Air Tigers: Mahinda should respond swiftly
It is seldom governments have identifiable key objectives to measure the success of a war effort. But the recent developments in Sri Lanka where the LTTE used air power for the first time to attack the Sri Lankan government forces have provided a clear, short term goal for the troops to exude the progress of the government's strategy to combat domestic terrorism.
The modified 4 seater propeller air crafts the LTTE is using to carry out attacks is hardly serious enough to change the outcome of the war. But the fact that LTTE has developed the capability is a nifty propaganda victory for them as well as a huge boost to the Tiger morale.
It is also a colossal failure in Mahinda's policy and image. The fact that LTTE was able to conduct the first airbourne attack under his watch dilutes all the credit he has gotten so far for his successful campaign against the LTTE: the government may have gained ground but LTTE has added a new dimension to the war. So Mahinda will be looking at everything possible to crush the air wing of the LTTE; but the questions is, are the government forces in a realistic position to carry out such a well defined and clear cut operation.
The modified 4 seater propeller air crafts the LTTE is using to carry out attacks is hardly serious enough to change the outcome of the war. But the fact that LTTE has developed the capability is a nifty propaganda victory for them as well as a huge boost to the Tiger morale.
It is also a colossal failure in Mahinda's policy and image. The fact that LTTE was able to conduct the first airbourne attack under his watch dilutes all the credit he has gotten so far for his successful campaign against the LTTE: the government may have gained ground but LTTE has added a new dimension to the war. So Mahinda will be looking at everything possible to crush the air wing of the LTTE; but the questions is, are the government forces in a realistic position to carry out such a well defined and clear cut operation.
posted by Hitch at 4/27/2007 12:21:00 AM
3 Comments:
Primitiveness of those flights is the biggest insult.
In the other hand, do you remember LTTE started everything with bicycles not long ago? I like to be an optimistic in this matter, but facts and experience pulling me back.
True. That's why this needs to be dealth with immediately before it blows up into a real problem. I frankly think the President should be in Sri Lanka dealing with this crisis without watching cricket in Barbados. The procrastination of such dealing with such seemingly small steps the LTTE takes is the reason Sri Lanka had let the conflict become such an ugly and a long incident.
SL intel finally figured out where the LTTE tin cans fly from.
It is the wilpattu jungles.
Await final fire works ...
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