Strangely, the following report expresses some astonishment at the “unexpected” Mumbai attack, though there is certainly nothing surprising about it. Expect more to come. It also stresses that the Mumbai group is akin to al-Qaeda, without pointing out that both groups — as well as countless other jihadi organizations and individuals — are akin to one another for the simple reason that they are all adherents of the doctrine of jihad, which, according to Muslims, was not “created” by any fallible man (say, bin Laden), but is rather codified in Islamic law. As for the atrocious nature of the attack (as with 9/11 and many others), it should be noted that Muhammad himself provided the precedent: He authorized his mujahidin to use catapults during their siege of the town of Taif in 630, though he was aware that women and children were sheltered there. Also, when asked if it was permissible to launch night raids or set fire to the fortifications of the infidels if women and children were among them, the Islamic prophet is said to have responded, “They are from among them” (Muslim B19N4321).
“Could Mumbai Attackers Have Europe in Their Sights?” by Bruce Crumley for Time, December 10:
The Mumbai siege marked a dramatic and unexpected escalation of the terror campaign of the Pakistan-based jihadist outfit Laskhar e-Toiba (LeT) “” and European counter-terrorism officials fear that escalation may eventually have dire consequences in the West. That’s because LeT is believed to be expanding its networks in Europe. Although that activity has been limited, and largely confined to supporting the organization’s efforts in South Asia, were the organization to raise its operational ambitions in Europe, it could present a terror threat on the continent as deadly as that of al-Qaeda.
“Today, LeT is the hardest-core, export-minded jihadist group in south Asia “” and probably anywhere in the world,” says Jean-Louis Bruguière, formerly France’s top terrorism investigator who now represents the E.U. on a bilateral Terrorist Finance Tracking Program in Washington. “We’ve already seen signs of it at work among Pakistani communities in the U.K., Spain and even France. And there’s evidence LeT has spread its influence with al-Qaeda-inspired extremists in Europe over the past two or three years.”…