The Carrot & The Stick

Prof. Hudson McLean

It is abundantly clear that the "The Carrot & The Stick" approach of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has produced no result. That approach almost brought the country to a total anahilation.

Had the Tiger Air Wing dropped the bombs on top of the MiGs and the Israeli KFir fighter jets, Sri Lanka would have been under Tiger control before long.

Blaming the Indian Radar failure is history. As I stated in my recent mail, the Tiger Air Wing has several other fixed wing aircraft and helicopters ready to be shipped just round the corner.

SLAF should now consider as its Priority No:1, is to destroy all potential air strips without mercy. No excuses, since such air strips even camouflaged, could be identified with some effort. Karuna intelligence could be of help. Thereafter seek and destroy all large mobile units using air power to prevent mobility and transport of aircraft.

As suggested several times, the Indian Naval and US Naval support the Sri Lankan Navy is vital, in order to geo-fence the territorial waters. "Shoot First and Ask Questions" should be the norm when confronting any suspect vessel.

IMO and MSC (Maritime Safety Committee) are now planning to deploy Long Range Identification & Tracking (LRIT) on all ships destined for USA. Sri Lanka should declare this essential feature on all vessels entering Sri Lankan territorial waters. This demand on vessels cost nothing either to vessels or to Sri Lanka but will enhance the safety.

Now that the SLG has been given the Power of Attorney by the Tamil Tigers to give them all what is available in the hands of the SLDF, immediate retaliation is a must. Tigers expect this and they have taken necessary precautions.

It is about time to "Throw The Carrot and Use The Stick" with all its might.

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