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War is a many splendoured thing. In a worldwide scenario
obtaining today, wars, war games, war on ignorance,
war on this, war on that, is a byword in human culture.
A particularly interesting topic for children. After
all they make up a large proportion of the world population.
For this the Poet said “Baazicha-e atfaal hai
duniya mere aage”. (Gist: world is a children’s
playground). Wars among nations or countries, besides
aggressively imposing one nation’s will over another
in a “Laaton ke Bhoot baaton senahin maante”
situation, (Gist: Devils only recognize stick), is to
a great extent a trade fair. An exhibition to demonstrate
military hardware and techniques, including provision
of battle inoculation to the troops, in much the same
way as ordinary commercial and cultural exhibitions
and fairs are. Conflicts, competition and the like are
built in human psyche. As also partisanship and polarizations
on various scores, that is birds of a feather flock
together. Wars have an added feature of vividly portraying
the truth of Malthusian theory of population. Human
society over the years has witnessed many an upheaval
in peace and tranquillity. A total gloom followed the
World War II, whereas the recent Gulf Wars brought in
its wake a fifty fifty atmosphere – a satire indeed.
Newton expounded the ultimate truth, the third Law of
Motion. That is action and reaction are equal and opposite.
Terrorism, and its counter measures have been topics
of a comical debate. Like, the war ON terror is also
a war OF terror. Which came first, egg or hen? Who can
tell. The Gulf Wars, as well as other skirmishes in
recent times, though virtually a police action, have
been portrayal of military might. Offerring same time
a three dimensional education to all and sundry. Angel
watchers excepted, as also those for whom life begins
after death. For them the Poet said, “Munhaser
merne pe ho jiski ummeed, naa ummeedi uski dekha chaahiy-e”.
(Gist: For those who look to the life hereafter, worldly
attractions are meaningless).
It had become well-known since long that Air Mastery
is the supreme expression of military power. Advanced
technologies exploiting space and time can make an enemy
deaf, dumb and blind (in a technical sense) without
even recourse to weapons of destruction. Applied techniques
date back to World War II when words like “The
Wizard War”, and “Battle of Beams”
for technological and scientific combat operations were
coined. With the passage of time the technology has
only matured to a level the glimpse of which was seen
in Gulf Wars. Nixon upon visiting China provided as
parting gift to Mao the picture of Nixon-Mao meeting
taken from a satellite. The Chinese took heed of their
own incompetency and since then have refrained from
taking Panga (showing their eyes to an enemy, not even
to epidemic menace like SARS). Only goofs would be unaware
of the technological capabilities of the big powers.
Gone are the days when number of horses and human heads
alone decided fate of the battle. Today a nation’s
security and preservation of its dignity depends upon
the wisdom displayed in exploiting applied techniques.
The Gulf Wars have amply demonstrated the formidability
of technology intensive operations in large as well
as small scale applications.
Practically in every field of science, that is chemical,
biological or physical, applied technology has tremendously
enhanced man’s capability of waging war. Through
these means it is possible to render a given population
ineffective for a few hours or for ever.
Raise sky scrappers to pieces within minutes. Miniaturization,
microminiaturization and the ability to operate remote
controlled destructive weapons have enabled the weak
and strong alike to achieve a high degree of success.
Electronic devices such as those controlling air space,
anti-aircraft and anti-missile defences by extending
visual range affecting target destruction with absolute
precision, are some of the hi-tech gadgets used in modern
warfare. Even strategic decisions are on computer based
analysis. Strategies such as “Divide and Rule”,
“Divide and Fool”, by Powers that be, could
thus well be based on computerized data, enabling accurate
decisions fast. Clandestine devices such as bugging
apparatus flout privacy and afford eaves dropping to
unimaginable limits.
Electronically remote operations of explosive devices
coupled with miniaturization of weapons and sensors,
enabling easy transportability and concealment has greatly
assisted terrorist and espionage activities. Vulnerability
of some of these facilities, however, due to detection
through active or passive means have naturally enabled
development of counter measures against them. This is
since the same laws of science are available to the
Adversaries also. Upon this one cannot help but exclaim,
“Subhaan Rabb-e Al Qhaaliq” (Heaven be praised
who created). Thus the mechanics of combating measures
and counter measures have led to a cat and mouse game.
This has given a new dimension to warfare as also to
individual safety, security and privacy.
There is an education for smaller nations as well in
these modern day wars. Importance of science and scientific
men in the preservation of security and dignity of a
nation stands well-demonstrated. The Aristotelian concept
of knowledge, advocating mastery of rhetorics the sole
attribute of leadership is now valid only for the primitive
world. West had begun to discard this notion soon after
the Industrial Revolution. Technology intensive Gulf
wars have also demonstrated how small nations can come
out of their smallness. Need for shedding small differences
among themselves and living by the principle “unity
is strength” is of course the first step. This
feature alone appeared haywide in the region affected
by Gulf wars. They also didn’t seem to pay heed
to the dictates of their own religion. Which said, among
other good things, “For knowledge you should go
to China”. The Chinese, who upon waging war on
waste, also did away with infructuous knowledge even
in their schools. Like them it should also have been
borne in mind that if you have no muscles you should
not flex your muscles to the enemy. In developing strategies
for tackling oversized adversaries one’s life
span itself is an education .Only a reflection on one’s
boyhood days is enough, when pellet bows came in handy
against oversized adversaries. Military preparations
by certain countries of the world is well indicative
of shape of things to come. They sure seem to have taken
cognizance of the experience from their boyhood days.
Ethnic, religious and ideological polarization of the
world overbears testimony to the fact that armed conflicts
are there to stay. Wars will always be there as long
as man continues to be man. To face the unpredictable,
uncertain and unkind future. Therefore, it is incumbent
upon a self-respecting nation to acquire modern warfare
techniques. Peace can be ensured only through strength.
That is, readiness against a possible aggression. The
path perforce lies in the direction of applied science.
The Poet said, “Tashkeel-e kayanaat ke dilchasp
khel per, Hansta to hogaa Aap bhi Yazdaan kabhi kabhi
(Creator himself must be amused at His creation at times).
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