Mumbai

[BridgeTroll]

Sound familiar?

EDITORIAL COMMENT | It's War
28 Nov 2008, 0000 hrs IST


This nation is under attack. The scale, intensity and level of orchestration of terror attacks in Mumbai put one thing beyond doubt: India is effectively at war and it has deadly enemies in its midst. Ten places in south Mumbai were struck in quick succession.

As in the case of the demolition of New York's World Trade Center in 2001, Mumbai's iconic monuments such as the Taj Mahal Hotel, the Oberoi Trident and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus have come under attack. The number of people killed in multiple attacks is 101 and counting, which includes foreigners and senior policemen. At least 300 have been injured.

The terrorists who carried out the attacks are well supplied, armed to the teeth and extremely well motivated. The question now is whether the nation can show any serious degree of resolve and coordination in confronting terror. This war can be won, but it will require something from the political class, from security forces and from ordinary people. It's time now to move beyond pointing fingers at one another or resorting to cliches such as 'resilient Mumbai'. It's also time to end the habit of basing one's stand on terrorism on the particular religious affiliation of terrorists, criticising or exonerating them using their religion a point of reference. Terrorists have no religion. Political bickering on this issue is divisive; what India needs now is unity.

While Mumbai also witnessed multiple attacks which brought the city to a halt in 1993, this one is different in two respects. One, it is unfolding in slow motion with the world media as witness, which makes for maximum psychological impact. Two, foreigners have specifically been targeted. Sites frequented by them have been chosen for attack and Britons, Americans and Israelis appear to have been singled out.

This kind of attack on India's financial capital is intended to send the message that India isn't a safe place to do business. The Indian economy and its links with the world are under attack. On the plus side, there have been unprecedented outpourings of sympathy and offers of cooperation from world governments. All the more reason to make the attacks on Mumbai a transformative moment. There has been talk of beefing up India's poor infrastructure. Security must now be seen as an essential element of infrastructure, as vital as power, water or transport.

Both L K Advani and Rajnath Singh have said it's time to rise above politics, which is welcome. An announced joint visit to Mumbai by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leader of the opposition Advani would send a signal of political unity. Beyond that the PM, in consultation with senior opposition leaders, must draw up a consensus plan about how to deal with contingency situations as well as upgrade India's security culture.

A host of institutions have been built since the 1980s when India first encountered terrorism. New agencies, special cells and commando units have come up since then. But how well do we run them, how well resourced are they and is there proper coordination among them to maximise and collate information? According to the home ministry, terrorists sneaked in from the Arabian Sea. They may have sailed past the naval headquarters to blast their way into the city. However, it took a while before the National Security Guards and naval commandos in the city were pressed into action. What explains such delay? Was it a multiplicity of commands or plain bureaucratic lethargy? The point is even in circumstances when personnel and infrastructure are available, planning and execution are shockingly poor.

Constitutional experts must put their hands together to see whether under existing laws any special, but temporary, powers can be given to the security agencies. All major political parties should be taken into confidence to see what urgent steps can be taken to prevent the nation from sinking deeper into chaos. There is a pressing need to restructure India's security architecture. A federal agency to deal with terrorism has been suggested by this newspaper and now by the PM. A coordinated effort to process information gleaned by state and central agencies should help to transform randomly collected information into actionable intelligence.

The government should immediately work on an internal security doctrine that demarcates the role of various security wings and a clear command structure to deal with terrorism. This should include contingency plans for various scenarios which lay out in advance how to respond to them. Tougher laws, in consultation with the opposition, may also be needed to control terror.

It's incumbent on all chief ministers to remain on alert and maintain calm in their states. Unnecessary repercussions from the Mumbai incidents need to be avoided at all costs. Election campaigning needs to be kept at a minimum to avoid stretching security too thin. The political class must ensure that communalism of all varieties is kept out of politics.

Besides terrorists coming in from the Arabian Sea, their looking for Americans, Britons and Israelis give the signal that the attack on Mumbai is a spillover from the larger war on terror. Al-Qaeda is, for the first time, feeling the pressure in its Pakistani sanctuaries as it is under Pakistani and American attack. But South Asian borders are notoriously porous. Al-Qaeda affiliated organisations such as Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) have struck deep roots in Bangladesh.

To tackle terror in India it is urgently necessary to stabilise Pakistan and Bangladesh. And, India should seek international help now to upgrade its own security apparatus, but also to stabilise the entire region stretching from Afghanistan to Bangladesh. There is no time to waste. 

