NRB: Another set of words that can’t be uttered is Islamic extremist. As an author words are important, correct?
Silva: We never said we were fighting all Muslims. That is the one thing I really take issue with is some of the statements coming out of this administration. The previous administration never said we were fighting a war against Islam. Our enemies said that in order to try and discredit us.
NRB: Your villain is a Swiss business man, Martin Landesmann. Your quote about Switzerland was very informative: “There are many myths about Switzerland. Chief among them is the long held but misplaced belief that the tiny Alpine country is a miracle of multiculturalism and tolerance.” Please explain.
Silva: I made the villain Swiss because there is a factual basis here. There is a nice arc that runs through it all. I am talking about what happened in the Second World War; what happened in the 1990’s, and what happened
with the Tinner family.
The inspiration for the book was based on Tinner. There could be no Khan network in Pakistan without these guys. This family worked with Khan; we turned them, and we sabotaged the Iran nuclear program. We turned their sources against them.
NRB: Finally, why did you choose the artist Rembrandt?
Silva: I love his work. I thought using his name made a great title. His house where he lived and worked was literally in the Dutch Jewish neighborhood which I said in the book.
