Whiplash

Recalibrate, regroup and reorient. The infantry man is on top of his
game. His tenure may well be remembered for the DOB issue which till
the other day was perceived to be his lasting legacy as the chief of
army staff. But once the apex court turfed out the petition, the
Infantry man reloaded and took aim. Fire, he has and boy has he done
damage. Retracing his steps and strategy, he decided that he should
don a new avatar. One of a crusader. A flurry of leaks and letters,
all more or less blasts from the past. Exposing the defence
preparedness inadequacies, the General has endeared himself to one and
all, except the political class which is at sixes and sevens.

In what is the first direct confrontation between the Army chief and
the Executive, the General has shown inscrutability of a sage as he
strikes at will. Finally on Friday, he issued a statement, suggesting,
perhaps coaxing all of us to believe that the entire fracas should not
be viewed as a joust between the Army and the Govt. Excellent tactics,
first strike, then retreat and come back to fight another day.

Muddying the waters all the time, old letters, older deals, even older
deficiencies – going for broke. And the General has support. Support
from servicemen, ex service men, their families who believe that they
have kept quiet for too long, suffering the indignities meted out by
the executive. It is not becoming of the army chief to indulge in this
smoke and mirrors type of gambit. Dignity, honour and prestige is
attached to his office. It is a shame and a travesty that the last
couple of months of his tenure will be remembered for subterfuge and
military tactics being used against a maladroit and inept executive.
Service before self is the motto of the institution which is deeply
revered in this country. Sadly, it is an institution which is now seen
as taking on the executive. Attention…