Good God, let it STOP!

They need to get this fire under control. this hotel is over a 100 years old. This is very sad!

Shit. That Hotel is toast.

Old wood burns fast.

Hotel is made of wood. Very little steel reinforcement. Firemen have arrived!

Aint no fire crews going in until it's secure and that aint gonna happen. Fuck

bastards

That is not looking good.

This is a friggin nightmare!

THOSE BLOODY BASTARDS!

God have mercy

Ammunition caches burning?

Will be quite surprised if that corner of that beautiful building doesn't come down. Very, very sad.

Gutsy fireman. I can't beleive they pulled up under fire.

re: #11 Sharmuta

God have mercy

Not for them. They must pay for this.

My guess, as I said earlier, is that they want to bring this hotel down. Bastards!

The hotel is an symbol of Mumbai's prosperity. These terrorists will burn it to the ground if they can.

Their obvious strategy is to stretch this drama as long as possible.

In a more perfect world, everyone not immediately involved should ignore them.

re: #15 Dark_Falcon

I thought that was understood

re: #12 Syrah

Ammunition caches burning?

More likely preset charges intended to destroy the building. They intend to make the Taj hotel the next Ground Zero.

Now they're bitching about the smoke.

/hey, idiots, would you rather have the flames back?

May G-d's hand protect the fire crews and guide them in their battle against the flames.

re: #19 Sharmuta

I thought that was understood

It was, but saying it again can't hurt.

This attack has been such a success that I'm guessing they are going to try this one again.

One suspected terrorist in the hotel and this still goes on?

May these bastards fry in the fires they set. And then forever!

Only time will tell if AQ has achieved its strategic objectives - chaos and splitting any coalitions. Same shit different venue as the Golden Mosque blow up. This was very carefully planned by the worst of the worst. How will Pakistan respond? Will they accept the civil war being foisted on them (as they eventually must) or will they continue to obfuscate and appease?

re: #17 snowcrash

The hotel is an symbol of Mumbai's prosperity. These terrorists will burn it to the ground if they can.

Of course. Any symbol of the 'infidels' is to be destroyed in their eyes.

48 hours later and I'm still watching the same view of the same hotel.
I thought the Taj had been secured.
Where is there a reliable time-line report of this nightmare?

re: #12 Syrah

Ammunition caches burning?

Those tend to explode, not burn.

Bless those brave firefighters!

This is sad beyond words. The War of Terror is no myth, friends. Some people need to understand that.

re: #30 Ozark Mountain Daredevil

Those tend to explode, not burn.

Well, explode first.

Attacking the fire from outside wont put it out. They need to get inside. Man,

Heard a interview on BBC with a hotel guest that was holed up and barricaded in his room trying to wait the situation out. I hope most of the guests are out or in another wing. Could be very bad.

Has there been any estimates of how many gunmen are causing this carnage?

re: #25 mfarmer1

NDTV is guessing 3-5 still left inside.

re: #29 IslandLibertarian

48 58 hours later and I'm still watching the same view of the same hotel.
I thought the Taj had been secured.
Where is there a reliable time-line report of this nightmare?

Fixed.

re: #20 Dark_Falcon

More likely preset charges intended to destroy the building. They intend to make the Taj hotel the next Ground Zero.

I'm sure their plan included taking the guest with it. Thank goodness most people got away.

and more smoke, less flames is a good sign.

I heard they had bombs on timers. Maybe that's what's we're seeing? It only took 1 guy to stay alive to keep the bombs or incendiary devices intact to go off down the road.

re: #29 IslandLibertarian

48 hours later and I'm still watching the same view of the same hotel.
I thought the Taj had been secured.
Where is there a reliable time-line report of this nightmare?

The terrorists went to ground when the NSGs went through and then emerged again to attack them by surprise. Good solid insurgent tactics, employed to a very evil end.

re: #37 Killgore Trout

NDTV is guessing 3-5 still left inside.

Time to end it. This response is only going to make other 7th century Islamic primitives get all hot and bothered.

This brings on flashbacks of the Twin Towers falling. This is a major part of Indian history burning to the ground here.

[deleted]

The lighter the smoke gets, the the less it is being fanned by flames, and the more its source is being deprived of oxygen.

Smoke has gone from black to white. That's good, isn't it?

I sure wish they had let the US send their Delta Forces over.

Charles, thank you for keeping us updated on what's going on in Mumbai. I really hope that the terrorists either end up dead or under some pretty horrible interrogation. The attacks on Mumbai have proven to be nothing less han sick and horrible.

White smoke is a good sign .But that's a hell of alot of smoke.

re: #44 Iron Fist

They can't stop until it is over. As a matter of fact, the military/police should increase the violence with which they are attacking. The fire almost guarantees that this will be over soon. I'd be tempted to pull back and cover all the exits well, and letting the fire do the job. That's probably not realistic, as it would be impossible to know if all the hostages were out. Leaving them to die with their captors might coldly make more sense (as people may very well be killed trying to finish the job), but it is politically indefeasible to actually do that.

Hopefully the Jihadis will get to do all the dying from here on out.

Hopefully, but I wouldn't bet on it. These scum have enough ability to make India pay some more of the blood tax before they go down swinging.

re: #48 vapig

Smoke has gone from black to white. That's good, isn't it?

Yeah, that's a good thing, as the fire is being doushed. What would be even better is when there is no smoke at all, but that ain't going to happen soon, I'm afraid. I hope I'm wrong.

Those guys must have a supply of amphetamines with them. This has gone on too long for just adrenalin and fanaticism as the fuel.

re: #48 vapig

Smoke has gone from black to white. That's good, isn't it?

yes.

re: #44 Iron Fist

They can't stop until it is over. As a matter of fact, the military/police should increase the violence with which they are attacking. The fire almost guarantees that this will be over soon. I'd be tempted to pull back and cover all the exits well, and letting the fire do the job. That's probably not realistic, as it would be impossible to know if all the hostages were out. Leaving them to die with their captors might coldly make more sense (as people may very well be killed trying to finish the job), but it is politically indefeasible to actually do that.

Hopefully the Jihadis will get to do all the dying from here on out.

One of their goals is to take the hotel down so that is not going to happen. They are not going to let them have that victory.

The splodeydopes win this round, it appears.

The RoP has no respect for anything, yet they are the very first to whine and bitch when their cult is "insulted". These prickless wonders make me wanna puke.

Destroy life, destroy anything that has any beauty or significance, and destroy civilization. The three basic tenets of the RoP. We see it here, yet again.

re: #49 Griffon

I sure wish they had let the US send their Delta Forces over.

We offered - they declined.

re: #51 x-wing
White smoke usually indicates more complete burning, if I remember my volunteer firefighter training correctly.

re: #58 vapig

We offered - they declined.

Mossad is on the way, but I am not sure if they are bringing Rapid Response forces or not.

re: #58 vapig

We offered - they declined.

I know. I just think it would have been over by now had they accepted.

And, the top story in the US today is - People Shopping! Waiting in line for 24+ hours to be fuckin' "first" to get their useless trinkets and Chinese-made shit!

WTF, over?

re: #57 6pat6

The splodeydopes win this round, it appears.

