Was the airline "plot" a scam?

Question

It seems from the press that there has already been a trial and the "suspects" found guilty.

FACTS:
None of the suspects had made a bomb, none had an airline ticket, many did not even have passports, many had been under surveillance for more than a year (with so many cameras etc, this could apply to most brits).

The "evidence" for the plot was from the ineterrogation/torture of a suspect by the Pakistani dictatorship.

Also, as student, Reid was known as the Stirling University Communist Party "enforcer" and the current UK government has a history of being "economical with the truth".

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=MUR20060814&articleId=2962

For the "conspiracy nuts", the article link is from a Canadian website by former UK Ambasador Craig Murray.

If you read the article, you will see that this individual has had the highest security clearance and has also seen the "spin machine" from the inside.

http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/

A conspiracy is "An agreement to perform together an illegal, wrongful, or subversive act". This definition also fits many Government actions. The classic one is the Severes (Paris) meeting in the fifties by the prime ministers of Israel, France and UK where they agreed that Israel would first attack Egypt after some pretext and go as far as the Suez canal. UK and France would then go in as the "honest brokers" and arrange a cease fire after which the co-conspitators would have control of the canal. This conspiracy is a DOCUMENTED FACT because the Israelis had an interest in revealing it, even though the UK Prime minister attempted to have all documents related to the meeting destroyed.

Answer 1

Its a sad state of affairs indeed. I want to believe that the police in both (or either) country had information that they have not divulged in order to catch others, and for national security.

However, I think it speaks volumes that it is not just the "nutcase conspiracy theorists" who question the entire event. The credibility of the British and American administrations are so low that even reasonable people are questioning whether it is a "wag the dog" scenario, to divert the attention of the populace as we near election time.

Perhaps it is because of the Iraq weapons debacle (where we "knew" there were weapons, never produced evidence, attacked and never found any).

Perhaps it is because of the secret meetings held by the Bush administration before announcing an energy policy that benefits big oil.

Perhaps it is because of the outrages in Abu Grabe and Guantanamo Bay (where we do not let the Red Cross or journalists into the prisoner areas).

Perhaps it is because of the coincidence of timing.

However, for whatever reason, it is truly a disconcerting observation that when the government announces a thwarted terrorst attack, the news is viewed by many with skepticisim instead of applause.

Answer 2

one could argue that the propaganda war on the latest conflict was won by Hezbollah (there where may protests against Israel in the west)
to counter this you could not be blamed for wondering if this "terror" plot was a kick up the backside for the general population to get them supporting bush/Blair's agenda once more. get people back into a paranoid stew so that any future offensive will be see in a better light.... and i bet that will happen in about 6-9 mths.
quite frankly all 'plots' and govt activities have been highly suspect since (and incl) 9/11. and all i can say is that serious wool is being pulled over peoples eyes for right or wrong.... we can feel it, but have a choice, ignore it and tow the line (as some answers below show), or, say something, but have no means of a hearing. at the end of the day, the fact that both blair and bush where re-elected shows one can't do anything anyway. there are other forces at work and the game will be played out.... so no point worrying about it. just work out the possible ending and prepare for it.
hey and lets not forget that israel committed serious war crimes against humanity... what better way to distract everyone, than have a big huge terror plot that will threaten everyone's lives!!!!!
and boy it has worked! 'cos i don't hear anyone screaming for israel's blood, and they should be!!!!

Answer 3

Probably too early to say anything either way- I'm certain a lot of the "facts" you cite are not facts but what has been heard. There were reports that some of the suspects actually did have airline tickets and passports.

So while I love a good conspiracy, it's too early to say anything. Do I rule out that the government would use fear to manage the people? No. It's good for business and that drives a lot of decisions by people with questionable ethics (or none).

Answer 4

Yes it was definitely a scam, of the same ilk as bird flu and Sars. Just a practice to see how the public can be messed with, and to keep people scared. Primarily it removed pressure from Bush and Blair who were both suffering from the opinions regarding their war-mongering policy in Lebanon.
We will probably have a few more scams like this before another big hoax like 9/11 or 7/7, and then the police will say, well we stopped the other ones, but we can't stop them all.

Answer 5

I believe that we were only being told what the governement and the press want us to know. It is no differnt in the US today as it was In Russia before then end of the cold war, The Russians were only given the information that the government wanted them to know not the whole truth. I am sure there is a alot of that going today in this conuntry and mostly becuase of the election year.

Answer 6

so you base this question on a web site from America, from an article by someone who has 'analysed' the sunday papers, as if they know all the facts!! Seems like the web site is a bit of a conspiracy theorists best friend. Conspiracy theory sites have more than a reputation of being ecconomical with the truth.

Answer 7

Would a man , standing in bandit gear( face mask ; disguise ) in a bank with a rifle be arrested if he didn't DO anything yet ? This one isn't up to the drive-by media . Their usual is to defend the enemy .Give it time .This was no scam . You don't let these cowards out to be successful before they're arrested .

Answer 8

This is why it is hard to arrest someone before it happens, no one wants to beleive they were planning it.

Yes they were planning it, it was backed and they had the ability to do it.

Just thank God they were arrested someone besides the US where they would have never been able to be convicted. because of our lax laws about crimes before they happen.

But then even when they do it, people don't want to beleive they really did

There are 1000's of terrorist cells just planning to destroy Americans and anyone not Muslim at some point and time.

I guess it is easier to do it afterwards, since they are dead then and don't have to go to trial, but sadly many will be dead to prove they could.

They tracked phone records and bank records.

Answer 9

Yes, no evidence has emerged whatsoever of any wrongdoing. Sounds very suspicious that within a month of the Government making a total f*ck up of things by raiding a house and shooting an innocent person that they have now uncovered a plot and they have saved the world. Evidence please and lots of it!!

Answer 10

In a way I believe they achieved what they set out to do, and that is cause disruption and to start second guessing our decision weather to fly or not.
For some their plan worked, that's if that was their plan.