Trafford Publishing: Israel Strikes-Out!

Here is the full reference card for this book...

If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113.

Israel Strikes-Out!

by Robert C. Lundberg

216 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-0621; ISBN 1-4120-0252-4; US$20.50, C$24.00, EUR17.00, £12.00

An action/adventure that explores establishing and implementing a plan by the Mossad to assassinate Saddam Hussein; involves several twists and turns of an extremely dangerous mission.

Read more!

about the book about the author sample excerpts or Table of Contents catalogue info

About the Book

Israel Strikes-Out! is inspired by the many conflicts occurring in the Middle East over the last ten years. The book deals specifically with problems that have been brewing between Israel and Iraq, especially after the Scud Missile attacks launched by Saddam Hussein against Israel during the Gulf War in 1991.
The book explores concerns raised by high-level officials in the Israeli intelligence organization, the Mossad, regarding the threat presented by Saddam Hussein. A Mossad operative, Menachem Yariv, suggests a strategy to insert an operative into the Iraqi military who can get as close as possible to the Iraqi leader so that Israel can make an assassination attempt against him. After a few set backs, the Mossad stumbles on to an Iraqi defector in Amman, Jordan who gets into position in the Iraqi Special Republican Guard to at least make an attempt on Saddam Hussein's life. The effort is not simple and takes a few twists and turns before an attempt is made. The C.I.A. even gets involved when it gets wind of the operation.
After entering into a joint operation to strike Iraq, the U.S. and Israel experience several unexpected consequences of the effort that include some disappointments and some successes for both, as well as for the individuals directly involved in the operation.

About the Author

Robert C. Lundberg was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada in 1961. He moved with his family to and grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, where he attended the University of Maryland and received a B.S. Degree in Finance. He now resides in the Denver, Colorado area.
In the last 17 years, he has worked as an accounting professional and has decided that he would take a chance and begin writing. After reading hundreds of novels in various genres, he realizes that he has several novels of his own just waiting to be put on paper.
Israel Strikes-Out! is the author's first novel but he has begun a second one involving many of the same characters.

