Anne-Marie clapped. All heads turn towards her. Both she and Todd sank down in their seats. “And the thirst of angry refugees for arms and ammunition will lead to a rise in the growth, manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs, which will become the prime currency for funding terrorist activities. Terrorists may disguise their motives under a banner of religious or political injustice, but the organizations supplying them with arms don’t have noble disguises. Their motive is greed-pure, unadulterated, transparent greed, and on a scale that the world has never seen before. Global greed.”
William Fisher paused. Only twenty-eight years old and on his first assignment overseas, he was already one of the brightest stars in the State Department. He took a sip of water.
“Because of the weakness of President Helou and the current Lebanese administration, a deep divide is growing within the Lebanese Parliament. On one side are the Muslim Lebanese, who consider the Arab position in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict a sacred cause. Opposing them, the Christian Lebanese, who are fanatical about the continued independence of Lebanon and who worry about their own security in light of the rising tide of terrorism. This schism within the Parliament is the opening the terrorists and their financial backers need to dramatically increase their presence and support. I predict that the newly organized Palestinian Liberation Organization, and other so-called political action groups, will quickly transform themselves into ruthless global terrorists.
“I wish I could see a more optimistic future for this beautiful country, but I’m afraid all signs point to Lebanon as the battleground upon which terrorists, Israelis, the Western world, and surrounding Arab countries will wage war. And that war will escalate to engulf the entire world.”
“Is there any good news?” Todd Cummings called out, waving his hand in the air.
“The best solutions often begin with the best questions, Mr. Cummings,” replied William Fisher. “The good news is that there are various nations, including the United States, that are quietly trying to support President Helou and bring the two factions in Parliament closer together. We hope these efforts will prevent, or at least delay, the spread of terrorism. In addition, certain nations are working hard to gather information on terrorist groups and their supporters. The more we know about their plans, organizations, sources of income and where they get their weapons, the better chance we have of preventing the deaths of thousands of innocent people around the world.”
“You mean to tell us these terrorists will target civilians instead of the military?” asked Matt, dumbfounded at the thought of deliberately killing innocent people just to make a point on the world stage.
Anne-Marie Khoury jumped up. “Have you ever been to a refugee camp before, Mr. Fisher?”
“No.”
“So you’ve never spoken with the mothers, the children, the abandoned old men, the eager young people who can’t find work other than being garbage collectors, brick layers, housemaids, or kitchen workers? These people used to have homes, they used to have land. They once had a nation, Palestine. All of which was stolen from them by the Zionists, with the blessing of many of these same Western nations who you say are now so afraid of terrorism. Well, in case it slipped your mind, you guys helped create this mess.” She pointed dramatically at Fisher, her hand shaking. “Why can’t you see that the problem really lies with Israel and the West, and not the Palestinians?”
“Believe it or not, Ms. Khoury, I agree with you.” T.J.’s Nikon flashed a photo of the young woman pointing angrily at the speaker. “We did create this mess; it’s arrogant Western colonialism that’s to blame. But what most people fail to realize is these refugees, whom you so passionately defend, are the unwitting pawns in a much bigger game of global terror perpetrated by shadowy people with no morals at all. They won’t be fighting in a conventional manner for political or religious rights. They will be systematically murdering innocent women and children, office workers and shop attendants, restaurant staff, Israelis, Arabs, Palestinians, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Europeans, and even Americans. One day it may even happen on American soil. And there will be no warning. Just a massive explosion or a burst of machine-gun fire. They are mass murderers whose only motive is greed, and right now the displaced and disheartened Palestinians are their cannon fodder.”
“Professor Fisher?” Brian Walker stood up. “Or should I call you 007? This sounds like another one of those righteous speeches that the rich capitalists give to justify keeping the rest of the world permanently in the Stone Age. Are you dudes looking for another Vietnam? I doubt if you’ll do any better here than you’re doing over there. And all in the name of freedom, or so you say.”
The speaker smiled. “Let’s have this discussion at the end of the school year, Mr. Walker, after you’ve been here a while. I’d be curious to see if any of your views have been altered by living in the real world, and not just on an American university campus.”
“Well.” Dr. Thomas said, coming up on the podium at the end of William Fisher’s presentation. “It looks like this year promises to be quite different from a normal junior year in the States. Mr. Fisher will be conducting four more workshops over the next two weeks, which is a part of your Junior Year Abroad orientation process. In addition, one professor from each of the academic departments, as well as the schools of Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing will be giving you short and informative presentations. We believe that by the end of the month, you will all better understand the Middle East and Lebanon, where you will be spending your academic year.”
“I could use a beer,” said Matt loudly as the meeting broke up and everyone mingled outside on the front steps of College Hall. “Anyone care to join me?”
It was the beginning of an exciting school year for Matt, a year of discoveries and new friendships. By the end of the first month, in addition to his core of American friends, Matt’s social group included Maha Hammad, Samir Hussein and his girlfriend Bedouina, and Demetrie Antonopolis, a somewhat older rich Greek student with a long pony tail. He knew all the interesting places to go in Lebanon and had even rented a large apartment in the mountains for ski weekends. Nobody knew much about Demetrie, but he was outgoing, popular, obviously with a rich father somewhere, and would never say no to a party.
They were together nearly every weekend for seven months, until the explosion that killed Samir, Bedouina and Maha, and turned Matt’s life upside down.
Chapter Five
London
“Ah, my favorite member of the St. James’s Club. Welcome back, Mr. Nagib.” Andrew, the well-groomed Club Manager, beamed with delight. “It’s been quite some time since you last blessed us with a visit here in London.”
The stylish and very private St. James’ Club and Casino, housed in an 18 ^th Century marble columned building near Piccadilly, had something the rest of London coveted; freedom from gawking tourists. An exclusive membership list, healthy annual fee, fabulous nouvelle cuisine, and a large casino made the club the luncheon choice for diamond-laden ladies of leisure. It was also a discrete haven for international business dinners late into the evening. And tonight was no exception.
Mohammad al Nagib grunted, finally shedding his size XXL overcoat. “You’re as charming and as full of bullshit as ever, Andrew. I assume my guests have been well taken care? I would have been here earlier, but important business needed my personal attention.”
Andrew beamed. “Everything is as you requested, sir.” The casino staff were trained to lavish personal attention on their private members. Like a handful of other exclusive dining clubs around the world, The St. James Club was a place where superior service was both expected and delivered.