Your Page Date:   Sunday , October 27, 2002 Singh’s Strategies Not Convincing Air Cmdr. Jasjit Singh's article highlights some of the strategic options that are available to India, but these don't seem convincing enough as Pakistan can easily retaliate. Secondly, do our politicians, who are great at rhetoric mongering, have the will, which seems to have crippled the capability of the 4th largest army on this planet to respond. Pakistan has the upper hand now. It has the will to continue state terror at all costs, expanding it to include all plausible targets, including associating Bangladesh in the adventure in the east, the faint, almost hypocritical U.S. admonishment being no hurdle. To boot, Pakistan has a fairly competent army ever willing to take up initiatives like Kargil, and the proclaimed policy of extending such expeditions to a nuclear offensive at its choosing, to which we, despite having the fourth largest army, nor the world, seem to have any answers. Pakistan's no-holds barred game seems to have checkmated our policy makers completely. The outcome is that, it has cost us more men and money than all wars put together and we seem to have only a passive Gandhian strategy of turning the other cheek, or waiting for more of the same, at best. We need to evolve an effective short term and a longer-term strategy to the problem at hand. To be called a strategic option, the act must permit us to go on the offensive, raise the cost of response by Pakistan prohibitively, and simultaneously put us out of its retaliatory range. India needs to look at the options available and borrow from those practiced by U.S., Russia, Israel, and even China. We must be seen as having the will to protect our national interests aggressively. K Yogi Bangalore, India Tiger Vs Dragon Obscure I found this article quite disturbing. Instead of promoting a healthy introspection of our economic policies vis-a-vis China's, the author would rather focus on an obscure academic article to show that some statistics about China may not be correct. Statistics incorrect? What a shock! Ashok Arora Edison, NJ ‘Last Word’ Worded Out Of Context The Bhagvad Gita is an exhortation to a skilled warrior to engage in battle with his near and dear to gain a kingdom. Superficially this would be a most selfish and worldly goal; however the Lord's exhortation is to engage in the act of battle while foregoing the results of the war, be it death or victory. In fact, the Lord says, there is no running away from the battle for it is one's lot (dharma) to engage in the battle. However, by supremely concentrating in the present moment, by foregoing fear of the past and desire for the future, one sublimates the actions - one could be fighting for wealth in America but with the right attitude it becomes a spiritual act! In modern times the supreme example of this spiritual warrior is Mahatma Gandhi who tirelessly 'fought' to retrieve his country from a foreign power while harboring no animosity toward his opponents. Dr. Deepak Chopra seeks to infuse our mundane lives with ancient vedantic principles so that we may find meaning and divinity in our actions. He is to be lauded and respected for his efforts. Jojy Michael Fremont, CA Roy's statement that succeeding in the modern world with the philosophy of not thinking of the fruit of our actions is "wildly implausible". This is based on a total misinterpretation of what is meant by "not thinking of the fruits of our actions". It does not mean not having a well thought out goal or not focusiing on the goal. It simply means not becoming obsessed with the goal to such an extent that one starts employing deceitful means to achieve it - which is a major problem in today's business world. Our scriptures teach us to do our best to achieve worthwhile goals but use dharmic methods and if one should not meet the desired goal not to loose hope, which one would if one is obsessed with the goal, but to refocus and try again. I think this is a message that many of the top executives can use today. I have no issue either way with Roy's opinion of Deepak Chopra, but want your readers to get the right perspective of what our scriptures teach us and its applicability even in today's business world. Kris Iyer Webster, NY