Defence Talk- Drones at war

Photo Courtesy: drone attack
DRONES, ALSO termed Unmanned Combat Vehicles or Remotely Piloted Vehicles, have been identified as force multipliers since their successful employment in the 1991 Gulf War. It is, however, the “arbitrary” Bush legacy (June 2008) of trans-border Predator drone usage by the CIA — for taking out Al Qaeda/Taliban terrorists operating within the Pakistani side of the Afghan-Pak border — that has added a new dimension to their war against terror, besides throwing up issues of ethics and diplomatic propriety. The latest drone attack occurred on February 14, 2009, when 25 Mujahideen owing allegiance to Baitullah Mehsud, the Taliban chief in Pakistan, were killed in a Predator strike in Shwangai, South Waziristan. The attack came even as the Pakistani President acknowledged that the Taliban were “making the survival of Pakistan” difficult. On the same day, Dianne Feinstein, chairperson, Senate Intelligence Committee, revealed that the Predator aircraft were being flown from an airbase inside Pakistan. The unintended disclosure, a diplomatic gaffe that Presidents Obama and Zardari could do without, has seriously jeopardised Pakistan’s counterterrorism collaboration with America.
As per the Council of Foreign Relations in Washington, American drones have, since June 2008, carried out more than 30 missile attacks against Al Qaeda and Taliban targets. Already , civilian casualties in Afghanistan and areas of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan have climbed from 929 in 2006 to almost 2,000 in 2008, from the US-led air attacks. Some are attributable to Predator strikes and have given adverse publicity to both American and Pakistani governments. On January 13, 2006, several US Predators struck Damadola village in Pakistan where Ayman al-Zawahiri was reportedly located, killing 18 civilians. On October 30, 2006, the Bajaur air strike, targeted a militant training camp and Zawahiri. Although he escaped, 85 villagers died.

Analysts are debating whether such attacks, which unilaterally transgress national borders, should continue. Supporters say they are useful against an enemy carrying out Fourth Generation Warfare (4GW); a warfare characterised by a blurring of lines between war and politics, soldier and civilian, battlefield and safety!

Maj Gen Raj Mehta (Retd)
The writer, who is settled in S.A.S. Nagar, is a security analyst
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War on Terror: Lessons to be learnt

SECURITY FORCES involved in the November 26 to 29 terror strike should take a bow: their major strike element, the NSG, moved from Delhi to take out terrorists involved the carnage after a 60- hour operation under global scrutiny. In doing so, they went through 1,407 five-star hotel rooms as well as Nariman House, taking care to minimise collateral and personal loss. The Russian/ Israeli tactics used were refreshingly proactive and mandated. The murderous terror strike at Mumbai was carried out by Blackberry -enabled, "twitter" savvy, 4th Generation Warriors (4GW).

America took a call on combating terror after 9/11 and enacted the Department of Homeland Defence (DHS) legislation in 2002, which, notwithstanding its warts, has delivered. 4th Generation Warfare is characterised by a blurring of lines between war and politics, soldier and civilian, peace and conflict. In this war, one of the major participants is not a state but rather a violent ideological network. 4GW uses the strategy of "scorched earth", which was amply demonstrated at Mumbai. While the uniformed fraternity makes do with arcane tools of warfare and the NSG does not have finances to provide snipers with proper spotter scopes. Fourth Generation warfare terrorists are flush with modern war fighting means. There is much that went wrong in our approach and build-up for the terror strike at Mumbai till the NSG arrived.

The review of the operation will also throw up fresh lessons. What is certain is that there was abysmal lack of coordination, security lapses in following-up on intelligence leads and Perpetual blame game between the Centre and state over law and order culpability. Is there a way out of this intractable morass? Some positive snap shots have emerged. When asked for his fuelings post the NSG operation, a soldier answered: "I did my duty." When the DG, NSG, J.K. Dutt was asked whether the deceased brave heart, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, was from the Army, he pointedly said, "No, he was from the NSG." Dutt is to be commended for placing the NSG above the Armed Forces. individual service identity, as also the Army though it provides 100 per cent of one of the fighting key components of the NSG- the elite Special Action Group (SAG), which actually combats terror, and the other component being the Special Rangers Group(SRG), which is staffed only by paramilitary/ police forces- it has allowed the NSG to take full credit. Even as we await detailed reports on the terror strike, we need to be proactive:

raise a dedicated Anti-Terror Ministry, removing it from the charter of the Home Ministry and ensure that legislation is enacted soonest.

we should ensure that our Intelligence agencies and the NSG shift to the new ministry; ensure that the NSG is provided all the equipment,expansion in strength and satellite bases, including dedicated aircraft it needs to combat 4G terrorism.

we should place the Coast Guard and protection of India's 12 major and 180 minor ports as also its 8,OOO kilometre coastline under the Navy.

the Supreme Court judgment of September 22, 2006 instructing the Centre and state so achieve functional autonomy for the police and enhanced police accountability must be executed.

we need to educate Indians across the board; citizens, students, corporates, establishments on the dynamics of terror and how they can minimise personal and collateral loss. The public is willing and united. All that is needed is a mandate, using serving, retired servicemen as teachers.

there is need to position security as a social and industry obligation; make it constitutionally binding to have a minimum, accountable standard of security infrastructure and quality. This will include the need for hotels to have "hardened, terror strike proof rooms" that guests and staff can be herded into; national id cards; Blackberry communications (these cannot be intercepted) in designated security zones, security rehearsals, registration of all sea craft with the Harbour Police instead of just the Port Authority; using "spotters" and networking with global security agencies.

with the Anti- Terror Ministry in place, there should be no need for states to create "Black Cat" equivalents.

the Government must not only come out with a White paper on the terror strike but also honour the soldier by enhancing his emoluments with grace, generosity and promptitude.

Maj Gen Raj Mehta (Retd)
The writer is a military and security analyst