You may call me what you like but I am not convinced that we can take decisive/deterrent steps against terror. Almost a year has passed since 26/11 the promised, NSG commandos are yet to get a campus in Mumbai. Ditto with other places. For years we were without an aircraft carrier and when it is almost retrofitted we are without planes.

Even then instead of 3 we have to make do with 1. We no longer have the decisive edge against Pakistan. The entire fleet of trainee aircraft has been grounded. We are woefully short of all the hardware. Our men in the field do not have logistic support. Army is no longer an attractive career.

We are short of officers and existing ones are crossing over to greener pastures in substantial No. Our chiefs have to bow down before Babus in Delhi for a raise with no result. Even late Field marshal Manek Shaw had to wait for years for a hike in his pension to be sanctioned. Scams and scandals are surfacing quite frequently.

Our border facing Nepal is porous towards Chinese end we are in the shadow of the dragon and can not do much. Smuggling is rampant from sea. In short when we are unable to tackle Naxals and Maoists any threat to nuclear Pakistan sounds hollow.

I am sure, to deflect the situation in Waziristan there will be another audacious attack any day and once again we will be left twiddling our thumbs for USA will not like the campaign against Taliban to be stopped mid way. So all we will have is lots of media attention followed by visits of high ranking officials, sale of some hardware at highly atrocious prices with numerous strings attached sans spares.

In the end things will be back to square one. The clock is ticking fast and furious. The day of reckoning is fast approaching. Let us be prepared for our tryst with destiny.
Jai hind