IANS/NewKerala,  Fri Jan 27 14:15:25 EST 2006

    By M.R. Narayan Swamy, New Delhi: After allowing the Afghan mujahideen to blossom into Taliban and Al Qaeda, the US is taking a hard look at Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger guerrillas, undoubtedly the world's most lethal insurgent group. The question is: can this lead to a confrontation between the two?

This might sound farfetched to many today. But one only has to remember that even in the middle of 1987 no one remotely feared a showdown between India and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Indeed, that was when LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran had publicly declared: "We love India!"

No such bonhomie today exists between the US and the LTTE.

India's reluctance to get actively involved in Sri Lanka's unending ethnic conflict and, unlike earlier times, be vocal beyond a point is one reason why Washington has started playing, to the discomfort of some in New Delhi, an increasingly activist role in the island nation.

In a space of a fortnight this month, two senior US officials - Ambassador Jeffrey Lunstead in Colombo and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns - came out with Washington's strongest denunciation of the LTTE, coupled with unflinching support to Sri Lanka.
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- The Academic

If the attacks the LTTE, the LTTE profound genius will try to be stubborn and start a war with the US thinking just like Vietnam they will also be able to beat the US. Instead of civilizing themselves.

"Those who quit never win, those who win never quit, but those who don't win and don't quit are simply profound genius".

I'm not sure on who's pay roll the writer is. But if the Us  sees the tigers as a threat they would have done with it long time a ago. The west is very angry about tigers for not allowing RW to be the President. But for tamil politics tigers VOTED for MR. No body frm the south can argue about this. Tigers wanted unanimous leader in the south and thats what they got. Now west very well knows about it
Also note the US mentioned the difference between the alcida and the tigers. Plus tigers are not a anti western anti US anti christian or anti capitalis. They are simply fighting for their rights. But the US is also cautions about not giving too much freedom either. So it is very clear if the US wanted the tigers out they would have done that.Today the US just want to keep the tigers in check by diplomatic means not by going to war. The writer fails to address the question why would US wants to go to war with any body who does not step on her toe or have the same value as US.

You over-estimate the LTTE, thinking that the US will "go to war" with them.. Of course they will not. The LTTE is far too insignificant for that. And surely you jest when you say that the LTTE is "having the same values as the US", right ? Good one !!

LTTE is not a formidable enemy at all for USA.

But, LTTE Cadershas involved in destabilizing govts (Maldices), against the govts (Chechnia) and training other terrorist groups.

That is something to consider strongly, LTTE may pass all the know how to to Al Qaida and other groups.

Unidentified Gunmen:

"Those who quit never win, those who win never quit, but those who don't win and don't quit are simply profound genius".  

This is very true for LTTE.
 

we shouldnt forget india & america now working together in destroying & exchange information about muslim fundamentalist terrorists & thaleiban. if u closelely examine the most lethal weapon used by the alkaida in iraq against western forces u can easily figure out why they r so interested about ltte.

Please refrain from using duplicate Accounts.

A very accurate no-frills account of US concerns regarding SL and addressing the US's (albeit belated) realization that condoning terrorism (anywhere anytime under any pretext) is lunacy. As to the US being like LTTE, the US doesn't have a terroristic policy of ruthlessly murdering innocents and opponents (a recent report by Human Rights Watch says that Tamil Tiger killings of political opponents reached the rate of one per day by June 2005) or of disenfranchising their "constituents".

AnuD wrote:

Unidentified Gunmen:

"Those who quit never win, those who win never quit, but those who don't win and don't quit are simply profound genius".  

This is very true for LTTE.
 

I think you are talking about GOSL/JVP/JHU, till todate it is matching exactly for them.

SRICANADA said exactly correct. The world order has changed over the years. US will not go against LTTE blindly. Only thing US want here is that they have a say. Means, they want to keep the tie with India and Pak as it is. So, US will never go against India. But US might think that they are  the super power and they have still something to say in SL too. Thats all, nothing else.

Like US, countries like India/China etc. are only act for $$s. When MR was in India, they show interest in SL's oil resources than the ethnic problem. Only $$ values in the current world order. That is wahy US fighting in Iraq too.

This article is factless and not worth for reading.

SWAMY- nobody take notice in india except some bramins
establishment of noble buddist principle is due to the arrogonce of braminusm
ammerca is a super power but cannot do anything in indian subcontinent withot india
it is foolish to build up hopes on ammerica
follow the buddist principle solve the problem in sri lanka

ahilla wrote:

SWAMY- nobody take notice in india except some bramins
establishment of noble buddist principle is due to the arrogonce of braminusm
ammerca is a super power but cannot do anything in indian subcontinent withot india
it is foolish to build up hopes on ammerica
follow the buddist principle solve the problem in sri lanka

May I ask you how you came to the conclusion that this "SWAMY" is someone nobody
in india except Bramins take notice?? Do you have any studies , either empirical or
anecdotal to explain your statement unless of course you spoke before your brain
rebooted and mistook this "Swamy" for Subramanium Swamy whom the LTTE water
boys love to hate??

