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This is no time to dispatch angered messages of dissapointment and question the President's integrity over how he is handling Sri Lanka's confrontational issues with the LTTE nor expect a head on collision with them for obvious reasons! The LTTE need to be dealt with through strategy and cunning distanced from biased world opinion perhaps even sheltered from it undoubtedly despite the tremendous provocations of the LTTE and it is probably not a lack of acumen nor strategy which appears to be the state of affairs of his leadership as some seem to emphasize but the unfortunate timing of it all. While prudence needs to be exercised and all the tricks of the trade needing to be employed to deal with the current cowardly tactics of the LTTE there has to be a way to deal with them where the retaliation as demanded by many indeed has to be covertly and expertly executed if need be. It cannot be done with fanfare and the blaring of trumpets and the beating of tom toms. It is certainly a Presidential dilemma for which it is expected he will find a way round with the best interests of Sri Lanka at heart and the use of all the resources available!

What the President is visibly resorting to are probably tactics of high diplomacy and pragmatism in an open ended perspective as there are many anomalies other than mere retaliation involved towards resolving the situation prevailing in Sri Lanka today and he has to exercise extreme caution in a very volatile and explosive environment which could have reversible repercussin where triggering off national animosity on one hand seems to be offset against the dissent of the international community as well as world powers who pay greater importance to the continuation of the Peace Process and Ceasefire officially and perchance lucidly towards indifference over what the LTTE (terrorists) are imposing on Sri Lankas right to exist as a Sovereign Nation! It is a catch 22 situation where the urge to hit back even covertly while the sensible need for restraint, is also compelling and the President's task therefore an unenviable one.

The realities that the continued LTTE attacks on the Armed Forces have effected many casualties cannot be ignored towards the greater need to protect these dedicated sons and daughters of Lanka, themselves sworn to protect their motherland and in the greater scheme of things need to be appreciated for their dedications way beyond being cannon fodder for the terrorists. The strategies which need to be deployed towards dealing with the LTTE probably rest in the hands of the military hierarchy themselves and much beyond administrative manouvering where classified tactical operations very definitely need to be viewed objectively as a parrallel to the administrative rhetoric but executed in a manner which decieves the deceptions and imperceptions of the LTTE themselves.

Contrary to the popular belief of many that the Administration is being negligent and complacent towards the LTTE's latest round of hit and run tactics , if one reads between the lines and listens carefully there are events unfolding in the North and East where the LTTE are being systematically taken out by forces beyond their comprehension albeit not necessarily in an appreciable measure just yet and are as covert and unrecognizable as their own operatives. Indeed there seems to be a very clandestine but deadly front of armed attackers quietly chipping away at the effectiveness of the LTTE and countering their onslaughts within the jungles they have chosen towards their ultimate destiny and at times one hears LTTE protestations that these are paramilitary in nature and Government backed. A taste of their own medicine perhaps! There are also unconfirmed reports that the LTTE clarion and so called political representation S.P. Thamilselvam may have been subjugated by the latest clandestine operation of unknown forces (state of mortality unknown!) within the Wanni, being vehemently denied by the LTTE!

The Government of Sri Lanka under the leadership of H.E. Mahinda Rajapakse however is obliged to conduct itself in a manner conducive to international statutes and accords as part of the Commonwealth and the United Nations involving mediation and negotiation towards resolution in a sane and normal manner as opposed to the running amok of the rabid LTTE terrorists where, despite a felt and compelling need to stop their attacks also has a greater responsibility towards projecting Sri Lanka's image as a Nation willing to incorporate its minorities as part of its infrastructure particularly the Tamils where unfortunately the presence of the LTTE in the issue compounds it as much as the proverbial "fly in the ointment!."

For the present it seems prudent for the Government to toe the line of 'indifference' towards LTTE provocation officially never de- prioritising the need to safeguard the Nation and its interests while letting the compelling forces which have unexpectedly lent a covert hand towards Sri Lanka's cause carry whilst even providing them with the logistical and other related support needed towards their means! Certainly a catalyst and perhaps even a trump card towards the ultimate annihilation of the LTTE whose presence becomes more and more unwelcome in Sri Lanka today!

It is truly apathetic that the LTTE appear to be effective in their wretched acts of violence against the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies where the Administration seems to show indifference but perhaps an orchestrated one with the cognizance that there are alternate measures towards resolving a worst case scenario which are not being publicised as mentioned previously, being set in place towards an effective means to be deployed as an when necessary. With the impatience of the Nation growing with each passing day however there probably needs to be some tangible proof of this as being demanded by many towards appeasing national anxiety and it is fervently hoped that the Rajapakse Administration will set the wheels in motion towards establishing this beyond the realm of speculation.

He has already indicated in no uncertain terms that his kindness and pragmatism should not be misconstrued for weakness and inefficiency and perhaps the time is at hand where his exhortations about the need for dialogue and mediation may manifest themselves more meaningfully while never relenting over necessary strategies needing to be applied towards quelling the LTTE through whatever means necessary!

It would nonetheless be unfair to envision him as a miracle worker in this respect as the events of LTTE attrocities of the day are a direct result of the myopic apathy of previous administrations which have given needless Carte Blance to the terrorists and their ambitions! Within his own right the President of Sri Lanka seems to be handling the situationin Sri Lanka admirably given the time and circumstances.

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