My dear Mamoun Fandi,

I had wanted to call you after reading your article but then decided to write since I had originally read your ideas rather than heard them. I also found it more appropriate for you to read my ideas as well rather than hearing them. Those who see are different from those who listen.
Your article about the assassination of Al Mabhouh and Dubai Police’s media management grabbed my attention. I read it very carefully and understood your need to rewrite in order to manage some of the reactions that were raised about your first article.
I wanted, as a friend, to turn your attention to several points starting with those points of agreement:
1. I agree that it would not have been possible to publish the "video tape" if it weren’t for the existence of such advanced software and hardware, most of which was not developed locally. However, you are aware that most of the machines that we use in our homes on a daily basis, such as telephones, computers, internet, cars and even irons were not developed locally either.
2. I do agree with you that the security surveillance operation did not lead to the "capture" of any of those accused. However, the importance of unveiling the crime tracks is no less than unveiling the planners and executers of Britian’s "Underground Bombs", which also used the aid of security surveillance technology to track them from the moment they left their houses to the time of the bombing. What is happening is in fact what I heard you demanding over and over again when you reference security in the Gulf, the concept of "deterrence". The task of deterrence is almost as important as proactive prevention which could not be achieved within international security agencies either in the attacks on New York or London or in the assassination of the Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko in London by using radioactive polonium or in the assassination attempt on Prince Mohammed bin Nayef using a bomb hidden in a sensitive area. Deterrence, and what any security expert or a police sergeant on the streets of Alexandria can confirm, is the basis of the authority of law.
3. Yes, the security authorities in Dubai could not prevent the planes from taking off post the assassination. However, this overlooks the fact that the death was only discovered the day after the crime when his wife had called the hotel management questioning why her husband was not answering the phone. By then, the execution team had already travelled and some had even departed prior to the operation. On the basis of your knowledgeable information of surveillance cameras and programs used, you are surely aware that retrieving the information did not happen on the spot. The investigation and even the identification of those that the software should search for depends on human identification and long hours of review and verification of thousands of recorded hours. Thus, halting the planes was an even more difficult task than forcing the fourth plane attacking on 9-11-01 to land.
4. I also agree on the fact that many Israeli channels presented the case as "Mossad Propaganda". Many channels referred to the number of hits on Mossad’s website and even the number of t-shirts sold with Mossad logo. If this in fact was a real success, then Osama Bin Ladin has had a greater success and would have had his picture printed on t-shirt merchandise sold on street corners from Bangkok to Moscow. The reality, which we did not hear any of from any Israeli media, was the fate of this unit comprising of 27 secret agents that publically blew their cover and identities. Will they be able to return to undercover work after plastic surgery or are they "burnt" and will be difficult to use for any but “training” purposes. No doubt your security expertise tells you that the loss of a 27 secret agent unit is no little loss and may be qualified as a professional assassination of greater value than that Al Mabhouh.
5. I also agree that what happened was a "Media Show" and no one claims that a press conference with an illustrative presentation, video tapes, pictures and charts is not a "show". The reality however is that a "Media Show” is an influential tool and the same one used in your articles to present your point of view. The images you present and your eloquent move between classical and colloquial language to get this “belittling” effect is a successful utilization and leads to the same end goal of influencing readers and viewers. The role of media in wars is not news. Whether it is a developed country or not, there is specialized media management in all of the world’s security and military services. "Media shows", with their spectrum of perfection and differences in goals that either highlight or mislead truth are important tools in every establishment. Your book about media and politics in the Arab world is no doubt proof of your great appreciation of what any “Media Show”, like the one presented by Al Jazira TV, can do to influence public opinion. Moreover, I also agree with you that the fundamental question is “will Dubai evolve into the 70’s Cyprus?”. There’s no doubt that this is the same question that is on the mind of Dahi Khalfan and all those who worked on the investigation. Avoiding it becoming so is the main goal behind all that has happened so far in the Al Mabhouh case. Discretion, lack of detailed investigation and accepting the possibility of natural death would have probably led to that.  However, in military terminology, “Power Projection" is one of the effective means of deterrence to make Dubai a harder choice for such operations. As you well know, the Arabic proverb “loose money teaches theft” is the moral behind this story.

As for our points of difference, I believe we differ in one point and that is the way we view a cup of water. One of us, God knows, sees it half full whist the other sees it half empty.
Finally, I trust that our exchange of opinions will not affect our friendship. As they say, if it weren’t for a difference in opinions, benefits would have perished. Based on this principle, I hope you don’t mind if I addressed my letter to you.  Perhaps we may find a chance to have both halves of the cup together.

 

With best regards
Your brother, Ahmed Al Mansoori