MUMBAI, India, Nov. 30, 2008

Police: Pakistan Group Behind Mumbai Siege

Lone Surviving Gunman From Terror Attacks That Killed 174 Said To Claim Membership In Lashkar-e-Taiba

    • People place petals and touch the photographs of slain policemen at a prayer meeting to pay tribute to Mumbai's policemen who lost their lives in the recent terrorist attacks, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008. Photo

      People place petals and touch the photographs of slain policemen at a prayer meeting to pay tribute to Mumbai's policemen who lost their lives in the recent terrorist attacks, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008.  (AP Photo/Gautam Singh)

    • Fire engulfs part of the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, India, Nov. 27, 2008. Photo

      Fire engulfs part of the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, India, Nov. 27, 2008.  (AP Photo/Gautam Singh)

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  • Play CBS Video Video Looking For Answers

    Following the massacre in Mumbai, officials lowered the death toll to 174 and the only surviving attacker claims to belong to a Pakistani militant group. Celia Hatton has more.

  • Video Mumbai: Behind The Attacks

    Authorities believe the terrorists who laid siege to Mumbai, India came to the city in rubber rafts, possibly from a hijacked fishing boat. Mark Phillips reports.

  • Video Mumbai Violence Ends

    India is left picking up the pieces and looking for answers after almost 200 people died in the Mumbai terrorist attacks. Celia Hatton reports.

  • Fast Facts India

    Learn about the people, economy and history.

(CBS/AP)  The only gunman captured by police after a string of attacks on Mumbai told authorities he belonged to the Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, a senior police officer said Sunday.

Police have said 10 gunmen terrorized Mumbai during a 60-hour siege, and all but one were shot dead.

Joint Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria said the assailant now in custody told police the group had intended to hit more targets during their attacks on India's financial capital that left at least 174 dead.

"Lashkar-e-Taiba is behind the terrorist acts in the city," Maria told reporters. "The terrorists were from a hardcore group in the L-e-T."

India's Home Ministry could not be immediately reached for comment.

The group has long been seen as a creation of the Pakistani intelligence service to help wage its clandestine war against India in disputed Kashmir.

Police arrested the lone surviving militant, Ajmal Qasab, and Maria said he confessed his links to Lashkar during interrogation.

"Ajmal Qasab has received training in a L-e-T training camp in Pakistan," he said. "Our interrogation indicates that the terrorists had other places that they also intended to target."

Maria declined to offer any other details.

As investigations continue into one of India's deadliest terrorist attacks, pressure is mounting on the Indian government to account for what went wrong, reports CBS News correspondent Celia Hatton.

Two top security officials have already resigned. India's Prime Minister has also vowed to boost the size of the country's anti-terrorism forces, which face criticism for arriving at the scene long after the gunfire began.

Indian newspapers report their government had been warned of a possible attack by sea and many are now questioning why that intelligence was ignored. Two local fishermen noticed the attackers coming ashore and were suspicious.

"They were carrying schoolbags on their shoulders and two handbags probably carrying ammunition and AK 47 guns," a fisherman explains.

Officials now believe Westerners weren't the only targets in the attacks, Hatton reports. Instead, it is thought the gunmen wanted to kill as many people as possible, no matter their nationality.

Many witnesses have said the gunmen were remarkably calm. Newspaper photographer Sebastien D'Souza followed militants operating in the train station, taking photos throughout.

"This is where I got the picture of the two and they exchanged some couple of words and then the guy dropped his bag," syas D'Souza, with the Mumbai Mirror. "I think it was empty there was no amo in it - he dropped his bag and then moved forward and kept firing from the hips, never raised the gun, very cool."

Earlier, a United States counterterrorism official had said some "signatures of the attack" were consistent with Lashkar and Jaish-e-Mohammed, another group that has operated in Kashmir. Both are reported to be linked to al Qaeda.

Lashkar was banned in Pakistan in 2002 under pressure from the U.S., a year after Washington and Britain listed it a terrorist group. It is since believed to have emerged under another name, Jamaat-ud-Dawa.

In April 2006, the U.S. Department of State listed Jamaat-ud-Dawa as terrorist organizations for being an "alias" of Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The Pakistani government offered no immediate response.

Speaking earlier Sunday, a spokesman for a Jamat-ud Dawa denied any link to Lashkar-e-Taiba and said he condemned the attack.

"We condemn the killings of civilians. We condemn such killings in a terrorist activity, and at the same time we condemn it happening in the shape of state terrorism, as we see in Srinagar, Kashmir," Abdullah Muntazir said, referring to alleged Indian army atrocities in the disputed Kashmir region.

India has blamed "elements" from Pakistan for the 60-hour siege during which suspected Muslim militants hit 10 sites across India's financial capital, leaving at least 174 dead.

Despite India's claim, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani, said, "I don't think that this is the time for India or anybody in India to accuse Pakistan. It's time to work with Pakistan. Pakistan is now a democracy. India is a democracy. And as two democracies, we need to strengthen each other, rather than fall into the trap of the terrorists, who want us to fight with each other so that they can get greater strength."

India repeatedly has accused Pakistan of complicity in terrorist attacks on its soil, many of which it traces to militant groups fighting Indian rule in the divided Himalayan territory of Kashmir. The U.S. has tried to persuade Pakistan to shift its security focus from India, with which it has fought three wars, to Islamic militants along the Afghan border.

President-elect Barack Obama told Time magazine in an interview in October that "Kashmir in particular is an interesting situation ... that is obviously a potential tar pit diplomatically." He spoke of devoting "serious diplomatic resources to get a special envoy in there to figure out a plausible approach."

When asked if that sounded like a job for former President Clinton, Obama replied, "Might not be bad" and that they had spoken about the issue when they had lunch in September in Clinton's New York office.


Seeking Answers

The battle of Mumbai lasted three days; it may take a lot longer than that to piece together exactly how it was planned and carried out, and by whom, says CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips.

Throughout the multiple attacks and the response of government troops, the rumors flew like bullets - some true, some not.

Battles flared up, literally. Some were declared over and then flared up again. As the smoke has cleared, though, some of the basics seem clear:

This terror came from the sea. Rubber boats were apparently used to ferry the attackers ashore, possibly from an Indian fishing boat which was reported hijacked.

Once ashore, the attackers fanned out toward their planned targets, all closely grouped in Mumbai's commercial heart.

First to the train station, where they fired indiscriminately at people on the crowded concourse. Then, on to one of the city's landmark restaurants where they also opened fire.

The intent in both these attacks was simple: To cause carnage and confusion. And security experts like Will Geddes say, the attackers knew exactly what they were doing.

"Certainly the intelligence that I have been speaking to in India has indicated that they had professional training," Giddes told CBS News. "They may even be former soldiers themselves."

That training came into play again at the next major targets, Mumbai's two best-known hotels, the Oberoi and the Taj Mahal, and a center run by a New York-based Orthodox Jewish sect, Chabad Lubavitch. Here the intent seemed to be not just to kill but to take hostages.

"Anyone who had a British or American passport they wanted to know," one witness said at the scene. "They were after foreigners."

(AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
The Indian response, while courageous, was also chaotic. It took repeated assaults to root out the attackers who seemed to know their way around the building.

At the Jewish center, an American rabbi and his Israeli- born wife were among the hostages. Their two-year-old son was somehow smuggled out.

Commandos made their assault from a helicopter. They killed the attackers but found the hostages dead.

Indian officials say all this was managed by only ten attackers, a number security experts like Geddes find difficult to accept.

"I can't see how nine simultaneous attacks across the city within the scope of 30 minutes could be achieved by a ten-person team," he said.

As the funerals have begun, the hard questions are being asked, including the biggest question of all: Is this the first wave of a new kind of terrorism?

Security analyst Crispin Black told CBS News, "I think this is going to change things. You want to be a suicide bomber, put a pack on your back and go blow yourself up on an underground train, or do you want to go down in a blaze of glory? It's a sad and sinister thing to say but I think we need to look out for this in the future."

The first view of the future may have been during 60 bloody hours this past week in Mumbai.

Prayers After 60 Bloody Hours

On the first Sunday since terrorists attacked Mumbai, hundreds gathered to pray. Memorials and funerals took place for some victims of the attacks.

In Mumbai, a special memorial service was held for police officials killed. At least three top Indian police officers - including the chief of the anti-terror squad - were among those killed.

Other residents of Mumbai also began cremating their dead.

The journalist community in the Indian capital also gathered in large numbers on Sunday to bid farewell to the well-known scribe and food critic Sabina Sehgal Saikia who lost her life.

Saikia was cremated in New Delhi after her body was found on the gutted 6th floor of the Taj Mahal hotel on Saturday. She had been trapped in the hotel after gunmen stormed the building and she had been sending messages to her husband until midnight on Wednesday.

The death toll, officially 174, included many foreigners. Six Americans died in the carnage, but officials now believe Westerners weren't the main targets, reports CBS News correspondent Celia Hatton.

