Another "October" surprise?
Reader comment on item: The "October Surprise" Theory

Submitted by Vijay Dandapani (United States), Mar 21, 2004 at 19:18

I presume one reason Daniel Pipes brings this up is in connection with growing rumours of another October surprise - this time with the Pakistanis fetching up Bin Laden and/or Zawahiri in time to boost President Bush's re-election prospects. While, quite clearly, the Iranian episode is false, I certainly do not expect the administration to enter into such a crass quid pro quo with Pakistan. However, I would not put it past the Pakistan's military to spring OBL with expectations of significant rewards from the US. Thus far, it has proven to be a viable modus vivendi for them - witness their designation as a significant non-NATO ally last week.

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Daniel Pipes replies:

No, your assumption is wrong. I wrote this article quite a while ago but it only arrived now in published form, so I sent it out now.