The death toll has risen to 125,with hundreds injured. Indian commandos raided the Oberoi Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel to free hostages held by the jihadis, and apparently got most of them out, although 35 people are still reported trapped in the Oberoi.
One of the sites targeted by the jihadis was the Chabad House in Mumbai, where the jihadis held eight Jews including Rabbi Gavriel Hotzberg,his wife Rivka and his family. According to Israel's Channel 2 news,they're safe after Indian commandos stormed the building.
For any of you whom doubt that Israel is a major front in the War on Jihad and that what happens there happens elsewhere sooner or later, remember that Israel has seen exactly these kind of attacks and tactics in the past.And reports are already coming out of the hotels that the jihadis sought people with American, British and Israeli passports for special attention.
This operation was meticulously planned to do maximum damage to Mumbai and cost the largest possible human toll. The jihadis were caught with an arsenal of high explosives that they were unable to detonate thanks to the bravery and quick response of India's commandos.
The relatively high level of training and planning leaves little doubt that the jihadis had support from at least some elements in the fragmented Pakistani government..most likely the ISI,Pakistan's equivalent of our CIA or Britain's MI5.
The attackers also likely originated in Pakistan, and speculation that some of the jihadis were landed from the sea was given substance by the seizure of a suspicious Pakistani freighter,the M V Alpha by the Indian Coast Guard off the coast near Mumbai.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in an address to country, condemned the attacks and charged they came from terrorists "based outside the country."
Singh also said his government would be setting up a federal government agency to coordinate against threats to public safety in India.
H epromised to "take up strongly with our neighbors that the use of their territory for launching attacks on us will not be tolerated and that there will be a cost if suitable measures are not taken by them."
With an election scheduled shortly and many Indians critical of the Congress party for failing to take decisive action to prevent terroist attacks like this one, Singh is under enormous pressure to take decisive steps.
Pakistani President Asif Zardari said Pakistan "strongly condemns the terrorist acts and the killing of innocent people" and also warned that blaming Pakistan for the carnage would "worsen relations."
I doubt that this was an official act carried out with Zaradari's knowledge and support, but Pakistan is essentially a failed state with whole areas of its territory not under government control and a number of rogue elements even within its official forces.
That's wonderful that the Chabad rabbi and his family got out OK. How long do you think it will take for Muslims to be saying that the Mossad was behind this?
ReplyDeleteProbably not too long
ReplyDeletePakistan is responsible for this in a large way. For the Pakistani President to say that this will "worsen relations" is a crock. Neither we nor India should want or desire relations with thugs. We have tried to get the support of these thugs to help us in Afghanistan. Largely to no avail.
ReplyDeleteHad Pakistan allowed the American military free reign to clean out the areas where terrorists operate within Pakistan this terrorist attack may have been prevented. Instead of assisting us the Pakistani government has tried to prevent us from taking out terrorists in their territory. So yes Pakistan is very largely responsible for what happened even if saying so does worsen relations.
In order to win the war against Islamic terrorists, Pakistan will probably need to be invaded and conqured in much the same way that Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan were in WWII. As it seems now, the way Mr. Obama wants to carry out an invasion of Pakistan would be unlikely to be successful as it does not employ enough troops.
I think America will need to implement a military draft in order to do this properly. If we can get the help of India, this would be hugely beneficial to us. India would be a huge help with "boots on the ground." Of course America does its part by implementing a military draft. America can greatly assist India by fully utilizing its military technology. This can be shared with India. Together we can crush a common enemy.
BPoster : Slavery is immoral, antichristian, Communist ( Lenin-Trotsky created ), & unconstitutional ; furthermore, you will only be effective in removing Osama, et al, if you dust off those A bombs & declare Waziristan a de-facto country & take it out by bombing. But leave the kids alone! I will always side with the kids when they are the objects of bullying by socialists ( sc, socialist conservatives, ) & Washington, DC. P S, once the terrorist regions are emptied out by A bombs, then India can march in & annex all those disputed, de-populated areas. A bombs, yes! Slavery, no!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteI would not be necessarily opposed to using nuclear weapons against Pakistan. In fact, I've always felt that we should not go to war unless we are willing to use nuclear weapons to accomplish the task of victory. Also, I think you are spot on that Waziristan should be declared a de facto country and invaded.
The problem with using nuclear weapons is other countries have them. This includes allies of the people we are fighting as well as Pakistan. The decision to use nuclear weapons is one that will need to be considered and weighed carefully. I would definitely be willing to use them in this situation, if it were necessary.
As to the slavery slander you toss out against me, this is incorrect. Countries use military drafts routinely. In fact, I think most countries on earth utilize some form of military draft. It's going to be difficult for America to compete with other countries if it does not implement some form of military draft.
