The much lionized Tigers have lost their first line of defence at
Muhamalai despite their bragging that it was impregnable. The army has
consolidated its power in a newly gained area encompassing
approximately half a kilometre ahead of its FDL from Kilali to
Kadolana, thus rendering the LTTE positions in the peninsula and
beyond extremely vulnerable.
The Tiger defences that fell, it should be noted, had been fortified
over several years to prevent a southward thrust by the Jaffna based
troops. At a time the outfit is under tremendous pressure on the
Mannar and the Weli Oya fronts, it is possible that it will go all out
to move northwards from Muhamalai, where it has a heavy presence. The
army may have sought to pre-empt such an attack on Wednesday by
capturing the LTTE's FDL. But, the question is whether the army has
learnt its lessons from the heavy losses it had suffered in battles at
Muhamailai in 2006 and last year.
The high casualty figure has left room for someone to argue that the
army's achievement has the trappings of a Pyrrhic victory. The LTTE
has manifestly suffered a far greater loss but it can always bury its
dead in unmarked graves without the knowledge of their families and
the media and mislead the world into belief that the army has lost the
battle. High casualty figures are grist to the mill of the pro-terror
lobby trying to demoralize the military and the people whose morale is
a sine qua non for defeating terrorism. They will hide the LTTE's
losses and harp on the death toll on the part of the military. They
are already cock-a-hoop and their cock-and-bull theories as to 'why
the LTTE cannot be defeated' will be repeated ad nauseam in the next
few days.
We will have those who don't even condemn terror strikes on civilians
weeping buckets for 'the children of the poor' dying in the line of
duty. We are only typewriter guerrillas and no military experts.
However, we believe offensives of the magnitude of Operation
Jayasikuru which came a cropper under the Kumaratunga regime are the
least desirable in battling the LTTE. The operation that wrested
control of the Eastern Province saw the military beating the LTTE at
its own game. Offensives against the LTTE become more effective when
they have an element of surprise as we have seen in successful
military operations in the post Mavil Aru phase of the so-called Eelam
war. Most of all, as we the laymen see it, the success of anti-terror
operations hinges on the ability and willingness of the three armed
forces and the STF to launch well coordinated offensives. For this
purpose, all commanders must sink their differences, see eye to eye on
military matters and assist and be assisted by their counterparts in
the prosecution of war to neturalise the LTTE, the biggest obstacle to
a political solution.
War is hell and the least desirable solution to a problem but anyone
who advocates making peace with Prabhakaran should be able to get him
at least to announce that he is prepared to settle for something less
than a separate state. While addressing the world press in 2002 in
Kilinochchi, after entering into a peace process with the UNF
government, Prabhakaran renewed his call for his cadres to kill him if
he ever gave up his struggle for Eelam. What the Service Commanders
should not lose sight of is that the LTTE, though weakened as never
before, still has the capability to inflict heavy damage on the
military. With his back against the wall, Prabhakaran will go all out
to unleash hell before going down.
The possibility of even chemical attacks cannot be ruled out, if the
Wanni bound large quantities of unknown chemicals intercepted by the
Navy from time to time, while being smuggled from India, are any
indication. Remember the late Anton Balasingham boasted of a secret
weapon to be unveiled at an appropriate time. Therefore, it behoves
the government and the military to be ready for any eventuality
without being either complacent or cocky. Now that war has entered a
decisive phase, they must learn to 'make haste slowly' without taking
any undue risks. Festina lente!
NORWEGIANS AGAINST TERRORISM EXPOSURES OF NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT
COLLABORATION WITH TERRORISM TO MASSACRE THIRD WORLD CIVILIANS
http://www.svik.org/ltte.htm
THE CIVILIAN MASSACRES CARRIED OUT BY NORWEGEAN BACEKD TAMIL TIGER
TERRORISTS
http://www.spur.asn.au/LTTE_Atrocities_20060615_Kebithigollewa_Massacre.htm
http://www.spur.asn.au/LTTE_Atrocities_20070528_Ratmalana_Bomb.htm
http://www.spur.asn.au/LTTE_atrocities_20060529_Welikanda_Massacre.htm
http://www.spur.asn.au/LTTE_Suicide_Bomb_Blast_20071127_Nugegoda.htm
ETHNIC CLEANSING CARRIED OUT BY NORWEGIAN MINISTER ERIK SOLHEIM'S
TAMIL TERRORIST BOYS
http://www.spur.asn.au/ethnic_cleansing_in_sri_lanka.htm
http://www.spur.asn.au/chronology_of_suicide_bomb_attacks_by_Tamil_Tigers_in_sri_Lanka.htm
http://www.spur.asn.au/After_signing_the_so-called_JM.htm
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