http://samsonblinded.org/blog/another-osama%e2%80%99s-video-hmmm%e2%80%a6.htm A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:09:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/another-osama%e2%80%99s-video-hmmm%e2%80%a6.htm/comment-page-1#comment-990 Administrator Thu, 14 Sep 2006 07:26:50 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/?p=107#comment-990 To Predator: No doubt that Muslims terrorists hijacked, piloted, and blew the planes on occasions. But in the case of 9/11, quantitative difference accumulates to the point of qualitative gap.Muslims had never before hijacked planes in the US. They never hijacked so many planes simultaneously. They never flew the planes with so much precision as to hit at a particular spot in the WTC; the task of such targeting is far from trivial. They never showed the kind of significant engineering expertise required to calculate the height at which to hit the WTC. In fact, in no car bombing they even calculated the amount of explosives and direction of the explosion. No terrorist group claimed the responsibility for 9/11: is that believable? It seems that Al Qaeda tries slowly to appropriate the glory, seeing that no one else does. To Predator: No doubt that Muslims terrorists hijacked, piloted, and blew the planes on occasions. But in the case of 9/11, quantitative difference accumulates to the point of qualitative gap.Muslims had never before hijacked planes in the US. They never hijacked so many planes simultaneously. They never flew the planes with so much precision as to hit at a particular spot in the WTC; the task of such targeting is far from trivial. They never showed the kind of significant engineering expertise required to calculate the height at which to hit the WTC. In fact, in no car bombing they even calculated the amount of explosives and direction of the explosion. No terrorist group claimed the responsibility for 9/11: is that believable? It seems that Al Qaeda tries slowly to appropriate the glory, seeing that no one else does.

]]> http://samsonblinded.org/blog/another-osama%e2%80%99s-video-hmmm%e2%80%a6.htm/comment-page-1#comment-989 Predator Wed, 13 Sep 2006 23:52:23 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/?p=107#comment-989 Actually, Oplan Bojinka had most of these elements and was much, much more elaborate than 9/11. Abdul Hakim Murad had been trained as a pilot in North Carolina, and was planning to be a suicide pilot. 20 people (!) have been trained for Pope assassination. Set of liquid bombs was disguised as contact lens solution, and was tried beforehand on flight from Cebu to Tokyo and a theatre in Manila. Same pattern as with 9/11 hijackings - terrorists board the planes with their equipment in the hand baggage.But it was too elaborate and time consuming, and was eventually discovered due to an accident. However, they got dangerously close to the Pope assassination part. It wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that they learn from their mistakes, too - and this is where 9/11 fits in. Actually, Oplan Bojinka had most of these elements and was much, much more elaborate than 9/11. Abdul Hakim Murad had been trained as a pilot in North Carolina, and was planning to be a suicide pilot. 20 people (!) have been trained for Pope assassination. Set of liquid bombs was disguised as contact lens solution, and was tried beforehand on flight from Cebu to Tokyo and a theatre in Manila. Same pattern as with 9/11 hijackings – terrorists board the planes with their equipment in the hand baggage.But it was too elaborate and time consuming, and was eventually discovered due to an accident. However, they got dangerously close to the Pope assassination part. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume that they learn from their mistakes, too – and this is where 9/11 fits in.

]]> http://samsonblinded.org/blog/another-osama%e2%80%99s-video-hmmm%e2%80%a6.htm/comment-page-1#comment-982 Administrator Wed, 13 Sep 2006 07:34:26 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/?p=107#comment-982 To Gal: Thanks for pointing that out. The difference in English and Russian versions is purely accidental. Such shades of meaning are unavoidable in translation.To Predator: True, Muslim terrorists planned to crash hijacked airplanes into government buildigs before. They never did, though. What sets the 9/11 apart, is thorough planning. Piloting skills, knowledge of engineering details, and meticulous timeline make the WTC operation qualitatively different from other attacks by Muslim terrorists. To Gal: Thanks for pointing that out. The difference in English and Russian versions is purely accidental. Such shades of meaning are unavoidable in translation.To Predator: True, Muslim terrorists planned to crash hijacked airplanes into government buildigs before. They never did, though. What sets the 9/11 apart, is thorough planning. Piloting skills, knowledge of engineering details, and meticulous timeline make the WTC operation qualitatively different from other attacks by Muslim terrorists.

