The Man Behind Mumbai

The FBI investigation into the killings of the Americans has focused on a half-dozen accused masterminds who are still at large: Mir, top Lashkar chiefs and a man thought to be a major in Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI). U.S. officials say Washington has urged Islamabad to arrest the suspects.

“We put consistent pressure on the Pakistanis to deal with Lashkar and do so at the highest levels,” said the senior U.S. counterterrorism official. “There has been no lack of clarity in our message.”

But U.S. officials acknowledge that the response has been insufficient. The effort to bring to justice the masterminds — under a U.S. law that makes terrorist attacks against Americans overseas a crime — faces obstacles. A U.S. prosecution could implicate Pakistani military chiefs who, at minimum, have allowed Lashkar to operate freely. U.S. pressure on Pakistan to confront both the military and Lashkar could damage counterterrorism efforts.

“It’s a balancing act,” a high-ranking U.S. law enforcement official said. “We can only push so far. It’s very political. Sajid Mir is too powerful for them to go after. Too well-connected. We need the Pakistanis to go after the Taliban and al-Qaeda.”

Pakistani officials said they had no information on Mir. They denied allegations that the powerful ISI supports Lashkar.

“Allegations of ISI’s cadres operating in connivance with the militants . . . are based on malicious intent,” said a senior Pakistani official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity. ISI “remains top-to-bottom transparent and rests under the complete control of the civilian government . . . There is no question that the government thinks that all militants are enemies of the state.”

A year ago, Pakistan charged Lashkar’s military chief and six less-influential suspects in the Mumbai attacks. But the trial soon stalled over legal complications and conflict with India, raising fears among U.S. and Indian officials that the prosecution will collapse in a court system that rarely convicts accused extremists.

The U.S. investigation turned up 320 potential targets abroad — only 20 of them in India — including U.S., British and Indian embassies, government buildings, tourist sites and global financial centers, officials say.

“There should have been a recognition that Lashkar had the desire and the potential to attack the West and that we needed to get up to speed on this group,” said Charles Faddis, a retired CIA chief of counterterrorist operations in South Asia and other hot spots. “It was a mistake to dismiss it as just a threat to India.”

Gunman at Mumbai Air Terminus

A man carries a victim of a gun attack at the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008. A top state officials says at least 40 people have been killed and 100 have been injured when gunmen opened fire on a crowded Mumbai train station, luxury hotels and a restaurant popular with tourists. Johnny Joseph, chief secretary for Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, says the death toll could rise further. A.N. Roy, a senior police officer, says police were battling the gunmen

USA Accessory to Mumbai's 911

Perhaps a lawsuit is in order. The Indian government and the Chabad might think about filing a lawsuit against the US government. If either through stupidity, submission, cluelessness, or perfidy, they aided and abetted India's 911, then a lawsuit is in order. This is beyond egregious; this is treacherous. It is a horrible example of political correctness or self-imposed sharia.

Know the enemy, you silly dangerous clowns.

Intercepted: Jihad Plot to Attack Germany, France & Britain

News from the daily global jihad .............. but we are the bad guys.
Intercepted: Plot to launch Mumbai-style jihad massacres in Britain, France and Germany Jihadwatch

Hatched in Pakistan. "Multi-Attack Terror Plot On European Cities," by Alex Watts for Sky News Online, September 28 (thanks to Alan of England):

Intelligence agencies have intercepted a terror plot to launch Mumbai-style attacks on Britain and other European countries, according to Sky News sources.

Sky's foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall said militants based in Pakistan had been planning simultaneous strikes on London and major cities in France and Germany.

He said the plan was in the "advanced but not imminent stage" and the plotters had been tracked by spy agencies "for some time".

Intelligence sources told Sky the planned attacks would have been similar to the commando-style raids carried out in Mumbai.

Then, Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba killed 166 people in a series of gun and grenade attacks in the Indian city.

The European plot was unearthed after intelligence sharing between London, France, Germany and the US.

It came as the Eiffel Tower in Paris was evacuated because of a bomb scare for the second time in two weeks....

