THE VINDICATION OF THE BUSH DOCTRINE IS ALWAYS ONE ATTACK AWAY:

Massacre in Mumbai: 'Put your hands up if you are British,' gunmen tell terrified travellers (Andrew Buncombe, 27 November 2008, Independent)

India's financial capital, Mumbai, was rocked by a series of gun attacks and blasts last night that targeted luxury hotels and restaurants – and especially British and American visitors. At least 80 people were reported to have been killed and up to 250 injured.

At least 80 people were reported to have been killed and up to 250 injured.

Late last night, armed police were said to be storming rooms held by gunmen on the upper floors of the Taj Mahal and Oberoi, two of the best-known hotels in India. Officials said the terrorists had struck at least seven locations, including hotels, hospitals, a railway station and the Cafe Leopold, the city's most famous restaurant and meeting place for Western tourists.

At one location, the gunmen had apparently been searching for British and American travellers to take hostage. Reports suggested that several hostages were still being held.

The democracies MUST ensure they win (Richard M Bennett, November 27, 2008, Rediff)

Pakistan and any other country that supports or finances terrorism, whether it be Syria, Iran or even Saudi Arabia, must finally be called to account, and if necessary punished for their behaviour.

All those who support terrorism in any way must be held ultimately responsible for their actions.

If Britain, the US or indeed India fails to carry the war to those who make terrorism possible, wherever they may be hiding, then they too most be equally held responsible for their appalling failure to protect their own citizens.

The terrorists and their supporters have declared open war on the democracies and their citizens.

It is now time for the West to stop making excuses for inaction, for a deadly war is undoubtedly underway.

The democracies must ensure that they win in the end and if necessary by whatever means present themselves.

Now is NOT the time for squeamish liberalism, and the terrorists and their supporters should be confronted and defeated in the same uncompromising way as the Allies dealt with Nazi Germany and its allies.

My heart bleeds for India today.

While your first instinct is sympathy for our friends in India, you can't help marvel at how dense the terrorists are. They no sooner get a US president who wants to draw the country back into a shell and who barely knows that India exists and they practically force him into accepting Bushism.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 26, 2008 11:26 PM