Dear Readers,
Back in the late 1980s, while I was a young partner in a large Dallas law firm, I met a terrorist. I didn’t know it at the time. At a senior partner’s request, I met with a potential client who wanted to invest $100 million in U.S. real estate. He was an older Arab gentleman. When I asked for his contact details, he gave me several locations in London and Europe; and then he said, “But there are times when I will be unavailable as I will be in the desert of Libya with Muammar Gaddafi.” I asked what he did for Gaddafi. “Consult.” On what? “Construction.” Of what? “Projects.” He declined to be more specific. After escorting him to the elevators, I went to the senior partner and convinced him that the firm didn’t need this client. We declined to represent him. End of story.
Or so I thought.
About a year later, I read an article in a national news magazine that reported of his death—and that he was the man who had built Gaddafi’s chemical weapons plant. Sarin was reportedly produced at that plant. Twenty-five years later, ISIS captured Libya’s cache of sarin.
I met the man who made that possible.
Eighteen months ago when I started writing this book, I had no idea that today ISIS would be the threat it is to the world. I researched the group and its goals, beliefs, motivations, and methods extensively. I did not make up that part of the story.
I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it. The book was supposed to be out six months ago, but I had some medical issues to deal with; so I fell behind schedule. Because of the timing—the rise of ISIS, presidential politics, and the Super Bowl—I felt that the book needed to be made available as soon as possible. So it is currently available only in e-book. If I waited on print, it would not be out for a year. I will keep you updated on a print edition.
Best wishes for 2016.
Mark Gimenez
[email protected]
Facebook: Mark Gimenez