It's thought they wanted to kill thousands of people.

(AP Photo/Saurabh Das)
The Leopold Cafe (left), a restaurant involved in the attack, has already reopened.

Still, many question why more isn't being done to secure the city.

At the city's main train station, more than 40 people died in a shower of bullets. Metal detectors at the doors weren't enough to stop two men from walking inside with hand grenades and AK-47 rifles.

Two top security officials submitted their resignations, but that might not appease public anger, says filmmaker Simone Ahuja:

"People are frustrated. They're asking their politicians what's going on and what are they going to do to improve the situation."

Mumbai is reawakening. Weddings are happening again, but a pall lies heavy over the city, as so many questions remain unanswered.

© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Add a Comment See all 77 Comments
by patriotic9 November 30, 2008 3:15 PM EST
Before the partition of India, it was unonimously agreed between major Political Parties in India, namely; Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League and the British ruler of that time that Muslim majority areas were supposed to be Pakistan and Hindu majority areas were going to be India. You know very well that Kashmir is a muslim majority area with about 86% muslims. The dictator Hindu Maharaja of Kashmir who was not democratically elected by people of Kashmir, against the will of the people decided to make Kashmir a state of India, and Indians who call themselves the largest democracy in the world, have been showing no respect to democracy and freedom of self expression in regards to Kashmiri people. The injustice practised by India is a contributing factor for radicalization of those Kashmiris whose matter of lives was decided by a dictator Maharaja and people and government of the largest democracy in the world. It''s a very serious matter as injustice against muslims any where in the world help Islamic radicals in their recruiting mission which creates problem for us in the western world.
Reply to this comment
by socialismsux November 30, 2008 3:36 PM EST
Islam : The religion of Lucifer
Reply to this comment
by mrmeatspin November 30, 2008 3:56 PM EST
a few months ago these terrorist groups are cowering and begging for these drone attacks to stop..

NOW with bush almost out and the liberals almost in..

THINGS ARE GETTING ALL WARMED UP..

ITS GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING 4 YEARS
Reply to this comment
by thcarson-2009 November 30, 2008 4:06 PM EST
If you knew anything about socialism, by the way,

you would know, as well, that it is far better for

the human race then the GREED DRIVEN CAPITALISM

THAT MINDLESS CHRISTIANS WORSHIP


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Posted by pythoncharly


That''s why it has worked so well throughout history, right?
Reply to this comment
by silverstar06 November 30, 2008 4:17 PM EST
Wow. That sure is amazing. One guy who knew the entire plan! I''m not a terrorist, but I thought knowing the whole plan was only something that happens in a Hollywood movie script.
Reply to this comment
by centerfall94 November 30, 2008 4:17 PM EST
Notice how the Witch of Wasalia isn''t in the news any more?

Ain''t it great? 8-)
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 November 30, 2008 4:24 PM EST
As a plural democracy, it is perfectly reasonable that India rules Kashmir. The Islamic dictators don''''t get to grab land and countries just because they claim there are "oppressed" Muslim populations. In truth, it is the Muslims doing the oppression.
Posted by jbrown88881 at 01:03 PM : Nov 30, 2008

What you said here could be absolutely true if there was no agreement between Indian National Congress, All India Muslim League and British Viceroy to India, Lord Mountbatten, that those areas with muslim majority would be Pakistan whereas the areas with Hindu Majority would be India.
Do you disagree that India being the largest democracy in the world should not have supported a dictator Maharaja of Kashmir, who was not democratically elected by the people of India, in making Kashmir an Indian state, against the will of Kashmiri people, and against the agreement which was signed by Indian National Congress (Party of Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru), All India Muslim League and Lord Mountbatten, in the year 1940!
Reply to this comment
by McHineguy November 30, 2008 4:31 PM EST
Notice how the Witch of Wasalia isn''''t in the news any more?

Ain''''t it great? 8-)


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Posted by Centerfall94 at 01:17 PM : Nov 30, 2008

No, I hadnt until you mentioned it. I wonder what there is about her that has you so fascinated. It must be some kind of fear since you call her a witch and post about her in an area about Indian terror. I hope you find protection and peace.
Reply to this comment
by milarepa2 November 30, 2008 4:33 PM EST
It always seemed to me that India and Pakistan should BOTH get out of Kashmir. Let it be the independent state it would prefer to be. They should also pay Kashmir reparations. Big time.
Reply to this comment
by McHineguy November 30, 2008 4:44 PM EST
now pakistan will ask for more money to combat the terrorism they didn''''t know existed.


