Montanamo

Montanamo is a 2010 novel published by Artnik Books written by American lawyer and novelist Christopher Leibig about a man from Pakistan who travels to Montana to commit a terrorist act during the summer of 2009. It is the second current events novel by Chris Leibig. The first, ‘’Saving Saddam’’, tracked the 2006 trial of Saddam Hussein. A current events novel is a form of historical novel which is released while the historical events are still highly relevant in present politics.
The novel begins with the historically accurate premise that a small town in Montana seeks a federal contract to house the enemy combatants at Guantánamo Bay in its empty prison. As the major players in the town of Twin Rivers (fictional name for Hardin, Montana secure the contract, others worry that the move will lure terrorists to Montana. As plans evolve, Ahmed Ilyas Khan, a twenty-year old Pakistani trained by Al-Qaeda enters Montana posing as a Native American drifter. Ahmed, who has been trained to blend in with Americans, endeavors to live among the townspeople as he awaits further orders from his handlers in Pakistan.
The ambitious and attractive town mayor, Phoenix Jamborsky, dodges political and personal bullets as the town’s secret history slowly comes to light while Ahmed learns more about America then he bargained for.
The novel and its surprise ending touch on the timely political issues of terrorism on U.S. soil and American politicians who seek personal gain over principle in fighting the war on terror.
Upon release in May, 2010, Montanamo becvame the subject of regular press commentary, especially in Montana.

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