Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts

Friday, June 19, 2009

India and Maoist Rebels: Echoes of the Worker's Paradise

Just a reminder that the conflict - or conflicts - going on today are not just in the Middle East, and don't always involve Muslims with a particularly violent view if Islam:

Maoists in India

Maoist rebels in eastern India took over some villages and killed more than 10 people who supported the Indian government.

The rebels, Naxalites, say they're fighting for the rights of the poor. My guess is that the point could be disputed. As for me, I remember the 'good old days,' when workers kept trying to escape from the worker's paradise.

Somewhat-related posts: In the news:
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Not Cricket! Sri Lanka's Cricket Team Attacked in Pakistan

Sri Lanka's government is ticked off, America's President Obama is "deeply concerned," at least seven police officers are dead, and eight Sri Lankan cricketers wounded.

This time, unpleasantness in a Muslim country isn't 'the fault of the Jews.'

'India did it.'

I'm dubious, myself, but a chap with a very impressive title in Pakistan said so.

Pakistani Minister: Indian Terrorism Killed Cricketers

I'll give the Pakistani minister for Ports and Shipping credit for showing khutzpah. Where westerners might assume that the Taliban or Al Qaeda were behind this attack, Nabeel Gabol blamed India.

'Obviously,' since a bunch of terrorists (apparently) based in Pakistan hit Mumbai, India hit Pakistan. Given what seems to be the cultural norm in the Middle East, Nabeel Gabol may really believe what he said:

"A Pakistani minister blamed arch-rival India for a brazen attack on a visiting Sri Lankan cricket team in the northeastern city of Lahore on Tuesday, March 3, that killed seven people and wounding others, including five players.

" 'This is an attack on Pakistan," Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Nabeel Gabol told IslamOnline.net.

" 'There is no doubt about Indian involvement in this terrorist attack.'..." (IslamOnline.net)

Dead Cops, Wounded Cricketers, Al Qaeda, India, and the Lizard People

Pakistan's Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping may be right. Maybe someone in the Indian government went stark, raving, moonbat crazy, and ordered a hit on the Sri Lankan cricket team. Just to spite Pakistan.

Or, maybe the shape-shifting lizard people who run the world used hypnosis rays from invisible satellites to make Indian authorities commit this atrocity.

I think it's less likely that David Icke's space alien shape shifting lizard people were involved, than that the Indian government ordered the attack on cricketers. But I don't think either possibility is all that likely. And, no, I don't think the lizard people are real.

Maybe I'm being 'simplistic,' but I think it's a bit more likely that the Taliban, Al Qaeda, or some other group that really doesn't want Pakistan and India to get along, or doesn't like cricket, shot up the Sri Lankan cricket team.

Anti-Cricket Terrorists in South Asia? Ethnic Activists with Poor Judgment?

It's possible - although maybe not likely - that the people who attacked the Sri Lankan cricketers are from Sri Lanka, themselves. The Tamil Tigers (AKA Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE) want their own ethnic group to have an independent homeland. And, don't seem to care how many people they have to kill to get their way.
Digression: Getting What You Want isn't All its Cracked Up to Be
If the Sri Lankan government was run by amoral people, who had studied Machiavelli, they might give the Tamil Tigers exactly what they want. Sri Lanka isn't all that big a country to begin with, and Mullaitivu district (the colorful spot on that map of Sri Lanka) is even smaller.

Micronations don't always do so well. Survivors in Tamil territory might be willing to abandon dreams of their 14th century heyday, after a reality check.

Not that all Tamils are behind the separatists: quite a few have left Sri Lanka entirely.

Time to get back on topic.

Death to the Cricketers?! Beware Unintended Consequences

Whoever is responsible for attacking a cricket team in Pakistan, they may not like what happens next. Cricket is rather popular in south Asia, it seems: think football (soccer, for American readers) in England, Brazil, and other parts of the world.

There will be that flash of publicity, and maybe they'll reach their immediate goals.

But, I remember the Munich Olympics, 1972. 'Palestinian rights activists' killed 11 Israeli athletes and got on the international news. Huge publicity coup for them. In America, though, it was around that time that reporters stopped repeating terrorists' press releases verbatim, began using verbs like "kill" where they used to say "execute," when a Jew or other oppressor died abruptly while in the company of a terrorist - and started calling terrorists 'terrorists' more often.

All things considered, 'executing' young athletes may not have been quite as good an idea as it seemed at the time.

I think there may be a 'cricket backlash' after this little exercise in terror, with a no ball declared and the opposing side getting a free hit. But, only time will tell.

Related posts: News and views: More:
Posted by at 8 comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Lebanon, Israel, Pakistan, India, and the Lizard People

"Lizard people?!" I'll get back to that.

Reading about Israeli attacks on Lebanon and calls for restraint in the Middle East, I realized that Lebanon and Pakistan aren't all that different in one way. I'll get back to that, too.

Israel and Lebanon and Palestinians: Same Old, Same Old

"Boilerplate" is text that's used over and over, with just a few words changed from the standard phrases. There's a lot of it in legal documents - and news stories.

News from the Israeli-Lebanese border is, as far as I'm concerned, almost all boilerplate. So are the opinions, openly expressed or not. The way I see it, the international community and the press have noted that:
  • Missiles from Lebanon hit Israel
  • Israel fired back
  • Israel had better be careful
    • Lebanon, too

Lebanon and Israel

There doesn't seem to be any question that rockets were fired from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory. Whether the government of Lebanon was involved or not seems to be debatable.

Hesbollah, a terrorist organization, seems to have gotten veto power in Lebanon in May, 2008. You wouldn't think it, looking at a list of political parties and leaders in Lebanon, which includes "Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc [Mohammad Ra'ad] (includes Hizballah Party [Hassan Nasrallah]); Nasserite Popular Movement [Ussama Saad];..." (World Factbook CIA) On paper, from a distance, it looks like Hezbollah is part of one faction of the Lebanese government.

But, since Hezbollah and company are well-armed, and seem to be on the Ayatollah's 'preferred' list, there's more to their power than what's on the organizational chart. Back in May, Lebanese government leaders were given an offer they couldn't refuse. "Government leaders said they had given way on crucial provisions because they felt the alternative to an agreement was war...." (International Herald Tribune)

And, of Course, the Palestinians

Some Palestinians have an issue with Israel over who owns what land. They may even have a point. However, instead of going through a judicial process (there are international courts, remember), they prefer to settle the disputes the old-fashioned way: by killing the families and acquaintances of those they disagree with. Or, failing that, anyone who might be in the neighborhood.

