TO: Colonel Irving LambertFROM: Lieutenant Colonel Dan PetlowRE: Nasir TarighianDear Colonel--
Pursuant to your instructions I have had my intelligence people work on the Tarighian business 24/7, and we now have something to report.Nasir Tarighian was/is a wealthy Iranian citizen who was politically active during the Iraq-Iran War. In 1983 his home in Tehran was bombed and destroyed, killing his wife and two daughters. He formed a radical anti-Iraq terrorist outfit that made frequent sojourns across the border to Iraq, where he and his men performed vicious raids against innocent Iraqi civilians. In Iran and in parts of Iraq, Tarighian's band of terrorists was already beginning to be known as the Shadows. The Iranian government disapproved of Tarighian's methods and exiled him, but he left behind a populace that considered him a war hero, a sort of avenger for the Iranian people. In November 1984, Iraqi soldiers ambushed the Shadows--in Iraq. The force was wiped out and Tarighian was believed to have been burned to death in a massive explosion. No remains were found. But the Shadows live on to this day. In the last five to ten years they have regrouped and became better managed and financed. Terrorist Ahmed Mohammed has been linked to the group and may be directing their operations in the field. Four years ago the rumor mill perpetuated the story that Nasir Tarighian was alive and well and still leading the Shadows from outside of Iran. Since no one had really seen him, Tarighian remained a mythical figure--part righteous warrior, part ghost.However, one of our prisoners here is apparently a top lieutenant in the Shadows and knows Mohammed personally. We believe he knew Tarighian in the 1980s. After lengthy interrogation he identified a photo of a man we believe is Nasir Tarighian. I attach that photo for your use.
Dan
Lambert turned to the photo. His heart rate increased as he realized that his and Sam Fisher's instincts were correct.
The man in the picture was Namik Basaran. There was no question about it. Here, though, he was dressed in an Arabic robe and a turban. The shot was taken outdoors circa 1984.
Lambert opened his file and studied the more recent photo of Basaran with Andrei Zdrok. Yes, it was the same man. Basaran had apparently undergone some skin grafting and plastic surgery, which was what made his face look as if he had a dermatological condition.
Now it was clear. Nasir Tarighian had reinvented himself as Namik Basaran, obtained Turkish citizenship, and used his already-amassed wealth to establish Akdabar Enterprises in Turkey. No wonder Basaran had no history prior to the 1990s! By using the front of Akdabar, and especially the "charity" organization Tirma, Basaran/Tarighian had been funding and giving strategic direction to the Shadows for years. He may not be personally runningthe Shadows, but he was certainly providing them with what mattered--money.
Lambert suddenly felt wide-awake.
26
OFthe two major ports in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Kyrenia and Famagusta, the latter has the most colorful history. Located on the east coast of the island, it is a walled city that has been utilized throughout the ages--by a number of landlords--as a convenient strategic base from which to control the Mediterranean Sea. Today the harbor is used mainly for shipping and trade, whereas Kyrenia is more of a passenger terminal. The TRNC government had questioned why Namik Basaran would want to build a shopping mall just outside of Famagusta. Wouldn't Kyrenia make more sense? Kyrenia had more people and more traffic. Basaran stuck to his guns, saying that Famagusta was the most historically important city in Northern Cyprus. After all, it was the location of Othello's Castle, the inspiration for Shakespeare's famous play. Famagusta needed building up, he claimed. It demanded a refurbishing. Once a proud seaport, Famagusta had declined in respectability and Basaran aimed to change that.
The TRNC, unwilling to challenge such a valued supporter of the republic, allowed him to go ahead and strike ground.
Now, three years later, Famagusta Center was finished and Basaran was ready to begin leasing space to vendors. After a few finishing touches were added, Famagusta Center would be unveiled to the world.
Of course, Namik Basaran, aka Nasir Tarighian, had no intention of ever using the site as a shopping mall. Its proximity to Famagusta and the east coast was chosen simply for strategic reasons. He felt no compunction to help the Turks in their fledgling republic. It had all been a decade-long ruse just to arrive at this moment.
Tarighian and his chief weapons designer, Albert Mertens, walked around and inspected the massive structure that occupied a space large enough for a sports stadium. Topped by a reflective dome, the building might have been mistaken for some kind of planetarium or observatory if it weren't for the TRNC and Turkish flags hoisted on flagpoles and recognizable Western logos such as the McDonald's arches and the Virgin Megastore script mightily displayed on neon billboards.
"Isn't it beautiful, Professor?" Tarighian sighed. "The architect did a nice job with the building, don't you think?"
"Yes, indeed," Mertens said, but he wasn't smiling.
"And you're sure the Phoenix will be ready in two days?"
"Barring any unforeseen problems, yes."
"It's a shame that it will never open for business. We might have made a little money selling Big Macs."
Mertens didn't laugh.
"What's the matter, Professor?" Tarighian asked. "You seem a little unhappy lately."
"I've told you before, I don't agree with your proposed . . . plan," he said.
Tarighian stopped walking and threw up his hands. "Do we have to go through this again?"
Mertens turned and pointed his finger at his boss. "You know we have one shot and one shot only. Why waste it on Iraq? Don't you want to make the strongest statement you can possibly make?"
"Professor, enough!" The force in Tarighian's voice silenced the physicist. "I've made up my mind, so don't mention it again. Let's go inside. They're waiting for us."
Mertens nodded resignedly.
"Professor, you're a brilliant physicist," Tarighian said. "I couldn't have done this without you. But do me a favor and stick to what you know best and leave the strategic and military decisions to me."
"Fine."
Tarighian slapped Mertens on the back and said, "Good. Come on."
THEfive men gathered in the bowels of the shopping mall were Nasir Tarighian's closest aides and lieutenants. Each of them was responsible for a faction of the Shadows' operations. Ahmed Mohammed, an Iranian, was responsible for the Political Committee, whish issued fatwas, or edicts purporting to be based on Islamic law, including orders for deadly attacks. He was also the unrecognized number two in the organization, the man responsible for making sure operations in the field were carried out properly. Nadir Omar, a Saudi, led the Military Committee that proposed targets, supported operations, and ran training camps. Hani Yousef, an Iranian, ran the Finance Committee, which provided fundraising and financial support in league with Tarighian. Ali Babarah, a Moroccan, headed the Information Committee, which was responsible for propaganda and recruitment. Finally, Ziad Adhari, an Iranian, led the Purchasing Committee, the machine that procured weapons, explosives, and equipment. These five men rarely met face-to-face for security reasons.