Here is a remarkable counter terrorism proposal that was
introduced by way of a gripping fiction book. 
Author John Errett's
new espionage thriller,” The Owl and

the Hawk” is fiction but the plan that is presented at the

end of the book certainly is not.  It is a plan that would involve no
weaponry, would

pay for itself and would be very effective.  The fiction portion is a
clever device to introduce the author’s counter terrorism plan.  It powerfully helps to bring the

reality of terrorism to the forefront.  It is a fact of life that too many

of the world faces today but yet something from which many others are still
quite sheltered.  Before we take a look at the proposal (included here
with the author’s permission) let’s discuss the key points of the plan which is
currently before the State Department.

• The
  plan puts the onus of responsibility on all the nations of the world to
  secure not only their own citizenry but the citizens of the global
  community.
• The
  forces of finance are extremely powerful and very motivating.  Participating nations will more
  carefully scrutinize individuals before issuing passports. This will
  prevent free passage for known and suspected terrorists.  It would make it much harder for
  terrorists by restricting their mobility.
• All
  citizens (even from countries who choose not to participate in this plan)
  would have the option to post a bond to enable passage while at the same
  time creating a paper trail.
• The
  contributions to other anti-terrorist programs (both forceful and
  peaceful) could be reduced because of the anticipated effectiveness of the
  POP plan.
• The United States
  would not have to bear such a huge, monetary portion of the counter terrorism
  tab since other countries would be involved and motivated to prevent
  terrorists from entering other countries.
• The
  plan is peaceful and would pay for itself in terms of preventing the
  tragic loss of life as well as loss of property.

 Here is what Errett says in the book about his Privilege of Passage
Plan:


“I believe, with all my soul and intellect, that Muslim fanatical

terrorism poses the greatest threat to freedom the world has yet seen

and unless defeated will ultimately conquer us.


Amid the lands of Islam stands an enclave of freedom, a

beacon...Israel.
From the moment of my re-baptism in the river Jordan,

and for the last 37 years, I have been deeply concerned with the hopes

and aspirations of all peoples of the middle east. My visits to the

region and my work in the private intelligence sector have enabled me

to set down these words.


I originally intended this book to be a work of non fiction based on

my experiences in the Middle East. Yet, the
very reason for writing

the book was to convey to as many as possible the peril we face and to

suggest a viable winning strategy. I therefore set out to embody my

thoughts in an entertaining and suspenseful novel well salted with

fact. You, the reader, will judge my success or failure.


I call this winning strategy the Privilege of Passage Plan (POP Plan).

It consists of three powerful elements.


First, we must recognize that the only way to defeat Middle
East

terrorism is for American Muslims to take the lead, stand-up, speak

out and even fight if necessary to reclaim their religion. The non-

Islamic world must do all it can to support these brave people.


Second, we must call in the overwhelming power of free enterprise

business which, until now, has been largely idle, instead, relying on

governments or an ineffective United Nations for the protection of

their assets. Business and industry have everything to lose from

terrorism and must become pro-active in support of a sane Islam. Their

tremendous power, ingenuity and economic resources, if applied

collectively, would destroy terrorism now.


Third, the POP Plan is anchored by a revolutionary passport acceptance

program designed to curtail the issuance of passports to those who

might harbor anarchistic or terrorist leanings.


It would work like this. The United
States government would assume

financial responsibility for any CRIMINAL acts committed by its

passport holders anywhere in the world, if the victim or legitimate

claimant could not be compensated by the responsible party.


At the same time, the United
States government would deny entry to any

foreign national whose government refuses to accept financial

responsibility for its passport holders CRIMINAL activities.


If the POP Plan had been in effect on 9/11, how might the outcome of

that day been changed? Since 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis

carrying Saudi Arabian passports, a nation well known for financing

jihad both inside and outside its borders, the Saudi government would

have had to pay something close to 150 billion dollars to the victims.


Faced with such a potential loss, no government would issue passports

to anyone even suspected of terrorist leanings. In the case of 9/11,

the Saudi authorities knew of the activities and inclinations of some

of the hijackers but they were not at financial risk and therefore

issued the passports.


If the Saudis had refused to accept liability for the hijackers, they

would have been denied entry to our country!


Just think what we would have been spared: the loss of thousands of

lives; the anguish suffered by thousands of families; the massive cost

of the damages to businesses and property; the ongoing medical

problems of survivors and rescuers and the psychological damages to

Americans living in a land they believed secure.


Of course, the implementation of the POP Plan would necessitate

groundwork. The state department would consult with all nations and

jointly develop a workable treaty, a governing body and a body of

adjudication for dispute resolution. Rules and regulations would be

promulgated. And it is absolutely doable and would pay for itself with

minimal entry/departure fees collected by common carriers.”

This author is prepared to discuss the POP Plan with any
interested

party. In this ever so important election year, 2008, candidates

seeking our highest offices must be strongly urged to study the POP

Plan and look into its merits or plainly tell us why they haven't the

time. 

“The Owl and the Hawk”, author, John Errett, may be
contacted through his website: http://www.theowlandthehawk.com