Instant Experts : Mumbai Terror Strike

I just love the way in the past few days every news reporter and blogger and commentator has turned into an expert on security and NSG ops and counter terrorism and ...phew.

Now you can become a know-all using the search function on goggle. Research in fact is hitting the enter key twice.

So the moment, an operation is under way, there are these 'ugh' journalists shrieking into a mike, spouting jargon while reporting on the conduct of operations. And Off course every body has watched Hollywood flicks so they use terms like SWAT and 'sitrep' with gay abandon.

To randomly quote a few of these bloops,

"they are firing their guns now, it's a war zone out there."

Please, lady we call it a weapon. I remember once an instructor overheard me calling my 7.62 mm rifle a "gun". I stood the whole night under a cold shower with the rifle yelling "this is my rifle, this is my gun. This is for fighting and this is for fun".

And its not a war zone. What's going on is barbarism. Some objectivity, please.

"And the jeep is reviewing the situation"

OMG, he meant the chief.

I read a comment on a blog once, which suggested to the author that 'she lacked the knowledge to write on army matters. The commentator further wrote, that it was perhaps because she had never met somebody from the army. The indignant author countered that she often wrote about terrorists and God also, and she'd never met either. Fantastic logic.

Surprisingly, some of them, have studied journalism at reputed institutions. There's a certain lady who is a grad from Columbia Univ. I would presume that they did teach the need to be thorough and knowledgeable, of not shooting from the hip,of the need to be sensitive. Seems she in particular was biting donuts in some cafe during those classes. The others like like that lovely couple on See and End were shaving buffaloes. While Mr bespectacled India was digging dirt.

It takes a considerable amount of time and effort to give talk on security matters. (considerably more than it takes to hold court on the Indian passion of cricket, films and politics). The first prerequisite is to be logical and analytical. There is a need to develop a deep understanding on issues that affect security of a nation and elements of national power. The weapon end of it is another issue all together. It takes tremendous amount of training. Physical toughness is just the beginning. Mental toughness, development of will power, ability to withstand pain and denial.To think on one's feet. Training on weapons, explosives, languages, field surgery, helicopters.... People the list is endless.

Not for a moment do I suggest that every expert on military strategy and tactics should have sat through hours of sand model discussions. Or worn combat fatigues and bitten bullets. It does help in understanding the practical aspects though.

So when I hear these self styled experts pontificate on the Idiot Box, or read when they run riot with their keyboards, I want to laugh ....and cry.