Andhra politics

DER SPIEGEL 13/2005 - March 26, 2005
URL: http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,348471,00.html
Crisis in the Catholic Church

The Pope’s Contradictions

By Hans Küng

Outwardly Pope John Paul II, who has been actively involved in
battling war and suppression, is a beacon of hope for those who long
for freedom. Internally, however, his anti-reformist tenure has
plunged the Roman Catholic church into an epochal credibility crisis.

REUTERS
Don’t be fooled by the crowds: Millions have left the Catholic Church
under Pope John Paul II’s leadership.

The Catholic church is in dire straits. The pope is deathly ill and
deserves every bit of sympathy he can get. But the church must live
on, and in light of the selection of a new pope, it will need a
diagnosis, an unadorned insider analysis. The therapy will be
discussed later.

Many marvel at the staying power of this highly fragile, partially
paralyzed head of the Roman Catholic church, a man who, despite all
medications, is barely able to speak. He is treated with a sort of
reverence that would never be extended to an American president or a
German chancellor in a similar state. Others feel put off by a man
they see as an obstinate office bearer who, instead of accepting the
Christian path to his own eternity, is using all means at his disposal
to hold on to power in a largely undemocratic system.

Even for many Catholics, this pope at the end of his physical
strength, refusing to relinquish his power, is the symbol of a
fraudulent church that has calcified and become senile behind its
glittering façade.

The festive mood that prevailed during the Second Vatican Council
(1962 to 1965), or Vatican II, has disappeared. Vatican II’s outlook
of renewal, ecumenical understanding and a general opening of the
world now seems overcast and the future gloomy. Many have resigned
themselves or even turned away out of frustration from this
self-absorbed hierarchy. As a result, many people are confronted with
an impossible set of alternatives: “play the game or leave the
church.” New hope will only begin to take root when church officials
in Rome and in the episcopacy reorient themselves toward the compass
of the Gospel.

Hans Kung

Hans Kung is one of today’s leading Catholic theologians. Küng, a
Swiss national living in the southern German city of Tübingen, has
been embroiled in an ongoing feud with church authorities for decades.
As a result of his critical inquiries on the papacy, the Vatican
withdrew his church authority to teach in 1979. Nevertheless, Küng,
75, is still a priest and, until his retirement in 1995, taught
ecumenical theology at the University of Tübingen. As president of the
Global Ethic Foundation, Küng is also an advisor to the United
Nations.
CONTINUE
One of the few glimmers of hope has been the pope’s stance against the
Iraq war and war in general. The role the Polish pope played in
helping bring about the collapse of the Soviet empire is also
emphasized, and rightly so. But it’s also heavily exaggerated by papal
propagandists. After all, the Soviet regime did not fail because of
the pope (before the arrival of Gorbachev, the pope was achieving
about as little as he is now achieving in China), but instead imploded
because of the Soviet system’s inherent economic and social
contradictions.

In my view, Karol Wojtyla is not the greatest, but certainly the most
contradictory, pope of the 20th century. A pope of many great gifts
and many wrong decisions! To summarize his tenure and reduce it to a
common denominator: His “foreign policy” demands conversion, reform
and dialogue from the rest of the world. But this is sharply
contradicted by his “domestic policy,” which is oriented toward the
restoration of the pre-council status quo, obstructing reform, denying
dialogue within the church, and absolute Roman dominance. This
inconsistency is evident in many areas. While expressly acknowledging
the positive sides of this pontificate, which, incidentally, have
received plenty of official emphasis, I would like to focus on the
nine most glaring contradictions:

HUMAN RIGHTS: Outwardly, John Paul II supports human rights, while
inwardly withholding them from bishops, theologians and especially
women.

The Vatican — once a resolute foe of human rights, but nowadays all
too willing to become involved in European politics — has yet to sign
the European Council’s Declaration of Human Rights. Far too many
canons of the absolutist Roman church law of the Middle Ages would
have to be amended first. The concept of separation of powers, the
bedrock of all modern legal practice, is unknown in the Roman Catholic
church. Due process is an unknown entity in the church. In disputes,
one and the same Vatican agency functions as lawmaker, prosecutor and
judge.

Consequences: A servile episcopate and intolerable legal conditions.
Any pastor, theologian or layperson who enters into a legal dispute
with the higher church courts has virtually no prospects of
prevailing.

THE ROLE OF WOMEN: The great worshiper of the Virgin Mary preaches a
noble concept of womanhood, but at the same time forbids women from
practicing birth control and bars them from ordination.

Consequences: There is a rift between external conformism and internal
autonomy of conscience. This results in bishops who lean towards Rome,
alienating themselves from women, as was the case in the dispute
surrounding the issue of abortion counseling (in 1999, the Pope
ordered German bishops to close counseling centers that issued
certificates to women that could later be used to get an abortion).
This in turn leads to a growing exodus among those women who have so
far remained faithful to the church.

SEXUAL MORALS: This pope, while preaching against mass poverty and
suffering in the world, makes himself partially responsible for this
suffering as a result of his attitudes toward birth control and
explosive population growth.

During his many trips and in a speech to the 1994 United Nations
Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, John Paul II
declared his opposition to the pill and condoms. As a result, the
pope, more than any other statesman, can be held partly responsible
for uncontrolled population growth in some countries and the spread of
AIDS in Africa.

Consequences: Even in traditionally Catholic countries like Ireland,
Spain and Portugal, the pope’s and the Roman Catholic church’s
rigorous sexual morals are openly or tacitly rejected.

CELIBACY AMONG PRIESTS: By propagating the traditional image of the
celibate male priest, Karol Wojtyla bears the principal responsibility
for the catastrophic dearth of priests, the collapse of spiritual
welfare in many countries, and the many pedophilia scandals the church
is no longer able to cover up.

Marriage is still forbidden to men who have agreed to devote their
lives to the priesthood. This is only one example of how this pope,
like others before him, is ignoring the teachings of the bible and the
great Catholic tradition of the first millennium, which did not
require office bearers to take a vow of celibacy. If someone, by
virtue of his office, is forced to spend his life without a wife and
children, there is a great risk that healthy integration of sexuality
will fail, which can lead to pedophilic acts, for example.

Consequences: The ranks have been thinned and there is a lack of new
blood in the Catholic church. Soon almost two-thirds of parishes, both
in German-speaking countries and elsewhere, will be without an
ordained pastor and regular celebrations of the Eucharist. It’s a
deficiency that even the declining influx of priests from other
countries (1,400 of Germany’s priests are from Poland, India and
Africa) and the combining of parishes into “spiritual welfare units,”
a highly unpopular trend among the faithful, can no longer hide. The
number of newly ordained priests in Germany dropped from 366 in 1990
to 161 in 2003, and the average age of active priests today is now
above 60.

ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT: The pope likes to be seen as a spokesman for the
ecumenical movement. At the same time, however, he has weighed heavily
on the Vatican’s relations with orthodox and reform churches, and has
refused to recognize their ecclesiastical offices and Communion
services.

The pope could heed the advice of several ecumenical study commissions
and follow the practice of many local pastors by recognizing the
offices and Communion services of non-Catholic churches and permitting
Eucharistic hospitality. He could also tone down the Vatican’s
excessive, medieval claim to power, in terms of doctrine and church
leadership, vis-à-vis eastern European churches and reform churches,
and could do away with the Vatican’s policy of sending Roman-Catholic
bishops to regions dominated by the Russian Orthodox church.

The pope could do these things, but John Paul II doesn’t want to.
Instead, he wants to preserve and even expand the Roman power system.
For this reason, he resorts to a pious two-facedness: Rome’s politics
of power and prestige are veiled by ecumenical soapbox speeches and
empty gestures.

Consequences: Ecumenical understanding was blocked after the council,
and relations with the Orthodox and Protestant churches were burdened
to an appalling extent. The papacy, like its predecessors in the 11th
and 16th centuries, is proving to be the greatest obstacle to unity
among Christian churches in freedom and diversity.

