http://www.businessstandard.com/india/news/s-c-s-bangara-managing-nuclear-assets/451099/
The above article on Managing Nuclear assets was published ironically on 02 oct 2011 by Business Standard. Posted on blog site for the benefit of those who wish to read.
The above article on Managing Nuclear assets was published ironically on 02 oct 2011 by Business Standard. Posted on blog site for the benefit of those who wish to read.
Adm Bangara has succinctly encaptured the problem of command and control of India's nuclear arsenel in the first paragraph of this thesis.
ReplyDeleteWithout appearing to be paranoid about our neighbor's potential use of such weapons, one, nonetheless must be cognissant of her political and economic instability, her strong and hostile religious factions, and a general malaise that defies the formation of a strong democracy - and hence the risk of use of this recognised deterrence is increased.
There appears to be no model available for one to emulate in formulating India's command structure for strategic control of nuclear weapons. The Israeli model is far too secretive and indeterminate to cater for the transparency which we need. The US model is to intricate and expensive - and rightly so. South Africa or Moscow may be models to consider? As the admiral has indirectly suggested, the control team should consist of people from different walks of life - scientists (both nuclear and environmental), military strategists, political pundits and, if I may add, sociologists since life after the bomb is not going to be the same.
That having been said, I think Adm. Bangara has inserted an element of urgency to this need - and the time for action is now.