]]> http://samsonblinded.org/blog/another-osama%e2%80%99s-video-hmmm%e2%80%a6.htm/comment-page-1#comment-981 Predator Wed, 13 Sep 2006 03:23:50 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/?p=107#comment-981 <i>I'm fully inclined to believe the Osama's statement of September 28, 2001 where he claims innocence of the 9/11.</i>Osama's innocence does not mean Al Quaeda didn't do it. Al Quaeda is not even an organization, but rather a network of small groups. Yes, it seems that Osama had no idea about it - but then, he is their "spiritual leader" rather than tactical operations chief.Different from regular terror attacks? Possibly, but very similar to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oplan_Bojinka" rel="nofollow">Operation Bojinka</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_France_Flight_8969" rel="nofollow">hijacking an Air France plane in 1994</a>. In fact, these two were such obvious hints that the Western secret services must be ashamed of themselves. I’m fully inclined to believe the Osama’s statement of September 28, 2001 where he claims innocence of the 9/11.Osama’s innocence does not mean Al Quaeda didn’t do it. Al Quaeda is not even an organization, but rather a network of small groups. Yes, it seems that Osama had no idea about it – but then, he is their “spiritual leader” rather than tactical operations chief.Different from regular terror attacks? Possibly, but very similar to Operation Bojinka and hijacking an Air France plane in 1994. In fact, these two were such obvious hints that the Western secret services must be ashamed of themselves.

]]> http://samsonblinded.org/blog/another-osama%e2%80%99s-video-hmmm%e2%80%a6.htm/comment-page-1#comment-978 Gal Tue, 12 Sep 2006 22:45:23 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/?p=107#comment-978 Mr. Simkin, I wonder - is it incidential that in the Russian version you say "Russian government <b>used the blasts</b>" and here - "blew apartment houses"? Mr. Simkin, I wonder – is it incidential that in the Russian version you say “Russian government used the blasts” and here – “blew apartment houses”?

]]> http://samsonblinded.org/blog/another-osama%e2%80%99s-video-hmmm%e2%80%a6.htm/comment-page-1#comment-976 strawdog Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:06:27 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/?p=107#comment-976 I remember Mrs Thatcher trying to prevent the IRA from seeking 'the oxygen of publicity' during the 1980s/early 1990s. It was a good idea in theory but in practice it was unworkable, and that was before dawn of 'the information age'.Its also the case that its necessary to have a figure to hate, to galvanise opposition to the enemy. Bin Laden fits into that role well.If/when Bin Laden is eventually killed it'll be a difficult task deciding whether or not to show his corpse (and therefore display his martyrdom) or simply destroy his remains and hope that his reputation fades away.Regarding another hate figure, with hindsight I think the Americans should have assassinated Saddam when they found him in his hide-out thereby denying him of his day in the courtroom (in the glare of publicity). By attempting to create the illusion of justice they've merely created a circus. I remember Mrs Thatcher trying to prevent the IRA from seeking ‘the oxygen of publicity’ during the 1980s/early 1990s. It was a good idea in theory but in practice it was unworkable, and that was before dawn of ‘the information age’.Its also the case that its necessary to have a figure to hate, to galvanise opposition to the enemy. Bin Laden fits into that role well.If/when Bin Laden is eventually killed it’ll be a difficult task deciding whether or not to show his corpse (and therefore display his martyrdom) or simply destroy his remains and hope that his reputation fades away.Regarding another hate figure, with hindsight I think the Americans should have assassinated Saddam when they found him in his hide-out thereby denying him of his day in the courtroom (in the glare of publicity). By attempting to create the illusion of justice they’ve merely created a circus.

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