Time Travel 04: I Fight the US in the Middle East

Buzz, buzz!

Humvees sped through the streets of Baghdad.

Crunch!

With a sharp screech of brakes, the car came to a stop outside a courtyard.

Then came a chaotic scene.

"We suspect you have ties to the Mahdi Army and to the June 628th attack. Take you all away!"

"No, we don't have any, oh dear..."

Amid screams, several locals, their faces bruised and swollen, were forced into a vehicle. Those around dared not approach to watch, but instead clenched their fists.

Hmph, Americans, what are you trying to prove! Even Colin Powell got taken down, you're all going to die sooner or later!

Before, they might have had to live cautiously under the oppressive power of the Americans, but now... they suddenly realized that the Americans weren't so powerful after all. They were human too, and they could die. Even the people in the high and mighty White House could die!

The fear of the past has vanished, leaving only anticipation—the anticipation that the Mahdi Army will completely drive the Americans out.

Some young people are even getting excited and are already thinking about signing up to join the Mahdi Army. Although there are many guerrilla groups in the country, the most powerful ones are definitely the Mahdi Army and Juba the Grim Reaper.

For the past week, the Americans' arbitrary arrests have not frightened the locals; instead, they have fueled their resentment and even a desire to fight!

The 1st Armored Division Command Post within the Green Zone.

"Commander, so far we have arrested more than 800 suspects, and the prisons are already full. What should we do next?" Bruce asked with some difficulty.

"Interrogate them, then shoot them!" Major General Ricardo Sanchez gritted his teeth. "Colin Powell is dead, and we must make these locals pay with their lives! Unless they can reveal the location of the Mahdi Army!"

After this raid, the Mahdi Army disappeared again. Whether in Baghdad, Sadr City, or even Najaf, there was no trace of the Mahdi Army.

Their 1st Armored Division had to give an explanation for Colin Powell's death. The best way was to kill all the suspects as Mahdi soldiers. As for whether they were wrongfully killed... so be it. They were all just lowly lives anyway.

Bruce swayed twice. "Commander, aren't you afraid of going to hell for doing this?"

"Bruce, we have to do this. We also need to leak this information. If the Mahdi Army doesn't want to see these people killed by us, they'll have to break into the prison. Then..."

This is Major General Ricardo Sanchez's plan!

No one knows where the Mahdi Army is hiding, so they can only lure them out. These people who have been captured are implicated by the Mahdi Army, and there may even be Mahdi Army spies among them. The Mahdi Army has no choice but to come to their rescue!

"Commander, what if they don't come? Are we really going to execute those people?"

Executing someone without a court trial could cause serious trouble if investigated later.

"Do you have a better idea?" Major General Ricardo Sanchez asked his adjutant.

"Should we... ask Blackwater for help?"

In 1997, six retired Navy SEALs founded Blackwater International, providing private security and military contracting services. In their early years, they could only provide some training missions, and after several years, they only earned a few tens of thousands of dollars.

However... following the phone number incident, their business exploded, and they could be found in the Hindu Kush mountains and the streets and alleys of Ithaca!

In order to reduce casualties, the U.S. military has assigned many high-risk missions to Blackwater. Since 2002, Blackwater's revenue has increased several hundred times!

They were well-equipped, and their employees were all highly qualified veterans. Their deaths wouldn't cause political problems, making them very convenient to use. At the same time, Prince, the head of Blackwater, was also capable, constantly donating money to the Bush administration and hiring people who had retired from the government to join his company, such as CIA counterterrorism director Cofer Black and former Department of Defense Inspector General Joseph Schmitz...

There are a large number of Blackwater employees in Yituo. Now that the First Armored Division can't find its target, it can ask Blackwater for help!

"Blackwater has many retired special forces soldiers who are skilled in combat in various terrains. Currently, we have repeatedly searched several major cities without finding anything. The Mahdi Army has likely fled to remote areas, which is where Blackwater operates..."

Before Bruce could finish speaking, an intelligence officer rushed in.

"Report! We've just received news that the Mahdi Army has revealed their drone production facility!"

What?

The drones used by the Mahdi Army were not provided by Lang Tuo, but were produced by the Mahdi Army itself.

How is that possible!

Inside the division headquarters, everyone stared wide-eyed at the projection screen hanging on the wall.

Soon, the image became clear, showing a somewhat rudimentary production workshop with some workers inside, all masked so their faces were obscured. On the worktables in front of them, rows of rudimentary drones were being assembled.

A masked man appeared in the video, speaking in a low voice.

"Listen up, Americans! One person does one thing, one person takes responsibility! The beheading of Colin Powell and his entourage was all done by our Mahdi Army! It has nothing to do with Lang Tuo, nor with anyone captured in Baghdad! So far, all members of our Mahdi Army are safe; not a single one has been captured!"

The 1st Armored Division originally planned to execute some innocent civilians, claiming they were key members of the Mahdi Army. However, the Mahdi Army exposed their scheme!

"We will not rescue those captured civilians, because it's a trap, just like when we tried to rescue our former leader Muqtada al-Sadr, and hundreds of our brothers died! We cannot stop the atrocities committed by the US military; the only thing we can do is eliminate you!"

Azam is no saint. War is cruel to civilians, and no one can stand idly by. They either become America's dogs or join the anti-American forces! If the 1st Armored Division really does execute some civilians, the only result will be to incite even greater public outrage!

"Look, the drones being assembled behind me are the gift our Mahdi Army is giving you! Whether you're in Baghdad's Green Zone or in your military camp, anywhere, you're within our strike range! As long as you stay, we'll keep you from having a moment's peace!"

Watching the video feed, Major General Ricardo Sanchez clenched his fist: "Damn it, contact Blackwater immediately and launch a full-scale search throughout Iraq. We must find the Mahdi Army's hideout and their drone production base!"

The thought of facing a deluge of drones in the future sends chills down everyone's spine!