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Posted by jgg0002 at 01:40 PM : Nov 30, 2008

Adn we will send it to them because our countries mission is to "share the wealth". Our president to be has said so.
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 November 30, 2008 4:46 PM EST
It always seemed to me that India and Pakistan should BOTH get out of Kashmir. Let it be the independent state it would prefer to be. They should also pay Kashmir reparations. Big time.

Posted by milarepa2 at 01:33 PM : Nov 30, 2008

I totally agree with you on that. Leave it on the Kashmiri people. Let them decide what is best for them.
Reply to this comment
by colonieny November 30, 2008 4:50 PM EST

NANNY HERO
The J Post stated that the boy''s Nanny somehow heroically rescued the 2 year old boy. She has been flown to Israel for her protection, as there are some Islamic believers who would kill her for saving the life of a Jew. Shame.

Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 November 30, 2008 4:56 PM EST
now pakistan will ask for more money to combat the terrorism they didn''''t know existed.

Posted by jgg0002 at 01:40 PM : Nov 30, 2008

Actually it will benefit both India and Pakistan financially.
India will deploy her troops to Pakistani border. As a response Pakistan will have to remove her troops from Afghan border and deploy them to the Indian border. That will give free hands to Alqaeda and Taliban in causing catostrophy to our forces in Afghanistan, which will be having negative impact on our economy, which will force our businesses in US to get their products made in India, which will give a buzz to Indian Economy.
Pakistan on the other hand will be asking more money to fight war against terrorism, which we have no choice but to give them in order to sustain our presence in Afghanistan. That will transform new Pakistani President from Mr 10% to Mr 100% (Formerly known as Mr 10% as he used to have 10% commission on all the financial deal).
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 November 30, 2008 5:37 PM EST
Re: "This terror came from the sea. Rubber boats were apparently used..."

Ah yes. Rubber boats were used in the fake "We''''re coming to get you...", hoax video put out by the US Navy during its confrontation with the Iranians a while back.

Posted by MikeTotten1 at 02:34 PM : Nov 30, 2008

I thought James Bond movies were not real!
This new James Bond will benefit both India and Pakistan financially.
India will deploy her troops to Pakistani border. As a response Pakistan will have to remove her troops from Afghan border and deploy them to the Indian border. That will give free hands to Alqaeda and Taliban in causing catostrophy to our forces in Afghanistan, which will be having negative impact on our economy, which will force our businesses in US to get their products made in India, which will give a buzz to Indian Economy.
Pakistan on the other hand will be asking more money to fight war against terrorism, which we have no choice but to give them in order to sustain our presence in Afghanistan. That will transform new Pakistani President from Mr 10% to Mr 100% (Formerly known as Mr 10% as he used to have 10% commission on all the financial deals).
Reply to this comment
by besscannon-2009 November 30, 2008 5:44 PM EST
When we have riots and unrest in this country amongst our people, who sends us funds to help with the problem? Nobody does!! Then, why do we help everybody else? No wonder the rest of the world has lost respect for us. They see how easy it is to make fools of us and take advantage while PRETENDING to be our friends. Heck, we even send funds to people that don''t even pretend to like us, trying to BUY their goodwill while they snicker up their sleeves at those stupid Americans.
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 November 30, 2008 5:45 PM EST
Who is Heckle and Jeckle?

Posted by ShowNoFear

MikeTotten1 and patriotic9 ?

Posted by brianwwb at 02:40 PM : Nov 30, 2008

Smart people come up with valid and sound reasons to prove their points whereas Mentally Retarded individuals call names.
Before the partition of India, it was unonimously agreed between major Political Parties in India, namely; Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League and the British ruler of that time that Muslim majority areas were supposed to be Pakistan and Hindu majority areas were going to be India. You know very well that Kashmir is a muslim majority area with about 86% muslims. The dictator Hindu Maharaja of Kashmir who was not democratically elected by people of Kashmir, against the will of the people decided to make Kashmir a state of India, and Indians who call themselves the largest democracy in the world, have been showing no respect to democracy and freedom of self expression in regards to Kashmiri people. The injustice practised by India is a contributing factor for radicalization of those Kashmiris whose matter of lives was decided by a dictator Maharaja and people and government of the largest democracy in the world. It''''s a very serious matter as injustice against muslims any where in the world help Islamic radicals in their recruiting mission which creates problem for us in the western world.

Based on sound and valid reasons, do you agree with what I said or disagree?



