Abe F. March

They Plotted Revenge Against America

Review by Pam Robertson, Ph.D.

They Plotted Revenge is an intriguing read, and one that left the hair on the back of my neck standing up. It's one thing to think of a war "over there" that is more out of sight and out of mind than we care to admit. It's another thing altogether to realize that the actions that have led us to this point in history could actually be unstoppable.

This story - part fiction and a whole lot of real - is about an attack set to take place in the US, right under our noses. It isn't about bombs going off, or folks firing guns and rockets at one another. This is about getting at the very foundation of our own survival.

Iraqi youths from different backgrounds within their own country are recruited as covert operators of a frightening army. They are trained to blend in, become part of the society that they are preparing to unravel. They are tasked with infecting America;s food and water with a deadly virus that can mutate to humans, and for which there may not be a ready cure in time, or at a price that we can afford. Working for someone who turns out to be a double agent, at first glance they seem just like young couples anywhere, and all of them are prepared to give up their lives for their cause. As they get to know the Americans that they hide among however, some of them lose heart and decide not to go through with the plan, but in the world that we live in, there will always be someone that will see a project through to the end, even after the battle has ended.

Author Abe F. March provides us with a safe haven - a good book - to read, discuss and explore what's really happening, and this is a book you'll want to make time for.

By Pam Robertson, Ph.D. Author of Marching Across the Heart, and the newly published short story Catch You Later.

They Plotted Revenge Against America

Reviewed by Malcolm R. Campbell for PODBRAM

Terrorism frightens people because it operates outside the traditional rules of war. It's hard to combat because the attacks are no longer limited to people wearing military uniforms at well-formed battle lines: they can happen anywhere, at any time, and they may well target people who don't have any direct knowledge of the peoples and issues involved. Part of the terror is the pervasive feeling that nobody's safe.

This is the arena of Abe F. March's chilling novel They Plotted Revenge Against America. The novel is chilling, not because it's filled with "just more violence" in the Middle East, but because the story occurs on American soil as survivors of the American attack on Baghdad blend in to mainstream society to personally extract revenge against everyday citizens.

They Plotted Revenge Against America is a plausible, sobering, intricate and effectively plotted story about a group of well-trained, well-coordinated teams who slip into the U.S. with forged papers and then painstakingly work through a plan that will infect food and water supplies with a deadly virus.

These team members are not the gun-wielding, grenade-throwing stereotypical terrorists we see in most TV shows and movies. They are everyday people who have suffered personal loss and who want to fight back. Once their mission is complete, they plan, if possible, to go back to their normal lives. As the mission unfolds, they alternate between excitement and doubt while trying to avoid detection, and in the process, they discover while blending into community life, that Americans are not the monsters they expected.

March's story tends to humanize both the terrorists and their victims, showing Americans as largely unconcerned and ill-informed about the agendas and issues involved in the long-time conflicts between Israel and its Arab neighbors. On the other hand, the terrorists see themselves not as criminals but as soldiers responding to what they view as acts of war taken against their communities.

Since the overall mission leader is a double agent working for Israel's Mossad, group members must not only avoid Homeland Security and other U.S. law enforcement agencies, but the highly effective Israeli intelligence agency as well. This subplot is a nice touch in a book that suggests we're more vulnerable than we suspect.

On a minor note, it's a shame to see books from some of the newer publishers being printed in a sans serif body type. This is not only "not done," but has been shown via many years of legibility studies to make blocks of type more difficult to read. That said, the book is not only a great story, but nourishing food for thought.

Review - They Plotted Revenge Against America

Reviewed by Ron Kruger, newspaper columnist for over 30 years and author of A Higher Good.

This story stuck with me. In fact, after reading it, I thought about it every time I approached a chicken dinner.
Of course, itï¿½s just a story, but it could happen.
Two Iraqi youths (one Christian and one Muslim) lose their homes and their entire families during the invasion of Iraq and vow revenge.
They, along with a group of other young Palestinian men and women with similar pasts, are recruited for a terrorist plot to infect American poultry, water foul and fish with a deadly virus that mutates to humans.
The author is a recognized expert on the Middle-East, and through his characters he presents interesting insights into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the global politics that keeps this international powder keg so near the flames of discontent.
"They Plotted Revenge" is a suspenseful blend of intrigue and romance, complete with a double agent working with the Israeli Secret Service. He masterminds the plot, but as the day of infestation nears, Homeland Security begins to close in on him. At the same time some of the people recruited to plant the virus become acquainted with a few Americans and realize their actions could kill millions of innocent citizens ignorant of actual events in the Middle-East. Most of them back out and head for home.
One, however, decides to carry out the plot, even after it is officially cancelled. To find out what happens next, youï¿½ll have to read to book.
This is a story for our times, and it makes some pertinent points about the Middle-East conflict that threatens us all.

