MILITARY COMPLEXITIES OF THE MODERN WORLD
By S.P. Attri (USA)

1. There is something phoney (fake) about the drift and design of the recently carried out Anglo-American cruise missile attacks against the country of Iraq. The officially declared purpose of both the US and the UK, was to destroy Saddam Hussein's WMDs (weapons of mass destruction) and to degrade his ability to launch attacks of aggression against his neighbors. The prime mover that brought to pass this totally uncalled-for, uninhibited, and unconstrained punishment of Iraq was Iraq's refusal and supposed non-compliance of inspection requirements that were established by the Security Council's resolution, and the reporting of this non-compliance by the Chief Inspector, Richard Butler.

2. However, this portended posture camouflages the real truth behind the hurried expedition to go for Saddam Hussein's jugular. The veiled truth is that as Clinton was spiritedly puffing up the nuclear program of Iraq and eagerly ballyhooing its grim-visaged danger to the whole world, the nuclear watch-dog of the UN, the IAEA, had already submitted its report stating that Iraq had complied with all inspections. Though Clinton had knowledge of this compliance report, he still went ahead and had his troops fire the cruise missiles, to get rid of his monster nuisance, Signor Saddam Hussein. Separating fiction from reality, it is possible to catch on that his stated excuse for taking this action was a shameless lie. The military operation was named "Desert Fox," not to honor Hitler's field marshall Erwin Rommel (the famous Desert Fox of Hitler's Africa Corps) but to drag Iraq's nose into ground and to warn other two-bit powers who may be thinking of defying and offending the US.

Giving lie to the advertised purpose of the US-UK is the common knowledge that Egypt, Syria, Iran, and other countries have stock-piles of biological and chemical weapons and Saddam Hussein's stockpile is no bigger than theirs and, therefore, is no bigger a threat to Clinton's national security. Because of this quantitative refutation, all Arab countries, Kuwait included, have refused to endorse the Iraqi bombardment and have condemned the US-UK raids.

As the US missiles started dashing and crashing the walls and fortifications of the Iraqi buildings, the word got out that Clinton bombed Iraq to delay the impeachment proceedings against him. Whether this is true or not, Mr. Clinton's desire to forestall a vote on his impeachment is certainly a factor and the coincidence cannot be ruled out. After all the strikes took place only the day before the House of Representatives was scheduled to debate the articles of impeachment. Nevertheless, despite bringing things to a head, Clinton succeeded in delaying the proceedings by only one day. So the pay-off was not very big. News also trickled out that Richard Butler had asked Iraq for access to sites that he knew very well, would be refused by Iraq. It is also known now that Butler teamed up with Clinton Cronies and his National Secutiry Staff on how to write a fake report to show that Iraqis were not complying and co-operating, when in fact they were. Further, the report was known to the Americans well before its submission to the Security Council and to the UN Secretary General. The report was a total set-up and both Richard Butler and Kofi Annan are part of this inglorious plot.

3. Butler's demands were designed to provoke Iraqi defiance which would justify US attacks. Stupid Iraq fell for this trap and thus invited the US to test out the performance of its latest hardware, its latest infra-red technolgy and improved guidance systems. The stated purpose of cruise missile attacks to destroy Saddam Hussein's WMDs is bunk. Doesn't Iraq know that the US possesses cruise missiles and precision-guided munitions? Would it still foolishly leave its WMDs out in the open for US destruction, if it had any? If Iraq had any chemical weapons within the range of the US cruise missiles, wouldn't any smoke come out upon missiles smashing into them? No smoke came out!

The Iraqis are also known to have developed effective evacuation plans for every major facility. The Iraqis, therefore, routinely place high-value items in civilian housing areas and along streets to protect them from aerial bombardment. This proves compellingly that the real purpose of the missile attacks was not to destroy Saddam's WMDs but to test and improve the performance and accuracy of the US cruise missiles and because of this launches were planned as a testing matrix. Over 400 cruise missiles were thrown at Iraq from various configurations, angles, distances, and launch platforms. The purpose of thes missile attacks was test and performance evaluation and not the destruction of Iraq's WMDs. The honest truth is that the US regards Iraq as a testing ground for its newer technology weapons.

4. That the US uses double-talk and double-standards of differing hues to suit its global interests, is now an old anecdote. The US now is the one and the only Super-Power in the world. There is no second and there is no challenger. This is a sturdy dose of reality especially to weaker nations, who could become Iraqs for offending or provoking the US for one reason or the other. These double-standards also furnish the US with excuses/justifications of various categories to intervene militarily at a time and place of its own choosing. Because of these double standards and because the US respects only force, India will have to have sufficient foresight and pre-meditation to ensure that it does not become another Iraq while it is trying to develop and augment its military arsenal. The lessons of 1971, when the US sent its 7th Fleet into the Bay Of Bengal and almost interveined, on behalf of Pakistan, should not be lost sight of, nor ever forgotten.

What does all this mean? It means that the whole world has now "become unsafe" due to attacks on Iraq by the US and the UK and countries like India would have to tune up their foreign policy and military posture according to the needs of the time. A big change in the foreign policies of several countries could take place now. Further, because the US-UK did not even bother to consult the Security Council and bypassed it completely, raises a question, on the role and position of this world body.

5. India at this time is not a Super-Power nor even a major power. Not very many in the world give a tinker's damn about what India has to say. India needs a strong military deterrent or it could end up as another Iraq. US knows that if India is strong, it could threaten its 7th Fleet (Indian Ocean Fleet) and choke off the mideast oil going to Japan. This prospect is not to the liking of military planners in the US. Even otherwise, the US is blatantly hypocritical of Bharat's nuclear research and development. To counter this US design, India will have to rethink its military strength and its strategic military posture especially its relations with the Semi-SuperPower Russia.

6. India is surrounded by enemies on all sides. The US 7th Fleet in the Indian Ocean and their strong base in Diego Garcia is the Super-Power intransigence of the US and is a constant threat to India. To the North and East is China, that has nuclear weapons positioned at the heights of Tibet and targeted at India. To the West is Pakistan, that would like to annihilate us Kafir Hindus and take over our Kashmir. To the North-North and West are the Talibans of Afghanistan who would love to move into Kashmir and give us as much hell as they can and tie up a considerable fraction of our armed forces.

Bangladesh to the East of us, views India as a place where to settle its people and minimize economic problems within Bangladesh. To the South is Sri Lanka, that would love to annihilate and expel all Hindus from Sri Lanka and deport them all to India, so that they can create a Pure Buddhist Paradise in Sri Lanka.

Can we protect ourselves from all these dangers "simultaneously and single- handedly?" The answer is NO!

7. The US has been arming Pakistan and supplying weapons to Communist China inspite of the horrendous human rights record of both Pakistan and China. It is true that US-China relationship is very complex. At this time, the US is not bothered by the need to contain the Chinese Dragon. The US irritation at Chinese occupation of Tibet and suppression of Tibetans is minor and is mostly perfunctory. The US is not interested in neutralizing the Chinese in Tibet. This is a job that we Indians have to do and we will have to do it, sooner or later.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are presently within the US sphere of influence and there is not a darn thing we can do at this time to dislodge this interference/influence of the US. But when we have credible military deterrent power, the situation could change rapidly and we could easily control these two banana republics.

To accomplish this, we need to develop our military arm rapidly while cultivating the US as a market for Indian exports. For this to occur, it is imperative that we elect BJP as the government of choice in India next time around, which alone can build India into a Super-Power rapidly. India's development of military power will not stand in the way of India forging trade-tie-ups with the US and developing our exports into the US.This will augmet both the military and the economic clout of India. In the diplomatic world there are no friends, only interests...economic and military interests.

8. The US does not have the slightest intention of allowing any other nation to develop its own military deterrent, because that will give it the power to resist US aggression and economic pressure. The hysterical statements of several US senators and Secretary of State, Madam Madeline Half-Bright are evidences of that. Ironically, the US claims to be the world's greatest democracy but practises the worst autocratic behavior and military blackmail. This military blackmail of the US has to be resisted by India. For years, the US has turned a Nelson's eye towards Pakistan's covert acquisition of nuclear weapons, aided by China. The US rewards China for its nuclearisation but wants to eliminate India's nuclear program. These deplorable and blackmail acts of the US have to be countered and resisted in the strongest terms.

