THREE IMPORTANT EVENTS
THE KETTLE THAT CALLED THE PAN BLACK.
These last ten years, we in India have been receiving certificates of BLACK from American KETTLE that considered itself WHITE. First, it was the Shahin Bagh protest against the proposed Citizenship Amendment Act, in the heart of Delhi. America tried advising us, regarding possible human rights violations. Again, recently US expressed concern over the notification of rules under the CAA and said it would “closely monitor” its implementation. During the farmers protests too, that culminated with tractor protest with incidents of violence and vandalism at the historic Red Fort, on 26th January, America had caustic comments to make. But we did not comment on Capitol Hill Violence, that had just occurred on 6th of January, or on violence that occurred after an un-armed black man was killed, followed by ‘black lives matter’, protest.
All that is changing now. Recently an Indian diplomat, Randhir Jaiswal, while commenting upon the American police crackdown on University Students protesting against Israeli genocide in Gaza and the huge budgetary sanction for arms to Israel, said “Democracies should display understanding in regard to other democracies. After all, we are all judged by what we do at home and not what we say abroad.” Nowhere the comment was pointedly made at American administration. But if Joe Biden is not too thick skinned, he’ll surely get the message.
IRAN-ISRAEL CONFLICT. WHO WON?
West was Blowing it’s on Trumpet, while Iran had the last laugh. For all appearances, the three hundred and twenty projectiles sent hurtling towards Israel were mostly destroyed enroute by the two hundred odd (American, French and English) Jets. The Israeli ‘iron dome’, it’s early warning radars, (some of which were working in tandem with super computers in the US) all did their jobs and stopped 97% of the missiles and drones fired at Israel on 13 of April, this year. But what the world missed was the tactical and diplomatic acumen, displayed by Iran.
On 1 April, Israel had hit Iranian embassy in Syria and killed a couple of its top Generals (The intelligence was clearly from its set up on Golan Heights which works in tandem with the US CIA in America). Iran was on ‘fast’ and was constrained from immediate retaliation during this period. The world was stunned, and anticipated a reaction that would escalate towards a full-fledged war between Iran and Israel. This would result in closing down of, Strait of Hormuz. Thus, one of the busiest sea faring trading routes in the world, would come to a halt, making crude oil difficult to procure and pushing its price even further up. All the world wanted this war averted. But the people of Iran wanted revenge.
It is against this backdrop, that we need to judge the actions of Ali Khamenei, their supreme leader. He had to satisfy his people, at the same time avert a sure war. He took his time planning his nations retaliation against Israel and its allies. He planned a retaliatory strike against Israel, but delayed it enough, to let his enemy pick up all the intelligence they needed to counter it. He made it extremely clear to his enemy, that he had no choice but to strike back, even if only to appease his people. His intention was clearly not to cause any collateral damage to civilian lives in Israel. So, Iran military first hijacked an Israeli ship in the Persian Gulf, to misguide his enemy of his intentions. He then struck with 320 Drones and missiles a couple of days later.
First a huge swarm of drones were fired to draw out enemy fire, as it slowly flew towards Israel taking all of four hours and some. Then missiles, that would take two hours or more were fired, to further expose Israeli defences and radars swinging into action. And then, much later, seven much faster supersonic missiles were fired at pin point military targets in Israel, at Golan heights and at Airforce stations in the Sinai deserts. Out of seven of these supersonic missiles, five got through and caused sufficient damage to the run ways as well as other targets so carefully chosen.
In the eyes of the world, Iran achieved a mere 3% success. But the military significance of this whole manoeuvre was stupendous. Iran set out to achieve just this. It wanted to overwhelm the enemy defences and keep him busy. Pin point his radars, intelligence equipment and its anti-missile defence systems. It wanted to find a weakness in its defence and sneak through to its primary target. While at the same time ensure, its success is not seen as a huge success, but a paltry 3% success. Thus, averting an all-out full-fledged war in the middle East.
As far as the people of Iran were concerned, the Airforce station that sent the F 35 aircraft, to hit Iranian embassy in Syria was hit. The joint intelligence facility at Golan heights that is connected to Super computers of CIA in the US was also partly hit. The intelligence from this very unit, was the cause of the air strike that was carried out against Iran’s embassy in Syria.
HUGE WIN FOR INDIA.
INDIAN AND RUSSIAN FIRMS GET SRILANKA’S HAMBANTOTA AIRPORT.
China has established a sea port at Hambantota in Srilanka, selling them a dream, that this would be a port of call like Singapore. The Chinese told them, that the amount they would need to spend on the port, would be lent to them at 6% rate of interest and some of the loans would be at concessional rates below 6%. But when the actual construction activities took place, China ensured that almost all the contracts were allotted to Chinese companies. So, although the port was built in Srilanka, all the money borrowed by Srilanka, was earned by Chinese companies and Chinese workers. So, this money that came to Srilanka, did not enrich the economy of Srilanka. It all went back to China. Subsequently when the port was thrown open for use in 2016, only Chinese ships visited this port and the income generated was not sufficient even to repay the loans borrowed from Chinese banks. Of the thousands of ships that sail past this port of Srilanka, hardly any stop for servicing at this port. In 2016, the total income from this port was a mere 1.253 million dollars’ worth, which could not service the loans borrowed to build the port.
Subsequently, Srilanka started failing to repay the instalments of this loan. Interest began to mount and Srilanka realized it could never repay this loan. It was also facing some dire financial crisis, with regard to its foreign balance of payment situation of 7 billion dollars. At this juncture, China offered to take over 70 percent shares of this port under Chinese Mercantile shipping company, with balance 30 percent shares being left with Srilanka. Ever since China has been using this port to lodge its Naval ships and submarines, to spy over the activities of India, its Navy and its satellite communication systems. The Chinese have been having a field day.
But now all that has come to an end. The Srilankan, Hambantota Airport was available for management on a 30-year lease internationally. Russia and India have managed to get this contract. So, the advantage China enjoyed at the Hambantota Sea port has been effectively checkmated by India. Much to the chagrin of the US, the Indo Russian friendship seems to be flourishing as usual.
Major Biddanda Nanjappa,
Recipient of President’s Gold Medal
Convener FMCGT Forum.
The facts and views presented are of the author.
