Solution to some of the Backtrack 5 R3 problems (using gnome in my case [you can forego the "-gnome" part in the code when not using gnome]):
sudo apt-get install network-manager-gnome
cp /etc/network/interfaces {.stock}
echo "auto lo" > /etc/network/interfaces
echo "iface lo inet loopback" >> /etc/network/interfaces
reboot, then:
sudo apt-get remove wicd
reboot, then:
service network-manager start
nm-applet &
Result: You won't use WICD anymore, which is buggy in some cases on BT5 R3, i.g. not allowing connections via wifi and cable at the same time (which you'll most certainly want to do with your pineapple). Instead you'll use the network-manager, which makes things easier.
If you want to stay with WICD and run the pineapple like, let's say, pineapple -> your laptop -> wifi-card -> internet, you can connect to the wifi-network that provides internet-connection with WICD, then kill both of the WICD-processes and run the wp4 script.
All the best,
Sonya