fury and patience in Mumbai

Though fury at this barbarism, this violation of all things human pulses within me I earnestly hope our society does not take the path of unthinking revenge or constructing an ever more absurd and clumsy security apparatus. Fiery revenge and simplistic security measures have been tried and found wanting over the years as responses to terrorism (I hope India can learn from America's mistakes here). This is not to question resolve or diminish revenge. Justice demands that those who are guilty should be punished, but do we even know who that is?

Reports (though the truth remains enrobed in fog) seem to be coming of a faction within the Pakistani security apparatus
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Arrested_terrorist_says_gang_hoped_to_get_away/articleshow/3771598.cms

These do seem to have been something very close to enemy soldiers, supplied and trained by a components of foreign government. And multiple signs indicate that the democratically elected components of this government were not aware; and do not support this barbarity. Pakistan has always been a state divided along multiple axis. It is not a single actor and cannot be treated as such.

So can we perhaps exercise patience? Talk to the parts of Pakistan amenable to reason, without sacrificing one iota of resolve. This is a state besieged at all levels: militarily from the north, financially, culturally, spiritually. Working with others; careful yet intense pressure can be applied for them to break down the machinery of Jihad that breeds within. If all else fails, other means can perhaps be considered. But patience cannot hurt here, additional knowledge cannot hurt. Dialogue does not imply a lack courage or passion and a rapier is deadlier than a bludgeon.

just some thoughts