Bermuda-Pathway to Terror

By Edward Johnson

Dr. Michael A. MacManus, a former army intelligence analyst and Arabic linguist, is an internationally known expert on terrorism and the Middle East and ad hoc advisor to the director of Homeland Security and the president of the United States. In high school in 1969 and early 1970, Mike dated Jan Friedman, reared in an orthodox Jewish home. The two, very much in love, lost contact with each other for over thirty years when Jans family relocated suddenly to New York in the summer of 1970.

Early on a Tuesday afternoon in May, about to board a cruise ship to Bermuda, Mike and Jan meet. Mike recognizes her immediately, and after he introduces himself, she recognizes him. As they become reacquainted, Mike, a devout Christian, finds himself falling in love with Jan all over again. Mike understands the Biblical ban on unequally yoking oneself with someone who is not a believer.

In a restaurant in Bermuda, Jan and Mike overhear a conversation between four members of an Al Qaeda cell, three of whom Mike recognizes. The four are discussing their plot to smuggle four dirty bombs containing VX nerve gas and detonate them in New York Harbor.

Bermuda-Pathway to Terror tells of their attempts to capture the terrorists and thwart the attack on New York.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490873732

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Copyright © 2015 Edward Johnson.

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-7374-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-7375-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-7373-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015904156

WestBow Press rev. date: 4/3/2015

CONTENTS

Dedication

Chapter One The Sales Pitch

Chapter Two Preparing for Bermuda

Chapter Three A Chance Meeting?

Chapter Four Getting Reacquainted

Chapter Five Meeting the Sardis Seniors

Chapter Six First Night at Sea

Chapter Seven The Class

Chapter Eight Basking in the Son!

Chapter Nine Formal Night

Chapter Ten Arrival in Bermuda

Chapter Eleven Saint George

Chapter Twelve An Ominous Conversation

Chapter Thirteen Working On a Plan of Attack

Chapter Fourteen More Plans

Chapter Fifteen The Interrogation

Chapter Sixteen A Capture

Chapter Seventeen The Search

Chapter Eighteen Confrontation on the Fantail

Chapter Nineteen A Well-Deserved Breather

Chapter Twenty A Second Interrogation

Chapter Twenty-One Last Day on Board

About the Author

DEDICATION

B ermuda—Pathway to Terror is dedicated first of all to the Holy Spirit. He gave me the idea for the entire book. Without His inspiration the words would not have flowed as freely as they did. Throughout the writing of Bermuda—Pathway to Terror, I felt as if I were watching the events unfold before my eyes. I have no doubt that the Holy Spirit helped me to visualize these events and write down a description of what I saw taking place. Thank you, Lord!

Secondly, Bermuda—Pathway to Terror is dedicated to my loving wife, Gail. Without her encouragement and support throughout the writing and publishing experience, I am certain that I would have simply set aside my work as wasted time. Thank you, Honey, for your wonderful support!

Thirdly, I would be remiss if I did not dedicate Bermuda—Pathway to Terror to the fine Bible teachers I have known over these past years: Dr. Karl D. Coke, Pastor Alfred Garr (now residing with Jesus), Pastor H. Loran Livingston, and Pastor Doug Small. Thank you, gentlemen for your Godly teaching.

Also, I must thank best-selling author Robert Whitlow whose words of encouragement and advice I took to heart. Not only is he an excellent story teller in his own right, but also he is a great encourager. Thank you, Robert!

CHAPTER ONE

THE SALES PITCH

T he waitress served Gary Bradley and Mike MacManus their breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, grits, and biscuits. Gary had invited Mike to go to breakfast one chilly Saturday morning in December, knowing one of his favorite restaurants, in Charlotte, North Carolina, was the Olde Pancake House. Although they had waited forty-five minutes just to be seated, both men knew the food was well worth the wait. After they asked God’s blessing on their meal, Gary said, Mike, dig in. I want to talk to you about something while we eat.

As Gary talked, it became obvious that he had asked Mike to join him for breakfast that morning for more reasons than just food and fellowship. Clearly, Gary had an ulterior motive, and it had nothing to do with pancakes and eggs or just idle conversation. Gary had been trying for months to convince Mike to join the church’s Seniors group on a cruise to Bermuda, and he was giving it one last try.

