Friday, December 12, 2008

Public wants government to either shape up or ship out

Credit: Photo Atlas

Chandigarh: ‘Anti-terror strategy demands that success can be achieved only by a clear understanding and implementation of ends, ways and means. ‘Ends’ corresponds to a clear vision on what we wish to achieve. ‘Ways’ are the various options of achieving the desired state. ‘Means’ are the resources available to execute the strategic anti-terror design’

One of the deficiencies to have emerged post the 26/11 Terror strike in Mumbai is the lack of strategic leadership, coordination and focus in handling crisis.

The Government has spoken of its resolve to create a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to counter terrorist strikes. The move, however, lacks both clarity and vision. Such legislation, if enacted, is doomed to fail because it addresses only a part of the problem.

Anti-terror strategy demands that success against terror can be achieved only by a clear understanding and implementation of “ends, ways and means”.

While ‘ends’ correspond to a clear vision on what we wish to achieve. ‘ways’ corresponds to the various options of achieving the desired state. ‘Means’ are the resources available to execute the strategic anti-terror design.

The desired ‘end’ state for India is the total elimination of terror. The best ‘way’ to do so is by creating a new federal ministry that can handle all the fallouts of a terror strike. The ‘means’ are the combat forces required not just for neutralising terrorists, but also for their command and control, communications, technical support and operational logistics. ‘Means’ also involves the support that troops need on the connected tasks of evacuation, medical-aid, dead body management, fire-fighting and media briefings among other things.

It is clear to all that the government has displayed neither vision nor resolve in tackling the issues. The public demands the government either ‘shapes up or ships out’.

Post the 9/11 terror strike, the USA had created a Department of Homeland Defence (DHS) to combat disaster in any form, including terror.

Notwithstanding the criticism, the DHS has served the USA well — there has been no terror strike in the country since 2001. This is an example that we can and we must emulate.

President Bush announced the establishment of the Office of Homeland Security to coordinate “homeland security” efforts on October 8, 2001, within 30 days of the strike. The DHS was formally established on November 25, 2002. The FBI and CIA were, however, not part of the DHS.

The DHS also has a key called the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). After FEMA’s creation, the Congress continued to expand FEMA’s authority to include coordination of counter terrorism operations.
Public wants govt to either shape up or ship out
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