Mumbai and the age of "celebrity terrorism..."

Quite apart from the scores murdered and the hundreds injured, what the Mumbai terrorists really wanted was an exaggerated - and preferably extreme - reaction on the part of governments, the media and public opinion. 

In these terms, the attackers received as much attention as they could possibly have hoped for, and the Mumbai outrage can only be described as a very significant terrorist success.

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If so, then Mumbai could represent something rather different in the history of terrorism, and possibly something far more disturbing even than global jihad. 

Perhaps we have come to the point where casually self-radicalised, sociopathic individuals can form a loose organisation, acquire sufficient weapons and equipment for a few thousand dollars, make a basic plan of action and indulge in a violent expression of their generalised disaffection and anomie.

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Welcome to the age of celebrity terrorism.  Full story...

See also:

1. Mumbai attacks: politicians tremble as anger mounts...
2. Mumbai attacks: unanswered questions...
3. The War on Terror, like the War on Drugs, is a fraud...
4. The bogus War on Terror...
5. YouTube fame at any price?