They expected it to become between the election and the inauguration. And now it has. "Intelligence chiefs were expecting Al-Qaeda spectacular," by Michael Evans in the Times, November 27 (thanks to W):
Western intelligence services have been expecting an al-Qaeda spectacular terrorist attack in this crucial period between the end of President George Bush’s administration and the succession of Barack Obama.Signals intelligence “chatter” in recent weeks indicated that Osama bin Laden’s terrorist organisation might be plotting an attack “to grab the headlines” before Mr Obama takes over in the White House on January 20.
British security and intelligence sources said there had been increasing concern, particularly in the United States, that a “terrorist spectacular” was on the cards.
The multiple attacks on Westerners in Bombay last night showed all the signs of an al-Qaeda strategy — picking on vulnerable Western “soft targets” but not in a country where there would be maximum security. The attacks on Western targets in Bali in 2002 when al-Qaeda-linked terrorists planted bombs in tourist-favoured restaurants and clubs was another example where the group switched its resources to achieve maximum impact.
Counter-terrorist experts last night said that India would have been selected for the latest spectacular “probably because that’s where al-Qaeda has sufficient resources to carry out an attack on this scale. They don’t choose for the sake of it, they look to see where they have the greatest capability and then order an attack,” a counter-terror expert told The Times.
The key to this latest attack was the search by the armed terrorists for American and British passport holders. With a reported 40 Britons held hostage, the terrorists have the upper hand. The counter-terrorist sources said targeting Bombay’s most luxurious hotels and a crowded railway station had all the hallmarks of an al-Qaeda operation....
"Intelligence chiefs were expecting Al-Qaeda spectacular,"
Somehow, I think Mumbai may be just the prelude to a whole series of attacks in the next few weeks.
From this article: http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/brooke-satchwell-tells-of-mumbai-ordeal/2008/11/27/1227491682113.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
From an Australian government official:
"Mumbai police have stated that the attacks are terror related"
What a relief.....
Another unexpected mortality correlation convergence event.
I agree, ebonystone. Mumbai may not be the "big one".
One must never let one's guard down with jihadists.
Because they're never "done", I meant to add.
In mid-December Jewish Israeli MK Arieh Eldad is holding his Facing Jihad conference in Jerusalem.
Last I heard, the people attending, to discuss ways of standing up to Jihad in all its forms, were all politicians from Europe.
It seems to me MK Eldad should also have invited people from Thailand, the Philippines - and, first and foremost, India. Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya, too...
Are there non-dhimmified politicians and journalists in India? Does India have anyone of the calibre of Geert Wilders, who could be encouraged to go to Jerusalem?
India should be represented there. Like Israel, they are assailed from all sides, and from within by an endlessly hostile, mendacious and aggressive Mohammedan fifth column.
Mumbai may not be the "big one".
By Vee, above.
You could be right, but some of the Mumbai mujahedin were captured, so with a bit of persuasive "interviewing" they might be able to reveal if there really is another onslaught to follow. I assume (certainly hope, at any rate) that MI5 and the CIA are on top of this.
test
I agree with the others here, that this may just be a prelude. Beyond the large amount of terrorists involved, which seems to be the most to ever have participated waging carnage, the few explosions that have taken place have been realtively small in power and I find it hard to believe that al Qaeda has spent months mustering up surplus guns and grenades for only this one attack.
Does anyone in Washington still think they can waste time "talking" to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as so many have already done for the past five years? Are they now prepared to do what they should do, or at the very least to extend every kind of assistance to Israel, if yet again, and embarrassingly, that country -- no doubt to future distancing and even howls of protest -- has to do for the entire Infidel world what that world, and especially the United States, should be doing for itself.
This is Moorthy Muthuswamy.
I think dynamics of jihad in India, by and large, will take its own course.
This because, while in just about every non-Muslim nation armed jihad has become weaker, in India it has become stronger.
