Let's say you want to get a bunch of laissez-faire democracies to do something about Islamic Fundamentalists (Islamofascist in today's parlance, because that makes it easier to connect to the Nazis, and that is the most potent allergen in provoking mass political responses) who are causing trouble in your neighborhood.

Unfortunately, these democracies just seem not to be doing enough to suite you. They have this 'live and let live' attitude, and a tradition of personal freedoms, which makes them inconvenient to control. But these Islamofascists which are infesting the neighborhood are a bit beyond your own capacities to exterminate, so you need a bigger hammer.

It might be a neat trick, to poke a stick in the anthill, and arouse these lazy democracies, with an attack in their backyard, which would get blamed on the Islamofascists, thus recruiting those lazy SOB's to you cause, and giving you that big hammer you needed.

You might try flying an airplane into a building. That would work. Or even a nice little guerilla raid on a wateringhole of the rich and famous. People would get pissed. They would over react. And when they pulled the trigger on the inevitable barfight, you would be there with a butter-wouldn't-melt-in-my-mouth expression to condemn everthing. And shake your head sadly.

Heck, it might even be a better trick, to invent some figurehead Islamofascist terrorist, who could be your mouthpiece to justify all the changes you might want in these democracies, so you could control them better. What an idea... oh, wait...

We'll talk later, there's someone calling on the phone..

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Fascism is from Italy, and while allied with Nazis, not Nazis, per se.

What does "enough to suite you" mean?

But other than that, that was some nice sticking up for your little buddy coupeZ600. And it made just as much sense as his original post.

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[en.wikipedia.org]

Thanks for playing.

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Qui bono is an interesting way of looking at history. There are others, too, you know. Oh, right, you don't, my bad.

Now, you may get back to twisting your brain into pretzels. You almost looped back on yourself in that last post.

The attack in Bombay was carried out by armed muslims. They probably didn't use Occam's or any other razor.

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Out there doing the Dale Carnegie tonight, eh my pet pedant? Smile and nod. Works every time. You can get out on the boards, correct a typo or two and fix the world. Because, boy, it needs fixing. I may befriend you myself just so you don't feel so cranky. Insulting people because they don't like you won't make you feel better, though. Sadly. Because that looks like all you are good at.

Although history isn't one of my degrees, as a social scientist I am passing familiar with it. Which apparently you are NOT, if you got the simple Nazi thing wrong. What are your degrees in my dear? What? Internet porn? The psychology of argument? Cercopithecine shit slinging, perhaps?

Whatever.

Back to the issue at hand. Just to be precise, the attack in Bombay involved multiple groups, with advanced martial knowledge and training, and they are purported to be Pakistani or Indian Muslim extremists. They also are purported to have used knives and explosives as well as a variety of small arms. Their organization and training implies connection to some larger parent group with political intent. The claim of alliegance one way or another proves nothing, until hard evidence is collected. Which is ongoing, I hear.

It will be interesting to see what evolves. But don't believe everything you see on TV, even if it IS the BBC.

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That kind of pedantry is frowned upon here. The other kinds that you guys are engaging in? Have at it, just keep it out of the week's regularly scheduled posts.

Carry on.

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I swear I'm not holding. No box cutters or razors. Honest.

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Most of the analysis points to Islamist (not Islamic -- it's the religion vs. politics thing) extremists. The entire goal of Al Qaeda and similar groups is war on a massive scale. They know they can't start it themselves, so they try to goad larger powers into action. It worked on 9/11, leading the U.S. into war in the Middle East, and starting a conflict that bin Laden and his lackeys had no hope of starting themselves. However, their window of opportunity in the mideast is rapidly closing as the U.S. appetite for war wanes. What's a radical to do? Turn eastward, and try to start something between India and Pakistan -- two countries that are already hostile to one another, and have nukes. Now it's up to India's political leaders to avoid the trap, and Pakistan's to make sure nobody's able to set another one.

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Well India, Pakistan, England, Australia, South Africa, the West Indies, Sri Lanka and more are fighting an ongoing battle for many many generations. A battle that has seen Australia come out on top, yet a battle where India has the better defence and Pakistan the better offence. A battle that brings a smile to a child's face. A battle the brings peace and goodwill. A battle that breeds respect and understanding amongst adversaries. A battle that America does not engage in...

Cricket. In case you did not know

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It really seemed like the attacks would occur after we'd visited!

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Not at all. In fact, now that Tata owns Jaguar, I am anticipating a new Tata model called, the CatWoman .

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go in the corner with no hot wheels for 2 hours!

...then grandma will come by with some candy

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yes, you can have your hot wheels now

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