The RoP has no respect for anything, yet they are the very first to whine and bitch when their cult is "insulted". These prickless wonders make me wanna puke.

Destroy life, destroy anything that has any beauty or significance, and destroy civilization. The three basic tenets of the RoP. We see it here, yet again.

Plenty of asswipes lately pulling out the "Christians commit violent crimes too" card. Bullshit. Not like this.

Can you imagine Christian fanatics doing this shit?

re: #59 Iron Fist

That wouldn't surprise me. You could do something like this inside the United States probably as easy as it was to do in Mubai. Maybe even easier, given how freaking PC everybody is about the Religion of Peace in this country.

We can't do anything about six Imams deliberately acting suspicious in an airport, for God's sake. The Left wouldn't know whether to shit or go blind if you reported suspicious activity at a hotel.

The wouldn't do either. They'd call you a racist, sue you and try to get you fired.

/not kidding

re: #17 snowcrash

Might this be the goal? Not as spectacular as the WTC, but another "Iconic" landmark building taken down?

Foul smell emanating from the Taj

Don't get me started.

re: #64 Racer X
Can you think of any recent examples?

re: #64 Racer X

Can you imagine Christian fanatics doing this shit?

Nope, because they friggin' DON'T!

re: #59 Iron Fist

That wouldn't surprise me. You could do something like this inside the United States probably as easy as it was to do in Mubai. Maybe even easier, given how freaking PC everybody is about the Religion of Peace in this country.

We can't do anything about six Imams deliberately acting suspicious in an airport, for God's sake. The Left wouldn't know whether to shit or go blind if you reported suspicious activity at a hotel.

I'm sad to say you are absolutely correct on that score!

re: #59 Iron Fist

That wouldn't surprise me. You could do something like this inside the United States probably as easy as it was to do in Mubai. Maybe even easier, given how freaking PC everybody is about the Religion of Peace in this country.

We can't do anything about six Imams deliberately acting suspicious in an airport, for God's sake. The Left wouldn't know whether to shit or go blind if you reported suspicious activity at a hotel.

They would have to shit since they are already blind.

Crap, fire erupting from the second floor of the Taj now.

re: #63 6pat6

And, the top story in the US today is - People Shopping! Waiting in line for 24+ hours to be fuckin' "first" to get their useless trinkets and Chinese-made shit!

WTF, over?

Sorry, but they follow Bush's lead: After the Towers fell, when he had the opportunity to get the American people on board with some SERIOUS adjustments in our lifestyles and our commitment to put an end to terror, Bush told us that what we REALLY needed to do is SHOP. I will never forgive him for this.

re: #58 vapig

We offered - they declined.

When NBC reported on this, they had video of what Obama had to say.

That guy named George W. Bush? Not a word from the PRESIDENT!

Fuckin' assholes.

Smoke is getting worse, sadly :(

re: #67 solomonpanting

Foul smell emanating from the Taj

Don't get me started.

Maybe it's the terrorists' bodies burning! Oh, hope lives!

re: #62 Griffon

I know. I just think it would have been over by now had they accepted.

Perhaps they'll change their mind. I know they are accepting our intel updates.

re: #57 6pat6

The splodeydopes win this round, it appears.

The RoP has no respect for anything, yet they are the very first to whine and bitch when their cult is "insulted". These prickless wonders make me wanna puke.

Destroy life, destroy anything that has any beauty or significance, and destroy civilization. The three basic tenets of the RoP. We see it here, yet again.

Not yet. Until the hotel falls, we (the Indians are with us in this) keep trying to save it. No quitting, no surrender!

Fox News has an interesting video of someone sneaking out a 1st floor window of the Taj. Go! See it now.

I can hardly wait (sarc) until India tries these bozos (twits, for the UK'ers) and the UK and the EU come out against capital punishment. When will the world wake up and realize there is no compromise with these evil haters. Hanging is too good for them.

a short announcement on IBN live to the effect that the pictures marked "LIVE" are not all live for operational security reasons, it looks like the counter terrorism forces have learned from the mistakes of the past especially the Munich Olympic massacre in 1972 where the assault by the german police was broadcast live to the watching terrorists.

[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

A small squad of German police was dispatched to the Olympic village. Dressed in Olympic sweatsuits and carrying submachine guns, these were members of the German border-police, poorly-trained, and without specific operational plans in place for the rescue. The police took up positions awaiting orders that never came. In the meantime, camera crews filmed the actions of the police from German apartments, and broadcast the images live on television. The terrorists were therefore able to watch the police as they prepared to attack. Footage shows the terrorists leaning over to look at the police who were in hiding on the roof. In the end, after Issa threatened to kill two of the hostages, the police left the premises.

re: #76 gclaghorn

Maybe it's the terrorists' bodies burning! Oh, hope lives!

Nothin' like barbequed pork!

re: #76 gclaghorn

Maybe it's the terrorists' bodies burning! Oh, hope lives!

No, it is bodies in the hallways that have laid there for 3 days now.

Apparently their counter-terrorism units suck... 3 days of fire fight and death! They need to employ US SWAT teams or some British SAS units

re: #68 Sarge1984

Can you think of any recent examples?

Nope.

I can provide links to daily examples from the ROP.

re: #58 vapig

We offered - they declined.

Is their Pres. related to Kathleen Blanko.

re: #36 So?

How many what? Gunmen? None.
About 40 terrorists though.
You'll have to ask that question at the BBC to get a better answer. These P.O.S. are known around here as "terrorists". Among other, less palatable, but no less accurate, descriptors.

re: #73 Wishing

Sorry, but they follow Bush's lead: After the Towers fell, when he had the opportunity to get the American people on board with some SERIOUS adjustments in our lifestyles and our commitment to put an end to terror, Bush told us that what we REALLY needed to do is SHOP. I will never forgive him for this.

Calm down. He is one man who was blindsided. I believe he did the best he could and he was largely successful. The shopping comment was to tell the islamofascists they could NOT being down our economy or our standard of living.

Flames inside look bad.

The Taj is a heritage building - awful to see it destroyed like this. Mention should also be made of the Indian hotel workers who shielded guests from the terrorists' bullets.

But please, would someone put these bastards out of action fast!

re: #73 Wishing

Sorry, but they follow Bush's lead: After the Towers fell, when he had the opportunity to get the American people on board with some SERIOUS adjustments in our lifestyles and our commitment to put an end to terror, Bush told us that what we REALLY needed to do is SHOP. I will never forgive him for this.

What was he supposed to say, genius?

re: #89 vapig

Calm down. He is one man who was blindsided. I believe he did the best he could and he was largely successful. The shopping comment was to tell the islamofascists they could NOT being down our economy or our standard of living.

No, he had a golden opportunity. He blew it. All Americans wanted to DO something to show their patriotism and their anger. He tells us to go to the mall. Was a wasted opportunity.

re: #78 Dark_Falcon

The Pakistanis have never been a trustworthy bunch. The Indians have known this for decades. Remember just a few years back when India and Pakistan were literally a breath away from nuclear war? The Indian government certainly has its work cut out for it. They need our support and prayers.

