Intentional or just a gaffe? You Decide

Intentional or just a gaffe?-----You decide

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting four African states- Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia. The visit is being hailed as a landmark, Netanyahu being the first Israeli PM to do so in 50 years. The focus of the trip was to be the universal challenge of Islamic terrorism, which is threatening the African continent as well, Al Shahab and Boko Haram being the spearheads. Ostensibly, Israel and many African states want to make common cause of it in a bid to defeat it before it reaches annihilating proportions.

It also marks the anniversary of the famous Entebbe raid in July 1976. Israel mounted an operation more than 2300 miles from its homeland to free more than 100 hostages, the majority being Israeli, being held by Pro-Palestine hijackers at an abandoned airport terminal at Entebbe, with the tacit support of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. In the operation that followed, the only thing that marred an otherwise successful and extremely well planned and executed operation, was the death of one Israeli soldier. His name was Yonatan Netanyahu, the elder brother of the present PM of Israel.

The visit was doubly moving for the Israeli PM, which he mentioned in his speech, "This is a deeply moving day for me. Forty years ago they landed in the dead of night in a country led by a brutal dictator who gave refuge to terrorists. Today we landed in broad daylight in a friendly country led by a president who fights terrorists.”

What followed in the speech by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni took the world by surprise and shock. In what is being claimed to be a gaffe, Museveni repeatedly referred to Israel as Palestine. To quote him, "The sad event, 40 years ago, turned into another bond linking Palestine to Africa". The issue has been further complicated by a tweet by one of the President's spokesperson, saying that it was not a slip, but that he was just referring to the entire region known as Palestine.

Though Benjamin Netanyahu did not flinch on the spot, Israeli radio stations cut off the broadcast after Museveni's repeated references to Palestine.

It is well known that Israel supported many African states in their fledgling days of freedom from colonial yoke. It is also equally well known that the same states cut their ties with Israel in the 1970s after becoming recipients of Arab aid.

In light of the many years of an apparently fruitful relationship with the Arabs, were Museveni's utterances just a gaffe or intentional to balance the scales with the Arabs?

You decide.

Jumbo--Not just an Elephant Mr. Defence Minister

Wing Commander Jumbo Majumdar (WW II veteran ) getting the prestigious flying cross

World War II veteran Wing Commander Jumbo Majumdar's Flying cross and other prestigious medals had become a bone of contention between the IAF and the Ministry of Defence when the latter refused to shell out INR 28 lakhs to retrieve the medals from UK based auction house Morton and Eden.

The IAF will be using internal funds and has decided to give Jumbo his due share of respect by putting his DFC and other belongings on display at the AFM.

Of course Mr. Defence Minister these medals are national treasure and we fail to understand the rationale behind such a move. You Mr. Minister have all the time to travel in private guarded jets , talk about creating terrorists to deal with terrorist and ignore the human face of the men who guard our skies , homeland territory and our waters.

Jumbo's son Sailen has said that he also has the crucifix that his paternal grandmother Jonaki Agnes Penelope Majumdar (nee Bonnerjee) had made from the metal of the ill-fated Hurricane that Jumbo crashed in. 

There is also a note book in which Jumbo had written very personal and philosophical comments about his role in World War 2. 

I quite agree with Sailen when he says these treasures should not be binned or left in the drawers till eternity. 21 gun salute to you Mr. Defence Minister for giving such a heroic welcome to the father of modern Indian Air Force."Jumbo's contribution during the Second World War both in Burma and in the Normandy Campaigns has been acknowledged in professional circles. He was the first and the only IAF pilot to be awarded DFC and Bar. Having understood the importance of Air Power at a very early age, he worked relentlessly to build a strong Air Force for India. Jumbo led from the front by personal example and worked relentlessly to lay the foundation of the IAF. His spirit shall live as long as there are young men to take up the challenge of his legacy, and the trail of glory shall be remembered and cherished by the IAF forever."- The Indian Air Force in a statement made to a private news channel 

Not the first time. Certainly not the last. The museums too are the babies of the officers in-charge.whims and fancies...and service to the nation.

National Shame.

Engaging Indonesia

The nation- President-J Widodo


Head of state and head of government, commander-in-chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and the director of domestic governance, policy-making, and foreign affairs.

