Richard Lineheart, a retired U.S. Army Ranger returned to his home after a workout at the martial arts dojo. His wife greeted him with a kiss. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.” He sat down in his favorite chair to relax and watch the news on television. Wow, there is a war going on just about everywhere. The war in Lebanon between the Hezbollah and the Israeli forces was the main topic being discussed. He asked his wife, “why can’t these people learn to get along?” He took a couple of sips from a cold glass of iced tea. The phone rang. She told him, “It’s an unlisted number. Do not answer it, they’ll leave a message if it is important.” A lady’s voice came on, ”Mr. Lineheart, please pick up the phone. This is the White House calling. General Jones needs to talk to you.”

General Jones! That is a blast from the past. He had not heard that name in a long time. Why would he be calling now? Could it be some jokester calling? He pushed the speakerphone button, and before he could say anything, that same voice said, “Just a moment, please hold for General Jones”. In a moment a familiar voice said, “Richard, how are you? If you look out your window you will see a state trooper’s car in your driveway. He is ready to take you to the airport. From there, a military transport will bring you to Washington, D.C. Please pack very lightly. We need your help on a very difficult and sensitive mission.”

For a few seconds Richard was dumbfounded. In his younger years, and during his military and civilian service, he had been on such missions. What now he thought. He felt some excitement, with a little anxiety, in what lay ahead.

He packed a small travel bag with a change of underwear and a shaving kit. He kissed his wife and told her, “I’ll be back soon. Do not worry.” He got into the troopers car and headed to the airport. The trooper was a young man. He was trying his best to act casual. Richard did not know how much the trooper had been told. He could tell the trooper’s curiosity was about to get the best of him. They had a few minutes before they would reach the airport. Richard smiled and asked the trooper, “Do you know what is going on?” The trooper answered, “No sir, I do not. I was told to pick you up and deliver you to the airport.” Richard thought that he would lead him on. “Thanks for taking the time to do that. The life of a secret agent is very tough. Every time we complete a mission, we think that it will be our last. Then someone at the highest level in government comes up with another mission. Sometime it seems to be a little glamorous something like James Bond. Other times our lives hang by a thread”. By now, the trooper thought he really had a 007 in his car. “How do you get in this line work? He asked. Richard paused before answering. “It is very dangerous. Your life is on the line every time you are in the field. That would be the last thing you would want to do if you are a family man. However, if you are interested you can pursue it by joining the military, U.S. Marshal Service, FBI, or Secret Service Branch of the government.”

The trooper drove to a dark corner of the airfield. The car stopped close to a military passenger jet. The trooper jumped out of the car and ran to the passenger side. He opened the door and Richard stepped out. The trooper saluted him with a firm military salute, extended his hand for a handshake, and said, “good luck sir, may God be with you”. He stood and watched the military officers jump out of the jet, and usher Richard on board. Within minutes the plane was in the air. As Richard looked down, he could see the trooper gazing towards the jet in the sky.

It was not a long flight. The plane landed in D.C. A helicopter carried him to CIA headquarters at Langley, VA. He was directed to a conference room behind green doors. Within a few minutes, four people walked in…General Jones, his aide, and a couple of civilians. The General introduced the civilians as Intelligence Officers. The General and Richard had known each other since their days together in the military. He explained, “The White House and the State Department asked us to handle an important matter, and they want to be informed of the progress. If possible, they would like to have no mention of them in this activity”.

General Jones took the lead. “ Are you familiar with the conflict in Lebanon?” he asked.

“Not really,” answered Richard. “I know what has been reported on the news.”

“Well, we have a new approach to resolve the conflict, and we need your help to make it happen. Do you remember Daoud Zaid, the Lebanese Business Administration student at the university? He also trained in martial arts under you.”

“Yes I remember him. He was tough and very intelligent. He had a good head for business. We called him DZ.”

“That’s the one. Our field agents have been in touch with him and other Hezbollah leaders. We believe that he is highly respected and is probably the number two man in that movement. Our field agents reported that from all the Americans he ever met, you are the only one he trusts! So, we are asking you to go to Lebanon, talk to him, and convince him that the U.S. is sincere in our efforts to mediate this problem. Last but not lease, have him agree to the terms of the U.N. Resolution that is on the table.” General Jones then handed Richard a copy of the resolution.