I have expressed particular sorrow about the death of the Chabad rabbi, Rabbi Gavriel and Riki Holzberg. Lest any one think otherwise, I am also deeply deeply saddened -- and enraged -- by the death of so many other victims.
This entire event has demonstrated that these kind of terrorists have found a new form of terrorism with terrible terrible implications.
These are people whose minds have been corrupted and who have lost any sense of morality. I say that even as we know so little about them.
We don't know their so-called "motives." In fact, in many respects their "motives" are irrelevant. It does not matter what they are. Their actions are despicable and so are they.... [[I use the present tense because I am convinced that many of them are still alive. This criminal act was not committed by just 10 people.]
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Motive?
They are snarling id of nihilism, envy, racism and genetic depravity, expressed through religion.
Is that a motive or an urge like peristaltic submission?
Does it matter?
Only when those who subscribe to this urge recognize they are bringing the end to their own beliefs will this subside in our generation
I think a "Qui Bono?" (Who gains?) analysis is not amiss here.
We have already seen that gross over-simplifications a la George W. Bush can lead to wrong action and overall advantage to the terrorists.
We know of strong links connecting Pakistani Military Intelligence to Islamic Jihadists going back to the Reagan years. Jihadism was the main vehicle chosen to expel the Russians from Afghanistan, and unfortunately it bred a monster.
Pakistan MI began to use Islamic militants against India, particularly in Kashmir. India has the largest (or second-largest) Muslim population in the world and seemed to be a target ripe for Jihadist plucking.
Since the overthrow of Musharraf we do not know how close the links of Jihadism and Pakistani Military Intelligence now are. If a part of the Pakistani Army were behind this, then it constitutes an attack by Pakistan on India, in effect a declaration of war, or an attack that could warrant a declaration of war by India. And remember that these are two nuclear powers.
But who gains the most from a war on the subcontinent? The Jihadists will certainly benefit, and the non-militant populations of India and Pakistan will suffer the most. American policy in the region will be disrupted as two nominal allies go to war with each other.
Pakistan is ramshackle and backward, and probably no match for India. However, a takeover by Islam Jihadists of a defeated Pakistan and its nuclear arsenal is a possibility.
What the US needs is joint action by India and Pakistan against Islamic militants, on the way making some kind of arrangement over Kashmir. That is a tall order, and this attack (if war does break out) may be Al Qaeda's greatest success since the US lured itself into Iraq.
"India has the largest (or second-largest) Muslim population in the world and seemed to be a target ripe for Jihadist plucking."
A target ripe for fifth columnists.
"What the US needs..."
What the US needs??? It's what the whole freakin' world needs! Not just the US.
"We have already seen that gross over-simplifications a la George W. Bush can lead to wrong action and overall advantage to the terrorists."
Well said, Toby. Expect only "wrong action" from any president who has shares in the oil industry and is a hand-shaking, face-kissing friend of the Saudis. "A little folly outweighs wisdom and honour."-Ecclesiastes
"What the US needs??? It's what the whole freakin' world needs! Not just the US."
Absolutely right. What the world needs is a strong US able to pick its fights and win them.
I think this attack is not an accidental coincidence with Barack Obama's election. Worsening relations between India and Pakistan can only disrupt Obama's publicly stated intention to make things hot for Al Qaeda in this region. My guess is that this was an Al Qaeda operation sub-contracted to Kashmiri militants operating out of Pakistan.
Bin Laden has no intention of giving Obama time to crank up operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Let's have no illusions that this will be easy. But it is the right war in the right place, if the US gets the chance to fight it.
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