Bush Presidency Assailed in Controversial Terrorism Novel

An explosive new novel about nuclear terrorism presents a thinly veiled and unflattering portrayal of the Bush administration. The book, 'King of Bombs,' eerily draws parallels with President Bush's highly criticized response to the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe.

(PRWEB) September 12, 2005 -- The president and vice-president go unnamed, but there is no mistaking who they represent; a novelists angry portrayal of George Bush and Dick Cheney.

King of Bombs," (www.kingofbombs.com) the controversial new novel written by Sheldon Filger, a New Yorker who witnessed 9/11, presents a scenario in which the incompetence of the president and his senior aides unwittingly facilitates Al-Qaeda in its plot to wage nuclear terrorism on the United States. In a manner that is eerily predictive of the Bush administrations chaotic and slow response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Filger describes a president who is unwilling to heed warnings about an impending attack by Al-Qaeda involving nuclear weapons, and appoints an unqualified political supporter to a senior position in the Department of Homeland Security.

In an interview with Washington D.C. radio talk show host Bernie McCain, Mr. Filger drew parallels between the performance of President Bush in responding to Hurricane Katrina and the fictional president in King of Bombs."

The administration ignored dire warnings for years that the levees protecting New Orleans would not withstand a category 4 or 5 hurricane unless they were upgraded," he pointed out. Weather forecasts provided Bush with advance information that gave his administration days to prepare contingency plans to provide relief and assistance to the affected region. Instead, he remained on vacation while FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration), supposedly improved after the 9/11 attacks, badly fumbled for days while people desperately needed help," Filger said.

He added that, as with flood control for New Orleans, President Bush has largely ignored the threat of nuclear terrorism that Filger believes is imminent. The best way of preventing nuclear terrorism, with all its frightening consequences, is to deny Al-Qaeda access to poorly guarded and insecure nuclear weapons and materials sites located in the former Soviet Union. Unfortunately, a government program established to accomplish that objective, which is so critical for our national security, is being funded and implemented so lethargically, it will take another thirteen years to complete. I dont think we can afford to wait thirteen years," Mr. Filger told Bernie McCain.

Basing a ficitonal character in a novel on a sitting president may be unprecedented as a literary device, however, Sheldon Filger sees "King of Bombs" as being anything but conventional. "As someone who endured the horror of 9/11, and sees storm clouds on the horizon portending of far more sinister terrorist horrors emanating from the looming menace of nuclear terrorism, I felt passionately about my book serving as a siren, sounding a shrill but essential warning to the American people," Filger said. "I am convinced that the president's passivity in the face of the the clear danger of nuclear terrorism posed by Al-Qaeda and its affiliates makes an apocalyptic outcome for America far more certain."

A recent review of King of Bombs" which appeared on Amazon.com, described the controversial novel as page turning, riveting, terrifying...once you pick this book up, youll have a hard time putting it down. In fact, youll probably read it in a few hours, possibly in a cold sweat, but certainly with a strong feeling of unease." While conceding that Mr. Filgers novel had a strong political viewpoint and was heavy handed in presenting characters that were thinly veiled representations of George Bush, Dick Cheney and Condoleezza Rice, the review concluded that, the bottom line that this book illustrates so powerfully is that, four years after 9/11, we are at least as vulnerable as we were then to a devastating terrorist attack that could make 9/11 look like childs play."

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