 Population of 258 million, 4th most populous nation

 Situated between Indian & Pacific Ocean

Archipelago comprising 13,466 islands

Coastline of 54,716 kilometres

 Sits at South East Asia’s maritime chokepoint- Strait of Malacca

Includes 3 land borders

• § Timor-Leste : 228 kilometres
• § Malaysia : 1,782 kilometres.
• § Papua New Guinea : 820 kilometres 

· Muslim majority nation

· Java comprises half of Indonesia’s population

· largest – and politically dominant – ethnic group are the Javanese.

· Unitary presidential constitutional republic

· Following the resignation of President Suharto in 1998, Indonesian political and governmental structures have undergone major reforms.

• Founding member of ASEAN & G 20

• Economy is the world's 16th largest by nominal GDP and the 8th largest by GDP at PPP.

• Maintained a non aligned position

• Plays active role in Middle East

• Rope walk balance between Washington and Beijing

• Faces dispute with China over Natuna territorial waters

• Separatist movements in Aceh & Papua provinces with armed conflict


Strategic Context


• Lingering tensions and suspicions and unresolved ethnic and territorial disputes pose a serious impediment to expanded intra-ASEAN defense cooperation.


Threat- Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). other lesser actors include laskar Jihad, hizbullah front, laskar mujahidan, and Islamic Defenders front (fPI), the latter being more in the category of “violent moralists” rather than terrorists.


In the past, there have been international connections with the abu sayyaf group in the Philippines, which included training and funding.


• The key issue, however, is that threat perceptions of China differ—at one end of the spectrum the Philippines perceives the threat as immediate and is seeking to develop an ASEAN consensus in opposition to Chinese assertiveness






Government Set up


• Indonesia is a Republic with Unitary Presidential system

• President is Head of State, Head of Government System and Commander in Chief of Armed forces

• People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) outlines state policies with following

– Peoples Representative Council

– Regional Representative Council

• Army was formed during Indonesian National Revolution

• Indonesian National Armed Forces -Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI comprises of

– Army (TNI-AD)

– Navy (TNI-AL)

– Indonesian Marine Corps (Korps Marinir)

– Air Force (TNI-AU).


                                                               Stakeholders in Defence

•Committee of the Defence Industry (KKIP, Komite Kebijakan Industri Pertahanan) chaired by the President is fulcrum of Defence issues.





                                        Bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement


With Malaysia - Regular joint military exercises , Military information exchanges

•Possible use of each other’s military facilities for maintenance & repair.

With U.S - Regular Joint military exercises

State policy situates the indigenous defence industry within the ambit of other prominent industries and ministries

State continues to be main source of funding by providing safety nets through loan provisions and credit guarantees to banks / financial institution

Market intervention only when necessary, for example by providing preferential tariffs for products and fiscal incentives such as free imports and taxes

•Preference for indigenous evident through obligatory requirements for all stakeholders (government defence and security institutions) within Indonesia to buy and use domestic-made weapon systems

Rigid obligation for local strategic industry engagement in the form of a minimum 85 per cent of countertrade and 35 percent of offset that periodically be increased by 10 percent every 5 years


                                                             Foreign Defence Companies


BAE Systems riding on UK’s expressed willingness to deepen relations with Indonesian counterparts

Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), a South Korea company, supplying Indonesian Navy three type 209/1200 diesel-electric attack submarines by 2020 – a contract worth US$1.07 billion

Ongoing deal with South Korea for development of KF-X fighter, with viable technology transfers



                                                         Defence Industry in Indonesia


Main Weapon Industry


–PT Dirgantara

–PT Pindad (Perindustrian Angkatan Darat/Indonesia Arms Manufacturer)

–PT Pal Indonesia,

Main Component and Support Industry 

–PT Telekomunikasi (INTI)

–PT Len Industry

Supportive Logistic and spare part Industry


–PT Barata Indonesia

–PT Boma Bisma Indra (BBI)

–PT Dahana

–PT Kereta Api (INKA)


Indonesia’s defense policy is based on four documents: Grand Strategy 2008, Defense Doctrine 2008, Defense Intelligence Estimate 2008 and Defense Posture 2024.


•New Defence policy seeks to create a modern, integrated armed forces that is able to anticipate security challenges in the 21st century.


•Indonesia’s foreign policy is based on doctrine of “one thousand friends, zero enemies”, and “dynamic equilibrium”.

