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SEALs Sub Strike: Operation Black Snow
Chapter One
1990
Iraq
When there was a difficulty in getting what he wanted, Saddam Hussein did not hesitate to throw money at the problem in order to solve it. He had learned from his dealings with the West and the rest of the world that there were few difficulties that couldn't be solved with a copious flow of cash. The bigger the difficulty, or the more desired the final product, the more Hussein was willing to spend. This flow of wealth was not bottomless, and the eight-year war with Iran had almost bankrupted Iraq in spite of her huge oil reserves.
It didn't matter that the people of Iraq were suffering in the aftermath of their long struggle with their neighbor to the east. The vast oil wealth of Iraq was available to Saddam alone -- to spend as he saw fit. Anyone caught cheating Iraq, and by proxy Hussein himself, might find it very difficult to live long enough to enjoy their profits. That threat did very little to stem the flow of people, and even countries, offering Saddam what he wanted.
With his thug's mentality, what Saddam wanted most of all was weapons -- the more powerful, the better. A nuclear weapon was the Iraqi dictator's ultimate desire. But during the war with Iran, chemical weapons had turned the tide for the Iraqi forces facing the Iranian hordes. In spite of his personal fear of disease, Saddam had been assured that biological weapons could cause even more damage than nerve gas. And that the psychological effect of a disease being delivered as a weapon would be even greater than the actual body count might warrant. His own fears made it very easy for Saddam to believe others would feel exactly as he did.
The invasion and annexation of Kuwait had gone smoothly and quickly just a few short months before. The fact that the largest creditor of his war debts was being ground under his rule should have delighted Hussein. His joy was eliminated by his very bad misjudgment of the world's reaction to his invasion. Led by the United States, a coalition of forces was gathered under United Nations approval with the intent of driving Iraq out of Kuwait. The U.S. was building up strength in the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia since early August, only days after the Iraqi invasion had been completed.
Backed by UN resolutions authorizing and increasing use of direct action against Iraq, the U.S. and coalition forces had become a major threat to Saddam's plans for a unified Middle East -- free of what he considered the Israeli problem. This unifi- cation would be conducted under his "benevolent" leadership, which Hussein considered only right.
To continue his plans, Saddam wanted weapons capable of destroying people on a massive scale. The Iraqi nuclear program was receiving massive support, but was still months away from delivering the sudden destruction Saddam wanted. Months were not available to Iraq or Saddam. Time was short, so money and material were being poured into ongoing chemical and biological weapons programs. The first program to give the dictator what he wanted would be viewed under a vary favorable light from Baghdad. Saddam wanted results, and he wanted them right now.
1054 ZULU
33° 12' North, 42° 28' East
Bunker 38
Al Muhammadiyat Test Range
Iraq
The large man in green fatigues wore dark sunglasses under the black beret that covered his graying hair. He looked out across the empty section of desert in front of him. There was nothing to be seen anywhere beyond the high chain-link fence surrounding the huge ammunition storage site that was his responsibility. The dozens of sandcovered, carefully camouflaged concrete bunkers were spread out in an orderly fashion behind him. He was standing in front of the open door and blast shield of one of these bunkers, looking out at absolutely nothing but sand, rock, and the occasional scorpion or venomous snake.
Colonel Hafiz Kassar al-Tikriti had proven himself more than a capable and trustworthy man. During the invasion of Kuwait only a few months before, he had demonstrated bravery and ability while operating as the Staff Intelligence Of- ficer with the 2nd Armored Brigade of the Iraqi Republican Guards' Medina Division. His technical knowledge helped his personnel pinpoint very desirable scientific equipment in Kuwait City and quickly arrange for its transport to Iraq. So why did his reward seem so much like punishment?
The recent addition of two gold stars underneath the eagles on his shoulder boards was a welcome weight, though the responsibilities that went with his recent promotion to full colonel in charge of the weapons facility were heavier than he liked. His rise in the ranks of the Republican Guards had not come about just because he was from President Hussein's home town of Tikrit. He well knew the value of following a precise timetable, and just when such attention to detail is most important. This was one of those times.
Another thing the colonel had learned during his military career was how to play to an audience. And there was only one person in the immediate vicinity that he was responsible to. The present location might be the armpit of Iraq, a spot so remote not even camels cared to pass through it. But it was his assignment, one he would carry out to the best of his abilities.
Colonel Kassar watched the second hand of his Rolex sweep around the face of the watch. The information under the security cover on his aluminum clipboard had been very expensive to obtain. He would not waste one moment of the time that information gave him, or react too quickly and make all their efforts useless.
Checked for accuracy only the day before, Kassar trusted his watch now as the second hand swept past the twelve o'clock position. The other hands of the watch indicated 7:55 in the morning. Seeing this, he placed a nickel-plated whistle between his lips and blew a shrill blast.
SEALs Sub Strike: Operation Black Snow. Copyright © by S. Gunn. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.