In fact, the operational capabilities of jihadists in India have continued to escalate. The ruling Manmohan Singh-Sonia Gandhi regime has operated as a proxy for jihadists.
I believe that jihadists are working with plan of gradual escalation. I suspect that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan must be quite pleased that Project Jihad in India must be going according to plan!
As I have said in my Frontpage interview, we are witnessing a modern version of the phenomenon of Islamic conquest taking place in India.
http://frontpagemag.com/articles/Read.aspx?GUID=5C2AF0F9-9FDD-4595-89BA-308CC5C8549A
If Western strategists think that under a dysfunctional democracy India will somehow overcome terrorism on its own, they couldn't be more wrong.
India is the weak-link in the global war on terror.
A poorly governed nation like India has no chance whatsoever.
I take it that their admiration of Obama has tailed off now they realize that he's not exactly their best buddy?
If this is the best they can do to signal their continuing desire to bring down the US and that they are not appeased by the election of Barack Hussein Obama, then they are truly diminished.
By the way, the fact that they are diminished is in no small part due to George W. Bush, no matter how flawed he is.
Up yours, Islamists!
Probably more to come as the islamofacists will want to be on center stage and capture the world's attention via death and destruction, islam's hallmarks from the religion of peace.DD's army has an excellent point about India and others being represented at the Facing Jihad conference in Jerusalem. That conference might have a big target over it from our friend's in gazastan, iran, syria and other islamofacist states. Just more proof they will stop at NOTHING to shove their cult based on perverted individual down our throats. India is a wide open target, no doubt about that. Death, bloodletting, intimidation and those are the "good" points. Limits will always be pushed but with a changing of the guard here is the U.S., we must be really be at the ready, and I also mean to respond harshly to any attacks that might occur here in the U.S. or abroad. Will Obama be up to the tests that are now being hurled at him as well as the outgoing administration.
Two points and then I have to go figure out some cooking time for a turkey.
1. During a tele-con today in which the Bombay attacks were brought up, someone whose voice I didn't recognize piped in airily: "Was it al Qaeda?" I almost launched. That's like asking which end of the turd in his toilet came out his ass first. Who cares? It stinks and it needs to be flushed.
2. Now you will all remember to secure your passports in the hotel safe the next time you travel overseas?
Happy Thanksgiving to all and let's remember to pray for the good-guys.
Can there be any doubt now in anybody's mind: It IS WAR! islam waging it against the rest of the world (it has been doing so since the 7th century). I've believed that simce 9/11 (but, far too many of the world's people just don't seem to see it that way. I'll bet a billion Indians now see it that way. The "big one"? No, not Mumbai. Not 9/11. Not even close. islamists have grander visions. How about 10,000, 100,000, a million or two innocents slaughterd for the cause of allah. Those jihadist monsters of horror, there finacers, and all who lend supoport of any kind, must be hunted down and exterminated as would be done to rabid animals. No questions, no trials, no investigations. Execution on the spot. I'll take it a step further. Find the families of those psychopathic sub humans and eliminate them as well. -maybe they'll then get the message. They indend to do that to you and your family, your community. That's what Madrid, London, New York, Bali, and now Mumbai, foretell. It's time to turn the tables and give islam a taste of its own medicine. islam must be destroyed totally, absolutely, eternally. It's islam, or it's the rest of us.
I am saddened at the assault on civilization.
I am enraged that it has come to this.
I am determined to be heard.
Dear President, Senator, Representative, Official, Manager:
The world is in flames. The messenger has wrought destruction upon common people living in Asia, Europe, Africa and here at home in the name of Islam. They have brought jihad. You and I must now acknowledge that Islam is a totalitarian, political ideology dressed in religious garb. I demand that you elevate the threat of Islam to the highest level you can, directly to the People, in Congress, in your Department or Agency and see to it this topic is fully vetted and concrete actions be developed and executed. Reach across the oceans to our allies also under siege and implement a concerted effort to purge the world of the jihadists.
