Date:01/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/01/stories/2008120155560804.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Looking ahead

As a security consultant who has worked overseas for 25 years, I am stunned at the callous, unprofessional and totally disorganised security response to a situation such as the Mumbai terror attack. I can understand politicians trying to divert public attention by blaming Pakistan, which has never been a friend. It is well known that the Pakistan army will do everything possible to destabilise us. But then, we did not establish institutions at great costs to point a finger at others. The initial response from the Mumbai police showed they had no idea what the situation was and how to handle it. Proposals such as having NSG contingents in every city are not the solution. The command and control should always be with the local police. They should have the means to respond adequately and promptly and be able to demand help from all sources.

Samuel Martyn James,
Chennai

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Internal security, foreign affairs, and defence should be de-linked from political leadership because politicians assume stands that fetch votes for them. One party blames terrorism on another party's soft stand on terror while the other blames Kandahar. They are least bothered about the common man.

Vidyadhar S. Salimath,
Karaikal

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My question to all those blaming the government for inaction is: where does our spirit to fight terror go when we whine while our car is stopped for checking? Where does it go when we are frisked for security reasons? I have seen people asking: "do we look like terrorists?" Anyone who grumbles the next time should be shown the images of the Mumbai siege. The terrorists looked like the boys next door. Is Mumbai really the defining moment in India's history? Or will we go back to our old ways till terror strikes next time?

Bhaskar Jindal,
New Delhi

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The police and the army need to be well armed. They also need to be motivated from time to time. The government should make their salaries tax free. My heart goes out to the families of those killed in the line of duty. When India won the T20 World Cup, hundreds of people, including politicians and corporates, announced crores of rupees in rewards. Will they come forward to help the families of the security personnel too?

S. Srikanth,
Bangalore

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Earlier, terrorist strikes were limited to Kashmir with separatists supporting the violence there. The terror network later spread to many cities, which came under attack from time to time. But the identity of the perpetrators remained unknown although some groups claimed responsibility and warned of more attacks. In Mumbai, however, the terrorists were so audacious and daring that they attacked high-visibility targets and engaged the police, the army, the navy and the NSG commando for three days. The entire nation was held hostage by a handful of gunmen. The next phase could see the launch of simultaneous attacks in different cities by groups of fanatical, foreigntrained terrorists. Are we ready to face that challenge?

A. Bhanu
Bangalore

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All that the BJP wants is enactment of POTA-like laws to counter terror, as though the repeal of POTA alone is responsible for the escalation of terror. The fact is the security system has been a failure irrespective of the party that has been in power. There were terrorist attacks during the BJP rule and there are terror attacks during the Congress rule. It is the system which is plagued by corruption, political interference and incapacity that is to blame.

Azhar Yasin,
Srinagar

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Our governments, as a matter of routine, announce ex gratia to victims of tragedy. Are a few lakhs sufficient to take care of the families which lose their near and dear? Should there not be an alternative, a more humane system that takes into consideration the continued welfare of those who have been left behind, plus compensation from the state for failing in its duty to provide security to the lives of its citizens? We think nothing of showering cricketers with crores of rupees for hitting six sixes in a Twenty20 match. Why can't a fraction of that amount be spent in ensuring a decent life for the family of those who lay down their lives for us?

Anand Agarwal,
New Delhi

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Eight years of rule by President George Bush were marked by the use of excessive force aimed to strike terror and awe. But the policy has ended up making the world more unsafe. History has repeatedly proved that force alone does not resolve any problem. It is a fact that hate begets hate and insanity breeds more insanity. Oppression, when used beyond a level, instead of striking fear drives people to adopt desperate measures. The desire to destroy leaves the other person with no choice but to react harshly. What we witness today is an endless cycle of violence that threatens to destroy world peace and economy. The terrorist attack in Mumbai is as repulsive as the attack on the Marriot Hotel in Islamabad and the Sheraton in Karachi. Innocent human beings have been killed needlessly and continue to suffer.

M. Tariq,
Lahore