PERSONNEL POLICY: As a suffragan bishop and later as archbishop of
Krakow, Karol Wojtyla took part in the Second Vatican Council. But as
pope, he disregarded the collegiality which had been agreed to there
and instead celebrated the triumph of his papacy at the cost of the
bishops.

With his “internal policies,” this Pope betrayed the council numerous
times. Instead of using the conciliatory program words “Aggiornamento
- Dialogue and Collegiality — ecumenical,” what’s valid now in
doctrine and practice is “restoration, lectureship, obedience and
re-Romanization.” The criteria for the appointment of a bishop is not
the spirit of the gospel or pastoral open-mindedness, but rather to be
absolutely loyal to the party line in Rome. Before their appointment,
their fundamental conformity is tested based on a curial catalog of
questions and they are sacrally sealed through a personal and
unlimited pledge of obedience to the Pope that is tantamount to an
oath to the “Fuehrer.”

The Pope’s friends among the German-speaking bishops include Cologne’s
Cardinal Joachim Meisner, the Bishop of Fulda Johannes Dyba, who died
in 2000, Hans Hermann Groer, who resigned from his post as Vienna’s
cardinal in 1995 following allegations that he had sexually abused
pupils years before and the Bishop of St. Poeltin, Kurt Krenn, who
just lost his post after a sex scandal emerged in his priests’
seminary. Those are just the most spectacular mistakes of these
pastorally devastating personnel policies, which have allowed the
moral, intellectual and pastoral level of the episcopate to
dangerously slip.

Consequences: A largely mediocre, ultra-conservative and servile
episcopate is possibly the most serious burden of this overly long
pontificate. The masses of cheering Catholics at the best-staged Pope
manifestations should not deceive: Millions have left the church under
this pontificate or they have withdrawn from religious life in
opposition.

CLERICALISM: The Polish pope comes across as a deeply religious
representative of a Christian Europe, but his triumphant appearances
and his reactionary policies unintentionally promote hostility to the
church and even an aversion to Christianity.

In the papal campaign of evangelization, which centers on a sexual
morality that is out of step with the times, women, in particular, who
do not share the Vatican’s position on controversial issues like birth
control, abortion, divorce and artificial insemination are disparaged
as promoters of a “culture of death.” As a result of its interventions
– in Germany, for example, where it sought to influence politicians
and the episcopacy in the dispute surrounding the issue of abortion
counseling — the Roman Curia creates the impression that it has
little respect for the legal separation of church and state. Indeed,
the Vatican (using the European People’s Party as its mouthpiece) is
also trying to exert pressure on the European Parliament by calling
for the appointment of experts, in issues relating to abortion
legislation, for example, who are especially loyal to Rome. Instead of
entering the social mainstream everywhere by supporting reasonable
solutions, the Roman Curia, through its proclamations and secret
agitation (through nuntiatures, bishops’ conferences and “friends”),
is in fact fueling the polarization between the pro-life and
pro-choice movements, between moralists and libertines.

Consequences: Rome’s clericalist policy merely strengthens the
position of dogmatic anti-clericalists and fundamentalist atheists. It
also creates suspicion among believers that religion could be being
misused for political ends.

NEW BLOOD IN THE CHURCH: As a charismatic communicator and media star,
this pope is especially effective among young people, even as he grows
older. But he achieves this by drawing in large part on the
conservative “new movements” of Italian origin, the “Opus Dei”
movement that originated in Spain, and an uncritical public loyal to
the pope. All of this is symptomatic of the pope’s approach to dealing
with the lay public and his inability to converse with his critics.

The major regional and international youth events sponsored by the new
lay movements (Focolare, Comunione e Liberazione, St. Egidio, Regnum
Christi) and supervised by the church hierarchy attract hundreds of
thousands of young people, many of them well-meaning but far too many
uncritical. In times when they lack convincing leadership figures,
these young people are most impressed by a shared “event.” The
personal magnetism of “John Paul Superstar” is usually more important
than the content of the pope’s speeches, while their effects on parish
life are minimal.

In keeping with his ideal of a uniform and obedient church, the pope
sees the future of the church almost exclusively in these easily
controlled, conservative lay movements. This includes the Vatican’s
distancing itself from the Jesuit order, which is oriented toward the
tenets of the council. Preferred by earlier popes, the Jesuits,
because of their intellectual qualities, critical theology and liberal
theological options, are now perceived as spanners in the works of the
papal restoration policy.

Instead, Karol Wojtyla, even during his tenure as archbishop of
Krakow, placed his full confidence in the financially powerful and
influential, but undemocratic and secretive Opus Dei movement, a group
linked to fascist regimes in the past and now especially active in the
world of finance, politics and journalism. In fact, by granting Opus
Dei special legal status, the pope even made the organization exempt
from supervision by the church’s bishops.

Consequences: Young people from church groups and congregations (with
the exception of alter servers), and especially the non-organized
“average Catholics,” usually stay away from major youth get-togethers.
Catholic youth organizations at odds with the Vatican are disciplined
and starved when local bishops, at Rome’s behest, withhold their
funding. The growing role of the archconservative and non-transparent
Opus Dei movement in many institutions has created a climate of
uncertainty and suspicion. Once-critical bishops have cozied up to
Opus Dei, while laypeople who were once involved in the church have
withdrawn in resignation.

SINS OF THE PAST: Despite the fact that in 2000 he forced himself
through a public confession of the church’s historical transgressions,
John Paul II has drawn almost no practical consequences from it.

The baroque and bombastic confession of the church’s transgressions,
staged with cardinals in St. Peter’s Cathedral, remained vague,
non-specific and ambiguous. The pope only asked for forgiveness for
the transgressions of the “sons and daughters” of the church, but not
for those of the “Holy Fathers,” those of the “church itself” and
those of the hierarchies present at the event.

The pope never commented on the Curia’s dealings with the Mafia, and
in fact contributed more to covering up than uncovering scandals and
criminal behavior. The Vatican has also been extremely slow to
prosecute pedophilia scandals involving Catholic clergy.

Consequences: The half-hearted papal confession remained without
consequences, producing neither reversals nor action, only words.

For the Catholic church, this pontificate, despite its positive
aspects, has on the whole proven to be a great disappointment and,
ultimately, a disaster. As a result of his contradictions, this pope
has deeply polarized the church, alienated it from countless people
and plunged it into an epochal crisis — a structural crisis that,
after a quarter century, is now revealing fatal deficits in terms of
development and a tremendous need for reform.

Contrary to all intentions conveyed in the Second Vatican Council, the
medieval Roman system, a power apparatus with totalitarian features,
was restored through clever and ruthless personnel and academic
policies. Bishops were brought into line, pastors overloaded,
theologians muzzled, the laity deprived of their rights, women
discriminated against, national synods and churchgoers’ requests
ignored, along with sex scandals, prohibitions on discussion,
liturgical spoon-feeding, a ban on sermons by lay theologians,
incitement to denunciation, prevention of Holy Communion — “the
world” can hardly be blamed for all of this!!

The upshot is that the Catholic church has completely lost the
enormous credibility it once enjoyed under the papacy of John XXIII
and in the wake of the Second Vatican Council.

If the next pope were to continue the policies of this pontificate, he
would only reinforce an enormous backup of problems and turn the
Catholic church’s current structural crisis into a hopeless situation.
Instead, a new pope must decide in favor of a change in course and
inspire the church to embark on new paths — in the spirit of John
XXIII and in keeping with the impetus for reform brought about by the
Second Vatican Council.

Author: Vijaykumar Bandal

Publication: Vivek Weekly (Marathi) - Free translation

Date: April 3, 2005 (From advance copy)

“I have read the manual of Al Qaeda and that night I could not sleep up
3 a.m. It is terrible is spreading hate among castes and religions”. It
is great misfortune of our country that a Mumbai Judge had to state
this firmly in the Court. By this hard slap, now at lease our rulers must
get up fully awake.