Wherever Islam grows, jihad is in play as existing governments and unbelieving (kafir) culture are conquered, by political or violent means. Bombs speak for themselves – they say ‘I kill you.’ However, a second, stealth jihad is underway also, an insurrection which begins with a demand for deferential treatment of Islam, including insistence on religious accommodations, judicial separateness, and general cultural and educational non-integration. In addition, imagined affronts to Islam are claimed and redress demanded.
Islam is discriminatory, restricts freedom of thought and action and violates universal human rights. Muslim-Muslim relations are completely separate from Muslim-kafir relations, where deceit is sanctioned. Islam is incompatible with our values and sensibilities of freedom and secularism.
No matter the temperament of individual Muslims, the Islamic community as a whole, the ‘ummah’ drives the process of Islamization in every country where Islam thrives. Violence, legal intimidation, sedition and subversive behavior are common and strategic. Islam and it tenants are the antithesis of our country’s history and free thinking traditions and its growth will suffocate future intellectual, cultural and artistic growth.
You must respond to these events. It is your duty as a representative, as it is mine as a citizen.
From Civilus Defendus to every elected or appointed official whose address I can find. They must feel our heat before we feel the enemy’s flames.
Hugh, I'm hoping the al-Zawahiri's recent characterization of Obama, and of Rice and Powell, as "house negroes" will have a salutary effect on his thinking. Nothing would be sweeter than if Obama had a grand mal epiphany one day, realized that all along it has been Islam that has been the principal driving force behind slavery in the world over the past 1400 years, and that it was abandoned only because of pressure from the West, and then put America firmly on the path of setting the record straight by direct challenge to Islam. So far the West has had trouble constructing a meme that packages Islamic supremacism in a way that resonates with large numbers of its citizens, including its blacks. It ought to be possible to find one that even the libtards could not resist. Maybe Obama could construct one that captures the victim mentality of blacks, but which carries the label "Islam" instead of "Whitey."
Somalis 'disappearing' off U.S. streets
Communities believe men are being recruited to join holy war
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/?pageId=81942
This is from the comments section on Islam Watch...
Name: i stay in mumbai near colaba,it is horrible encounter is still on
Date: Wednesday November 26, 2008
Time: 23:14:40 -0500
Comment
i stay near colaba,in mumbai encounter bettwen jihadis and special forces is still on.stupid police took over 4 hours to call in army,they send in police commandos without proper weapons and no body armour and they were killed incl salaskar,karkare etc top cops.finally army was called in around 3:00am.special commandos came in around 4:00am.only now around 8:30+ the nsg-special commandos r doing something.i am ex-muslim i always kews this wud happen,like beslan or paki islamabad 5 star hotel strike etc...this is all rolled into 1 horrible strike,and police got it all wrong and oevr 12 police incl senior cops r dead and over 120 ppl r dead.there is cerfew in our area,and still now no one knows how many jihadis r there in taj etc.very danerous situation.today has been declared for kids only school holiday.but no one is venturing out in this area as army,navy,police srpf,etc all r out in full force.this is what happens when the fu*ker congress-commies-sp etc pally up to jihadis.
An update from Australian national news site.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/27/2431493.htm
More Australians may be hurt in Mumbai: Rudd
By Emma Rodgers and wires
Posted 1 hour 35 minutes ago
Updated 46 minutes ago
'Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he has been advised that there may be more Australians injured in Mumbai's terrorism attacks.
'Up to 100 people have been killed, including six foreigners from so far unknown countries, and around 100 more injured in coordinated attacks by gunmen in India's commercial capital Mumbai, Indian media reported.
'Two Australians - 23-year-old David Coker from Townsville in Queensland and his girlfriend, 24-year-old Kate Anstee from Sydney - have already been confirmed as injured and are being treated in hospital.
'Mr Rudd says his thoughts are with the families of those injured and he has condemned the attacks, and says officials in Mumbai are speaking with hotel owners to to establish how many Australians may have been caught up in the events.
'He says 317 Australians are registered as living in Mumbai but there could be more.