As far as the international community seems care, the trouble comes when Israel's government does something effective about stopping that sort of Palestinian self-expression.

And yes: I'll admit to being biased.
  • I'm inclined to sympathize with people who accept the world of the Magna Carta and transistors, and in many cases maintain beliefs which go back thousands of years
  • I'm not so inclined to sympathize with people who made suicide bombing into a religious practice
    • Although, from a Machiavellian perspective, that '72 virgins' incentive is great marketing

Israel and the 'Great Satan America'

It's true: America is one of the few countries that supports Israel.

This failure to accept deeply-held values of the international community isn't all that surprising: America is seriously out of step with much of the rest of the world when it comes to blaming the Jews for problems. That may be part of the reason that America is so high on the list of scapegoats. Not only is this country big and successful, it has the audacity to not blame the Jews.

Someone to Blame

There seems to be a widely-felt need to have somebody to blame. Preferably, somebody who's involved in a secret conspiracy. That way, lack of evidence is evidence that the conspiracy exists.
  • "There's no evidence that lizard people are secretly controlling Wall Street and the news media."
  • "You see?! That proves it! They won't let The Truth be published!!"1
There are several benefits from blaming dark forces for your problems. It:
  • Eliminates uncertainty
    • And having to think
  • Provides someone else to blame the problems on
Life is so much easier, when analysis of issues can be replaced by blaming it all on Zionists, capitalists, or lizard-people. (October 5, 2008)

Lebanon and Pakistan: It's Not All That Simple

Some countries, like America and India, have relatively strong, secure, central governments. I'm not all that pleased with the heavy centralization that followed the War Between the States, but that's a very different issue.

The point is that the central governments of countries like India and America have some control over what happens within their borders. At the other end of the spectrum are places like Somalia, where southern zealots and northern pirates shoot it out while the central government keeps its collective head down and sends delegates to the United Nations.

Lebanon and Pakistan aren't as badly off as Somalia, but they're not in the same league as India and America.

Lebanon's Balancing Act

Lebanon's big civil war, 1975-1990, is something that most Lebanese probably don't want to repeat. Since then, the country has had elections, which is nice; and Hezbollah (Hizbollah, whatever) maintained its armed militia, which isn't so nice. Meanwhile, Syria hasn't blown up a major Lebanese official for a while: which is good news.

Back in 2006, Israel attacked Hezbollah positions in Lebanese territory: including some in Beirut. I can't say that I blame Lebanese people for resenting that: but it would have been nice if the Lebanese government would have done a little more to discourage Hezbollah from killing Jews.

I can't fault the elected government, in a way:
  • Hezbollah's political arm is an established part of the civilian government, and its military can lean on the central government if necessary
  • I doubt that Syria has given up interest in controlling Lebanon's government
    • And even if it had, Lebanese leaders might be hesitant about defying Syria's preferences - and making themselves a target
On the other hand, I can see why Israel has been a bit 'unrestrained' in doing a job that Lebanon's own government can't - or won't - do.

Pakistan, LeT, and the ISI

Details are different in Pakistan, but the general situation is much the same. The civilian government doesn't control the tribal areas of the country, military leaders seem to have independent ideas about foreign policy, and Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI, is financially independent of the civilian government - and the 'state within a state' doesn't seem interested in the civilian government's wishes, either. Actually, the ISI seems to be a real-world version of what the silly side of American liberalism thinks the CIA is: an independent entity, operating in the shadows, with its own agenda and minimal allegiance to the country that spawned it.

So, we've had
  • A Pakistani leader give orders to shoot coalition soldiers if they follow terrorists into what the map says is Pakistani territory
  • Indian officials insisting that the Pakistani government - or at least part of it - is responsible for the Mumbai attack
  • A Pakistani official making disparaging remarks about documentation from India
Pakistan's prime minister said: " 'All that has been received from India is some information. I say information because these are not evidence,' Yousuf Raza Gilani told Parliament late Tuesday, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan." (International Herald Tribune) In English, that's a rather fine distinction: but I suppose it may be a valid point from a judicial point of view.

Just the same, I don't buy the Pakistani insistence that no Pakistani government agencies were involved in the Mumbai attack.

And, I think that Indian officials should remember that the civilian government of Pakistan doesn't seem to have much say in what the ISI does.

I hope that Pakistan's civilian government can find a way to get control of its own agencies, and its country, before India's government decides to get at the Mumbai perpetrators the hard way. It's not because I'm an American and that (presumably) America is shielding Pakistan.

Pakistan has nuclear weapons. And, apparently, nut jobs who might use them. India has nuclear weapons, too. A regional nuclear war is something that, in my opinion, the world doesn't need right now.

Encouraging India to hold off attacking Pakistan isn't just 'shielding Pakistan.' It's shielding India, and everybody who lives downwind.

Forget Blaming the Jews and the Lizard People

Military force is sometimes necessary: but in the case of Pakistan, I hope that the civilian leaders can be forced to defy their own spies, generals, and tribal leaders: and start acting like a civilized country.

More-or-less related posts: In the news: Background: Related posts, on tolerance, bigotry, racism, and hatred.
1To be fair, one of the more mainstream 'lizard people' assertions does not focus on Wall Street and the news media.

In a much more inclusive, international, global, spirit, David Icke has steadfastly held that key people around the world are really space alien shape shifting lizard people: like George W. Bush and the British royals. I haven't discovered whether President-Elect Obama is one of Them or not.
Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

India, Mumbai, and the Pakistan Connection: Following Facts

I've gotten the impression that quite a few Indians are convinced that America is shielding Pakistan from the India's righteous wrath over the Mumbai attack. After all, it's been (just) over a month since terrorists killed people and set fire to buildings in Mumbai.

"Obviously," it was the work of Pakistan's LeT: and Pakistan must be punished.

Equally "obviously," it was the work of Hindu terrorists, bent on disrupting upcoming elections and/or deflecting attention from their own naughtiness. That point of view doesn't seem as common, though.

If the American government had not gotten involved in the investigation of the Mumbai attack, that would have been proof of America's apathy: or that America was shielding Pakistan. Or Hindu terrorists.

