Samir's intelligence was important.
But the source of intelligence was critical.
If the source was wrong, it wasn't intelligence, it was poison.
"There are several people over there whom I know..."
Perhaps Samir also felt it was abrupt to disclose information like this, which might arouse Song Heping's suspicion.
"They used to serve in the old governnt army, but none of them liked Sadam. They went back ho when the coalition forces ca. Boss, I just heard about this and thought it was necessary to tell you..."
Song Heping stopped the car and held the steering wheel for a long while without making a sound.
Samir, who was looking at Song Heping's calm face, didn't know how the latter felt and couldn't help feeling a bit panicked.
So he explained, "I just think this information could be useful to you. 'Mad Dog' rcenary Group eting with the Freedom Alliance must an they're trying to bring them over.
Since the Freedom Alliance is a dog kept by the Kurd people, and considering the relationship between Black Water Company and the military, Lars will definitely have Black Water smooth things over with the Freedom Force, getting them not to attack the Cook Oil Field Area. But this could be quite bad for us..."
At this point, Samir dared not continue and didn't even have the courage to look directly at Song Heping.
After all, Song Heping was his boss.
As an employee, it might seem overly zealous to talk too much.
Song Heping also caught the underlying implications in Samir's words.
He too fell into contemplation.
First of all, it was clear that Samir disliked the Kurd people, and he even hated anything related to the Kurd organizations and people.
Secondly, there were many dubious aspects to Samir that Song Heping had not fully understood.
Samir didn't behave like most of the ICDC or ISF soldiers Song Heping had encountered before.
Having done business in Illiguo for several months, Song Heping had not recently beco acquainted with the ICDC troops.
One characteristic of the ICDC soldiers is their lack of loyalty which results in very low combat effectiveness. Whenever gunfire broke out, they tended to be the fastest to flee.
In the eyes of many locals, they were seen as selling their lives for the Aricans, a puppet army, a bunch of lackeys.
In the beginning, when the US Army first arrived, they entered Illiguo with the posture of liberators.
At least before they captured Baghdad, the local people had an absolutely grand impression of the US Army. Hence, there were locals who welcod the soldiers from the United States with flags and flowers by the roadside as they entered the city.
Unfortunately, as ti passed, the locals were dismayed to discover that the US Army wasn't so benevolent after all, often gunning down innocent civilians. In the eyes of the Arican soldiers, the lives of the locals seed worth less than a dog's.
Every day in Illiguo, there would be massacres. One day the US Army would gun down civilians in their vehicles, causing innocent people to die on the spot, the next day they might mistakenly bomb a house resulting in the death of an entire innocent family, or during military operations, undiscriminatingly physically 'dispatching' unard civilians.
After such events, the generals from the military would often put on a show of regret in front of television caras, always with the sa explanation — it was just a regrettable accident.
The aftermath was even simpler, with a few thousand US Dollars per life. It couldn't get any easier, considering the coalition forces' warehouses weren't short on cash.
Money, after all.
Problems that can be solved with money are not problems.
Over ti, the once esteed 'King's Army', the US Army, saw its image plumt in disgrace, becoming despised invaders and barbarians who had stord into hos.
And the three major committees established by the US Army were even more inhumane in their dealings.
Those local opposition and fence-sitters who used to vocally champion human rights and freedom, once they gained power, forgot their "ideals" from the Sadam era and transford into career politicians. They were only concerned with grasping power and money, showing utter disinterest in public welfare – let alone the "ideals and freedom" they once preached about.
By that ti, most of the common people of Illiguo realized they had been absolute fools, duped open-faced by fools.
Kicking out the wolf at the front door, only to let in a tiger at the back.
For every Sadam that fell, countless smaller Sadams rose up...
Many regretted their past actions of waving the star-spangled banner to welco the Aricans so much that they wished they could chop off the hand that waved that flag.
Because of this reason, the reputation of the two local forces, ICDC and ISF, established by the United Security Council, was even worse in the eyes of the people of Illiguo than the Madheh Army, which had attacked the oil fields and been captured.
Samir's performance during his last ti in Krasa Town had made Song Heping take notice of him.
Everyone else had run, but Samir and his two friends didn't flee; instead, they broke through the blockade line to et up with the "musician" rcenary group. Just for that, Samir was stronger than ninety-nine percent of the ISF mbers.
Besides, Samir was highly educated.
He held a master's degree and had studied abroad in Britain.
This was also why he was fluent in several languages.
According to the information gathered during casual conversations, Samir had rushed back from Britain only after the war broke out in Illiguo.
He said he returned because he wanted to build up his motherland, but he didn't expect that his country did not need him now. Especially the local bureaucrats of the Temporary Managent Committee, who had no intention of giving him, a foreign-educated graduate, a stage to showcase his expertise.
As a result, Samir, full of passion and nowhere to serve his country, could only join the ISF as a recruit; a master degree holder reduced to a translator, truly a tale to sadden the hearer to tears.
Should Samir be trusted?
If this intelligence was true, it would be very important to Song Heping and to the "musician" defense as well.
How Lars was connected with the Kurd Ard Forces was obvious; securing the Cook Oil Field would be significantly less stressful compared to the Hassan Oil Field. There was even a possibility that Lars might deliberately use the Kurds and their associated ard organizations to deceive his side, just to secure the contracts for both oil fields.
One must never be without precaution against others!
But if the ssage was false, it could also lead to misjudgnt, causing a mistaken reaction that could result in losing the contract.
The SUV stopped in the wilderness near the oil field; Song Heping didn't speak, and Samir in the passenger seat didn't either.
There was an odd silence inside the vehicle.
The wind blew, lifting the yellow sand.
Song Heping finally made up his mind.
"Samir, do you hate the Kurd people very much?"
"Ah?"
Samir thought Song Heping would ask him if the ssage was true.
He didn't expect this question.
"Hmm."
He didn't hide it.
"They're just a bunch of despicable agents for foreign forces!"
Talking about the Kurd Ard Forces, Samir obviously got a bit worked up, and Song Heping watched his face, observing every subtle expression.
Clearly, it didn't seem feigned.
"Boss, maybe you don't understand the Kurds, but do you know how the na Kurd ca about?"
"I don't know," Song Heping shook his head. "I'm not familiar with the history here."
Samir said, "The literal aning of Kurd is 'people of the mountains.' After the Middle Ages, kings used to exile criminals to remote and desolate mountainous areas. So fugitives who committed cris in the cities also fled to remote mountains to evade punishnt. Here, if you describe soone as a robber or a bandit, you can call him a Kurd."
"So that's how it is..."
Song Heping suddenly understood.
At this mont, he was certain that, at least, Samir was not a Kurd Ard Force's man.
"All right."
Song Heping's expression turned serious.
"Samir, tell , as your boss, can I trust you, my employee? Can I trust the information you just gave ?"
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