Not Too Convincing

By Semperpapa

I am following the drama of the UPS cargo being searched to respond to some suspicious package found on one flight.
According to the reports we hear, the package was sent from Yemen and was addressed to some religious destination, a synagogue, in the States.

Ok, I am not too convinced about the officials' assertion that the package, or packages, are part of a dry run for a terror attack. Why would anyone send a fake bomb as a trial action? It would make more sense if the bomb was real and the sender would take the chance of succeeding in his nefarious intent.
Sending a fake only has the result that the target will now be on alert.

To add to the strangeness of these events, there are reports that a passenger plane from Dubai was being escorted by Air Force F-15 fighter planes on its approach to New York.
According to the reports, the fighter escort was called in to address some sort of a suspicious package in the cargo area of the plane.
And this is highly suspicious and makes even less sense!

There is absolutely no reason for Military escort of a passenger plane because of a package in its cargo. The practice of escorting a plane in is based on the suspicion that there may be a terror threat on board in the form of one or more passengers, and all in the wake of the mode used by the Islamic terrorist on 9-11.
Protocol is for the fighter planes to down the suspicious aircraft before it reaches populated areas in the case of suicide hijackers taking over the flight.

I failed to understand the mission assigned to these fighter pilots in the case of an explosive device being stowed in the craft, unless they were assigned to take pictures of the aircraft in the case an explosion would occur.

So what is all the hoopla about this? I can hardly wait for the message Obama is supposed to be delivering in few minutes about the situation. The drama is increasing and speculations are mounting.
Personally, I feel the whole thing is just another political move on the part of a desperate White House to try and distract the American people with a "show of confidence" on the part of Obama and Napolitano.
I hope I am proven wrong by Obama's press conference.

Just my thoughts!

Update:
After hearing Obama on the terror "threat" I am still not convinced. I still think that the overly dramatic production with the USAF fighter jets was all histrionics.
I am willing to accept the devices were all legitimate, but the reaction was nothing less than a Hollywood production.

I am also saddened by what appears to be my personal total lack of trust in the President. It is much unusual for me.