As it is, America is presumably guilty of dragging its feet over admitting the obvious guilt of Pakistan:
"It was meant to be a swift and airtight investigative effort after India opened all doors of cooperation with US investigators. As it turns out, a convinced US did ask Pakistan for access to Lashkar-e-Toiba operations chief Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and communications in-charge Zarar Shah but has heard nothing positive on the request, leaving India frustrated and disappointed."
(indianexpress.com)

India, Mumbai, Pakistan: 'My Mind is Made Up, Don't Confuse Me With the Facts'

After the 9/11 attacks, it was 'obvious' that Saudi Arabia was involved:
  • By the afternoon of September 11, 2001, there were strong indications that "Saudi militant Osama bin Laden" was behind the attack
  • Lots of Saudi Nationals left America, after
    • National airspace re-opened on September 13, 2001
    • Being checked by the FBI
  • All but four of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia
    • At least, they had the names of Saudi nationals
Evidence didn't show that the House of Saud was involved, although bizarre pronouncements by Saudi clerics - some of them high-ranking officials - make suspicion of Saudi involvement plausible.
Suspicions Aren't Facts
It's one thing to suspect that Hindu fanatics set fire to the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai and killed a key government official. Proving it is another matter.

In fact, testimony by the surviving terrorist, a telephone number stored in a cell phone's memory, and other evidence, points to Pakistani territory, and the LeT. Not Hindu extremists.

Pakistan, the LeT, ISI, and a Reality Check

India is, in my opinion, a stable democracy. Pakistan is not. There's a civilian government in Pakistan that might eventually succeed in getting control of the country's military, and the territories now run by tribal leaders. I think the odds are good that, with some help, a Pakistani civilian government might cut off the ISI's independent sources of revenue and bring that intelligence agency under civilian control.

But right now, there are quite a few different 'Pakistans' - the one presumably controlled by the elected civilian government, the one that the military runs, and the ISI - that's been described as a "state within a state."

American investigators got communications intercepts - and a confession from Zarar Shah, a top LeT leader - that may prove LeT involvement in the Mumbai attack. Americans turned evidence over to Pakistani authorities, and the American government is leaning on Pakistan's to cooperate with Indian authorities.
Trusting Feelings vs. Following Evidence
I'm sure it's not as emotionally satisfying to some as nuking Islamabad would be: but America doesn't work that way. Even the "unilateral" invasion of Iraq was based on evidence that clearly indicated a WMD program. The equipment and weapons haven't been found. They may not exist, or they may have been hidden. There's a fair amount of undeveloped, open, landin Iraq.

The coalition could have waited to see what cities Saddam Hussein destroyed first, but they decided to act. It may have been just as well. Very few Iraqis miss Hussein's rule, apart from a minority who benefited from it. And, apparently, one shoe-throwing reporter.

I can understand feeling deeply in one's heart, that Pakistan - the whole country - is responsible for the Mumbai attacks. But feelings aren't facts.

Even if India did decide to attack Pakistan, and the conflict ended in a regional nuclear war: wouldn't it be nice if the decision to devastate two countries was based on something besides somebody's feelings?

Better yet, wouldn't it be nice if India's government behave like the stable democracy it is, and be willing to allow a serious investigation to run its course?

Happily, that's what seems to be happening.

India and Minorities: Some Good May Come from Mumbai's Loss

Judging from an op-ed piece, some Indians are considering the possibility that India's policies - official and otherwise - toward minorities may not be ideal.

As long as this introspection doesn't descend into the simple abuse that some of America's 'serious thinkers' indulge in, I think that India's people and government might benefit from a serious and practical look at how people who aren't part of the majority's ethnic, religious, and cultural pattern are treated.

What terrorists did in Mumbai was wrong. But that doesn't mean that India's government shouldn't let evidence and reason guide its decisions. I think there's even a chance that Pakistan's civilian government might learn that terrorists within its borders can't be tolerated - and get more practical control of the territory it's supposed to have.

Related posts: News and views:
Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Pakistan, India, Mumbai, Nuclear Weapons, and Pashtunistan: Simple This Isn't

Pakistan is massing troops near its border with India: presumably to keep India from invading. Pakistan's leaders: civilian, military, and otherwise, have some reason to worry. India has very good reason to believe that LeT, a terrorist group that's based in Pakistani territory, planned the attack on Mumbai. And Pakistan hasn't been jumping through hoops as fast as some Indian leaders would like.

Don't get me wrong: I'm not 'for' Pakistan or 'against' India. I think India is a stable democracy, and that Pakistan is a mess.

Pakistan: It's Better Off than Somalia

There are places that are in worse shape than Pakistan: Somalia, for example, where pirates in the north and religious fanatics in the south are making the alleged government in Mogadishu look really bad.

All the same, Pakistan has a long way to go, before a sensible person could call it a stable country.

From what I've seen:
  • Pakistan has a civilian government that is, just barely, able to control parts of the major cities, most of the time
  • Pakistan's military isn't quite under the control of the civilian government
  • And neither of them have much to say about what the ISI does
The ISI is Pakistan's own Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, or Inter-Services Intelligence. The ISI is a pretty close match to the die-hard American liberals' view of the CIA: a state within a state, answerable only to itself, and financially independent of the civilian government and the military.

It's quite possible that the ISI supports the LeT, a terrorist group based in Pakistani territory. The LeT was almost certainly responsible for the Mumbai attack.

India, Mumbai, LeT, and Pakistan: Crazy Talk and Common Sense

There's been crazy talk on both sides, blaming the Mumbai attack on Hindu Zionists and/or Hindu terrorists bent on disrupting investigations of their activities (I'm not making this up).

And yes, there are Hindu terrorists. We don't hear about them in America all that much, since their focus seems to be driving Muslims out of India - for now. I make the point from time to time that the War on Terror isn't limited to Islamic crazies, or to the Middle East.

Indian leaders must feel the urge to something, anything, to make it look like they're 'really doing something' about the Mumbai attack. A calm, methodical, serious investigation into a case of international terrorism isn't all that exciting. And the diplomatic process of getting another country to hand over its citizens to a (possibly revenge-crazed) judicial system is even more boring.

When one of the countries involved is Pakistan's patchwork of tribal leaders, an elected government, a military that's used to running things, and a rogue intelligence agency, progress is even more plodding.

I could understand it, if Indian leaders decided to make themselves look good (in the short run) by invading Pakistan. It would be stupid, but that hasn't stopped national leaders in the past.

Pakistan's recent troop movements might be a belligerent gesture: or a sensible response to a potential, but very real, threat.

On top of everything else - Pakistan and India both have nuclear weapons. Cheerful thought. Those two countries blasting away at each other with A-bombs isn't what the world needs.

India, Pakistan, LeT and ISI: Beware Unintended Consequences

My take on the situation is that the civilian government in Pakistan has little to no control over the tribal areas of the territory, and that they're involved in a turf war with LeT, the Taliban, and assorted terrorists, over who gets to control what parts of the land between Afghanistan and India. And that India is, by threatening military action against the civilian government, inadvertently helping the wrong side.

Pashtunistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan

A Reuters op-ed piece pointed out that Afghanistan might bring up the idea of creating Pashtunistan, if Pakistan keeps having trouble sorting itself out.

Pashtunistan sounds like a noble idea: re-uniting the Pashtuns, whose homeland was divided in 1893 by the Durand Line. The 1947 remake of international borders left the new country of Pakistan with the British-made Durand Line - something that Afghanistan's leaders don't particularly like.

Afghanistan has pushed for Pashtunistan, a true homeland for a divided people - and, I suspect, controlled by Afghanistan.

It might work, but I can see how some Pakistanis might not like the idea.

The reason I brought up Pashtunistan is that many parts of the world, including the 'Stans,' are still recovering from the enthusiastically clueless nation-building of the treaty of Versailles. Although I think that having a Kurdistan and Pashtunistan sounds like a good idea, I also think that it's best to take America's approach with Iraq: treating national leaders with respect, and offering help while they set up stable countries, instead of telling them how to do it.

News and views: Background:
Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Friday, December 19, 2008

Mediterranean Internet Cables Accident-Prone?

Three Internet cables snapped in the week spanning the end of January and the first of February this year. Two were in the Mediterranean, near Egypt, the other was in the Persian Gulf.

This week, the trouble is about a thousand miles west of Alexandria, where January's first break happened. (8.3 kilometers from Alexandria, to be exact.)

There's been another cable break. Three, actually. Between Sicily and Tunisia. Europe, the Middle East and Asia are having trouble communicating with each other. There's still no word on what severed the cables.

A France Telecom spokesman said that whatever it was, it probably wasn't an attack.

When the January/February accident cluster happened, I wrote: "If a fourth, or fifth, or sixth cable gets cut in the next few days, I'll start re-evaluating my 'cluster of accidents' opinion."

This is way beyond "the next few days," so I don't have to re-evaluate.

Sicily


View Larger Map

Quite a few people have been offline:
  • India lost 65% of traffic
  • Qatar and Djibouti, on the Gulf of Aden lost 70% of traffic
  • Maldives Indian Ocean islands lost 100% of their traffic
Other countries with severe outages:
  • Singapore
  • Malaysia
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Egypt
  • Taiwan
  • Pakistan
    (AFP)
Today's three-way break shows how sensitive - and flexible - the global communications network is. Quite a bit of traffic between Europe and Asia was re-routed through America, reducing the impact.

So, do I think this is some kinda plot? No. Although I'm a little impressed at France Telecom's statement: "The causes of the cut, which is located in the Mediterranean between Sicily and Tunisia, on sections linking Sicily to Egypt, remain unclear," followed closely by the assurance that it wasn't an attack.

I could imagine the scene in a movie: a massive communications blackout happens. The company spokesman comes on camera and says, "we don't know what happened, but we're sure it wasn't an attack." In a movie, that would a clue to the audience that it was an attack.

This is the real world, so it's possible that broken undersea cables in the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf are accidents - the sort of thing that happens where there's a lot of traffic.

I'm getting increasingly interested in the growing number of coincidences, though.

Cut cables, earlier this year:
  • Wednesday, January 30, 2008 -
    Egypt undersea communications cables cut
  • Friday, February 1, 2008 -
    Persian Gulf undersea cable cut
    (International Herald Tribune (February 1, 2008), BBC (February 4, 2008))
Related post: In the news:
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

India, Pakistan, and the Mumbai Attack: Good News, Bad News

Good news and bad news from India and Pakistan:
  • Good news
    Pakistan has arrested over a dozen people allegedly involved in the Mumbai attack
  • Bad news (from India's point of view)
    Pakistan won't turn the suspects over to India
Pakistan's government - the civilian one - says that they'll be tried for murder under Pakistani law. I can see the Pakistani point of view here.

It's hard not to get the idea that India's judicial system might act like a familiar character from American westerns. The one who says, "we do things legal here: we'll give you a fair trial, and then hang you."

There's been crazy talk on both sides ("Mumbai, India's 9/11: Good News, Bad News, Conspiracy Theories, and a Little Common Sense" (December 2, 2008)), and some of it came from Indian officials.

It also looks like Pakistan's civilian government has also realized that letting terrorist groups use its territory as bases of operation isn't a good idea. Although the recent raids might be more about publicity than policy.

In the news:
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Mumbai, India, Pakistan and a Breath of Common Sense

One article started,
"The Pakistani High Commissioner in London, Wajid Shamsul Hassan, says India was ready to launch a military strike on Pakistan in retaliation for the Mumbai terror attacks, Sky News reported.

"Hassan said British and American officials had to intervene to prevent India from carrying out an attack.

" 'On the day of the Mumbai attacks, I got some information in London that India was going to act very drastically against Pakistan in retaliation to what happened,' Hassan told Sky News...."
(FOXNews (December 7, 2008))
In addition to a serious investigation, there's a whole lot of finger-pointing going on. For the convenience of those who prefer not to read the news in detail, here's how I'd sum the situation up:
  • Investigators:
    We don't have all the answers yet
  • (Some) Indian leaders:
    Pakistan did it!!
  • (Some) Pakistani leaders:
    Did not!!
  • British and American diplomats:
    Don't start shooting
I'm pretty sure that some people will see this as America protecting the nasty Pakistanis because they're friends.

I'm inclined to think that it's a case of British and American officials helping to stop a (worse) shooting war in and around Kashmir - which both India and Pakistan want a piece of, or preferably the whole thing.

In the news:
Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Another Blogger, Another View: A Kashmiri Pandit Writes

I was shown an interesting blog today: Kashmir the war of Mind and Brains.

It's written by a "KP( kashmiri pandit)" who was displaced by Islamic terrorists - and has no great reason to love the Pakistani army, either. Particularly considering his background, the posts I've read are rather calm.

They're also quite long: this is no 'sound bite' blog.

I don't know if this blog is focused enough on the War on Terror to warrant inclusion in the blogroll: But I don't want to lose track of it.

Besides, the author adds a very 'inside' look at today's India-Pakistan situation.
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Mumbai Attack Investigators Have Lashkar e Taiba Leader's Number: Literally

Lashkar e Taiba senior leader Yusuf Muzammil and four other Lashkar leaders were behind the Mumbai attack. The terrorists left a satellite phone on a fishing trawler they'd hijacked. Those phones don't just receive and transmit data: they store it. Including phone numbers.

If the terrorists were trying to cover their tracks, this was a big mistake.

