Monday, November 30, 2009
Book Signing in Manchester New Hampshire
At the Manchester Historic Association Annual Open House held on December 5th at 200 Bedford St., Manchester, Joe will be signing books purchased from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. At 1:30 he will be doing a presentation on his novel "Behind The Lies." Admission is free for this event and the public is welcome to attend to see Joe's first novel along with some other authors. We look forward to your attending this annual event. You can view the website www.joesmiga.com to get an idea of what the book is about and also to read reviews posted on the site.
Chapter Seventy-Two End of July
Ahmed Rassi, chief engineer at the missile manufacturing facility, receives a call from his president.
“Ahmed, what’s the delay? We were expecting twelve cruise missiles to be completed in three months. It is now three-and-a-half months and you have only supplied eight.”
“President Mahmoud,” says a decidedly nervous Ahmed, “you ordered us to have twelve Shahab missiles ready for you by the end of this month. And then you ordered twelve new cruise missiles with the modifications the navy requests and you want them two weeks ago. I’m not playing with a product that you just throw together. Not only are the components sometimes difficult to obtain, the manufacturing process of the units themselves takes time, even without all the necessary changes the navy ordered. We have tried our best to meet your orders. You now have ten of the Shahab missiles ready, plus eight of the cruise missiles. We have done our very best to satisfy you, but we cannot pull missiles out of thin air.”
“When will you have the six remaining missiles ready?”
“I can promise you that they will be ready in four weeks, sir.”
“How long will it take your technicians to install the nuclear materials in each warhead after you have all the missiles I require?”
“Sir, we are currently installing the nuclear materials in each warhead of the missiles we’ve already built, and will continue to do so as each of the remainder is finished. All twenty-four will be ready at the end of four weeks.”
“Ahmed, let me be clear,” says Mahmoud quietly. “You have no longer than four weeks. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir, I understand,” Ahmed replies mournfully. I am a dead man if my people cannot pull off the impossible. The ignorance of these people! What do they know about manufacturing times and material deliveries? They seem to think that just because they say it is so, then things will appear as if by magic.
“Ahmed, what’s the delay? We were expecting twelve cruise missiles to be completed in three months. It is now three-and-a-half months and you have only supplied eight.”
“President Mahmoud,” says a decidedly nervous Ahmed, “you ordered us to have twelve Shahab missiles ready for you by the end of this month. And then you ordered twelve new cruise missiles with the modifications the navy requests and you want them two weeks ago. I’m not playing with a product that you just throw together. Not only are the components sometimes difficult to obtain, the manufacturing process of the units themselves takes time, even without all the necessary changes the navy ordered. We have tried our best to meet your orders. You now have ten of the Shahab missiles ready, plus eight of the cruise missiles. We have done our very best to satisfy you, but we cannot pull missiles out of thin air.”
“When will you have the six remaining missiles ready?”
“I can promise you that they will be ready in four weeks, sir.”
“How long will it take your technicians to install the nuclear materials in each warhead after you have all the missiles I require?”
“Sir, we are currently installing the nuclear materials in each warhead of the missiles we’ve already built, and will continue to do so as each of the remainder is finished. All twenty-four will be ready at the end of four weeks.”
“Ahmed, let me be clear,” says Mahmoud quietly. “You have no longer than four weeks. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir, I understand,” Ahmed replies mournfully. I am a dead man if my people cannot pull off the impossible. The ignorance of these people! What do they know about manufacturing times and material deliveries? They seem to think that just because they say it is so, then things will appear as if by magic.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Chapter Seventy-One Middle of June
Three floors below the ground level, a special ops team consisting of Jim Stewart, Tony Romano and Jane St. John are sitting at a table discussing their current assignment.
“Before we get started, how about some coffee?” Stewart suggests.
“Okay, with a little milk for me,” says St. John. Romano passes. Stewart brings two cups to the table.
Sitting down, he begins, “As you know, I met with Scott Brubaker last week. I suggested the Wild Rooster to him, since that was where he met his lady friend while I was observing him. The fact that I proposed the Wild Rooster seemed to have no effect on him, so I can’t be sure whether or not she plays a role in what we’re looking for.
“During our dinner meeting he told me that he could not divulge his sources, that he only passes on information he feels is of interest to the public. He allowed that some of what he reports may only be disinformation. Or as we call it, bullshit to blind-side the enemy.
“He remained cordial even after I made him aware that the congressional committee seeking this information could call him before an inquiry panel and that, if he chose to plea the fifth, they could put pressure on his employer. After dinner I said we might have to meet again if the committee felt it necessary. He didn’t seem to have a problem with that.”
“Cool character,” Romano comments. “But the media thinks they’re above the law anyway.” Stewart shakes his head at this comment.
“Mr. Cool may not be so cool after all,” he goes on. “A team bugged his home phone while we had dinner. It appears he called the White House late last night and left an unusual voice message for someone there. I don’t know who yet, but I’ll lay you odds it’s either his source or close to it. I need to check who has that extension.”
“What did the message say?” St. John asks. “Did it make any sense?”
“Word for word: Congress is making inquiries. I need protection.”
“Protection from what?”
“Before we get started, how about some coffee?” Stewart suggests.
“Okay, with a little milk for me,” says St. John. Romano passes. Stewart brings two cups to the table.
