It is time the kibitzers got it right
The phrase Mossad-like was intended to be a description — not an accusation or an indictment.
anwer.mooraj@tribune.com.pk
This subject doesn’t really merit a full column. But I believe it is important to comment on, because there are far too many misconceptions floating about on the ether which land in newspapers on both sides of the border. Many of my political articles, and indeed those of my colleagues, stir up a hornet’s nest in certain quarters whenever it is perceived that there is a hint or a whiff of a false accusation. My piece published on June 15, “A struggle without an end”, was no exception. The offensive passage was the reference to the Mossad in the attack on Karachi airport. Normally no writer bothers about the comments, and laughs them off, but some are, at times, a little ridiculous.
Three worthy souls of the pseudonym club, Np, NumbersNumbers and F, were deeply incensed. Np wanted to know why I described the attack on Karachi airport as Mossad-like and why I linked every assault on our installations as the work of RAW. Let me set his mind at ease. The phrase Mossad-like was intended to be a description — not an accusation or an indictment. It indicated a special type of assault which involved a number of qualities — intricate planning, split-second timing, fierce determination and the element of surprise. I believe the phrase got its name from the daring Israeli rescue mission in 1976 conducted by paratroopers on Uganda’s Entebbe airport to free 106 Israeli hijack hostages. The assault inspired the 1977 motion picture Operation Thunderbolt. At no point in the article did I suggest, or even hint, that Israel was mixed up in the assault or that RAW was involved. Or that one had fed the other. Np, through a perverted logic, did, quite innocently… by implication…suggest that there was a link between the two. .
NumbersNumbers travelled more or less on the same road and, in a sense, echoed Np’s sentiments. F brought a new twist to the accusation and wanted to know why I linked every attack on Pakistan to the Mossad or RAW when the TTP had owned up to the attack. “…terror groups have been created by the state with the full support of the masses. The fight is between two forces with the same end goals.” Something doesn’t gel. Which two forces is F talking about? If they believe in the same goals, why are they fighting each other? Where did he (or she) get the idea that militant groups…have the full support of the masses? And, what gives him the idea that the mere suggestion of Israel’s involvement is calculated to stir up the masses? The masses don’t get stirred up by anything. Not even the fierce, regular attacks by the militants.
I don’t remember ever attacking Israel except once or twice to condemn their treatment of the Palestinians. In fact, in my article “Quiet…he’s a Jew” I stated that I was appalled at any kind of discrimination on the basis of religion, politics or ethnicity and stood up for my Ashkenazi friend. However, I always enjoy comments, however, negative. Controversy makes an article more interesting. So keep writing F wherever you are located. If you happen to be in India, let me assure you both Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif are doing their best to bring the two countries closer together. They are both business-oriented and know that the future of the two neighbours lies in mutual co-operation. Who knows, I might yet be able to visit Chowpatty beach to enjoy an iced kulfi on banana leaves. There’s a Marathi saying, he who has tried it once always goes back for seconds.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2014.
Three worthy souls of the pseudonym club, Np, NumbersNumbers and F, were deeply incensed. Np wanted to know why I described the attack on Karachi airport as Mossad-like and why I linked every assault on our installations as the work of RAW. Let me set his mind at ease. The phrase Mossad-like was intended to be a description — not an accusation or an indictment. It indicated a special type of assault which involved a number of qualities — intricate planning, split-second timing, fierce determination and the element of surprise. I believe the phrase got its name from the daring Israeli rescue mission in 1976 conducted by paratroopers on Uganda’s Entebbe airport to free 106 Israeli hijack hostages. The assault inspired the 1977 motion picture Operation Thunderbolt. At no point in the article did I suggest, or even hint, that Israel was mixed up in the assault or that RAW was involved. Or that one had fed the other. Np, through a perverted logic, did, quite innocently… by implication…suggest that there was a link between the two. .
NumbersNumbers travelled more or less on the same road and, in a sense, echoed Np’s sentiments. F brought a new twist to the accusation and wanted to know why I linked every attack on Pakistan to the Mossad or RAW when the TTP had owned up to the attack. “…terror groups have been created by the state with the full support of the masses. The fight is between two forces with the same end goals.” Something doesn’t gel. Which two forces is F talking about? If they believe in the same goals, why are they fighting each other? Where did he (or she) get the idea that militant groups…have the full support of the masses? And, what gives him the idea that the mere suggestion of Israel’s involvement is calculated to stir up the masses? The masses don’t get stirred up by anything. Not even the fierce, regular attacks by the militants.
I don’t remember ever attacking Israel except once or twice to condemn their treatment of the Palestinians. In fact, in my article “Quiet…he’s a Jew” I stated that I was appalled at any kind of discrimination on the basis of religion, politics or ethnicity and stood up for my Ashkenazi friend. However, I always enjoy comments, however, negative. Controversy makes an article more interesting. So keep writing F wherever you are located. If you happen to be in India, let me assure you both Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif are doing their best to bring the two countries closer together. They are both business-oriented and know that the future of the two neighbours lies in mutual co-operation. Who knows, I might yet be able to visit Chowpatty beach to enjoy an iced kulfi on banana leaves. There’s a Marathi saying, he who has tried it once always goes back for seconds.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2014.