Thread by @MarkSZaidEsq

1/NEWEST LAWSUIT:

Tonight I filed another prepublication classification review lawsuit against @DeptofDefense. This time it was for @KellySKennedy for her forthcoming book "The Activity: My Life Inside America’s Most Secret Unit".

More info here: amazon.com/Activity-Insid…

2/Book tells story of “Ameen al-Gammal,” who immigrated from Egypt at 19, unable at time to speak English. He joined @USArmy to pay back debt he felt he owed his new country. He then rose through ranks to join military’s most secret unit.

3/"Ameen" served as command Sergeant Major in U.S. military’s most elite—and most secretive—unit. For more than 10 years, he was only Muslim Arab-American in Army Intelligence Support Activity tasked to collect actionable intelligence in advance of missions by the “Activity”.

4/The official title of the “Activity” is classified, and no other member has written about it.

5/“Ameen” was involved in searches for #OsamaBinLaden & #SaddamHussein, as well as most of the high-value targets both pre- and post-9/11. He was 1/3 U.S. soldiers who helped translate al-Qaeda manuals for @FBI.

6/He also helped with investigation of #USSCole bombing. From 2002 to 2011, he served as lead on first confirmed kill of terrorists involved in bombings of U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

7/His background – and his height at just 5’1” – served as disguise that allowed him to travel freely in Iraq. It also served him well w/i his own military ranks as other soldiers did not know his ethnicity or religion.

8/Ameen’s expertise allowed him to “intercept the enemy’s thoughts,” as one of his previous commanders said. He was awarded three bronze stars and purple heart (having been shot in stomach by enemy) over course of 14 military deployments, some of which remain classified.

9/His story is told w/humor & humility, at times laughing at ridiculousness of situation to also bragging about capabilities of his teammates. The Manuscript aptly highlights areas where the “Activity” – and the military generally – could improve.

10/Not surprisingly, he encountered racism along the way, including from drill instructor who said military’s goal was to kill all Muslims & from supervisor who intentionally kept him late during religious fasting periods.

11/But, as detailed in the Manuscript, he more than proved his worth through his understanding of customs of Arabic countries, his ability to fit in there & his achievement of powerful soldiering & intelligence skills.

END/The Manuscript is being published by @StMartinsPress & hopefully will be available late 2022.