“Hi Sugar.” She smiled and gave her hair a shake letting the strands fall around her shoulders. “Do you know where a gal might find a place to stay in D.C?”
Words from the Author
It is no accident that my first three novels all have characters from Somalia. I discovered this country with my first novel as I searched for an out-of-the-way location that would be of little consequence to the reader. Somalia fit the bill — a tragic past in which its citizens were exported to become the slaves of the Persian and Western World and a desolate future with little hope.
With this third work, I now realize that Somalia needs help as the Al Qaeda sect, Al-Shabaab has overrun the country displacing 3 ½ million citizens. The Somali now live in tents along the roadside and rely upon the Red Cross and international aid to survive from day to day.
This novel describes the deplorable conditions that transpire from decades of international neglect. The government leaders do meet in a Baidoa grain warehouse and the entire country is ruled by rogue militia, all with different agendas. Mogadishu is recognized as the most dangerous city upon our planet. No rational person would dare enter.
Somalia is a breeding ground for Al-Shabaab terrorist camps and will become even more so as they are uprooted from other countries.
The Al-Shabaab have shown us our future should they ever take over the world. At this very moment they are roaming the streets of Mogadishu with armed militia having reduced it to total anarchy.
The shores of Somalia have been poisoned by European companies looking for a place to dump toxic waste.
There is oil to be found — a resource that could be the incentive to get this country in order. It will take a dedicated effort to bring civilization to Somalia. It is quite possible that the leaders of Somalia would welcome a strong foreign presence as suggested in the novel. I see little hope of the government uprooting the Al-Shabaab. With each passing day, the government becomes weaker and the terrorists gather strength.
The future that may lie ahead of us is shown within the pages of the novel. The main story line is meant to entertain and I would not pretend that any of it would ever transpire. However, the path upon which we tread will become a reality unless we dramatically alter our ways. Will the USA remain the number one superpower forever? History tells us “no” and then the question becomes, “When will another superpower overtake us?” It may not be that far off. Should we allow this to occur, who are we to blame but ourselves?
Politics shapes our lives as never before. As Americans let us use our power to vote wisely as it is the leaders that set the course and will lead us down the path we have chosen.
About the Author
RJ is a retired special ed. school teacher and writes novels. He was the winner of the prestigious HubNugget Award Best New Writer. Several business books were written in the eighties, How to Think Small Business for Big Profits and Born to Be Rich non-fiction titles; and owned a string of retail shops. He was editor of school newspaper, and released a record album in 1987. The 2nd edition of Born to Be Rich is updated.