NDTV reports that the last of the terrorists may have been killed.

re: #89 vapig

Calm down. He is one man who was blindsided. I believe he did the best he could and he was largely successful. The shopping comment was to tell the islamofascists they could NOT being down our economy or our standard of living.

Agreed.

There are plenty of other things to bash Bush on. Telling Americans to shop and live their lives as usual (basically telling the terrorists "fuck you") is not one of his weak points.

re: #49 Griffon

I sure wish they had let the US send their Delta Forces over.

I'm pretty sure that had we been let in, there would have been a swift, quiet, utterly conclusive night op, in a blacked-out building. And no surviving terrorists except as deemed safe and advantageous by all parties.

The Indians chose to wait for daylight to counter; that's their call, but I doubt it would have been ours.

re: #93 Wishing

No, he had a golden opportunity. He blew it. All Americans wanted to DO something to show their patriotism and their anger. He tells us to go to the mall. Was a wasted opportunity.

Damn the man who has helped keep us safe from another attack like this for seven years!

/

re: #95 Killgore Trout

NDTV reports that the last of the terrorists may have been killed.

And I may have won the powerball drawing.
/

re: #92 Ozark Mountain Daredevil

What was he supposed to say, genius?

How about, Send your kids to enlist! Do what YOU can to volunteer for our troops! Cut down on your gas consumption!~ Do something to stick it to the oil creeps! Build smaller more efficient cars. THINK! INVENT! I could gho on and on. He blew the moment.

Ambulances have come to scene

re: #93 Wishing

No, he had a golden opportunity. He blew it. All Americans wanted to DO something to show their patriotism and their anger. He tells us to go to the mall. Was a wasted opportunity.

Yeah ,, you're RIGHT ,, he should have opened the armories, let citizens go and get all the guns and ammo they wanted and start taking revenge on any and all swarthy males we came in contact with !

/// gggeeezzz!

re: #91 Smilla

The Taj is a heritage building - awful to see it destroyed like this. Mention should also be made of the Indian hotel workers who shielded guests from the terrorists' bullets.

But please, would someone put these bastards out of action fast!

I read an account of one worker who saved several lives by taking a bullet in the belly. They made it to safety inside a room and tried to save the man's life. They were rescued and the man he saved was going to the hospital to see if he had survived. This man praised the hotel staff for saving them and feeding them as well as they could.

re: #98 gclaghorn

Damn the man who has helped keep us safe from another attack like this for seven years!

/

Watchit now: I love Bush, he has done a job that FEW men could have! I admire and respect him, but at that moment, he totally blew it.

re: #93 Wishing

I disagree. As has been said by others, that "shopping" comment by Pres. Bush was one way to tell the terrorists to piss off.

re: #73 Wishing

Sorry, but they follow Bush's lead: After the Towers fell, when he had the opportunity to get the American people on board with some SERIOUS adjustments in our lifestyles and our commitment to put an end to terror, Bush told us that what we REALLY needed to do is SHOP. I will never forgive him for this.

That, and calling Islam a "noble religion". Hey, Mr. Bush, I can't take my votes for you, both times, back, and I wouldn't (only because the opposition was worse), but I'd like the respect that I loaned you back. Okay thanks.

re: #93 Wishing

Give me a break!

"We have had LET operatives arrested in the USA"

re: #84 winston06

Apparently their counter-terrorism units suck... 3 days of fire fight and death! They need to employ US SWAT teams or some British SAS units

Gee, that hotel has over 560 rooms that have to be individually entered and cleared.

/cut 'em some slack, eh?

re: #94 6pat6

The Pakistanis have never been a trustworthy bunch. The Indians have known this for decades. Remember just a few years back when India and Pakistan were literally a breath away from nuclear war? The Indian government certainly has its work cut out for it. They need our support and prayers.

They have mine.

re: #107 kcladderman

Give me a break!

Bite it.

re: #100 Wishing

He blew the moment.

Bush blew the opportunity to wipe just about every fricking Taliban off the face of the earth. That should have been done. No one would have said shit.

re: #108 FightingBack

In 2003.

Looks like it's over for good, everyone is pretty relaxed there

re: #100 Wishing

How about, Send your kids to enlist! Do what YOU can to volunteer for our troops! Cut down on your gas consumption!~ Do something to stick it to the oil creeps! Build smaller more efficient cars. THINK! INVENT! I could gho on and on. He blew the moment.

Fuck that, shopping is as American as Little League, the day shopping really stops in the US, that's the day I listen to the doomsday pundits, and stock up. It wasn't a bad message to say no matter what the leftists and anti-capitalists tell you.

re: #112 Racer X

Bush blew the opportunity to wipe just about every fricking Taliban off the face of the earth. That should have been done. No one would have said shit.

Agree!

re: #115 Flying Dutchman

Looks like it's over for good, everyone is pretty relaxed there

In movies, this is when the last bad guy comes blaring out with a weapon.

re: #111 Wishing

Bite it.

Blow me

re: #102 sattv4u2

Yeah ,, you're RIGHT ,, he should have opened the armories, let citizens go and get all the guns and ammo they wanted and start taking revenge on any and all swarthy males we came in contact with !

/// gggeeezzz!

Smack! You really need to make it clear when you are going to play act act as a moonbat.

What were Americans to do at that point? Train in anti-terror measures? Terrorists had just hit the heart of the American economy and fried 1 trillion dollars of GDP. Pres. Bush was EXACTLY right - keep the economy going - function and prosper.

re: #98 gclaghorn

Damn the man who has helped keep us safe from another attack like this for seven years!

/

Exactly. He said in his address to congress and the nation on 9-20 that some of what happens we'll hear about, but a lot of what happens we'll never hear or know about.

Due to keeping us safe since 9-11, I give him all the credit in the world, and history will be kind to him, and rightfully so. On 9-12, who would have believed that 7+ later we'd have zero attacks here?

re: #115 Flying Dutchman

Looks like it's over for good, everyone is pretty relaxed there

I don't hear no fat lady singing.

re: #98 gclaghorn

Damn the man who has helped keep us safe from another attack like this for seven years!

/

LOL! Agreed! If anything Bush's biggest mistake was not being able to keep the American public involved and informed how important this fight is. We needed a Reagan to do that. But that kind of communicator only comes around ever so often.

re: #120 Dark_Falcon

Smack! You really need to make it clear when you are going to play act act as a moonbat.

heheheheh ,,, living in Boston for the 1st 45 years of my life, it comes natural!

Moby, aisle 111

re: #121 DistantThunder

What were Americans to do at that point? Train in anti-terror measures? Terrorists had just hit the heart of the American economy and fried 1 trillion dollars of GDP. Pres. Bush was EXACTLY right - keep the economy going - function and prosper.

See my #100

re: #100 Wishing

How about, Send your kids to enlist! Do what YOU can to volunteer for our troops! Cut down on your gas consumption!~ Do something to stick it to the oil creeps! Build smaller more efficient cars. THINK! INVENT! I could gho on and on. He blew the moment.

And inflate your tires. You forgot that, Einstein.

re: #118 Silhouette

In movies, this is when the last bad guy comes blaring out with a weapon.

