The Third Terrorist: The Middle East Connection to the Oklahoma City Bombing

by Jayna Davis

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were not the lone conspirators in the Oklahoma City bombing-the attack that killed nearly 170 people in a few short seconds. They were part of a greater scheme, one which involved Islamic terrorists and at least one provable link to Iraq. This book, written by the relentless reporter who first broke the story of the Mideast connection, is filled with new revelations about the case and explains in full detail the complete, and so far untold, story behind the failed investigation-why the FBI closed the door, what further evidence exists to prove the Iraqi connection, why it has been ignored, and what makes it more relevant now than ever. Told with a gripping narrative style and rock-solid investigative journalism and vetted by men such as former CIA director James Woolsey, Davis's piercing account is the first book to set the record straight about what really happened April 19, 1995.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Conspiracy Theories, True Crime, Terrorism, American History, Religion

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to my GRs friend, Alexandra, for bringing this book to my attention! Until I saw her review, I, like so many others, never dreamed there was anything more to the OKC bombing than the official version.

Truth is stranger than fiction. Jayna Davis’s book is an eye-opener. It is not ‘just another conspiracy theory book’. It is the years-long research of a determined reporter dedicated to getting to the truth despite innumerable obstacles. Her findings not only explain what happened in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, they also dovetail with every other terrorist act committed in this country since the first attempt on the World Trade Center in 1993.

Although I have lived here in Oklahoma since 1998, I did not know most of what was in this book. I admit, I’m not a regular network news-watcher—for KFOR, Ms. Davis’s employer—or any of the other local stations. But even if I had been, most of her stories occurred before we arrived in state, from ’95 through ’97. Still, almost everyone I know—and have known—remembers 4/19 vividly but has never mentioned a Middle Eastern terrorist connection to our city’s greatest misfortune. Of course they never talk about Timothy McVeigh or Terry Nichols either.

Just a couple of the things turned up by Ms. Davis’s research:

- 22 witnesses came forward with sworn evidence of a John Doe 2, a known and photographed Middle Eastern companion of McVeigh’s who participated in all stages of the crime. This evidence was offered repeatedly to the FBI and rebuffed. Eventually it was accepted by a conscientious federal investigator who turned it in. The paperwork has never been seen since; it is lost in the system. John Doe 2, Hussain Al-Hussaini, told his therapist in 1997 that something might go down in Logan (Boston) Airport and authorities would point the finger at him. Something did indeed ‘go down’ which flew out from Logan only 4 years later, but so far, only Jayna Davis seems to have made the connection, or has the guts to write about it.

- Strategic placement of the Ryder truck bomb (parking near the most vulnerable area of the target and detonation during peak occupancy) achieved maximum impact from the directional charge encased in the cargo hold. Determining the perfect spot and angle in which to park the bomb truck required the skill of an architectural engineer who must have studied the blueprints of the Murrah Building’s design. Re-positioning the truck just “two parking spaces away” would have greatly reduced the structural damage. To think this kind of expert knowledge could have been gleaned from a library book in Arizona—as claimed by McVeigh—is ludicrous.

- There were Intelligence warnings for an ‘Attack on the Heartland’, most likely on a Federal facility in February and March 1995. Ms. Davis had gathered enough information from her research in response to that attack to recognize the coming of 9-11. Too bad no one listened to her.

There is so so much more, it rather makes me ill. But whatever you do, please don’t dismiss Jayna’s book on account of my poor review, read it for yourself!

One small critique, Jayna is an excellent, thorough and brilliant investigator, but her writing can be a bit confusing and repetitive. I put the former down to her enthusiasm for her subject and the latter to intense her desire to make sure her audience knows the main points about this horrible travesty.

I do not believe I will bother about the Bombing Museum again. In fact, when visitors come see us here in Heartland USA, I will recommend this book instead. There are other books as well, including one Davis mentions by McVeigh’s legal defense. Time permitting, I will read them as well. Unfortunately, is only one book in the Bombing Museum, the official version.

God bless America! And thank you Jayna! 5+ stars for content; 4+ stars for writing.

July 13, 2018: Today I walked across the street from St. Joseph’s Old Cathedral, also severely damaged in the bombing of 1995, to see what books are on sale at the Bombing Memorial Museum. The Official Record of the Oklahoma City Bombing is the only adult book on sale there.

