If there's any glint of hopeful news, it's that Islamabad may finally take tougher steps to rein in JeM and LeT. (We've already seen some improved efforts recently against the Taliban and al Qaeda in the tribal areas near Afghanistan.)
Zardari's offer of full cooperation with India may help restabilize relations between the neighbors. The early challenge is a possible Indian military response against Pakistani interests, which could lead to escalation.
The tragedy also provides Washington an opportunity for greater counterterror cooperation with both Islamabad and New Delhi - an idea both may be open to now. That step would make us all safer.
Hmmm... I don't have much faith in the incumbant administration doing much to help matters as they have managed to make quite a mess of US foreign policy (to be generous) and our international credibility (with the encouragement of the so-called "Heritage Foundation"). And since Mr. Bush is of late more concerned with either signing late-term pardons for the multitudes of criminals working under his administration and otherwise enhancing the status of US businesses as the largest polluters on the planet (while reducing safety regulations of our nuclear power plants), perhaps the president elect will have his team more involved in these matters than the incumbant (one can only hope that something good will come of this).
I am hopeful that Mr. Zardari is able to locate and persecute any Pakistanis that were involved with this crime - but Pakistan has many problems to resolve and the US hasn't been all that helpful in that respect.
"The tragedy also provides Washington an opportunity for greater counterterror cooperation with both Islamabad and New Delhi - an idea both may be open to now. That step would make us all safer." Sad but true. Let's see what happens. Let's see if Rice has any kind of baton to pass to Clinton.
Who was behind it? No one knows for sure yet. Just remember that cooperation across terrorist groups is a very high possibility (just don't confuse cooperation with conspiracy). Cooperation was very pervalent with the terror groups in the 70's and 80's when the ideology was diametrically opposed.
For what it's worth (from Wikipedia): "A conspiracy theory is a hypothesis that alleges a coordinated group is, or was, secretly working to commit illegal or wrongful actions, including attempting to hide the existence of the group and its activities. In notable cases the hypothesis contradicts what was, or is, represented as the mainstream explanation for historical or current events. The phrase "conspiracy theory" is also sometimes used dismissively in an attempt to portray hypothetical speculation as being untrue or outlandish." So the actions in Mumbai seem to fit the very idea of a conspiracy. But as to who? You're right. We don't have the information. (If somebody does, they're keeping a tight lid on it. Hopefully for good reason.)
Originally posted by bwf27: For what it's worth (from Wikipedia): "A conspiracy theory is a hypothesis that alleges a coordinated group is, or was, secretly working to commit illegal or wrongful actions, including attempting to hide the existence of the group and its activities. In notable cases the hypothesis contradicts what was, or is, represented as the mainstream explanation for historical or current events. The phrase "conspiracy theory" is also sometimes used dismissively in an attempt to portray hypothetical speculation as being untrue or outlandish." So the actions in Mumbai seem to fit the very idea of a conspiracy. But as to who? You're right. We don't have the information. (If somebody does, they're keeping a tight lid on it. Hopefully for good reason.)
There is no world-wide conspiracy amongst the various terror groups. They may cooperate with each other, even when their ideology is different, but there is no conspiracy. The RAF did not conspire with the PLO, the IRA did not conspire with the PFLP, but they did cooperate, such as training, travel logisitcs, arms, munitions and explosives. Usually, it was a simple trade; money (to finance that groups agenda) for training or safe-haven for bomb making. But this was not a conspiracy among the groups.
Apparently the Brooke's Ghostwriter is awaiting some funding to complete his next piece for the Missile Defense industry such that he posits this "Mr MOTO" piece to offer his "piercing" insight.
"If there's any glint of hopeful news, it's that Islamabad may finally take tougher steps to rein in JeM and LeT. (We've already seen some improved efforts recently against the Taliban and al Qaeda in the tribal areas near Afghanistan.)"
Gotta hand it to them Ghostwriters they still spew propaganda to the bitter end, because the "some improved efforts" without the head of Obama or his deputies on a pike simply illuminates the false hope and paucity of the Bush policy as it relates to Pakistan's wilderness, read the excerpt below, after seven years the verdict is in, we used Osama to get our hands on Iraq's oil.
"We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them."Pres Bush September 11 2001