Slaughtering Jews in Mumbai

'Israel: Updates on the Chabad Home Hostage Operation in Mumbai'by Gilad LotanAs the commando operation at the Chabad Jewish Center of Mumbai unfolded, very little was known about the state of the hostages. Chabad is one of the largest Hasidic movements in Orthodox Judaism. It runs thousands of centers around the world, providing Jewish community centers, synagogues and schools - providing educational activities for Jews worldwide. They are very popular among Israeli backpackers, who frequent the centers while on their post-military travels.The Chabad website is currently blocked due to their implementation of the Saturday Guard software which prohibits users from accessing the site during Sabbath. However, a constant stream of updates is located on a sister site. The most current update states that the five Jewish hostages held inside the building were found dead:update 06:22 - a commando unit penetrated adjacent to the Chabad home. One terrorist killed.update 07:01 - Chabad home still under seige.update 07:17 - CNN reports that a mother and child were released from the Chabad home as they were weeping. It is unclear if this is the Rabbi Holtzberg's family.update 07:43 - security forces report that at least five terrorists are inside the Chabad home.update 08:05 - Chabad spokesperson, rabbi Menahem Brod: the emissary and her son escaped from Habad homeupdate 08:19 - The woman who escaped from Chabad home is a nanny who escaped with the son of the emissaries. They are still captured.update 08:24 - Chabad Hassids are asked to pray for the wellbeing of the emissaries at the wailing wall in Jerusalemupdate 08:34 - witnesses claim that the kidnappers released the emissary's son and his nanny. They are still held inside the building.update 08:36 - Israeli radio: the nanny who was released from Chabad home reports that the emissary and his wife were unconscious.update 08:55 - Israeli radio: the emissary's son who was released, was taken to the police station with the nanny. His parent's status is still unclear.update 09:03 - the emissary's mother on ynet: "I heard they are alive"update 09:23 - Indian security forces: it is possible that the terrorists ammunition has been exhausted.update 11:23 - a series of explosions are heard minutes ago from Chabad home. It is estimated that the security forces are breaking into the building.update 12:03 - a massive prayer session is being organized in the Wailing Wall at 15:00 in the afternoon, for the wellbeing of the hostages.update 13:51 - the educational Chabad youth center calls for immediate prayers across Israel.update 14:31 - kidnappers ask to open negotiations over the release of the hostages in Chabad home.update 17:31 - Israeli foreign ministry: there is great concern for the lives of those held in Chabad home.update 19:44 - press sources unofficially report that some of the hostages from the Chabad home were released.update 20:11 - Israeli foreign minister: "there is no basis to the claims that Israelis were release from Chabad home. We have little information which is troubling"update 21:41 - the nanny who escaped with the emissary's son in a special interview: "he is constantly asking for his mom and dad"update 23:00 - CNN-IBN: large explosion heard from Chabad home in Mumbai.update 23:51 - the Israeli foreign ministry states that despite the multiple reports, no hostages were released from the Chabad home in Mumbai. The office is checking with the Mumbai police forces the report on a large explosion heard from the building. Earlier reports claimed that eight people were seen walking out of Chabad home, however a diplomatic source stated they left from an adjacent building.update 01:35 - rabbi Nachman Holzberg and his wife left their home in Crown Heights enroute to Israel. The family: we keep receiving contradicting information.update 02:44 - CNN: third explosion heard tonight from Chabad home when a hand grenade was thrown from the building onto the Indian security forces surrounding the structure from the outside.update 02:46 - an Israeli delegation is making its way to help with the recue of the hostages in the Chabad home.update 03:47 - Indian security forces opened fire at Chabad home. It is unclear if they will break into the building.update 03:50 - political correspondant: four dead in Chabad home; Livni: the situation looks grim.update 04:20 - heavy gunfire in the Chabad home.update 05:05 - a white flag is raised from a window on the fourth floor of the Chabad building.update 06:46 - NDTV reporter located at the front of the Chabad home: the rescue operation is taking longer than expected because the rabbi and his wife are held alive.update 07:12 - rabbi Grossman to Israeli TV channel 2: the emissary's parents arrived in Mumbai and took custody of their grandson who is celebrating his 2nd birthday today.update 08:05 - police officer to Sky News: there are five or six live hostages inside Chabad home.update 08:41 - heavy fighting in the Chabad home. Commando forces break into the building from the air.update 08:52 - report from Mumbai: 3 explosions heard in the vicinity of the Chabad homeupdate 09:25 - high ranked officer estimates: the operation will end within several hours.update 10:25 - Israeli security officer: commando forces are on their way to the floor where the emissaries are held.update 10:51 - the British Sky network: explosions and gunfire heard in the vicinity of the Chabad home in Mumbai.update 10:52 - CNN India reports that the fourth and fifth floors in the Chabad building were evacuated.update 11:33 - commando force took control over most of the building floors. Echoes of bomb explosions are constantly heard.update 12:10 - Israeli radio: Indian media claims the Chabad emissaries are held alive, hence the commando forces are extremely careful.update 14:01 - rabbi says to volunteers: you are allowed to work on this Sabbath, which begins in India within 15 minutes.update 14:44 - great explosion in the Chabad home ruined part of the structure. Police: three terrorists are still inside.update 14:55 - cheerful calls next to Chabad home. CNN: the commando forces overpowered the terrorists. The emissary and his wife's status is still unknown.updateupdate 15:48 - five Jews found dead in Chabad home.You may view the latest post athttp://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/11/28/israel-updates-on-the-chabad-home-hostage-operation-in-mumbai/

