Obama's Mumbai Statement On Terrorist Attacks

President-elect Obama has released a statement on the Mumbai terror attacks:

"President-Elect Obama strongly condemns today's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and his thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the people of India. These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism. The United States must continue to strengthen our partnerships with India and nations around the world to root out and destroy terrorist networks. We stand with the people of India, whose democracy will prove far more resilient than the hateful ideology that led to these attacks," said Brooke Anderson, Chief National Security Spokesperson

Comments

[nick53]

simple, clean statement. no need to talk bs about al-qaeda or other unproven theories, he just speaks heart to heart.. that's obama :-)
http://www.spinwhip.com/obama

[irtrad17]

Buddhist Extremist? Isn't that an oxymoron?

[Querent]

It is.

[Oldbuck]

I read through all the blogs but the hummingbird just went over my head just tell what is the though. I think that we must defend ourselves and support our allies but these terrorist are driven by a ideology not any country. This is typical of any extremists group weather it be muslim or Christian or Buddhist.

[loofa]

Buddhists don't kill people. period. There are no Buddhist extremists.

[freddy3000]

sorry, but buddhists do kill people. look at, for example, the burmese junta.

[mumbaikar]

Mumbai has dominated the news cycle this Thanksgiving. Here's how the city got its name.

http://onlybombay.blogspot.com/2008/11/origin-of-word-mumbai.html

[jmcallahan]

I view a hummingbird feeder from my desk. These tiny birds are as aggressive and territorial as any species on earth. Their aerial battles are a series of posturing and near misses. The males stake out the feeder and guard if from other males; even juveniles are chased off. The difference between them and us is that their only weapons are size, cunning, speed and courage. Imagine if they were also loaded down with doctrines, nations, histories of grievances, cockamamie theories and the ability to wipe out whole communities with the push of a button? Gods/philo­sophies/na­tional or racial superiority and grievances are all trumped up excuses for greed and power. Hummers don't directly kill each other in battle but if they don't have nectar, they'll starve. I supply the nectar, but I can't change their nature no matter how often I replenish the feeder. If there is a 'creator', perhaps this being feels the same way about humans. None of us knows for sure about 'gods' but we can be certain that killing in the name of faith/beli­efs/nation­s etc., makes humans less civilized than greedy little hummers.

[MizLiz]

Well said. I've watched this same thing out on our deck. You're right -- all we can do is supply the food and hope they all survive.

[Ajita]

I agree with you. Out-group oriented competition and aggression is the major cause and it is fueled by divisive ideologies such as religion and race. The same reason applies to everything from the clashes of empires in ancient times and genocidal colonialism from Europe to "modern" forms of terrorism.

[Mudge]

If you use non-caloric artificial sweetener instead of sugar to make the hummingbird food they will all die quickly and there will be no competition, aggressiveness etc.

[Querent]

You are one sick mother.

[bjammin]

Sounds like you need a hummer, too - just not the kind you're talking about.

[mamadeus]

Point well taken. We cannot stop their behavior if they do not want to stop.

[isom74]

We need to stop associating these criminals with with the words Islam or Muslim. They are simply hate filled murderers who use the guise of religion to carry out their personal vendettas. This is the truth of the so called 'success of the surge". The true believers in the Muslim faith have grown tired of these rogues hijacking their religion and murdering their people. These thugs may claim to worship Allah but they are truly instruments of the devil. The will of people to live their lives in peace and tranquility will ultimately prevail and it won't require a "war on terror", just an awakening of the people to their own power.

[KJLSanDiego]

I agree that being a Muslim and following Islam do not mean terrorism, fear and death. My best friend's father, a Palestinian Muslim, is one of the kindest, most funny and heart filled people I know. He allows his four daughters to follow Catholicism and Protestantism, and one of his daughters is even dating a Jewish young man who has become like family to them. Let "T Dawg" be an example to all Muslims out there, and an example of the best that Islam can be!

[theophagousmonkey]

"He allows" his daughters to pray to different gods? Allows?

[Clavis]

Doesn't that mean that your best friend's father is ignoring or disobeying Islamic law? Don't get me wrong, I'm a nonbeliever and I think it is very good that people disobey religious law, but recognize that "moderate believers" are people who are casting off their ancient religion in favor of reason, logic, modern sensibilities and humanism.

Your best friend's father is not an advertisement for the maintenance of religion. He is an advertisement for the shedding of religion. If everybody behaved the way your best friend's father behaved, religion would be a negligible influence on the world and we'd all be a lot better off.

[BillMelater]

I agree they are simply hate filled murderers, however, they associate themselves with Islam. Until I hear Isalmic leaders screaming out their rejection of what these cowardly murders do, I can only assume that they don't really mind. Now perhaps you are a Muslim and have just done your part - great. But you are just a whisper in the sea of silence.

http://billmel8er.wordpress.com

[Dolphyn]

Okay, here are some Islamic leaders rejecting terrorism for you, courtesy of Google:
http://facts-not-fear.blogspot.com/2007/06/muslim-leaders-reject-terrorism.html

Meanwhile, there are a lot of hate-filled bigots who associate themselves with Christianity, but that doesn't make all Christians evil either.