Well, I saw one guy coming through the window

re: #128 Ozark Mountain Daredevil

And inflate your tires. You forgot that, Einstein.

now I understand the BLOW ME comment !

re: #123 Racer X

I don't hear no fat lady singing.

Not yet. I believe Chris Matthews will be on momentarily, though.

Smoke dying down. Whew.

re: #110 Dark_Falcon

They have mine.

Ditto!

re: #112 Racer X

Bush blew the opportunity to wipe just about every fricking Taliban off the face of the earth. That should have been done. No one would have said shit.

Have you forgotten the news media warning against retaliation and over-reaction in the days and weeks following 911.

No link yet but someone on Twitter Mumbai said two terrorists were caught off the coast of Karnakata. Next target was to be Bangalore.

Are we fighting with each other about when Bush might have done better? We're fighting the wrong people about the wrong thing.

He could've blown the dogshit out of targets in several other countries at the same time, too. But, hey, most of the ME is our friends, allegedly. So, he did what needed to be done at that particular time, and said what he said. Yoou gotta admit that no major terror attacks (there have been several smaller ones that they don't come right out and admit as such, like the Virginia shootings and the NC "students with fireworks" stupidity) in seven years...yeah, I'm giving the President kudos for that.

re: #125 sattv4u2

heheheheh ,,, living in Boston for the 1st 45 years of my life, it comes natural!

Understood. I figured it was done in semi-jest.

Lol tough room to have a non-PC opinion in.
Again, I love GB: he has been able to stand in the face of a withering assault by the MSM. He has kept us safe these many years. I just wish he would have enlisted the American people in more than stupid SHOPPING. LOL

re: #104 Wishing

Watchit now: I love Bush, he has done a job that FEW men could have! I admire and respect him, but at that moment, he totally blew it.

Yes, if only he were more eloquent...

/

Sounds like this might be over - there are commando casualties.

First, some context.

I have always been truly blessed. Lucky to be born to the most love a child
could ever wish for. Luck to be born into a family that prided itself on
teaching me how to be a man. Lucky to have been protected and sheltered by
three strong, decent brothers. Lucky to have found and married the kindest
heart on the face of the earth. Lucky to be blessed beyond blessed with four
healthy, beautiful children. Lucky to have wonderful friends who tolerate
my idiosyncrasies.

Tonight, these blessings, these gifts of love and life bestowed upon me,
this incredible good fortune, saved my life. And I honestly don't know why.

The details.

I am in Mumbai on business. I'm staying at the Trident hotel. It's sister
hotel, the Oberai, is right next-door and attached by a small walkway.

I had dinner by myself in the Oberai lobby after some late meetings.

I retired upstairs to my room. About 10min later my colleague, ---, text-ed asking me to join him and his friend in the Oberai lounge
for a drink. I started to make my way out the door but decided that I was
really too tired. I had a 7am flight, and needed to be up at 5. Rest
beckoned. I closed the light, got into bed and quickly fell asleep. Lucky
life-saving decision number 1.

Well ,, the GOOD news is that they're letting the firefighters set up and do their work. The BAD news is yet to be seen (how much damage ,, how many innocents dead and hurt)

the keep switching back to so called LIVE shots that are not live, so we see flames appearing then appear to be put out and then appearing again all under the LIVE banner.

I guess the censor is blacking out operation security moves

re: #136 ColdPizza

I'm thanking God your friend is okay.

About 1hr later there was knock at my door. A few seconds later, the
doorbell rang (they have doorbells for hotel rooms here – who'da thunk?). I
thought – who the hell is knocking at my door? Turn down service? This
late? Forget it. So I just lay there and hoped they would go away. Lucky
life-saving decision number 2.

Five minutes later I heard and felt a huge bang. I got up and went to look
out the window. A huge cloud of grey smoke billowed up from the road below.
I thought. Fireworks? I didn't see anyone milling about so knew something
wasn't right. I started to walk to the light switch when - BANG – another
huge explosion shook the entire hotel.

Oh fuck, I thought. Is that what I think this is? I opened the door to the
hallway. A few people were already outside.

I heard the word "bomb".

Oh shit. Oh shit I thought.

Does it look like the fire has been contained? IBN won't keep the damn camera still, so I can't tell, but from the looks of it, it's dying down.

re: #139 Dark_Falcon

Understood. I figured it was done in semi-jest.

hence the > /// gggeeezzz!

Wishing it's IQ were 167:
Wars are economic as well as kinetic. If we were in this recession at the start of the war on terror, how well funded would it have been?

re: #142 vapig

Sounds like this might be over - there are commando casualties.

If it's true it's the first good news since a while

And this is happening on W's watch all because
he was short on appeasement.

I'd like to tell you that I calmly collected my myself and my things and
proceeded to the exits.

I didn't. An adrenaline explosion erupted inside me and almost lifted me
off the floor. And I began to move. Really move.

I went back inside, quickly packed my stuff and went back into the hall.

I ran to the emergency exit and started making my way down the stairs (I was
on the 18th floor).

There were a few people in the stairwell. I was flying by them. I swear I
could have run a marathon in 2hrs. I felt like pure energy.

About halfway down, I called my friend Mark, told him what had happened and
asked him to get me a flight – any flight – the hell out of Mumbai.

I got to the lobby level. There was a crowd of people in the corridor.
No one moving. No one doing anything. No hotel staff. No security people.

Shit. I thought. We are sitting ducks.

I decided to get out of there. First, into the lobby.

I stepped through the door into the silent lobby. My first sight was a blood
soaked plastic bag and bloody footsteps leading into the reception area. I
proceeded forward. The windows were shattered and glass was everywhere.
There wasn't a soul around.

Bad decision, I thought. I quickly retreated to the corridor. The crowd of
people had grown.

We've got to get out of here I yelled. Let's go.

I looked around for the emergency exit and started running towards it.

I made my way through the bowels of the hotel and out into a dark alley. It
was empty and silent. I looked to my left and about 100m away saw a few
security guards milling about.

re: #143 ColdPizza

Wow and thank God that you continue to be lucky! Glad you are here with us!

The Director General of the NSG says that at least one muderous thug is dead.

Cicero once said that it was better for Rome to be feared than loved. Is that our problem? That we try to be loved by the world?
I'd much rather have these idiots fear that we would wipe up any nest of vipers, as soon as we discovered them, than put up with any more of this ROP BS.

Monday morning quarterbacks...

/part of the problem...

Operation is concluded?

Run they screamed. I began to move toward them.

I reached the main street and was immediately swept up into the Indian
throngs (for those who have been to Mumbai, you know what I mean).
People everywhere. But they were all eerily quiet. No one was talking.
No car horns. Nothing.

I started yelling "airport airport".

Some one (a hotel cook I believe) grabbed me and my bag and threw me in a
rusty mini-cab.

As I sped away, I didn't see a single police car nor hear a single siren.
Just the sound of this shit-box car speeding down the deserted road.

Traffic was stop and go. I made it to the airport in about 1hr, cleared
customs and buried myself in a corner of a packed departure lounge, called
my wife, called my parents and brothers and started emailing those friends
who knew I was in Mumbai.

Sadly, Alex - my colleague who texted me for a drink – and his friend were
not so lucky. The terrorists stormed into the lobby bar and killed several
people. They took Alex and his friend hostage and started to march them up
to the roof of the hotel.

About half way up, Alex managed to escape (he ducked through an open door
and hid) but his friend was caught. And as I write this, that poor man is
still on the roof of the Oberai.

Alex is safe but as expected, extremely worried about his friend.

I'm telling you right now. If I decided to meet Alex for that drink tonight
I'd either be dead, a hostage on the roof of a building 30 hours away from
everyone I love or - if I had the balls of Alex – a
stupid-but-lucky-to-be-alive jerk.

And remember that knock/ring at my door? Well, I subsequently learned that
the first thing the terrorists did was get the names and room numbers of
western guests. They then went to the rooms to find them.
Ehrlich, with an E, room 1820.
I'll bet my entire life savings that they were the knock at my door.

Thank god for jet lag.
Thank god for "cranky tired Jonny" (as many of my friends and family know so
well) that compelled to get into and stay in bed.
Thank god for being on the 18th floor.
Thank god for the kind kind people of Mumbai of helped me tonight. The
wonderfully kind hotel staff. That cook. My cab driver who constantly said
"relaxation" "relaxation" "I help" and who kept me in the cab when we hit a
particularly gnarly traffic jam and i wanted to get out and walk. And for
other people in traffic who, upon hearing from my own cab driver that I was
at the Oberai, literally risked life and limb to stop traffic to let us get
by (as again, only those who have been to Mumbai can truly appreciate).

Mumbai is a tragically beautiful place. Incredibly sad. But I am convinced
that its inhabitants are definitely children of some troubled but immensely
soulfully god.

I'm sitting on plane (upgraded to first class….see, told you I'm lucky ☺).
Just had the best tasting bowl of corn flakes I've ever had in my life.
Hennessey coursing through my veins. Concentration starting to loosen and
sleep beginning to creep onto my horizon.

I still feel a bit numb. But mostly I feel like I've just watched a really
really bad movie staring me. Because right now, it all doesn't feel real.
Maybe a few hours of CNN will knock me into reality. But the truth is numb
is fine with me for a while. If I do end up thinking about the what if's, I
don't really want to do that until I'm much much closer to home. And I have
30 more hours of travel time to go.

But before I sign off, let me say this.

The people who did this have no souls. They have no hearts. They are simply
the living manifestation of evil and they only know killing and murder. We
– all of us - need to understand that. Their target tonight was first and
foremost Americans. Why? Because they fear everything that America stands
for. They fear hope and change and freedom and peace. Let's make no
mistake; they would have shot me and my children point blank tonight with
out a moment's hesitation. Most of us sorta know that but sometimes we
equivocate. We can't equivocate. Not ever.

I know that I want to go back. Lay some flowers. Wrap my arms around these
people. Say thank you. Spend some money on overpriced hotel gifts and tip
well. And generally give the bastards who did this the big fuck you and show
them that I am not – I repeat not – afraid of them.

But first I need to go squeeze my wife. Dry her tears. Then have her dry
mine as I hold my beautiful beautiful babies who will be
(thankfully) oblivious to all of this. Because isn't that what life is
really about?

I appreciate you taking the time to listen.

With much much love.

Jonathan

re: #158 IslandLibertarian

Monday morning quarterbacks...

/part of the problem...

The Lions sucked yesterday.
/

At least they call them what they are in India.

Good on them.

re: #143 ColdPizza

First, some context.

I have always been truly blessed. Lucky to be born to the most love a child
could ever wish for. Luck to be born into a family that prided itself on
teaching me how to be a man. Lucky to have been protected and sheltered by
three strong, decent brothers. Lucky to have found and married the kindest
heart on the face of the earth. Lucky to be blessed beyond blessed with four
healthy, beautiful children. Lucky to have wonderful friends who tolerate
my idiosyncrasies.

Tonight, these blessings, these gifts of love and life bestowed upon me,
this incredible good fortune, saved my life. And I honestly don't know why.

The details.

I am in Mumbai on business. I'm staying at the Trident hotel. It's sister
hotel, the Oberai, is right next-door and attached by a small walkway.

I had dinner by myself in the Oberai lobby after some late meetings.

I retired upstairs to my room. About 10min later my colleague, Alex
Chamerlin, text-ed asking me to join him and his friend in the Oberai lounge
for a drink. I started to make my way out the door but decided that I was
really too tired. I had a 7am flight, and needed to be up at 5. Rest
beckoned. I closed the light, got into bed and quickly fell asleep. Lucky
life-saving decision number 1.

Dear Lord! I'm so glad you made the decision you did! Someone was looking after you! I'm very glad to hear your story and that you are safe at home!

Lashkar-e-Taiba in the USA 2007

re: #154 ColdPizza

Holy shit!

What could American responders have done differently?
Would they have been even slower?
More careful?
I haven't heard if their POV is being taken into account in Bombay, but I did hear they were there.

re: #162 Ozark Mountain Daredevil
The Lions suck every year.

re: #100 Wishing

How about, Send your kids to enlist! Do what YOU can to volunteer for our troops! Cut down on your gas consumption!~ Do something to stick it to the oil creeps! Build smaller more efficient cars. THINK! INVENT! I could gho on and on. He blew the moment.

Send your kids? Are you kidding me? I have a son, an adult at 19, about to enlist in the air force and it has to be something that they passionately want to do. The military does NOT need "kids "sent" by their parents in a crisis.

And for a president to say - cut back on your gas - could have further crippled the economy. It's NOT the job of the president to "Manage and Manipulate" the American people.

re: #162 Ozark Mountain Daredevil

The Lions sucked yesterday.
/

And the week before and the week before and the week before and the week before and the week before...

re: #155 Wishing

Wow and thank God that you continue to be lucky! Glad you are here with us!

This didnt happen to me it happened to my friend Jonthan.

Police chief says they got the last of 'em.

He says it's over and their checking the hotel for bombs and survivors, but the bad guys are all dead.

"If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face -- forever."

George Orwell

They're saying the last two terrorists have been killed!
They are now sanitizing the building.

re: #161 ColdPizza

And remember that knock/ring at my door? Well, I subsequently learned that
the first thing the terrorists did was get the names and room numbers of
western guests. They then went to the rooms to find them.
Ehrlich, with an E, room 1820.
I'll bet my entire life savings that they were the knock at my door.

Thank god for jet lag.
Thank god for "cranky tired Jonny" (as many of my friends and family know so
well) that compelled to get into and stay in bed.
Thank god for being on the 18th floor.
Thank god for the kind kind people of Mumbai of helped me tonight. The
wonderfully kind hotel staff. That cook. My cab driver who constantly said
"relaxation" "relaxation" "I help" and who kept me in the cab when we hit a
particularly gnarly traffic jam and i wanted to get out and walk. And for
other people in traffic who, upon hearing from my own cab driver that I was
at the Oberai, literally risked life and limb to stop traffic to let us get
by (as again, only those who have been to Mumbai can truly appreciate).

