Guest Aloysius Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Just thought someone should mention it here:' Indian Forces Battle Gunmen in Effort to Rescue Hostages Father, Daughter From Virginia Among the 145 People Killed in Mumbai By Emily Wax, Rama Lakshmi and Debbi Wilgoren Washington Post Foreign Service Friday, November 28, 2008; 12:34 PM MUMBAI, Nov. 28 -- A father and daughter from Virginia were among at least 145 people killed in the brazen attacks on luxury hotels and other sites in this seaside city, which began late Wednesday and had not been fully controlled nearly 48 hours later. At a Jewish outreach center, a young Israeli-American rabbi, his wife and three others affiliated with the Chabad-Lubavitch movement also were reported killed. Hundreds of hostages were evacuated from two luxury hotels Friday, as police commandos struggled to wrest control of the buildings from bands of gunmen who had staged what appeared to be carefully orchestrated strikes on high-profile targets. As the government of India consulted with counter-terrorism officials worldwide, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee pointed a finger directly at Pakistan, India's neighbor and longtime rival, saying: "Based on preliminary information, and prima facie evidence we have, elements of Pakistan are linked to this." Indian officials told reporters two gunmen had been captured who were British citizens of Pakistani origin. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi warned India not to "be jingoist" and said the two nuclear armed countries "are facing a common enemy, and we have to join hands to defeat this enemy." The prime ministers of both countries were slated to confer Friday night. The Virginia father and daughter who were killed were identified as Alan Scherr, 58, and Naomi Scherr, 13. They were members of Synchronicity, a spiritual community in central Virginia that promotes high-tech meditation and a holistic lifestyle, and had traveled to India on a spiritual mission with about two dozen others. Indian police said they had defeated the gunmen at the Oberoi Hotel and were rooting out a small number of armed attackers at the iconic Taj Mahaj Palace & Tower Hotel, evacuating more than 200 hostages from both hotels in the process. Mumbai Police Commissioner Hassan Ghafoor said police teams had found 30 bodies inside the Oberoi by midday Friday. Hundreds of people were reported injured at the hotels and the other targeted sites -- including a movie theater, two hospitals, a train station, the historic Leopold Café and the Nariman House, a Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish outreach center that offers Jewish classes, prayer services and kosher food to locals and travelers from around the world. Two journalists were reported hurt in the skirmishes that followed the attacks, either from flying shrapnel or a passing bullet. At the Nariman House, a daylong rooftop assault by commandos culminated in an explosion late in the day, followed by a flurry of police and military activity. Security officials on the scene said five hostages were found dead inside the building. A Chabad spokesman, Rabbi Zalman Schmotkin, identified two of the dead as Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka, both of whom were reportedly born in Israel but raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The couple ran the center. The Holtzbergs' toddler son, Moshe, was led out of the building by two employees of the center on Thursday, and is being cared for by his grandparents. Intelligence officials said the gunmen who launched the coordinated attacks appeared well trained and well prepared, familiar with the layouts of their targets in a way that gave them a great advantage over police. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aloysius Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Click on the image for video: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicopee John Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Just thought someone should mention it here:' Horrible situation conducted by terrorists that, at best, are marginally human. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ATENEARS Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 What am I missing here, what exactly was their point in this? Rounding up Brittish & Americans ... in India? Killing children in the effort? What a bunch of low-lifes with no purpose on this earth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieHardBrownsFan Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Their purpose is to terrorize. To show the world that they can hit anywhere they want to. The only purpose in taking hostages was to prolong the terror and provide round the clock news coverage. They succeeded. Unfortunately, this type of attack is probably going to be around for awhile since it was so successful. If you have a bunch of people who are not afraid to die, who actually want to die, they are very difficult to fight. I also have to say I'm not at all impressed by India's response to the terror attacks. The Police and Troops look badly trained. There are thousands of people milling around the buildings that should have been secured. The "commando's" that stormed the Jewish building came out acting victorious, pumping their rifles in the air, when it turns out all of the hostages were killed. By the terrorists or the Commando's, we will never probably know. It's a cluster f----k of an operation by the Indians IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westside Steve Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 So Why did it happen? What can WE do? What SHOULD we do? And will we do it? Opinions? WSS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aloysius Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Their purpose is to terrorize. To show the world that they can hit anywhere they want to. The only purpose in taking hostages was to prolong the terror and provide round the clock news coverage. That's definitely part of it, but I think the attack also had some other purposes: Embarrass India - Just as it's becoming a global economic power, the terrorists struck