Police again arrested Senior Superintendent of CID Prafulla Bhosale and
his 4 colleagues on the charge of murdering Sayyad Khwaja Yunus, an
accused in the Ghatkopar Bomb explosions. There is a suspicion that this
is being done on the changing depositions of another accused in the
explosion Dr Abdul Mateen. In this questionable action, the brave Police
have accused the investigating officers of acting as per the Al Qaeda
manual.

While arguing before the Mahanagar Magistrate A. V. Kulkarni, Adv.
Satish Maneshinde claimed that the CID Police are following Al Qaeda
manual. He pointed out that a very widespread conspiracy of ending the morale
of Police force has been hatched by the Accused in the Explosion case
and as it is being well responded by the Police, the objective of Al
Qaeda is being achieved. He handed over the manual itself to the Judge.

The Judge not only was unhappy by reading the manual but he was
terribly worried. While approving the bail for Bhosale and others, the serious
opinion expressed by him cannot be neglected.

“Oh Muslims, this is not Arabstan, but this is Hindusthan. Live here
peacefully and let also live,” said Justice Kulkarni loud and clear.

The Muslims all over the world feel that this is a safe land for them.
Because, here they get the protection by the selfish rulers. Hence, the
terrorist organizations and their stooges can perpetrate anything they
want to do and this is an often recurring experience.

The selfish political people are more worried about the people who have
done the explosion than about the victims. Indira Gandhi, who
disgusted, had said that Muslims also must learn to live neatly with their
neighbours. But it is not heeded. On the contrary, the accused in the Bomb
explosion makes a cruel joke of democracy by contesting election against
a person who had adorned the chair of PM.

The judge feels that even after freedom also, the ‘Divide and Rule’
policy is in vogue in India. Events supporting this are taking place
regularly. Jihadi terrorist organization distributes statements, CDs etc.
to nurture the communal hatred. The organizations like SIMI which were
started for students, are also used in this connection. There are a
number of incidents in which Muslim youths and poor people are
systematically turned into terrorists. But action against them is Zero!

The system of action used by Al Qaeda to keep the people committing
terrorist acts safe is detrimental to the country in all respects. For
that purpose, Police, Advocates, Journalists and politicians who have come
up from its teachings are employed. A mountain of a mole of an action
against minorities is made out. After watching the sabotaging activities
of the terrorist, some Police Officers took action against the
terrorists. To make that action useless, Al Qaeda has hatched this conspiracy.

If somebody is arrested for any bomb explosion or any other terrorist
activity, his relatives cry out foul from their navel, make a loud noise
in the world. Then the leaders, journalists, advocates and police run
to their assistance. Afterwards, with the help of these, hit at the
Police machinery itself. For that purpose, if required, take the support of
Human Rights activists. This is the technique adopted by terrorists.
Now it is accused that this is a move of by changing the deposition again
and again, involve the police officers and drag them to the custody.

Under the leadership of such people who are drawn knowingly or
unknowingly in such vicious circle a dais is prepared to get sympathy to the
accused in cases like bomb explosions. Instead of investigating against
the accused, charges are framed against the investigating officers. As
the Police Officers dedicated to the duty are forced to stand in the
cage of the accused, their morale is destroyed. According to the opinion
of Justice Kulkarni, therefore, the people concerned should make
cognizance of this side.

The possibility of terrorist organizations and their supports in case
of need, attacking the judiciary system also cannot be denied. The
demands like ‘change the judge’ or ‘change their jurisdiction’ are not
new to them. Mohammed Afroz against whom action was taken under POTA on
the suspicion that he had connections with terrorist organizations, had
to be released by the Police to their extreme regret. Now he is ready
to take action on the ex-Police Commissioner.

The stand of police against terrorists must be clear. They should be
suppressed by any such charges. It is not expected that they should make
a mountain of court directive and act wrongly. It should be minutely
observed if anybody is taking revenge on his colleague on the basis of
such court’s directive. All the people concerned should have complete
details of the ways of working of the advocates and their background.

If actions are taken dancing on the tunes of the accused, his
relatives, advocates and leaders, it should not be a surprise to anybody is
tomorrow Home Minister himself or even Chief Minister goes in the cage of
accused. Because, in case of any terrorist activity taking, they are the
persons who pass orders to take strict action.

It is extremely necessary to take notice of the distress and sentiments
of the judge who tells in the court courageously and fearlessly, “I am
a small judge. Today I do not have any protection. But I am a true
citizen and nationalist of this country and hence only I am speaking”.
This brave talk of this judge was printed only by “Saamanaa” (mouthpiece
of Shiv Sena). With the fear of Jihadis, no other ’secular’ daily showed
even the courage to publish it.

(The writer is senior crime reporter.)

Rajaram

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/shrd/2004/43112.htm

This a trivial and embarrassingly bad report, not something that the
Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice would presnt before the U.S. Senate or
the Congress.

The following points are worth noting:

1. It gives a certificate of good conduct to the UPA government, but
expresses impatience for not doing enough, especially with regard to the
Gujarat Cm Modi.

2. It complains about rewriting history books! To quote: “Following
its electoral victory in May, the Government began to address a number of
human rights concerns that have arisen in recent years. For example, it
moved quickly to rewrite school textbooks (which the previous Government had
rewritten to promote the BJP’s Hindu nationalist propaganda) in order to
stress the contributions of the Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist and Christian
minority communities. However, the rewrite of the textbooks has not been
completed, and the state of Gujarat has not recalled its old textbooks or
announced plans for their replacement.

This ios puerile and a dead giveaway. This is the work of a secularist
hack and not something that would be written by State Department official.
In fact, the claims and the charges are verbatim the same as those made by
the Gujarat based missionary Father Cederick Prakash.

What this means is that the Leftist - missionary clique has found a
minor bureaucrat in the State Department to sign it and file it away. They
have then fed it to the media with the hope of inducing a knee-jerk reaction
from Indian politicians, who they hope will be intimidated by “American
wrath” at Modi’s behavior.

This is typical indian Christian thinking: they believe that everyone
shares theor own slavish attitude towards their White Sahibs.

The important thing to note is that these people are now acting like
Jayachands– having failed to dislodge Modi and the BJP Government, they
want to bring in some foreign power to do it for them.

The important thing is for India not to fall for it.

Press Trust of India

WASHINGTON, March 29. — Despite being a “vibrant democracy”, India’s human rights enforcement record has been “poor” and needs improvement, the USA has said in a report.

In its second such report in a month, the US State Department yesterday criticised New Delhi’s human rights record but said the new UPA government at the Centre has started addressing rights concerns that have “arisen over the years”.

While lauding the Centre for “rewriting school textbooks” and “addressing the aftermath of the Gujarat riots”, the 293-page report, titled “Supporting Human Rights and Democracy,” reiterated concern over the situation in Gujarat.

“Following its electoral victory in May, the government began to address a number of human rights concerns that have arisen in recent years. For example, it moved quickly to rewrite school textbooks… in order to stress the contributions of the Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist and Christian minority communities,” it said. However, it said, the rewriting of the textbooks has not been completed, and alleged that Gujarat government has not recalled its old textbooks or announced plans for their replacement.

