Sasanka De Silva,Sultanate of Oman.

Dear Sir,

Ever since man decided that the only way to achieve a solution to a dispute between two of them is to take up arms, the rules of engagement have changed.

They have evolved in a much slower pace that one would be able to keep abreast with it and be prepared for any eventuality.

However, the 9/11 incident has changed the whole scenario.

What are going on around in many parts of the world today are sufficient ample examples of the changes that have taken place in the rules of engagement.

The conventional wisdom and the old school rules of engagement become lead weights, especially when a country where democracy prevails tries to fight off a terrorist outfit, threatening the stability of the country as well as in the region.

The terrorists have only one objective and that is to terrorize and they would go to any extent to achieve their objective.

Unless the democratically elected governments change their tactics and approach to the issue of how to deal with the terrorits, the hope of having a Win is a total impossibility.

The best and the most recent example is the Sri Lankan Armed forces victory over the one time most dreaded and feared terrorist group.

Had they been listening to the hypocritesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and old school pundits, as they have done for more than two decade, the terrorist menace would have gone for many more decades.

They were ready to change their rules of engagement and the success came within a few years.

The conventional wisdom and old school rules of engagement have to be abandoned, if to achieve success in a war especially between a democratically elected government and a foreign funded terrorist outfit.

The staunch old school guards and especially the hypocritesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ will try to place one obstacle after another to stop you from changing your stance but the sure recipe for success is to abandon the conventional wisdom and old rules of engagement.

Having a threat of isolation, sanctions and withdrawal of trading privilegesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ etc are better than having to live in constant fear of a terrorist attack.

One has to be free first to be able to enjoy other social and economic benefits.

Sasanka De Silva,