Habalji, Namaskar. You use the term "leaders" There is an irony to it.habal wrote:I have just one point to make.shiv wrote:Watched Arun Jaitley press conf 60 seconds ago.
When I watched Obama (also Bush and Reagan earlier) after an attack, watching a Brit PM, watching a French PM I saw passion and anger and a warning that the attackers will have to pay.
With Jaitley - total disappointment. No passion. No anger. If I had the sound turned down his demeanour and his body language might have been him talking about a new tax that is proposed or the measures taken to reduce loss of power transmission by increasing efficiency. Even Paki jernails speak with anger and firmness and say that someone will pay. But not our leaders
This is a total sell out. I have not heard one leader say with passion and anger that the perpetrators will be punished. Indian governments are up to something that I do not understand. Maybe it is true that we have been warned by powers like the US to keep our hands off Pakistan. Only that can explain this funereal calm and soporific tone.
In order to comfort myself (cry myself to sleep?) I have to imagine that something is coming. But that has gone on so long that I know that my tears will be dry tomorrow, but we will bow before Pakistan. Not giving in, but simply giving up
We have to allow leaders to display leadership. We as a forum also make an impact in this. Now, since this forum is majoritarian right-wing nationalist and forum members opinion is considered to be jingo opinion. This jingo opinion is shared in some aspect by entire right-wing organisations across India. Any leader can play it safe by saying that I am not going down that route, because that route is taken by some countrymen who want to settle scores with Pakistan and I am not going there. But I am doing this, this & this as response ... which may be covert and may only be shared in NSC and MI & 'international community' (read spies) but rest have to settle at his word without any overt symbols of retaliation.
So our noise, instead of enabling the Prime Minister actually gives him a safety route and acts as an escape valve for him to portray himself as a dove in front of international community.
I think we should not utter a word, let him make the harsh decisions and let him take ownership of his decisions. In our clamour for retaliation, he will feel that we will share in the glory of his decisions and he will not be the only one sitting pretty if it succeeds. But if something goes wrong, everyone will blame him, or past leadership. Our Noise will unwittingly help in making Modi petty, our stoic silence will help him firm his resolve, if he has one. But we have allow him that leadership space, since I feel he is genuine about doing certain things.
When our polity has reached a stage, (and I AM NOT TAKING SIDES), where the opposition drags down the ruling Govt. so they cannot implement a plan which enhances their reputation, and which cries likes babies when they are paid back in the same coin.
But I digress. Let us remember the martyrs of the Parliament attack, of Kargil, of the continuing lack of basic stuff like bullet proof vests, of.... oh hell. I am emotional because today my feelings are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Of cold start and Operations Brasstacks.
Of sheer idiocy!