Aw, come on, Mike. You’ll enjoy the cruise. You’ll be pampered and waited on hand and foot. Your every need or want will be met immediately. You’ll be able to eat practically anything you want any time you want. You’ll feel like royalty.

You’re determined to get me on that boat, aren’t you, Gary? If I want to be pampered, I don’t need to get on a boat. I can get that at some fancy resort and keep both feet on the ground, without floating around on the ocean.

In the first place, it’s not a boat. It’s a ship! There’s a big difference in a ship and a boat.

I know, said Mike, somewhat exasperated. I’m just not crazy about being on a ship, especially one out in the ocean. You know I almost joined the Navy back during Vietnam. I figured they couldn’t send a ship into the jungle. My brain finally kicked in, and I joined the Army. Besides, I figured that, if I was shot at, they couldn’t shoot the ground out from under me. After all, I can walk on the ground, but I haven’t learned to walk on water yet. Besides what about the Titanic? Remember how you and Carol thought I should see that movie with the two of you? I don’t feel like being stuck on a sinking ship with or without life boats.

Come on, Mike. I don’t think you have to worry about having a cruise ship shot out from under you and don’t even talk about the Titanic. There are no icebergs between New York and Bermuda, especially in May. Let’s face it, you have no excuse except flimsy ones not to go on this cruise, and you know it! Remember how much fun you had on the bus tour we took to Pennsylvania last year? You said you were going to continue going on trips with the Sardis Seniors. Besides you might even meet the woman of your dreams.

Mike looked at Gary, pausing for what seemed like a couple of minutes. Finally, he said, Okay, I’ll go on the cruise to Bermuda. It just might be fun.

Great! You’ll have a wonderful time. Trust me. It’ll be the experience of a lifetime. You’ll always wonder why you didn’t go on a cruise before now.

Listen, the last guy who told me, ‘Trust me, it’ll be the experience of a lifetime,’ was the recruiter who talked me into going into the Army four years. I’m surprised I didn’t end up spending one or two tours in Vietnam.

Vietnam? I thought you were an Arabic linguist. Why would the Army need an Arabic linguist in Vietnam?

Seeing the expression on Mike’s face, Gary said, Okay, I’ll shut up. Let’s just get you on board. Here’s a list of the things you’ll need along with some information you’ll find quite interesting, handing Mike a packet of information about the cruise and Bermuda. Oh yeah, there is one more thing you’ll need that’s not on the list. You need to get me a check for $500 by next Monday. Then by the first of February, you’ll need to pay the balance of $2500 if you are willing to share your cabin. It’ll be $3000 if you want a private cabin. Carol and I will take care of all the arrangements except the woman of your dreams. God will have to take care of that, and who knows, He just may do that.

Okay, Gary. That’s enough. You know my situation. I’m just not ready to get romantically involved with anyone, yet. You understand, don’t you?

I know it’s none of my business, but then in a way it really is my business. Remember, you’re my brother in Christ, and I’m concerned about you. It’s been what, ten years, since Brenda passed away? Now I know you loved Brenda. Remember, we did, too. I know our love for her wasn’t the same as yours, but Brenda would have wanted you to start dating again, especially after ten years. A period of mourning is one thing, but ten years? Come on. Brenda would kick you right in the seat of the pants if she could. You know that, don’t you?

"Maybe you’re right, so I’ll tell you what. If the Lord wants me to start dating again, He will arrange it. Okay? If He does that, I’ll do it. In the meantime you know what I’ve accomplished, or more accurately, what God has accomplished with me and in me over the last ten years. There are things that would not have happened if I had been romantically involved. Probably none of it would have happened.

You know Paul talks about that in 1 Corinthians 7. He says that it is good for a man not to marry. He says that an unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs and how he can please the Lord. A married man is concerned about the affairs of this world and how he can please his wife. For the last ten years I’ve been concerned about the Lord’s affairs, and look what He’s done, as a result. Once I made a decision to serve the Lord in a capacity other than advisory He was able to do a lot, and I learned that He didn’t need my advice. Besides, not too many women would put up with me and my schedule anyway, at least none in her right mind.

