What Others Say

Another morning, another Retired defence personnel gave his opinion on one of our most debated subject The Indian nuclear doctrine .

Air Marshal (Fortunately Retd) Brijesh D. Jayal is our todays showcase. Somehow Our "Fauji Babus" feels superior to Our "Gavernmend Babus". You know, the British Raj hang over.....

I will give you a live commentary in (BOLD) as you read on...............

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EVEN as the celebrations at our joining the ‘nuclear club’ start to ebb, contrary information from across the Atlantic is getting shriller. The Minstry of External Affairs now accepts that there are differing perceptions on the 123 Agreement between India and the US. When such issues become bones of contention, there is no prize for guessing who will be at the receiving end. Clearly Tarapur has not taught us any lessons. (HUH! What was it?) I am clueless.

Throughout this debate, there has at least been unanimity on the need for India to maintain a credible nuclear deterrent. In spite of this, one is disappointed that the subject of testing has been treated in such a cavalier fashion. (We hear that every day about everything now days, But, I am still clue less)

There has also been deafening silence, from the one community that, at the end of the day, is responsible to the executive to ensure that, should the moment of reckoning ever come, our nuclear weapon systems will deliver on what our nuclear doctrine professes, namely “to credibly deter and should this fail then punitively retaliate”. (let us openly threaten and show our nuclear cards for every one)

The reasons are not far to seek. (Mercifully)The armed forces have been left out of the nuclear policymaking, Research and Development and testing loops altogether for reasons best known to successive governments! Not surprisingly, the retired uniformed fraternity has nothing to say, thus depriving the debate of a vital techno-operational viewpoint. (Amen!)

To achieve successful weaponisation quite apart from demonstrating the technology itself, the nuclear devices need to be miniaturised, designs need to be ruggedised, mechanical and electronic arming and safing systems need to be installed to prevent unauthorised or accidental detonations and all these need to be tested for high reliability individually and system wise, both under static and dynamic conditions.

After integration to delivery platforms, the entire weapon system needs to be thoroughly tested through development, field and user trials (except for actual warheads which need their own individual testing) to shake out design/ engineering bugs.

It is important to highlight that institutionalised procedures regarding weapon standards, quality, testing and certification exist and must not be given the go by, just because we are dealing with a nuclear weapon system. Unfortunately, this is precisely what has happened. (I wouldn't argue with that. Just that its commendable that the author managed to pick up that much right)

For reasons of security and different specialisations needed, the process of nuclear weaponisation was divided between the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and other laboratories. The military as users were kept out. (You should read past articles by Air marshal Brijesh D . Jayal to understand his love for DRDO and other entities.)

In his book, Weapons of Peace, Raj Chengappa relates how a confidential review by former Union Minister of State for Defence Arun Singh on instructions of Prime Minister V.P. Singh found the poor coordination between agencies disconcerting and called it an unacceptable situation.(HAHAHAHAHAHAAHA! really this takes the cake. Air marshal Brijesh D . Jayal is unaware that if the Forces (except navy) is involved, then it will be come "No Coordination." Indian Army especially will ask for imported nukes after making the indigenous weapons fail. Air Force is not far behind. Best of it you should see the inter-service coordination, )

With such a shaky foundation, sound testing with user participation should have assumed even greater criticality. Dr P.K. Iyengar, a former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, who played a key role in Pokhran I, recently told a national daily that nuclear tests are an absolute necessity to maintain a credible nuclear deterrent and such tests are a method by which the requirements of the users, namely the armed forces, are met.

According to the website of the Federation of American Scientists, of the five nuclear weapon states, the US has conducted 1054 nuclear tests, the erstwhile USSR 715, France 210, the UK 45 and China 45. It has also been reported elsewhere that of the tests conducted by the US, around 130 low yield tests were related purely to safety aspects of operationalising nuclear weapons and their designs.

Since these are nations that have developed, tested and operationally deployed nuclear weapons over decades, clearly there is a message in these statistics. Pakistan is not being mentioned because their warheads are proven Chinese designs and their need to test arises not out of design, development and operational compulsions, but purely out of posturing.

S. Ramgotham, in his article “The case for nuclear testing” in Rediff.com says: “But even with all that data from a thousand nuclear tests, American scientists are still unsure about the effects of aging and deterioration on the nuclear parts or the nuclear-explosive package of their warheads. Despite over 50 years of manufacturing and deploying nuclear weapons, despite years of experience and expertise conducting sub-critical tests and computer simulations, American scientists are still unsure about the reliability of their nuclear weapons.