the city that represents India's rise Drive a wedge between India & Pakistan - It looks like the plan originated from a terrorist group that is run from within Pakistan. As a result, the attack should raise tensions between the two countries. General Petraeus & the Obama administration had hoped to bring India and Pakistan closer, the purpose being to break the tie between Pakistan's intelligence service & terrorist groups (they use the terrorists against India in Kashmir for asymmetrical warfare purposes). If that tie was cut, that would eliminate the support & safe haven Taliban forces receive in Pakistan, thereby making our mission to stabilize Afghanistan much easier. Unfortunately, the attacks make brokering a deal between India & Pakistan even more difficult. With elections coming up, the Indian gov't is likely to take a hard line against Pakistan & Kashmiri terrorists. So I think the terrorists' brutal, inhumane tactics actually had some strategic calculations behind them. I also have to say I'm not at all impressed by India's response to the terror attacks. The Police and Troops look badly trained. There are thousands of people milling around the buildings that should have been secured. The "commando's" that stormed the Jewish building came out acting victorious, pumping their rifles in the air, when it turns out all of the hostages were killed. By the terrorists or the Commando's, we will never probably know. It's a cluster f----k of an operation by the Indians IMO. I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballpeen Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Why did it happen? The same reason muslim backed terror is ravaging the world...they don't like people who think differently What can WE do? Not go to India?? What we have been doing, attack it whenever we can. What SHOULD we do? Use bigger and better weapons..collateral damage shouldn't be considered And will we do it? You need to ask President elect Obama Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calfoxwc Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 Why did it happen? It's the main tenet of extremist terrorists, to hit where they can hit, to "further their goals of a Muslim dominated world" What can WE do? Work with India's intel, and work against the terrorists. What SHOULD we do? Go after the terrorists in Pakistan. I've had enough of the protections the tribes in that mountain region, which includes the terrorists. Even a temporary non lethal bio-weapon, that would just incapacite them for about a week of sickness, to reduce the problems of them fighting and running from their caves. And will we do it? Probably not, because of the politics that have transpired about the war on terror. But, Obama may very well be a stand up pres on the war against terror. They must be stopped anywhere they are. Meaning, Bush was correct on that. India and Pakistan despise each other, militarily and domestically. My friend from India and I talked about the Kashmir area at length, and the permanent hatred? of the two sides. Besides, Pakistan is in danger of falling to the extremists. But Pakistan knows they are no match for India in a war. The Kashmir region is a terrible place because of the fighting over control of it. Peace on Earth? It will happen, but only after the Angelic Conflict is basically over, referring to the war between "good and evil" in the end times... Apparently, never going to have peace until then..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westside Steve Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 This forum will never be good. It will never be intelligent. Politics is just that way. There will always be Retards like Cal out there who are so brainwashed that they still think the Earth is flat. People who's agenda isn't to discuss and genuflect on their inner beliefs, but people who only have one motive: try to force their brainwashed opinions on others, no matter how ridicuous. There are leftists like that too, but none of them reside on this board. Of course there are the enlightened ones who see Bush as the enemy no matter what the situation. It isn't about Bush. We were attacked on 9/11 before we took out Saddam. Americans and Brits were targeted in a westernized ally uf the US after Bush is on his way out. Since the Paki government has little if any control over the country I'd guess traditional warfare isn't the answer. It's not like one could nuke the three largest Pakistani cities. The Pakis have nukes too and soon so will everyone in the region. Rome fell when the barbarians figured out the bronze sword and the Romans forgot how to be barbaric. TThese animals mean to show the world that no one is safe from a handful of radicals under a false banner of religion. Does anyone belive there's a negotiated settlement at hand? What are your bargaining chips? WSS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballpeen Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 Does anyone belive there's a negotiated settlement at hand? Not when you are asking people to change a moral/religious belief. The only time the rats will be interested in a settlement is when the rats are nearly exterminated. And if it is settled....what exactly are we going to give up as part of the settlement?? A negotiation is a act of give and take. That is what the newbs don't get or ever answer. What do they feel we should give up as part of the process?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calfoxwc Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 saddam and sons were a major underground weapons suppliers to terrorists around the world. his "gov" had mountains and mountains and mountains of weapons, in huge warehouses, there were far, far far more weapons than his army could ever have used in a hundred year war. my friend who was intel in IRAQ confirmed that, he said it was absolutely true. and he was a liberal forever and two weekends more. DBTH? We can disagree about this without your rage. We're trying to have a better board here, and you need to be part of the solution, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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