A military draft is not akin to slavery. Slaves are property of other individuals. Slavery is unnecessary for the survival of a civilization and is probably counter productive. Some form of military service for those of the proper age is probably vitally necessary for the survival of a country or civilzation.
I actually think if the Aemrican gonvernment would do the following: 1.) explain the stakes invloved in the war we are in. This enemy poses a far greater threat to Aemrica than Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan ever did or likely ever could have. To explain this would go a long way and it would be correct. 2.)Make a clear committment to achieving victory in the shortest route possible. I think many people are reluctant to commit to doing what it will take to win becuase they are unconvinced that the Aemrican government is committed to soing whatever it takes.
Do these things and we will be able to enroll the Aemrican public in the cause. Perhaps a draft would be unnecessary. If it is necessary, then it should be implemented in the manner that it was implemented in WWII. To do so does not make them slaves.
Hey, BPoster, this is anonymous 6.15PM. Apparently, we are reading these letters in opposite-chronology fashion ( you are reading down the page ; me, I'm reading up the page ). I stated my arguments at the other place ( down 1 article, I believe, ) at some length & leave it to you to decide whether or not to pursue the matter & topic thereto. ( If you don't, then no hard feelings on my part. ) I think I'm pretty gentle in discussing this topic & matter there, considering my profound disagreement with you. I'll not rehash the whole matter here. Just a quick quote : the 13th Amendment of the Constitution Of The United States Of America : 'Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.' That's an admirably succinct definition of, & an admirably succinct ban on, slavery & involuntary servitude. The question of the object occupation of slavery should not be confused with enslavement itself. Farming is a fundamentally decent, moral occupation. I think we'd agree re that. But the the use of slavery on the Southern plantations was wrong. I hope we can agree re that. Soldiering is a fundamentally decent, moral occupation. I hope we can agree re that. You can see where I'm going with my argument. The real difficulty lies in long-term slavery : if Congress can get away with slavery, then they have NO incentive to pay a decent wage to the soldiers. In fact, things deteriorated to such a point that many ( perhaps most ) soldiers during the 1960s & 1970s were eligible for food-stamps & welfare. That was a disgraceful situation. Note that when the country returned to freedom, suddenly, Congress had to get serious re wages & treatment. You are probably unaware that many countries have been abandoning military slavery. Practically all of Western Europe, even socialistic France. It's not only 'immoral, antichristian ... & unconstitutional' as I argued in my letter of several days past, supra, but it's also very expensive, & completely unnecessary unless you are literally in the latter stages of something like the 1939-1945 War, or the latter stages of the Korean War. In those rare situations, the fatalities & casualties caused even the most libertarian countries to resort to temporary 'conscription', to use 1 of the polite euphemisms ( after holding national plebiscites devoted to the issue ). But as I stated before, many countries, including practically all of Western Europe, even socialistic France, have abandoned military slavery. They figure that the Generals & the Generals' wives can weed their own gardens in their own spare time. They now have fine, professional, volunteer armies with enthusiastic volunteer soldiers. They have more money for better equipment & higher wages for their soldiers. Slavery still exists in socialistic Scandinavia, in the Hitler countries of Germany & Austria, Communist Russia, & N Korea & some dictatorships in Africa. None of those countries impress me 1 whit. Do they impress you ? If they do, then we have such a fundamental difference in philosophy that there is no point in further argument. NB, in theory some other countries have military slavery, eg, Red ( Communist ) China, but, as a practical matter, they have to turn away volunteers. I have deliberately left out 1 country for which I do not have even 1 jot of criticism re their policies, owing to the peculiar, unique, & dangerous ON-GOING war situation they have found themselves in since 15 May 1948 ( or is 14 May 1948 correct ? ) : Israel. They, the last time I checked, were still at war officially with about 5 ( ? ) countries ( plus the on-going war against them by the terrorists ). Their on-going situation is thus akin to the 1939-1945 War & the Korean War. Save for such extraordinary situations, I believe that families have a natural, innate, inalienable right to raise their children as they see fit, & that individuals, even those young adults, have a natural, innate, inalienable right to decide for themselves what their beliefs are, what career choices they wish to make, with whom they wish to associate, & with whom they wish to enter contracts re jobs, whether civilian or military. Besides, do you really wish to set up a replay of the 1960s ? I'm old & remember what a catastrophic mess the evil, wicked, contemptible Lyndon Johnson & MacNamara created. In part, they were emboldened by the simple fact that they had no need to make a case re their plans to the young people & their families : they could just take whatever they wanted. Let's not replay that record. As I stated supra : 'I will always side with the kids when they are the objects of bullying by socialists ( sc, socialist conservatives, ) & Washington, DC.'
ReplyDeletePakistan is going to be a tough place to crack, and the left-wing illuminati shouldn't have opened their mouths about their strategies and plans.
ReplyDelete