Chapter 1: Operation Striped Shirt : Operation Striped Shirt
Most historians agree that the start of the
Most historians agree that the start of the American Crash was the IsraeliAmerican Crash was the Israeli bombing of Iran on the morning of July 7, 2019, which not by chance bombing of Iran on the morning of July 7, 2019, which not by chance coincided with the American Fourth of July long weekend.
coincided with the American Fourth of July long weekend.
In this chapter, we have gathered the testimony of witnesses who saw In this chapter, we have gathered the testimony of witnesses who saw first-hand the actual attack, and the immediate aftereffects of the attack.
first-hand the actual attack, and the immediate aftereffects of the attack.
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Dr. Zhang Hui Zong is a Chinese-American petroleum chemist. She was at Dr. Zhang Hui Zong is a Chinese-American petroleum chemist. She was at the Gachsaran Oil Field in Iran’s Kohkiluyeh Province on July 7, 2019.
the Gachsaran Oil Field in Iran’s Kohkiluyeh Province on July 7, 2019.
We are meeting in her family-clan’s home, located in the town of We are meeting in her family-clan’s home, located in the town of
Floris, in Fairfax County, VA; the largest Chinese-American Identity Zone in Floris, in Fairfax County, VA; the largest Chinese-American Identity Zone in the Washington, D.C., area. “We were lucky,
the Washington, D.C., area. “We were lucky, we didn’t experience thewe didn’t experience the
violence of some other Identity Zones,” she explains. “Floris has always had violence of some other Identity Zones,” she explains. “Floris has always had a strong Chinese-American community. When Identity
a strong Chinese-American community. When Identity Zones were beingZones were being organized—even before they were properly called ‘Identity Zones’—the organized—even before they were properly called ‘Identity Zones’—the people of Floris were already organizing themselves in terms of water, people of Floris were already organizing themselves in terms of water, power, and access to food supplies. And of course, sector defense. When power, and access to food supplies. And of course, sector defense. When
mobile indigents tried to muscle in on us, especially in ‘21 after d-grave mobile indigents tried to muscle in on us, especially in ‘21 after d-grave broke out, we were prepared, and managed
broke out, we were prepared, and managed to repel them. So far we’veto repel them. So far we’ve been doing okay.”
been doing okay.”
She lives in a family-clan, her grandparents, parents and younger She lives in a family-clan, her grandparents, parents and younger siblings with their spouses and children all living in a single house. “Our siblings with their spouses and children all living in a single house. “Our family-clan started like a lot of others: Our grandparents couldn’t afford to family-clan started like a lot of others: Our grandparents couldn’t afford to live on their own on their fixed income that’d been killed by inflation; not to live on their own on their fixed income that’d been killed by inflation; not to mention the mobile indigents roaming their neighborhood; so they moved in mention the mobile indigents roaming their neighborhood; so they moved in with my parents in late ’20, while my brothers and sisters found themselves with my parents in late ’20, while my brothers and sisters found themselves
financially wiped out by the winter of ’21, so
financially wiped out by the winter of ’21, so theythey moved back in with our moved back in with our parents. Four generations living under one roof, but you know something? It parents. Four generations living under one roof, but you know something? It
worked. It was more practical, it just made more sense to be living all worked. It was more practical, it just made more sense to be living all
together. We didn’t even call it a ‘family-clan’; people started calling it that together. We didn’t even call it a ‘family-clan’; people started calling it that in I think 2023 or ‘24,” she says.
in I think 2023 or ‘24,” she says.
(In fact, the terms “family-clan” and “open-clan” began to gain (In fact, the terms “family-clan” and “open-clan” began to gain
currency as early as 2019 in some area, though became widespread after currency as early as 2019 in some area, though became widespread after the famed
the famed Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live comedy skits, “Clan Clash”, began to air in comedy skits, “Clan Clash”, began to air in October 2021.)
October 2021.)