Mumbai is a tragically beautiful place. Incredibly sad. But I am convinced
that its inhabitants are definitely children of some troubled but immensely
soulfully god.

I'm sitting on plane (upgraded to first class….see, told you I'm lucky ☺).
Just had the best tasting bowl of corn flakes I've ever had in my life.
Hennessey coursing through my veins. Concentration starting to loosen and
sleep beginning to creep onto my horizon.

I still feel a bit numb. But mostly I feel like I've just watched a really
really bad movie staring me. Because right now, it all doesn't feel real.
Maybe a few hours of CNN will knock me into reality. But the truth is numb
is fine with me for a while. If I do end up thinking about the what if's, I
don't really want to do that until I'm much much closer to home. And I have
30 more hours of travel time to go.

But before I sign off, let me say this.

The people who did this have no souls. They have no hearts. They are simply
the living manifestation of evil and they only know killing and murder. We
– all of us - need to understand that. Their target tonight was first and
foremost Americans. Why? Because they fear everything that America stands
for. They fear hope and change and freedom and peace. Let's make no
mistake; they would have shot me and my children point blank tonight with
out a moment's hesitation. Most of us sorta know that but sometimes we
equivocate. We can't equivocate. Not ever.

I know that I want to go back. Lay some flowers. Wrap my arms around these
people. Say thank you. Spend some money on overpriced hotel gifts and tip
well. And generally give the bastards who did this the big fuck you and show
them that I am not – I repeat not – afraid of them.

But first I need to go squeeze my wife. Dry her tears. Then have her dry
mine as I hold my beautiful beautiful babies who will be
(thankfully) oblivious to all of this. Because isn't that what life is
really about?

I appreciate you taking the time to listen.

With much much love.

Jonathan

Thank God you made it alive. My prayers to you and your family, and your colleagues in the bar.

re: #161 ColdPizza

Thanks for posting that.

The chief of police is now saying all the terrorists inside the Taj Hotel are dead.
Finally.

re: #157 displaced yankee

I don't give a shit if anyone around the world loves the US or not. When nations get into the PC shit as we have since around 1990 or so, the nations of the world LOSE respect for us and hence, don't fear us. We have been "giving hugs" collectively for far too friggin' long!

re: #140 Wishing

Has it occurred to you that the President understood that our professional military would win this war and that the foundation of the professional military is a robust economy?

Two terrorists dead, Police say operation is over.

re: #170 kcladderman

The Lions new logo shows a lion all puckered up after eating a Red Hot candy! That sucks!

IBN says it's still on ... well, conflicting reports at the very least

re: #161 ColdPizza

And thank god you're okay!

Sound like you kept from panicking, which is likely better than many would/did do.

re: #180 Thanos

Let's hope so.

The NSG says the Taj operation is still on.

re: #184 Killgore Trout

Let's hope so.

Yes, we've heard this previously a few times

DAMN! Doesn't sound like they had any interest in taking them alive! sounds like nothing but DEAD terrorist! GOOD!

I just heard this group wanted ''other mujahadeen'' released!
Did anyone have a link to that?

re: #176 Killgore Trout

Thanks for posting that.

That was verbatim from a CNN interview.

re: #172 Yankee Zionist

Police chief says they got the last of 'em.

He says it's over and their checking the hotel for bombs and survivors, but the bad guys are all dead.

Until they attack again, which would be tomorrow If I were them.

/unfortunately, the bad guys will never all be dead

re: #173 yah

"If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face -- forever."

George Orwell

Not if we have something to say about! Break the foot in that boot!

Mumbai police say the operation is over and all terrorists in the Taj are dead. The DG of NSG says that there is still one fucker left in the building. Who knows. No gunfire for nearly 20 minutes or so.

re: #187 vapig
Send them to allah, postpaid.

re: #189 experiencedtraveller

Ah.

re: #162 Ozark Mountain Daredevil

yesterday?

re: #161 ColdPizza

The posts are very much appreciated!

/but next time, snip out your friend's name and email first... Stinky hates to see that stuff here! :)

re: #179 experiencedtraveller

Has it occurred to you that the President understood that our professional military would win this war and that the foundation of the professional military is a robust economy?

Exactly. President Bush could have asked us to demand that cowardly selfish Democrats allow us to drill, drill drill our own oil so that we never have to kiss the hand or lick the boots of foreign dictators for it ever again.

re: #100 Wishing

How about, Send your kids to enlist!

If they're kids, they can't entlist.
If they're adults, it's their decision.

re: #196 ColdPizza

Very glad you posted that up for your friend! I'm glad he is OK!

re: #154 ColdPizza

That's one hell of a story coming from a cold pizza.

re: #179 experiencedtraveller

Has it occurred to you that the President understood that our professional military would win this war and that the foundation of the professional military is a robust economy?

You totally missed the point. No problem.

I think Cold Pizzas deleted comment #136 is creating confusion.

They are saying it's over but they still have to go through every room to make sure there isn't a terrorist playing 'possum.

Given how long this operation has taken, if they had any hostages they had plenty of time to kill them. I really hope that if there were any remaining hostages, they are okay.

Coldpizza, great story thanks for sharing. It amazes me that the guy took time to pack, I would not have. A few essentials, and everything else can be replaced is my credo.

Whoa... someone just jumped out of a window

OMG, someone jumped out the window.

re: #161 ColdPizza

Good God, man!

Thankful you are ok - hope the guys on the roof make it.

re: #124 vapig

If anything Bush's biggest mistake was not being able to keep the American public involved and informed how important this fight is. We needed a Reagan to do that. But that kind of communicator only comes around ever so often.

I couldn't agree more. What, are Rush and Hannity the only people allowed to speak truthfully any more? The president has a big microphone, but he hardly used it, except to tell us that Mohammadanism is peaceful and noble. Rush and Hannity and columnists and pundits are "preaching to the choir". Bush could have, but did not, address the nation. Bush could have, but did not, nor did anyone but pundits that the average American never, EVER listens to. President Bush acted as if explaining anything at all was beneath him, best left to the Rushes and Hannitys and Savages. He could have held a press conference a week. He could have given a SUBSTANTIVE and EXPLANATORY weekly radio address, instead of a State Dept.-written cookie-cutter speech every week like he did. He could have said a lot, and he didn't. Someone has to counter the MSM, and they have to do it in the SAME ARENA. Bush had that platform. Nobody else does. Nobody else can talk to ALL OF AMERICA and get coverage. Rush talks to the AM-Radio conservative crowd, columnists are read by scant few of us, television is watched by almost all. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe he had to be "diplomatic" and lie his ass off regarding Islam and it's central goals. I cannot for the life of me think of a reason WHY that might be the case, but I acknowledge that it might, and that I may not have all the information needed. I still wish he would have tried, somehow, to counter the Enemy Within, by using his voice and his podium. Who knows, maybe the MFM would not have covered it, when they saw what he was up to. They'd have paraphrased, like they always do when a figure speaks. Nevermind the speech, here's what the President said, in 10 words or less, next story.
-Taq

FOX News just said there might be 6 more terrorists still in the hotel Taj!
Conflicting reports.

re: #197 Iron Fist

In a word: yes. The Left want us to be more concerned about the opinion of the French than we are about our own national security. The French, of course, were more concerned with the millions they were raking in from the "Oil For Food" scam than they were, hell, even their own security. If a couple of thousand Americans (or, dare I say, Jews) had to die to keep the cash flowing, well, that is just the way things break sometimes. It's not been too many years since the French snuffed about ten thousand of their own on the grounds that they were too busy with their vacations to make sure that their parents didn't die of heat exhaustion.

