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America’s Belated Awakening

Monotapash Mukherjee - 11/14/2011

America’s Belated Awakening


At a time when the US is witnessing WALL STREET protests, unemployment is increasing, defense cuts are imminent ,the SPACE SHUTTLE has retired and the space ambition has been shelved, the soldiers are preparing to return from Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran is nearing nuclear capability, the UNESCO has granted membership to Palestine, Pakistan is refusing US dictates, China is set to conquer the space ,America’s loss of the Indian MMRCA deal was a huge setback to the US defense and aerospace industries.


This deal could have created thousands of jobs, rejuvenated the moribund aerospace industry, and cemented the strategic partnership with India. Initially mistaking the deal to be in its favour, the US tried to bargain hard by refusing to part with the source code of the fighters. The US went slow on the nuclear deal. It also dithered in removing the tech denial regime. These instead of cementing the relationship between the oldest and the largest democracies of the world pushed them apart and destroyed the budding alliance between them. Russia bagged the 5th Generation fighter aircraft deal. This also failed to make the US budge. Finally it lost the MMRCA contract.



Belatedly the US Congress has secured the Pentagon NOC to go full steam with India in the defense arena and offered the high tech JSF35.The Obama administration failed to read the writing on the wall and began to woo China, When China startled the US by displaying the J20 stealth bomber and a report about a Chinese Carrier killing missile came out, the US understood the reality.



Now as the dragon fire is set to engulf the whole of Asia, the US is ringing the alarm bell. But this is also the time for the US and India to unite.



At this juncture when India is reportedly facing problems with regard to the seeker technology for the China killer(Agni5),the US stubbornness in lifting the tech denial will not only harm India but also the US. So the sooner the US wakes up, the better.







India Encounters Psycho-war


When the news of China’s carrier-killing missile project came out, the US reacted with surprise and insecurity .China startled the US defense secretary during his China visit by showing a prototype of J20, allegedly a stealth fighter. Recently China has the alarmed the US by displaying models of 25 types of drones. All these are part of China’s long –term psycho-warfare project, for these weapons are not combat proven and most of China’s military hardwires are antiquated.

Psycho-warfare can be unleashed with some economic or diplomatic or military policies or actions or by the development, acquisition or display of some weapon systems.

Of all the countries in the world, China mostly uses psycho weapons, at least against the US and India, for China is apprehensive of the overwhelming military superiority of the US and the explosive potential of India as a challenger.

Through repeated incursions into the Indian Territory, cyber intrusions, its soldier presence in the POK, the display of its A-sat capability, the development of new weapon systems, positioning of advanced missiles in Tibet, unconfirmed release of pictures on the internet, issuing stapled visas, sending its engineering divisions for war-games in Pakistan, its change of nuclear doctrine---China is engaging more in psycho strategies than real military preparedness.

Pakistan has mastered the art of psycho-war from its accomplice, China very well. It flew the F16s over Islamabad in the aftermath of 26/11 to draw world attention. It unveiled the Hatf9 missile to blunt India’s Cold Start doctrine. It always uses nuclear weapon as a psycho weapon against India.

It tries to bring Afghanistan under the Chinese umbrella. So it has unleashed psycho war against the US, India and the Afghan government to keep Afghanistan under its influence.

Russia till date is continuing psycho-war against India through its two big ticket items---Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier and the Nerpa class nuclear submarine by delaying their delivery because Russia is angry with India for leaving the Russian defense market to court the US , Israel and Europe.

But the most significant theatre of psycho war is to be seen between China and India. As India comes closer to the US and Europe and its resource hunt clashes with that of China’s, the psycho war is bound to intensify.

Now is India’s turn. It has to hit hard at the Achilles’ heel. It. has already agreed to oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea oil blocks belonging to Vietnam. It can unnerve China through a series of steps. India can review the One China policy and raise questions about Tibet and Taiwan. It can supply missile technology to Vietnam and build a naval alliance with Japan. India can build an alternative power centre against China. It can avail of NATO’s missile defense offer. But India must follow some steps to contain China. It must build several types of Agni5 missile. It should indicate its review of NO FIRST USE nuclear policy. India’s recent change of military doctrine to fight war in enemy territory is a welcome decision. India can test BB bombs too. In fact there can be many innovative psycho weapons which can be employed with ingenuity and perfect timing. India’s new war doctrine and foray into the South China Sea have been two fours in the first over. Let’s hope for the sixes.