“The government also began to address the aftermath of the Gujarat riots,” the report said and noted that the Supreme Court ordered local courts to reopen over 2,000 cases of the riots. But by the end of last year, “the report on the number of cases that should be reopened had not been submitted to the Supreme Court, and only three cases related to the rioting had completed trial in the lower level courts,” the report charged.
The report referred to allegations of witness intimidation, cases that have not been reopened, and increasing displacement and “ghettoisation” of the Muslim community. The report also said that Pota-like laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act remained in force in many states, “leading to serious rights violations”.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=72596
**

American State Department is confused.
American State Department is confused. If I motivate Indians to revive best of ancient Hindu values and reject all limitations and stupidity of foreign imported idea then the same sate Department will say India is lacking freedom of religion.
The selfish conversion based domination of specific religious agenda or propaganda based conflict producing agents deviated us from higher self-realization and conscious evolution. The Hindu philosophy of self-realization and conscious evolution is still far more relevant for individual liberty and spiritual democracy than stupid American concept dogma based religious freedom. This confused state department does not understand only evolved and conscious human can offer more rights and equality to all citizens and to achieved that goal revival of powerful and universal Hindu values are far more important than stupid American concept of religious freedom. I do not understand when Hindus in India try to revive beautiful concept and far better Hindu concept in India how America criticize them on the one hand and expect better human right on the other.
What ever the problem that exist in India today is due to deviation of ancient spiritual consciousness after foreign Muslim invasion and British colonialism in India. We all must remember ancient India was far more evolved as per as human values are concern more than either modern India or America. So if America really interested in better human rights then better support reviving the higher quality of Hindu spiritual wisdom that flowed in India from the beginning of time, the prerequisite for the real evolution of absolute freedom of human mind and life without attachment to love and live in peace and harmony with nature and all life forms around us. But due to too much Ego and allergy towards Hindu wisdom this confused State Department will always try to find every single flaws of India than finding the best of India. If I put my entire energy to find more flaws of America then I can assure you America will have far bigger lists of limitations than India as per as realization of core human values and conscious knowledge is concern.
I can prove it and demonstrate it if anyone challenge me or Hindu spirituality. Now tell me what is America interested ? Is it real preservation of Human right by revival of core powerful Dharma principle of ancient India or stupid religious freedom and degradation of Hindu values and thereby no sense of what is right and wrong in society. I can assure you my friend India had far better human rigs after foreign Muslim invasion and British colonialism in India. We all must remember ancient India was far more evolved as per as human values are concern more than either modern India or America. So if America really interested in better human rights then better support reviving the higher quality of Hindu spiritual wisdom that flowed in India from the beginning of time, the prerequisite for the real evolution of absolute freedom of human mind and life without attachment to love and live in peace and harmony with nature and all life forms around us. But due to too much Ego and allergy towards Hindu wisdom this confused State Department will always try to find every single flaws of India than finding the best of India. If I put my entire energy to find more flaws of America then I can assure you America will have far bigger lists of limitations than India as per as realization of core human values and conscious knowledge is concern. I can prove it and demonstrate it if anyone challenge me or Hindu spirituality.
Now tell me what is America interested ? Is it real preservation of Human right by revival of core powerful Dharma principle of ancient India or stupid religious freedom and degradation of Hindu values and thereby no sense of what is right and wrong in society. I can assure you my friend India had far better human right with Hindu values when rest of the many were simply sleeping in the dark age of civilization. So stop preaching India and start listening about intellectual and conscious universal ideas of Hindu thinkers and learn to respect the depth of realization of Hindu India Mind of master and thinker. I do know India has problem but root of all of our problem is gradual disconnect from our original root. We all must remember by cutting our original root we can never grow our tree of modern civilization or development of a advanced and developed India in the 21st century. My dear and beloved countrymen please pay attention to what I say and become far more evolved society so that same America will say that we have to learn a lot from your heritage than preaching you all the time. Joi Hind!
Acharya-Ji (Devotee of Mother India)

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.discuss.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=5587&newsid=72596

“Gujarati people, we do not like your chosen leader. So rethink your options.” Kalyanaraman

The West has a very long history of accepting or rejecting leaders of weak nations at will. Modi is not the first person to fall in this category. In 1970s and 1980s, West (US included) actually suppressed the growth of democratic movements in mid-East and North Africa. The fear was that in a free and fair election, Islamic extremists will gain upper hand, and their ascent to power will severely compromise Western interests. And so, they supported a panoply of puppet regimes in Muslim countries. Prior to that US involvement in Iran, Phillippines, Western games in Indo-China, …. very clearly shows that preservation of self(ish) national interests precedes support to “democracy” and “human rights”.

But then, isn’t that realpolitik? I do not think that we should bother too much about the other side’s “hypocrisy”. Rather the focus should be: what can we do to provide an antidote to their scehmes in the context of India.

Over last 60 years, our response in above context has been limited to: (a) exposing the “hypocrisy” of the other side, (b) generating rhetoric with the intent of proving that we have “defeated” the other side “intellectually”. Policy making (foreign or internal) has been reduced to coming up with “strong” statements and issuing demarches. For instance, the Indian-secularists response to a bipolar world in pre-cold war era was: “Oh we do not want to divide, and so we are for a non-aligned world order.” That is empty rhetoric. Similarly, on the issue of socio-economic inequities prevelant in India, a Hindutva guy would respond by saying: “Oh we believe in sarve-bhavantu-sukhinah, sarve-santu-niramayah, and so we are running a large number of seva projects to alleviate human misery.” That is a tad better than the secularist’s response, but such a response still does not tell us as to what is the political (as in how it pertains to policy) formulation for fixing this problem at a structural level. No wonder, the output of BJP state govts is not measurably different than that of Congress sarkars, even though BJP state leadership is strongly nationalistic vis-a-vis their Congressi counterparts.

There are three noticeable exceptions to this observation, however. These are: (a) The land reform in West Bengal consolidated the support base of leftists. (b) The implementation of Mandal Comission Report, almost overnight evaporated the dominance of Congress and changed Indian politics forever. (c) Going in for nuclear explosions and incorporating nuclear arms in our arsenal was a major policy initiative, that goaded world powers to recalibrate their geo-political strategies. All other political “initiatives” by politicians are mere “debates”. Indian leadership, including that of Hindutva, has not graduated beyond conducting high-school and college level “debates” and “rebuttals”. Perhaps, due to 1000 years of slavery, we have forgotten the art and science of conducting politics, and unwittingly mistake rhetoric and “statements” for politics.

‘Nuke rogues threat to India’

PTI[ MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2005 12:49:58 PM ]

NEW DELHI: In an obvious reference to Pakistan, India on Monday said its
security has been undermined by proliferation of nuclear weapons “flowing
into or emanating” from its “neighbourhood”.

In a strong statement, India also urged the international community to
change its “uneven” approach to address the problem in a holistic manner.

Emphasising the need for complete elimination of nuclear weapons across the
world, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh declared that India’s
nuclear programme was defensive in nature and the country was ready to
commence negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention.

To address effectively the “emerging proliferation challenges”, he said, the
international community should “review and re-evaluate” existing frameworks
with a view to adapting these to “current political realities”.

“The non-proliferation order is coming under increasing stress both on
account of the failure to make any significant progress towards nuclear
disarmament as well as the failure to prevent clandestine proliferation by
members of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as well as some who are
outside it,” Singh said inaugurating a seminar on ‘Emerging nuclear
proliferation challenges’ in New Delhi.

He said the “infirmities” of the non-proliferation order have “imposed
costs” on India and have had an “adverse impact on our security, as much of
the clandestine proliferation, which is today the focus of attention, has
tended to flow into or emanate from our neighbourood.”

—————–
COMMENTS by Experts
—————–

Somehow, each time I read present govts.’ pronouncements over nuclear issue, I get a funny feeling that they are laying the ground work to India’s de-nukification. Perhaps Natwar’s faux pas in Korea was not not really a “faux”, but a foxy step.

Korea was not the first time this moron spoke against our nuclear weapons and Pokharan II. he did it on the eve of the elections which put him where he is now. and i dont quite think he or his govt can de-nuke india without an almighty furore altho this govt may not further our weaponisation programme. he sufferes from a chronic foot-in-mouth syndrome.

And after the first burst of national fervour, when the NDA went ahead with Pikharan II, it put everything back in cold storage thereafter. it never said if he had conducted enough tests to give us a ‘credible detterence’ whatever that may mean. So NDA or UPA neither seems to be able to thumb their noses at the americans.

Once upon a time, S. Africa was an undeclared nuclear power. But when the apartheid regime was about to fall, the Botha govt. in S. Africa and P5 states (sans China and Russia) took it upon themselves to ensure that S. Africa’s nuclear assets did not fall into “undeserving” hands. And so, without much fuss, S. African got denuclearised.