Lashkar e Taiba, LeT, Lashkar-e-Taiba: The All Spell Trouble

I've written about Lashkar e Taiba before. (If that's not the way you spell it in English, I'm not surprised: It's spelled quite a few different ways, with and without hyphens. Just to make things more interesting, it's sometimes called LeT.)

Lashkar e Taiba isn't a nice outfit. It's
  • On the American State Department's list of terrorist organizations
  • Supported by Al Qaeda
  • Financed by
    • Pakistani communities in the United Kingdom and the Persian Gulf region
    • Islamic Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
  • Been banned in Pakistan since 2002
It's still operating in Pakistan, though. As I understand the situation, Pakistan's civilian government banned Lashkar e Taiba in 2002 after the American government leaned on them. But, since Pakistan's civilian government isn't all that effective, LeT didn't have to pay too much attention.

Besides, Pakistan's ISI (Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence) is a real-world analog to what some fringe liberals, conservatives, and conspiracy theorists think the CIA is: a rogue intelligence agency, acting as a state within a state, with it's own sources of revenue and limited interest in what Pakistan's government and military want. There's a pretty good writeup on LeT at GlobalSecurity.org.

Making things more complicated, Lashkar e Taiba wants India out of Kashmir. So it's very easy to assume that Pakistan's leaders, official and otherwise, haven't been too interested in controlling the LeT.

But, since LeT's goal is to kick India out of Kashmir, there's the suspicion that Pakistan's government, that wants Kashmir, pretends it doesn't notice LeT installations in Pakistan.

Pakistan's Government Caught Between Islamic Groups, India, and America

I wouldn't want to be where Pakistan's civilian leaders are right now: India's sent them a list of about 20 people, including Yusuf Muzammil. India wants them delivered to India.

Pakistan's government is saying that they'll cooperate after they've studied the list, and determined if there's evidence against the people. Which is as it should be. Due process is a good way of avoiding stupid mistakes.

However, if Pakistan doesn't hand over the (alleged) terrorists, India won't be happy. Neither will America. America's government has said that Pakistan's leaders should play nice. That's a paraphrase, of course. (The Hindu (December 3, 2008))
On One Side: America and India
I doubt that Pakistan's rational leaders want another showdown with India. They've been trying to patch up relations with India, and could profit from trade - and from giving the appearance of being a responsible nation.

I think that some have the impression that America is shielding Pakistan's leaders, and so indirectly responsible for the Mumbai attack. A comment in a BlogCatalog discussion thread read (in part) "...The problem is people in power their are actually supporting the terrorism behind the curtain.And Pakistan is friend of U.S. in war against terrorism...." I can understand the argument: but I'm not at all sure that I agree. Particularly after one of its leaders gave orders to shoot Americans if they tried to deal with terrorists inside Pakistan. When America didn't respond well to that threat, Pakistan's government said that the order hadn't been given, and that nobody issued it.

The point is that, although Pakistan is a "friend" of America, so is India. And, unlike Pakistan, India is a stable democracy.
On the Other Side: Islamic Groups
A Wall Street Journal article pointed out that many Islamic groups wouldn't be happy if Pakistan's civilian government crossed the ISI and handed terrorists over to India.

As a Pakistan Leader Who Wants to Live, It's a Hard Choice

I can't envy whoever is deciding whether or not to cooperate with India's request (demand?).

On the one hand, India has a legitimate grievance with these people, and legal reasons for wanting them. And, America has made it clear that terrorists shouldn't be shielded.

Give terrorists safe haven, and Pakistan will look bad.

On the other hand, these terrorists have been 'defending Islam' against a Hindu nation. Not all Islamic groups do things the old-fashioned way, but some have established a reputation for killing people whose actions they don't approve of. Or, killing the families of those responsible. Sometimes both.

Even the most selfless public servant couldn't ignore that sort of persuasion.

Related posts: In the news:
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Mumbai, India's 9/11: Good News, Bad News, Conspiracy Theories, and a Little Common Sense

There's a distinctive name for "India's 9/11" now: 26/11.

I read it in a few places today, including an article on a really imaginative take on the attack on Mumbai: "Pak TV channel says 26/11 hatched by Hindu Zionists" (Times of India (December 2, 2008)).

"Hindu Zionists?!" I'll get back to that.

Mumbai and Business as Usual: Good and Bad

Mumbai has something in common with New York City, besides being a national economic hub and target of a major terror attack: People in both cities are in the business of doing business.1
Business as Usual in Mumbai: 'the Light Side'
After last week's attack, Mumbai's people are picking up the pieces and getting their city running again. The physical damage in Mumbai doesn't seem to be as bad as New York's World Trade Center's destruction, but it's still bad.

For example, from what's gotten into the news, Mumbai's landmark Taj Mahal hotel may have to be scrapped, or go through major reconstruction. (My guess is that, considering how valuable it is symbolically, and as a draw for visitors, the Taj Mahal hotel will be rebuilt.)
Business as Usual in Mumbai, and India: 'the dark side'
It's painfully obvious that something went wrong in Mumbai.

So, the blame game has started: And the usual 'not me' responses.

The Mumbai police chief says he wasn't warned about an impending attack. The New Delhi government says they gave a warning, after being told by American intelligence. (My guess is that America will be blamed for the attack and/or the lack of preparation soon: if that hasn't happened already.)

It's always a good idea to review an event, and learn from it: what went wrong, and what went right.

Some of what's happening in India seems to be more a matter of trying to shift blame, than improve the system. And the crackpots are having their say.

After the Mumbai Attack: 28/11, rumors, and conspiracy theories

Over in Pakistan, a sort of tabloid television network aired an interview that revealed 'Hindu Zionists,' 'Western Zionists,' and the Mossad as being behind the Mumbai attacks. I think that's crazy: but a dedicated conspiracy theorist would assume that's what "They" want me to think. (Times of India (December 2, 2008))

India has hatched a few imaginative stories, too. One rumor in Mumbai was that Hindu extremists staged the attack to derail investigations of their terror ties. That practically made sense: one of the early reported deaths was the head of India's antiterror squad, Hemant Karkare.

And, reminding me of some of the wilder accusations made from America's 2000 'hanging chads' presidential election, another rumor had it that the whole attack was a plot to distract people from an upcoming election. (Time (December 2, 2008))

Mumbai: It Could Have Been a Lot Worse

With due respect paid to the terrible loss of human life in Mumbai last week, it could have been a lot worse.

Although numbers bounce around for one reason or another, it's beginning to look like around 180 people were killed in the Mumbai attack. For each family affected, the numbers don't matter so much: but that's less than a tenth the number killed in New York City, eight years ago.