Since when have we become a country of one book, only one 'official' story? There were T-shirts and junk galore but no other books about the bombing itself. I asked the girl behind the counter if that is all the books she had. She said, "Yes." I left. Why had I never noticed this before? We moved here to Oklahoma 20 years ago last month... So I downloaded the book to my kindle.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

** 7/12/18 $.99 for Kindle **

I'm not big on conspiracy stories, but I believe this one.

I can tell you the author was a local investigative reporter, and she knows her stuff.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by a reporter, who just wasn't convinced that the "whole" story was coming out about the Oklahoma City bombing, Jayna Davis went looking for the answers we all should have gotten. She found the other story. The one where you keep shaking your head and saying, "why didn't the FBI, or somebody official tell me this???"
Through meticulously corroborated research, Ms Davis has shown us, not only a possible alternative explanation, but the one that makes the most sense. She doesn't just speculate on what might have happened. She tells you what happened, and who made it happen, and why you didn't hear about the search for the other conspirators. Scary, in the sense that, they're still out there. Frightening, in the sense that, people know who they are, and thought it was more important to preserve some kind of public perception of national safety, than it was to bring to justice agents of terror that murdered 168 of our neighbors, including a daycare full of two year olds!!!
I will say, there are times in the writing of the story, that Ms Davis, in what I assume is her attempt to make sure you trust her research, can be redundant. She has a habit of sharing her incredulity at how many roadblocks were placed in her way by the people supposedly doing the official investigation.
But, read the book.. remember how angry you were..

[Steven Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was both a fascinating and informative as well as incredibly frustrating book to read. Jayna Davis bravely investigates the middle eastern links to the Oklahoma City bombing of the Murrah building and does an excellent job proving her case - a case that held up in court. She listened to the many, many witnesses who saw "John Doe #2" with Tim McVeigh as well as other middle eastern men, and coroborated their stories via other witness testimony. She continuously documents the failure of the FBI and other government agencies to act on her very compelling evidence. The most frustrating part is her failure to ask "why". Why would the FBI refuse to listen, accept documents, misrepresent the little testimony that do listen to from her witnesses, say there IS a John Doe #2 then say there ISN'T a John Doe # 2. She puts it all down as a failure of the FBI, Congress, and other US law inforcement agencies. At one point in the book she refers to "conspiracy theorists" who believe there was government involvement in Oklahoma and 9/11. This is were she loses me. There is way too much evidence to the contrary (CIA front operations, FBI's previous knowledge of terrorists, the arrangement of visa, and so on and so on) that shows that there was foreknowledge of both events and an effort to cover for those responsible.

Overall, I think Jayna did an excellent job in her investigation up to a point, and managed to document it in a very intriguing and gripping book. But I think her overall faith in the US Government and it's intelligence agencies may have led her to end her investigation too soon.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book about the events, the prime suspects, and the people associated with the Oklahoma City Bombing. I enjoy books about conspiricies, although I take conspiricy books with a grain of salt. It is written by an Oklahoma news reporter who doggedly investigated the identity of John Doe #2 for 10 years after the fact. Many people forget that John Doe #2 dissolved into obscurity months after the bombing. She interviewed every witness that had seen and known Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols and pointed out that, consistently, witnesses confirmed a Middle Eastern man was involved. The times, dates, places, and situations of this association are painstakingly detailed. Oh, and George Lang gets mentioned in the book (not as a terrorist, but as a reporter).

The only reason I did not give this book five stars is because the author doesn't offer a firm conclusion as to why the FBI and CIA would cover up the fact that Middle Eastern and Islamic terrorism despite providing a buttload of facts that these entities were indeed involved.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am relieved to be finished with reading this because it is frustrating to know our government failed to act appropriately again and again prior to the Murrah Building bombing and still after. It is stunning and sad to know how our media is bought and manipulated into squashing the truth and keeping us in the dark. This makes true that national politics trump national security.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is troubling, to say the least. Investigative reporter Jayna Davis looks deeper into the Oklahoma City bombing and finds a Middle East Connection. At the time of the bombing, our government was quick to deny this. This book is objective and thorough. The foreword is was written by David P. Schippers, Former Chief Investigative Counsel of the House Judiciary Committee.

