Using the power of the hive to keep informed

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As Ennis mentioned in the earlier post, there isn’t much we, as American bloggers, can add to the story from Mumbai as it continues to unfold on the ground. The time for blogging about the specifics will come in the next few days as more facts emerge. I recommend forgetting the news channels with their endlessly repeating video loops and paid talking heads. The best place to follow what is happening in Mumbai is to visit the wiki page created to compile all information about these attacks. It is continually being updated and the references section is terrific. There is also a Google Map of the region that has been created with all the attack sites highlighted.

Twitter has also been a great way to get details about what’s going on. Try typing Oberoi for example. “Terrorists trapped” also results in a slew of Tweets.

USE THE COMMENTS TO POST INFORMATIONAL FACTS or WORDS OF SYMPATHY ONLY. RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR RECRIMINATIONS.

324 thoughts on “Using the power of the hive to keep informed”

  2. 94 · thetrickisimple on November 27, 2008 05:42 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

    lol!! some cnn journalist gets mobbed by horny indian ‘youth’. She claims near rape!

    I am actually pretty disturbed by this…. and its not funny.

  3. 100 · Piyush Patel said

    i just watched the video with Sara Sidner. i still don’t understand what the problem was with those two guy who came in and disrupted the shoot. I couldn’t understand what the guy was saying.

    From the few words i understood I think the guy was emotional and thought the terrorists were attacking only because the foreigners were there. He sounded pretty drunk and assaulted Sara and the cameraman.

    P.S: Apologies for posting the previous comment twice. Chrome is not the ideal browser (yet).

  5. wow.. easy now.. understand the bored Indian youth. A little drink, a foreign woman, tv camera and someone to instigate the action. We should be thankful she wasn’t molested like the girl during new years last year.

  6. 105 · Sad Viewer said

    I don’t understand why comment 94 hasn’t been deleted yet???????

    Because it’s been commented on repeatedly now, and people are referring to it (and the video linked within it), which makes moderation a challenge. We didn’t find it amusing or appropriate, trust.

  7. The other thing i am not sure is the whole Deccan mujaheddin story. Its seems like any fringe group trying to get some publicity could email the so called “news” organization claiming responsibility for the attacks . Also , if such claims were made , why is it that they are not made public?? It seems like , the emails is the only piece of evidence that could confirmed by making it public and it hasn’t been done yet.

  8. 96 · pingpong said

    Yes, please do, time permitting.

    Will do.

    Meanwhile, for those of you interested in how Fox is reporting this in the US, check out their videos here: http://www.foxnews.com/video-search/search?q=mumbai

    I’m actually relatively happy with Fox’s coverage this time as they have called in a number of ex-CIA, anti-terrorism experts and have called up several people in India, including the ET and Asian Age editors and are trying their best to report as best as they can. They’re tied in to Sky News (and Star News, via Murdoch) so many Americans are getting Mumbai beamed 24/7 into their homes.

  9. Are street cops in Mumbai armed? Or, like their Brit counterparts, are they provided with arms only during crises like this? In my trips it seems like only those that are officers or have airport detail seem to be armed, and in those cases only with antiquated gear.

  10. Wow that video of CNN’s Sara Sidner shows just how disorganized the security effort is. They should close off certain sections of south Mumbai to only media and essential security personnel. The fact that a bunch of drunk can come in and disrupt terror coverage just shows how poorly managed the situation has become.

  11. 110 · louiecypher said

    Are street cops in Mumbai armed?

    No, they are not. The constables usually carry sticks. Only if there is a riot situation, they are seen with World War II vintage rifles which they shoot over rioters’ heads to scatter them. Security men at vital installations (like airports) are armed with automatic weapons. Ditto for men guarding government buildings and politicians. No expense is spared in arming them. Politicians want their asses covered, no matter what.

    Police officers (sub-inspector rank and above) carry handguns. The encounter specialists are reputed to carry automatic weapons.

  12. 109 · Pranay said

    anti-terrorism experts

    Fox had Tom Clancy on the day after 9-11, I wonder if they’ll feature Amitabh Bachchan to discuss this one. Also, there was an article a couple of years ago about the extensive title fabulism that is prevalent on the 24 hour news networks.

    Tying in to the annoyance of labeling this attack India’s 9-11, the most disgusting thing for me about the coverage on Indian channels is how they go on and on about this being an attack expressly targeted at foreigners, when several dozens of Mumbaikars have been killed in indiscriminate firing in locations such as movie theaters, petrol pumps, restaurants, train stations, and streets.