And, just as America's government and people had to take a serious look at how they were dealing with threats from terrorists, India now has an opportunity to learn what worked, and what needs to be changed.

One thing that stands out is the matter of letting law enforcement know that there's trouble coming. I have no idea what happened, but it looks like somewhere along the line someone who should have paid attention and done their job, didn't.

Then there's the matter of equipping the police.

One news story described "a couple of local police cowering behind pillars as the attackers approach...." (CNN (December 2, 2008)) To the author's credit, the article does explain that Indian police aren't armed.

England had unarmed police for quite a while. I think it was a great tribute to British culture of the period: and something that I'd never recommend. If the police can't be trusted with weapons, they shouldn't be in that job.

Another article described a system of inadequate equipment and pay which made career in police work a path to sainthood or corruption. There may be a good reason for paying police officers about as much as unskilled municipal workers. On the other hand, it isn't a good idea to give the police a choice between not eating during their shift, or shaking down street vendors. (BBC (December 2, 2008))

A Little Common Sense

After the knee-jerk 'Pakistan did it' reactions, Indian officials seem to be getting a bit more careful about what they say.

Odds are very good, given the evidence, that the attack was planned and staged in Pakistan. That doesn't mean that Pakistan's civilian government is behind the attack. Let's face it: Pakistan doesn't have a very stable government, the civilian government doesn't have control of the outlying regions of the country - probably doesn't have very tight control of the military, and almost certainly have no control over Pakistan's intelligence agency.

Who knows? This situation might be what it takes for Pakistan's civilian government to start acting like a government, and not one faction in a fractured nation.

News and views: News Resource:
1 There's a very good chance that one reason Mumbai was chosen was its very successful economic life. Whether they're American sixties radicals or Islamic zealots, people who react violently to the realities of today's world seem to have one thing in common: they hate business, and people who do business.
Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels: , , ,

Monday, December 1, 2008

Mumbai, Terrorists in India, and Opinions

Experts are coming out of the woodwork, with opinions and ideas about the Mumbai attack last week.

I ran into a couple of articles today, and thought I'd share them:
  • "Terror Groups in India"
    Washington Post (December 1, 2008)
    • A quick look at
      • Naxalites
      • Lashkar-e-Taiba (their spelling)
      • Student Islamic Movement of India
      • Some other aspects of Indian terrorism
      Looks like a pretty good starting point for someone trying to sort out what's happening.
  • "Balance of Opinion: Identifying the enemy in Mumbai"
    Dallas News (December 1, 2008)
    • A short discussion of radical Islam in the world, and what the terrorists being from Pakistan would - and wouldn't - mean.
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

No Burial in India for Terrorists: Muslim Group's Gutsy Stand

Considering Muslim beliefs about prompt burial, this can't have been easy: The Muslim Council (Mumbai's, apparently, although it might be one with a national scope) has said that the nine dead terrorists from last week's attack shouldn't be buried on Indian soil.

Apparently, the idea is to send the message that terrorism isn't Islam and isn't tolerated.

I rather see their point, and admire their courage.

Yes, of course: India is a predominantly Hindu country, and the Muslim Council's action could be seen as coerced by an oppressive majority. But, 'defenders' of Islam have been known to kill people they don't approve of: and that's a sort of coercion, too.

In the news: Related posts, on Islam, Christianity, Religion, Culture and the War on Terror.
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Ten Mumbai Terrorists and Fifteen Toothbrushes: Disturbing Numbers

Ten terrorists: That's the official number. Nine dead, one captured.

Now, fifteen jackets and fifteen toothbrushes show up in a boat that the terrorists hijacked on their way to Mumbai.

No 'rocket science' involved here: it looks like there may be five more terrorists on the loose in India. Maybe more.

This is not going to be one of India's most tranquil days.

In the news:
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Mumbai, 9/11, Lashkar e Taiba, Al Qaeda, and Lessons (Not?) Learned

It's already tomorrow (December 1, 2008) in India. Mumbai is cleaning up after a terrible attack. The death toll is heading in the direction of 200. The last I heard, bodies were still being carried out of the Taj Mahal hotel.

Right now, it looks like either a group based in Pakistan, or Al Qaeda, are responsible. Maybe both.

Or, maybe neither. I'd say it's too early to tell.

I think Indian government officials could learn from what American authorities experienced, while investigating what happened in the 9/11 attack: and who was responsible.

Indian Investigators Sorting Out Evidence

The surviving terrorist said that he had been told to 'kill until the last breath'. (MailOnline (November 30, 2008)) Indian authorities say his name is Azam Amir Kasab, that he's 21, and from Pakistan.


(from MailOnline, used without permission)
Mighty Muslim? Holy Hindu? Patriotic Pakistani?
Bottom line: He's alive, lots of others are dead.

I sincerely wish that more of the ten terrorists in the Mumbai attack were still alive. Partly because I value life, partly because survivors are generally more informative than corpses.

Mumbai, Blame, India, and Pakistan

International diplomacy is proceeding normally: India says that the terrorists came from Pakistan; Pakistan's leaders say 'we didn't do it!' And, that Pakistan may move troops from the Afghanistan border to the Indian border.

Which may be a good thing. That way, coalition forces may only have Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and local sympathizers shooting at them. Pakistani forces may or may not have been ordered to shoot Americans trying to deal with terrorists in the wrong places.

I don't blame Pakistan's leaders for being a bit touchy on the subject of providing a base of operations for whoever killed over ten dozen people in Mumbai. Between differences of opinion about whether or not Pakistani troops have been ordered to shoot American soldiers who are trying to protect Pakistan, and the odd coincidences surrounding Benazir Bhutto's assassination, I get the impression that Pakistan is somewhere between India and Somalia in terms of having a stable, competent, government.

Why Blame Pakistan or Al Qaeda?

It's not that there aren't non-Islamic terrorists.

Hindu terrorists (or activists, or whatever) tend to tear down mosques or burn people. (Remember the Babri Mosque, back in 1992?); or the missionary flambe incident in 1999?)

Forming mobs or planting bombs seems to be their style: not putting together a well-planned military operation like the Mumbai incident.

Members of India's many ethnic minorities who think that their people should have their very own little independent territory, and that it's okay to kill other people to get what they want. (India isn't the only country with terrorists within its borders. America's Timothy McVeigh wasn't the only person in the country willing to kill those don't have the 'right' ethnicity and/or beliefs.)

