In Day of Vindication, the reader is swept up on a gripping journey into the all-too-realistic future, depicting tomorrow's headlines before they happen - a large American city is destroyed by fire, millions die as a result of the surprise attack. Soon after this evil act, the world is placed on alert with the threat of six more equally deadly explosions if the resurrected Muhammad's demands aren't met within seven days. Two elite counterterrorism agents, Cassandra "Army" Armendorfer and her partner Raphael Guerra, lead a team of government specialists on a hectic chase across the United States to find the remaining bombs before their time runs out.
Excerpt:
INTRODUCTION
Abraham was a man who believed God rewarded faith so in a time past he and God had a heart-to-heart talk that resulted in a major land acquisition. Because of Abraham's great faith, God agreed to grant him the son he so desired in order to carry on his lineage. The baby would be born to Abraham's wife, Sarah. God then fattened the agreement by adding a parcel of real estate that stretched from Egypt to the Euphrates River on the east and from Syria to the Persian Gulf on the south. For his part, Abraham agreed to maintain the faith and pass it down to his heirs. Not long after this heavenly decree, Abraham tripped over his faith and slept with Hagar, an Egyptian girl who served Sarah. Because of her indiscretion, Hagar was chastised by Sarah and left the house to consider her options. While she sat by a spring pondering her condition, the angel of the Lord came to her with a promise. "I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael, and he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him." With this guarantee in keeping, Hagar returned to the household of Abraham and birthed her baby.
Thirteen years later, Abraham renewed his covenant with God and bore a son with Sarah, naming him Isaac, making Abraham the unenviable father of both Arab and Jew. These are God's final words on the matter: "As for Ishmael, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac."
On that ill-fated day in September 2001, this age-old sibling conflict spilled across the wide Atlantic, brutally sending three thousand souls into eternity and radically changing the lives of Americans everywhere. The United States immediately countered by sending the most sophisticated army ever assembled into the Middle East to democratize the region on the naive belief that democracy was the solution to a four-thousand-year-old inheritance squabble.
PROLOGUE
The Capital, January 20th
Standing at the podium in the hallowed chambers of the House of Representatives, the President of the United States was about to finish his State of the Union Address, summing up his administration's accomplishments in the last year.
"And finally, I think it befitting to thank the citizens of this great nation for their courage, determination, and patience in the fight against terror. You have endured wars, sorrow, and disasters of every kind while combating the enemies of peace and democratic rule. I am here this evening to proclaim that your endurance was not in vain. The enemies of liberty are on the run. Over the last year, the drumbeat of hate has been silenced. The Al Qaeda terrorist network has been reduced to a handful of rag-tag cave dwellers. Its army of Mujahadeen fighters have been routed in a joint effort on the part of the US military and regional armies who have stayed the course.
Our friends in Israel, both the Israelis and the Palestinians, have made courageous concessions in the search for peace. I am happy to report tonight that those concessions are working to stabilize that country.
Both sides are at the negotiating table, working out diplomatic relationships that will lead to a lasting peace...Democracy is working. Militant Palestine has agreed to put down their rifles and join in the talks. They have also conceded Israel's right to exist.
Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan are all effective, functioning, free societies with democratic administrations, and have good working relations with the United States and her neighbors. Iran has agreed to comply with the United Nations mandate to allow inspections for the purpose of monitoring their nuclear ambitions. This cooperation by the Tehran government will lead to peaceful coexistence in the Middle East, and in so doing permit Iran to process nuclear energy for nonviolent purposes. For the first time in recent history, I can state with absolute confidence that the world is a safer place and its residents are at peace with one another. The efforts put forth by this great nation, the United States of America, to ensure global democracy will not go unnoticed by people around the world. As long as democracy remains the government of choice, peace will prevail. It is the supreme responsibility of all freedom-loving people throughout this great society to guarantee our neighbors that same inalienable right. I leave you with these compelling words from Abraham Lincoln: 'Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, cannot long retain it. Thank you, and may God bless America."