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To Beirut and Back - Review by Ron Kruger

Review by Ron Kruger, newspaper columnist for over 30 years and author of "A Higher Good."

If Abe March were a household name like Donald Trump, this well-written account of Abe’s business dealing in the USA and various foreign countries would already be a best seller.

Unlike those standard braggadocio style books about business, however, To Beirut And Back offers a candid and objective insight into the customs, mentalities and troubles in the Middle-East. In fact, Mr. March recently was added as one of the top ranking international experts on the Middle-East by Israeli-Palestinian ProCon.org.

To Beirut And Back also transcends the standard rags-to-riches stories with war-time intrigue and human drama. During the tragic Lebanese Civil War that turned Beirut into a battlefield, Abe was kidnapped once and shot at a few times, yet, like some Indiana Jones of the business world, he walked straight into the face of danger while all other westerners fled for their lives. He is credited with being the last westerner out of Beirut, and the first one back in during these perilous times.

Fortune and recognition may have been the driving force behind Abe March during his adventurous business life, but it is clear that his reasons for writing about it with such candid clarity exceed egotistical reasons. Though he worked on it off and on over the years, March did not offer his account for publication until after he retired and was settled outside the USA for reasons that become apparent as you read it.

And you should read it, because this is much more than a book about just business or Beirut.

Reviews: To Beiurt and Back

Amazing, Remarkable, and all of the Above! Must Read
Meloni Cassidy
November 18, 2006

Abraham Firestone March, author of "To Beirut and Back", had a vision. At thirty years old, with determination in his heart, he would settle for nothing less than his dream.
A simple dream he had, but one that would be costly. He wanted to answer to no man but himself in his pursuit of financial security for him and his family.
In the late sixties, he worked for IBM for a good wage, but the doldrums of the job did not satisfy him. He soon tired of the day-to-day sameness and desired more than his position could offer.
One chance meeting led him to a man who opened a whole new world for him. After some haggling with the miserly banks, Abe managed to get a loan for the $2500 start-up fee that would pave the road to his later success.
Working at his home base in the United States, and later Canada, Abe flourished in the cosmetic industry. He made more money than was ever possible at his old job, and was pleased that he could provide for his wife and children in the manner they deserved. Still, times were not always easy for him. There were some who were so full of greed; they took advantage of him and other hapless souls who had invested good money into his venture.
When it looked as if things might fall apart, another chance meeting would lead him to Lebanon. He had business sense on this new venture, but soon realized he needed much more than this to succeed in the Middle East. Things were much different in this culture, and came with a whole new mentality. Abe learned through the school of "Middle Eastern" hard knocks, and with time, his enterprise earned him millions of honest made dollars.
Abe reveled in his new livelihood and was proud of what he had accomplished. In those days, even through difficulties, he never gave up on his dream for continued success.
About the time when he thought he could settle down and rest, and enjoy his benefits, the Civil War came to Lebanon. At first, he thought that it just might blow over, but of course, it did not. It was no longer his income that mattered so much. The safety of his beloved family became paramount, and he was at a loss as how to hold it all together.
He saw his income and assets drift away as the gunfire increased. It became a life or death situation even to venture outdoors, and at night the constant barrage of artillery their lullaby. Food and water were scarce; the comforts they were used to were no more. He decided it was time for his family to leave the danger of the country that the March family had come to love. There was only one problem; he no longer had even enough money to escape. With a heavy heart and humiliation as his companion, he borrowed enough money to see his children safely out of the war-torn country. It was then that he reached his ultimate low. He came to a point when he thought dying might be the only saving grace of his family. He had not even enough money to take him or his wife to the shelter of another country.
Finally, through much red tape, Abe and his wife were able to travel back to the United States. His return only brought more humiliation. He was not back to square one, he was much worse off than that.
With nothing left to his name but hope, he did not lose sight of the man he had become, nor the dream that he had carried within for many years. The lure of his beloved land called to him, loud and true. It was a plea he could not ignore.
He left the sanctuary of the United States once again to return to the Middle East. Would Abe be able to realize his dream for a second time, or would fortune be a thing of long past?

