Manoj Ambat's Blog dealing with Defence, Foreign Affairs, Strategic Affairs and Politics

Ashok Parthasarathi: Some myths about the Indian military-industrial complex As a student of military and security affairs, I find both analysts and the media having many misconceptions about our military industrial complex. This article deals with some major ones to promote a correct understanding of the matter. First, our defence hardware imports are around 60 per cent, and not 70 per cent. Second, delays and cost over-runs in our defence production programmes also occur in all North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) countries; the reasons are many and complex. These have been documented in numerous reports of the General Accounting Office of the US Congress. The UK Comptroller and Auditor General has done likewise. A specific major example is the M-88 aero-engine for the latest French fighter-bomber Rafale. France's sole and public sector aero-engine manufacturer, Snecma, which has been making military aero-engines for 30 years, took 11 years to design and develop th

Image Courtesy- Wikimedia and the author Maha Shivratri  (the 'Great Night of Shiva') is a  Hindu  festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord  Shiva . The Mahashivratri festival, also much popular as 'Shivratri' or 'Great Night of Lord Shiva', is observed on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha every year on the month of Maagh according to the Hindu calendar. Alternate common spellings include  Sivaratri ,  Shivaratri ,  Sivarathri , and  Shivarathri . It marks the convergence of Shiva and Shakti. Maha Shivratri is celebrated on the Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of Hindu calendar month  Maagha  which falls in  February  or  March  as per the  Gregorian calendar . Of the twelve Shivaratris in the year, the MahaShivarathri is the most powerful [3] . The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of  Bael  or golden apple or  Bilva / Vilvam  leaves to  Lord Shiva , all-day fasting and an all-night-long vigil (jagarana). All through th

20 Home Remedies Everyone Should Know:  1. Having pomegranate’s juice daily is good for heart and useful for people suffering from low Blood Pressure (Hypotension) 2. One natural treatment for acidity is chewing a few Basil (tulsi) leaves after a meal. This not just works as an antacid as it helps the body absorb food but also prevents reflux and the formation of ulcers. 3. Sucking a piece of Clove after meal helps in reducing acidity problem. 4. A flake of garlic swallowed with water taken empty stomach daily in the morning can be helpful in solving many stomach & gastric problems. 5. Headache caused by summer heat is cured by consuming watermelon juice. Just one glass a day works wonders… 6. Eating an Apple on an empty stomach in the morning relieves one of migraine pain. This must be done for a few mornings. I have been a migraine patient for past 10 years and this one worked most for me. 7. Open 6 dates and boil in 1/2 liter of milk for 25 minutes over low heat. Drink

Image courtesy- Wikimedia and the author  In the maritime world, submarines has a special place of pride being the centennials of maritime security. They are the prowlers who sneak up to the enemy and get the job done before the enemy even realize that they are there. They are the enforcers who lie hidden in the depth of the sea and who pounce upon an unsuspecting enemy and can inflict maximum damage to an enemy fleet, the legendary "U" Boat of the Germans being the best example.  The history of the Indian navy operating submarine goes long time back and they have successfully ensured that no hostile country were successful in penetrating the Indian sovereign waters. The potency of the submarine was demonstrated in 1971 a fleet of Russian submarines ensured that the mighty American fleet were forced to withdraw rather than help Pakistan at the time of the formation of Bangladesh. India currently operates two major class of submarines, The Kilo class and the German

India imported $1.9 billion of military kit from the U.S. last year, making it the biggest foreign buyer of U.S. weapons, according to research from IHS Jane's. The U.S., which remained the largest exporter of military equipment, displaced Russia as India's biggest arms supplier. In total, the U.S. exported $25.2 billion of military equipment in 2013, compared with $24.9 billion the previous year................... http://www.cnbc.com/id/101438440

Image courtesy- The Diplomat Not long ago, China was a soft-power juggernaut. Media accounts highlighted Chinese leaders’ thoughtful forays abroad, depicting policymakers that were respectful of others’ opinions, willing to listen, humble to a fault, and reluctant to dispense unsolicited advice. Here was a country that was content to allow its own example of success to speak for itself. China cannot get very far with fear strategy | GulfNews.com

