The pagers certainly could have had the ability to be remotely detonated. However, based upon the simultaneous nature of the attack a much simpler option suggests itself: The pagers were manufactured with a pre-selected countdown some weeks or even months into the future. Each device effectively became a time bomb. This latter choice wou…
The pagers certainly could have had the ability to be remotely detonated. However, based upon the simultaneous nature of the attack a much simpler option suggests itself: The pagers were manufactured with a pre-selected countdown some weeks or even months into the future. Each device effectively became a time bomb. This latter choice would, of course take away the chance to tailor the attack, but it also would be simpler and more secure in that it would require no access to the pager data network. The only uncertainty would have been to deliver the devices to the intended targets within a certain timeframe. In support of my "time bomb" hypothesis, consider that this attack would have been equally effective whether the bombs had gone off a week ago or a month from now. On the other hand, it'd have been undesirable if shipping had been delayed and a shipping container or truck had gone up in flames somewhere in Europe..
In earlier posts I’d assumed an incendiary device but now it sounds more like some type of high explosive was used. Folks, this WASN’T just the battery exploding. If you’re going to modify thousands of units, you’re going to make something a bit more destructive than what a tiny Li-Ion battery shorted out could do.
One must credit Mossad with a brilliant covert op. To clandestinely manufacture thousands of miniature time bombs, and then safely (?) transport them to a gullible enemy is no mean feat. While many were clearly injured, relatively few were killed. It should be emphasized that that's precisely what's wanted in this attack: often times in war it's far more valuable to cripple your enemy than to kill him. The Israelis have scored a major coup because they've struck at the heart of their enemy's communciation system and beyond the general demoralization, will make them distrust any of their remaining systems.
Brilliant. I also suspect that a few of these remained, stored in inventory. I guess a box of 100 of these would make a pretty fireworks display in Hizbullah's warehouse somewhere.
The pagers certainly could have had the ability to be remotely detonated. However, based upon the simultaneous nature of the attack a much simpler option suggests itself: The pagers were manufactured with a pre-selected countdown some weeks or even months into the future. Each device effectively became a time bomb. This latter choice would, of course take away the chance to tailor the attack, but it also would be simpler and more secure in that it would require no access to the pager data network. The only uncertainty would have been to deliver the devices to the intended targets within a certain timeframe. In support of my "time bomb" hypothesis, consider that this attack would have been equally effective whether the bombs had gone off a week ago or a month from now. On the other hand, it'd have been undesirable if shipping had been delayed and a shipping container or truck had gone up in flames somewhere in Europe..
In earlier posts I’d assumed an incendiary device but now it sounds more like some type of high explosive was used. Folks, this WASN’T just the battery exploding. If you’re going to modify thousands of units, you’re going to make something a bit more destructive than what a tiny Li-Ion battery shorted out could do.
One must credit Mossad with a brilliant covert op. To clandestinely manufacture thousands of miniature time bombs, and then safely (?) transport them to a gullible enemy is no mean feat. While many were clearly injured, relatively few were killed. It should be emphasized that that's precisely what's wanted in this attack: often times in war it's far more valuable to cripple your enemy than to kill him. The Israelis have scored a major coup because they've struck at the heart of their enemy's communciation system and beyond the general demoralization, will make them distrust any of their remaining systems.
Well stated.
Brilliant. I also suspect that a few of these remained, stored in inventory. I guess a box of 100 of these would make a pretty fireworks display in Hizbullah's warehouse somewhere.