Sample Excerpts

In the meantime, one of the other Mossad operatives, Aharon Katz, is working on an assignment in Jordan when he hears an interesting story about an Iraqi defector who left Iraq to avoid having to serve in the Iraqi military. He doesn*t think much about it for a couple of days until he hears from another Mossad operative about how Menachem's plan was in jeopardy because he has been unable to recruit an Arab operative to carry out his strategy. He decides that he should get word to someone in the Mossad.
A couple of days later he contacts Yitzak Feldman and tells him the story about this Iraqi defector. Yitzak realizes the importance of this discovery and immediately contacts Menachem to suggest that something be done to try to find this defector.
Yitzak dials Menachem's number.
"Hello, Menachem here." "Hey," responds Yitzak. "Guess what I just heard?"
"What?" "An operative I know by the name of Aharon Katz called me to tell me of an Iraqi defector he has heard about who is currently in Jordan." "Really? Why don't you come to my office and tell me about it?" "Ok, I'll be right there," replies Yitzak.
Yitzak knocks on Menachem's door and enters his office. "Please tell me this is good news," says Menachem. "I believe it is. It seems that there is this defector who has gone to Jordan to avoid having to serve in the Iraqi military. I would think that this guy might be a real prospect for your assassination strategy wouldn't you?" "I certainly hope so. How can we find him?" "I'm not sure," responds Yitzak.
"I'll have to inquire of Aharon to find out. I'll go to my office right away and start to find out."
A couple of hours later Yitzak returns to Menachem's office to report on his progress. "It turns out that Aharon doesn't know who this Iraqi defector is but he says he has some ideas on how we can find him," reports Yitzak. "I'll have to go to Jordan myself to find him. It will probably take me a couple of days." "Are you sure you can find him?" "I'm confident that given a couple of days I will be able to," replies Yitzak. "If you do, you will probably be the savior of my assassination strategy so go and see what you can do and good luck!"
Yitzak arrives in Jordan and after a couple of days of searching around he is able to find Ahmed Hameed Al Bayati, the Iraqi defector. He asks him if Menachem and he can talk to him about his predicament. He agrees as long as they come to him and he doesn't have to travel anywhere for this meeting. Yitzak agrees to meet with him there in Amman and proceeds to contact Menachem to make the arrangements.
Two days later Menachem arrives in Amman and gets together with Yitzak a couple of hours before their meeting with Al Bayati to discuss the possibilities. "Yitzak, you have come through for me again. How can I ever repay you?" "Just give me easier assignments in the future," Yitzak jokingly responds. "Now, is this guy going to be willing to work with us or is he going to be difficult?" "I believe he is going to work with us", replies Yitzak. "It seems he is disenchanted with Saddam Hussein and I think we can appeal to him by taking advantage of that situation. Please let me interrogate him and I will get him to cooperate." "Ok, I will remain silent," answers Menachem.
Yitzak and Menachem approach a safehouse where their meeting is to take place. They enter the front door and go into the living room and sit down. Menachem remains silent as he promised and Yitzak begins the interrogation. "Mr. Al Bayati, you left Iraq to avoid having to serve in the military is that correct?"
"Yes," Al Bayati replies. "Does it bother you that you had to leave your family and friends in Iraq to avoid service?" "Of course it does," retorts Al Bayati. "If I could make things better in my country I would but I have no say in what the government does in Iraq." "How did you leave Iraq without having to serve in the military?" "I secretly slipped across the border, of course." "Isn't that going to be dangerous for your family?" "No, not really," responds Al Bayati. "The government is simply not aware of me at all."
Menachem calls Yitzak to the side and asks when he is going to ask him about the plan. Yitzak tells him that he is first going to cleverly suggest that there is something he can do to help reduce the amount of time Saddam Hussein remains as the head of state in Iraq. By undertaking this strategy he can have a direct impact on when he can expect his country to get back to the way it was many years ago. Menachem agrees that is the best way to do it and he suggests that Yitzak get on with it.
Back in the living room Yitzak continues the discussion. "I have an idea which could help you make a difference in Iraq sooner rather than later," states Yitzak. "It would involve working with the Israeli Mossad though, meaning us, myself and this gentleman. I know that you are not going to be too keen on working with the Mossad but let us tell you about the plan we would like you to undertake and then you can make your decision." "Ok, let's hear it," replies Al Bayati. "Well, it involves going back into Iraq and joining the army with the intention of getting into the Republican Guard," explains Yitzak. "By getting into the Republican Guard, you will be able to get closer to Saddam Hussein himself. In addition, you will need to gather information about his whereabouts.
In other words, try to develop a pattern that he uses for staying in different places every night with the eventual intention of determining where he will be on a given night so that the Mossad can direct the Israeli air force to bomb the house he is staying in that particular night. Is that something you think you would be willing to do to ensure the future improvement of life in your country?" "Well, I am not sure that I would be willing to go that far," responds Al Bayati. "If we can convince you that undertaking this effort would assure that you would get a more reasonable government into power would you do it?" "Yes, I would," replies Al Bayati.
The atmosphere in the room becomes a lot lighter after the proposed operation is revealed to Al Bayati. Both Menachem and Yitzak become more confident about being able to recruit him. They relax a lot more and begin to work harder to convince Al Bayati to work with them. This confidence gives Menachem the certainty that their efforts are beginning to lead to possible success.
Yitzak notices that Menachem has immediately become more relaxed. That gives him added confidence as well because Yitzak was becoming more and more concerned about Menachem's ability to deal with the stress of possible failure of their recruiting efforts. He feels that now they can both put forth the effort necessary to achieve success.
Menachem decides that it is time for him to speak up. "Mr. Al Bayati, I can assure you that if we are successful with this plan your country will be back in the good graces of the rest of the world. Is that enough assurance for you?" "Well, it sure would be nice to know that no one else in my family would be forced into the army ever again," exclaims Al Bayati. "At least not into the army the way it is operated now." "Ok then, we will need to discuss details regarding how we will be getting you back into Iraq and into the Republican Guard and get you some training before we send you in," states Menachem. "Well, I should be able to help you with some of that," says Al Bayati. "I will have no trouble getting into the Republican Guard. My grandfather was a high-ranking general with them, consequently they should welcome me with open arms." "You're kidding me?" asks Menachem. "No, I really am the grandson of a military hero," proclaims Al Bayati. "That should make it a lot safer for you than trying to force your way in fraudulently," declares Menachem.
"In addition, I have a degree in pharmacology from Baghdad University and I attended Reserve College in 1993 where I received my officer training. I graduated and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the army reserves," declares Al Bayati. "That's great, Mr. Al Bayati, so you won't have any trouble at all getting into the Republican Guard, right?" inquires Menachem. "That's right, except for the fact that I didn't report for my army reserve service at all during the last six months while I was in Jordan. However, I do believe that I will be able to satisfactorily explain my absence at the time of my induction. I will simply explain that my father was ill, which he was, and I could not leave him during the last six-month period. Hopefully that will satisfy them." "I certainly hope so for your sake, Mr. Al Bayati."
"Our next step is to get you to Tel Aviv for some training," suggests Menachem.
"We will need about a month to get you all of the training you will need to accomplish our plan." "I'm ready when you are," exclaims Al Bayati. "What should we call you?" asks Yitzak. "Ahmed would be just fine." he responds. "The sooner we get started the sooner we will be successful." On their flight home, Yitzak notices that Menachem is relaxing and his anxious behavior that has been noticeable over the last couple of weeks has disappeared. Yitzak figures, now that Menachem has achieved success in his recruiting effort, he should sufficiently settle down and guide the operation smoothly from now on.

Catalogue Information