"The Government is seeking to confirm as a matter of urgency the safety and welfare of Australians who may be affected," he said.
"I am advised that Australian casualties may rise."
'Mr Rudd says the attacks are a reminder that the world must remain vigilant against terrorism.
"This cowardly attack on India's stability, peace and democracy reminds us all that international terrorism is far from defeated," he said.
"We have to continued to work closely with our allies and partners around the world to defeat terrorism."
'The Government's National Security Committee has met to discuss the attacks but Mr Rudd says little is known at this stage about the Deccan Mujahideen group who is thought to be behind the attacks.
"But whichever group has perpetrated this attack, they are cowards, absolute cowards and murderers," he said.
'Mr Rudd says the Government has offered to send AFP counter-terrorism and forensics staff to India.
'We stand ready to assist India in any way it needs right now," he said.
'Australian travellers are now being advised against going to Mumbai and those already have been told to stay in a safe place and follow the directions of authorities.
'Australian actress Brooke Satchwell was caught up in the terrorist attack at the Taj hotel.
'Satchwell says she still does not feel safe.
"We definitely won't be moving and ironically we only made it out of Bangkok an hour-and-a-half before it shut down," she said
"My nerves are a little frayed at the moment. I haven't slept for the last 24 hours."
'Satchwell says one group of Australians escaped the Taj hotel by shredding some drapes, tying them together and sliding down the makeshift rope from the hotel's second floor.
"Real Robinson Crusoe," she said.
'Still holed up'
A militant holed up inside Mumbai's Oberoi Hotel told India TV on Thursday that seven attackers were holding hostages inside the luxury establisment.
"There are seven of us inside hotel Oberoi," the man identified as Sahadullah told India TV.
"We want all Mujahideens held in India released and only after that we will release the people."
"Release all the Mujahideens, and Muslims living in India should not be troubled," he said.
'Police said earlier they had shot dead four gunmen and arrested nine suspects.
'They said 12 police were killed, including Hemant Karkare, the chief of the police anti-terrorist squad in Mumbai.
"The situation is still not under control and we are trying to flush out any more terrorists hiding inside the two hotels," said Vilasrao Deshmukh, Maharashtra state's chief minister.
'Mr Deshmukh told a news conference the situation was not yet contained.
'A witness said that hours after the assaults began the Taj Hotel was surrounded by police, with fresh firing heard and a floodlight scanning its exterior. A fire in the hotel was still not under control.
- ABC/Reuters
END ARTICLE.
Here's my favourite part from that story - I think our regular poster, Undaunted, may appreciate it.
"Satchwell says one group of Australians escaped the Taj hotel by shredding some drapes, tying them together and sliding down the makeshift rope from the hotel's second floor.
"Real Robinson Crusoe," she said."
The first duty of a prisoner is to escape...by using smarts, cooperation and acting quickly this group of people reduced the number of potential hostages/bargaining chips.
PS - I note that Rudd carefully avoided all mention of the I-word, the J-word or the M-word.
He will get a blistering email from me at my earliest convenience, with a paper letter hot on its heels, pointing out the facts of the situation and advising that this is not about 'terrorism', this is about Jihad, carried out by Muslims, in conscious obedience to the explicit instructions in Quran, Sira and Hadith, with the intention that Islam (sharia law) might dominate in India and Muslims rule. The jihadists intend that India's secular democracy should be destroyed and replaced by a Muslim despotism under which non-Muslims would be grudgingly permitted to survive in a state of degradation, humiliation, and continual fear.
*That* is what India faces; that is what all non-Muslim polities currently face.
"We want all Mujahideens held in India released and only after that we will release the people."
--
What an argument in favor of the Death Penalty !!
Even after the jihadists have admitted responsibility, the BBC is still implying that it could be Hindus.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7751638.stm
John Bolton stated "Attacks look to be after getting a world audience, for maximium exposure".
This was a iconic attack on India.