This is Narayan Swamy who I believe is the same person who wrote a well received book
on the Tigers of Sri Lanka. Next time why don't you do a Google and check some facts
before getting all emotional and flaying your tail and making yourself look like a fool??

As a sign of my benovelence here is a link

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8122003869/qid=1138400384/ref=br_lf_b_7/102-1621752-1376142?n=4913&s=books&v=glance


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There are no minorities in Sri Lanka. --- Dr.Percy Mahinda Rajapakse Ph.D

[quote="THE_ACA_USR

This article is factless and not worth for reading.[/quote]

Sure.. Looks like this article really bothered you? For . FACTS are FACTS only if they emanate from
Tamilnet??


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There are no minorities in Sri Lanka. --- Dr.Percy Mahinda Rajapakse Ph.D

Hi Namdev

Namdev wrote:

May I ask you how you came to the conclusion that this "SWAMY" is someone nobody
in india except Bramins take notice?? Do you have any studies , either empirical or
anecdotal to explain your statement unless of course you spoke before your brain
rebooted and mistook this "Swamy" for Subramanium Swamy whom the LTTE water
boys love to hate??

Narayan Swamy was born a Brahmin and yes the 1st Edition to his book Tigers of Lanka was good.  I still consider it the best single volume out there on the Eelam struggle until the departure of the IPKF, fairly well-balanced and unafraid to criticize India.  With such a good 1st Edition, I was disappointed to see hardly any changes in the 2nd or 3rd Editions.  His recent book on Prabakaran was absolutely appalling; I could see this just by flipping through it at the bookstore where he alternates from gushing adulation to backscratching the Indian security establishment.

Personally I don't find this article to be very enlightening or useful.  I stick with PK Balachchandran of Hindustan Times and the Sambandan and Nirupama Subramaniam of the Hindu for the Indian establishment's perspective.

On this note I should say that there aren't any good sources in English out there on the LTTE from 1990 onwards.  If you want to understand the LTTE, how it sees things and how it operates, and how it has expanded from Premadasa through CBK, you have to know Tamil.


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If the only tool you have is a hammer, you will see every problem as a nail.- Abraham Maslow

Namdev wrote:

[quote="THE_ACA_USR
Sure.. Looks like this article really bothered you? For . FACTS are FACTS only if they emanate from
Tamilnet??

You are a typical JVP moduled person, I can say. Why are you using the typical words for jump over individuals. Do you ever learned to talk about the writings than individuals. You can use enough nice words in available English to write (your openion) here.
For, e.g. you replied ahilla's note above. ahila is a Tamil Nadu bound person (I can say from his writing), just want to make a note here. The openion in that artical may be wrong. I also do not agree with  that. But there is a way to talk.
Everyone has the right to write here. But few of you guys misuse it by jumping on individuals and writing bad words.

If you have this kind of problems, please contact a doctor, thats all I can say.
I am sure you will jump up against me agaist me again than my openion.

ahila: I also say that you are wrong in your point
1. as namdev mentioned, it is not Subramaniya Swamy.
2. SL politicians never solve the problem by using "noble buddist principle" as you said. It has died many years ago. Now many of them beleive namdev kind of leaders.

Taraki wrote:

Hi Namdev

Personally I don't find this article to be very enlightening or useful.  I stick with PK Balachchandran of Hindustan Times and the Sambandan and Nirupama Subramaniam of the Hindu for the Indian establishment's perspective.

Hi Taraki

I agree but I think Balachandran some times gets too speculative. I like Nirupamas perspective but I believe she is no longer stationed in Sri Lanka? ( I am speaking of the real Nirupama not the jokester who borrowed her name on the fourm Sambandan is very good and also balanced. I think even LTTE supporters would agree that he is "balanced". There was another reporter by the name Farah M?? who wrote actual news rather than commentry like Balachandran.


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There are no minorities in Sri Lanka. --- Dr.Percy Mahinda Rajapakse Ph.D

Indian diplomatic and economic interest has taken major turn and Swamy is still living in the past. It is at the invitation of India that US is making these noise. India loves to say the same but unable to, due to its internal political dynamics.  

Mahinda Samaraweera went direct to the top to make routine claims and submissions onbehalf of SL thereby bypassing the US Ambassador in SL. By his statement the good ambassador was only making sure that he will be taken more serious in the future. Also note that Mr Burnes mentioned that they have a good ambassador in SL which was a bit out of place on his statement.

Let us not take ourselves more serious than who we are. There are plenty of problems around the world for US to concern itself.

India is controlling the levers and US is happy to appear to be a friend of SL to ensure SL not becoming a closed economy.

Irrespective of their respective motives Indian and US actions are taking the parties towards the right direction.