If tomorrow, Swwonia thru her proxies declares that India will be a non-nuke state, what gumption does the BJP have to oppose it. I mean what are their organizational capabilities. There will be a dozen articles, and some pompous statements, and over a period of time things will fizzle out. To provide effective and credible opposition, you need to have ability to bring out large numbers of people in the street. In Indian terms, “large numbers” means a crore of people. The last person who was able to do this was Chaudhary Charan Singh. I sincerely believe that BJP can become a shop-stopper for all the Congress’s anti-national activities, if it has the ability to pull out 1 crore people in atleast 4 major Indian metropolises.

US Army Aviation: Integrated Plan Stresses UAVs

2005 ARMY AVIATION. MODERNIZATION PLAN .

Aviation’s strength is its ability to deploy quickly, maneuver ra idly, focus tremendous combat power, and achieve surprise and positional advantage. It is instrumental in achieving simultaneous, distributed, continuous, combined arms air-ground operations. With its manned and unmanned assets, aviation organizations develop situations out of contact, maneuver to positions of advantage, engage enemy forces beyond the range of their weapons, destroy them with precision fires, and provide close support. Its inherent mobility, flexibility, agility, lethality, and versatility are instrumental in enabling the air-ground task force commander to conduct decisive joint operations. Aviation conducts maneuver, maneuver support, and maneuver sustainment operations across the spectrum of conflict. Highly skilled and knowledgeable aviation Soldiers employing aviation systems from entry operations to decisive action provide a significant contribution to the quality of firsts (see first, understand first, act first, and finish decisively).

Aviation operations develop the common operating picture (CQP), shield the maneuver force, shape the battlefield, extend the tactical and operational reach of the maneuver commander, and sustain the force. Aviation is critical to the Army’s stability and support requirements, to include the homeland security requirements of our nation. Modernization and sustainment of Army aviation ensures these capabilities are maintained.

Aviation Modernization

One of the most compelling arguments for the Army’s Aviation Modernization Program is contained in our warfighting contributions to the current Global War on Terrorism. The realities of the current operating environment call for a distributed, non-linear battlefield which leads to an increased reliance on Army Aviation. This results in a disproportionate deployment of Aviation assets and an operational OPTEMPO of more than four times the historical norms which the Army has traditionally used as guidelines and metrics for establishing Life Cycle Management (LCM) coats, programs and aircraft replacement. Combat losses, never considered in our peacetime LCM models, exacerbate Army Aviation’s requirement for a robust and accelerated modernization program.

Aviation modernization and recapitalization of existing aviation systems projected to remain in the fleet into the 2015-25 time frame are essential to supporting current as well as future operations. The urgent need to address the steadily deteriorating condition of the aviation fleet and accelerate RC modernization is being addressed through an Aviation transformation plan.

This plan:

· Accelerates AC and RC aviation modernization efforts –retains faith with the RC
· Aligns aviation structure and resources to comply with Future Force requirements
· Accelerates divestiture of non-modernized aircraft (AH-1, UH-1, OH-58D and
OH-58A/C)
· Restructures and standardizes attack and lift formations across the force
· Adjusts RC stationing and alignment to mitigate near-term risk of reduced AC lift assets
· Leverages new training technologies to maintain crew proficiency
· Invests in improvements for aircraft reliability/maintainability
· Capitalizes on SOF capabilities

Fielding the AH-64D Longbow Apache is well underway. Recapitalization programs for the CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk begin production in the near term. Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter will replace the OH-58D. Utility Fixed Wing is modernizing its current turboprop fleet (C-12 and RC-12) with the Global Air Traffic Management system (GATM) as well as other safety and cockpit management systems. This will keep these aircraft relevant while the Army procures the Future Cargo Aircraft (FCA) to replace legacy C-23 Sherpas. The Army is successfully retiring aging and obsolete aircraft from the force, while incorporating lessons learned from previous and current military operations and deployments are being addressed. The Army is continuing to examine the best means to achieve the vertical envelopment capability required to rapidly project the FCS-equipped forces across difficult or distant geographic locations as lead of a Joint Heavy Lift concept refinement initiative. Future Force requirements for a robust, fully modernized aviation force are continuing to be developed.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (UAVs)

As the Army transforms to a more flexible, responsive and lethal Future Force, Army unmanned aerial vehicle systems (UAVS) will also transform to provide integrated, responsive and lethal capabilities to commanders at all echelons from the Current to Future Force. Future commanders will require UAVs with a command and control capability that facilitates the flexible and rapid application of overmatching, decisive land power at specific times and locations throughout a greatly expanded battlespace. On battlefields of the future, UAVS will support all Army echelons, across the spectrum of conflict, on varied terrain and across the Battlefield Operating Systems. Redefining the Army’s UAV requirements reflects an evolutionary process to ensure the support required for tomorrow’s Army while providing the best support possible to our forces engaged in the Global War on Terrorism.

In OEF and OIF, UAVS such as the Raven, Shadow 200, Hunter, and I-GNAT are providing a new dimension to maneuver forces. The Raven is being provided in theater to OEF and OIF units to enhance small unit reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA). Raven equipping and training for deployed units is conducted in theater. The Shadow 200, the Army’s first tactical UAV (TUAV) to go into full-rate production (FRP), is also in use as it continues to be fielded to the military intelligence

(MI) company within the Army’s maneuver brigades, including the new Stryker brigades. Planned system improvements include airframe upgrades, refined target location error, and addition of laser designation into the payload gimbel.

The interim Hunter UAV is fielded within three corps aviation exploitation battalions, with one UAV company per corps consisting of six air vehicles and associated payload and ground control stations. The Hunter is a RSTA and battle damage assessment (BDA) asset providing ground forces with near real-time imagery via electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) intelligence at ranges up to 200 km. The Hunter UAV, while being used extensively as an ISR platform, has recently been upgraded to employ the Viper Strike munition in OIF. The Hunter UAV capability will be sustained until an extended-range multi-purpose (ERMP) UAV is fielded at the UE level as a RSTA and command, control, communications and intelligence (C31) system.

Current UAV modernization efforts focus on accelerating Shadow fielding and providing a small UAV like the Raven to meet today’s operational needs, accelerating Future Force UAV development and fielding into the Current Force, continuing development of the ER/MP UAVS to replace the Hunter, and science and technology (S&T) efforts that leverage technologies for improved UAV capabilities.

To prepare for the future operational environment, the Army is identifying the latest advances in relevant UAV technology (airframes, payloads, payload management, as well as precision weapons delivery) and integrating these new capabilities into an architecture that is consistent with Army and DOD transformation. Extensive S&T work is also being conducted on vertical takeoff and landing UAV to provide a hover-and- - stare capability. The continued development and fielding of UAVs with advanced payloads is an important component of the Future Force’s operational concept.

The Future Force will include an integrated family of UAVs that provide support from the platoon-level to the UE (Figure D-4). The FCS classes of UAVS will be fully integrated elements of the organic ISR capabilities. The FCS Classes I and II UAVs will provide the small-unit commander the capability to see over the next terrain feature from the squad to company level. The FCS Class Ill UAV will enable a variety of combat functions such as precision fires, route reconnaissance and situational development at the battalion level. The FCS Class IV UAV will serve as the UA’s ISR workhorse to facilitate situational awareness, battle command, targeting support, lethal engagement, battle damage assessment (BDA) and force protection. The FCS lead system integrator recently selected the Northrop Grumman Fire Scout for development as the Class IV UAV: While the path to the transformed Army of the future will focus on the Future Force, interoperability with fielded current systems will be maintained.

Future Force Aviation

The Army envisions organizing aviation assets at all UE levels and at the UA maneuver brigade. Teaming UAVS with manned systems will enhance operational fires, maneuver and intelligence collection capabilities for the commander. Future Force aviation modernization efforts incorporate lessons learned, the changing operational environment and emerging Joint Force requirements. These efforts leverage key

technologies in areas such as electronics, UAVS interoperability, air platforms, propulsion systems and weaponization.

