didn’t see any reason not to go forward with his plan; after all, the tank was new and had never been used.

The Iranian military flew weekly flights between Tehran, Sana, Asmara, Khartoum, and Damascus to support the country’s diplomatic personnel and missions at those locations. The ambassador was authorized to use the flight, at no cost to him or his government. It was seen as a small favor from Tehran, a reward for his service after he had negotiated the Iranian support agreement for al-Shabaab, so it wasn’t unusual when he boarded the plane in Khartoum with the roller board as luggage. He got off in Damascus. He took a taxi and stopped to deliver the tank to his contact before heading to his hotel. Jabir surmised a covert effort of some sort would be necessary for his contact to get the tank filled, but in any event, he needed it back within forty-eight hours.

My return flight departs in two days, he told the Syrian. I need the tank filled and placed inside a small wooden crate marked ‘Handle with Care, Artifacts.’

With just the two of them in the room, the ambassador removed the tank from the roller board case.

Make sure it is safely secured inside the crate to prevent any possible movement, he said. I have your money; you’ll be paid when the crate is delivered to me at the airport. By chance, do you have a driver who can take me to my hotel?

An hour later, he had checked in at the hotel. Jabir was tired and retired early; it had been a long day. The next morning, after breakfast, he left the hotel for a leisurely walk, heading toward the renowned Al-Hamidiyah Souq. The souq was a bustling place of activity when he got there. He knew the place well; he had been there before. It extended for more than half a kilometer and was one of his favorite places to shop due to the many Levantine delights that were sold there. Copperware, wooden mosaic artwork, carpets, and spices, in addition to many other items that could be found in the shops strewn along the enclosed walkway.

He strolled and meandered through the market, stopping frequently at different shops, not buying anything of interest but watching and taking note of whether he was being followed. Later, he stopped at an ice cream shop. He sat at an outside table eating a cone of pistachio-covered ice cream while casually looking around at his surroundings to see if anyone paid him any attention. When evening rolled around, he stopped and dined at a local restaurant. He finished and then decided to head back to the hotel. Jabir’s pace was slow at first, but at times, he quickened his step for several minutes, and then he would slow down again. Every so often, he would stop and position himself so that he could discretely look for a possible surveillant. Satisfied that he was clean, he walked on to the hotel without any further concern. He would return to the market the following day to make a few purchases, just enough to support his activities; it was all part of the intricate cover plan Jabir had put together for the operation.

***

The ambassador stood by the aircraft with the items he had purchased safely secured in the roller board carrying case. He was nervous and began to worry a bit while waiting for his contact to arrive with the crate. He knew that he was taking a tremendous risk by transporting the filled tank on one of Iran’s support flights without their permission, but he was risking his life in the process, so it didn’t really matter if something did happen. He spotted a vehicle coming through the security gate and heading toward the plane. His disposition improved immensely as