Abe March has written a breathtaking story with perfected accuracy. The story of his years as an entrepreneur draws the reader in and takes immediate claim to their senses. The courage of this man and his family is awe-inspiring. He pays loving homage to his wife, a woman who thought little of her own well-being to stay by his side, and also to his children who made sacrifices of their own to see their father through those bitter times. This is a remarkable biography in every sense of the word. Kudos to you, for a job well done!

I am only left with one question-when is the movie coming out?

Meloni Cassidy
Author of Everlasting Journey

Living in the Mideast
Carol
Wisconsin (10/28/2006)

In To Beirut and Back, Abe March has told a true story of his adventures in the various places of the world he has lived. Anyone interested in what it is like for Americans who venture past our borders to live and work in other countries, especially the Middle East, will find this an informative and important book. I recently read a book where the author wrote of the importance of obtaining the points of views of businessmen, not only political leaders regarding life in other countries. Abe paints a vivid portrayal of life in Lebanon. He writes an excellent account of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975 with such description that one can clearly imagine and feel the bullets as they are fired at him, his despair at losing all he worked for, and the fear he felt for his family and himself. The sadness on Abe’s return to Beirut and his feelings towards his final time of leaving, show his fondness for the country of Lebanon and the problems preventing this beautiful country from ongoing peace. Having met this author, I was impressed by his confidence, determination and his entrepreneurial successes. His travels have influenced his viewpoints of life, which involve looking at the United States from the inside as well as outside. What comes out in his writing is his spirit of adventure and his ability to take risks with calculation and success. I asked about the conversations, and he said he felt they were almost completely accurate, that his memories of what the people in his life had said were vivid, pointing to the importance of his writing of his experiences. In the end of the book he speaks of walking along the sea in Lebanon, of the fishing boats and swimmers splashing in the surf, “as this magic spell possessed me.” He asks what would happen to the Lebanon he had come to love. He speaks throughout the book of his concerns for the Middle East and its future. I would highly recommend this book as a picture of a beautiful country that leaves the reader with admiration for its citizens, as well as a sense of concern regarding the results of ongoing strife.

Not my usual choice in books
Mary
New Hampshire, USA (7/28/2006)

This book is not only one of intrigue, but a lesson in the history of Lebanon and the region. For the author’s knowledge of the Middle East alone, I recommend this book. I believe it should be required reading on Capital Hill. I only enjoy a book that teaches me and this one certainly did. It read like a novel, but serves to enlighten. Additionally, Mr. March gives us a lesson in what it takes to succeed. He had passion, motivation, energy and a zest for life, and he wasn’t a quitter. More importantly, he cared about humanity, about doing the right thing. I can only imagine how Mr. March and his family face the daily news accounts of what is happening today in Lebanon – it must be heartbreaking. I am grateful that this book was recommended to me. Read, learn and enjoy.

An Inside Look...
Candice
USA (7/20/2006)

In “ To Beirut And Back: An American in the Middle East ” by author Abe March I was taken back to a time when, even though freedom was granted to those here in the United States without question, it was difficult being an American business man in a foreign country. Back in the 1970’s, many who lived and did business abroad were not immediately concerned about the threat of violence, even though it was around them. When the major violence did break out in the Middle East many fled-except March. He stood his ground. I found the personal account of the trials March and his family faced during the Lebanese Civil War heart wrenching. Now, however, when one goes abroad-especially the Middle East-they are on guard. March risked not only material possessions, but most importantly, his life-not knowing what or having reason to fear what he was walking into. This book is most recommended, not only for its inside look into a tumultuous time in our history, but for its “edge of your seat” effect. Allow Mr. March to take you inside his personal account of his life in “To Beirut and Back”. Candice M. Martin “Reflections In My Tears” & “Petals of Life: A Survivor’s Writings”

Very Interesting
John
California (6/18/2006)

"To Beirut and Back" is a really interesting story about the trials and tribulations facing Americans abroad during the 70's. How was it to live and do business in Greece during the dictatorship of Papadopoulos? Or in the Middle East just before and at the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War? It is interesting both for its personal view as well as for its business intrigues!

A Fascinating Look
Duane
Germany (6/1/2006)

A very personal account of experience doing business - and living - abroad during the turbulent 70's. Mr. March also captures the sense of larger events surrounding him which had a large impact on his private life. This book serves to remind one that "no man is an island."