Size does not matter

Sir, - The views expressed by Air Cmde. Upot (Letters, May 26) are unrealistic. They remind one of the old story where the body parts quarrel over who is most important. It is the cohesion of the three Services that is more important than the sizes of the individual forces.

The three forces are equal in importance. No Service Chief (in fact, no one) can claim to have the expertise in every aspect of defence. This is the reason why the Chief of the Defence Staff is to be assisted by a Vice-CDS and the three Service Chiefs. The CDS can always consult them if he needs advice. Unbiased thinking, leadership and proper planning of strategies are more important than specialised qualification. While Mr. Upot objects to a CDS having qualifications ``only'' in hydrography, he has no problem with a bureaucrat dictating to the services what to do. If a chief is competent enough to lead his force, he should not be slighted because of the size of the force. If size alone was the criterion, how did Alexander defeat Darius' army?

The post of the CDS was intended to reduce friction among the Armed Forces, the last thing this country needs. Such a system will also raise the morale of all the three Services as bureaucratic interference will reduce.

Vidyashankar Karnik,

Hyderabad

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