“Good question,” Brian said, “and I think Herb and I can make some top-notch recommendations when it comes to that.”
“We spare no expense in that regard. Got that, Herb and Brian?” Alan said. “Top of the line.”
“Another point we have to plan from the beginning is identification,” Herb said,
“and this is no place to cut corners either. We need the best counterfeit passports and visas out there. Brian and I wil get together on that one and start putting together a list of cover names, birth certificates, the works.”
“Excel ent, gentlemen. Now let’s talk about the benefit and compensation package I’m proposing. Give me some feedback,” Alan said. He nodded at Marie. “Would you pass out the compensation proposal, please?”
Marie shared a single sheet of paper with Brian and Herb, and both men studied it hard. The package included:
$1,000.00 weekly salary
$50,000 bonus once a mission has been completed successful y
Al expenses paid both here and abroad once a trainee signs on
Medical insurance
$500,000 life insurance
Al necessary training & equipment provided
An extraction plan to bring them home
“That last one’s not exactly a benefit per se, but I thought it was important enough to put in writing,” Alan continued.
“Agreed,” Herb said drumming his fingers on the mahogany table. “What about recruitment?”
“We do it the old fashioned way. We take out ads in Arabic publications and newspapers in two dozen targeted cities to begin with.”
Marie was already passing out a copy of their ad. Brian pored over it, and Herb read it in a low whisper:
WANTED – REPRESENTATIVE TO TRAVEL TO MIDDLE
EAST ON ASSIGNMENT. WE PROVIDE ALL NECESSARY
TRAINING. COMPANY SEEKS APPLICANTS PREPARED TO START AT
ONCE. $50,000 STARTING SALARY PLUS A $50,000 BONUS UPON
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF ASSIGNMENT. LIFE/MEDICAL INSURANCE
INCLUDED. 100% REIMBURSEMENT OF ALL EXPENSES. REPLY TO
P.O. BOX 911, NEW YORK, NY 10801.
“It sounds like an attractive package to me,” said Brian. “Let’s see what happens.”
“Al right. We’re up and running, gang.” Alan arose. “Let’s put our fol ow-up on the calendar right now.”
“I wonder if we could make it a week from tomorrow?” Herb suggest-ed. “I’l be back from the intel igence conference in Paris, and I can report on what we might be able to expect as far as cooperation from some of the attendees.”
“Fine. A week from tomorrow it is.” Alan stopped at the door. “There’s one more thing al of us need to know. I’ve spoken with Aly and Imam Aziz. As far as they know, we’re going to hire and train Arabic-speaking agents to assist authorities in combating terrorists and no more––straight, covert information gathering. I thought it was best. Both Aly and the imam have accepted this explanation, so please use it when necessary, but only when asked.” Alan looked from Herb to Brain and final y to Marie. “As to our motivation. It’s simple and straightforward. We’re doing this as a means of protecting our employees around the world, and we’re doing it because of what happened to Dan Mil ar.”
TEHERAN, IRAN
MOHAMMED OMAR AL-FAYEZ sat inconspicuously at a backroom table in the Oasis Café in the Iranian capital city of Teheran with Saad bin Laden and Mul ah Orani Khamiz. This was a trio of considerable influence in a movement whose primary goal was world domination by the most radical Islamic leadership. AlFayez was second in command of Taliban forces gathering new strength in the mountains bordering neighboring Pakistan. He was an ethnic Pashtun and advocated nothing less than