Dr. Zhang’s parents and sibling are all medical doctors. Thus they Dr. Zhang’s parents and sibling are all medical doctors. Thus they have enhanced EBT allowances, and
have enhanced EBT allowances, and thus more access to food and otherthus more access to food and other supplies, and receive Priority Protection from the local Sec-Com. “I should supplies, and receive Priority Protection from the local Sec-Com. “I should have been a doctor too,” she explains, “but when it came time to dissect a have been a doctor too,” she explains, “but when it came time to dissect a frog, I chickened out! Chemistry is what I always loved, and once I
frog, I chickened out! Chemistry is what I always loved, and once I
discovered petroleum, it was love at first sight. I just love oil, the sight and discovered petroleum, it was love at first sight. I just love oil, the sight and smell of it, everything about it.”
smell of it, everything about it.”
When asked why she did not remain overseas, as she had myriad When asked why she did not remain overseas, as she had myriad employment opportunities, she nods thoughtfully. “I couldn’t leave my employment opportunities, she nods thoughtfully. “I couldn’t leave my
family in a lurch,” she says. “I had to help them. Maybe it would have been family in a lurch,” she says. “I had to help them. Maybe it would have been better for me to remain in China or Asia generally, and send money back better for me to remain in China or Asia generally, and send money back home to my family. A lot of Asian Americans are doing that. I still might do home to my family. A lot of Asian Americans are doing that. I still might do it, I don’t know,” she says, clearly torn about the issue. “Right now, my it, I don’t know,” she says, clearly torn about the issue. “Right now, my family needs me here. Maybe later . . .”
family needs me here. Maybe later . . .”
She is unmarried and unattached. “As a 45 year-old woman, I guess She is unmarried and unattached. “As a 45 year-old woman, I guess my window of opportunity passed,” she says a little wistfully. Like other my window of opportunity passed,” she says a little wistfully. Like other women in similar conditions who live outside lesbian or misandrist Identity women in similar conditions who live outside lesbian or misandrist Identity Zones, Dr. Zhang is very embarrassed by her childlessness and her lack of a Zones, Dr. Zhang is very embarrassed by her childlessness and her lack of a husband—though she is self-consciously aware of this embarrassment. “I husband—though she is self-consciously aware of this embarrassment. “I was a hard-core feminist, in college and afterwards. ‘Girl Power!’ and all was a hard-core feminist, in college and afterwards. ‘Girl Power!’ and all
that,” she says with a self-conscious laugh she uses to mask her uneasiness.
that,” she says with a self-conscious laugh she uses to mask her uneasiness.
“It’s hard to believe how quickly that all went out the window. I thought
“It’s hard to believe how quickly that all went out the window. I thought Feminism was an immutable truth. It didn’t occur to me that it was a Feminism was an immutable truth. It didn’t occur to me that it was a superficial luxury you’d give up when you couldn’t afford it any more, like superficial luxury you’d give up when you couldn’t afford it any more, like facials or Belgian chocolates.”
facials or Belgian chocolates.”
We chat in the densely wooded backyard of her family-clan’s home on We chat in the densely wooded backyard of her family-clan’s home on a warm summer day. We have a pitcher of iced tea and crackers with a warm summer day. We have a pitcher of iced tea and crackers with home-made jam, home-made from berries grown on the property. Dr. Zhang,
made jam, made from berries grown on the property. Dr. Zhang,
incongruously, enjoys smoking a pipe. “I hope you don’t mind,” she says as incongruously, enjoys smoking a pipe. “I hope you don’t mind,” she says as she lights her pipe and puffs on it, richly aromatic smoke wafting around her she lights her pipe and puffs on it, richly aromatic smoke wafting around her and drifting into the nearby trees. “No one in my family smokes, it’s a
and drifting into the nearby trees. “No one in my family smokes, it’s a horrible habit I picked up in China. My only excuse is that I find it just so horrible habit I picked up in China. My only excuse is that I find it just so relaxing.”
relaxing.”
