Is New York Burning- Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins

This book is the latest effort by these two world famous writers.The first time I was exposed to Collins and Lapierre was when I read O Jerusalem. No other book I had read had been researched to such an extent .It was almost like I was witnessing the bloody struggle for the Holy Land simultaneously from the eyes of the principal actors. After that came Freedom at Midnight and City of Joy. But I guess these matters have to be addressed in subsequent posts.

Unlike most of the pair’s books, this one is a fiction. It also stands apart from their earlier collaborations in that it is set in the aftermath of 9/11 while the others are historical in nature. Set in the Presidential palace of Saddam Hussein just before the American invasion, in the lair of Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and the teeming streets of New York, this book treats one scenario in the fight against terror-that of the dirty bomb. Unlike the traditional nukes which requires extremely specialized training for handling and arming, a dirty bomb can be easily fabricated. Wrap some conventional explosive around a bomb casing and explode it. The casing breaks, resulting in the release of radioactive material in the environment and causing pollution which affects all living beings.Simple, effective and deadly. And in a congested area like N.Y, humanitarian disaster.

The story starts from Saddam Handing over plans for a dirty bomb to a Lebanese terrorist to be used against US just before his capture.The terrorist with the aid of Laden acquires HEU(highly enriched uranium) from Pakistan.There is also an allusion to AQ Khan’s nuclear supermarket.This uranium is made into a bomb such that it can be exploded by calling a specific number known only to Laden and the designer.Smuggled into Rajasthan,the bomb arrives in NY in a container ship and is secreted in a safehouse by three jehadis recruited in Palestine.The Bush admin is shocked when the terrorists place their demands-if Israel does not stop settlers from occupying Palestinian lands,the millions of people in NY won’t have any chance.The deadline-5 days.

What follows is a gripping description of how security agencies across the spectrum ought to work when faced with grave national crisis.As usual the authors with their penchant for painstaking research have given a touch of authenticity to the book.Get hold of it if you can.Incidentally Collins passed away last year.The literary world will miss their collabaration