  13. 111 · Bobo said

    Wow that video of CNN’s Sara Sidner shows just how disorganized the security effort is. They should close off certain sections of south Mumbai to only media and essential security personnel. The fact that a bunch of drunk can come in and disrupt terror coverage just shows how poorly managed the situation has become.

    I am more disappointed with the crowd, they seem like a bunch of Rediff comment board denizens in the flesh. I can understand that the cops have their attention elsewhere and can’t escort news crews. In any case, I have no doubt in the weeks to come the police and domestic intelligence agencies are going to be raked over the coals. And now that the “creamy layer” of Mumbai society feels threatened maybe something will actually improve

  14. 112 · vk said

    110 · louiecypher said
    Are street cops in Mumbai armed?
    Police officers (sub-inspector rank and above) carry handguns. The encounter specialists are reputed to carry automatic weapons.

    I wonder if the North Americans or people from UK understand the concept of Encounter

  15. 111 · Bobo said

    Wow that video of CNN’s Sara Sidner shows just how disorganized the security effort is. They should close off certain sections of south Mumbai to only media and essential security personnel. The fact that a bunch of drunk can come in and disrupt terror coverage just shows how poorly managed the situation has become.

    Sorry, I know this is opinion and not objective. But we should keep it in perspective. The Indian administration is not used to dealing with television like in the west, so their information management is not as well developed. The situation (the military operation), I’m sure, is being managed better than it would be in most countries. So your comment, that it is ‘poorly managed’ is only a superficial assessment of the situation.

  16. I was truly sorry to hear about these incidents and contine to follow it with a sense of powerlessness, which is all that really surfaces during moments like this.

    All my sympathy to ALL those with friends or family affected. Very sad, and I hope repercussions — in so many ways — from this are minimally horrific.

  17. ironic that so many victims of a terror attack conducted under the name of Islam are Muslim

    that footage from Rediff iShare is chilling; i’ve never heard a terrorist speak while in the act before

  18. 115 · Piyush said

    I wonder if the North Americans or people from UK understand the concept of Encounter

    I doubt they do. But the Mumbai police that specialises in encounters obviously doesn’t understand the concept of urban terror. That is evident from the way THREE top police officials got into the same vehicle and drove into an ambush where they were murdered.

  20. There are too many things to be pissed at. The never ending 9/11 references, etc… But what did Mr Chopra say??

  22. 121 · Sad Viewer said

    There are too many things to be pissed at. The never ending 9/11 references, etc…But what did Mr Chopra say??

    petro dollars, Kashmir, Hindu rightwing, legit grievances of certain community in demanding non-secular resolution to Kashmir blobbety blah. When a mouse farts in Rancho Cucamanga there are dust devils in Anatolia. We are all in this together, usual vague Chopran BS

  25. Why are they interviewing Deepak Chopra about this? Why not somebody credible like Kal Penn, who has actual real life experience acting as a terrorist in 24 and that Superman movie?

  26. 126 · Rahul said

    Why are they interviewing Deepak Chopra about this? Why not somebody credible like Kal Penn, who has actual real life experience acting as a terrorist in 24 and that Superman movie?

    Hahah I love that… I was thinking about referencing the show 24… But I didn’t want to seem too Americanized.

  27. Just heard on NDTV that some of the terrorists could have been British citizens of Pakistani origin and that an Indian based in Saudi Arabia is being suspected of funding the operation.

  28. 128 · Heer said

    Just heard on NDTV that some of the terrorists could have been British citizens of Pakistani origin and that an Indian based in Saudi Arabia is being suspected of funding the operation.

    I am wearily of these unconfirmed reports. I hope everyone keeps a cool head and let the facts come out.

  29. I know that having a free society means that things are more porous, but with the international connections (to the U.S and Britain) in this attack, I hope Western governments will share some intelligence gathering techniques so next time India won’t just be reactionary.

    The people of Mumbai, Britain and the States are tough resilient people. I know they will come through this stronger. The military has apparently temporarily setup on the 1st floor flat in my Uncle’s home near Colaba Market which means he’s safe thank God.

  30. India should take a leaf out of the US playbook and use this incident to bring democracy to Saudi Arabia. All your Saudi oil are belong to us.

  35. Hopefully the Oberoi will be fine soon. It would be heartbreak to see it develop into a longer hostage crisis (its already painful to see that it has potential to develop into one).

    On another note, I was wondering if anyone remembers a programme on TV a few years ago where Ratan Tata provided a tour of the Taj Palace. I don’t remember details, but I was completely fascinated by the hotel’s history and the care that had been accorded to it. I tried searching on youtube (see ‘Taj at Apollo Bunder’) but it gets me videos that are short clips and not the actual programme – which was about an hour long I think. If anyone does find it (or knows any details) please do update.

