Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (Counterterrorism measures) that was published in Newsband

Counterterrorism measuresThe enemies have learned ever-more sophisticated counter-intelligence techniques: evading surveillance, establishing cut-outs between cell members and more careful use of communications and identity documents. This means the need for intelligence operatives with discretion, commitment, creativity and powerful intellect. It also requires substantial investment in resources.
India must be unstinting in this investment. But however much effort and skill goes into such activities, the opaque, confusing, contradictory and uncertain nature of intelligence means there will always be failures.
We need a multi-layered defence against terrorism. Of the many counterterrorism measures that must be implemented in addition to intelligence work, two are most important. First is deterrence.
Deterrent measures have directly prevented attacks. Sometimes deterrence will only delay attacks or displace them onto other targets. But lives can be saved if terrorists are denied their target of choice, and delay can buy vital time for dots to be joined.
Deterrence means effective and visible security measures that sow fear and doubt in the mind of the terrorist: that he will not be able to hit his target undetected; or that he might be killed or captured. Even the suicide terrorist fears capture and imprisonment. Deterrence means technical systems like scanners and metal detectors in the right place and working. But above all deterrence means highly alert, disciplined, competent, well-trained police and security guards.
Second is command and coordination. India needs a cabinet-level central government minister responsible exclusively for driving counterterrorism policy and implementation. Only by strong, top-level command will the counterterrorist resources of central and state governments be harnessed against terrorists. That other post-26/11 innovation, the National Counter Terrorism Centre, also paralyzed by bureaucracy and vested interests, should be brought quickly on line. An instrument that gives focus and unity to the efforts of the plethora of national and state agencies dedicated to counterterrorism is urgently needed.
If the Indian government is really serious about combating terrorism on a war footing then it should not hesitate to adopt drastic measures which will keep the terrorists at bay and ensure security to crores of Indians against terror attacks.

Dinesh Kamath's columns on 'Movie and TV World' that were published in Newsband

Dinesh Kamath's columns on 'Movie and TV World' that were published in Newsband

Dinesh Kamath's column on 'Movie and TV World' published in Newsband

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (Combat terror) that was published in Newsband

Combat terror
The Irish Republican Army, in a province of only 1.6 million people, still pulled off some successful attacks, despite being heavily penetrated. Then why can't India do the same?
Terrorists don't succeed because they are not necessarily good at what they do. Most are inept bunglers, often lacking adequate training or experience. The reason terrorism is the instrument of choice for those lacking an army but determined to impose their will on others through violence, or for states like Pakistan or Iran that want to inflict deniable damage, is that it is so hard to counter. Even in what is the most sophisticated and intensive security environment on the planet, commercial aviation, we see time and again how terrorists with a little low-tech ingenuity can dodge multimillion-pound high-tech detection systems.
Intelligence is the king of counterterrorism. In Britain, many plots of the terrorists were foiled as the British intelligence services, often working with allies, got their teeth deeper and deeper into their new home-grown Islamist target. In 2009 and 2010 alone, 650 people were arrested in the UK on suspicion of terrorism; over 200 were charged - mostly as a result of good intelligence work.
Intelligence is the highest priority as far as counterterrorism activity is concerned. It must be for India too.
Inadequate Information Technology can lead to terror attacks. Criminal tracking network systems are extremely important in countering the complex terrorist threat that India will face in the next few years
"Increased alertness" should be ever-present in cities that live under the shadow of terrorism like Mumbai.
What we actually need is precise point intelligence about individuals and their intentions, capabilities and locations that allow us to arrest, kill or otherwise disrupt them before they can attack. That is achieved by electronic interception of their communications and human agents penetrating their networks.
The question is whether the Indian government is really taking drastic steps to combat terror? If not, it is high time that such steps are taken in order to ensure safety of millions of innocent Indians.