Reply to this comment
by piercetheval November 30, 2008 5:51 PM EST
OM KALI OM...OM NAMATE HANUMAN OM...!
Reply to this comment
by McHineguy November 30, 2008 5:59 PM EST
...
The injustice practised by India is a contributing factor .... It''''''''s a very serious matter as injustice against muslims any where in the world help Islamic radicals in their recruiting mission which creates problem for us in the western world.

Based on sound and valid reasons, do you agree with what I said or disagree?






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Posted by patriotic9 at 02:45 PM : Nov 30, 2008

I find your hostorical explanation plausable but Im not going to research it for verification. So, on the basis of facts you present, I agree that there should be unrest in Kashmir.

However, I do not believe that unrest ever justifies violence on your neighbors soil. Even more, I do not believe violence against peaceful citizens is ever justified. Even, even more, I do not believe it can be justified that one seek out visiting foreigners to vent your frustrations. Finally, I never believe one should exact vengence on a charitable envoy of any nationality or religion.

That leaves me with the conclusion that these terrorists are little more than animals responding to blind hatred and they do more harm to their cause than good.

Before one of you try to explain that they had no other way to get out attention, I will remind you that Mohatma Ghandi has proven them wrong. And he did it years ago, in their country.
Reply to this comment
by mydiatribe November 30, 2008 6:01 PM EST
I''m nervous that the Indian authorities are already so willing to pin this attack on Pakistan. This sole surviving terrorist may well have been coached to say this as part of his training. Al Quida knows there best chance of lighting a fuse that leads to a world war is reigniting the tensions between these two nuclear powers.
One (India) is the largest democracy in this part of the world. The other (Pakistan) is sometimes cooperative and sympathetic to the west. If Al Quida could start a war between these two the results would be caotic, just what Al Quida hopes to accomplish. The west brought to bear a lot of pressure when these two traditional enemies nearly erupted a few years back. I can''t help but believe Al Quida sponsored this whole thing, but no doubt layered their participation beneath several layers of small time terrorist organizations to allow them a plausible denial.
Reply to this comment
by mydiatribe November 30, 2008 6:21 PM EST
MOONBEAM MikeTotten1 SUUGESTS??
"These attacks look a lot more like a CIA or Israeli Mossad operation than anything else???"
While I imagine MOON BEAM MIKE for you everytime you find a cracked egg in a carton from the grocery store you no doubt believe that is the consequence of some CIA masterplot
Do you have sufficient logic to explain what interests the CIA or Moussad would be promoting by attacking tourists in Mumbai?? Didn''t think so???
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 November 30, 2008 6:25 PM EST
However, I do not believe that unrest ever justifies violence on your neighbors soil. Even more, I do not believe violence against peaceful citizens is ever justified. Even, even more, I do not believe it can be justified that one seek out visiting foreigners to vent your frustrations. Finally, I never believe one should exact vengence on a charitable envoy of any nationality or religion.

Before one of you try to explain that they had no other way to get out attention, I will remind you that Mohatma Ghandi has proven them wrong. And he did it years ago, in their country.

Posted by machineguy at 02:59 PM : Nov 30, 2008

I totally agree with you. I am not trying to justify the violance and terrorism caused by some individuals who don''t respect human rights in general. I am just saying that injustice in any society helps achieving some evil forces of the society in accomplishing their mission which in this case are Islamic Radicals who recruited highly trained and proficient individuals to carry out this massacre.
Mahatma Gandhi was in favor of United India along with open minded hindu and muslim leaders who didn''t want to see India divided. Mahatma Gandhi was later executed by those extremist Hindus who didn''t want to see a guy from the lowest caste (Harijan) of Hindu faith to be their leader.
Division of India was british conspiracy and now we all including britons are paying the price!
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 November 30, 2008 6:30 PM EST
Re: "Ajmal Qasab has received training in a L-e-T training camp in Pakistan," he said."
Posted by MikeTotten1 at 03:26 PM : Nov 30, 2008
This guy definately lives on his name. Qasab in Arabic means butcher!
Reply to this comment
by thuderstone November 30, 2008 6:46 PM EST
Hi MikeTotten1,

whatever your name is, I have been under assigned 24/7 survallance all this time and now I would really like to see you join me on that list. Stop busting nuts of people who have nothing to do with it! You lousy bastar.
Reply to this comment
by thuderstone November 30, 2008 6:50 PM EST
MikeTotten1,