Blame Games Mumbai

'Pakistan: Blame Game On Mumbai Terror - The Blogosphere Speaks'by Muhammad Farhan JanjuaRecent terror attacks in Mumbai have seriously disturbed and complicated the on-going peace dialogues between India and Pakistan. Where Indian officials are not hesitating to point fingers to Pakistan, the Pakistani officials have been denying Pakistan's involvement the attacks. Pakistan authorities have further requested not to play the blame game and have offered their full support in the investigation. While all these are happening the Pakistani Blogosphere has a lot of important things to say:Dr. Awab Alvi at Teeth Maestro says:What has also sadly transpired within the following day is that the ‘official’ blame game circus is in full swing, contrary to my initial message where I expressed my relief that Pakistan was not being blamed since Deccan Mujahideen were taking the blame, but much to my dismay the good news [?] was short lived and very soon the Indian government was livid at the Pakistani intelligence agencies for having masterminded this attack, in all honesty it might even had been the ISI [ironically we cant trust them either] but whosoever created the mess, Indian or Pakistanis it must be condemned at all costs.M Junaid Khan at Pro-Pakistan publishes a newsletter that was being distributed publicly:Even when the shootings were going on in hotels, Indian media and army were blaming 'Pakistan' for the attacks. The game is clear and sinister. The Indian Intelligence have diverted the global attention towards another issue where they would blame Pakistan for this slaughter and use Barack Obama’s doctrine of attacks on Pakistan to encircle Pakistan from both sides. It is such a shame that Pakistani media is not highlighting this issue and is only repeating what Indians want the world to see and believe.tperacha at Lahore Metblogs writes his reservations:Times of India is already reporting that Pakistani militants have been captured and that this whole incident could not have happened without support from across the border. Now I am sure that similar to 2001 Indian Parliament Attack, NADRA issued ID cards will be found in possession of all these terrorists and then it requires not much wit to figure it out! The western media are also jumping on the bandwagon and trying their best to portray this as another al-qaeda attack.Maybe we should also borrow a page from our neighbor’s book and God forbid, next time when we have a terrorist attack in Pakistan, simply blame it on RAW and get on with our lives. In fact a lot of analysts believe that foreign elements have played part in the recent attacks in Pakistan, but unlike the Indian government, our government doesn’t have the balls to blame any external element.Adil Najam at Pakistaniat shows his solidarity with Indians in these words:I, too, am a Mumbaikar today.I wish I could reach out and for just one moment hold the hands of the woman in this AP photograph. Maybe shed some tears on her shoulder. But I do not know what I would say to her. I do not think she would want me to say much. The expression on her face matches the feeling I have at the pit of my stomach and in the depth of my heart. I think - I hope - that she would understand how I feel. I can only imagine what she is going through.Rana at The Pakistani Spectator tries to unfold the facts in his opinion:1. They came on speed boats from Pakistan. WOW :). Indian coastguards intercept fisherman that cross the maritime borders into Indian waters everyday. Thousands rot in Indian jails and here we have guys with sophisticated weapons entering India and their coast gaurds were fast asleep…….hmmmm fishy.2. Mumbai police intercepted calls made to/from Pakistan….what idiot would do that?? maybe the Mumbai police. Hey there is my number…come get me. 3. They had the “footprints” of the ISI…..did the ISI leave behind its footprints….hmmmJokes apart…so who were behind the attacks?Where all these rumors were flying around, the Indian mainstream media has nonetheless been irresponsible with the blame game. At my blog Guppu.com I have posted a video of a sensationalist reporting by the Indian media speculating about accents of the terrorists. On a request of the Prime Minister of India a representative of ISI is to visit India for sharing of intelligence. The Prime Minister of Pakistan has promised his country's full support in the investigation. But still fingers are being pointed out towards Pakistan and the blame game continues. A portion of Pakistani media is playing along with the game inciting rumors.You may view the latest post athttp://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/11/29/pakistan-mumbai-terror-blame-game-and-the-blogospheres-perspective/

Seeking Empire

Seeking empire or even hegemony in Asia is a poor idea for Americans. The continent is littered with the bones of would-be conquerors.Why do you think the Chinese fund our wars in Asia? Do they have a death wish buying up our toxic financial paper or soon-to-be-worthless treasuries?We invaded and occupied two sovereign nations to settle the 9/11 account. To this day we are not sure who did what to whom.Our world view is faulty. From the cradle we learn we are superior to other races and nationalities. Ridding our hearts of these hatreds is a monumental task maybe impossible. However, it is possible to put our demons on the back burner.As for the Mumbai tragedy, we might think before we rush to judgment. Who seeks to benefit from the atrocity?

A Mumbai Terrorist

Generally, I try to get into another man's shoes to gain his viewpoint. I imagined the terrorist was watching the same NDTV coverage I was. He could make good use of some of the information passing over the airwaves.