The US likes to treat the world as Uniplex (Unipolar) world, in which they themselves only are in the control room and only their fingers are on the control switch. This is undesirable and unacceptable. A Multi-Plex (Multi- polar) world is much more desirable and inevitable even though nuts like Madeline Half-Bright and their arrogance cannot accept this eventual unfolding reality and they cannot understand that they are in a chaos.

9. The US wants to keep its clout and work as a Single Super-Power Police-Man of the world. This cannot be accepted and must not be accepted and must be made known, without provoking the US. This has to be done shrewdly and carefully along with the development of our formidable military muscle, strong enough to clear the Western Powers out of the Indian Ocean area. We cannot have the Western Threat right in our backyard.

More trade and better diplomatic relations with the US can occur but not from a position of India's weakness. A seat in the Security Council can be acquired relatively easily but not with a weak military. Don't forget the US respects only force and any denials of it are Diplomatic Hog-Wash. One thing is certain and that is that we cannot have foreign western powers in our backyard and in our neighborhood, poised and ready to create hell for us. We do not need these extra military players in our Indian Ocean neighborhood and we need to keep these Western players out of our neighborhood.

It is worth asking how did the US react when the Soviets placed nuclear-tipped missiles in Cuba, only 90 miles from Miami, Florida. Same is our reaction to the presence of foreign military forces in our neighborhood. In the next 5-10 years, India must assert itself in the Indian Ocean Region, with her Blue Water Navy, and demand that all foreign powers leave the area. Foreign Powers need to be put on notice that they have no role to play, so close to our neighborhood, right in our backyard.

10. Nuclear Weapons are the God's blessing to us Hindus but we need to be able to deliver them to any corner of the world within minutes. Bharat Varsha should test fire Agni II soon. Agni II should be able to deliver a sizeable nuclear warhead to all of China. US still has not gotten a grip on reality, they are trying to pretend that India still is not a nuclear power. We should not care a fig leaf's worth for American de-jure recognition of our status as a NWS.

India's economic policy needs to turn to playing off the rivalries wihin the group of eight---using the leverage of its economic muscle and domestic market. The British are out as "they are not a reliable partner" because at any given time, they are susceptible to becoming camp followers of the US. The French appear to be in. They are second only to Russia. Yes Sir, we need to give hard retaliation to the Anglo-American clique.

Above actions will squeeze the US hard as it is going to lose huge export markets in India in the coming years. It is very important that we award contracts to those countries that have not imposed sanctions against us.

Boeing just announced 48,000 job cuts in the next two years---20,000 more that previously announced. Reason: Slumping sales in Asia. Other US companies will follow suit. All the more reason for India to stone-wall on any negotiations with the US especially on CTBT. Sanctions are a two-way street. As a reward for imposing sanctions, GOI can deliver a blow to Boeing by selecting Air-Bus for its replacement of 737's and future orders of aircraft.

11. It is unlikely that the US will pick India as an adversary, although it is certainly possible. The US chooses its adversaries very carefully. None of its recent adversaries has been a large player (examples of its adversaries are North Korea, Vietnam, Dominican Republic, Granada, Panama, Iraq, Somalia, Bosnia...None of these is a major power). But the US will bleed India by propping up Pakistan on life-support systems, just as it is doing right now, just enough to keep India's defense budget high. But one can never be sure and the US-Iraq confrontation has definite lessons for India especially the fact that this is also about WMDs. Therefore, India should keep a low profile and remain neutral when the US attacks Iraq. Besides any action that increases the tension between the Islamic and Western world is an advantage for India.

Those who think that the US is genuinely engaged in CTBT talks with India and are taking into consideration India's Security Concerns vis-a-vis China and Pakistan are wrong. India's security concerns do not interest the US at all. US's decades old Pakistan-oriented policy is very much alive and is more aggressive against India under the rule of Clinton and Co.

12. Remember the advice of a wise soul:

ALIVE BECAUSE OF ALERTNESS; DIED BECAUSE OF RELAXATION

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