But India's separatists, like the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, don't seem quite up to planning and executing the recent attack on Mumbai. (The NSCN., or National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Khaplang-Kitovi), or Isak-Muivah, or KK, says it isn't a separatist movement: that the territory it wants was never part of India. I give them points for ingenuity, if nothing else.)

All of which narrows the field.

Pakistan's military or intelligence organizations might have mounted the attack: Pakistan and India both want Kashmir. Besides, Pakistan is a predominantly Muslim country, India is predominantly Hindu: It's easy to assume that Pakistan's government is behind the attack.

Maybe they were.

But the attack is very much Al Qaeda's style:
  • Big
  • Well-planned
  • Indiscriminately lethal
  • Very high-profile
It's quite easy to assume that Al Qaeda is responsible.

LeT, Lashkar e Taiba, Lashkar e-Tayyiba: Trouble, No Matter How It's Spelled

It may not be Al Qaeda, though. The one surviving terrorist says that he's with Lashkar e Taiba, or LeT.

LeT is a group that operates in Pakistan. And, as is often the case, has a name that's spelled quite a few different ways in English:
  • LeT
  • Lashkar-e-Taiba
  • Lashkar e-Tayyiba
Just to make things more interesting, Lashkar e Taiba is also called
  • LT
  • Jamaat ud-Dawa and Al Monsooreen
  • Lashkar e-Toiba1, Lashkar-i-Taiba
  • Paasban-e-Ahle-Hadis
  • Paasban-e-Kashmir
  • Paasban-i-Ahle-Hadith
  • Pasban-e-Kashmir
No matter how it's spelled, or what it's called, the group is trouble. This "Army of the Pure and Righteous" is on the American State Department's list of terrorist organizations; is supported by Al Qaeda; gets money from Pakistani communities in the United Kingdom and the Persian Gulf region, and from Islamic Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). It's been banned in Pakistan since 2002.

But, since LeT's goal is to kick India out of Kashmir, there's the suspicion that Pakistan's government, that wants Kashmir, pretends it doesn't notice LeT installations in Pakistan.

In fact, in India at least, it's assumed that "the LeT has been a 100% owned subsidiary of the ISI's anti-India operations." (Times of India, December 1, 2008) (ISI stands for Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, or Inter-Services Intelligence. (thefreedictionary.com))

Unlike Al Qaeda, LeT tends to use heavy infantry, not suicide bombers.

Since the attack on Mumbai was essentially an infantry operation, and since there don't seem to be reports of beheadings, this looks like it might not be an Al Qaeda operation. And, that it might be something Lashkar e Taiba planned.

And, the survivor says that he and the others were trained by LeT. Of course, he could be lying.

Even if Lashkar e Taiba is responsible for the attacks, that doesn't mean that Pakistan's current government - the one that got elected after Bhuto was assassinated - is behind the Mumbai massacre. LeT probably is supported by, or politely ignored by, the ISI, but the civilian government doesn't control the ISI, and neither does Pakistan's military. "The ISI has become a state within a state, answerable neither to the leadership of the army, nor to the President or the Prime Minister." (globalsecurity.org) Sounds like the ISI is like the die-hard American liberal's view of the CIA.

Mumbai and 9/11: Something to be Learned

It could be that 'the usual suspects' are behind the latest Mumbai attack. Or, some group other than Lashkar e Taiba or Al Qaeda may be to blame.

It's too early to tell.

The last I heard, Indian authorities were still taking bodies out of the Taj Mahal hotel. The last terrorists were killed this weekend. It looks like this attack took a year to plan: it will probably take a few days, at least, to put all the pieces together.

Let's remember the 9/11 attack, and the days following it.
  • By the afternoon of September 11, 2001, there were strong indications that "Saudi militant Osama bin Laden" was behind the attack
  • Lots of Saudi Nationals left America, after
    • National airspace re-opened on September 13, 2001
    • Being checked by the FBI
  • All but four of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia
    • At least, they had the names of Saudi nationals
Apparently, though, the Saudi government didn't have anything to do with the 9/11 attack. Although, considering the antics of Saudi clerics - some of them in official positions - it's still easy enough to imagine Saudi involvement.

But, imagination and reality aren't the same thing.

Related posts: News and views: Background:
Posted by at 5 comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,

Friday, November 28, 2008

'India's 9/11' - Who Did It?

I've heard the attack on Mumbai called 'India's 9/11.' It's a reasonable comparison: Mumbai is enormously important to India's economy, and is a major port city, just like New York City. And, the attack on Mumbai earlier this week was a large-scale operation, like the 9/11 attacks on America.

Thankfully, it looks like the Mumbai attack has killed less than a tenth as many people as 9/11.

The last I saw, part of the Taj Mahal hotel was still on fire, and two or three terrorists are still inside.

Over at the Chabad house, the killing is over. The terrorists missed a two-year-old boy, thanks to a quick-thinking cook, but got most of the rest of the Jews.

Enter the Experts

Experts are proclaiming that this is obviously the work of the Pakistani military, or Al Qaeda, or some other outfit. At least one of them is likely to be right.

I agree with those who say that the scale and organization of this suggests Al Qaeda, as it was when it hit America back on 9/11. But, at this point it might be any bunch that could plan and coordinate an attack like this.

Related posts: In the news:
Posted by at 3 comments:
Labels: , , ,

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Why Attack Mumbai? And, Why the Taj Mahal Hotel?

I'm no expert, but I figured that terrorists hit Mumbai because it's India's analog to New York City. Or, New York City is America's Mumbai. It depends on how you look at it.

Both cities are vital economic centers, with lots of foreigners around. Wealthy foreigners.

Kill people and set fire to buildings there, and you're in the international news.

Looks like the experts agree with me. Well, one expert. Actually, it's an opinion piece in the Daily Telegraph, over in the U.K.

Here's what Peter Foster said:

"By choosing to attack Bombay's most opulent and iconic hotel, the Islamist terrorists have sent a powerful message to India's leaders, foreign investors and tourists as well as the country's new economic elite...."

Mr. Foster has quite a bit more to say, including:

"... Legend has it that its creator, a Parsi industrialist called Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, commissioned the building after being refused entry to the now-defunct Apollo Hotel, which had a strict Europeans-only policy.

"However with its colonnades of shops stuffed with the world's most expensive brands, what Bombay's rich set consider the ultimate in cosmopolitan luxury, would equally be perceived by Islamist ideologues as a symbol of Western decadence...."

"Western decadence?" Maybe: but it's also an opportunity for locals to cash in on the spending habits of foreigners whose pockets hold cash undergoing spontaneous combustion.

