Zuwayy shook his head in confusion. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Juma,” he said. “I want to just go in and take that oil field. Tahir says our troops are in place—”

“Then we risk getting bombed again by the Egyptians and whoever else they have working for them,” Hijazi said. “We haven’t been able to touch the forces that attacked Samah or Jaghbub—we certainly won’t be able to get them over Egypt.” He glared at Fazani, silently ordering him to start arguing on his side, or else.

“We need time and money to regroup, rearm, and reorganize our forces,” Fazani said tenuously. Hijazi nodded. “This deal will give us the time and the money to do that.” Zuwayy looked at both his friends and advisers, and seemed to be relenting.

“And all we have to do is endorse Susan Bailey Salaam as president of Egypt,” Hijazi added quickly.

“What?” both Fazani and Zuwayy asked in unison.

“We need to do this, or this whole thing unravels,” Hijazi explained. “Salaam is seen as the hero in all this, even though she did nothing but screw some American commander into bombing targets in Libya for her. She is inexperienced, naive, and idealistic. She will allow Muslim Brotherhood representatives into Egypt to argue before the People’s Assembly for membership—that alone is worth the price. If Egypt becomes a full member of the Brotherhood, all African and Middle East nations will soon follow suit. But in order for this to happen, Salaam must become president of Egypt. If you endorse her, and get all the other Brotherhood leaders to do the same....”

“What? Have all of the other members endorse an American to be president of Egypt! Are you insane?”

“Jadallah, the Muslim Brotherhood can step out of the shadows and take its place in the center of the world stage if this happens,” Hijazi argued. “Salaam is that powerful, that well known—and after this offensive against us, she looks more and more like a defender of Egypt. We need to tap into that power—and the best way for that is to embrace her as an equal, not as a victor. Only you can make this happen. She needs this from us as much as we need Salimah, Jadallah. Do it.”