The president looked stunned. He had agreed to a single Special Forces operation, but that only made the military hunger for more. He had visions of a full scale war on his hands. Oetari the Nobel Peace Prize winner, the president who ended wars was on the verge of starting his own complete with a domestic crack down not seen since World War II.
“This is an all-out war on Islam.”
“No sir, that’s what we’re trying to prevent,” MacCloud said firmly. “However, getting rid of terminology, ignoring terrorist acts as “workplace violence,” honor killings as “domestic violence” and allowing madrassas to teach kindergarteners that Jews are “pigs” and Christians are “dogs” does not stop jihadists. Putting them under surveillance, cutting their funding and forcing them to live by our laws not only stops the jihadists, it allows the majority of peace loving Muslims to live free of fear, to pursue the American dream. Isn’t that what we want?”
“If we allow the peaceful Muslim population to rise from under the thumb of the radicals we defeat them without firing a shot,” Gann added. “The last thing the jihadists want is Muslims in America who are free from fear and thriving.”
“If they can’t coerce their fellow Muslims, if they lack funding or propaganda their recruitment it will dry up.”
“We can keep the military operations overseas, but they need to be swift and devastating! Dead jihadists rotting in the desert isn’t much of a recruiting tool either,” General Mertzl told the president. “Defeating them decisively will stop the flow of foreign fighters to Iraq and Syria.”
MacCloud stepped forward and emphasized his point. “We don’t have to make this noisy. It doesn’t have to be on the evening news. When a hundred of the worst mosques are raided, and we know who they are Mr. President, they’ll get the message. When CAIR has its assets frozen because of their relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood then all other Muslim organizations will take notice. Take out the big offenders and the small operators will actively discourage their membership from recruitment and covert aid to the terrorists.”
“We need to nip this in the bud Mr. President,” Mertzl insisted. “We missed out chance when ISIS moved out of Syria. We may not get another chance to crush them without a full scale involvement. The longer we wait the more this will cost in blood and treasure!”
“You want another surge! There is nothing that corroborates that theory,” Carrabolla snapped. “The president is right. We have rocked the boat, but that’s enough. ISIS will not be defeated by yet another surge.”
Oetari looked at military and intelligence men, and said, “I agree with Ms. Carrabolla. It seems like that’s what you’re calling for gentlemen — another surge. The previous war didn’t work; what makes you think another one will?”
“Sir, Iraq was at peace before we pulled out. It was stable.”
“There was no reason to stay,” Oetari said.
“Sir, the point I made a year ago is still true today,” Mertzl reminded the president. “We left a force in Germany after World War II not simply to prevent the Germans from falling back into their evil ways but to preserve Germany from Russian domination. The same was true with Japan and Korea where we still have troops today.”
“At great cost,” Oetari reminded the general.
“Yes sir, it would have been nice if we hadn’t had to leave troops at all, but look at the price we paid in Vietnam when we pulled out: two million Vietnamese slaughtered, our prestige diminished, our soldiers lost in vain. Mr. President we can’t let that happen again.”
“But who is to say this will be a success?”
Director Gann of the CIA said firmly, “Mr. President, during the surge in Iraq Al Qaeda admitted defeat. They broadcast to the Muslim world: “We are defeated here, do not send any more fighters!” We also have significant statistics showing the numbers and effectiveness of the IED campaign decreasing in proportion to our Cobra operations against Al Qaeda. The constant reminder of their leaders being assassinated definitely hurt the morale and effectiveness of the Al Qaeda fighters.”
Oetari turned to the FBI. The director shrugged, and said, “Our data suggests the same thing. Recruitment became much more difficult when the surge was decimating the terrorist fighting force. However, as of late, as we have relieved the pressure, the home grown jihadist recruiters parlay that as victory, as America retreating, as weakness, and that has led to a spike in jihadist recruitment as well as ‘lone wolf’ terrorist operations like the Boston Marathon bombing and Major Hassan’s terrorist attack at Fort Hood.”
“That was a situation involving workplace violence, not terrorism,” Carrabolla interjected.
Director MacCloud stroked his mustache with caustic deliberation, allowing the tone of his voice to accentuate his derision. He continued, “Successful bombing and especially ground campaigns may not make us friends but they have proven remarkably effective at stopping the flow of recruits. The equation is simple: young men will not sign up for a lost cause! We’ve created a problem by relieving the pressure before the threat was annihilated.”
“You’re talking about another ground campaign,” Oetari protested. “I ended this war. I will not begin another.”
“We may have ended our part of the war but the enemy has a say in whether the war’s over, Mr. President,” General Mertzl said gruffly. “When one side quits while the other side is still fighting that generally means the quitter has lost the war.”
“I will not commit boots on the ground in Iraq!” Oetari said harshly. “The Iraqi’s and the Syrians will have to solve this themselves.”
“Does that mean we leave the Christians and the Shia to be slaughtered?”
“These are isolated incidents,” President Oetari shot back. “That behavior is grievance driven; it is not a central tenet of Islam, even of Al Qaeda and its offshoots.”
Director Gann stated brutally, “The matter is summed up for every person alive: Either submit, or live under the suzerainty of Islam, or die. Does Islam force people by the power of the sword to submit to its authority — yes!”
“Where did you come up with that?” the president demanded.
“It’s a direct quote from Osama bin Laden,” he replied tersely.
“You simply do not understand these people,” Oetari insisted. “Islam is a religion of peace and it is you and all the West that want to see it as a religion of war.”
Oetari went behind his desk and sat down. The expression on his face was thoughtful. He said aloud, though as if to himself, “These people are not the people I grew up with. Their fury for past grievances has pushed them to this; however, that is not an excuse for this barbarity, this perversion of Islam — it’s not even Islam.”
The president looked up suddenly, feeling the weight of the military men’s eyes. He cautioned them, “Don’t remind me of the actions of Muhammad! That was the seventh century; it was a completely different time! We need to deal in the here and now.”
“Then what are your orders Mr. President?” General Mertzl said, waiting patiently.
“We cannot put boots on the ground — period,” Oetari replied emphatically. “However, we will respond. I want a limited air campaign, enough to degrade ISIS capabilities both militarily and economically. As distasteful as it is, I see no other alternative than to continue with your Cobra missions.
“As far as the Homefront is concerned, the FBI needs to root out the radicalized elements recruiting our young men to Syria to fight with the jihadists but I do not want mosques raided, is that understood? Go after individual recruiters but leave places of worship alone.”
He looked directly at General Mertzl. “I’d like the Air Force’s recommendations for targets by this afternoon. Ms. Carrabolla and her NSA staff will look them over and approve the target list and numbers.”