12-08-2008, 05:56 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Nothing will be the same again</b>
pioneer.com
Arun Nehru
We have a failure at all levels of governance and this only reflects the reality of the situation, both at the Centre and in the States. We all become wiser due to hindsight. The facts as they are unfolding are frightening and what we see is not a failure of intelligence but a failure of governance. I have some experience in this field having served as Internal Security Minister and later as a senior Cabinet Minister and a member of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs and I think it is necessary for all concerned to understand the system. <b>Technically, this was not a failure of R&AW or Intelligence Bureau as enough intelligence inputs were provided by the two agencies before the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai took place.</b>
This was a failure of the CCPA/CCS which is chaired by the Prime Minister and comprises senior Ministers, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Defence and Home Ministers and also the National Security Adviser, who coordinates all external and internal intelligence. The Prime Minister and the NSA have access to all intelligence reports at initial stage and then through CCPA/CCS the others are consulted to formulate a coherent response to national security crisis like the one in Mumbai.
The Home Minister and the Maharashtra Chief Minister have been sacked. But clearly this was a decision-aking failure in the top echelons of the Government. If sacking people were the solution then everyone from top to bottom in the present Government should be sacked. But this will hardly solve anything. In theory we have all kinds of systems in place to tackle situations like Mumbai. But unfortunately in emergency situations none of them works.
<b>The security forces, be they the Maharashtra Police with their antique weapons</b>, the NSG commandos, the Army and the Navy or for that matter the security specialists and the hotel staff at the Taj Mahal Palace and the Oberoi- Trident, all worked miracles and saved many lives. In such situations time is very critical and every second counts and <b>I am shocked that the NSG commandos took nine hours to reach their destination as no aircraft was ready!</b>
The public anger at the lapses in security is palpable and it is time for the <b>Union and State Governments to act on a war-footing and divert trained security personnel from VIP duties to protect public places (aircraft, trains, airports, stations, hotels, etc).</b> It is shocking and sad that we suffer heavier casualties due to internal and external acts of terror more than any country apart from Iraq. <b>Over the past three decades we have suffered over 1,00,000 casualties and every person killed is a VVIP to his family and friends. </b>
<b>There are many genuine security requirements but security is often given for âpoliticalâ purposes and as a entitlement of rank and this must change. VVIPs and VIPs along with their family members will only invite shame and ridicule from the public and may well face a social boycott if things continue the way they are</b>. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has announced many plans for strengthening and enlarging our security forces but does anyone know how long it takes to train 500 commandos? It is good to plan for the future but it will take over a year or more for these forces to be inducted into service.
But we have to deal with the situation that prevails now and there is no other option but to withdraw NSG commandos from VIP duties. This is urgent and should be done instantly. The NSG was never raised for protecting our politicians and therefore must revert to their original role as a crack commando unit.
We have seen many miracles in Mumbai. The heroism of the Mumbai Police personnel at the Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus, who held their ground in spite of suffering fatalities and saved hundreds of lives by fighting the terrorists with obsolete .303 rifles and service revolvers, is truly praise-worthy. The course of events could have been very different if they had been better equipped.
US President-elect Barack Obama had stated his objectives on fighting terrorism very clearly during his election campaign and his observation that India has the right to defend its sovereignty has been echoed by present US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Even Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee has, in a few firm words, delivered the right message to Pakistan.
The initial reaction from the latter has been one of bravado laced with hysteria and the guilt is clearly visible. The evidence regarding Pakistanâs involvement in the Mumbai massacre is irrefutable. The response of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari will indicate the extent of his authority over the rouge elements within the Pakistani Army and the ISI. There is no questioning the latterâs links with the Taliban and the Al Qaeda. The terror camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and elsewhere in Pakistan continue to mushroom and their existence is no secret.
<b>No Government in India can exist any further on the goodwill of the international community. The US and their agencies are well aware that the billions of dollars in aid that is being provided to Pakistan to fight terrorism has been diverted and there is clear evidence that the Indian embassy in Kabul was bombed with ISI involvement.</b>
We along with the global community cannot allow things to deteriorate any further and action is inevitable unless Pakistan takes some immediate corrective actions.
The six Assembly elections are over and initial reports suggest that the <b>BJP stands to win in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In Rajasthan it can swing in either direction.</b> I have little information on Mizoram and in Jammu & Kashmir, but I feel that the National Conference will emerge as the single largest party in the latter.
It is a tribute to Indian democracy that despite the tragedy in Mumbai the democratic process was not interrupted and the resolve of the people was evident in the high polling figures in almost all the States.