[Francha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and well sourced. A bit of snippiness crept in and weakened the credibility of Davis. However, she did convince me that there is a whole part of this story most Americans have not heard.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jayna Davis, a reporter for a local Oklahoma City TV news station, tracks down John Doe 2, who it turns out is an Iraqi national. Every piece of her report is meticulously documented and coroborated with affidavidts from multiple sources. It leaves other bigger picture questions looming however, such as: what was the reason the FBI stonewalled the investigation and why was the news station investigation and all reporting on the subject shut down after the independent station is bought out by the New York Times. Although the story was not carried by the other major news networks, ABC News ran a story just a couple of months ago that a congressional investigation confirmed the John Doe 2 Iraqi connection to the Oklahoma City bombing. One complaint about this book is that I found the narrative of the bombing, as told through eyewitness accounts, overly dramatic.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives very convincing evidence of a middle-eastern connection to the Oklahoma City bombing. It also provides ample evidence of cover ups by the FBI, CIA and most of Congress. It convinced me that the story we have been told isn't fully accurate.

The only criticism I have of the book is that at times it becomes boring due to the author's concern for providing EVERY possible detail to prove her case.

[Christiaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic exposé, revealing deeply concerning and riveting details about the OKC bombing. Jayna Davis has done a service to her country and the victims of the attack by probing the glaring disparities within the attack's federal case, and the troubling details swept under the rug by investigators.

[Linda Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this is very probable. I lived here in Oklahoma City, when this happened, and still do. I have always questioned if there was more than two people involved.

[Steven H · Rating 2 out of 5]

WAS THERE ‘FOREIGN PARTICIPATION’ IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING?

Jayna Davis is a former television journalist. David P. Schippers (former Chief Investigative Counsel for the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton) wrote in the Foreword to this 2004 book, “Once [Timothy] McVeigh and [Terry] Nichols were in custody… the bombing investigation did an about face. The government and the media dropped all references to possible state sponsorship and labeled anyone who thought otherwise as a ‘way-out conspiracy cuckoo… Everyone swallowed whole the false story put out by the government. That is, almost everyone. A young… investigative reporter at … an Oklahoma City television station, was not satisfied with the official account… Jayna elected to conduct her own independent investigation… Jayna persevered and did, in fact, get to the truth of the Oklahoma City Bombing. The startling result of that investigation is reported fully in this then, Jayna has tried over and over again to bring her evidence and conclusions to the attention of those responsible… Time and time again, she has been rebuffed, ridiculed, and ignored. Finally, she has decided to place her findings before the country in the form of a book. She will be ignored no more!... I predict that ‘The Third Terrorist’ will drop like a missile on the federal bureaucracy…”

She recounts that on the morning of the bombing, “thirty-four-year-old Manuel Acosta … observed a Middle Eastern man waving a hand signal to a foreign looking male who was standing on the north side of 5th Street. Both individuals were dark-complexioned with black hair… Manuel stood close enough to discern strands of gray hair in the beard of the second Middle Easterner. Fractions of a section later, both men sprinted and jumped inside the brown Chevy pickup that had grabbed Manuel’s attention moments earlier… the pickup peeled away from the curb. Five minutes later, a concussive wave of fire erupted beneath the shadow of the towering federal building.” (Pg. 24-25)

She asks, “Why were three Arab men from Dallas traveling through Oklahoma City in the wake of the country’s largest terrorist attack with a switched license plate from a rental car?... An unnamed Middle Easterner, who claimed he was terribly shaken by sixteen hours of questioning by the FBI, spoke from behind a closed door… The unseen man vehemently denied involvement in the bombing… The Middle Eastern man also refused to address questions about the contents of several boxes that federal agents had confiscated… He also volunteered that he had been administered a polygraph examination during questioning. Within twenty-four hours, the remaining two detainees were released.” (Pg. 29-30)

Two reserve deputy sheriffs, Don Hammond and David Kochendorfer, told the media, “This is starting to smack of a cover-up.” She adds, “The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s department and FBI interrogated both deputies, debunking their testimony as ‘rumor’ and hearsay.’ Publicly disgraced and humiliated, both men grappled with disillusionment. But unbeknownst to them, [their] precisely worded prior warning implicating Islamic sponsorship… had already been leaked and had fallen into my hands. Harboring this secret knowledge would torment me for years to come, muzzled by a journalistic pledge to keep the document confidential.” (Pg. 43)

She recounts, “‘I want you, Jayna, to investigate who did this,’ ordered … News Director Melissa Klinzing… How was I, a television journalist from a local Midwestern affiliate going to find the parties responsible for murdering hundreds of Oklahomans?... I contemplated in silent amusement my limited options in tackling the impractical news assignment---pray for a miracle that a CIA case officer or … Mossad agent would share with me classified intelligence about a possible foreign plot; or I could quit daydreaming and begin monitoring the satellite feeds of FBI press conferences. The latter was the only realistic alternative. That is… until one telephone call to the newsroom … led me directly to the doorstep of what several esteemed intelligence experts … characterized as a middle Eastern terrorist call operating in the heart of Oklahoma City.” (Pg. 62)