What the relationship with you and the Jews, ok. You''re their dog.
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 November 30, 2008 7:09 PM EST
Folks, dont fall for the glib talking pakistani politicians..You guys have done this mistake during russian invasion of afghanistan by arming pakistan which in turn trained and nurtured terrorists like Bin laden. USA should call pakistan''''s bluff and dismantle its ISI.
Posted by antimatter1 at 03:59 PM : Nov 30, 2008
Our military in Afghanistan gets logistics via Pakistan. What will happen to that?
We need Pakistan a lot more then Pakistan needs us at this point. Pakistan is in a lot closer proximity to Russia and China then the United States. If Pakistan decides to be a part of Russian block, our interests in South Asia will be ruined!
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 November 30, 2008 7:12 PM EST
Before the partition of India, it was unonimously agreed between major Political Parties in India, namely; Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League and the British ruler of that time that Muslim majority areas were supposed to be Pakistan and Hindu majority areas were going to be India. You know very well that Kashmir is a muslim majority area with about 86% muslims. The dictator Hindu Maharaja of Kashmir who was not democratically elected by people of Kashmir, against the will of the people decided to make Kashmir a state of India, and Indians who call themselves the largest democracy in the world, have been showing no respect to democracy and freedom of self expression in regards to Kashmiri people. The injustice practised by India is a contributing factor for radicalization of those Kashmiris whose matter of lives was decided by a dictator Maharaja and people and government of the largest democracy in the world. It''''s a very serious matter as injustice against muslims any where in the world help Islamic radicals in their recruiting mission which creates problem for us in the western world.

antimatter1,
Please let me know if these historical facts are inaccurate!

Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 November 30, 2008 7:25 PM EST
Before the partition of India, it was unonimously agreed between major Political Parties in India, namely; Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League and the British ruler of that time that Muslim majority areas were supposed to be Pakistan and Hindu majority areas were going to be India. You know very well that Kashmir is a muslim majority area with about 86% muslims. The dictator Hindu Maharaja of Kashmir who was not democratically elected by people of Kashmir, against the will of the people decided to make Kashmir a state of India, and Indians who call themselves the largest democracy in the world, have been showing no respect to democracy and freedom of self expression in regards to Kashmiri people. The injustice practised by India is a contributing factor for radicalization of those Kashmiris whose matter of lives was decided by a dictator Maharaja and people and government of the largest democracy in the world. It''''''''s a very serious matter as injustice against muslims any where in the world help Islamic radicals in their recruiting mission which creates problem for us in the western world.

antimatter1,
Please let me know if these historical facts are inaccurate!

You didn''t answer my question!



Reply to this comment
by sincity_q November 30, 2008 7:26 PM EST
This is a tragedy, no doubt. But it is also a conspiracy buff''s playground...

According to the Times of India, the intruders, after being instructed to ditch their electronics before landing, conveniently left behind a GPS device as well as a sat phone in one of the boats they used. These have been purportedly harvested for evidence that, big surprise, leads back to the ISI and their pets, Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Additionally, only one terrorist survived and he is, according to the same Times of India report, singing to the tune of Pakistan.

To the conspiracy theorist, this is just too pat, too neat and too perfect to be anything but a set up job to create a conflict between India and Pakistan.

Disclaimer: Your opinion may vary.

Reference: Times of India "India has tell-tale evidence of Pak connection, say agencies"

...
Reply to this comment
by thuderstone November 30, 2008 7:26 PM EST
antimatter1,

He is asking for it.
Reply to this comment
by sincity_q November 30, 2008 7:33 PM EST
@MikeTotten1

I have to admit that it couldn''t have been better scripted for a James Bond movie but... there are too many lives lost now to play this casually. The evidence is compelling and the possibilities for such a conspiracy exist. But beyond that, I am not personally ready to buy off on anything yet.
Reply to this comment
by thuderstone November 30, 2008 7:36 PM EST
MikeTotten1,

THAT MEANS THE TIMES KNOWS YOUR IP, NOTHING ELSE.
Reply to this comment
by sincity_q November 30, 2008 7:42 PM EST
@ghostfighter

You seem like an... um, intelligent person. Tell us, oh mighty one, what is the truth here so that we might all share in your glory??
Reply to this comment
by thuderstone November 30, 2008 7:46 PM EST
We are ruling out the Jews in this, who is with me?
Reply to this comment
by sincity_q November 30, 2008 7:48 PM EST
It would make sense for there to be an al Qaeda/Lashkar-e-Taiba connection because a rise in tensions removes Pakistan''s physical/military commitment to reigning in Taliban/al Qaeda in the frontiere areas at the Afghan border. But at the same time, any outbreak of hostilities makes domestic Pak insurgency counterproductive.