[AtheistUS]

Have you heard many Christian leaders screaming out their rejection of the war in Iraq in 2003?

[katherine2]

How was this hateful ideology formed that Brooke Anderson refers to? Let's face it, it was helped to form and strengthened by the tragedies of the Iraq invasion. I was glad to read, though, the statement about forming stronger ties with India and other countries to combat terrorism. Taking another unilateral approach would be the pinnacle of the definition of insanity, which is repeating the same and expecting something different.

[Clavis]

But many peoples have been injured the way the Iraqis were injured by the invasion, but not every people turns to suicide bombing of civilians, including women and children and hospitals and aid workers.

I don't accept that tactics are justified by anger. I can't justify walking up to a baby in its stroller and shooting it in the head and then saying "Well, that baby's dad fired me from my job and I'm really mad." I'm still a crazy baby-killer who deserves to be the nuthouse or the electric chair. I can't retreat behind a holy book. I'm still responsible for my actions.

[vote-obama]

the problem in the world is extremism on all sides. muslim extremist, christian extremist, jewish extremist, liberal and conservative extremist. if we get rid of the extremist a lot of today's problems will be wiped out overnight. please everybody listen to robert kennedy's "the mindless menace of violence".

condolences and hope for a better future to the good people of india.

[KJLSanDiego]

I agree with this. Both Buddha and Jesus preached about modesty in action. Following the middle path and turning the other cheek could go a long way these days!

[Clavis]

Buddha said that you shouldn't believe anything that disagreed with your own reason and common sense. I like that. This notion of believing stuff DESPITE the fact that it doesn't make sense is BS.

[tploomis]

I think that faith-based beliefs, as promulgated by all religions, are the problem. When a person does not feel that their understanding of the world needs to be based on science, it provides a basis for the extreme distortions of the religious fanatics that produce terrorists. Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindhus all have long histories of producing religious fanatics that rationalize extreme cruelty to others. I think the moderate religious believers among us bear some responsibility for this as well. They might not be throwing bombs and taking hostages, but they are supporting belief systems unconnected to reality.

[theophagousmonkey]

As long as there is religion there will be 'extremists.' It's a condition of 'belief.' Group A will always want to outdo group B as to who believes more, who believes better, who believes in a purer fashion. It's abotu 'us' and 'them'. Religion of any kind is, de facto, extremism.

[BillMelater]

Yet another great show of the peacefulness of Islam from radical cowards that murder unarmed civilians. And once again we hear condemnation from everone except Islamic leaders. Why is that?

Is it not their religion that is dragged through the mud? Is it not their peaceful beliefs that are spit upon by these radical cowards? Do these cowards not bring down Islam itself? Why are the Islamic leaders not outraged? The silence is deafening and it makes me wonder.

http://billmel8er.wordpress.com

[MizLiz]

I don't think we have to wonder too much. In Legal texts, silence means consent.

[placidwilbur]

Very, very rarely. I don't know what law school you went to or what books you were reading there, but I'd go in for some refresher courses on contracts, criminal, crim pro and torts. And in the meantime, please don't advise any rape victims.

[Huffonthis]

Gansters not "terrorist". These thugs are no more terrorist than a bunch of crackheads with AK's.
When will the Media stop elevating these idiots to "terrorist" status?
The public are sheople and the media is the sheppard.
QUIT USING THE WORD TERRORIST!
I hearby proclaim the war on terror is over!
We shall now root out IDIOT GANGSTER THUGS!

[mouve]

Huh?
Describing this incident as "terrorism" is absolutely appropriate. It's exactly what terrorism means. Talk about "textbook terrorism". "Terrorist" is not a word the present government or the media have invented, you know.
Undoubtedly the attackers are crackheads, which, however, would make them crackhead terrorists.

[onenation]

This happens nightly in cities across the world. A neighborhood gets shot up by gangs, inocents are killed. The "good" people are shocked. The bad people get more general acknowledgement of their badness. The good people decide that that is not a neighborhood for visiting or investing.
The bad people win by default.
That is what made America great?
Gota fix the "other part" of DC and the non-visit part of (fill in the city) or we are just Mumbai, but not news worthy.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

If we the people didn't purchase all the gossip style news for years, the sellers would have to produce a better product.

Example, the people in Somalia after years of fishing, Japan and other countries started fishing in large ships in their area, MSM sell one side of the story.

We only had white males in charge for years in America.the people finally voted a black male into office with major tsunami of problems. American and exile persons demands instant actions from PE Obama. He is not official until 2009.

We are not demanding the white male who is in office to do something now. The Media have already given Bush an excuse call a Lame duck. Yet he is President until January 19, 2009.

The people in other countries have learned over the years from Americans how to get attention. The media have made millions showing them how. This is it. Murder or get hostages.