Tomorrow, islam should be delt a attack, to warrant maximium exposure. No claims or warning, just hits.
Every single time they attack, a responce against islam. Instead of candy and dancing, it should be ducking and covering. Make the attacker from islam bear the responce of the actions the followers take. This is a proper responce against the enemy in a state of war.
Otherwise, all we can do is chase down the criminals to bring them to justice (once they are,if ever, found), after we call them names like "cowards". We've been there, we've done that. And the attacks continue..
The stupidest comment on the jihadist atrocities in India:
I thought the election of Obama meant an end to all unpleasantness. Quite surprising.
Rick Naylor, Seattle,
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5240126.ece
I agree that India's chances are slim (I wouldn't say no chance, but not for the same reasons you do.
If by dysfunctional, you are implying the fact that Mohammedans have a major say in who governs India by virtue of being a single vote bank while Hindus are heavily fragmented on just about every imaginable basis, I'd agree with you. However, a democracy implies that all citizens have the vote. I don't like the fact that Mohammedans do, but that doesn't make India's democracy dysfunctional. What does, however, sabotage it is the vote bank politics of pandering that all parties (except the Hindutva ones) indulge in. At any rate, things like good governance or corruption are as relevant to the resilience of India as they are re: the motivations behind jihad.
In last night's attacks, it started with the jihadis landing in Mumbai on rubber dinghies from Karachi. One would think that India would at least regulate traffic from Pakistan, but they are just too deranged.
Instead, the authorities are busy focussing on Abhinav Bharat, a group that has only surfaced because the usual Hindutva groups are busy with other things - the MNS on North Indians in Mumbai, the Bajrang Dal on Christians in BJP ruled states, and BJP ignoring the problem altogether. Right now, they are busy dissecting the army to see how much of it is 'penetrated' by Abhinav Bharat, and investigating Hindu priests and priestesses (If only they focussed like this on Imams and Mullahs.) But Abhinav Bharat was focussing on carrying out counter attacks against Jihadis in Bangladesh, and it's a pity they weren't allowed to give Bangladeshis a taste of their own medicine. However, if a good portion of India's army does subscribe to Abhinav Bharat and stages a coup, and executes all pols, that would be the sliver of hope for India. I however doubt that it's the case, or will happen. Nonetheless, I support Abhinav Bharat, despite the Indian media branding it as the face of Hindu terrorism.
Infidel Pride;
I agree with you on 2nd para. Abhinav Bharat was 1st started by Veer Savarkar in early 1900s.He spent 10/12 years in Cellular Jail in notorious Kalapani in Andaman Nicobar islands. He was a bright guy who was studying in UK . I have lately visited that jail 2 years ago. The cell where he lived for decade is worth seeing to guess what the guys in there went through in dingy cells of those times. During my visit there another visitor, young age one , posted a question to the guide if 'Nehru' came there !. I told him if he had ,then his spirit would have broken and then never ever could have made to Prime Minister India. The real heroes spent time there and not in 5 star guest houses of British Govt in house arrests Agha Khan Palace etc.etc.I recommend a visit and a little stay there for all politicians of India today instead of giving them orientation training in current Parliament Annexe to connect them to Indian masses . Savarkar dissolved this Abhinav Bharat before he died.
Today Govt is dissecting army for something. Whats happening today never happened in history of India. They are trying to kill India . Many have tried this before ,Mongols, Huns, Moguls, etc. etc. but they all miserably failed. Their (Indians) existence even today is a grand proof of their failure. We all have faith and believe in God but fail to see that what Lovingly God tries to show. It is also human nature.
The enemies of India will keep getting defeats forever.
Meanwhile the media in the UK are bending over backwards to avoid using the 'M' word. No doubt for fear of causing offence.
the Muslim attacks will only get bigger and more deadly...and more frequent...yep
Ban Muslim Immigration.
The only difference between the Mohammadans who staged this attack and Mohammadans in America, is an ocean...And it's drying up...'Who's next'?
You're right, swami.