Okay, Mike, you win. I’ll shut up. However, I will pray, and you can’t stop me from doing that!

That’s fine, Gary. In fact, I do appreciate your concern for me. And, I’ll always appreciate your prayers. Just pray for God’s will, in my life. Don’t tell Him how you want Him to do it. He knows far better than you or I what’s best. Fair enough?

"Fair enough. You know, you’ve come a long way. I can remember how bitter you were when Brenda passed away. I remember how you blamed God for not healing her, and I can understand how you felt. As a result of Brenda’s prayers, though, and the way she handled her own illness, you really became a strong believer.

I’ll never forget the day that you came back. I remember that Sunday morning in church when Carol told me to look, that you were there. She said she had been praying for the Lord to get hold of you and get you back in church. She said that it looked like her prayers were being answered. Of course she had no idea just how much her prayers were going to be answered that day. When you came forward to answer the altar call, I thought Carol was going to jump over the pew, she was so excited!

Mike smiled. I remember getting up off my knees and turning around to see you and Carol standing behind me with tears streaming down your faces. That was a wonderful day. You know, one day earlier, I would not have understood why you’d do that. I’ll never forget it. I think that’s one of the reasons that I consider you and Carol to be my best friends. I just can’t understand why my best friends would want to get me on a boat, excuse me—a ship, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Well, in the first place, you won’t be in the middle of the Atlantic. At the most, you’ll be only about 500 miles from shore.

Mike smiled wryly. Only 500 miles? That’s supposed to reassure me? I’m a good swimmer, but I don’t think I can swim 500 miles, and I’m not interested in becoming a shark’s dinner either.

Mike, they have lifeboats, and unlike the Titanic, they have enough for all the passengers and crew. Also, there will be other ships in the area. In fact, this one travels with its sister ship, the Duchess. We’ll be on the Victoria, and the Duchess will be sailing along with us. If something happened, they would be right there to pick us up. Now, do you feel better?

Mike thought for a second or two and answered, Okay, like I said, I’ll go. Besides, this just might be fun. It sure looks like fun on the travelogues. I’ll give you a check for the deposit tomorrow, if that’s okay.

Gary was ecstatic. Great, Mike! I look forward to this, and you’ll, uh, I’ll shut up now. Let’s just enjoy our meal, and remember—I’m buying.

Mike replied, Okay, and since you’re buying, I’ll definitely enjoy this meal. I just wish you’d told me that before I ordered. I might have had steak and eggs, instead of bacon and eggs.

Why do you think I waited till now to tell you?

Mike laughed. You know, I do appreciate your interest in me and my well-being, and I really value your and Carol’s friendship. You two mean a lot to me, and I am sort of looking forward to this trip now that I’ve made the decision to go. I’ll keep you posted on how I feel, but I’ve given you my word, so I will be going unless Providentially hindered. I’ve a feeling that won’t happen. For some reason, and I’m not sure why, I think I’m supposed to go on this cruise with you guys.

Oh, Mike, one more thing. Would you mind teaching us a class on our Jewish roots on Sunday morning on the ship? Since we won’t have a church service to attend, you could help us out a lot by holding ‘church’ for us that morning. I can’t think of anything better for you to speak about than our Jewish roots.

Mike smiled and answered, Sure, Gary. I’ll be glad to, that is if you don’t think people will get bored by a lecture on Sunday morning.

Are you kidding me? The way you teach there’s no way anyone could get bored.

After Gary and Mike finished eating and had parted, Gary practically sprinted across the crowded parking lot to his car, quickly grabbed his cell phone, and called his wife. Carol guess what! Mike MacManus just gave me a yes. He’s going to Bermuda with us! Can you believe it? He’s really going with us!

Oh, praise the Lord! she said, excitedly. I just knew he was going to say yes. I’ve been praying all morning. He really needs this break. How in the world did you convince him? Or, was it simply the Lord?

Oh, it was definitely the Lord. You know me and my alligator mouth. It just about overrode my hummingbird brain, and I nearly talked him out of going. Fortunately, the Lord had other ideas.