She states, “I considered every imaginable explanation that would cast an innocuous light on otherwise incriminating scenarios. The fallibility of the human memory had to be factored into the equation. But after poring over my notes, the amalgamation of the witnesses’ stories resonated with malignant overtones.” (Pg. 74)

She admits, “we invested hundreds of hours interviewing dozens of Oklahomans who claimed to have seen the menacing figure depicted in the artist’s rendering of John Doe 2, only to dismiss their testimonies as unreliable. Many of their stories were fraught with inconsistencies… Hopes of finding legitimate witnesses quickly dimmed because the FBI convinced the few authentic ones to dodge the press in the best interests of justice. What was I to do now? Coincidence and suspicion hardly proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. After all, what were the odds that I… somehow stumbled upon the actual terrorist targeted in the greatest international manhunt in U.SA. history? I gave myself a harsh reality check…” (Pg. 84)

She notes, “I was perplexed by an obvious question that my colleagues in the press were not inclined to ask---why would the FBI publicly debunk witness Tom Kessinger’s testimony about John Does 2, but stop short of withdrawing the composite? Power-packed government records would eventually unearth the reason. I capitalized on a rare opportunity to view a sealed court record which proved federal officials did not rely solely upon the faulty recollection of the Ryder rental shop employee. The FBI sketch artist’s notes revealed that Kessinger described McVeigh’s coconspirator as ‘heavy built’ weighing no less than ‘200 pounds.’ However, just hours after the interview, the Department of Justice filed an arrest warrant … that targeted a man of a far different description. Instead, the subject … was depicted at ‘175 to 180 pounds with a medium frame.’” (Pg. 105-106)

She asserts, “This much was undisputed… [Hussain Hashem] Al-Hussaini had yet to be rescued by an arbitrary exoneration from the FBI… The Iraqi immigrant’s plaintive plea to the FBI to declare him innocent presented a dilemma. He had no plausible alibi. Furthermore, officials on the Oklahoma Bomb Task Force familiar the KFOR-TV’s evidence undoubtedly knew it. So the Bureau chose to do nothing, … while the media firestorm burned with ferocity.” (Pg. 114)

She reports, “Screening witnesses from the overzealous ones who were seeking publicity, those who were sincere but sincerely wrong, and those whose testimonies could not be validated through independent sources, was an arduous and exhausting undertaking. Eventually, the … reality … came into sharp focus through the disturbing recollections of a small cadre of average Oklahomans… critical details of their stories overlapped with incredible accuracy. I memorialized their statements on video and audiotape. All willingly signed affidavits to attest to the veracity of their statements… police records, court documents, press accounts, and classified intelligence reports corroborated their stories.” (Pg. 124-125)

She argues, “respected journalists from across the country readily accepted the possibility of foreign complicity… Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Swanson hastily cribbed eight questions for the FBI following a closed-door briefing. An insider… leaked to me a copy of the Bureau’s written response… In my opinion, the letter was fraught with inaccuracies, falsehoods, and broad brush dismissals of the evidence… Needless to say, I was not wholly surprised given the Bureau’s previous track record in dodging pointed questions that it could not adequately answer.” (Pg. 158)

She asserts, “The government presented a case that hinged exclusively upon circumstantial evidence. Not one eyewitness placed the American terrorist in … city, or near the crime scene in the final hours… Meanwhile, four Oklahomans who … fingered McVeigh at the Cactus Motel surrounded by men of Arab extraction were conspicuously ignored. But more telling, the paper trail that validated or disproved their claims would disappear.” (Pg. 188)

She recounts, “In the summer of 1996, a cryptic phone call beckoned me inside shady business transactions and clandestine activities at a foreign-owned automotive garage opportunely situated a short drive from the bomb site. The two minute telephone conversation with a woman who insisted she remain anonymous caused me to seriously consider the possibility that the Ryder truck bomb was constructed locally…” (Pg. 198)

She spoke by telephone with “internationally renowned terrorism expert Yossef Bodansky,” who told her, “You’re scratching the tip of the iceberg. However, you’re scratching the right place in the right direction… and the stories you’re telling fit very closely with the stories that I have…” “Bodansky’s point was unmistakable---the implications daunting… If my witnesses were corroborated by a man in the upper echelons of government intelligence, why would law enforcement ignore evidence of foreign participation? The notion of a cover-up had evolved from idle conjecture into a disheartening realization.” (Pg. 254-255)