[civil42806]

Unfortuantely it could mean an actual war between India and Pakistan.  Of course "the One" has already threatened to follow Al-Quida into the eastern provinces of Pakistan so they could just be beating us to the punch.

[BridgeTroll]

Radical muslims made Pakistan a mess well before we decided to fight the war on terror.  I do agree that the Brits should be first in line to help mediate the issue.

[Ocklawaha]

The last time we saw State sponsored terror on this scale it was the Homosexuals, Communists and Jews who would be blamed and the Reichstag was burning. After about 10 years of nonsense and murder the world rose up and took care of the problems, but it cost us 60 Million lives. Perhaps these fools don't realize it but this type of flaming is going to end in oblivion for them, their race and their religion.

OCKLAWAHA

[CMG22]

Perhaps these fools don't realize it but this type of flaming is going to end in oblivion for them, their race and their religion.

I tend to agree. I just hope that particular fate does not effectuate our own simultaneous demise...

[BridgeTroll]

The good news is muslims have shown the ability to follow a charismatic leader.  Now we/they need to find that voice in the positive rather than the negative.

[Bostech]

Which muslims?

[civil42806]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/3539171/Mumbai-attacks-Jews-tortured-before-executed-during-hostage-crisis.html

After reading this I really don't know what to say

[BridgeTroll]

Some will find a way to blame America....3...2...1...

[Bostech]

Well it's FACT that Saddam Hussein,Talibans,Al Qaida,Palestinian crisis,Crazy Iranians and tyranic Saudis are all CONNECTED to US government.

Past 30 years it was actions of US government that either created or helped create these problems.

It is like crazy doctor creating Frankeinstains all over world...well mostly areas rich with oil.

[Bostech]

By the way,link you posted sounds like a PROPAGANDA.
Seems like this "terrorist attack" was setup,probably to use it as excuse to attack Pakistan.

Read carefully text,how they are trying to make it sound so bad buy using words "torture" followed by "executed in cold blood."

Those two things don't go together...executions is quick while torture is slow and painfull.

Seems like Isreal propaganda trying to make it sound bad to fuel tenstions and use it as excuse to attack who ever they want.
Isn't also strange to Isreal forensic team to travel accross world to take care of dead people???

This whole thing is nothing but setup for future conflicts,most likely attacking Pakistan and/or Iran.
Just like we did with Iraq and Afghanistan.


I remember guy 17 years ago ,just before war in Bosnia,telling me how CIA (term used for US) will take control of Kaspian see and Afghanistan..back in those days that was area of russian influence.I thought he was crazy,just talking stupid conspiracy theories.

Well we are in 2008 and US is controling Afghanistan and Iraq.

And there is "radical islamic terrorist" that 99% of muslims around world never heard of.
Seems like every terrorist attack it is Isreal,US and rich sheiks who are BENEFITING and not muslims.

Follow the money...and interest.

[RiversideGator]

Bos:  Is there any conspiracy theory you do not fall for?

[civil42806]

River.

Is there anything youve ever been right about?  Anything at all>

Anyone looking at this operation would immediately be suspicious of these attacks.

Obviously Karl Rove and Blackwater is at work here!!   After all who ever heard of Radical Muslims commiting terrorist attacks.  Personnaly, I think the Trilateral Commision is behind it all.

[RiversideGator]

Stephen:  You must be joking.  And, do we need to revisit some of your predictions?  It would be good for laughs, I suppose.   

[BridgeTroll]

For you conspiracy folks...

http://www.daily.pk/world/asia/8385-the-international-backers-of-the-mumbai-attacks.html

The International Backers of the Mumbai Attacks       
Written by www.daily.pk     
Saturday, 29 November 2008 19:09 
Reuters states that at least 80 people have been killed and that, "An organisation calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen claimed it was behind attacks". CNN television is already stating as fact that the Mumbai attacks were funded and supported by foreign sources, implicating Pakistan where President-elect Obama promised to take the so-called "war on terrorism" when he assumes office in January. The attacks which are on-going at this moment set the stage for redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq to Pakistan as Obama promised. George W. Bush has been quick to condemn the attacks and CNN is giving round-the-clock coverage, reminiscent of corporate media coverage of the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

Linking Pakistan, Al-Queda, Muslims and Terrorism

CNN, Reuters and other corporate media immediately called these attacks with bombs, automatic weapons and hand grenades "terrorist attacks" emanating from Pakistan with roots in "Al Queda" and "Islamist Terrorists". CNN TV also states that these attacks target "western business people and well-heeled western tourists", staying at Mumbai's luxury hotels. The Deccan Herald states that the Deccan Mujahideen claimed responsibility via a convenient e-mail message received by the Deccan Herald (DC). DC states,

"The term itself (Deccan Mujahideen) is not very specific, and according to CNN may just be a generic term for radicals in the region. 'Deccan' is an area of India and 'Mujahideen' is the plural form of a term referring to a Muslim participating in a jihad."

