Non intrusive power projection.

As the LTTE retreats deeper into the jungles, hoping that a ceasefire would save them to fight another day or through other means, many of our fellow citizens want the government to do something about the situation, from forcing a ceasefire to the very few demanding to wipe out the LTTE.

Both options would be very difficult to implement given that the big bad dragon and its ever obedient green monster have their eyes set on the tear-drop island they have already made deep inroads into the island, the irony is that the LTTE is our bastard child.

A very interesting observation is that we have been involved in the conflict for a long time, even after the Military forces came back from the Island, Indian Navy has been at work cutting off the supply routes of LTTE and denying them opportunity to indulge in gun running and smuggling narcotics.

A direct involvement by our nation at this stage could have been counter productive, the recent activity in Tamil Nadu is a example of that. Providing the Sri Lankan military forces with what ever equipment we could and controlling the sea was&is a very effective way of helping to contain the LTTE, the naval efforts will go unnoticed in the media, as when operating that far away from land the only way media can get its hand on pictures and information of operations is if the Navy provides it to them.

A strong LTTE is about as useful for us as Mr. Bhindarnwale in golden temple, the reason behind saying that is that we know they will never become a peaceful organisation, and if we take action against them we will only help them to hurt us where it matters.

We should help push LTTE into a corner which should force them to behave in the desired manner, and the only safe way of doing this is by ensuring that they have a hard time at sea.

One of the difficulties the Navy faces and will continue to face in such operations is that the Navy is spread around several operations and duties in the region with too few ships for control, this is exactly the problem the Navy is trying to sort with its vision for 2022, they require more help and understanding from the governments that will be in power around the next decade (2010-2025)