Salami Tactics

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<P><FONT color=#000000>Transcript of a conversation between, the Prime Minister (PM) and his National Security Advisor (NSA)</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: Prime Minister, you believe in the nuclear deterrent? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM - Oh, yes</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: Why? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: Pardon? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: Why? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: Because it deters. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: Whom? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: Pardon? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: - Whom? Whom does it deter? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: Our neighbours from attacking us. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: Why?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: - Pardon? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: Why? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: They know if they launched an attack, I'd press the button. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: - You would?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: Well, wouldn't I? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: Well, would you? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: At the last resort, yes, I certainly would. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: Well, I think I certainly would. Yes. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: And what is the last resort?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: If our neighbour tries to annex Kashmir.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: You only have 12 hours to decide, so you're saying the last resort is the first response? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: Am I? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: You don't need to worry. Why should the enemy try to annex Kashmir ? They can't even control NWFP. No, if they try anything, it will be <B style="COLOR: black; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff66">salami</B> <B style="COLOR: black; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #a0ffff">tactics</B>. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff66">PM: Salami</FONT> <B style="COLOR: black; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #a0ffff">tactics</B>?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: Slice by slice. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: One small piece at a time. So will you press the button if they cross the LOC ? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: It all depends.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: On what?  Scenario one. Riots in PoK town bordering China, homes in flames. chinese fire brigade cross the border for help. Would you press the button...? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: mmmm.....</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: The pakistani rangers come with them. The button...? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: mmmm......</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: Then some pakistani troops, more chinese troops just for riot control, they say. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: mmmm......</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: And then the rangers are replaced by regular army. Button...? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: mmmm.......</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: Then the Chinese troops don't go. They are invited to stay to support civilian administration. The civilian administration closes cross border BUS and Train service.  Now you press the button? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: I need time to think about it. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: You have 12 hours. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM - Have I? You're inventing this. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: - You are Prime Minister today. The phone might ring now from Western Command. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA:  The Pakistani army accidentally on purpose cross the frontier with Chinese Troops behind them on their border. - Is that the last resort? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: - No. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: Right, Suppose the Pakistani troops invade into villages and occuppy positions like in Kargil Suppose their tanks and troops have taken vantage points ? - Is that the last resort?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: - No. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: Why not? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM:  We'd only fight a nuclear war to defend ourselves. That would be committing suicide! </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: So what is the last resort? Connaught Place ? Sansad Marg ? The Constitution Club? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: Maybe the nuclear deterrent makes no sense. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: - Yes, it does. If the Pakistanis or Chinese have the bomb, so must India . And keep Iran just in case. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM - What are you proposing? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: You wouldn't really press the button. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>PM: - I might if I had no choice. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>NSA: They'll never put you in a situation where you have no choice. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>They'll stick to salami tactics.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>That folks was an adaptation of a conversation from the British Comedy Yes Prime Minister set in the Indo-Pak context.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>Musharaff will continue to charm you from across the border and the Separatists will always be ready for talks but with riders thus putting you in a situation where you have a choice, </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>While the militants will continue to bleed J&K slice by slice as they did in Jammu by taking innocent Hindu Lives with no fear of reprisal.</FONT></P>
<P>This explains the sheer despration from the Kashmiri Pandits expressed in this anguished piece from Lalit Koul titled “What will it take Mr. Prime Minister“ </P>
<P>http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/may/09guest1.htm</P>
<P><FONT color=#000000>It is the same Salami Tactics that the Iranian President is now attempting with the USA with his 18 page letter to Bush which btw has succeeded in charming the Western Media.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#ff0000>Offstumped Bottomline: </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#ff0000>India's approach to Terrorism in its Neighbourhood is neutered by the lack of strategic options. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#ff0000>Holy Cow we never got to learn how to work Salami to our advantage</FONT></P>