By Phyllis Chesler

The Islamic terrorists in Mumbai targeted Westerners and wealthy Indians. They chose huge, 4000 room hotels and other large, highly symbolic targets such as cafes and the old Victoria railway station. But they also carefully chose a very tiny building, Nariman House, also a highly symbolic location. Chabad is a worldwide movement of Hasidic Jews who do not proselytize, who are not violent, who live to help others and who have “shluchim,” or messengers-in-service on every continent. … (Continue reading…)

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By Andrew L. Jaffee

An Islamist group calling itself the “Deccan Mujahideen” went on a killing spree Wednesday in Mumbai, India. These terrorist cowards, organized as “[t]eams of gunmen,” savagely killed at least 144 people, wounding at least 300, and “specifically targeted Britons and Americans.” The “team” which besieged the “landmark Taj Mahal hotel … were targeting foreigners. They kept shouting: ‘Who has U.S. or U.K. passports?’” The Islamists “stormed luxury hotels, a popular restaurant, hospitals and a crowded train station,” in other words concentrated their attacks on civilians. This “previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen” is comprised of extremist Muslims, bent on terrorizing and killing non-Muslims (”infidels”), waging what they consider to be a “holy war,” all in the name of Islam. Some people, especially in the politically-correct camp of terrorist appeasers, like the “scholar” John Esposito, would accuse me of jumping to conclusions and/or defaming all Muslims. These appeasers would be wrong because, in their attempts to whitewash Muslim extremism, they overlook — probably purposefully — the obvious truth.

This Muslim terrorist group calls itself the Deccan Mujahideen, the operative keyword being mujahideen, which means, “a military force of Muslim guerilla warriors engaged in a jihad.” Some would add qualifications to the word mujahideen:

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~by E.D. Kain, NeoConstant

According to The Long War Journal’s Jane Novak, the US Embassy in Yemen was attacked today by a militant group carrying machine guns, RPG’s, and setting off a series of explosions. The terrorist force was repelled after killing 16 people, and attempting to breach the US compound. After a fierce gun battle, the militants were repelled. No US citizens were killed, though many Yemeni security officers were killed or wounded in the fight.

A group calling itself Yemeni Islamic Jihad took credit for today’s attack. The group last month claimed responsbility for a July suicide car bombing at a police station in Hadramout killed one policeman and injured 18. The police station had been previously bombed with no injuries. Yemeni Islamic Jihad also threatened a future attack in the capital.

This is not the first attack or attempted attack on a US embassy or consulate this year. In July, the US consulate in Ankara, Turkey was attacked leaving several dead. Luckily both attacks proved to be failures, unlike some of the major suicide bombings we’ve seen in India and Afghanistan recently.

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by P. R. Kumaraswamy*

As the U.S.-Iranian dispute escalates, both Washington and Tehran seek friends and allies. New Delhi is caught in the middle. While the U.S.-Indian partnership has grown closer in recent years, New Delhi’s approach toward Iran’s suspected nuclear program causes concern in Washington. Overshadowing the debate is India’s own nuclear program. With the July 2005 U.S.-Indian civilian nuclear deal yet to win U.S. Senate ratification, is India seeking to strengthen its energy security through Iran? Or is New Delhi pursuing the civilian nuclear deal without being sensitive to Washington’s concerns vis-à-vis Iran?

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A personal, historical vignette

By Cainnech Ó Sullibhain

This story begins of all places in what was then known as the Trucial Coast of Arabia, bordering on the Sultanate of Oman and Muscat in the Persian Gulf on one side and Saudi Arabia on the other.

While I was serving in the merchant navy, I had the opportunity to touch the Trucial Coast, which of course got its name because the British had signed a treaty (truce) with the local sheikhs in the seven sheikhdoms, which were later to become known as the United Arab Emirates.

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A judge in India has summoned two Hindu gods, Ram and Hanuman, to help resolve a property dispute. …

Talk about appealing to a higher power:

… Judge Singh sent out two notices to the deities, but they were returned as the addresses were found to be “incomplete”.

This prompted him to put out adverts in local newspapers summoning the gods.

“You failed to appear in court despite notices sent by a peon and later through registered post. You are herby directed to appear before the court personally”, Judge Singh’s notice said. …

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By Canadian Coalition for Democracies

Ottawa, Canada - August 15, 2007 - India celebrates 60 years of independence. This occasion offers Canada an opportunity to reevaluate its relationship with one of history’s oldest continuing civilizations, a nation that is the world’s largest pluralistic democracy, and a major Asian military and economic power.

