Terrorist Attack In India: Covert Action Needed To Rescue Americans

Happy Thanksgiving. But its not one for the people who are being held hostage in Mumbai, India. Mumbai, the "Bollywood" capital of India, was attacked by a terrorist group called the Deccan Mujahedeen.

I've read and listened to many accounts of what the terrorist's motivations are, but they're targeting American and British people. I don't care what their reasons are, we've got to save those being terrorized and get our Americans home.

But doing this calls for covert, not overt action, else more will die. In the 21st Century, why can't we send in troops dressed and trained in the customs of the area, have them quickly blend in, then disable the terrorists and get our folks home?

It's not something anyone has to know about. That's the old America. Why not a way of doing this that works. We've got to get Americans to safety.

PunjabPower at CNN IReport Gives His View of the Indian Terrorist Attack

PunjabPower - his screen name -- gives his unique take on the Indian terrorist attacks of Thanksgiving Eve.  His summary reads:

The on going terrorist attacks in India are rooted in two aspects of the Indian sub continent history ..
1) The Religious divide which caused the break up on the continent in 1947 into two countries known as India and Pakistan. Bangladesh was further separated from Pakistan in 1971 war. The religious divide continues to this day more than half a century later. Funny enough that there are more muslims in India today then there are in Pakistan. A concerted effort is needed to bridge the religious divide, Good luck with that one though..
2) The conflict in Kashmir which has caused two wars between India and Pakistan is a fuel to the cause of these radicals in India. Unless the conflict in Kashmir is resolved, one can expect the terrorism incidents to continue. More sophisticated going forward perhaps, as it seems from today's attacks. 

Deccan Mujahedeen - Who Is The Deccan Mujahedeen

Related: CNN's Sara Sidner covers the attacks. 


In the wake of the Mumbia, India terrorist attacks, many have one basic question:  Who are the deccan mujahedeen?  


In my online search the information I have found all concerns today's terrorist's attacks in India.  Blogger RateVin reports:

An organisation calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen has claimed it was behind attacks in Mumbai that left at least 80 people dead, television channels reported on Thursday. The previously unknown or little known group sent an email to news organisations claiming responsibility. Indian journalist Ameet Sha told a private TV channel there was no confirmation but the pattern suggested involvement of Laskar-e-Tayyaba.

But the mention of the Deccan Mujahedeen as a Muslin group may cause Americans to think it's connected with the Mid East.  Not so.  The name is an off-shoot of the Indian Mujahedeen, an Islamic group based in India.  However, that group is not the Lashkar-e-Toiba , another Indian terrorist group. 


My hunch is this is a loosely formed group of Indian militants with no real organizational system, just a name they came up with.  

Americans Targeted By Terrorists In India; Hostages Taken; 78 Dead, 200 Hurt

This is breaking news both on CNN and the Associated Press.  A group of unknown gunmen have taken over the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, India and "rampaged" through other parts of India.  This is what CNN reports:

CNN) -- Gunmen rampaged through a series of targets in the Indian city of Mumbai killing indiscriminately and taking hostages at two luxury hotels.

A wounded man is carried from the attacked rail station.

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Mumbai police spokesman Satish Katsa said gunmen have taken over the Taj Mahal Hotel and Hotel Oberoi, and were holding hostages on multiple floors.

Flames and smoke poured from the Taj early Thursday, and at the Oberoi the military reportedly entered the building and a large explosion was heard shortly afterwards.

Another hostage situation was unfolding at Cama Hospital, CNN's sister network in India, CNN-IBN reported.

Earlier, A.N. Roy, the police chief of Maharashtra state, said there were ongoing battles at the two five-star hotels. iReport.com: Are you there?

One witness told local reporters that gunmen tried to find people with U.S. or British passports and took about 15 of them hostage.

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Here's the Associated Press video: