It just doesn’t end, does it? I am talking about the reaction to 26/11. After politicians, gurus are now advocating measures that are illogical and sensational. The guru in question is Baba Ramdev, that wildly popular yoga maestro. At a camp organised by a Shiv Sainik in Aurangabad, he said what every Hindu fundamentalist would love to hear: "If the government has no funds for the war against Pakistan, I will collect it". I have to admit one thing -- he would do a good job of collecting funds because many affluent people are with him, all struggling to reach the higher plane. However, he didn’t consider one small problem: nuclear weapons. We need to take a deep breath here.
While I am optimistic that good sense will prevail and N-weapons won’t be fired, it takes just one impulsive fit of rage to release an N-missile, and in the sub-continent impulsive natures are dime a dozen. One does not have to be an expert to understand that Pune will be targeted. Especially the areas surrounding ARDE (the armament research lab) Pashan may be nuked. Since I live in Panchvati, if an N-missile lands here, I’ll be one of the first to be vapourised. And that’s not cool by me.
More specifically, the tip of the iceberg in case of war will look like this: Jamnagar refinery, Mumbai, Trombay nuclear station will be subjected to conventional bombings. Bombay High will be obliterated. At least, 20 percent of our air force will be knocked out. All economic, military installations will be breached with Chinese missile technology that Pakistan has. This will be the scene after four days of war. Pakistan, obviously, will be hurt far more severely. The dead, as usual, will be those that had nothing to do with politics, terrorism or religion.
An amputated Pakistan would then consider the final option: nuclear bombs. The UN will make a lame attempt to stop another holocaust, but some missiles will be fired ‘surreptitiously’. Most of them will be brought down mid-air (considering that we have a missile shield), but those that do land will hit, let us say, unimportant targets. Even if that happens, a 15-kiloton bomb (like ‘Little Boy’ that destroyed Hiroshima) can vapourise Kothrud, Paud and Bavdhan. So, if a bomb lands in Mulshi, three generation of babies in Kothrud may end up with radiation provoked cancer. Now, if ten such bombs hit India, you only have to multiply the destruction. And N-bombs are no longer 15 kiloton affairs. The technology is far deadlier today. So, we should expect a 100 kiloton bomb, which means all of Pune district will be coaled. Can we then take heart in the fact that Pakistan too will be wiped out? Can we rewind to the Stone Age? Those that still revel in the 1971 victory must be reminded that wars in 2008 aren’t going to be about my infantry vs your infantry.
While Baba Ramdev makes it clear that he wishes to strike "terror camps only" in Pakistan, his choice of words is inappropriate in my estimation. One needs to exercise care, especially while using the word ‘war’ because he exercises power over a huge body of public opinion. I have no doubt that if India pre-empts a strike, it might not remain just a specific hit. We are likely to be pushed into a war that would leave deep scars. If there is one thing we can learn from psyched-out nations like the US, it is this: there is no such thing as a winnable war anymore.
The problem of terrorism is a complex one. After 9/11, the US did everything to nail Osama bin Laden but they only ended up bombing helpless Afghanis to oblivion. So, are we going to accept a course of action in which some poor villagers have to be bombed to dust again? If you are human, you can’t accept that, simply because it is inhuman. Even in law, the principle is simple: hundred criminals getting away is acceptable, but one innocent getting punished is not.
By waging a war (especially with US as ally), we’ll end up creating a more motivated GenNext of terror, who would be ready to kill before we finish saying ‘yoga’. We have to wipe out terror systematically. It has to be done with a mean intelligence network. We’ll have to sniper-out blood-thirsty ideologues and ensure Muslims in this country are treated with respect and not made to take the patriotism test every time there is an attack. Also, we’ll have cut down the tongues of blood-thirsty Hindu hardliners to size.
While I am optimistic that good sense will prevail and N-weapons won’t be fired, it takes just one impulsive fit of rage to release an N-missile, and in the sub-continent impulsive natures are dime a dozen. One does not have to be an expert to understand that Pune will be targeted. Especially the areas surrounding ARDE (the armament research lab) Pashan may be nuked. Since I live in Panchvati, if an N-missile lands here, I’ll be one of the first to be vapourised. And that’s not cool by me.
More specifically, the tip of the iceberg in case of war will look like this: Jamnagar refinery, Mumbai, Trombay nuclear station will be subjected to conventional bombings. Bombay High will be obliterated. At least, 20 percent of our air force will be knocked out. All economic, military installations will be breached with Chinese missile technology that Pakistan has. This will be the scene after four days of war. Pakistan, obviously, will be hurt far more severely. The dead, as usual, will be those that had nothing to do with politics, terrorism or religion.
An amputated Pakistan would then consider the final option: nuclear bombs. The UN will make a lame attempt to stop another holocaust, but some missiles will be fired ‘surreptitiously’. Most of them will be brought down mid-air (considering that we have a missile shield), but those that do land will hit, let us say, unimportant targets. Even if that happens, a 15-kiloton bomb (like ‘Little Boy’ that destroyed Hiroshima) can vapourise Kothrud, Paud and Bavdhan. So, if a bomb lands in Mulshi, three generation of babies in Kothrud may end up with radiation provoked cancer. Now, if ten such bombs hit India, you only have to multiply the destruction. And N-bombs are no longer 15 kiloton affairs. The technology is far deadlier today. So, we should expect a 100 kiloton bomb, which means all of Pune district will be coaled. Can we then take heart in the fact that Pakistan too will be wiped out? Can we rewind to the Stone Age? Those that still revel in the 1971 victory must be reminded that wars in 2008 aren’t going to be about my infantry vs your infantry.
While Baba Ramdev makes it clear that he wishes to strike "terror camps only" in Pakistan, his choice of words is inappropriate in my estimation. One needs to exercise care, especially while using the word ‘war’ because he exercises power over a huge body of public opinion. I have no doubt that if India pre-empts a strike, it might not remain just a specific hit. We are likely to be pushed into a war that would leave deep scars. If there is one thing we can learn from psyched-out nations like the US, it is this: there is no such thing as a winnable war anymore.
The problem of terrorism is a complex one. After 9/11, the US did everything to nail Osama bin Laden but they only ended up bombing helpless Afghanis to oblivion. So, are we going to accept a course of action in which some poor villagers have to be bombed to dust again? If you are human, you can’t accept that, simply because it is inhuman. Even in law, the principle is simple: hundred criminals getting away is acceptable, but one innocent getting punished is not.
By waging a war (especially with US as ally), we’ll end up creating a more motivated GenNext of terror, who would be ready to kill before we finish saying ‘yoga’. We have to wipe out terror systematically. It has to be done with a mean intelligence network. We’ll have to sniper-out blood-thirsty ideologues and ensure Muslims in this country are treated with respect and not made to take the patriotism test every time there is an attack. Also, we’ll have cut down the tongues of blood-thirsty Hindu hardliners to size.
Light side
Some post-26/11 observations:
q: What’s on Ground Zero?
a: Nothing but Barkha Dutt with a bad voice
q: What is a breaking story on TV?
a: Either a speculation or something trivial
q: What is the ‘real truth’?
a: Something that brings down TRPs
q: What’s a terrorist on TV called?
a: TRP anchor
Some post-26/11 observations:
q: What’s on Ground Zero?
a: Nothing but Barkha Dutt with a bad voice
q: What is a breaking story on TV?
a: Either a speculation or something trivial
q: What is the ‘real truth’?
a: Something that brings down TRPs
q: What’s a terrorist on TV called?
a: TRP anchor
Tailpiece
Did you know that yoga has been declared ‘haram’ in Malaysian state of Sarawak? How silly is that? Is aerobics next on the list? I don’t think Muslim fanatics can take leotard wearing fitness instructors.
Did you know that yoga has been declared ‘haram’ in Malaysian state of Sarawak? How silly is that? Is aerobics next on the list? I don’t think Muslim fanatics can take leotard wearing fitness instructors.
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