Like Canada, India inherited its parliamentary democracy, common law, civic administration and knowledge of English from its period as a British dependency. Despite having much in common with India, Canada has been slow to expand relations with the country, focusing more on its relations with China. This emphasis is reflected in the disproportionate extent of Canadian Government programs, civic engagement, trade, bilateral agreements and ministerial visits aimed at China, and a blinkered approach toward India.

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by David Harris*

For too long Canada has somehow overlooked the biggest democracy in the world, India, mistakenly focusing on China instead. India’s annual GDP growth is now only one percentage point short of China’s. And the subcontinent is pushing a broader spectrum — both manufacturing and services — than China, with its emphasis on manufacturing.

A passage to India, or a slow boat to China? At last, Stephen Harper’s government might be making the right choice.

For years Canadian diplomacy has emphasized China over India. But next week, Trade Minister David Emerson’s high-profile India mission can bring a needed change — provided Canada’s government is prepared to pursue the right initiatives.

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By Animesh Roul*

Four suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants, arrested following a heavy exchange of gunfire with the Delhi Police on Feb 4, have been remanded to police custody. Meanwhile, the suspected JeM men were identified as Shahid Gafoor (from Sialkot, Pakistan) Bashir Ahmed, Fayyaz Lone, and Abdul Majeed Baba (all from Jammu and Kashmir). Initial investigations suggested that three Kashmiri militants, who had arrived in Delhi from Jammu by the Malwa Express earlier that day. The encounter took place near the Ranjit Singh flyover, close to bustling Connaught Place area. Police recovered three kg of RDX, four detonators, a timer, six hand grenades, 30 bore firearm, USD 10,000 and INR 50,000 from them.

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By Andrew L. Jaffee

The Senate yesterday passed legislation by a super majority (85-12), proposed by President Bush, that would allow the sharing of nuclear technologies between the U.S. and India, for civilian uses. While detractors claim this is a setback for the non-proliferation cause, I have long argued that closer ties between the U.S. and India are natural and necessary.

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By Animesh Roul*

At least two events have been haunting India’s security establishment at present: an email threat to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ahead of his visit to southern most State of Kerala scheduled on October 31, and the arrest of two suspected Pakistani nationals with alleged link to Al Badr terror outfit in the neighboring Mysore (in Karnataka).

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by Harsh V. Pant*

In January 2006, Saudi king Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud visited China and India, a trip some commentators labeled “a strategic shift” in Saudi foreign policy and reflective of “a new era” for the kingdom.[1] It was King Abdullah’s first trip outside the Middle East since taking the throne in August 2005, and it was also the first trip by a Saudi ruler to China since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1990.

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By Canadian Coalition for Democracies

Toronto, Canada, Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - The Canadian Coalition for Democracies (CCD) has been granted intervenor status at the Commission of Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182. David Harris, CCD Senior Fellow for National Security, will serve as legal counsel and intervene on behalf of CCD at the Commission of Inquiry.

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By Canadian Coalition for Democracies

Toronto, Canada, Tuesday, July 12, 2006 - Terrorists today launched grenade attacks in Srinagar, Kashmir and bombed eight commuter trains in Mumbai, India. The terrorists targeted innocent civilians, killing over 180 and injuring or maiming over 450.

Intelligence reports indicate that these atrocities are the work of radical Islamic organizations, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) and the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). LeT is designated as terrorist entity in Canada.

“This massacre has all the hallmarks of radical Islam,” said Alastair Gordon, President of the Canadian Coalition for Democracies (CCD). “Our government must clearly identify the enemy, and condemn the propaganda that claims poverty, marginalization, Israel or foreign policy played any role in these barbaric attacks.

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By Andrew L. Jaffee

Today, Islamist terrorists murdered 22 Hindus and wounded 5 in Kashmir. This attack isn’t just about the Indian “occupied” portion of Kashmir. It is not just about Muslims killing kafir (non-Muslims), but was meant as an attempt to derail warming relations between India and Pakistan, and especially to throw a wrench into the strengthening ties between India and the United States.

Here is the delicate manner in which the Islamists acted:

Police said militants lined the men up outside their homes in the mountainous Doda district before shooting them.

There are other reasons for attacking Hindus, of course. Mostly Hindu India is the world’s biggest democracy, a political system that is blasphemy to the Islamists. 58 years of independent, democratic rule? Indians are embracing capitalism. Pretty girls and dashing young men on TV and in the movies (Bollywood)? Punjabi rappers sparring with their New York counter-parts? Strong ties with the U.S. and Israel? Naturally, India has been the target of the Islamo-fascists.

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