The defense policy represents the defense realism paradigm

Ongoing Military reform seeks to remove obsolete military technologies from Indonesia’s weapons system and implement a modernization program to create a Minimal Essential Force (MEF) by 2024 for Indonesia


•MEF 2024 to serve as transition force until Indonesia is able to initiate a military innovation program that will try to adopt the most advanced military technology to start a revolution in military affairs that will transform TNI into an agile force of the 21st century.


•Mission MEF 2024 supported by budgetary grant of 1% of GDP by 2014 and 2% of GDP by 2020



 Military Modernisation


•Minimal Essential Force MEF 2024 will be mainly DEFENSIVE in nature and rely on forward deployment especially of border divisions, naval patrol, as well as air control

•Beyond MEF 2014, create military capabilities for deployment of OFFENSIVE and provocative forces to Indonesia’s border areas.

•To achieve this force, Indonesia will allocate 2.5-3 percent of GDP each year until this force is established between 2024 and 2029

•Indonesia will implement long-term modernization and arms acquisition programs

To support these programs, 3.5-4 percent of GDP will be allocated to support the defense budget until this force is achieved in 2050


Indonesia has already acquired the following:


Six Russian Sukhoi Su-30MK2s, completing a squadron of advanced air-superiority fighters consisting of sixteen Su-27 SKM and Su-30 MK2 jets, 16 new South Korean-made T-50i jet fighters ,Dozens of F-16 and Su-35 fighters,Advanced Air Defence Systems from Thales,Boeing AH-64 Apache Longbow gunship helicopters,German Leopard Tanks


Country’s 2010 Strategic Defence Plan for MEF 2024 include, albeit unrealistically, 274-ship ‘green-water navy’ ,10 fighter squadrons ,12 new diesel–electric submarines


Indonesian Air Force hopes to start replacement of the F-5 fighters under 2015 to 2020 strategic plan

Air Force (TNI-AU) has several companies that are competing for its fighter jet program.  Rafale F-16 C/D Block 60 etc

The Media in Indonesia

Indonesia has gained a reputation as the social media capital of the world

• Indonesia is among Facebook’s and Twitter’s largest global markets

• Indonesians are amongst most active users of social networking

• Nearly nine out of every 10 internet users in Indonesia regularly use a social network

• Indonesians make an estimated 6 billion views per month on social networks.

• Unsurprisingly, younger people dominate the social media user bases

• 75% of Facebook users in Indonesia access the site via their mobile phone

• Facebook has around 47 million users in Indonesia

• Twitter has close to 30 million users

• Media generally takes a cautious, self-censoring stand

• No constitutional guarantee for a free press

• Now revoked, Press Law 21 of 1982 defined duty of the press as "strengthening national unity and cohesion”

• 1999 Habibie’s liberal press law provided protection for the print media

• According to some observers, Indonesian media is plagued by "envelope journalism", where a payment could be made for a favorable story or for withholding information

• Lembaga Kantor Berita Nasional (National News Agency Institute, LKBN) or ANTARA acts as official news agency

• Other players include Kantorberita Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian National News Bureau, KNI)

Stories that can work

• Low cost acquisitions

• Investments by OEM partners in Indonesian industry

• Partnership with indigenous defense industry

• Defence policy and offshoots

• Business partnerships that support strategic ambitions

Media would be wary of anything that can be stretched to compromising “national unity and cohesion”

Engaging Thailand: The Challenge of communicating with a country that runs on Military Power

                   Thailand : The Defence Media  Matrix

•       A Quick Snapshot of why the Media plays a key role in:

–      Influencing Government decisions (Aircraft technology transfer program, Ground Combat systems, Fighter EW Radar systems,)

–      Bridging communication between Ministries

–      Playing the traditional watchdog role

Providing endorsement that enables Government decisions Retards or reverses decision making (e.g. Artillery acquisitions

The Military Context

•       Thai military planning, procurement & national security concerns are largely political in nature.

•       Strategic decisions on defence undergo political scrutiny before being implemented on paper.

•       Thai military has always played a dominating role in key government decisions regarding defence and security.

•       Individual defence agencies work on separate plans for force modernisation, which are discussed in parliament

•       Muslim inspired Insurgency and counter insurgency operations necessitated  force modernisation.