Carol agreed, Oh, Gary, thank the Lord that He can override even your mouth. Well, the important thing is that Mike is going on the cruise. I know he’ll enjoy it.

As Mike drove home, he thought, I can’t believe I’m really going on this cruise. I think I’ll do some research on Bermuda. Dad was stationed there for a while during World War II. He can probably tell me a little about it. Of course the ship he served on was nothing like the ship I’ll be on.

Mike prayed, "Lord, for some reason You seem to want me to go on this cruise. I can’t figure out why, but I do know that Your ways are not our ways so I’ll just have to wait and see what Your plans are. I do hope that You will use me in some way to reveal Your love to someone. Please place someone in my path so that I can be used by You. Thank You, Lord. I look forward to seeing what happens on this cruise and how You will use me. And, Lord, on a strictly personal note, please make this a cruise that I will enjoy. I really don’t relish the idea of getting seasick or being scared half to death in a storm. I realize that You are an ever-present help in time of trouble, but I do ask for extra protection for our whole group.

"And Lord, maybe Gary’s right. Maybe ten years is too long. Maybe I do need to start dating again. Lord if You want me to start dating again, or if You want me to remarry, I’m willing to do whatever You want. It would be nice for you to cause me to meet someone on this cruise. That would make Gary happy, too. Still I’m not sure a long distance romance would work. I really don’t expect to meet someone on the ship who is from Charlotte. If that’s in Your plan and Your will, it can happen. If so, well, then so be it. I thank You, Lord, and I pray this in Your precious Name. Amen.

CHAPTER TWO

PREPARING FOR BERMUDA

M uhammad Akbar Zawarhi thought about the time he had left his meeting with Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan, pleased but a bit shaken. The last time Zawarhi had met with him, Bin Laden had been in good health and clearly in charge. This time Bin Laden looked extremely frail, as if each breath would be his last. Still, Bin Laden commanded the same respect and had the same authority as he had in their previous meeting. He confided in Zawarhi that he was soon leaving Tora Bora and relocating to a compound near Islamabad, Pakistan where he would be able to receive better care for his medical condition.

As personal envoy of the President of Iraq, Zawarhi had last met Bin Laden four years earlier to discuss Iraqi support for Bin Laden’s terrorist activities against the United States and its interests abroad. He had pointed out that the reputation that Hussein had of not getting along with Bin Laden would work well in their favor.

This time, with Saddam Hussein dethroned and captured by the United States military and hanged by the new Iraqi government, Zawarhi was acting on his own. With the Coalition attack on Iraq, Hussein was not the only one who lost power. Hussein’s supporters were being captured nearly every day even though they moved from one location to another at night in order to evade capture. No longer part of the power base in Iraq, Zawarhi was on the run. After months of planning and executing terrorist attacks against the Coalition Forces and members of the new Iraqi government, Zawarhi realized the Coalition Forces were getting ever closer to capturing him.

Under cover of darkness, he sneaked out of Iraq into Iran. In Iran where he had dependable, helpful contacts, he received financial help and transportation for his journey to Pakistan. He traveled by night through Rawalpindi and Islamabad to a well-guarded home in Abbottabad, where he met with Osama Bin Laden. Zawarhi wanted revenge, and he had gone to the one source he knew could provide him the money and supplies he needed to inflict that revenge on the United States. He had convinced Bin Laden and his top lieutenants that, with their help, his team could get the job done.

Bin Laden had liked Zawarhi’s plan and incorporated it into his plan to hit a number of targets in New York and other cities, over a period of several weeks. By hitting small targets over a period of weeks, Bin Laden planned to instill panic and uncertainty in the people of New York and, ultimately, the entire country. He knew that, by disrupting the normal way of life there, he could put Americans in fear, and they would eventually alter their entire lifestyle. Bin Laden had explained that soon this would so adversely affect the financial network of the United States and everyday life that Americans would flock to the polls in November to unseat Greg Leyland, the President of the United States, the one giving Al Qaeda so many problems around the world. If not, the American Congress would probably take steps to impeach him. Not only would Bin Laden’s plan kill thousands of Americans, but also it would remove his hated enemy from office, further opening the way for easier attacks on the United States. Bin Laden was convinced that another president would not be nearly as tough on his activities as the current one. Bin Laden hated the American president for crippling his network, destroying his training camps in Afghanistan, and keeping him, Osama Bin Laden, constantly on the run.