Dinesh Kamath was made offers to contest elections

Hi,

The moment I got the break as journalist in New Bombay (Navi Mumbai) it didn't take time for me to achieve popularity. Just few months after I worked as journalist I was made an offer to contest an election for corporator's seat at a particular part of New Bombay (Navi Mumbai). But I refused to contest since I had not become very familiar with the city and I needed time to learn still more about New Bombay (Navi Mumbai). A few more months passed and I was once again asked whether I would like to contest election - this time for MLA's seat. Now I was indeed quite familiar with the city but yet I felt it would be wise on my part not to contest any election and to continue concentrating on my career as a journalist. Many more months passed and just recently I was asked to think about whether I would like to contest election for the seat of MP. For your information, I was made these offers by more than one political party. I am giving a lot of thought to the idea whether to contest or not election in New Bombay (Navi Mumbai). I fact, I am debating with myself in great length. At present, I am not sure whether I will accept the offer. I am indeed interested in politics and would love to serve the country in any capacity but I feel that I should contest election only when I am absolutely sure that I'll win the election. There is no point in contesting the election before that. I would not like to contest and then lose any election. I strongly feel that if I contest the election I should win too; otherwise I should forget the whole idea of contesting the election. But I feel privileged that I was made offers to contest elections more than once. I do have a lot of ideas pertaining to how I can contribute in the matter of development of our country as well as the place around me. I know that if I get political power I will be in a position to implement all those ideas. But I'm not in a hurry and hence would like to wait patiently for that time when I will be absolutely sure that the time is right for me to contest election. Only after that I will enter politics in a big way. Not before that. Bye!

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (America invites India to play umpire in World Politics) that was published in Newsband

America invites India to play umpire in World Politics
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton is one of the ardent supporters of India. Her visit to New Delhi for the second round of the India-US strategic dialogue was important to manage the differences that have arisen over time - from the nuclear liability law to defence contracts, from alleged misconduct of diplomats to blocking India from opening a new consulate in Seattle.
America is eager to see India loom larger on the world stage. Clinton's basic message was "We Want More India" in the world - in Southeast Asia, in the Indian Ocean, in Afghanistan, in the Middle East, in Central Asia, in Latin America.
During her visit, both Clinton and her Indian counterparts covered every area of "human endeavour". From space to clean energy, from student internships to creating an open source data platform on e-governance, from disease detection to aviation safety, every important issue was discussed. India has very reason to be happy to witness the extent to which its relationship with America has developed. America has shown willingness to discuss the world with India with an aim to push India to assume greater responsibility in world affairs. It is now up to New Delhi to seize the opportunity, or not.
The best thing is America is beginning to treat India as an equal partner. The trilateral dialogue of India, the US and Japan, announced during Clinton's visit, is significant and a perfect venue to discuss China's rise and the attendant ripples.
It is true that the regional situation is grim. America wants India to train Afghan security forces and play a role in shaping Afghanistan's future besides investing in infrastructure projects. But Pranab Mukherjee told Clinton last month India does not want to get involved in the "security affairs of Afghanistan".
Both India and the US have the same difficult task - bringing Pakistan on board. The overall US policy on Pakistan remains a series of confusing moves, alternately cajoling and berating. Just recently Pakistan's tendency to sweet-talk its way through the corridors of the US Congress to denounce India was exposed. Also exposed was the hypocrisy that often goes with Islamabad pleading Kashmir's cause in major capitals. That the Obama administration is chipping away at the ISI and seriously encircling it, at least within US jurisdiction, is good news.
Also welcome is growing India-US cooperation on counterterrorism. But the big takeaway from Clinton's visit has to be the full-throated American call for India to come out and dominate in International politics and not be afraid of the umpiring.

Dinesh Kamath has been verbally declared as the next Editor of Newsband

Acting Editor of Newsband Dinesh Kamath is to the right, while Publisher of Newsband Kailash Gindodia is to the left.

Hi,

Publisher of Newsband Kailash Gindodia had verbally declared that I would be the next Editor of Newsband after K R Bhat. He had made this declaration during his birthday party celebration and just before the 4th Annual Celebration of Newsband newspaper. He had made this declaration in the presence of many employees of K D Constructions Pvt Ltd and Newsband and Aaple Nave Shahar. He had said that it would be just a matter of some time after which I would be officially made the Editor of Newsband. I'm thankful to him for considering me worthy of occupying this big post. Bye!

