2008 Mumbai Attacks

The following picture is of Ajmal Kasab, the only surviving attacker from the 2008 Mumbai attacks. On the morning of November 26, 2008, members of the Laikshar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani military group began their onslaught, killing over 100 people, and severely wounding 300 others. This incident is something that has remained with me all these years, as the places where these terrorists killed innocent people are the very places I have gone and seen with my own eyes during my time in India. This picture does far more than just show Kasab during the attacks, as it also illustrates that terrorists are easily concealed among us. In all honesty, I wouldn't have assumed Kasab was a terrorist, simply by the way he is dressed. His cargo shorts, hoodie, and neatly cut hair are all characteristics of the typical Westerner. What is so unfortunate about Kasab is that his motivations to commit these crimes were not sinister. Kasab was a young man in Pakistan who was unable to find work, and due to a lack of availible resources and education, was eventually attracted by the large amounts of money provided by local terrorist organizations. This is also evidence of the human need to become prosperous and possess money. As morbid as this may seem by today's standards, money still plays a pivotal role in deciding a persons place in society. In essence, Kasab was simply searching for a way out of his poverty. This raises a larger question, however. We paint terrorists as being the villains in the society, and there is no question that their actions are not justified, but, isnt it entirely possible that they are simply the pawns for something much greater and genuinely evil? Food for thought.