India claims attackers were foreign / Pakistan condemns attacks -- could this escalate?

[DCBob]

Pakistan condemns Mumbai attacks
By CHRIS BRUMMITT – 1 hour ago

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan warned India against accusing of it links to the Mumbai terror attacks Thursday, saying doing so would "destroy all the goodwill" between the two nuclear-armed rivals. The remarks by Pakistan's defense minister came hours after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said militants based outside his country carried them out. Singh did not single out Pakistan, which New Delhi has accused of complicity in terror attacks on its soil before, but his remarks are likely to be taken as a sign here that India suspects Pakistani links somewhere in the plot. A serious deterioration in relations between Pakistan and India, which have fought three wars since 1947, would greatly complicate U.S. foreign policy in South Asia as it tries to get Islamabad to focus less on its southern neighbor and more on tackling al-Qaida and Taliban militants along the Afghan border.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jpRIj-YeUKA1LmDUI0ioVqX9HYiQD94NDS8G0
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This thing could quickly escalate as we have seen in the past between these two nuclear powers. Bush will surely mishandle the situation. Do Obama and SoS Clinton need get involved? I know, only one Prez at a time but I prefer the new one.

[happychatter]

1. Elements of the Military didn't hesitate to act as agents of the Republican Party for Reagan

not only prior to inauguration

prior to the election

promising weapons for hostages, AFTER the election

them MFs (grrrrr)

but of course, we have to be nice... in the longer term, it's probably critical to negotiated de-escalation, to have a single voice at a time. It's also the law. "It's just not done, old boy." eh?

If I knew something, they'd pay me better.

[Gman]

2. Yup...

I agree with the Stratfor analysis. India has 2 choices: say it was domestic or say it was Pakistan. If they say it was domestic they fell down on the job of protecting citizens through law enforcement and the government looks real bad. Second choice is the best: say it was Pakistan take the world (again) to the brink of nuclear war, stare into the abyss and let the US broker a stand down. Pakistan promises (again) to crack down on militants. Face saved.

[LittleApple81]

3. What bothers me are the talking bimbos on TV insisting that it is because of Obama that they had

this attack in India... just to fulfill Biden's prophesy. It is horrible.

[alwysdrunk]

4. Who the hell is saying this ignorant shit?

Everyone I hear says this must have been planned for months. Months would be way beore the election.

They are going to say that about everything Russia does, but terrorists in India? I doubt this has anything to do with Obama.

[LittleApple81]

6. Contessa Brewer on MSNBC all during the morning was repeating this meme. nt

[lob1]

5. If the terrorist were trying to fulfill Biden's prophesy,

they'd wait until Obama's president. Right now they're testing Bush if they're testing anyone.

[LittleApple81]

7. Agree totally. But Contessa kept on asking "experts" if Obama had changed his plans for Thanskgiving

and if he had done enough, or if he had overstepped. She never asked what Bush was doing in Camp David or if he was been effective in his role as president.

[H2O Man]

9. Right.

Bush has been fully marginalized. This isn't a "test" of Obama.

[H2O Man]

8. Yes, it could.

Hopefully, it won't. It is possible, even likely, that the more stable forces in each country can maintain some control. But it is also possible that the less stable influences can take actions that cause this to spin fully out of control.

Obama and Clinton are obviously more capable, if they were in power, to exert a stabalizing influence. But we are, for a time, stuck with Bush and Rice.

There are other regional and global sources that may take a role. I certainly hope so.

[mvd]

10. I hope not, but worry

My thoughts are with the victims. :-(

[AZBlue]

11. It could, although now they are saying the terrorists may be local.

If that is true, which in some way I hope it is, relations between the two countries will hopefully not deteriorate because of this tragedy.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27945120/

[mkultra]

12. too soon. Just a few short weeks and Hillary could address this

She would go to India personally and fix this problem. Hurry up clock! Spin faster!
WE LOVE YOU HILLARY!!!!

[Marrah_G]

13. I think it could get ugly quickly.

[amborin]

14. makes it harder for US to fight Taliban, since Pakistan's focus turns back to India, not Taliban.