Osama-Frohike 9/11 Connection

Is Osama bin Laden a fan of the short-lived "X-Files" spinoff "The Lone Gunmen?" It may be; there's at least one common denominator. It's repeat night, another blast from my usenet commentary past:

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It appears that Osama bin Laden may be an X-Files fan. Or more specifically, a fan of the short-lived spinoff "The Lone Gunmen."

The premier episode of "The Lone Gunmen" has Byers, Langley and Frohike uncovering a plot to remotely pilot a 727 into the World Trade Center.

"The Lone Gunmen" are led to believe that John Byers' father Bertram, a career policy wonk, was killed in an auto accident. They are then led to believe he was murdered. Eventually they determine the father faked his own death, killing his own would-be assasin in the process, because he found out a small faction within the government planned to actualize a war-game scenario and blame it on terrorists.

The dialogue exchange between Long Gunmen member John Byers and his father Bertram follows:

J: What is scenario 12-D? We know it's a war-game scenario, that it has to do with airline counter-terrorism. Why is important enough to kill for?

B: Because it's no longer a game.

J: If some terroriist group wants to act out this scenario, why target you for assasination?

B: Depends on who your 'terrorists' are.

J: The men who conceived of it in the first place. You're saying our government plans to commit a terrorist act against a domestic airline ...

B: There you go, indicting the entire government, as usual. A faction, a small faction.

J; For what possible gain?

B: The cold war's over John. But with no clear enemy to stockpile against, the arms market's flat. But bring down a fully loaded 727 into the middle of New York City and you'll find a dozen tinpot dictators all over the world just clamoring to take responsibility and begging to be smart-bombed.

The war-game scenario 12-D has the terrorists commandeering an aircraft with a normal flight plan that takes them over lower Manhattan so little suspicion is aroused with flight deviation.

The Lone Gunmen search the aircraft for a bomb and, finding none, determine that the scenario is to remotely pilot the craft (via computer cracking into the flight controls) into a point at the corner of Washington and Liberty Streets in Lower Manhattan -- the World Trade Center.

To prove to the pilots that the aircraft has been taken over by remote control, Bertram Byers -- with little resistance from the navigator or flight staff -- makes his way into the pilot's cabin, reaches over the pilots and turns off the auto-pilot.

Talk about prognostications! Anyone feeling a chill down their spine about now?

FYI, there are several web sites that archived the full dialogue and information about the pilot,

http://www.redwolf.com.au/lgm/pilot/1aeb79.html
http://www.geocities.com/thelonegunmen030401/ep0.html

being just a few.

The episode was written by Chris Carter, Vince Gilligan, John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz.

I've never read an interview with any of the writers of this particular episode after 9/11 but I would think it would be interesting to hear their thoughts on the Osama-Frohike Connection.

If you've never seen the particular episode, you soon will have a chance. The complete "The Lone Gunmen" tv series is scheduled for release March 29.

I have my own thoughts on 9/11, as you may have already read.

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There's a good article by Reuters on how the controversy surrounding Terri Schindler Schiavo has renewed serious discussions on how we, in the U.S., deal with end of life issues. Select here to read it. One item about the report has me disturbed, however. The unnamed reporter tosses out a blanket statement: "And experts agree that if she does die with her feeding tube now removed, it will be painless." without mentioning any names of experts who claim that Mrs. Schiavo's death would be painless. "Experts" believe fish don't feel pain; PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, disagree. I wonder where that organization stands on this issue? If I find out, I'll post it as an update.