These efforts include:

• Fielding FCS Classes 1 through IV UAVS, ER/MP and small unit UAVS
· Ensuring digital interoperability for effective joint/combined force operations
· Fielding effective, affordable systems that enhance aviation survivability and
improve Soldier stamina
· Improving aircraft operational readiness
· Replacing obsolete air traffic services equipment and maintaining compliance with future airspace usage requirements.
· Digitizing aviation logistics and modernizing aviation ground support equipment
· Developing the technologies to ensure fielding of unmanned systems, interoperability of manned/unmanned aircraft, and next generation/future system development
· Leveraging technology to reduce costs, extend aircraft service life and improve training
· Replacing OH-58D aircraft with the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) to correct numerous capability gaps (interoperability, surviyabiliity, agility, versatility, lethality, and sustainability)
· Procuring new UH-60M/HH-60M aircraft
· Replacing aging fixed-wing aircraft with the future cargo aircraft (FGA)
· Continual modernization of the AH-64D to a Block Ill configuration
· Replacing aging UN-1 and OH-58 NC aircraft with a new COTS Light Utility
Helicopter

Army aviation modernization will transform into a modular, capabilities-based maneuver arm with a reduced logistics tail optimized for the joint fight. The AC/RC organizations will be structured to meet Strategic Planning Guidance to provide tasked-based formations and improve RC aviation responsiveness to the swiftly defeat the enemy/win decisively strategies.

Discussion of Key Aviation Materiel Proqrams

AH-64 Apache
The AH-64 Apache is the Army’s heavy attack helicopter for the Current and Future Forces. It is assigned to attack battalions and regimental aviation squadrons in both the AC and RC. Apache is a two-pilot, twin-engine attack helicopter designed to meet the Current Force mission requirements for reconnaissance and attack worldwide, day or night and under obscured battlefield and/or adverse weather conditions. It is a highly mobile and lethal aerial weapons platform with an array of armaments to destroy armor, personnel and materiel. The Apache has been in the Army inventory since 1986 and an upgraded AH-64D Longbow began fielding in 1998. The AH-64D upgrades, among other improvements, adds a millimeter wave Fire Control Radar (FCR), Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI), fire and forget radar guided missile, and cockpit management ad digitization enhancements. The combination of the FCR, RFi and the

advanced navigation and avionics suite of the aircraft provide increased situational awareness, lethality and survivability.

The Apache focused recapitalization program integrates a number of related initiatives to produce and/or retrofit aircraft across the Apache fleet to meet the objectives of the Army’s recapitalization policy and to address lessons learned from recent combat operations and deployments. This program increases aircraft life by addressing high-maintenance demand/operating and support (O&S) cost drivers and incorporating a second generation forward looking infrared (FLIR) with the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS). The program goals are to reduce the overall average airframe age of the fleet to the half-life metric of 10 years by 2010, increase the unscheduled mean time between removal by 20 percent for selected recapitalized components, and maximize the return on recapped components by 20 percent.

The recapitalization of 597AH-64As to the AH-64D Longbow configuration will be complete in FY10. Multi-year 1 delivered 232 AH-64Ds.through FY02. A second multi-year contract was signed in Oct 01 for an additional 269 AH-64Ds with deliveries through FY06. An additional 96 AH-64A model Apache conversions to the D model Longbow configuration will occur with inductions beginning in Jan 07 and deliveries in FY08 through FY10. Following this conversion, the Apache modernization plan continues in 3QFYIO with the initiation of the Block III Apache Longbow program. The Block III Longbow will provide a net-ready capability that integrates the Apache into the Future Force. Fielding of the M-TADS to the total fleet will begin in FY05.

Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH)
As a result of analysis identifying existing capability gaps and subsequent Chief of Staff of Army (CSA) Aviation Focus Group decisions, in Feb 04 the CSA identified the need for 368-armed reconnaissance helicopter (ARH) aircraft. The ARH program was established to correct deficiencies in the OH-58D currently fulfilling the reconnaissance role. The mission of the ARH is to provide a robust reconnaissance and security capability for the joint combined arms air-ground maneuver team. The ARH is a combination of a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) airframe integrated with non-developmental mission equipment packages (MEPs). The ARH will be fielded to support the Current Force in the global war on terrorism and will possess the growth potential to bridge the capabilities gaps to the Future Force.

A source selection implementing full and open competition will be the basis for selection of the Army’s platform of choice, leading to a Milestone B decision in Jun 05. The System Development and Demonstration (SDD) planned efforts include integration of. non-developmental item (NDI) subsystems onto an existing helicopter platform, developmental/ operational testing and qualification to support the Milestone C low-rate initial production (LRIP) decision. An FRP decision review will be held in FY08.
Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)
The LUH will conduct light utility missions in support of specified Army tasks. The specified Army tasks will be conducted as part of an integrated effort with other Services, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations and civil organizations.

These missions include homeland security support operations, general support operations, generating force medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) operations, and support for Army training centers and test activities. The LUH will replace the UH-1 and OH-58A/C aircraft. Additionally, introduction of this aircraft will return a number of UH-60s back to the warfighting force. The LUH will be a COTS aircraft that is less costly to procure and operate than the UH-60. It is being procured as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified aircraft with training and maintenance activities shared between the manufacturer and the military. The LUH will primarily support the CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. possessions and territories, as well as Europe; however, it is worldwide deployable to non-combat environments, will be instrument flight rule (IFR) capable, and will operate in all geographical environments and conditions. The aircraft will be found in both active and Army National Guard (ARNG) units.

The LUH program is currently staffing the Capability Development Document (CDD) for Joint Requirements Oversight Counsel (JROC) approval. The Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) was JROC-approved in Dec 04. The LUH program is scheduled for Milestone C decision in Sep 05.

UH-60 Black Hawk
The UH-60 is the Army’s Current and Future Force utility and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) helicopter. The UH-60 fleet is composed of 960 UH-60As, which began production in 1977, and just over 600 UH-60Ls, which began production in 1989. Black Hawk can transport 11 fully equipped combat troops and external loads up to 8,000 pounds for the UH-60A and 9,000 pounds for the UH-60L. The UH-60 provides the force commander rapid and agile maneuver through air assault, general support, airborne C2 and MEDEVAC. It gives commanders the ability to initiate, conduct and sustain combat operations by providing internal and/or external lift of troops, weapon systems, supplies and equipment. In the airborne C2 role, it provides full joint and combined interoperability with other C4 and 1SR elements to commanders at all echelons. The UH-60 is also heavily utilized in disaster relief operations, fire suppression, personnel recovery and VIP transport. The UH-60 is vital to the homeland security needs of our nation. The Army will procure new UH-60M/HH-60M (MEDEVAC variant) in order to extend the fleet’s lift/range capabilities, reduce O&S.costs, improve transportability, enhance survivability, improve strategic transportability, integrate Air Warrior, digitize avionics and flight management systems that incorporate Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) requirements, and extend aircraft life. The UH-60M/HH-60M is expected to meet utility and MEDEVAC mission requirements through 2025.

The UH-60M and HH-60M programs are currently in the SDD phase. The Milestone C decision is scheduled for the 2QFY05 with first unit equipped (FUE) in FY08. Initial fielding is scheduled to the special operations and AC divisions.
CH-47 Chinook
The CH-47 Chinook is a twin turbine, tandem-rotor, heavy-lift transport helicopter with a useful load of up to 25,000 pounds. As the Army’s only heavy lift helicopter, its mission is to transport troops (including air assault), supplies, weapons and other cargo in general support operations. The CH-47 is vital to the homeland security needs of our nation. Secondary missions include medical evacuation, aircraft recovery, parachute

drops, disaster relief, and search and rescue. These aircraft are fielded to heavy helicopter companies and special operations aviation. The CH-47F is expected to remain the Army’s heavy lift helicopter until at least the 2020-25 time frame. The CH-47 recapitalization program will provide a more reliable, less costly to operate aircraft compatible with Army digital connectivity requirements with an extended aircraft life of approximately 20 years.

