Anyway, the book was actually written just before 9/11 and is about a big terrorist plot by al Qaeda to dentonate a nerve gas bomb in Washington DC. It's creepy reading it, knowing that it was before 9/11 when he thought it up. The President is a former governor of Texas. Al Qaeda is led by a someone of different name than bin Laden but it's obvious it's the same guy. There are cabinet members similar to the present ones a corresponding Putin character etc. It's quite thrilling.
At any rate, one of the characters is an American General who speaks fluent Arabic and was educated in the Middle East and who loves the culture and people.
This author had some sort of precognition thing going on. If any Freepers are interested, I'd definitely say it's worth a read. It's not Tom Clancy, but it's still very thrilling and chilling at the same time when you realize how easy it would be for terrorists to get their hands on nerve agent.
Just an odd coincidence- that's all. I think speaking Arabic would definitely give the general an advantage.
That's interesting.