She was sued by the New York Times, “which threatened to violate the anonymity of the witnesses… Judge Dixon upheld my newsman’s privilege to protect my sources until such time that law enforcement authorities solicited their cooperation in bringing the guilty parties to justice… [This] turned out to be a landmark case in which the court permitted a journalist to withhold confidential source information even from his or her employer.” (Pg. 276-278)

She concludes by asking, “Why has the Justice Department/FBI not issued an official on-the-record statement exonerating Hussain Al-Hussiani…?... Why did the FBI never question [him] about the bombing?... Whatever happened to the brown Chevrolet pickup that was seen carrying Middle Eastern suspects from the bomb site?... Why were the prior warnings issued by the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare that predicted an Islamic attack in the heart of the U.S. disregarded as an indicator for foreign participation?” (Pg. 295)

As far as ‘conspiracy theories’ about the bombing go, this book is far from the worst. But her ‘off the record’ witnesses, ‘cryptic phone calls,’ and statements by a ‘small cadre of average Oklahomans’ hardly make a persuasive case to reject the government’s own case. (Not to mention McVeigh’s own confession.)

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a thought provoking read. As with any major incident, the more that you dig into the choices that individuals make along the way during the investigation will always lead to raised eyebrows and scratched heads. I'm not entirely convinced that there were Iraqi saboteurs in OKC, but the links between Terry Nichols and Ramzi Yuseff being in the same place at the same time and Nichols' sudden proficiency with explosives is perhaps the most interesting component of the book. I think I'm just not prepared to accept the thesis that Timothy McVeigh was some kind of Iraqi Sympathizer rather than being an anti-government zealot, but there have long been links between ideological enemies and shared used of technical understanding (SEE: IRA, PLO, Black September, Basques often sharing training camps).

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Clinton shut down the FBI investigation into the ME connection to the OK City bombing. Davis did an amazing investigation. Had Clinton done his job instead of trying to avoid taking responsibility it's possible 9/11 could have been prevented.

Clinton's are CRAVEN. I followed up this book with Shipper's book "Sellout". He helped Jayna get this story out to the public.

Gripping story I read this book in two days.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good content but the writing is so overdone that it is hard to read/listen to. Almost every noun has an adjective and verb an adverb; a thesaurus was definitely involved. The research and work done by Jayna Davis was amazing and she sold me on the probably involvement of a third terrorist. I think it would have been even more convincing and effective had it been written in a more mature manner.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story by a local NBC reporter in Oklahoma City about what she discovered in investigating the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building, and the refusal of the FBI to follow-up on her leads.

[Joshua Embrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book lends further credence to my belief about a greater scope of involvement.

[Mmac19 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating. Eye opener.

[Joey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty interesting read...a bit drawn out at times.

[Mrs. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scared the pants off me!

[Charlene Mathe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opened my eyes to the politicalization of the FBI and the government. It changed me from a passive absorber of news reporting to a questioner, searching for true reporters like Jayna Davis and seeking to connect the dots. Americans would never authorize what our government agencies are doing; but we don't know about them. We urgently need good reporters AND good analysts. Jayna Davis is one!!

[Thermal Detonator · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good read that has a lot of important information regarding Middle Eastern conspirators likely more Central behind the Oklahoma City bombing. the storytelling is decent except for the islamophobic bias, likely that one of her supporting sources was Yousef Bodanskyan the Israeli political scientist former Director of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism.

[Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I vividly remember the release of the police drawings of the OKC Bombing suspects the day it happened. Although some of those involved were caught, the “swarthy man” (John Doe #2) was erased from the official story days after the event and never mentioned again by the MSM. The sketch released the day of the event is a dead ringer for Jose Padilla (aka Abdullah al-Muhajir) who was arrested for other terrorist activities in 2002. I guess we’ll never get the whole story as to others involved, just the one that fits the desired narrative concerning the OKC Bombing.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book was really, really good. I liked how the author presented the facts and let you make your own conclusions. Based just on the first half of the book, I’d rate it five stars. HOWEVER, she got super redundant in the second half and, in my opinion, came off as very defensive. I understand why, of course, with the lawsuits and everything that happened, but I didn’t enjoy hearing about all of those details nearly as much as I enjoyed the first half where she presented what she believed happened.

[Derrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very compelling...

[Boris · Rating 4 out of 5]

More tales of an utterly derelict government.