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

Inside the meeting room, everyone was still discussing the matter, but at that moment, Muqtada al-Sadr's heart was filled with complex emotions.

Which anti-American armed force did this? That's incredible!

Once this news is released, all anti-American armed groups in Iraq will follow their lead!

If it's one's own Mahdi Army...

He was no longer the leader of the Mahdi Army; he had already sided with the Americans!

I'm afraid I can't carry the anti-American banner anymore!

Thinking about this, he actually hoped it wasn't Mahdi's doing; otherwise... the more enthusiastically the other side went about it, the greater his disappointment would be...

and many more!

Ghazi-Yawar has become the target of public criticism and is definitely not going to become President of Iraq. Should I... try to win him over? Even being a figurehead would be better than this incompetent Minister of Immigration!

Therefore, he decided to join the ranks of those denouncing Ghazi-Yawar.

At that moment, at the scene of the attack, Ghazi-Yawar was in a daze!

There were no more drones in the air. The American soldiers were clearing the site. Looking at the bodies blown to pieces, he felt nauseous, but… thinking of these people's status, his heart was filled with… fear. Where would the situation in Iraq go? Would the war… continue indefinitely? Just like in Afghanistan…

Iraq is seven hours ahead of Eastern Time, so when it is 10 a.m. in Iraq, it is only 3 a.m. in the United States.

At this time... even those who love nightlife the most are already asleep!

When he heard the knocking at the door, little Bush thought he was dreaming and turned over to go back to sleep, but then... the knocking got even louder.

"Who?"

"Andrew Card, Mr. Bush, something terrible has happened at Eto's. You... need to get up immediately and go to the Oval Conference Room."

What big deal could Yi Tuo possibly have to do?

Young Bush sat up groggily: "Isn't Colin over there? We can leave it to him!"

"He can't handle it..."

Why?

"Because he was killed in the explosion..."

What?

Little Bush was completely wide awake!

It's not uncommon to be murdered. Not to mention secretaries of state, even four US presidents in history have been shot. But... all of those were within the United States!

There is no precedent abroad for a high-ranking U.S. official to be assassinated, let alone bombed, which is a serious challenge to U.S. authority!

"Damn it, we need to find out who did it, and we'll kill them all!" Bush Jr. instantly became murderous.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States became the sole global hegemon, and in recent years, they have been able to attack whomever they want!

Americans can do whatever they want all over the world, just like the Roman Empire of the past!

Now, Colin Powell has been assassinated! It's simply unbelievable!

When he arrived at the Oval Table conference room, he heard Donald Rumsfeld roaring.

"Damn it, this is disrespecting America! Today it's Colin Powell, tomorrow it could be any one of us here! We must launch the most insane revenge, even if we're condemned as a massacre..."

He paused there, looking at the people coming in.

George W. Bush sat in his seat, struggling to suppress his anger, and said, "Right now, the most crucial thing is to find out who did it, the CIA..."

Just as he was speaking, George John Tenet rushed over, and the CIA director's hair had noticeably turned grayer...

Making him take the blame and resign last time was the best option; he really didn't want to be the bureau chief anymore! That didn't work last time, but this time… an even more terrible problem has arisen!

"George, have you received any intelligence about this assassination attempt?" Bush Jr. asked.

"Got it."

So fast? Everyone else present was stunned. When did the CIA become so efficient?

George John Tenet walked straight to the television in the conference room, plugged in the USB drive he had brought, and soon a video appeared on the screen.

That was a video shot from an overhead angle; you could see a convoy of cars in the field of view, with a luxury Mercedes-Benz sedan in the center...

The expressions on everyone's faces changed drastically. This was a video taken by the attacker; it was a boast, a provocation, and a contempt for American hegemony!

The Mercedes gradually grew larger until only the roof remained...

The video is short, only about ten seconds long, and is accompanied by two lines of Arabic text.

Americans, either get out or die! We'll make sure you don't leave alive!

The video was released by the Mahdi Army. We declare that the attack was carried out independently by us and is unrelated to any other anti-American organizations!

Mahdi Army, it's Mahdi Army again!

That damned guerrilla force never disappeared; their recent period of dormancy was all for today's big attack!

It's like that old saying that circulates on the streets of Baghdad: a snake in the desert knows when to bite and when to hide in the sand.

"This video has been sent to reporters at The Independent by the Mahdi Army, who then posted it online. Now, it's spreading all over the world..." George John Tenet's voice was weary: "We at the CIA made a mistake. We didn't stop the video from spreading. I... I'm willing to resign."

He should have quit last time! It would have saved him the trouble and stress. This time… he really doesn't want to do it anymore!

"What do you think their statement means?" Bush Jr. asked.

"Hmph, that's clearly a cover-up. This kind of attack couldn't possibly have been carried out by them alone; the Holy City Brigade must have been helping them. Otherwise… where did they get their drones!" Donald Rumsfeld said. "We should teach those damned Langtuo people a lesson!"

Even without this statement, the White House would suspect Lang Tuo's involvement, not to mention the implications behind the statement!

"That's right, the Pentagon immediately formulates an attack plan. We must teach those damned Lang Tuo a lesson. If it weren't for their support of the Mahdi Army, our people wouldn't be dead! At the same time, have the troops on Yi Tuo's side conduct a full-scale manhunt for the Mahdi Army!"

"good!"

George W. Bush continued issuing orders: "Andrew, hold a press conference at dawn. Oh, and bring out Colin Powell's family. Let all the media see what the Etruscans are doing! They're killing children's fathers, women's husbands..."

This is the American logic: they can bomb other people who have no family, but when it comes to themselves, they start playing the emotional card!