Associated Press described the attackers,

"Teams of heavily armed gunmen stormed luxury hotels, a popular restaurant and a crowded train station in coordinated attacks across India's financial capital Wednesday night, killing at least 78 people and taking Westerners hostage, police said. A group of suspected Muslim militants claimed responsibility."

Reuters describes them, "The previously unknown or little known group sent an email to news organisations claiming responsibility." This is a familiar attribution to "terrorist attacks" which, because the organisation is "unknown", noone can prove otherwise. CNN TV states emphatically, "This is definitely an international attack using domestic terrorists". We have no doubt that the latter statement is true but the question is, "Who are those international backers of these attacks?"

International backing and support

Modern criminal investigation still rests on the Aristotile's 3 equally important causal factors: Means, Method and Motivation.

Factor analysis - Means, Method and Motivation: Powerful western media organisations reinforce their opinions with repetition, linking assaults like these with former "Islamist attacks" and another "terrorist attack". Their logic and factor analysis use (1) the weapons used, (2) the similarity of past attacks by "Al Queda" and (3) motivation. But of course they never consider the possibility, based on this same factor analysis, that the architects may be the CIA and/or Mossad.

Means: That the most powerful military machine in the world has the means to arm groups like the one who is carrying out the Mumbai attacks requires no apology or defense.

Method: History is replete with examples of U.S./Israeli use of a surrogate to attack their enemies. William John Fox pointed this out in his exemplary analysis, Deliver Us From Chaos: Ten Political Commandments. In 1953 they used domestic terrorism to overthrow Mohammad Mosaddeq, former Prime Minister of Iran. They used the Afghan Mujahideen to attack Russia in the same year of their resistance. The CIA and the U.S. ambassador secretly engineered the “Rose Revolution” in Georgia in 2003 and "the U.S. encouraged the Israeli-trained Georgian army to invade the disputed enclave of South Ossetia five years later".

Motivation: The only difference between the factors used by the capitalist media and ours is motivation. Regarding motivation, CNN states "they (Deccan Mujahideen) want to create as much damage and attention to themselves as possible". CIA/Mossad are masters at destruction, but the last thing they want is bringing attention to themselves. Motivation for the U.S. to take it's war to Pakistan fits perfectly with these attacks. As a matter of fact, Barack Obama and Joe Biden already declared their intention to take the war to Pakistan and stated with certainty that Obama's "mettle would be tested" by a major international "incident" in the near future. If the perpetrators want to draw attention to themselves, their method (i.e. killing civilians), simply does not make sense unless one buys the Bush regime's religion-based simplism that they are simply "evil". Militant's fighting for causes such as independence or national sovereignty want least of all, international negative attention or popular hatred. The only thing missing from the corporate media explanation is George W. Bush's idiotic claim that "the terrorists are jealous of our freedoms". Using this the corporate media's methodology, it is entirely reasonable and just as easy to implicate the CIA and Mossad.

Terrorism

We must also remember where the very term, "terrorism" was born in 1947 and who carried it out? - Israel. The term has been internationalised and popularised since then by the corporate media, rarely if ever pointing to its origins. Today, "terrorism" has become a household term, associated solely with Muslims throughout the world and it was developed into a basis for a war without end. The military assault on Mumbai is another a mini-9/11 in the sense that it provides a platform for juicing and expanding the "anti-terror" war under a new Obama administration which will no doubt be backed by other western governments.

Criminal Investigation

CNN tells us that the FBI has offered to help investigate the crime. The question is whether their interest is real investigation or damage control. If the FBI uses this time worn formula it could very easily end up evidence pointing to their own government. Were the FBI to "discover" CIA or Mossad involvement can any sane person expect they would reveal their findings to the public? Using "means, method and motivation" analysis, our "criminal investigation" leads to the CIA and Mossad as perpetrators of this event. L Blough