Zawarhi remembered thinking, This man understands the Americans and their political system better than most Americans understand it. He had put together a small terrorist cell made up of himself, Mahmaud Salim, Ahmad Latif Saleh, all experienced terrorists, a new man, Mohamed ben Hafid, and now, with the help of Bin Laden, their contact in Bermuda. Hafid had undergone terrorist training with Bin Laden’s organization in Afghanistan but had not yet participated in any attacks. He would, however, be their key to access the United States. Zawarhi, knowing that he, Salim, and Saleh would probably be recognized at most entry points into the United States, had developed a plan to gain entry without having to go through United States immigration. He believed his plan was foolproof, and Bin Laden had concurred. Of the group, only Zawarhi knew the final details of the plan, and he would inform the others when they met in Bermuda. In the meantime, they would continue to do what he had ordered them to do, preparing themselves for the mission. Zawarhi would soon repay America for ruining his life of power and wealth.

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Ahmad Latif Saleh had worked on board the cargo ship Khalid Al Hammurabi for nearly a year. His recommendation enabled Mahmaud Salim to hire on as a crewmember. After his first two weeks, Salim asked Saleh, Why are we working so hard at being seamen? We are not seamen. We are warriors for Islam. Why must we work so hard at being seamen?

Saleh answered, Yes, we are warriors. However, we must not appear to be warriors. We must appear to be what we are not so that we can be successful in our mission. In a few months we will travel to Bermuda. That is where we will meet Zawarhi. In the meantime, Zawarhi will be shipping our cargo aboard the Qatari and accompanying it to Bermuda. Our agent in Bermuda will pick the cargo up there and do what he needs to do with it. Then we will be ready to carry out our mission. We will know more when we arrive in Bermuda and meet Zawarhi. He will tell us then what we must do. He will notify us with the date, time, and place we are to meet him.

Salim sighed, I much prefer attacking and killing soldiers of the Great Satan. I know that we will be doing that soon, but I am already tired of being a seaman. The life of a warrior is much better. This work is harder than the training we went through in Afghanistan. When we are ready I will remember all of this hard work. That will make me fight harder, and I will enjoy killing these evil, decadent people. We will defeat this evil enemy, and we will turn America into a great nation of Islam!

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Mohamed ben Hafid was excited over the prospects of killing Americans in the attack that he and the Al Qaeda cell he had joined had planned. He was happy Zawarhi had contacted him about joining the cell. Although the training camp in Afghanistan had been a harder experience than he expected, he had survived it and had excelled in his training. Zawarhi was pleased with Hafid’s training and was not discouraged that Hafid had not yet participated in any attacks. Zawarhi had told Hafid that he would be a key member of the team that would kill thousands of Americans in New York. Even the hard work he was going through now could not dampen his enthusiasm for what he was about to do. He was ready to kill as many Americans as he could. He would bide his time patiently. The time would soon come for Hafid and his fellow warriors to launch their attack on the American people!

Hafid remembered his teachers had told him how decadent the Americans were. They had taught how all Americans were obsessed with money, drugs, pornography, and alcohol, all of which were condemned by the Koran and the teachers of the Koran. Worst of all, the Americans were friends of those hated Zionists in Israel. It was time for those Jews to be driven into the sea. They were living on Arab lands, and they murdered innocent Arabs every day. Those hated Jews treated the Palestinian people as if they were non-people. Only the Jews were worse than the Americans. Mohammed Ben Hafid had learned his lessons well. His teachers would be proud of him.

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Zawarhi was surprised at how smoothly the Al Qaeda supply network worked. All of the materials he needed for the attack on New York were in place. All that was left to be done was for Zawarhi to ship the materials to Bermuda to their agent there. When their agent picked up the materials, he would assemble the devices and prepare the gas so that they would be waiting for Zawarhi’s cell to arrive. The time was drawing near, and Zawarhi was ready to move.