I agree with Dennis Prager that at the bottom of all this apeasement and desire for love rather than respect is physical cowardice. Obama is typical of this approach - and look at him - a wimp-extraordinaire. Arnold had him pegged exactly.

re: #161 ColdPizza

Thank God you are alive, and your friend Alex. Did you hear anything more about your friend's friend who was taken hostage?

Lots of Americans there, and so many Indians coming to their rescue and protecting them. Much to be thankful for during this horrible situation.

re: #211 mean Gene

FOX News just said there might be 6 more terrorists still in the hotel Taj!
Conflicting reports.

The police and militraty wouldn't be letting the firefighters set up ladders, hoses etc and puttimng out the fires unless they were sure it was clear

IBN is showing a cellphone picture of a person who jumped from a window from the Taj hotel to escape the flames.

Meanwhile, F(News)N: Joran Van Der Sloot.
Honestly, aren't these folks ashamed of themselves?

re: #206 Thanos

Coldpizza, great story thanks for sharing. It amazes me that the guy took time to pack, I would not have. A few essentials, and everything else can be replaced is my credo.

Whoa... someone just jumped out of a window

I would definitely have put my clothes on.

re: #207 snowcrash

OMG, someone jumped out the window.

What floor?

re: #216 commadore183

IBN is showing a cellphone picture of a person who jumped from a window from the Taj hotel to escape the flames.

They;re showing a shot of a dead terrorist inside the hotel

re: #204 stevieray

I think Cold Pizzas deleted comment #136 is creating confusion.

Scroll back up to 198, sounds like it had an email address in it.

re: #217 FightingBack

Meanwhile, F(News)N: Joran Van Der Sloot.
Honestly, aren't these folks ashamed of themselves?

And CNN has a hero show. Must be a slow news night.

re: #216 commadore183

re: #220 sattv4u2

They;re showing a shot of a dead terrorist inside the hotel

Shot looks to be a lobby security camera

re: #208 Iron Fist

After the hell we've gotten over Gitmo, I'd say that I don't give a rat's ass if we never take prisoners again.

Never, ever ever again.

You see, we can't kill them, that creates problems for the whiners, the L3, and the terror sympathizers - terrorists have rights, don'cha know? And we can't just throw them in prison for years, because that creates problems for the whiners, the L3, and the terror sympathizers - terrorists have rights, don'cha know?

They used to have a tribunal for people like this and then execute them, once found guilty. But, in our PC world, we can't go and hurt these poor guys wittle biddy feewings and degrade them as we supposedly do, by providing them better quarters than what our Marines stationed there have!

re: #203 Wishing

You totally missed the point. No problem.

No. YOU missed the point and compounded it with your PC crack here. No problem.

Yes just so there is no mistake my above posts happened to a friend of mine from Vancouver. The first part of the email got cut off.

This did not happen to me, I was home and asleep in my bed.

sorry about the full names "stinky". But my buddy wouldnt mind.

"Jonthan" was also interviewd tonight on Wolf Blitzer.

re: #220 sattv4u2

They;re showing a shot of a dead terrorist inside the hotel

I thought I heard them say it was that of a person who jumped from the Taj? I must have heard wrong.

re: #225 experiencedtraveller

No. YOU missed the point and compounded it with your PC crack here. No problem.

sigh, shakes head.

NDTV saying fire was started by commandos to smoke out the terrorists. They also say the terrorists at the Taj are all dead. The op at the Taj is over.

re: #219 x-wing

What floor?

Looks to be pretty much one with the sidewalk.

/guessing third or higher

re: #190 Killian Bundy

Until they attack again, which would be tomorrow If I were them.

/unfortunately, the bad guys will never all be dead

you're right, but ultimately it's a matter of percentages. when the would-be bad guys see that the people who have gone before them have been killed, the enthusiasm starts to wane and they go onto something else.

the brits did it to the Mahdi army in Sudan in the 1800s, and put the genie in the bottle for a while.

killed a lot of them at once, defeated the army in the field, and it stayed that way until 1979.

the iranian revolution electrified the muslim world and now it's going to take another round of violence for the genie to be put back into the bottle.

this is one round in a long, long, long war.

it's not our fault. we can't fix it through self-reform. and we are going to have to fight.

our civilization does not have to be perfect to be worthy of defense.

and we do not have to be morally perfect to defend civilization from those who would destroy it.

it matters if we win.

that's the message to tell the left.

re: #220 sattv4u2

They;re showing a shot of a dead good terrorist inside the hotel

Improved.

re: #208 Iron Fist

After the hell we've gotten over Gitmo, I'd say that I don't give a rat's ass if we never take prisoners again.

Never, ever ever again.

And I think India needs to line up all those Mujahadeen they have in custody and do a public execution. That may send a very good message.

NDTV reporting that NSG commandos started the fire to flush out commandos.

Maybe Cold Pizza could repost 136 sans the e-mail and name?

I just got done with my tidying up so excuse me if this is a repeat of something already posted but, while I was scrubbing down the kitchen, it hit me that the information posted by Bobibtutu at No. 106 in the Update thread could mean that this was not your run-of-the-mill terrorist attack. These fucks were sorta'-kinda' regular soldiers.

Arrested terrorist says gang hoped to get away

The gang of terrorists who wreaked mayhem in Mumbai for three days were made to believe by their Lashkar bosses that they were not being sent on a suicide mission and that they would be coming back alive.

In a sensational disclosure made by Ajmal, the jihadi nabbed alive by Mumbai cops, the group had planned to sail out on Thursday. Their recruiters had even charted out the return route for them and stored it on the GPS device which they had used to navigate their way to the Mumbai shoreline.

SNIP

Ajmal made another important disclosure: that all terrorists were trained in marine warfare along with the special course Daura-e-Shifa conducted by the Lashkar-e-Taiba in what at once transforms the nature of the planning from a routine terror strike and into a specialized raid by commandos.

SNIP

That little shit Joran van der Sloot is on Fox. TV off.

re: #161 ColdPizza

And remember that knock/ring at my door? Well, I subsequently learned that
the first thing the terrorists did was get the names and room numbers of
western guests. They then went to the rooms to find them.
Ehrlich, with an E, room 1820.
I'll bet my entire life savings that they were the knock at my door.

I'm so glad you're safe and thank you for sharing your story. I'm totally in tears right now and can barely see the keys. I will be praying for you tonight. Again I thank you for your story - it makes it so much more real - so much more personal. We need to support these people because they are us - all of us. It IS true evil we are fighting and they have shown they will never stop.

God Bless you, Jonathan!