•       Confrontation and continued conflict delayed defence acquisition plans as well.

•       Thailand has been procuring defence systems largely to thwart attacks , homeland protection and guarding its maritime and air spaces-i.e conventional warfare

•       In the recent years budget cut backs have affected defence spending in Thailand.

•       Financial crisis of the 1990’s in the region led to low spending on defence & security

•       Increasing economic relationship with the US and the increasing American perception of India as a stable partner has made the relationship both more open and, at the same time, leveraged in favour of the US.

•       In a sense, India may well be nudged over a period of time to balance out its IT revenues and migration of jobs to India with arms purchases from the US that would keep conservative Senators off the administration’s back. There would also be a fair amount of pay-offs expected for US steering India’s re-admission to the Nuclear Club as a NWS. As of now, India’s reluctance to do so has dampened relationships.

•       An underlying theme across Indian purchases has been the emphasis on self-reliance, best exemplified in its missile program and worst executed in the MBT project as also the LCA Program.

•       The current focus on partnership between Indian firms and defence manufacturers is a continuation of the need to address the basic sense of inadequacy arising from a poor defence industry.

•       Partnerships, therefore, will be well received and regarded as national achievements.

•       That said, the IAF and the defence analysts have a fairly poor opinion of indigenous efforts, including the LCA.

The Role of Media In Impacting Decision Making

The Government

•       The Indian Government System is based on a combination of the US and UK: A Federal System combined with a Parliamentary System.

•       One consequence of the British Parliamentary system is that different arms of the government tend to operate in silos.

•       When the Government is weak at the top or allows each arm to function as per its best judgment – as it does now – there is little communication between the different arms of the government.

The Civil Services

·         Constitutional protection.

·         Political neutrality.

·         Permanency.

·         Anonymity

·         Recruitment based on merit

The administrative structure of the Government of India
(The roles of the various Ministries are defined as per the Rules of Business)

•       The “exclusive” character of the Civil Services also implies a sense of “right to rule” that invariably clashes with its dominance over the Military.

•       Consequently, the armed forces take recourse to media – specially digital media --- to create space for itself in the civil-military “relationship”.

•       Access to armed forces range from formal to nominal. The only Military-Industrial complex is Government/Public Sector led.

•       The Armed Forces are subservient to the Political system: Not allowed to speak; no opportunity to be heard except in extremely limited fashion. Even the Army Chief cant get his age corrected.

•       The Media is the only format of both formal and non-formal communication between the armed forces and the government: LCA, MBT, Missile Programmes et al.

•       As a result of Bofors, the political class shies away from debating defence or getting too involved in scrutinizing programs for fear of being charged with being hand maidens of one or the other Global Defence supplier.

•       Defence continues to be core sector which draws high media attention for a variety of reasons.

•       The frequency and intensity of reporting across multiple dimensions is fairly high in Defence media.

•       General news dailies and television devote moderate space and footage but interest tends to peak around scandals

•       A large share of Indian Defence communication from the government and the armed forces – to the public and to each other -- are carried forth through the print media.

•       The press plays an important role in the communication with the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces.

•       The military requirements of the nation are expressed through the media.

•       News of selection and rejection is carried first by the press, before it even reaches the knowledge of those involved. (Sometimes, within the Government! The External Affairs was most miffed that it never got to know of the MMRCA short list!)

•       The Story is India first, India next and India last.

•       Even global data of relevance must be interpreted in the Indian context

The stories that work in India:

•       Large acquisitions

•       Key Defence Projects

•       Large scale Investment

•       Mergers & Acquisition

•       National security impact

•       Defence and Foreign Strategy

•       Technology: Specially foreign sourced

•       New paradigms with Indian security relevance

•       Large brands, Global CEOs, celebrities

•       Large India presence

•       Indian policy

•       Impact on macro economy

The stories that don’t:

–      Global stories with no particular India anchor

–      Achievements in other countries

–      Global technologies with no particular Indian context

–      Lack of a clearly articulated India gameplan

–      Small news brands, small profiles

–      Being a global brand is not enough

–      Small business deals, MoUs

•       Therefore, two simple conclusions:

–      Indian Media is not simply a news distributor. It is a part of the decision making process.

–      Global news, views, websites, activities are irrelevant. Become a participant in the decision making process by creating opportunities through the media.