How 'Un-Islamic' Can You Get?!

Assuming that it really is Islamic terrorists who are running this operation, those two hotels are natural targets: places where women run around without a burqa, and may even spend their own money and drive cars (shocking!).

Then, there's the matter of alcohol. The Al Qaeda end of Islam has more in common than they may think with some of the more stiffly starched American Protestants: Both outfits seem convinced that alcohol is bad. Period.

The Deccan Mujahideen Did This, Right?

Maybe. Somebody claiming to represent the group seems to have said so. But, some 'experts' don't believe it. I can see their point. The Mumbai attack was a huge operation, very well planned and executed. The Deccan Mujahideen wasn't known (UPDATE November 29, 2008) before yesterday. You'd think that an outfit capable of killing so many people, and knowing where the elevators are, would have been on the radar.

Who and what killed well upwards of a hundred people in Mumbai will probably be discussed for quite a while. My guess is that the organization is on the same page with Al Qaeda.

Not because I think that all terrorists are Muslims.

India has a huge Hindu majority. This attack seems aimed at Indian interests. A few Hindus in India have blown up things and killed people, but their targets were, by and large, Muslim. Chauvinists among India's ethnic minorities have killed people, but I can't see them putting together an operation on this scale.

And, yesterday's attacks were aimed at foreigners. Particularly those with American or British passports. That, together with the indiscriminate bloodshed, is characteristic of the 'death to the' brand of Islamic activists.

Hitting the Taj Mahal: A Little Too Effective?

Mr. Foster ends his op-ed piece with:

"...To have pictures of burning Taj Hotel broadcast around the world will have a deeper impact than even perhaps the terrorists intended, striking a blow against a symbol of Indian wealth and progress and sending shivers down the spine of some of the richest and most powerful people on the planet."

Which reminded me of what's happening in Somalia. The Somali pirates seemed to be getting along with Somalia's Islamic fanatics, until they hijacked a Saudi ship. Piracy is a no-no in Sharia law, apparently, if the victim is Muslim. According to one Somali group's version of the one true Islam.

Now, the pirates have most of the world against them: and a bunch of crazed Muslims in their own territory. And, may be interested in negotiating a way to stay alive.

It's too early to tell, but it's possible that whoever attacked Mumbai has ticked off too many of the wrong people.

Related posts: In the news:
UPDATE (November 29, 2008)

A comment on this post encouraged me to do some checking. Sure enough: Something-Mujahideen have a history in India.

There's what comes into English as the Indian Mujahideen; and there's the Deccan Mujahideen. "Deccan Mujahideen" means "Southern Jihadists" - according to a Mark Dunn, writing in the heraldsun.com.au.

It's possible that the two names both refer to the same group, or that the groups are closely associated.

These articles give a little background: I still don't know that the Indian Mujahideen and the Deccan Mujahideen are the same group - and I certainly don't know who is behind the Mumbai attack. But, like so many others, I have opinions.

More, at Links to still more related posts at Finally, although the focus of attention is on the assumed link to Islamic terrorism, there are non-Muslim players in India. And several ways that we're supposed to think about them, including: Who's being accurate about what, when it comes to terrorism in India, is something I haven't sorted out.
Posted by at 11 comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Gateway of India? Taj Mahal Hotel - in Mumbai? What - and Where - Are These Places?

I looked up some spots in Mumbai that have been in the news lately: Gateway of India; Nariman House; Taj Mahal Hotel; and Oberoi Hotel. They're among the ten places hit by terrorists yesterday.

The reason I concentrated on these four is that, unlike the Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station and the Cama and Albless Hospital, they've shown up quite often in the American and international English-language news I read.

The information didn't quite fit into the two posts I've written so far, and I hate to let research go to waste, so here's a little background on what I'll call the international targets in Mumbai.

Gateway of India


(from Hotels in Mumbai, used without permission)

King George V and Queen Mary of England visited Mumbai in 1911. The Gateway of India's foundation stone was laid that year, the foundations finished around 1920, and the Viceroy, Early of Reading, opened the monument on December 4, 1924.

In 1947, the last British troops left India by way of the Gateway.


View Larger Map

Nariman House

"
(from CNN, used without permission)

This place is a little hard to find, outside news articles, since it's called Chabad of India. No wonder the terrorists hit this place. It's "a Jewish organization that provides social, educational, and religious programing for all.... An institution where you can question your faith and not be afraid of judgment....

"...where one can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of ones Jewish heritage...."


(from Chabad of India, used without permission)

Taj Mahal Hotel


(from The New York Times, used without permission)

The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai is what happened when architects used Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles to design a seriously upscale hotel. They also used a lot of wood, which is part of the reason that parts of it are still on fire today.


View Larger Map

Oberoi Hotel


(from DelhiTourism.com, used without permission)

The The Oberoi Hotel, Mumbai, is an award-winning (literally) and very expensive hotel, which seems to focus on business travelers.
Their home page is displaying this message, at the moment:

"Mumbai situation update
"November 27, 2008

"We all are deeply saddened by the tragic events in Mumbai.
We are very concerned about the safety of our guests and staff at the hotels in Mumbai. Our thoughts are with their families.

"Despite all efforts we are unable to make contact with the persons inside the hotel. Therefore at present, we do not have more information than what is being relayed by the media. We will update you as soon as we have confirmed information on further developments....

"...The safety of our guests and staff remains our primary concern.

"If you have any questions or need assistance in making contact with your family or friends that may be at the hotel, please call us at +91-11-2389 0606 or call Toll Free. Our attempt will be to assist you as best as we can."

Elsewhere, the site lists Oberoi Hotels & Resorts toll free telephone numbers for over 30 countries.


View Larger Map

Related posts: In the news:
Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels: ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Unique, innovative candles


Visit us online:
Spiral Light Candle  • Find a Retailer
• Spiral Light Candle Store

Blogroll

Note! Although I believe that these websites and blogs are useful resources for understanding the War on Terror, I do not necessarily agree with their opinions. 1 1 Given a recent misunderstanding of the phrase "useful resources," a clarification: I do not limit my reading to resources which support my views, or even to those which appear to be accurate. Reading opinions contrary to what I believed has been very useful at times: sometimes verifying my previous assumptions, sometimes encouraging me to change them.

Even resources which, in my opinion, are simply inaccurate are sometimes useful: these can give valuable insights into why some people or groups believe what they do.

In short, It is my opinion that some of the resources in this blogroll are neither accurate, nor unbiased. I do, however, believe that they are useful in understanding the War on Terror, the many versions of Islam, terrorism, and related topics.