Blood in the Desert

This story is about war. It is suitable for persons 18 and older.

This story takes place around Christmas 2001. In September 2001, terrible attacks were committed by jihadists in the United States of America, and the responsibility was claimed by Al Qaida. Al Qaida has its encampments in Afghanistan, where this terrorist organization enjoys protection from the Taliban. The Taliban are very devout Muslims who rule Afghanistan with a reign of terror.

A Taliban fighter has shaved off his long beard. He has put on Western clothing. In Pakistan, he opened a bank account, and got a credit card. With that, he bought a plane ticket to Amsterdam.

When he arrives at Schiphol Airport, the airport near Amsterdam, he grabs a cab to a large mosque. The driver is a Moroccan, who charges a low price for foreigners from Islamic countries.

Once he arrives at the mosque, he asks the imam for lodging for 1 weekend. He lies to the older gentleman that he is visiting family.

Soon he sees strong young Dutch Muslims in the mosque. He immediately strikes up a conversation with them.

The Taliban fighter says he is a young medical student from Pakistan. He tells them about the problems in neighboring Afghanistan, where he is from in real life. He pretends to be against the Taliban.

There are now 2 strong Dutch Muslims listening intently to his story. They take him at his word.

The Taliban warrior now suddenly says some different things about the Taliban, such as that they are the solution to that country’s problems. Slowly he changes his story from criticism of the Taliban to enthusiastic support for this warrior people.

The Dutch Muslims do not realize, that they are being completely played. They are also slightly hypnotized by their foreign new friend.

The Taliban fighter is given shelter with a Turkish-Dutch family in Hoofddorp. He talks little with this family. In the morning he gives them some money, in gratitude for the hospitality offered. He goes to the mosque again.

Once there, he quickly gets back into conversation with his 2 new friends. He isolates himself with them in a locked room of the mosque. He examines the entire room with his hands to see if there are any listening devices.

Now he invites the 2 Dutch Muslims to participate in the Great War: Jihad against the Americans.

The 2 Dutch Muslims, of Moroccan descent, gasp. They finally have a purpose in their lives.

The Taliban fighter and his 2 new friends fly from Schiphol Airport to Pakistan. From Islamabad, a major city in this distant Asian country, they leave by jeeps for Kandahar, a major city in southern Afghanistan.

Once they cross the border, they feel they are no longer safe. The 2 Dutchmen of Moroccan descent know they can never go home again. They pray to Allah nonstop.

It is evening. The cars are driving along a highway in the desert of southern Afghanistan.

Suddenly, 2 Apache helicopters of the Americans appear on the horizon. They fly low and fast, nose slightly down toward the jeeps.

About 1 kilometer away, the pilots of the Apache helicopters press small red buttons. With these, they fire a total of 4 Hellfire missiles at the jeeps.

The missiles find their target flawlessly. They head for the heat of the jeeps.

Now explosions follow and the cars catch fire. Nothing remains of the jeeps and their occupants.

The helicopters turn around, take off high, and fly back to a secret American base.

Much more blood will flow in the desert of Afghanistan. The war has only just begun.

©2025 Matthys van Raalten. All rights reserved.