Hostage!

This is with reference to November-26-Mumbai-Under-Attack. (India-under-attack you fool!). Handful of men, they say 10, have been keeping best of Indian security forces engaged for 45 hours now at various places. No-hostage situation was declared at TAJ, at around 1200 Hrs yesterday, around 30 hours back, and they couldn't storm-in even after this long.

Let us assume the number of terrorists to be 100. Fighting against a nation of 100 Crore for this long, at economic capital of the country (its not a under-equipped village or town with remote access), is beyond my understanding.

And the terrorists have been successful in their mission in every sense of the word. They have created sufficient terror. They have kept India engaged for two days now. They have created much damage. And they have been creating headlines worldwide. BBC, CNN, FOX news don't speak much about India except for fistful documentaries on temples, Bangalore, human trafficking and prostitution, snake charmers etc. They have been mentioning India in last two days probably more than they did in last two years.

And news like "30 hostages rescued from Trident", "Seven hostages rescued from Nariman House" confuses me. Makes me think "REALLY???". Definition of the word "HOSTAGE" in Merriam-Webster reads "One who is involuntarily controlled by an outside influence". Is it not true for all of Mumbaikars? All of us? Terrorists have been attacking at will, where they want, when they want. At one time, not long back, they have been blasting every Saturday. We all, at every point of time are under their gunpoint, living at their mercy in our own country. Do we all not suit the definition of Hostage. Symbolically seeing hostages have not been rescued, they just have been taken out of the hotels.