Yusef Collins is an Iraqi American leading a quiet, normal life in Chicago until the aftermath of the terrorist bombing has a devastating effect on his life. He is torn between several groupsathe FBI wants him because he is an Iraqi/American suspect; the CIA wants him because they think he has information pertaining to the terrorists; while the White House wants him to undertake a clandestine operation in Iraq. The FBI finally arrests him, but the CIA breaks him out of custody, and the White House takes over. He is sent to Iraq with instructions to search for or, if necessary, produce evidence against Saddam Hussein for presentation to the U.N. The motive: to boost sagging presidential popularity polls. This is a story of turf war battles, undercover operations, deceit and deception, mishandling of information, botched military operations, and the widespread effects on international relations.