All those claiming exile from their own country says to me they didn't have the B@LL to stand up, they want other to fight for them.

In India there are more millionaires than in America. Just like We the people in America, there are extremely poor people living there. Why? what are they doing for their own people?

[Alej-andro]

There are a few points I would like to suggest. For one, look where well established terrorist groups have been brought down.
As others have stated, this is a long-haul fight, and the first point to win is to deprive them of their reason for fighting:
1. Do not call it a war, they are criminals, not soldiers. ERGO, put them in common jails and treat them as common criminals. It deprives them of the "mystic" pose.
2. Cut their supply of cannon-fodder. Sociology and Psychology must be employed along with law-enforcement and an increase in social and economical stimuli. Turning Afganistan into a Drug-lord controlled area is counter productive. Use their own religion against these criminal acts. Recruit informers.
3. Quiet down all policies and actions. That does not mean, "take no action", it only means, keep a low profile.
4. Deprive them of funds, as swiftly and as surely as possible (it also ties up well with point 5)
5. Clean up our own act. That means a lot of stuff and we could discuss for days and years. Energetic independence is a start (and fits nicely with a re-engineering of the Big three automakers in the US). Make fossil fuels fossils.

Ok, 2 penny`s worth. I am sure this is only a small part of all that needs to be done.

[Babysnake]

My friend, there is a bigger picture:

1. Remember when the mujahadeen were our friends and we were supporting them?

2. Remember when the taliban were our friends and we were supporting them?

3. Remember WHY we were supporting them?

4. Now ask yourself, WHO is supporting them now.

5. Ask WHY they are supporting them now?

You will find the same answer to all the questions.

[captainindustry]

Here in Dallas, they are broadcasting the Kennedy assination over Fox Radio News. Constantly talking about racism. It' is sickening. It is Thanksgiving morning, about 7. It's been on for hours. Now they are talking about the MLK assasination.

the American Madrass...

[Babysnake]

Do something.
Go to www.change.gov and ask Obama to address this stuff through his appointment of a new FCC director.

Fox is a threat to our national security. Internal security.

[SPQR1052]

Correction if I may: The REPUBLICANS deregulation of USA MEDIA (TV, RADIO & PRINT JOURNALS) is the threat to our national security. MURDOCH owns too much media he's similar Beurlisconi of Italy. Contorl of the media by ONE or two organizations (Individuals) is WRONG. That's way to much influence over the print journals, audio and televisions of our FREE republic. Just saying......

[alifilee]

to captainindustry
i have stopped watching foxnews let alone fox radio, they make me physically sick, their bias is so obvious and so un American. do yourself a favor stop listening.
and people from dallas, in particular, if they are talking about jfk's assassination, how are they bashing that!
foxnews both on cable and radio should be off the air permanently, starting with sean hannity and laura ingraham.

[Shrinath]

hey captainindustry. my sister lives in Plano and says she gets all the networks. Why are you listening to Faux and that too for hours?

[PatsyT]

Are they sending code? Is this how Fox celebrates Thanksgiving?
Turn off Fox.

[outsidein]

Save them...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMf9oBpvI0o

[kashmirihindu]

It is not the time to condemn but to show action.All terriorist are getting either in pakistan or in south Afghanistan.What is America doing only giving funding to those countries who are using it in getting weapons from china or some other country.I feAmericans has to the change policies what is good for americans and for rest of the world.........I still guess Peace nowhere..........

India is the mostly effected of Islamic terriorism as i am one of the victum of from Kashmir we were uprooted by islamic terriorism and are living in exile.....­........It is the right time to retilate and show some respect to those who are killed in the terror attack...........

Mumbai is the one were all peoples of religion lives and is economic capital of india so they have targetted these areas as india is democratic country with secular thought..........We should kick off terriorist from world and stand together.......

[gaelfire]

OBAMA CAN'T "SHOW ACTION." HE'S NOT THE PRESIDENT YET!! JESUS!!

[Shrinath]

FIrst - The Indian government has to get its act together. All the rest will follow. Look around yourself and you will see. Rolling stones do not gather mass. And on what basis do you accuse China? Pakistan are problematic with a large segment of radical militants. Most citizens there want peace and prosperity.

As far as American administration is concerned, they can offer support. I do see a change in terms of outlook with regards to the Obama administration though. So untill, Jan 20 2009, it is still dubya in charge.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

Take all exiles back to fight the Islamic terrorist. Go retaliate for yourself. Ask those Indian millionairs to support your cause. There are currently more millionaires in India than Americans. We do however have millionairs in America who are not Americans. But that is a whole other story.

Bottom line, Americans stoop up for themselves against a King years ago.

Anyone in America who are not American waiting for more of us to give up our young people blood, I pray those days will be coming to an end soon. I personally feed, go home and fight for yourself.

[Hawka]

Patriotism is overrated if we lose our own human decency in the end. Its what helped fuel WWI, belief in the superiority of your own country over others without thought of the consequences it brings to the world as a whole.