Key modifications integrate an upgraded T55-GA-714A engine to restore performance capability, digital avionics, Air Warrior, emerging GATM requirements, enhanced air transportability, and an Extended Range Fuel System II (ERFS II) for self-deployment missions. It will also incorporate reliability and maintainability improvements to include airframe tuning for vibration reduction, corrosion protection, and a digital source collector. Currently, there are 458 CH-47s in the inventory (421 CH-47s, 37 MH-47s). The recapitalization program rebuilds and upgrades all CH-47Ds and 61 special operations aviation MH-47s to the CH-47F/MH-47G configuration. In addition to recapitalization, a new build program will add new Chinooks to the inventory starting in FY06. These programs are funded to meet the Army’s Aviation Transformation full requirement for Chinook aircraft. The CH-47F program received FRP approval on 22 Nov 04. Initial fielding is to the 160th SOAR (MH-47G) and the 101st AA Division (CH-47F).

Fixed-Wing
The Army fixed-wing program is composed of approximately 300 aircraft. Fixed-wing aircraft provide efficient, effective transportation during peacetime and wartime operations. Fixed-wing aircraft provide for rapid movement of personnel, critical mission equipment/supplies and special electronic mission aircraft (SEMA) intelligence support. SEMA collect, analyze and disseminate signal communications and imagery intelligence in support of wartime requirements for combatant commanders, field commanders and national intelligence assets. Fixed-wing aircraft are routinely utilized in disaster relief operations, air movement of personnel and critical supplies, civil support, counter-drug, security assistance and homeland security missions. The Army modernization plan calls for FCA to replace aging C-23 aircraft within the POM and potentially to replace the C-12 in the EPP. FCA provides the Army with a self-deployable, 2,400-km cargo aircraft with an 18,000-poundpayload capability that performs short takeoffs and landings. FCA will be the predominant Army fixed-wing aircraft with 128 airframes. The Army is expected to procure 33 FCA (FY06-11) to rapidly move personnel and critical supplies across the battlefield.

The Army is currently reviewing its fixed-wing requirements for the Future Force. The cornerstone of this review was the Jan 05 approval of the FCA ICD. The Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) is being developed as the replacement for the SEMA RC-12 and RC-7 aircraft. The ACS airframe selection was completed in the spring of FY04 with four aircraft scheduled for fielding in FY09.

Hellfire Family of Missiles.
Hellfire (HF) air-to-ground missiles are employed to destroy armored and high-value point targets. Semi-active laser (SAL) HF tracks laser energy delivered by ground or airborne designators while Longbow HF uses internal millimeter wave radar frequency

(RF) for autonomous guidance. AH-64 Apache, ARH and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior utilize HF as their primary air-to-ground weapon for destruction of high-value point targets. The complementary precision point target engagement capability of the SAL HF and the fireand-forget, adverse-weather capability of the RF HF provide the commander with
flexibility across a wide range of mission scenarios, permitting fast and decisive battle-field response. The Army will procure approximately 2,000 SAL HF for delivery in FY07 and FY08.

Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS)
APKWS incorporates laser guidance into the 2.75″ Hydra-70 rocket to provide a lower-cost, lighter-weight precision weapon capable of engaging non-armored to lightly armored targets and providing an alternative to HF against targets such as buildings, command posts, ADA sites and other targets not requiring the HF. The APKWS program provides accuracy and lethality improvements to the family of unguided rockets. The AH-64, OH-58D, and ARH will use APKWS to significantly improve aircraft stowed kill capability in scenarios requiring area/suppressive fires or precision engagement against non-armored or lightly armored targets. APKWS is currently in development as a Program of Record.

Discussion of Aviation Supporting Materiel Programs

Aviation’s supporting programs are essential to the support, sustainment and modernization/ recapitalization of the aircraft programs discussed previously. These programs are essential to sustain and protect crews/aircraft, maintain interoperability with supported organizations, and field Future Force capabilities.

Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE)
The Suite of Integrated Infrared Countermeasures (SIIRCM) will provide an enhanced infrared countermeasure capability to aviation platforms. An advanced missile warning device with an improved countermeasure dispenser system and advanced flare munitions has been tested and is being installed onto selected platforms. Additionally, developmental efforts continue and will culminate with the acquisition of a multi-band, solid-state laser jam head capable of defeating all known infrared threats. Aircraft undergoing recapitalization will have the required supporting wiring and hardware installed for the SIIRCM devices. The Army’s RF-guided missile protection program was reinstated in the FY06-11 program plan and will employ the same acquisition strategy as the infrared program. The Army has also accelerated the fielding of critical equipment to enhance the Special Operations Forces (SOF) aircraft by equipping them with SIIRCM and the Army Suite of Integrated Radio Frequency Countermeasures (SIRFC). The Army believes that SOF modernization is among its highest equipping priorities, recognizing the critical role SOF plays on the joint team.
Aviation Electronics (Avionics)
Avionics programs are designed to ensure aviation platforms meet combined arms and joint requirements for C2, mission planning, communications, navigation (to include worldwide civil airspace), information interchange and interoperability. Major avionics initiatives include: fielding of the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) in modernized aviation platforms which will provide enhanced situational awareness, high-speed data

and video exchange, and improvements in interoperability; migration of the Aviation Mission Planning Systems (AMPS) to a Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) which will provide significant increases in mission planning capabilities including a mission rehearsal capability; new versions of Improved Data Modem (IDM) as the centerpiece to digitization; Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment for improved weapons accuracy; and Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) equipment mandated when flying in civil airspace.

Aircrew Integrated Systems (ACIS)
The ACTS program develops and fields equipment required to protect, sustain and enhance aircrew performance in sustained operations, on the ground, and during survival-evasion operations. Air Warrior is the primary ACIS program that provides integrated, modular life support equipment and chemical/biological protection, reduced weight/bulk, and significantly improved flight time in MOPP 4 gear.

Air Traffic Services/Air Traffic Control (ATS/ATC)
ATS organizations must be specially equipped, highly trained, rapidly deployable on short notice, and capable of operating within the United States, international and combat airspace systems. They provide the full range of air traffic services from homeland security to major combat operations. Army ATS remains the core enabler for Army airspace C2, ensuring. synchronized access of the increasingly congested joint airspace. ATS/ATC modernization fields smaller, lighter, more efficient, digitally connected terminal and en route communications and precision navigation systems for tactical and fixed base operations. Major programs include the Tactical Airspace Integration System (TATS), the Air Traffic Navigation, Integration, and Coordination System (ATNAVICS), Mobile Tower System (MOTS), Joint Precision Approach Landing System (JPALS), and Global Air Traffic Management (GATM). JPALS and GATM are mandated by civilian air control authorities and joint Services to operate within 21st century airspace.

Aviation Ground Support Equipment (AGSE)
To support and sustain full spectrum operations, aviation logistics must be as responsive and capable as the force it supports. To improve responsiveness, reduce vulnerability, and increase operational momentum, aviation must reduce the current in-theater aviation logistics footprint and digitize its logistics systems. The goal of AGSE modernization is to reduce logistical support requirements and improve aircraft operational readiness. Initiatives focus on improved automation and efficiency in three areas of development: modernization of test, measurement, and diagnostics equipment (TMDE); integration of seamless logistics management through automation systems; and replacement of aging ground support equipment.

Aircraft Component Improvement Program (ACIP)
ACIP sustains engineering efforts to investigate, correct and qualify turbine engine and auxiliary power unit (APU) field-identified, safety critical and reliability deficiencies. ACIP inserts emerging technology, extends service life, drives down O&S costs and improves readiness by keeping engines operational and on wing. Return on investment is greater than 12:1 based on historical data using standard, approved costing models.

