Squeaky squeaky soft

Remember those soft toys children play with, the squeaky variety. The ones that are soft and squeaky when pressed much to children's amusement.

Well, thats exactly how India should feel right now.

Bangalore, Jaipur, Bangalore again, Ahmedabad, then Surat, the list goes on. And everytime there is a blast, the government squeaks up these "strong statements". "We shall not be cowed down". "We will give terrorism a tough reply". Blah Blah Blah !!

That one big wuss sitting and heading the Home Ministry should be unceremoniously stripped off this post. Shivraj Patel has been a utter miserable failure.

The Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi visited the injured in the hospital. A routine journey that has little meaning these days.


So what should we do to tackle this recurring senseless violence ? I am no security expert but I have seen violence long enough and have seen other nations tackle it effectively and I have learnt a thing or two from it.

So here is my money's worth.

First - We need to respond to every attack with a counter attack. The counter attack need not be like what the BJP government did after the Parliament attack. These counter attacks should be punitive, quick and precise. Ever watched the movie Pearl Harbour ? After the bombings, the US took months to prepare before entering the war. But President Roosevelt called upon his nation to report to duty with these words.

...From Berlin, Rome and Tokyo, were have been described as a nation of weaklings and playboys who hire British or Russian, or Chinese soldiers, to do our fighting for us. We've been trained to think we're invincible, and our people think Hitler and his Nazi thugs are Europe's problem. We have to do more. Does anyone think that victory is possible without facing danger? At times like these we all need to be reminded who we truly are. That we will not give up or give in.

Note the words in bold. The President not only spoke but he acted. The Americans flew a one-way bombing mission over Tokyo and landed in China. Roosevelt likened it to pin pricks but nevertheless pin pricks right into Japan's heart.

The one thing great powers dont do is not respond when attacked. Not responding will only embolden the attacker to come back for more. Indians know that quite well. Thats exactly why Israel never lets a punch go unpunished. The Gandhian / Buddhist philosophy perhaps will never work against a fanatical enemy. The British were a different kind. For all their faults, they were still human.

Second - India needs to strengthen her internal security structure. Which means she needs to overhaul the CBI. Give it more powers, more funds and expand its access. Right now the CBI requires an invitation from the state government. The new law should do away with it. I am advocating something similar to the FBI. I would like to further propose that the IB and the CBI be combined into one federal crime investigating and intelligence agency - answerable to Parliament.

Third - The right wing needs to tone down the anti-minority rhetoric. Its not helping. While they may be right in some areas, but this is not the time. There are other ways to express one's views. Btw, this goes both ways. Just as the Muslims expect magnanimity and understanding so should they also be prepared to give the same when required. The current problem in J&K about the Amarnath Shrine is a case in point.

Finally - The whole nation should be sensitized to the threat of terror. Whenever I get into the metro station here in Washington DC, I always here a polite voice over the public address system, announcing instructions on what to do to be a vigilant citizen. The general public are always on the alert looking for suspicious objects or people. Its no small wonder that mainland United States has not been attacked even once after 9/11.

I hope good sense prevails and the government finds the guts to push through much needed reform to revamp and revitalize the police force, crime investigating wings and the judiciary.