“Indeed, some time ago, weapons experts discovered a design flaw in the W-76 warhead, which the Trident’s D-5 missiles carry, which meant that it perhaps would not have exploded when launched”, he says.

(Since the above are not his "own" quotes, No arguments)

Specifically on the safety aspects, it needs to be emphasised that there is a big gap between testing any weapon, nuclear or otherwise, in laboratory conditions and doing so as an operational tool to be handled in field conditions by the military. The number of safety tests conducted by the US is itself a pointer to the essentiality of testing, preceding operationalising nuclear weapons into military service and keeping them safe and credible for effective operations.

Having recognised the importance of comprehensive testing as a pre-requisite to successful operationalising of nuclear weapons, the Nuclear Weapon States have been keen to bind potential nuclear weapon states into the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

In this context it, is worth recalling what our External Affairs Minister said in the UN General Assembly in 1995: “We are glad that negotiations are in progress, but we also note that nuclear weapon states have agreed to a CTBT only after acquiring the know-how to develop and refine their arsenals without the need for tests… Developing new warheads or refining existing ones after a CTBT is in place, using innovative technologies, would be as contrary to the spirit of the CTBT as the NPT is to the spirit of non-proliferation.”

This statement implicitly recognises that testing is an integral step towards new weapon development or refining existing ones and that sub-critical capability needs knowhow generated by actual test data. It is no coincidence that the Hyde Act 2006, which authorises the Indo-US deal, also forbids the so-called ‘sub critical’ tests, which do not generate sustained nuclear chain reactions.

Since tests involve the entire development cycle of technology demonstration, proof of design concept, integration to delivery platforms, development and user acceptance tests, clearly the 1998 tests should have been the beginning of this entire testing and operationalising process and not the culmination.

Had we been serious about our long-term strategic objectives, we would have continued with further tests towards achieving the ultimate objective of arriving at a weapon system that had the stamp of the user as an operationally usable, safe and reliable system. Only then would the world have considered our nuclear weapons capability as credible enough to deter. (So who will bear the economic consequences? Its not easy like getting Government salaries and government pensions Mr. Jayal)

Earlier, in an article, Dr A. Gopalakrishnan, former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, made the point “that the assertion by some senior scientists in 1998 that the country had successfully conducted one thermonuclear weapon test, and therefore need not test again, was strongly repudiated at that time by both national and international nuclear weapon experts”.

Nevertheless, so carried away were our scientists with Pokhran II that painstaking and rational analysis of test results, that is the very object for testing, were short-circuited and they reached the conclusion that further tests were not needed. (Now it again sounds like he has taken up bashing DAE since no one listens to him on his DRDO venture. What he says is not true, also he has not given any substantiation. Looks like he has not even understood the implications and inferences of the nuclear test.)

Clearly, our strategic nuclear programme was now being driven not by cold technical and operational logic, but hollow posturing. This nuclear and military amateurishness has by no means gone unnoticed within the confines of the elite nuclear club of five and the larger brotherhood of the NSG. (Who told you that China? Both NSG and P-5 are groups which cant take a decision and never agree with each other. But at the same time, he could have done away wth this paragraph which has no connection, if there he has not told us why?)

Whatever spin we may want to put on this after the NSG waiver, the bottom line is this. If we test, the waiver is off. So if knowing this we are happy to celebrate the waiver, it only suggests that we do not consider further development tests towards operationalising our nuclear arsenal necessary, a euphoric conclusion that was reached hastily and controversially soon after the 1998 tests and which still remains our nuclear mantra. Our nuclear deterrent will thus remain under- developed, unreliable and unsafe. (Not supported with proof, can't say for sure.)

None of these knee-jerk reactions (which Knee jerk reactions?) befit a nation embarked on safeguarding its national security in the international nuclear environment. A nation that through 60 years has zealously nurtured and guarded its military nuclear potential, through thick and thin. Now that we have convinced ourselves that we have a good deal, we must also accept the inevitable consequence. (what inevitable consequence )

That our nuclear doctrine is good in theory, but not credible in practice. Those who know better are quite happy to let us bask in our self-created glory without in any way being deterred. As long as we get drawn into the folds of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, however indirectly, they are quite happy to massage our nuclear-power ego.