Training Aids, Devices, Simulators, and Simulations (TADSS)
TADSS modernization is critical to the combat effectiveness of our aircrews and maintainers, and in reducing operational costs. Aviation TADSS will leverage technology to provide effective and affordable combined arms/joint training and mission planning and rehearsal simulators that are current with the aircraft/systems they replicate. Simulator concurrency, fidelity, and combined arms tactical and mission rehearsal simulators/simulations that network virtual, constructive and live simulation systems are major initiatives.
Summary

Army aviation’s modernization efforts are focused on fixing warfighting deficiencies, particularly those uncovered during recent operations, aligning the aviation force with the Army’s Future Force concept, and fielding aircraft/subsystems required to achieve full-spectrum operational capability. Aviation modernization is being achieved through force structure changes, training initiatives, and materiel modernization (AH-64D, UH-60M/HH-60M, ARH, LUH, FCA, Apache Block II, CH-47F, UAVS, Air Warrior and other subsystem programs). Aviation is supported by S&T programs designed to provide the technology base required to upgrade existing aircraft and meet the challenges of new aircraft/weapon system developments. The Army’s commitment to divesting currently obsolete aircraft and ensuring balanced modernization across both AC and RC is being realized. The Army continues to review near-term aviation funding issues to best align programs, create more executable strategies and identify acceptable risks that allow tailoring of program requirements.

Sentinelassam

Caged birds too have wings

By a Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 26: Close on the heels of the recovery of a letter
written by a jailed ULFA cadre from a slain militant on March 14, Dhubri
Police recovered a similar letter from the possession of an arrested
militant of the proscribed outfit a couple of days back, which has exposed
a thriving communication network between the militant detainees and
their comrades outside. This has prompted Dhubri Superintendent of Police
PK Dutta to move the State Government and the IGP (Prisons) to conduct
a high-level inquiry to find out if there is any nexus among jailed
ULFA cadres, jail staff and other jail inmates behind the exchange of
letters from inside the prison premises.

Sources said that Magistrate I Hussain, who is in charge of Dhubri
jail, had admitted that the jail authorities had earlier intercepted as
many as five letters written by ULFA detainees from jail to their
comrades. Interestingly enough, Hussain did not inform the matter to the
district police when it first came to light, the sources alleged.

It may be mentioned here that Dhubri Police had recovered a letter
written by Pratul Sarma alias Rinku, who is lodged in Dhubri jail, from
Hiten Thakuria, who was killed in an encounter on March 14. The Dhubri SP
followed the leads and interrogated Sarma who reportedly confessed that
he was operating the network which had been masterminded by another
jailed cadre, Bahadur Islam. Sources said that Sarma had reportedly
disclosed the involvement of Aliar Ali, who is serving a life term in Dhubri
jail, as a courier. Ali does not belong to any militant outfit.

But what has raised serious concern in the matter is the recovery of
another letter written from jail from the possession of Rajesh Barman who
was apprehended in Bilasipara by Dhubri Police on Thursday.

Dutta told The Sentinel today that he had already informed the district
administration about these developments in Dhubri district. “I shall
send a letter to the State Government and the IGP (Prisons) to conduct a
high-level probe,” the Dhubri SP said, adding that the draft of the
letter is ready. An inquiry is necessary as some jail officials may also
be in nexus with the ULFA activists in transporting these letters, Dutta
said.

It may be mentioned here that when Dutta was posted in the city, he had
unearthed a similar modus operandi of jailed ULFA vice chairman Pradip
Gogoi. He produced incriminating documents proving that the ULFA vice
chairman was regularly communicating with cadres outside the jail and
carrying out militant activities from inside the jail premises. This
forced the State Government to shift Gogoi to Silchar jail, but the ULFA
leader was later brought back to the city on medical grounds and has been
lodged in Guwahati jail since.

It is an open secret that a section of the prison staff in the State
accord ’special treatment’ to top ULFA detainees which may be a spur for
such activities. Sources said that this soft stand on the part of the
jail authorities warranted proper investigation as it might bring to
light similar activities in other jails of the State where militant
leaders are lodged. The State Government must institute an inquiry covering
all jails in the State for such anomalous activities, they added

This report is made by US State Department on RELIGIOUS FREEDOM in India,interstingly it shows how actively their regional Consulates in India are actively engaded to help even repealing controversial Anti-Conversion Laws in particular state-

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35516.htm
The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government
in the context of its overall policy to promote human rights. The U.S. Embassy continued to promote religious freedom through contact with the country’s senior leadership, as well as with state and local officials.

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates regularly meet with religious leaders and report
on events and trends that affect religious freedom.

During the period covered by this report, Embassy and Consulate officials met with important leaders of all of the significant minority communities. For example, the Calcutta Principal Officer met a section of church leaders in Orissa, including the President of the All India Christian Council, Orissa Chapter on April 1 to discuss reports of ongoing harassment of converts and missionaries. The Consulate in Calcutta continued to conduct Iftar and Madrassa exchange programs. Embassy officials also continued an active program of outreach and engagement with leaders of the country’s Muslim communities.

The NGO and missionary communities in the country are extremely active on questions of religious freedom, and mission officers meet with local NGOs regularly.

The Ambassador and other senior U.S. officials publicly expressed regret over the communal violence in Gujarat in 2002, extended condolences to the victims, and urged all parties to resolve their difference peacefully. In addition the U.S. Agency for International Development office provided funding for an NGO program designed to assist internally displaced persons in Gujarat.

U.S. officials from the Consulate General in Mumbai traveled to Ahmedabad
within days of the start of the violence in Gujarat, to meet with officials and private citizens about the violence and continued to have meetings during the period covered by this report. Consulate officers also met in Mumbai with a range of NGO, business, media, and s, including Muslim leaders, to monitor the aftermath of the violence in Gujarat.

Officials from the Consulate in Chennai were active in assisting missionary Joseph Cooper following the attack on him by Hindu extremists in 2003. The Consulate in Chennai also organized a roundtable on June 23, 2003, to promote better understanding between the Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Buddhist communities. The Chennai Consulate also continued to reach out to the Muslim community through Iftar parties and the International Visitor/Madrassa programs.

Finally, U.S. officials have continued to engage state officials on the implementation and reversal of anti-conversion laws. Released on September 15, 2004
—————

In the following article, Angana Chatterji claims to have been
instrumental in getting Modi’s US visa cancelled:
http://www.iht.com/getina/files/234257.html Title: How we made U.S
deny visa to Modi The Asian Age India | Angana Chatterji

The fact that Angana Chatterji is an anti-war protestor, has not
prevented the US Conculate from inviting her to lead the round-table
held in Chennai in June 2003 (organized by US Consulate).

What could be the reason for promoting a naxal like Angana Chatterji
who is also an associate professor of anthropology?

The reasons are not far to seek. She promotes the foundation agenda of
the fringe which runs the US government: promotion of proselytization
activities world-wide and in Hindustan, in particular.

Vigil had participated in this round-table
http://www.vigilonline.com/news/plain_speak/ps_view.asp?plainSpeakId=65

In this meet, Ms.Joanella Morales, rep. of US State Department said:
“We are not interfering. Your own people have written and spoken to
us, asking us to do something about the state of religious freedom in
this country. And we have grave concerns about the anti-conversion law
because the law has scope for abuse and we were told it was abused.”

The intervention of US Government is no longer hidden. It is an open
agenda. The fact that no one from the christist groups was present in
the meet conveys a lot of meaning and substance to the round-table.
When Uncle Sam has taken upon himself the job, what is the need for
christist presence in round-table meets? How subtle can one get in
conveying the state department’s message loud and clear?

Cancellation of Narendra Modi’s visa is not an isolated event. There
will be many more who are on the US visa hit list and will get
deported from US airports even if they have valid visas. The enemy has
been identified by US State Dept.: anyone who opposes proselytization.

Vasundhara Raje ji, watch out; you may have visitors from US embassy
since your government has just enacted the anti-conversion law.

Check this out. IE today took special pains to say that SKH is much better than Amitabh Bacchan. The point is not about questioning the opinion of the author but why was it made a special subject.

Readers here needs to go through the entire article. Readers here needs to know that 99% of the people who cared to post their comments in IE when the article first appeared actually blasted SKH. So, this article came out in retaliation against reader’s comments. After reading this article, more readers posted comments again on the article, which can be viewed at the bottom of the page. Now, if this is not anti-Hindu and mullah PR exercise, then what is it? This is pseudo-secularism at it’s worst.

http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=4383