Image courtesy- Wikimedia So how do you “make” a maritime strategist, an adept handler of nautical affairs? Sea-service chieftains are mulling how to do so, and more power to them. Why now in particular? Because the services are “refreshing,” or updating, the  2007 U.S. Maritime Strategy  to keep abreast of today’s realities. It’s become plain that the niftiest strategy in the world is no better than its executors. If you want to oversee the global system of trade and commerce while fending off war — all on a shoestring — you need a deep-thinking cohort of mariners........... http://thediplomat.com/2014/02/five-ways-to-make-maritime-strategists/

Image courtesy- Wikimedia A coda to our running series on how to mold maritime strategists. Strategic thought is a habit of mind as much as a body of knowledge. Those who reach for the strategic canon reflexively in times of stress stand the best chance of withstanding the seductions of military maxims. That’s important for keeping bureaucratic institutions supple....... http://thediplomat.com/2014/02/strategy-and-the-tyranny-of-maxims/

Indian inventions and discoveries have been instrumental in shaping the face of the current modern world. We picked up 20 such interesting findings out of a whole bunch that will make you say, “I didn’t know that”.......... http://www.storypick.com/20-clever-inventions-probably-didnt-know-made-indians/

DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following  diseases: Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases. METHOD OF TREATMENT 1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water 2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minute 3.. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal. 4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinn

Image courtesy- Reuters/Thomas Mokuya To date, U.S. diplomacy has not extended to high-level summits to manage state-to-state relations with countries on the African continent. That is in stark contrast to the approach China has been taken, with its triennial Forum on China-African Cooperation (FOCAC). Now, however, the situation looks ready to change, as President Barack Obama prepares to host the leaders of 47 African countries at a landmark summit, the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, in Washington, D.C. on August 5 and 6 this year.... http://thediplomat.com/2014/02/a-u-s-china-summit-diplomacy-rivalry/

Image Courtesy-The Pakistan Today China and Pakistan issued  a joint statement  Wednesday after Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. As expected, there was a heavy focus on the economic aspect of China-Pakistan relations, especially on the  development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor . Early reports of pending deals to construct the Gwadar International airport and to  upgrade the Karakorum highway  between Pakistan and China were confirmed with the official signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU),  according to  China Daily ............. http://thediplomat.com/2014/02/beijing-wants-answers-for-pakistans-security-questions/

It is general elections again and it is time to take stock of how much we achieved in the last 10 years and what more ought to be done. Have the government achieved or have they done their job correctly or have they been an utter failure? Let us analyse- India is situated in a dangerous and volatile region of the globe. In the west, we have a neighbour who is sinking to civil war and anarchy but which also posses nuclear fangs which really makes that country unpredictable. On the east we are confronted with a larger neighbour who with decades of stable economic growth has now engaged in rapid development of defence but who is anything but aggressive to their neighbours. India has long running territorial dispute with both the countries and had also fought many wars with these countries. Further they both in their own right had been aiding and abetting non state players with the intention to destabilize us because it is in their special interest to see a weak India. Under the

Pic courtesy- The Ancient Indian UFO Shakuna Vimana  (Part-1) Viman Shastra - Written by Sage Maharshi Bharadwaaja  Chapter 6, Segment 15, Page 90-93 : The parts of shakuna vimaana are: Peetha or floor board; hollow mast; three wheeled keelakas with holes; 4 heaters, air-suction pipes, water jacket, oil tank, air heater, chhullee or heater, steam boiler, vidyud-yantra or electric generator, air propelling yantra, vaatapaa yantra or air-suction pipe, dikpradarsha dhwaja or direction indicating banner, shakuna  yantra, two wings, tail portion for helping vimaana to rise, owshmyaka yantra or engine, kiranaakarshana math or sun-ray attracting bead. These 28 are parts of Shakuna vimaana. The construction of this vimaana: The floor-board or base should be made of levelled Rajaloha sheet, shaped quadrangular, circular, or cradle shaped. The weight of the peetha should be one-hundredth of that of the plane, and its width should be half the height of the vimaana.