notes from underground

I am not a political person and don’t have national flag in my yard and want now look upon the recent “terrorist” activities in Mumbai more as kind of spectator event like sports.  At the onset of the Civil War in the US when battles occurred around the cities, people would take a carriage and a picnic lunch with them to watch from afar in amusement.

Firstly I would just like to comment on the stupidity factor of this recent event.  Not that the occurrence was unjustifiable, terrorists too have to make their way in the world, but rather the stupidity of the kamikaze nature of temporarily hijacking hotels and train stations and taking hostages.  There is simply no sustainability. Personally, I think drug cartels in Mexico and other Latin American countries have greatly superior strategists.  And despite the well planned operation in Mumbai, the intrigue could have been much grander and made much more of an impact if there was something symbolic done.

For example, when twenty or so people are murdered in Mexico, nobody hears about it until the bodies are discovered, the perpetrators get away, move up in the ranks for a job well done, are available to perform again, and cartel leaders don’t seem to have as much turnover as their gang members don’t kill themselves or in the case of Mumbai face imminent capture.   In addition, these acts are more precise and strategic, a politician knocked off here, a speed bump in the drug business there.

Another advantage that the drug cartels have is that they are quiet about their killings and projects and as result don’t attract international attention.  They also don’t go the extra mile to do aimlessly sensationalistic projects like in Mumbai, have set objectives, and as a result do not have the US military breathing down their necks, which if you head an underground organization is probably nice.

Nevertheless, the organization operating in Mumbai does provide an outlet for reckless, kamikaze types (the US military does as well, as often times becoming a soldier is a decision made coinciding with suicide cloaked by patriotism and discipline).   And if you ever wanted to be an underground star, I would recommend joining a Muslim group, as they receive more press, are more sensationalistic, have a US tank looking to ram its barrel up your as constantly and as a result there is added intrigue value.  The downside, your career is more like a fire cracker than a slow burning, jungle holiday snorting cocaine.