Reply to this comment
by mydiatribe November 30, 2008 7:51 PM EST
TO: Moonbeam Mike Totten1
Let me slow things down for you.
a) These terrorists arrived from Pakistan on a freighter found abandoned in the Mumbai harbor.
Then they approached the city in rubber dingys via the river.
b) The reason these terrorists got passed the metal detectors in the hotel lobby which were big and prominent, BTW, is that they entered through the rear kitchen door.
c) Every time you metion the Israelis it is in connection with 9/11 that was seven long years ago. GWB has kept America safe for that long.
d) The ONLY connection between Israel and these terrorists EXISTS PURELY in your FRACTURED MIND!!!
Suggest You:
Get back on your meds.
Ceases with these STUPID POSTS ALREADY!
Reply to this comment
by kno-1 November 30, 2008 7:55 PM EST
I have been watching NDTV throughout this tragedy. And for the citizens of India, I offer my heartfelt condolences. You have every right to feel what you feel. It''s called the stages of coping with death.Yes we, as U.S. citizens (as an entire group) are arrogant and ignorant of cultures and history. However, as individuals, there are exceptions to the rule.

Setting that aside, I do have some issues concerning such conspiracy theories going on.
Reply to this comment
by sincity_q November 30, 2008 7:56 PM EST
@mydiatribe

a) These terrorists arrived from Pakistan on a freighter found abandoned in the Mumbai harbor.
Then they approached the city in rubber dingys via the river.
**No argument

b) The reason these terrorists got passed the metal detectors in the hotel lobby which were big and prominent, BTW, is that they entered through the rear kitchen door.
** That%u2019s possible%u2026 for that single location.

c) Every time you metion the Israelis it is in connection with 9/11 that was seven long years ago. GWB has kept America safe for that long.
** This is not a relevant statement.

d) The ONLY connection between Israel and these terrorists EXISTS PURELY in your FRACTURED MIND!!!
** Rhetorical.

For an educator, you don%u2019t offer a lot more than insults and innuendo. It%u2019s not that I disagree with you, but I find your methods crude and less than impressive. Are you by chance a used car salesman?

%u2026
Reply to this comment
by kno-1 November 30, 2008 7:56 PM EST
Setting that aside, I do have some issues concerning such conspiracy theories going on.
First things first.
1.SOUTH ASIA TERRORISM PORTAL-Hindi Founded Org.
http://www.satp.org/
This New Dehli based org provides extensive up-to-date info, extensive history, links, connections, terrorist prevention etc.

2.Lashkar-e-Toiba="The Army of the Pure"
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/jandk/terrorist_outfits/lashkar_e_toiba.htm#

India%u2019s National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan said on August 11, 2006, that the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba is part of the "al Qaeda compact" and is "as big as and omnipotent" as the international terror network. L.E.T. no longer wants Kashmir and Jammu. It''s looking for Islamic rule over Asia from India to Chechnya.
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by kno-1 November 30, 2008 7:57 PM EST
3. Lashkar-e-Toiba is financially or logistically supported by Pakistan, Mossad, CIA.
FALSE!
Lashkar-e-Toiba is not financially or logistically supported by Pakistan, Mossad, CIA. It''s supported indirectly by the public with a charity front. They have "charities" in U.K., Saudi Arabia, U.S., Australia, Pakistan, India etc. Besides, if you knew how bumbling our CIA and FBI were, you''d know we couldn''t.

4. There are more than 11 terrorists.
COULD BE.
From NDTV broadcasts, Terrorists hijacked/stolen several vehicles (SUV, Vespa etc) and did drive by bombings and shootings. Also, they would occasionally stop an shoot on the way. Terrorists first lobbed grenades @ a gas station before getting off and entering the Jewish Center behind the station. Witness report that from the waterfront, said terrorists didn''t go to the obvious targets closest to their landings. They spread.
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by sincity_q November 30, 2008 7:59 PM EST
@brianwwb

A king I am? Why, thank you.

BTW...do you do balloon animals too or just low rent insults?
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by sincity_q November 30, 2008 8:02 PM EST
Hey guys... I came here looking for some ideas an opinion and unfortunately, most of the content is strictly Jerry Springer.

Who would want to make sure that honest discourse on this topic was repeatedly interrupted by statements designed to create flame wars?

Mike Totten: you can email me at mfrankln@gmail.com
(It''s a spam box so... nothing lost of these trolls want to lay in a few rants or spams... they just get deleted anyway haha.)
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by kno-1 November 30, 2008 8:08 PM EST
Hmmm...going to the source. (kno-1=researcher by hobby)
Want to hear their rhetoric? Check out the website!
http://www.jamatuddawa.org

Hafiz Muhammad Saeed is the Amir (chief) of Lashkar-e-Toiba.
Yahiya Mujahid serves as the spokesman of the outfit, Maulana Abdul Wahid is one of the senior leaders.

