Ahira's Hangar

As of 30 mins ago, there were apparently still hostages trapped in the Oberei Hotel.

Interesting development...between India and Pakistan, we might be watching the development of a whole new potential flashpoint.

--A

At least 125 dead and more than 300 wounded now, with at least 30-40 people (from a variety of countries) held hostage in two luxery hotels.

Among many targets attacked by teams of terrorists was a hospital for women and children, restaurants, hotes, and a major train station.

Given that this particular city is very large and very cosmopolitan - with a population of 19 to 20 million of all ethnicities and religions, having the major stock market for India and the biggest film industry in the world in Bollywood - undoubtedly among the many innocent dead civilians will be Indian Muslims.

These terrorists do not care who they kill.

Over 150 dead, over 300 wounded. Hostage situations have been ended at the Jewish center and one of the two luxery hotels. There are still shots and explosions at the remaining luxery hotel.

They are now saying that at least some of the terrorists were British nationals.

That's the problem with terrorism...it knows no boundaries. i've always loved Finn's sig on the Watch...Terrorism is war by the poor, War is terrorism by the rich. Something like that.

--A

The conflict goes back to British colonialism (as so many conflicts do all over the world) and especially the Partition, which still leaves gaping emotional scars on both India and Pakistan.

For a good historical fiction look at the Partition and what it did to people of all of all religions in both coountries, a good book is Cracking India.

India claims it's a militant Pakistani group.

What really gets me is that in this conflict between them, they both are allies of the US, they're both nuclear powers, and niether of them are signatories of the NPT.

--A

I consider it to be the most frightening area in the world. Bad history between the two countries, constant high tension over Kashmir, hardcore religious groups from two religions are involved, and both of them have nukes.