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November 28, 2008
India terrorists – guns without conscience
Posted: 02:07 PM ET
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Gary Tuchman
AC360 Correspondent

The terrorists who killed so many innocent humans in India are thugs. They are not any smarter, any better, any more noble, or any more thoughtful than the thugs who murder people during bank robberies in Miami, convenience store hold-ups in Los Angeles, or carjackings in Chicago.

There's a tendency among some to marvel at how "well coordinated" an attack like this India one was. Well, don't marvel. If you no longer held a real job, were given bucket loads of money, and had a multitude of time on your hands, you too could "well coordinate" such a plan.

Fortunately, most people have consciences. Let's not allow society to romanticize and marvel over the planning of terrorists' soulless and monstorous escapades.

They are no different from your average street thug.

11 Comments
More about: Gary Tuchman •  India •  India Attacked
11 Comments
Vishesh Sharma   November 28th, 2008 2:58 pm ET

I just heard on an Indian news channel that one guy was an intern for 10 months with the Chef at the Taj & shot his own friends. Just gets to show that these people don't have Friends & Family. It's not just the Govt but all of us have to be Vigilant.

My prayers are with families that have lost loved ones.

Pat Tibbs   November 28th, 2008 3:21 pm ET

I keep saying that economic development in marginalized or failed states could yield a much better result than more guns and bombs. It's why I voted for Barack Obama. I thought I saw in him a recognition that we can and must get to these folks who "...no longer (hold) a real job...," educate them and provide real, honest work that will support them and their families. You know work that at the end of the day brings the breadwinner back home instead of to a morgue.

Of course we desperately need to open real dialog with leaders of marginalized or failed states; let them know we're here to help and then do it. That's another reason I voted for Barack Obama. I believe he'll do it.

KAREN   November 28th, 2008 3:36 pm ET

that was a well pland out attack ,the ones responcebil should be hung for there crimes agenst the lose of lifes ,inaseant lifes lost and for what ?

pati mc., camp hill, pa   November 28th, 2008 6:05 pm ET

Hello Gary,

I could not possibly agree more.

Understandably we need information regarding this horror – what is going on, have the hostages been rescued, are American lives at stake, etc and I admit I have been glued to CNN as always. What worries me is that all of the attention these thugs get just eggs them on further. Just a concern I have.

Frankly it makes no sense to me whatsoever. Thinking of last nights CNN Heroes and the joy it brought to everyone, and now this....it's so disheartening.

Vishnu   November 28th, 2008 9:59 pm ET

Mosques and Madrasas (Islamic religious schools) are the breeding ground of fanaticism and hatred towards non-believers or infidels.
Brainstorming next terror attacks are devised by jehadis in Mosques and Friday Prayer meetings.
Back in 1998 , few of us (off course non-Muslims) played a prank in the eastern India bordering districts with Bangladesh. We infiltrated those madrasas after growing beard for 7 odd months and mimicking their typical attire (pyjamas and towel).
The teachings were incriminating and bone chilling.
federal govt. of India should bomb these institutions without remorse.

david mansor   November 28th, 2008 10:07 pm ET

India needs the CIA , FBI and the US Special forces to get in there and get each of these bastards. India shame on you for not asking for help, we offered and no one cares how you look it is about human beings being slaughtered by bastard terrorists, so wake up and smell the crap that you are giving the world.

Uma in Liverpool, UK   November 28th, 2008 10:26 pm ET

We may never know who committed this atrocity. I agree that they are conscienceless thugs.

They were young. They were sociopaths. They demonstrated enormous self-discipline, organisation, ability to follow orders, to improvise as necessary, and full competence with a wide range of weapons. They were efficient, and effective.

In short, they weren't the same sort of conscienceless thugs who stab a man to death for £15 and his underground pass.

These boys weren't born terrorists. But they have obviously been taught, from very young.

By whom?

I know everybody wants to tie everything to al-Qaeda. It would be neater and much more comfortable, if everything could be tied to al-Qaeda.

It doesn't ring true, to me. Call it a 'hunch'. The MO has not been al-Qaeda, from the beginning. Close, but not close enough to convince me.

I am a bit weary of all the speculation. It's all we have, but it is destructive, and it fuels Islamophobia, which is just ugly.

I was not born informed on this subject. But I was taught, from very young. I cannot explain further, in a public forum.

There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy – Hamlet, Act I, Scene i.

Rakesh Vazirani   November 28th, 2008 10:46 pm ET

Our heart goes out to the family and friends of the victims ; salute for the security forces. We have mixed emotions of grief, anger and frustration.
The government of our country has lost the battle against terror and should be embarrassed and apologetic; they owe us an apology and a promise, that such an act of violence will not be allowed to repeat. These problems are man made and the solution lies with us. While the government has succeeded to lure huge foreign investments; they have failed to pass it on to the people especially those who feel marginalized minoritized. The government should spend tax payers money on beefing up security and upgrading the skills and capacity of our security forces rather that the numerous useless hoardings that are ubiquitous all over the country. While this is easier said that done, I have hope that our country unites and posts a bold face to the minds of terror.

Sam   November 28th, 2008 11:00 pm ET

To Pat Tibbs who wrote: "I keep saying that economic development in marginalized or failed states could yield a much better result than more guns and bombs. It’s why I voted for Barack Obama. I thought I saw in him a recognition that we can and must get to these folks who “…no longer (hold) a real job…,” educate them and provide real, honest work that will support them and their families. You know work that at the end of the day brings the breadwinner back home instead of to a morgue."

Pat, I respect your point of view and continue to do whatever I can within my limited resources to help individuals. However on the scale of economic development of the community, what I have seen is that it does not help much because it is not really about bread with these people. It is the ideology that demands the death of all those who don't follow it (kafir) and constantly wants to expand it's rigid and non-inclusive views of life and religion. When people with this sort of Islamic ideology get money, they stop carrying the guns but instead become sponsors of the terror. The ideology has to be eradicated. It is not the people, but the ideology and what this Islamic ideology makes the people who follow it.

The West still does not have a fair view of how Muslims think. I am not sure if Obama will get it right; he might win Muslim sympathy, but you never know what will tick off the terrorists. However, this is not to say that McCain's views on fighting terror were wrong. These people have to be fought, else they will never stop. Their ultimate goal is to have an Islamic world and they won't stop till that time.

jake   November 28th, 2008 11:47 pm ET

reference to what PAT TIBBS wrote,my question is what about well-educated, qualified,employed doctors and surgeons who carried out terror attacks in UK and australia?
if you think economics and poverty leads to terror attacks you are probably living in 1970s.

Ram   November 29th, 2008 1:09 am ET

Pati .. Thanks for being with us – the victims. If you dont mind me pointing a problem in your words (though you may not have meant it), "are American lives at stake" . An innocent human life is the same all through the world. The terrorists achieve what they want because we people are so divided. Had the American Government helped the Indians during the kandahar hijacking incident(that forced the Indian Govt to free a guy responsible for London bombings), world would have been better. I cried and felt angry the same way I did on 9/11 .

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