SURGICAL STRIKE DEFINITION AND HISTORY :FAN AND FARE THAT FOLLOWED .

 .By misusing nomenclature to describe the action to be some thing bigger and major is sheer political charlatanism.

This event is not allowed to die down for good reason and is put on the altar of the fan and fare to reap only political benefits and electoral gains by the union government of India  .The English dictionary describes “the surgical strike”as an attack (usually) without prior warning intended to deal only with a specific target, it is an attack intended to seize or inflict serious damage on or destroy an objective .It is  a swift and targeted attack with the aim of minimum collateral damage to nearby areas and civilians .The neutralization of targets with surgical strikes also prevents escalation in full blown war. Surgical attack can be carried out viz air strikes, air dropping special operations teams or by swift ground operations with commandos or even regular troops.

The great strategist Sir Basil liddell Hart described surgical strike as being akin to a single arrow shot by Paris (who seduced Helen causing a war) at Achilles heel which was he only vulnerable spot.

(1)In modern times a surgical strike is a single action that de-capitates or significantly reduces enemy capabilities .The 1967 Israel surprise air attack that destroyed most  of Egypt’s Air Force on the ground was a surgical strike.

(2)Another example is the  killing of Osama Bin Laden by US Seals in a Helicopter borne attack.

 (3)The June 2006 US attack that killed –Abu -Musab -Al–Zarqawi was by a single F.16C dropping two 500 pound guided home bombs on a safe house at Hibhibh village near  Baqubah in Iraq`s Diyala Province on very specific information and

(4) the single Hell fire missile launched by a central Intelligence Agency drone that killed Baitullah Mehsood leader of the 5000 strong Tehrik Taliban Pakistan in 2009 were classical surgical strikes to decapitate enemy leadership to demoralize its forces.

(5)The Bombing Baghdad in the initial stages  of the first gulf war. Operation shock and Awe was a well coordinated set of surgical strikes on governments offices and military installations to cripple  Bathist  regime in Iraq. Surgical strikes are also undertaken on a larger scale.

(6)The carpet bombing of Dresden that set that historic city on fire clearly was not a surgical strike.

 By these measures that happened post Uri does not qualify .Indian Army sent army across LOC several times in the past. By misusing nomenclature to describe the action to be some thing bigger and major is shear political charlatanism.

Reference: Mohan Guruswami ,a writer ,a Policy  Analyst and renowned Economist.