Abdullah Muntazer is the %u2018Spokesman for International Media%u2019 and editor of the outfit%u2019s Website.

Talha Saeed reportedly looks after the LeT activity at its base camp in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

Khalid Waleed, is reportedly part of the LeT office in Lahore.
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by wardoglrs November 30, 2008 8:24 PM EST
This is just another False Flag created by the illegal power that runs America to go to war. typical of our NSA/CIA/FBI. They are all corrupt always looking for a war somewhere

They just cant stand not to kill and maim the people of other poor countries its always a poor country.
Put a end to these people is simple don''t give them your labor.

You must understand one thing and only one thing. Your in danger and if you don''t wake up to the lie of your government then you will simply become there slave
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by rudy6543 November 30, 2008 9:41 PM EST
Posted by MikeTotten1 at 05:34 PM

So Mikey, what do you think of the Indian Government? Are they a part of your conspiracy with the Israelis? What do you think of Indians in general?
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by wingnutsblow November 30, 2008 10:54 PM EST
Although the trolls would have you believe otherwise, Occams Razor says this incident was just another in the decades-old regional dispute between Pakistan and India over Kashmir. The real question is, why did everyone, including our own corporate-run media, try to spin it into something it wasn''t?
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by wingnutsblow November 30, 2008 11:12 PM EST
"Your idea that this had something to do with Kashmir is the first I''''ve heard of this suggestion.
Posted by MikeTotten1"

Perhaps you should read more and talk less...
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by jowand November 30, 2008 11:40 PM EST
The Israelis have been supplying "trainers" to the Indian security forces for some time now.

The Israelis are sending "investigators" to the scene, giving them an opportunity to reach whatever conclusions that they would like to about who is responsible for the attacks.

Posted by MikeTotten1 at 08:24 PM : Nov 30, 2008

You offer no proof of your accusation that Israel did it just useless staements which could fit seveal nations. Brazil sells weapons to India as do a lot of other nations.
You should offer some proof, maybe the Chinese are behind it they want more power in the area and India is an obstacle, maybe Russia is behind it all as they are stirring up trouble everywhere they can.
As Obama would say you are "JUST WORDS JUST WORDS". You need to put up or shut up and you need to stop trying to make people think you are Mike Trotten the news blogger. I don''t agree with a lot of what he say, but he isn''t your kind of America Israel hating person you are, you''re a total phony.
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by jowand November 30, 2008 11:45 PM EST
Israelis have the ability to transport attackers into the area undetected.

Israelis have the ability to analyze security vulnerabilities and exploit them.

Opportunity:

The Israelis have been supplying "trainers" to the Indian security forces for some time now.

The Israelis are sending "investigators" to the scene, giving them an opportunity to reach whatever conclusions that they would like to about who is responsible for the attacks.

Posted by MikeTotten1 at 08:24 PM : Nov 30, 2008
+ report abuse

You''re just another DailyKos Kook A Doodle Doo Chicken all chirp and $#!T
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by jowand November 30, 2008 11:52 PM EST


The Israeli leaders would very much like to see the rest of the world hate and fear Muslims as much as they do.

Means:

The Israelis have the planners and weaponry needed to orchestrate a sophisticated attack like this.

Israelis have the ability to transport attackers into the area undetected.

Israelis have the ability to analyze security vulnerabilities and exploit them.

Opportunity:

The Israelis have been supplying "trainers" to the Indian security forces for some time now.

The Israelis are sending "investigators" to the scene, giving them an opportunity to reach whatever conclusions that they would like to about who is responsible for the attacks.

Posted by MikeTotten1 at 08:24 PM : Nov 30, 2008
+ report abuse

There is any number of countries who might be behind this according to how YOUR theory works.
You don''t list all or any of these just Israel, why not all or any of the other countries with your big long laundry list of why it would any of them?
You''re just a bigot, maybe a Muslim trying to push your POC propoganda.

Reply to this comment
by jowand December 1, 2008 12:14 AM EST
Re: "There is any number of countries who might be behind this according to how YOUR theory works."

Make your case,if you can.

What''''s stopping you

Posted by MikeTotten1 at 08:56 PM : Nov 30, 2008

As I said according to YOUR theory, you are the one with all of the talking and no proof. You don''t have a shred of evidence to back up your very bad illogical theory.
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