Thank god for jet lag.
Thank god for "cranky tired Jonny" (as many of my friends and family know so
well) that compelled to get into and stay in bed.
Thank god for being on the 18th floor.
Thank god for the kind kind people of Mumbai of helped me tonight. The
wonderfully kind hotel staff. That cook. My cab driver who constantly said
"relaxation" "relaxation" "I help" and who kept me in the cab when we hit a
particularly gnarly traffic jam and i wanted to get out and walk. And for
other people in traffic who, upon hearing from my own cab driver that I was
at the Oberai, literally risked life and limb to stop traffic to let us get
by (as again, only those who have been to Mumbai can truly appreciate).

Mumbai is a tragically beautiful place. Incredibly sad. But I am convinced
that its inhabitants are definitely children of some troubled but immensely
soulfully god.

I'm sitting on plane (upgraded to first class….see, told you I'm lucky ☺).
Just had the best tasting bowl of corn flakes I've ever had in my life.
Hennessey coursing through my veins. Concentration starting to loosen and
sleep beginning to creep onto my horizon.

I still feel a bit numb. But mostly I feel like I've just watched a really
really bad movie staring me. Because right now, it all doesn't feel real.
Maybe a few hours of CNN will knock me into reality. But the truth is numb
is fine with me for a while. If I do end up thinking about the what if's, I
don't really want to do that until I'm much much closer to home. And I have
30 more hours of travel time to go.

But before I sign off, let me say this.

The people who did this have no souls. They have no hearts. They are simply
the living manifestation of evil and they only know killing and murder. We
– all of us - need to understand that. Their target tonight was first and
foremost Americans. Why? Because they fear everything that America stands
for. They fear hope and change and freedom and peace. Let's make no
mistake; they would have shot me and my children point blank tonight with
out a moment's hesitation. Most of us sorta know that but sometimes we
equivocate. We can't equivocate. Not ever.

I know that I want to go back. Lay some flowers. Wrap my arms around these
people. Say thank you. Spend some money on overpriced hotel gifts and tip
well. And generally give the bastards who did this the big fuck you and show
them that I am not – I repeat not – afraid of them.

But first I need to go squeeze my wife. Dry her tears. Then have her dry
mine as I hold my beautiful beautiful babies who will be
(thankfully) oblivious to all of this. Because isn't that what life is
really about?

I appreciate you taking the time to listen.

With much much love.

Jonathan

re: #217 FightingBack

Meanwhile, F(News)N: Joran Van Der Sloot.
Honestly, aren't these folks ashamed of themselves?

Sex trafficking is a massive global industry - it wouldn't surprise me at all if this is what happened to Natalie. Joran has a tape of he and his father - and his father warns him not to talk about this because trafficking is so bad.

Aruba has an incredible PR problem on it's hands if this is true and there has been a massive cover-up down in ARuba - and the Aruban authorities have refused to look into this or cooperate with private investigators.

If she was led onto a boat under false pretenses - it would explain why there was no trace of her and no trace of a murder.

I said it before, there are guests holed up and barricading themselves in their roooms to avoid the terrorists. A British businessman was in this situation and was telephoning in his interview on BBC last night. The fire is under control and now any stuck guests must be rescued. Quickly.

re: #235 transient

NDTV reporting that NSG commandos started the fire to flush out commandos terrorists.

PIMF.
Grrr.

If NSG started the fire to flush these bastards out, I really applaud them! Gutsy move, but totally focused on getting the job done, to ignite a national landmark.

re: #234 x-wing

And I think India needs to line up all those Mujahadeen they have in custody and do a public execution. That may send a very good message.

Absolutely! And this is what needs to be done to the convicted terrorists at Gitmo, too. On the news, live.

re: #231 Killian Bundy

Looks to be pretty much one with the sidewalk.

/guessing third or higher

Ouch.

re: #237 taxfreekiller

Open your borders and terrorist will come.

Another thought hit me while I was scrubbing: this could happen here with the easy flow of folks from the south. I mean, who's to say that a coyote--for the right amount of money--wouldn't be willing to include an Ahmed-named-Alberto in one of his trips over the Rio Grande?

re: #245 6pat6

Absolutely! And this is what needs to be done to the convicted terrorists at Gitmo, too. On the news, live.

Fox News will probably book Jordan van der Slut Sloot for that time slot, too.

Cold Pizza ...
I am speechless

and ... weeping. You will be glad to have written of your experience while it held the intense and raw emotions; I am happy to have read of your escapade and its happy outcome. You certainly have many reasons to celebrate Thanksgiving this year.

regards and thank you for your insight into this tragedy and its causes.

Lashkar-e-Tayyaba in the USA. Maryland native.

re: #247 MandyManners

I mean, who's to say that a coyote--for the right amount of money--wouldn't be willing to include an Ahmed-named-Alberto in one of his trips over the Rio Grande?

I'll bet that has already happened several hundred times already.

re: #237 taxfreekiller

Open your borders and terrorist will come.

True dat

re: #251 FightingBack

Lashkar-e-Tayyaba in the USA. Maryland native.

Couldn't get the link?

Remember the old Reuben and Rachel song?

It keeps running through my head.

IBN reports that the person that we saw on that cellphone pic was a terrorist that was trying to throw a grenade out of a window, but was shot dead by the NSG. Good job NSG!

re: #250 ctrlL

Cold Pizza ...
I am speechless

and ... weeping. You will be glad to have written of your experience while it held the intense and raw emotions; I am happy to have read of your escapade and its happy outcome. You certainly have many reasons to celebrate Thanksgiving this year.

regards and thank you for your insight into this tragedy and its causes.

___

The first part of the email was cut off, this did not happen to me, it happened to my friend Jonathan. I tried to post the email in one post but "it was too long" wouldnt post.

The Indians have demonstrated some incompetence and strangeness. I posted a couple articles earlier about the bravery of the hotel staff, but the military seems as nonchalant as the police. Always waiting for the other guy to do something. Plus they are generally under-equipped. I must say the citizenry has shown itself proud, brave and determined.

re: #251 FightingBack

Bad link. Fixed.

wow! wasn't a jumper! Was one of the terrorists who was shot when trying to lob a grenade on fire/security personnel!

That was a terrorist that was out the window. Shot while standing in a window as he tried to throw a grenade. Good for the security guys outside!

NDTV : last blaze started by the NSG commandos to smoke the terrorists out

re: #254 Wishing

Couldn't get the link?

[Link: www.adl.org...]

I tidied the link.

Woah, a message from Jonathan to the O crowd:

The people who did this have no souls. They have no hearts. They are simply
the living manifestation of evil and they only know killing and murder. We
– all of us - need to understand that. Their target tonight was first and
foremost Americans. Why? Because they fear everything that America stands
for. They fear hope and change and freedom and peace. Let's make no
mistake; they would have shot me and my children point blank tonight with
out a moment's hesitation. Most of us sorta know that but sometimes we
equivocate. We can't equivocate. Not ever.

re: #247 MandyManners

Mandy, iCE agents report hundreds of illegal Pakistanis and Iraqis coming into America every month.

re: #256 commadore183

IBN reports that the person that we saw on that cellphone pic was a terrorist that was trying to throw a grenade out of a window, but was shot dead by the NSG. Good job NSG!

I just cyber spit on his ass. Fucking scumbags.