For months Zawarhi had been patient. He was tiring of the wait, but Bin Laden had stressed patience. Be patient, Bin Laden had said. "Time is on our side. The longer the Americans go without another attack on their country, the more complacent they will become. Their politicians and news media will be calling for a change of government. They will be saying that the threat of terrorism is over, or that it never really existed. We have already convinced them that Iraq had no ties to Al Qaeda.

"Their news media has been a willing ally in convincing the Americans that the war in Iraq is wrong, that there never were any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. They do not know, or choose to ignore, that Saddam Hussein moved Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction to Syria during the months of negotiations with the French and the Germans at the United Nations. The 9-11 Commission of the United States, with the news media, has tried to blame their President Leyland and his administration for our attacks on New York and Washington. They refuse to acknowledge that all the preparations for the attacks on 9-11 were done well before this president came into office.

Let us pray to Allah that the Americans remove him from office. He is our greatest enemy in the United States. He is not afraid to attack us or destroy us. He is a fierce warrior and leader, but his enemies in the United States call him a cowboy. We will be able to wait for him to be removed. Whenever we launch these attacks on the small targets around the United States, their news media and his political enemies will again blame their president. They will convince the American people that he is at fault and should be removed from office.

Bin Laden continued, teaching Zawarhi much about the Americans, "You see, Muhammad, I have worked with the Americans for years. Some of their politicians are more interested in their own careers and their own power than they are in protecting their country. They will use their news media to convince the American people that Iraq was really no threat to them or anyone else. Little do they know that many of the weapons which Saddam transferred to Syria, before the United States attacked, are now in our hands. We are currently using many of them against the Americans and their allies in Iraq and Afghanistan. We will soon use them against the Americans on their own soil. As long as the people believe the weapons do not exist, we will be able to use them as we desire.

"You must understand, Muhammad, that Americans are lazy and stupid. They believe everything they read in their newspapers or hear on the television. Praise Allah that many of them no longer believe their President when he says that we are still a threat. His attacks on us have weakened us, but they have not destroyed us. His political enemies and their news media have helped us regain our strength. Homeland Security has made it difficult for us to enter the United States and set up our attacks, but even that is being weakened.

"Their news media is our ally, and the people of their Hollywood are our best ally. Almost all of their celebrities speak out against the war in Iraq and the war against us. They speak out against their President and, because Americans almost worship them, they convince the Americans that their President is a bad president. Once he is removed from office, we will have a much easier time getting into and around in the United States. Soon we will be in control of the government. Once we are in control of the United States, those Hollywood people will be the first we destroy, after the Jews and Christians. They are a decadent people and are evil. For now, though, they are our allies. Remember the enemy of our enemy is our ally. The American President is our enemy, so those people are our allies for now.

Be patient, and you will see success. Very few of the Americans are smart enough to outwit us or tough enough to fight us except for their soldiers. Even though their soldiers are fierce fighters, the politicians in America and their news media will prevent their soldiers from fighting us the way they need to defeat us. Their soldiers are not allowed to fight us the way we fight them. One of their own politicians said they should fight a more sensitive war. The American people do not have the backbone to stay with a fight if their soldiers sustain many casualties. So remember, Allah is on our side, and time is on our side. We are warriors of Islam, and we will one day take over the world.

Zawarhi remembered well the lessons he learned from Bin Laden. He knew that, where he was going, there would be no Americans smart enough or tough enough to stop him and his Al Qaeda cell. Any Americans he ran into in Bermuda would be the kind of decadent cowards who would run for the nearest shelter if confronted by his group. That was why patience was so important. They must wait until their arrival in New York. Then they would successfully execute their plan.

Zawarhi knew that, once he and the other members of his cell arrived in Bermuda, all of their materials would be there. They would already be assembled and ready to transport to New York. Then, even if he and his fellow cell-members were dead, they would have inflicted revenge on the United States for removing Saddam Hussein from power, and they would have furthered the cause of Islam. Many Americans would be dead; he and his cohorts would be in Paradise, and they would be remembered as heroes. Zawarhi was ready. Having just heard the news that a Navy SEAL team had killed Bin Laden, he had still more reason to inflict pain and death upon the