  38. Sometimes the power of an image can overwhelm you. I’ve been following this like everyone else with mesmerised horror, reading the accounts, the details like a guest who escaped from a hotel saying how the teenage boys / men who were trainee chefs in the hotel restaurant kitchens were massacred where they stood. But I guess you block it out of your mind, hug those close to you, and get back inside your protective bubble.

    Because it’s too frightening, too intense to dwell on.

    Then I just saw a picture from Reuters of a man and a woman who had been shot as they ate dinner beside the hotel swimming pool, and it just hits home, the visceral horror and evil of it all. They are a middle aged couple, dressed in casual smart clothes, lying on the floor dead, lifeless pieces of meat, one second they were souls alive, in a moment, sitting eating dinner, Satanic evil visited their existence and now they are nothing. Some teenage boy or girls mother and father, some gentle elders son and daughter. I just feel so sad tonight.

    Everyone phone your parents before you go to bed and tell them how much you love them.

  39. They did as good of a job as Israel did in Lebanon in 2006

    Tenuous connection at best. Jews in India are far too small and abstract to affect Indian Islamists. Most Islamic radicals in India have grievances against Hindus, not Jews, based on their past attacks. Either terrorists are getting less parochial and more internationalist, or as the Financial Times reports, there’s some non-homegrown angle to this.

  40. the india i knew as a child no longer exists.

    may peace be with all humanity in all besieged regions of this earth – trying to live each day with hope for tomorrow.

  41. Jo… I didn’t even see the picture, but I was moved just by your description of it. It’s good advice (to call your parents today).

  43. 131 · Pranay said

    <

    blockquote>India mishandled hostage situation:

    […] The Israelis do have a point.

    No Kidding.

    Several things have been extremely disappointing. 1. Indian media – These so called journalists should get some rudimentary training in on-air journalism because from the type of questions that were being asked it seems to me that they do not have common sense to make up for the lack of it. How the heck these morons were allowed inside the Taj building, I saw one report where the journalist almost tripped over a Mumbai fire brigade personnel.

    1. Senior Indian Police Bureaucrats and Senior Armed forces personnel: Why do have to talk so much? Any one who has a mike and a camera is able to get an interview. Why cannot the government appoint a spokesperson, hold a press conference and have a unified message? If Sagarika Ghosh and her ilk get antsy ask the local pandus to swing lathis and put them in place. Nobody’s right to information is so absolute that it trumps tactical considerations in an ongoing crisis. Why business does Mr Dutt, who is the chief of NSG, has discussing how his men are clearing which floor?

    2. Gawking Mumbaikar brethrens go home guys. This is not a circus; let security people do their job.

    3. Mumbai Elite; Mahesh Bhatt and Azmi, Shobha De: Thanks but no thanks; feigning outrage and flying off the handle does not change the fact that most of movies that you people make are funded by dirty money lot which comes from the same source that funds these murderers.

  44. Sulabh,

    I was thinking the same thing, everything I turn on the tv, I see some Senior Police official blabbering away.

  45. Everyone phone your parents before you go to bed and tell them how much you love them.

    Yeah, I thought your advice was good and called India. My aging father, who is from a military family, vented at me for 15 minutes about (I quote) “fuckin’ unprofessional journalists should be lined up and shot”, and my deeply Hindu mother about “all these Muslims are getting bolder”.

    🙁

    Parents these days.

  46. The pathetic mishandling of this and other situations in the recent past has convinced me of something I had long suspected – beneath the glamour and sheen of the booming New Economy, India remains a third-world banana republic.

  47. I hope some good comes out of this entire messy situation. Maybe Vinod can do an economic analysis of the impact of the attack(s)?

    I foresee life insurance companies having more customers – also security cameras and security companies. Any other not so obvious economic impacts ? Positive please – not negative ones.

  48. There are people dying and dead and all some of us can do is point fingers, I am sure people are doing their best and there will be plenty of time for finger pointing.

  49. 147 · melbourne desi said

    I foresee life insurance companies having more customers – also security cameras and security companies. Any other not so obvious economic impacts ?

    I foresee Life Insurance Companies shelling out huge payments to the owners of the damaged buildings including the Taj and Oberoi. These payments are not going to be small by any means.

    A very obvious and negative impact will be on tourism. It has to be seen just how many foreigners travel to India for leisure. A few more such incidents and business travelers might also be unwilling to travel to India and/ or do business with Indian companies.