As we mourn the lives and security of Bombites that was shattered by the evil terror, I thought it is helpful to share some lessons learned analysis that was made available to me recently.
My dear brothers and sisters in India and Bombay (Millind and Elizabeth, etc)
My condolances and best wishes as you recuperate from the gross violation of your peace and security.
Here is a Lesson series to help us navigate our loss and to ensure that we do not misplace our grievances and place our security of future peace on Proactive Vigilance for ever.
The lesson appears to be slightly detached and does not give the human diamensiion of the loss and sanctivity, my apologies.
All the same it is worth taking note.
Dr B
Lessons from the Mumbai tragedy
By Gideon Rachman
Published: December 1 2008 19:25 | Last updated: December 1 2008 19:25
On the day I arrived in Delhi last September, terrorists had set off bombs in markets across the city. The receptionist at the Taj hotel told me that they were advising guests to stay inside to avoid danger. The hotel felt like a sanctuary from the chaos outside. When I set off the metal-detector coming back into the Taj, the security guard just laughed and bowed deeply.
My next stop was the Taj Palace hotel in Mumbai – the scene of last week’s tragic killings and siege. At the time, there was next to no security. That looks bad now. But the sad truth is that you can have very tight checks at these hotels and still be vulnerable. I also stayed at the Marriott in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, earlier this year. All cars entering its driveway were checked for explosives. But a couple of months ago, it was still destroyed by a bomb that caused scores of deaths.
Experts on terrorism will be poring over the attacks on Mumbai, looking for lessons and ideas. Here are three. First, hotels are increasingly the targets of choice for terrorists. Second, south Asia rather than the Middle East is the centre of the problem. Finally, terror thrives off conflict: so provoking a war between India and Pakistan would count as a triumph for the people who attacked Mumbai.
Five-star hotels in poor countries market themselves as sanctuaries, but increasingly they are targets. The list of hotels that have come under attack by terrorists now includes the Taj and the Oberoi in Mumbai, the Marriott in Islamabad, the Serena in Kabul, the Grand Hyatt and Radisson in Amman, the Hilton in Taba and the Marriott in Jakarta. Hotels in Europe or North America could easily be next.
From the terrorists’ point of view, it is logical enough. Smart hotels are prestige targets, full of rich foreigners and the local elite. They are easier to get at than airliners and airports, because they are often in the centre of cities and rely on ease of access.
It seems that the terrorists who attacked Mumbai came from Pakistan – and were linked to a Kashmiri group, which in turn has links to the Pakistani intelligence services. That will – rightly – put huge pressure on the Pakistani government to do more to crack down on jihadist movements sheltering inside the country.
The Americans are already convinced that Nato cannot win in Afghanistan unless the Taliban and al-Qaeda are denied bases in Pakistan. During the presidential election campaign, Barack Obama attempted to burnish his security credentials by talking of authorising strikes on terrorists inside Pakistan.
In fact, such strikes are already a regular occurrence. Pilotless Predator-drones can hover in the skies above the tribal areas for ages, before launching their missiles. The Americans claim to have had significant success in “neutralising” militants based in Pakistan. A few days before the attacks on Mumbai, a missile strike is said to have killed Rashid Rauf – a terror suspect who was near the top of Britain’s most-wanted list.
But the “war on terrorism” will not be won by killing terrorists. That was certainly the view of most of the Indian politicians and security experts that I spoke to last September. They were sceptical about US strikes inside Pakistan and advanced the usual arguments. Bombing suspected terrorist bases was bound to cause civilian casualties. That would only bring fresh recruits for the jihadist cause. The received opinion in Delhi, at the time, was that the problem was still best dealt with by Pakistan.
Ironically, the Indians are now under huge pressure to emulate the US tactics that they were criticising. Some sort of Indian military response to the Mumbai horrors may be unavoidable. But the Indians should hang on to their restraint as far as possible.
A military confrontation between India and Pakistan – two nuclear-armed neighbours – would obviously be extremely dangerous. A confrontation with India would also strengthen all the most sinister forces in Pakistan – the Islamists and the elements in the security establishment that back them.