I make no objection as
I make no objection as we drink our tea, our conversation punctuatedwe drink our tea, our conversation punctuated by the sounds of gently fluttering leaves and the chirping of birds.
by the sounds of gently fluttering leaves and the chirping of birds.
She is a small dainty woman, with a quick smile that often turns into a She is a small dainty woman, with a quick smile that often turns into a girlish laugh. Yet she is a remarkably still person, with an economy of
girlish laugh. Yet she is a remarkably still person, with an economy of movement which is worth noting. She blinks very infrequently. Her hair is movement which is worth noting. She blinks very infrequently. Her hair is black, straight, and shoulder-length. Her clothing is extremely neat,
black, straight, and shoulder-length. Her clothing is extremely neat,
perfectly balanced between comfort, stylishness and practicality. When she perfectly balanced between comfort, stylishness and practicality. When she
chats casually, she speaks very quickly, her statements often made in the chats casually, she speaks very quickly, her statements often made in the tone of questions. But when she speaks of subjects she knows well, or tone of questions. But when she speaks of subjects she knows well, or
recounts events she witnessed, her voice assumes a naturally lower registry, recounts events she witnessed, her voice assumes a naturally lower registry, her speech becomes slower and her sentences longer, with a clear and
her speech becomes slower and her sentences longer, with a clear and unflappable authority.
unflappable authority.
It happened in the morning in
It happened in the morning in broad daylight in Iran, which made broad daylight in Iran, which made it theit the middle of the night back home in the States, which is something the U.S.
middle of the night back home in the States, which is something the U.S.
media never got right. They kept saying that the Israeli
media never got right. They kept saying that the Israeli attack was a night-attack was a
night-raid, explaining that that was why they mistook the oil fields for a uranium raid, explaining that that was why they mistook the oil fields for a uranium processing plant, but that is just absurd. It was night in the States, but day processing plant, but that is just absurd. It was night in the States, but day in Iran. [Operation] Striped Shirt was a daytime bombing. Saying you
in Iran. [Operation] Striped Shirt was a daytime bombing. Saying you mistook the oil fields for nuclear installations is
mistook the oil fields for nuclear installations is like saying—I don’t know—like saying—I don’t know—
that you mistook the Statue of Liberty for the Grand Canyon. The I
that you mistook the Statue of Liberty for the Grand Canyon. The Israelissraelis knew exactly what they were targeting, there was never a doubt in my knew exactly what they were targeting, there was never a doubt in my mind: They
mind: They wanted wanted to flatten Gachsaran. And of to flatten Gachsaran. And of course they had to: It wascourse they had to: It was the price they paid the Saudis for their
the price they paid the Saudis for their assistance [in carrying out theassistance [in carrying out the airstrike].
airstrike].
I was there working for Sinopec, the China Petroleum and
I was there working for Sinopec, the China Petroleum and ChemicalChemical Company, analyzing the oil they were producing at Gachsaran and verifying Company, analyzing the oil they were producing at Gachsaran and verifying that their output was of a consistency and
that their output was of a consistency and quality that was required per ourquality that was required per our contract. I ran an on-site lab with two other technicians, all Chinese. We contract. I ran an on-site lab with two other technicians, all Chinese. We were purchasing roughly 20% of Gachsaran’s output—over a 100,000 were purchasing roughly 20% of Gachsaran’s output—over a 100,000
barrels a day—so of course it made sense to have a permanent staff barrels a day—so of course it made sense to have a permanent staff double-checking our purchases.
checking our purchases.
That Sunday morning, I was all c
That Sunday morning, I was all caught up with work but there wasaught up with work but there was really nothing to do—Gachsaran was in the middle of nowhere, really, and really nothing to do—Gachsaran was in the middle of nowhere, really, and though it was a nice city, I
though it was a nice city, I’d never really learned Farsi—which was why I’d never really learned Farsi—which was why I was at the oil field hanging
was at the oil field hanging out with some friends just for fun, out with some friends just for fun, chatting andchatting and drinking tea when the bombing started.
drinking tea when the bombing started.
