Iraq War And Beyond

The Iraq War and its fall-out have indeed provided food for real thought to strategic analysts. Though not directly involved in the situation, we in security profession cannot remain aloof to the overall security scenario affecting all walks of life. So, we had asked some senior security practitioners in India whether there was an impact of the Iraq War on the functioning and the quality of work of practising security professionals. The answer was often neither forthright nor clear. As the impact of this Iraq War has not been felt so much on the ground in India, possibly many in the security profession here did not seem concerned with it. But some among the thinking type felt that we security professionals were of no consequences during war time. All our activities are oriented as peace-time operations. There is no denying the thrust of this assertion but the moot question arises can we let this remain so. Should we not at least feel really bothered as to how to preserve what had been done and also to manage post-war or post-crisis situation? IISSM will, therefore, like to put it across to its readers/viewers as a debate as to what do they think should be the response from the Chiefs of Security, particularly in the corporate sector, when the situation is threatened by war or a calamity as bad as war and what then should be done in the event of such a calamity does really occurring.

We are hopeful security professionals in uniform or otherwise would put their thinking cap on and join the debate.

D.C. Nath, IPS (Retd.)
Former Special Director, IB (MHA), Govt. of India,
Executive President & CEO, IISSM, New Delhi.