Bin Laden guilty of nothing?

Not everybody is sure that Bin Laden was behind the September 11 terrorist acts

Terrorist number one has suddenly found a high-ranking protector: the President of Pakistan. Perves Musharraf said that he is not certain that the September 11 terrorist acts were organized by Osama bin Laden. According to Reuters, the Pakistani president said in an interview to the New Yorker that he does not believe it to be possible. The president cannot believe that Osama bin Laden, while sitting in the Afghan mountains, organized such an attack. He could be a sponsor or a motivating force; however, the people who launched the attacks were much more up-to-date, because they knew the United States, and they knew the aircraft, Musharraf said. He believes that the plan was created by someone else.

The Pakistani president is not the only person who doubts bin Laden's role in the terrorist acts. Three months ago, French writer Thierry Meyssan published his book L'Effroyable imposture (An Awful Deception), in which he calls into question the version of bin Laden's implication in the September 11 events. In Meyssan's view, the terrorist acts were organized by representatives of some extreme right-wing groups who occupy high posts in the US government and the military-industrial complex. However, Meyssan could not give their names.

In addition, some journalists and public figures (mostly people belonging to right-wing nationalist circles) hinted at the Mossad's implication in organizing the terrorist acts. However, these accusations have not been proven.

As for Musharraf's statement, two questions appear: why did the president suddenly start to speak about his doubts of bin Laden's guilt, and, if not bin Laden, who was behind the terrorist acts?

The first question can be answered easily. As is well known, the US special services and army are actively searching for bin Laden everywhere, including on Pakistani territory. Also, it looks like Washington believes that bin Laden is hiding in Pakistan. This was why search operations have become more active on Pakistani territory. However, this brings about the anger of of Pakistani radicals and the military. The army is Musharraf's main support, and, of course, he does not want to lose it. Therefore, the president makes such statements. Washington seems to be tolerant of these statements and has not commentted on them. As for the second question, who there are some problems. The Pakistani president did not provide any answers. Islamic fundamentalists are supposed to be the masterminds of the terrorist acts, who are not connected with Al-Qaida or Osama bin Laden. It could also have been Al-Qaida militants who acted independently. Actually, there could be many versions…

All the same, not everybody is sure that bin Laden was behind the September 11 terrorist acts, and the Pakistani president belongs to this group, even if his statement was the result of his wish not to lose the support of his people.

Vasily Bubnov PRAVDA.Ru

Translated by Vera Solovieva

Read the original in Russian: http://www.pravda.ru/main/2002/08/05/45165.html