PURITY AND PEACE OF MIND Working from a secret facility in northwestern Iran, scientists have developed a nuclear bomb. At the same time, Iranian engineers have designed modifications to the Shahab missile which, if successful, will permit that missile to deliver a nuclear device. A final test will make certain the warhead functions properly. The United States, though almost completely reliant on electronic intelligence capabilities, nevertheless has become suspicious of Iran s activities. To follow up on that suspicion, a two-man Army Ranger team is sent into northwestern Iran. When the team stumbles upon Iranian testing equipment, the team members are killed by an Iranian sniper. Iran detonates its nuclear device in a test quickly detected by U.S. instruments. Israel, long certain that Iran intends to strike them, also has become suspicious. Relying more on human intelligence sources, Mossad agents have infiltrated many areas of Iranian society in an effort to keep abreast of Iran s true intentions. Israel also has become skeptical of U.S. intentions in the region and, as the story unfolds, refuses to share information with the U.S. for fear it will fall into Iranian hands.  Iran s ultimate goal is an attack on Israel that will wipe Israel from the map, plunge the world into global turmoil, and usher in the coming of the Mahdi Islam s greatest and final prophet. That effort has been coordinated by Nasser Hamid, a well-connected Iranian logistics expert. Hamid s plans call for a strike against the U.S. with nuclear warheads delivered by missiles fired from container ships loitering off the U.S. East Coast. That first strike will limit U.S. retaliation capabilities...