This was a long-awaited moment, but the way it occurred opened a Pandora’s box the government hadn’t expected. Where the trial would be held was also a serious matter. All the options had risk: Federal Court. International Tribunal. Military Court. Foreign Court. U.N. National Court. U.N. Administered Court in Afghanistan. Or a Special Islamic Court. And so, the White House was in a frenzy.

The heads of the FBI and Justice Department gathered at the Pentagon to review all the evidence, testimony, and details they had regarding the criminal and his crimes. Someone played Hashim’s last video warning, which came right before the feed from the warehouse. The bearded face of the cleric peered out from the monitor—anger burned thick in his eyes.

“What America has experienced is but a fraction of what my people have endured,” Hashim seethed. “Our sons have been slain, blood has been shed, and our sacred places defiled. Millions of children have been killed in Iraq though they were guilty of nothing. Yet no one has condemned this. You are hypocrites, and the events you have perpetuated have divided the world. To the people of America I say, you will not be safe until your armies quit the land of Muhammad. Until that day, worse than towers falling will you forever see from the wrath of Allah on your people.”

Bin Laden had taught him well.

This was one of many pieces of evidence the prosecution planned to use in building its case against the cleric. But there were concerns. While the United States led the world in prosecuting terrorists, the burden of proof was high as to the crimes with which they could connect him in a federal court. It would hinder efforts to bring Hashim to justice no matter how much evidence they’d collected. The prosecutors might be unwilling to use sensitive information that was derived from top-secret sources. The location of the trial and prison where Hashim could be held would become a magnet for violence. No matter where he was detained and prosecuted, firestorms would ignite. Now, they had to figure into the equation the fact Hashim had surrendered. Whatever the American government and its lawyers didn’t know about Hashim could be used against them. Capturing and arresting a terrorist was one thing, surrender this phenomenal another. The government could be guaranteed Hashim’s people would reach him when they discovered what he’d done if they already hadn’t. They would question his loyalty, and put a fatwa on him to be sure. This added enormous complexity and strain to an already insurmountable task.

49

49

Friday, September 25

From his window seat on the plane, Vincente looked at his gruff image reflected back in the small oval glass as he took in the warmth and beauty of the morning sun.