We have the Lok Sabha election election coming up in April next year and this will be independent of the six Assembly elections just conducted. As a result all political parties and their leaders will have to regain the confidence of the voters and leadership skills and ability may well prevail over caste and communal considerations.<b> Change is in the air and none of us will be the same after 26/11</b>. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
pioneer.com
Arun Nehru
We have a failure at all levels of governance and this only reflects the reality of the situation, both at the Centre and in the States. We all become wiser due to hindsight. The facts as they are unfolding are frightening and what we see is not a failure of intelligence but a failure of governance. I have some experience in this field having served as Internal Security Minister and later as a senior Cabinet Minister and a member of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs and I think it is necessary for all concerned to understand the system. <b>Technically, this was not a failure of R&AW or Intelligence Bureau as enough intelligence inputs were provided by the two agencies before the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai took place.</b>
This was a failure of the CCPA/CCS which is chaired by the Prime Minister and comprises senior Ministers, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Defence and Home Ministers and also the National Security Adviser, who coordinates all external and internal intelligence. The Prime Minister and the NSA have access to all intelligence reports at initial stage and then through CCPA/CCS the others are consulted to formulate a coherent response to national security crisis like the one in Mumbai.
The Home Minister and the Maharashtra Chief Minister have been sacked. But clearly this was a decision-aking failure in the top echelons of the Government. If sacking people were the solution then everyone from top to bottom in the present Government should be sacked. But this will hardly solve anything. In theory we have all kinds of systems in place to tackle situations like Mumbai. But unfortunately in emergency situations none of them works.
<b>The security forces, be they the Maharashtra Police with their antique weapons</b>, the NSG commandos, the Army and the Navy or for that matter the security specialists and the hotel staff at the Taj Mahal Palace and the Oberoi- Trident, all worked miracles and saved many lives. In such situations time is very critical and every second counts and <b>I am shocked that the NSG commandos took nine hours to reach their destination as no aircraft was ready!</b>
The public anger at the lapses in security is palpable and it is time for the <b>Union and State Governments to act on a war-footing and divert trained security personnel from VIP duties to protect public places (aircraft, trains, airports, stations, hotels, etc).</b> It is shocking and sad that we suffer heavier casualties due to internal and external acts of terror more than any country apart from Iraq. <b>Over the past three decades we have suffered over 1,00,000 casualties and every person killed is a VVIP to his family and friends. </b>
<b>There are many genuine security requirements but security is often given for âpoliticalâ purposes and as a entitlement of rank and this must change. VVIPs and VIPs along with their family members will only invite shame and ridicule from the public and may well face a social boycott if things continue the way they are</b>. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has announced many plans for strengthening and enlarging our security forces but does anyone know how long it takes to train 500 commandos? It is good to plan for the future but it will take over a year or more for these forces to be inducted into service.
But we have to deal with the situation that prevails now and there is no other option but to withdraw NSG commandos from VIP duties. This is urgent and should be done instantly. The NSG was never raised for protecting our politicians and therefore must revert to their original role as a crack commando unit.
We have seen many miracles in Mumbai. The heroism of the Mumbai Police personnel at the Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus, who held their ground in spite of suffering fatalities and saved hundreds of lives by fighting the terrorists with obsolete .303 rifles and service revolvers, is truly praise-worthy. The course of events could have been very different if they had been better equipped.
US President-elect Barack Obama had stated his objectives on fighting terrorism very clearly during his election campaign and his observation that India has the right to defend its sovereignty has been echoed by present US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Even Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee has, in a few firm words, delivered the right message to Pakistan.
The initial reaction from the latter has been one of bravado laced with hysteria and the guilt is clearly visible. The evidence regarding Pakistanâs involvement in the Mumbai massacre is irrefutable. The response of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari will indicate the extent of his authority over the rouge elements within the Pakistani Army and the ISI. There is no questioning the latterâs links with the Taliban and the Al Qaeda. The terror camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and elsewhere in Pakistan continue to mushroom and their existence is no secret.
<b>No Government in India can exist any further on the goodwill of the international community. The US and their agencies are well aware that the billions of dollars in aid that is being provided to Pakistan to fight terrorism has been diverted and there is clear evidence that the Indian embassy in Kabul was bombed with ISI involvement.</b>
We along with the global community cannot allow things to deteriorate any further and action is inevitable unless Pakistan takes some immediate corrective actions.
The six Assembly elections are over and initial reports suggest that the <b>BJP stands to win in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In Rajasthan it can swing in either direction.</b> I have little information on Mizoram and in Jammu & Kashmir, but I feel that the National Conference will emerge as the single largest party in the latter.
It is a tribute to Indian democracy that despite the tragedy in Mumbai the democratic process was not interrupted and the resolve of the people was evident in the high polling figures in almost all the States.
We have the Lok Sabha election election coming up in April next year and this will be independent of the six Assembly elections just conducted. As a result all political parties and their leaders will have to regain the confidence of the voters and leadership skills and ability may well prevail over caste and communal considerations.<b> Change is in the air and none of us will be the same after 26/11</b>. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->