Sitting down, he begins, “As you know, I met with Scott Brubaker last week. I suggested the Wild Rooster to him, since that was where he met his lady friend while I was observing him. The fact that I proposed the Wild Rooster seemed to have no effect on him, so I can’t be sure whether or not she plays a role in what we’re looking for.
“During our dinner meeting he told me that he could not divulge his sources, that he only passes on information he feels is of interest to the public. He allowed that some of what he reports may only be disinformation. Or as we call it, bullshit to blind-side the enemy.
“He remained cordial even after I made him aware that the congressional committee seeking this information could call him before an inquiry panel and that, if he chose to plea the fifth, they could put pressure on his employer. After dinner I said we might have to meet again if the committee felt it necessary. He didn’t seem to have a problem with that.”
“Cool character,” Romano comments. “But the media thinks they’re above the law anyway.” Stewart shakes his head at this comment.
“Mr. Cool may not be so cool after all,” he goes on. “A team bugged his home phone while we had dinner. It appears he called the White House late last night and left an unusual voice message for someone there. I don’t know who yet, but I’ll lay you odds it’s either his source or close to it. I need to check who has that extension.”
“What did the message say?” St. John asks. “Did it make any sense?”
“Word for word: Congress is making inquiries. I need protection.”
“Protection from what?”
Monday, November 23, 2009
Third Live Radio Interview
Charlie Sherman of Manchester NH's WGIR AM 610, interviewed Joe on his radio program from 8:00 to 9:00 AM on Monday, November 23rd about the book, "Behind The Lies."
Chapter Seventy End of May
As the Admiral enters the president’s office, both Ahmajid and Mahmoud stand to greet him. “Admiral, we were just talking about what you might have to report today. We hope that you have good news for us,” says Mahmoud.
Taking a chair in front of the president’s desk next to the one in which Ahmajid is sitting, Aziz settles down, pulls a binder from his briefcase and sets it on the president’s desk.
“The navy wishes to advise you, sir, that all six of our Kilos are ready to depart on whatever mission you ask of us. The only thing that may delay that mission is the problems we encountered trying to improve the firing and telemetry of the new missiles you supplied us.”
“What problems?” asks Ahmajid, his eyes flashing angrily. “Jibril’s reports said we were making good headway with those missiles.”
“Fadil, it is not a problem on our end. Your engineers did a good job of modifying those missiles and making sure we could fire them. However, Russian tolerances in their submarines and the precision characteristics we require sometimes can be a world apart.” The look on Ahmajid’s face at this news doesn’t daunt the admiral. He has faced far angrier men in his lifetime.
Taking a chair in front of the president’s desk next to the one in which Ahmajid is sitting, Aziz settles down, pulls a binder from his briefcase and sets it on the president’s desk.
“The navy wishes to advise you, sir, that all six of our Kilos are ready to depart on whatever mission you ask of us. The only thing that may delay that mission is the problems we encountered trying to improve the firing and telemetry of the new missiles you supplied us.”
“What problems?” asks Ahmajid, his eyes flashing angrily. “Jibril’s reports said we were making good headway with those missiles.”
“Fadil, it is not a problem on our end. Your engineers did a good job of modifying those missiles and making sure we could fire them. However, Russian tolerances in their submarines and the precision characteristics we require sometimes can be a world apart.” The look on Ahmajid’s face at this news doesn’t daunt the admiral. He has faced far angrier men in his lifetime.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Calling Tom Clancey fans:
Lisa Parsons of Hippo Press here in Manchester NH started her book report article on "Behind The Lies," in the above manner. She goes on to say: Joe Smiga, of Manchester, has written a military thriller about Iranian submarines attacking the United States in 2010. You can read excerpts and order this book (autographed, if you choose) at his website, www.joesmiga.com.
Thank you Lisa.
Thank you Lisa.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Chapter Sixty-Nine Last Week of April
The five members of the Guardian Council sit down for their meeting. In the silence, one could hear a pin drop. Each one looking solemn, no one wants to be the first to speak about what’s on all their minds: what might have happened to Atwan.
Finally, Farook speaks. “Well what does our esteemed president have to say about losing Jibril, Fadil?”
Evading the question, Ahmajid replies, “Hezbollah has no answer for us as to how he drowned. There were no signs of foul play when they found him.”
“Fadil, I may be an Imam but I am not totally ignorant to the ways of the world,” Farook bristles. “Jibril wasn’t in the habit of going swimming with his clothes on. As a matter of fact, I happen to know that Jibril hated swimming. Either we have a traitor within Hezbollah or a major assassination by the Israelis.”
“Unfortunately, we can never know what really happened,” Ahmajid replies with a fatalistic shrug. “We do have some reports from Jibril, but he was extremely cautious making contact.
Finally, Farook speaks. “Well what does our esteemed president have to say about losing Jibril, Fadil?”
Evading the question, Ahmajid replies, “Hezbollah has no answer for us as to how he drowned. There were no signs of foul play when they found him.”
“Fadil, I may be an Imam but I am not totally ignorant to the ways of the world,” Farook bristles. “Jibril wasn’t in the habit of going swimming with his clothes on. As a matter of fact, I happen to know that Jibril hated swimming. Either we have a traitor within Hezbollah or a major assassination by the Israelis.”
“Unfortunately, we can never know what really happened,” Ahmajid replies with a fatalistic shrug. “We do have some reports from Jibril, but he was extremely cautious making contact.
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