Wag The Dog

Web Aug 12, 2006 Opinion

Wag The Dog?

Outlook India

Skepticism mounts in Pakistan that the whole "Al Qaeda plan discovery" is a coordinated attempt by the authorities of the UK and the US, with the collusion of the Pakistani military-intelligence establishment, to divert attention from the growing public criticism of their backing for Israel's military operations in Lebanon. B. RAMAN

There is considerable skepticism in informed circles in Pakistan, including the police, over claims being made by the British, US and Pakistani authorities of having thwarted a planned Al Qaeda terrorist strike of catastrophic potential by blowing up 10 US-bound aircraft simultaneously. They suspect that it is a co-ordinated attempt by the authorities of the UK and the US, with the collusion of the Pakistani military-intelligence establishment, to divert attention from the growing public criticism of their backing for Israel's military operations in the Lebanon.

They give the following arguments in support of their skepticism:

To blow up 10 aircraft simultaneously by smuggling liquid explosives inside and assembling an improvised explosive device (ISD) inside would have required at least two suicide volunteers per aircraft, thus making a total of at least 20. Plus, they would have required at least 10 or more support volunteers to back them up. Thus, according to them, an operation of this type would have required a network of at least 50 volunteers whereas the British have arrested only 24 and say that they have arrested all those who were involved. More....