The only long-term solution is to strengthen the civilian politicians who have realised that Pakistan’s past support for jihadist movements has backfired. Pakistan built up the Islamists to put pressure on India and to provide “strategic depth” in Afghanistan. But the biggest threat posed by Pakistani-based Islamist movements is now to Pakistan itself.
The central government has lost control of the tribal areas and large parts of North-West Frontier province, as well as suffering badly from terrorism in Islamabad itself. It knows that its long-term task must be to reassert the rule of law across the whole of the country.
Just days before the attacks on Mumbai, Asif Ali Zardari, the Pakistani president, issued an imaginative proposal for improving relations with India, based around free trade and the renunciation of a nuclear first-strike capability.
Mr Zardari needs to reiterate that proposal and to provide the fullest co-operation in investigating the Mumbai attacks. That might allow the Indian government to remind its own people that Pakistan has also been a victim of Islamist terrorism – and to embrace the idea of a joint approach to tackling the problem.
A joint Indian-Pakistani pact to tackle terror seems unlikely at the moment, as tensions rise between the two countries. But if the Mumbai tragedy ultimately led to better relations between India and Pakistan – rather than fresh conflict – that would be a real defeat for the terrorists who attacked India’s most vibrant and open city.
gideon.rachman@ft.com
Post and read comments at Gideon Rachman’s blog
More columns at www.ft.com/rachman
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on 5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
--- On Mon, 12/1/08, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: [cmcvellore77] Cry the beloved country and Be Vigilant forever!
To: cmcvellore77@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, December 1, 2008, 9:52 AM
Dear Millind and Colleagues of CMC77 Alumni:
My condalences for all families who lost their loved ones.
The people of India and Pakistan have to settle the apparent differences if any and make commitments that their governments do not initiate cells to distabilize the other.
The CNN GPS Program of Fareed Zakaria a Bombaites or Mumba Citizen where he interviwed Tata Group owner of the Taj and the Pakistani Amabassador here in Washington DC was very revealing.
It is becoming evident that this was an outside job done by one of the ISI cells that the Ambassador calimed have been disbanned in 2001 but who are still operationa.
So, Millind, your emotions are appropriate as you write, this is an evil and intentional terror created by people in authority who had the resources to plan, train and load those youths with deadly weapons.
Yes, it is sad that this has happened. It is will ful crime done by intelligent sane people with a criminal and heineous motive, and it is a crime. It needs to be punished. Most importantly, Bombay or Mumbai has to change its way of life.
Prevention, Pre-emption and readiness is going to be the way forward.
My brother for you personally it is going to be painful, as you have to deal with your own and your colleagues and your patients loss.
The Loss of Bomba Innocence. We can replace it with interactive, caring and aware vigilant citizens of Bombay.
May the Lord bless all the families who lost their loved ones and those who are contemplating what to do, so that they continue to do the right thing.
Bless you my borthes and Sisters of CMC 77 scattered all over the world.
with love
Dr B
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on 5Es: Education+Energy+ Ecology+Economy+ Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u. blogspot. com; Globalbelai@ yahoo.com
C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
--- On Sun, 11/30/08, milindborde
From: milindborde
Subject: [cmcvellore77] Cry the beloved country
To: cmcvellore77@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Sunday, November 30, 2008, 11:06 AM
I grew up in Mumbai. St. Xavier's school where I studied, is just next
to the GT Hospital where terrorists struck. I can't count the numbers
of times I have passed through the V.T. Station.
The Mumbai of my childhood was a city where we felt safe. We were
proud of our reputation as the most cosmopolitan city in India. I
often returned home by bus late at night without anyone having to
worry about me.
Suddenly that world has gone. Terror has struck the heart of this city
and fear stalks the streets. Ordinary men, women and children have
been gunned down – without reason. A cold anger burns within my soul.
As a psychiatrist, I have to minister to "minds diseased". But this is
no disease. Terrorism is not a cancer. Cancer cells do not kill of
their own volition. This is evil. Nothing less then pure undiluted
evil. And there is no remedy for evil. Except to fight it and fight it
and fight it.
The Mumbai that I knew is dying. And I can do nothing for it. Except
to mourn it's passing away.
Milind
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