Book 4 Project

Memorial Day by Vince Flynn

In the novel Memorial Day, Vince Flynn draws in factual information on the terrorist group, Al-Qaeda, while exploring the roots of their animosity towards America. Although the plot is based off a fictitious mission, the encounters with members of Al-Qaeda parallel potential experiences in real life, and work to reveal the motivations of radical Islamics.

Al-Qaeda is perceived to have originated under the leadership of Osama Bin Laden, and his advisors, who sought to establish an organization that violently opposed the government of the United States. They then worked to forge alliances with other radical supporters. An article from The Religion of Peace describes how this association of terrorists established training camps in which they would preach their extremist interpretation of Islam to future generations. This idea is expressed in the book when a terrorist's motivations were described as “part of an ongoing battle between his people and the nonbelievers” (Flynn 107). This statement represents the real life conflict between believers in violence, as expressed in the Koran, and those who have adjusted their interpretation based on moral preconceptions. Reference to this division is made when Rapp told an Al-Qaeda member, “The crown prince believes in Allah, but he does not buy into all that Wahhabi crap” (Flynn 163). By saying this, Rapp eludes to the fact that youth of the Middle East have been misinformed of the true mission of Allah. Wahhabism, as referenced, is a form of Islam that insists on a literal interpretation of the Koran, and therefore advocates violence.

In addition to the Al Qaeda references, Vince Flynn also chooses to reveal information in regards to the bureaucracy of the United States government. He holds the belief that all of the red tape is a fundamental reason we have been prone to terror attacks in the past, and are likely to experience more in the future. A detrimental effect, as a result of America’s dispersion of authority, is that it presents challenges in times when it is critical to act quickly and efficiently. This is shown in the novel when Rapp protests, “These guys were involved in a plot to set off a nuclear bomb in Washington D.C., and now I’m being told by the FBI that I can’t talk to them, because they've got a lawyer” (Flynn 347). Rapp's frustration with the government's inability to allow the CIA to intervene reflects the annoyance of CIA members in today's society. This situation in which the government prohibits the CIA from intervening, even when the safety of the country and its inhabitants is at risk, provides an easy scenario for readers to understand. It is likely that after reading this line, as well as others containing a similar message, that individuals will relate to Rapp’s feelings of irritation. A comparable situation to this is the challenges the CIA faced with the government when attempting to capture Osama Bin Laden. The movie Zero Dark Thirty depicts this by showing a running count of the days the government knew the location of Osama Bin Laden before granting anyone permission to take action. Both of these examples exemplify the effects of complex government regulations and the efficiency that is compromised as a result.

Vince Flynn’s incorporation of present day topics of controversy add meaning to the text, as well as elevate its impact on readers. It is evident that Flynn holds strong personal opinions on these topics, and attempts to leverage his stance by providing readers with examples where they are able to clearly see his side. I believe his passion for issues such as torture and bureaucracy enable him to produce invigorating novels that both entertain and inform his audience.  

References:

"The Quran's Verses of Violence." The Quran's Verses of Violence. Web. 26 May 2015.