Defence and Strategic policies should not be subject to electoral changes !

[A.V.]

I have read a lot of recent news and articles , what baffles me is the way indian security threats are met , although there is a well known idea about what is to be done , but there is lack of vision in many areas.

A certain good work or a good deed is undone by a change in the white collars handling the paper work.

Off -late a lot of situations in which a concerned strategic efforts were made earlier is kept on the back burner and new ways and formulas are being tried .

why not we have a long term outlook about security policies and what is to be done.A change in regime on the political level does alter a lot of equations which needs to be curbed.

If indian aspirations are to be taken care off we must have a modern and better serving armed forces and security agencies , the good work of many is being undone by a narrow outlook at the political level .

This begs the question , should there not be a bill or procedure where security and strategic interests are not affected by change in regime.


Have you say in detail .

 

[Armand2REP]

Having democracy is all about changing policy, unless you want a dictator. You get what you elect. So... elect the person that will continue the policies you like or get rid of the one who will continue the ones you hate.

 

[Param]

That's not possible in India or any vibrant, large democracy.
If Defence policies cannot be changed, then the political class would not have much of a say in defence matters.

Afterall Politicians are elected by people. So if they do not have a say that would mean that we as a people also would not have any opinion in matters of defence.

 

[Tshering22]

Unfortunately, this doesn't happen. Unlike US presidential democracy where defense policy is take in the interest of national security, our defence policy is weaved around appeasing of different votebank that seek to harm the national interests rather than contribute anything positive to the country. Suzanna Arundhati Roy's class of people are examples of this.

And the sad thing is that the tri-services in the military doesn't have so much power as to refuse the government in case they get too friendly with the threats against the country (which is mostly the case).

 

[agentperry]

i remeber the israeli delegation that came to india after 2008 mumbai attack gave a very sorry state of india, not men and material wise but on the account of political setup. they pointed out the deficiency in leaders which stops the intel community to come out with a plan to counter anti state movt.
they pointed out that, for intel community following things are imp:-
1) support to agents from govt irrespective of mid-term elections.
2) assurance of their release or attempts for their release incase they are caught by enemy, even when the govt changes in between the process.
3) unconditional backing by govt to carry out ops in the way they want and access to best material available. here they expect the govt to handle intl pressure and not the agency if somehow they get exposed.

all the above conditionalities are absent in India, ppl asked me in sep thread that why raw is a failure and why they dont conduct ops like mossad i think in a thread on myanmar op against ulfa. answer is this. for ppl having green card and place in us, canada its very easy to whine but for ppl in india splly trapped in bureaucratic setup its hell

 

[Yusuf]

How to keep it independent? Defence and strategic affairs are dynamic. How to keep this independent and how will this be accountable. The whole thing about democracy is checks and balance.

 

[Tshering22]

How to keep it independent? Defence and strategic affairs are dynamic. How to keep this independent and how will this be accountable. The whole thing about democracy is checks and balance.

But our enemies are not. In the last 60 years, none of the existing enemies have changed. US doesn't have any formal friends or enemies since to them all enemies are those countries where they can test their new weapons and sell them later for billions. Ours is not that case. So till the time enemies remain constant, we keep our defense policy constant and aggressive in same tone.

 

[Yusuf]

How you tackle them based on what they do is dynamic.

 

[Ray]

There is no National Strategy as it should be.

It is a response oriented policy.

More of a "General Sahab, Kuch karo!

This is because not a single minister has a clue about strategy or even of the military!!

Strategy maybe dynamic, but dynamic does not mean fluid like mercury!

The Indian minister's mind and perception is a salute to fossilisation and ideal vacuum between the ears in these matters!

 

[KS]

No it should not be.

It should be dynamic and should be based on the existing threat perceptions, national interests rather than being for the sake that the previous govts followed it.

A good example of the fossilized brain of the babus when it comes to NAM.

 

[Ray]

Threat Perception is what exists and what may exist 20 years hence.

The CNP is essential to be evaluated.

 

[KS]

An important pre-requisite for the def policy to be independent is that the founding party has a true vision for the country and lays a solid foundation for it for others to build on.

In the case of America its true - after the WWII the Yankees had a clear vision and went about it with a single minded dedication. So both the Reps and Dems played on the same broad policy with some minor tweakings of their own.

The same I cannot say about India. If you ask the babus/politicos what vision you have for India 5 years hence, let alone 50 years all you get from them - atleast a majority of them - is a blank look as if you had asked him to part with his testicles.In this scenario how can we have an "independent" policy ?

 

[Ray]

Not to worry.

Anthony is gearing India well into fighting the Crusades!

That is his concept of fighting the wars. He possibly thinks Pakistan is Saladin!

And the Indian Ocean the Dead Sea where we can walk over water!

 

[Godless-Kafir]

Not to worry.

Anthony is gearing India well into fighting the Crusades!

Are you serious? The little block fainted when he stood on the pedestal for 1 hour, he is going to gear up our forces? Hope he does not faint in between the gear ups sir!

 

[Ray]

Are you serious? The little block fainted when he stood on the pedestal for 1 hour, he is going to gear up our forces? Hope he does not faint in between the gear ups sir!

He is as ancient as Mohenjodaro.

so, he has to faint.

But then Mohenjodaro has been restored to some extent.,

who will restore St Anthony?

 

[Godless-Kafir]

He is as ancient as Mohenjodaro.

so, he has to faint.

But then Mohenjodaro has been restored to some extent.,

who will restore St Anthony?

A couple of fellows who go by the name of johnny walker, Jameson, Glen Moray have all been shown to restore people back to shape saar, he should take our advice and retire to enjoy the company of the above mentioned dignitaries and nurse his health, while other younger and knowledgeable politicians can take care of defense.

 

[Galaxy]

For last 50 years, Our enemies are same (Pakistan and China). Earlier Pakistan was more important and now both are equally important. We don't have any major threat from another country (May be SL and BD as minor threat in future).

Our Diplomacy was based on that.

Like in Cold era, We were with Soviet side and we maintained very good relation. Now, We have good relation with Russia and Mild positive with US.

We are keeping Bangladesh in good humour, so that Pakistan won't able to play "PAN Muslim Card".
We are also keeping SL in good terms, so that She won't allow China to create a military base there.
Good relation with Nepal/Bhutan.
Myanmar is neutral due to limited option in dictatorship. It will be status quo for both India and China.

We have good relation with Afghanistan and Iran. Mild positive with Russian friends like Tajikistan, Ukraine, etc.

Mild Positive with China neighbours Japan, SK, Vietnam. (Rest of them like Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan are more US allies, so not to worry)

Good relation with Israel and Mild Positive with Europe. Neutral with most of the other Muslim countries.

So overall, We are doing fine as per our requirement. But we need to further improve our relation with Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Japan, Vietnam, SK and Myanmar and keep BD and SL in good terms till we can.

 

[Ray]

Have a look here and tell us how dynamic is India's vision

http://defenceforumindia.com/china-...ina-its-fumbling-asia-pacific.html#post322837

You will find we are in a frozen bewilderment!