While the nuclear powers can thus rest on their laurels for having furthered their non-proliferation agenda, the danger to us is from within. The nation sincerely believes that we have the ability to deliver on our nuclear doctrine. Correspondingly, its strategic foreign policy and security postures will be moulded on this false premise. Should the time ever come to put this capability to test, our nuclear emperor will be found to have no clothes!
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This article is terrible. Why can't these people write a poem instead or paint modern art?

National Security Advisor (NSA) MK Narayanan has been given the status of Minister of State (MoS) at the Center and he performs like a minister too.

After witnessing the performance of Former NSA Brajesh Mishra and J N Dixit, this guy is a slacker. Actually its the entire setup. Some vague Prathibha Patil replaces the Dymanic APJ Abdul Kalam as President, Sonia Gandhi (lets keep the peer Manmohan singh out of it) replaces dynamic PV Narasimha Rao and AB Vajpayee etc.

MK Narayanan was the butt of all jokes as he joined. Then via his PR (same for Prathibha and Sonia) silenced his critics. Now again, its the election time. We can see that he has been a no good.

First he should (and all UPA ministers also) should stop behaving that they are not in power. For example something goes wrong, they blame the system. NSA has blamed everyone every time something goes wrong. He forgets that he is the system and has power to change it. But he won't, he lacks class. He is no JN Dixit or Brajesh Mishra. Classic of his blames was "intelligence agencies, the very agencies that he is supposed to supervise, for not providing “actionable intelligence” on terror attacks." This guy Narayanan is Ex IB chief.

Secondly, he needs common sense. While every Indian is aware of Chinese on India, MK Narayanan went on to launch a tirade against China, alleging Beijing tried to spoil India's party at (NSG meeting)Vienna. He said India was taken by surprise by the Chinese.

Then he needs to have confidence in himself or at least have confidence in others. His inner self should not reflect on others ability. For example US president Bush. But MK Narayana made an astounding claim in a television interview on Saturday that "divine intervention" might have secured for the country a "waiver" from the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG). He needs to be told that god helps the people who helps themselves. But you know, stupid people also make the point sometimes. I really liked the way Chinese foreign Minister cringed because of tactless Narayanan.

The recent kashmir issue. MK Narayanan was invisible initially (he was in Vienna just like Finance Minister Chidambram was in Washington during peak Inflation), then came up with Iron Fist strategy. Needless to say, both the terrorist and the nationalist defied even the Indian Army and were on the streets.

MK Narayanan needs to listen above his own PR din. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had forewarned the Central Government about possible bomb blasts in Delhi.

Advani said and added, NSA M.K. Narayanan was also told about this.

After so many bomb blasts in the country and outside, MK Narayanan is still safe in his seat. Hence he is our first Notional Security Advisor.

The commies had applied to World Health Organisation (WHO), a evil capitalist organ which the commies are set to defeat, for dollars in foreign aid to its anti-smoking campaign. They did not realise that their double standards do not work with the world outside India.

Here is what happened

Bloomberg Initiative rejected a World Health Organisation (WHO) application for funds to Kolkata to curb tobacco consumption, saying when the West Bengal chief minister himself smokes publicly, how can we believe the others in the state will be interested in controlling tobacco?

Two such WHO applications for aid, running into millions of dollars, have been rejected in the last few months even as Bloomberg Initiative approved similar applications from Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chandigarh and sanctioned grants.

Now, commies as usual have to justify how their smoke better than everybody's smoke.

“Since his smoking habit was highlighted by the media and following the appeal by Union health minister Ambumani Ramadoss to quit smoking and set an example, the chief minister has consciously avoided smoking publicly,” one said.

Just like all atrocities they commit, when it comes to media, they try to commit it hiding.

This is very interesting

The associate also said it was totally wrong that the chief minister smoked in his Writers’ Building office. “He never smokes in his office since several people come to meet him there. When he feels like smoking, he goes to the antechamber,” he said.

The associate claimed Buddhadeb also avoids smoking in party programmes held in the open. “You may recall that at the recent party Congress in Coimbatore, the chief minister had to sit on the dais for hours. But not once was he seen going out to take a puff.”

Just as they raped and killed the women and poor farmers in Singur. Normally they put up a media friendly face and then occasionally seen raping and murdering the Singur residents.

Legal brains also did not find any rationale in the claim that Kolkata was denied funds because Buddhadeb is a chain-smoker.

Renowned human rights lawyer Kaushik Gupta said it was wrong to judge an entire city and state based on the habit of an individual.

As usual Commies in denial.

“Smoking is a matter of personal choice for the chief minister unless he smokes in public or directly encourages public smoking. It is foolish to believe that all smokers in the state smoke because the chief minister smokes,” he said.

