U.S. AID FUELING THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN EGYPT--------------- The

Washington Post, December 26, 2000—Egypt, a preoccupation of U.S. foreign policy for the last quarter-century, has been the second-largest recipient of American foreign aid during that period. The $52 billion program, so far, has rebuilt mosques, constructed new schools, promoted family planning and transferred high-tech weapons like F-16 warplanes and Ml-Al tanks at a $2-billion-a-year clip . ..

CONSEQUENCES OF A NEW U.S. DEFENSE STRATEGY--------- STRATFOR

Global Intelligence Update, www.stratfor.com. 1 March 2001—In Washington, an internal Pentagon review of American defense strategy is likely to call for a dramatic reduction in U.S. troops deployed overseas . . . Such a historic shift would reduce the vulnerability of U.S. forces to attack and lower the profile of a seemingly imperial military presence. Over the long term, however, such a strategy may force allies and adversaries alike to build new regional alliances or adopt independent, antagonistic defense strategies ...

LIBYA: GAINING LEVERAGE IN CENTRAL AFRICA--------- STRATFOR, 5

June 2001—Chad and Libya reportedly deployed several hundred troops, attack helicopters and other military equipment to the Central African Republic on May 30, the BBC reported.

. .. The unsuccessful uprising has opened the door for Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi to send Libyan troops into central Africa and closer to Chad’s southern oil fields . ..

AIR FORCE TURNS 747 INTO HOLSTER FOR GIANT LASER—The

Washington Post, July 22, 2001—USAF plans to shoot down a Scud-type missile with a giant laser fired from a modified 747 within two years. That test would be to prove the feasibility of destroying an attacking missile in the “boost” phase shortly after launch.

3 STUDIES FOCUS ON CUTTING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENTS—The

Washington Times, July 25, 2001—Secretary Rumsfeld ordered three Pentagon reviews of foreign troop engagements in order to determine how best to reduce the type of overseas deployments that mushroomed during the Clinton era.

Contents

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

EPILOGUE

PROLOGUE

OVER CENTRAL LIBYA

“This has got to be the most insane idea in the history of aviation,” retired Navy commander John “Bud” Franken muttered. “Let it go and let’s get this over with.”

Retired Air Force brigadier general Patrick McLanahan smiled, then fastened his oxygen visor in place with a snap. “That’s the spirit, AC,” he said happily. “It only seems insane because no one’s ever done it before.”

“Yeah, right. Just unzip your pants over there and let’s go home.”

“Here it comes,” Patrick said. He hit a small stud on his computer trackball and spoke: “Deploy array.” The computer acknowledged the command, and the attack was under way: