Thehelka,  Fri Nov 20 08:57:02 EST 2009

    IN MAY 2006, TEHELKA carried my column arguing that a flawed understanding of newly-elected Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s politics had kept India from a crucial role there. Inactivity by India in the Sri Lankan crisis, I argued, would only hasten a process that could turn the island into a battleground of big power rivalries inimical to India’s long-standing interests – enforcing a Pax Indiana on the Indian Ocean.
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- The Academic

A sober analysis of the situation - WAAAY better than Bhadrakumars tea-tinged, caste-ish meanderings thru colonial byways..
But I don't think SF termed all Indian Politicians as "jokers".. If I recall, he was referring specifically to the circuses going on in TN at the time
Granted, even TN politicians are nominally "Indian" politicians but nonetheless......

Quote:

Fonseka’s differences with Rajapaksa are fundamental and have grave strategic portents for India and neighbouring countries. Last May, Indian pressure — just before the last stages of the general elections — mounted on Rajapaksa for a quick end to the war, in order to stave off a prolonged period of uncertainty about Tamil votes at home. Fonseka refused to listen to his President and insisted that the war should be one of prolonged attrition, no matter the cost, rather than a surgical attempt to retake Mullaithivu.

I don't think this is the case.  Up winning the LTTE terror war they were together.  The writer is forgetting the Gota factor.  On one hand, Gota is the brother to MR and a Military guy who can see eye to eye with the former General.  Govt and the defense structure amalgamated well to win the war

Blood thicker than water ?

Quote:

Proxi wrote:

But I don't think SF termed all Indian Politicians as "jokers".. If I recall, he was referring specifically to the circuses going on in TN at the time
Granted, even TN politicians are nominally "Indian" politicians but nonetheless......

There is nothing wrong in calling jokers as jokers !
Only that SF could not put it diplomatically, and this sort of 'bursting at the top'
may close avenues for future dealing with the same 'jokers' if he
has to ! I don't think SF (or anyone in the island at the moment )
can match MR's (geo)political skills. Surely, future events promise to be interesting !

And SF's bigger gaffe was his divisive comments against Tamils / minority.
The article skirts this completely.

I'm sure SF the soldier and SF the politician will be different.
He will learn fast !


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