Exploding pagers
The exploding pagers used to attack Hezbollah leaders were bought as a special
order. It was subcontracted to a Hungarian company whose
owner supports Putin
(and surely supports also the repressive ruler of
Hungary, Orbán, who
supports Putin.)
But that company subcontracted the order to someone else. We don't know
known who actually
built these pagers.
This demonstrates how subcontracting causes a potential risk to the national
security of any country, and even organizations of other kinds, when combined
with the opacity of their construction. It is one more reason
why the world needs
free hardware designs.
The rigged pagers have been compared to booby traps. With careful
comparison, we see a crucial difference: the pages were targeted
specifically at important Hezbollah participants.
A booby trap is triggered by some ordinary, non-warlike action, such
as opening a door, standing in a certain spot, or picking up an
object. Soldiers do these things, and so do civilians. Such a trap
can easily strike anyone.
The rigged pagers were carried by chosen members of Hezbollah — not
solely the highest leaders, but surely important enough for special
protection from tracking. They were sure to keep the pagers near them
and under their personal control. Just playing with one would not set
off the bomb; the plan arranged that almost always the owner would be
holding it when it exploded.
Wikipedia estimates that Hezbollah in Lebanon has around 100,000 members.
Clearly the 5,000 pagers were distributed to selected people with
command or sensitive roles, not
footsoldiers or fellow travelers.
Thus, the pager attack was not an atrocity or a crime — it was simply war.
That does not imply it was morally justifiable.
Netanyahu is aiming to escalate the war between Israel and
Hezbollah. and exploding the pagers was one among many attacks in the
campaign of escalation. That aim is what he deserves condemnation
for.