No I didn’t hear any planes; they were too far away. It’s not that you No I didn’t hear any planes; they were too far away. It’s not that you heard
heard anything. There was no sound of jet anything. There was no sound of jet planes attacking, or the whistlingplanes attacking, or the whistling sounds of a falling bomb
sounds of a falling bomb or anything like that. The missiles were supersonic,or anything like that. The missiles were supersonic, so they were outrunning their own sound wave. It was completely silent—
so they were outrunning their own sound wave. It was completely silent—
and then things started exploding.
and then things started exploding.
I was in the main
I was in the main cafeteria, looking right at the main oil depot cafeteria, looking right at the main oil depot ofof Gachsaran, where all the oil from the various wells
Gachsaran, where all the oil from the various wells was pumped, and wherewas pumped, and where it was collected in huge storage tanks before being
it was collected in huge storage tanks before being loaded onto tankerloaded onto tanker
ships—I just happened to be facing
ships—I just happened to be facing the big picture window of the cafeteria,the big picture window of the cafeteria, looking
looking right at right at the oil depot when the first missiles struck. There was no the oil depot when the first missiles struck. There was no sound—
sound—nothingnothing—just suddenly two white streaks appeared, and then all—just suddenly two white streaks appeared, and then all these huge storage tanks simply
these huge storage tanks simply exploded exploded .. A split second later, the sound of
A split second later, the sound of the blast hit you. Like a movie that’sthe blast hit you. Like a movie that’s not in synch? Exactly. It was the loudest
not in synch? Exactly. It was the loudest noise I’d ever heard in my life, justnoise I’d ever heard in my life, just a single
a single bang!bang! that left my ears ringing that left my ears ringing forfor daysdays afterwards, in fact I still afterwards, in fact I still have tinnitus in my left ear because of
have tinnitus in my left ear because of it.it.
[
[Dr. Zhang pauses to scrape out the bowl Dr. Zhang pauses to scrape out the bowl of her pipe, then add freshof her pipe, then add fresh tobacco. It’s impossible to tell if this pause is self-conscious or not. She tobacco. It’s impossible to tell if this pause is self-conscious or not. She relights her pipe, and continues.
relights her pipe, and continues.]]
The window blew into the cafeteria, flying glass splas
The window blew into the cafeteria, flying glass splashing everywherehing everywhere like a crashing wave of water. My face, ear
like a crashing wave of water. My face, ear and the back of my head wereand the back of my head were pelted by glass—I turned my face away as the first missiles exploded, just pelted by glass—I turned my face away as the first missiles exploded, just instinct—but we were lucky that it [the window’s glass] was tempered, instinct—but we were lucky that it [the window’s glass] was tempered, because I was cut, but it was just little nicks, nothing serious.
because I was cut, but it was just little nicks, nothing serious.
But what really frightened me was the shock wave. People later But what really frightened me was the shock wave. People later toldtold me that I was incredibly lucky: I
me that I was incredibly lucky: I was just far enough away that the blawas just far enough away that the blastst wave didn’t kill me. But I was close
wave didn’t kill me. But I was close enough that I felt it. It’s enough that I felt it. It’s like a handlike a hand reaches inside of your body, and squeezes the softest p
reaches inside of your body, and squeezes the softest parts. And not gentlyarts. And not gently or slowly, it’s like,
or slowly, it’s like, bam!bam!, my intestines, my lungs, my brains, all get, my intestines, my lungs, my brains, all get squeezed and rattled by the blast wave,
squeezed and rattled by the blast wave, hard hard . I’ve never been raped, thank. I’ve never been raped, thank goodness, but I imagine it f
goodness, but I imagine it feels like that. Like somethingeels like that. Like something outsideoutside reaches reaches
goodness, but I imagine it feels like that. Like somethingeels like that. Like something outsideoutside reaches reaches