People, things, and in general, circumstances never change. I realized this after watching the horror and drama unfold in my city over the past week. I say this , because I have also realized the following things: (Not a word below is false)
IT IS...
1. So like the terrorists to strike again. Trust them to never let a dull moment go by.
2. So like the metal detectors and other security measures to be completely redundant and useless when they were needed the most.
3. So like our system, to arm the railway police with merely Lathis, as a consequence of which they were among the first to run away when the carnage at CST station began.
4. So like our system again, to have NSGs only in Delhi.
5. So like our system to have the plane to carry them stationed in Chandigarh at that time, and so like that plane to need refueling at that moment, all of which resulted in a delay of 10 hours between the terrorist strike and the NSG operation commencement.
6. So like our politicians to pounce on the tragedy and play a game of oneupmanship. It is so like the BJP to allege now, and so like the Congress to refute.
7. So like our intelligence to have slept over a bulk of information that it had received over the past few months, pointing to exactly this kind of attack.
8. So like RR Patil, Mah Dty CM, to say "Small things like this tend to happen in big cities like ours. They had planned to kill at least 5000, so by those standards, we did pretty well." to the press.
9. So like his office to call and plead with the media not to broadcast that clip.
10. So like our media to ensure that was the first thing they broadcasted in glowing neon "BREAKING NEWS: RR PATIL: says..." font.
11. So like Pakistan to act all surprised and shocked, and sport a "Who Dunnit?" attitude. Yeah right. You bastards.
12. So like Manmohan Singh to sound like an economist even while delivering a speech to the world immediately after the attacks.
13. So like the Congress to take purely reactionary measures now, and sack incompetent fools. Like they had to wait for so long , and for such a failure to gauge the competence levels of their officers.
14. So like the NSG commandos to quietly finish the job and leave with minimum fuss. It is modesty that reveals greatness.
15. So like our system once again, to treat the families of those killed in the Taj/Oberoi with utmost respect, and have senior officers escort them to the morgue. At the same time, the kith and kin of those dead on the CST platform had to wait, or run from pillar to post for close to 48 hours for a chance to see their dead.
16. So like the media to have a field day and bring us live coverage of the gunfight. Like it were a cricket match.
17. So like the abysmal state of the coast guard to be discovered now. Now.
18. So like us to keep saying crap like 'spirit of the city' and 'resilient Mumbai'. Resilient my butt. You and I could be amongst the mangled bodies shown on television next time.
19. So like the media to ape the west in this hour of grief too, by labeling that day as "India's 9/11". It is one thing to call our film industry Bollywood. But to call 26th Nov "India's 9/11"? Grow up guys.
20. So like Raj Thakeray to do a disappearing act now. MNS commandos to the rescue anyone?
21. So like us to realize, in hindsight again, how petty his politics of North Indian v/s Marathi manoos really is.
22. So like them, no doubt to prepare for another strike.
23. So like us to be engrossed in the blame game again.
24. So like life in India to go on as always.
4 comments:
Where I disagree
2. So like the metal detectors............
common civilian targets....
u r never going to b able to protect civilian targets in a free country, not without prior knowledge
5. 5. So like our system to have the plane to carry NSG...........
up till last week the cost of having multiple bases was not really justified
7. So like our intelligence ....................
The bulk of information as you put would not even be a 100th of the total information these agencies get.. again following each and every one of these leads.. cost not justified till now.
11. So like Pakistan......
I agree completely that elements of ISI are involved, but I cannot agree that the Pakistan government is involved or privy to the attack.. afterall theres no reason for the terrorists to get them involved.
12. So like Manmohan Singh....
sincerely think that was a articulation issue
17. So like the abysmal state of the coast guard.........
cost not justified till now
where I completely agree,
1. Media: grabbing every chance they can get to sensationalize something.. in the process providing wrong information.. providing information possibly to the terrorists.. and now these are the guys who are leading with the blame game.
2. BJP: My My how can we let them be.. BJP and allies are responsible for far more deaths in this decade than terrorism.. 2002 gujrat riots alone clamied over a thousand, more than mumbai, guwahati, jaipur, delhi and bangalore combined...
How can we let them be.. tells you quite a bit about India, if BJP is one of the front runners.
My two cents:
1. So like the youth of Mumbai to rise up and talk tough without knowing jack, whether it is about politics or ya i said it Pakistan involvement.
2. I see everyone at least blaming congress for participating in the blame game. While I dont believe that they are anywhere near good enough. I ll say this,
In their boots with all the good in my heart I would have played the blame game too, if i dont the chances that I win the next elections is too low and the alternative isnt very rosy.
3. Lastly about the intelligence and security:
A free country: no papers to carry, no martial law, no star of david to be carried around, NO GITMO, NO PATRIOT ACT, connected from and land and sea to some of the most terrorist infested countries in the world.
Very difficult to thwart the best laid plans without significant amount of luck.
i agree with samarth on his last comment.. i mean its ok to be frustrated and all now... but u have to admit that this incident could have happened anywhere anytime in the world with the same or more gruesome consequences...
Just think about how big our country is... and u knw what... its is typical of us to react how u(or even me ) reacted once all this actually happens... it is like u have to lose in cricket for all the flaws in the team to come out... till you are winning or as in this case till all is well... no one raises all these questions
about the intelligence... do u have any idea how many hoax calls our police and intelligence must be getting about fake bomb plants and attacks about to happen somewhere in the city... unless it is from an extremely reliable source, do u really think it is possible for our intelligence to act on all of them
In my humble opinion, the only solution to this problem is to kill the root of the problem...by that i mean PAKISTAN.... but since we are not extremists who would be willing to kill innocent people to solve this problem, we cant even do that...
So all we can do is stay alert as citizens... and hope that this breath you are taking, be it in a train, a bus, a hotel or just walking on the road, is not your last..!!!!
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