Personal choice of CPI (M) leaders include terror, rapes, murders....Its perfectly ok.

The So called "Congress I" finds a competitor in the So called "Indian Mujahideen " Does a on Indian public. Like Congress which terrorises common people with inflation and farmer suicides and then slogans for common man, Indian Mujahideen kills people and talks for common people too.

Indian Mujahideen terror email attacks Congress

"The Congress government at the Centre, which pretends to be well wishers of Muslim interests, has always treacherously hurt them and used them to come in power since Independence. It is this double-faced attitude of the Congress that has secured its vote bank and still allowed it to silently commit one of the most heinous crimes against the Muslim nation ever witnessed by history — the demolition of Babri Masjid," said the Indian Mujahideen, with the criticism echoing the stump speech of any mainstream "secular" rival of Congress. While the email was full of venom that Indian Mujahideen deploys against the BJP and other saffron outfits, it came down hard on Congress as well, accusing it of "secular" hypocrisy.

"It has failed to take heed and still continues to cheat the Muslims under the label of 'secularism'. These serial bomb blasts in Delhi are yet another intimation to the Congress government to desist from agitating Muslim sentiments anymore," continued the email. ...

Significantly, the latest IM email is marked by an effort at coalition building with the draftsman taking up the cause of not just all minorities, particularly Christians, but also Dalits. Also, unlike on earlier occasions, the IM has spared Hindu gods and goddesses the indignities they were subjected to in what may reflect the calculation to reach out to anti-Hindutva constituency as well as, more importantly, sections wary of Congress.

I am cheering for Indian Mujahideen as much I cheer for Congress. Both are militant organisations and hope that both go for each other throats and die. Indian people are anyway suffering because of both of them. How many people have been killed by Congress sponsored terrorists like Khalistani terrorists and LTTE. How many terrorists have come up because of Congress apathy in North East India.

Its also the first time that the Militants have gone for the throats of their real enemies the "Congress I."

It is time that some descisive party takes over and roots the menace of the militants and the congress.

Long live common people as we wait to get killed by the Indian Mujahideen and/or Congress (I).

They have them by collars, literally. Communist Party of India (Marxist) is being held by ransom by TATA and Infosys.

We live in exciting times. After Kashmiri militants get hit by head by nationalist, CPI (M) is tasting its own medicine.

The anti-Indian and anti-people CPI(M)is the promoter of the so called wretched Center of Indian trade Unions (CITU) which has killed so many industries and made millions of common Indians jobless and hopeless.

Today the CPI (M) begs the capitalist to come and invest in West Bengal , then kills poor farmers and and rapes women in order to accomodate the capitalist.

Read this Infosys still undecided on investing in West Bengal

Infosys, the country's second largest software exporter, on Thursday said it was undecided on going ahead with investment plans in West Bengal, where socio-political opposition has thrown Tata Motors' Nano project into uncertainty.

"We are yet to take any decision. I said we will have to relook and rethink because we are concerned about the safety of our employees," T V Mohandas Pai, Member of the Board, Infosys, told reporters.

Ironically, it is the capitalist companies are trying to save their employees from the self declared protectors of working class.

Now read this,

Tatas say won't accept change in master plan

Tata Motors on Tuesday stepped up pressure on the West Bengal government, saying it wasn't going to accept any measure that would disturb the existing arrangement of the Singur Nano plant.

The communist thought that what they say is law.

Others are finding voice

Bajaj does a flip-flop, now endorses Tata

"I am fed up of hearing these things. Ratan (Tata) is a dear friend of mine. And anyone who knows me, is aware that I don't pay a dime to anybody..." said Bajaj Auto chairman Rahul Bajaj.

Even though he said nothing about CPI (M), but, the industry is finding a voice.

Earlier the IT employees had booted CPI (M) and CITU by not joining their useless strikes.

Update: 13 September 2008
Now read this

A decision to not go forward with its proposed software development centre at Salt Lake's Sector V, Kolkata's IT hub, was taken at a high-level internal meeting last week. But the move is yet to be formalized and the company's decision hasn't so far been communicated to the West Bengal government.

According to internal Satyam sources, the company feels that the piece of land allocated to it in Salt Lake is low-lying and amenable to water logging, especially during monsoons. "Therefore, as such, it is not suitable for establishing a software development centre," a company source said. Satyam had been allocated 2.77 acres at Salt Lake for the software development centre.