Joe Biden warned of a “test”, has it begun before Obama enters office?

“At least 50 hostages have been reportedly rescued from a major fire at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in India’s financial capital.

One of the Mumbai ‘terrorist’ gunmen, caught on Indian channel NDTV Mixed reports say as many as 100 hostages may have been rescued from the fire, which erupted amid ongoing clashes between security forces and terrorists at the site of one of India’s most luxurious and historic hotels.

Some people are still being held hostage in other locations across the Mumbai, say reports, and others remain trapped in the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.

Eyewitness reports say terrorist gunmen sought American and British hostages, as at least 80 people were killed and hundreds injured in a series of coordinated terror attacks in southern Mumbai.
India’s NDTV is reporting at least seven police officers, including two senior police chiefs, were killed in the clashes. As many as 900 people are injured in hospitals across the city, according to the Times of India.

A group calling itself the “Deccan Mujahedeen” has claimed responsibility for the attacks, according to the Press Trust of India.

Gunmen targeted several high-profile tourist areas in the city, including hotels, a popular tourist cafe and a crowded train station. At least seven attacks were reported, with terrorists wielding heavy machine guns, including AK-47s and grenades.”

While not clear who’s responsible, the chatter is certainly on the increase. NYC is currently on alert for possible subway attacks based on “credible contacts”.

Politics aside, I truly do not want to see Obama “tested” and I’m sure no one else does – except the terrorists – but it would be foolish to dismiss this increased activity and indeed it would appear that it may increase.

Remember just a week ago Al Zawahiri sent a message to Obama that is still being analyzed.

Al-Zawahiri said, “you have reached the position of president, and a heavy legacy of failure and crimes awaits you.” He continued, ” You represent the direct opposite of honorable black Americans like Malik al-Shabazz, or Malcolm X (may Allah have mercy on him). You were born to a Muslim father, but you chose to stand in the ranks of the enemies of the Muslims, and pray the prayer of the Jews, although you claim to be Christian, in order to climb the rungs of leadership in America.” He said, ” As for the crimes of America which await you, it appears that you continue to be captive to the same criminal American mentality towards the world and towards the Muslims. The Muslim Ummah received with extreme bitterness your hypocritical statements to and stances towards Israel, which confirmed to the Ummah that you have chosen a stance of hostility to Islam and Muslims.” He said, ” And in you and in Colin Powell, Rice and your likes, the words of Malcolm X (may Allah have mercy on him) concerning “House Negroes” are confirmed.”

It would not be a stretch to say that radical islamics look upon Obama as an apostate, or better still, a traitor by abandoning the faith of Islam for Christianity. Much of the wording of Zawahiri’s words reek of a warning, or worse a “signal”. While Al Qaeda’s threat capability has been greatly deminished, it doesn’t mean that they are still unorganized. Yet some in the intel community have indeed taken these words as a threat to Obama.

“They are calling him a heretic”, said one source today.

The increase in chatter and activity is significant according to one intelligence friend I spoke with because of the virtual silence for most of the summer and early fall.

“Something is up”, and today I’m afraid we’ve only seen a beginning.