Dinesh Kamath's cartoons on 'Puno and Fena' sketched and painted directly on computer

Dinesh Kamath's cartoons on 'Alooramji and Mirchiramji' sketched and painted directly on Computer

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (Murdoch Saga) that was published in Newsband

Murdoch SagaThe scandal engulfing Rupert Murdoch's media empire in Britain is the perfect tabloid story. It has peculiar twists and phenomenal turns and a freakish parade of powerful people bent on petty if perverse agendas of aggrandizement. Murdoch's giant News Corporation is headquartered in the US.
Technically, News Corp could have run foul of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a 34-year-old law that penalizes American companies for playing dirty overseas. If proved, that could technically dethrone the Murdochs, make it hard for News Corp to retain US broadcasting licenses and force it to pay fines running into hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars. But that's only if it's proved News Corp employees bribed foreign officials (in this case, British police) in order to gain business advantage, i.e. sell more copies of the now-shuttered News of the World on the strength of sensationalist stories.
The Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal and Fox News expressed disgust at the baying "political mob" and the way everyone is "piling on to News Corp".
Washington Post has already warned against reaction to the scandal going "too far, driven by... antipathy among the media and politicians for Murdoch.
America's foremost publisher of pornography Larry Flynt said he pursued free expression this way - "I test limits by publishing controversial material and paying people who are willing to...expose political hypocrisy. Murdoch's minions...pushed limits by allegedly engaging in unethical or criminal activity."
Some former, presumably disgruntled, Murdoch employees have also staged an attack against their old boss.
And former newspaper publisher Conrad Black, who is spending 29 months in jail, declared Murdoch to be a "great bad man" in the very mould of Napoleon. The media tycoon, said Black, "is not only a tabloid sensationalist (but)...an assassin of the dignity of others and of respected institutions, all in the guise of anti-elitism". Spitzer, meanwhile, said it was imperative to prosecute News Corp.
British parliamentary session witnessed an attack on 80-year-old Murdoch and contrition-on-camera by the great man himself.
In Australia, Prime Minister Julia Gillard's government made the sensational promise to ask "hard questions" of the Aussie arm of Murdoch's News Corporation. This had to be a tabloid-shocker, ranking with UFO sightings and two-headed babies because the Australian-born Murdoch is anecdotally said to rank with the US president, the British queen and the Pope on any Australian leader's list of international VIPs.
Murdoch is certainly embarrassed, if not ashamed. His business is information and paying a bribe overseas to secure a news advantage is criminal in America. But Murdoch has many powerful friends - here, just as much as anywhere else. The Obama administration is aware that the slightest misstep could rebound. So Murdoch shows sign of becoming the ultimate winner.

Dinesh Kamath's cartoons on 'Puno and Fena' drawn and painted directly on computer

Dinesh Kamath's cartoon on 'Puno and Fena' drawn and painted directly on computer

Dinesh Kamath's Editorials ('Indo-US versus Sino-Paikstan' and "India needs sincere leaders)) that were published in Newsband

Indo-US versus Sino-Pakistan
Hillary Clinton's visit to India is taking place at a crucial time. She came at a time when the Mumbai blasts and jihadi juggernaut were worrying India. Both India and America face the threat from the Islamic world. The first objective of the India-US dialogue, therefore, was to firm up the mutual ties because they face a common enemy.
Washington is considering renewing its currently suspended $800 million aid to Pakistan. America should realize that no amount of dollars will make Paklistan change their pro-jihadi stance because of their anti-India paranoia. Only an unequivocal reaffirmation of the ties between the world's largest and oldest democracies will tell Pakistan, as well as China, that their plans targeting India will not succeed. The strengthening of strategic relations between the two countries is absolutely necessary so that the threat posed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and Chinese military expansionism can be effectively countered. It is now India's and America's turn to be all-weather friends.
One must congratulate Hillary Clinton for the bravery she displayed. Hours after the Mumbai blasts, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had made it clear that she would go ahead with her visit to New Delhi for the security dialogue saying it was more important than ever to stand with India in the struggle against terrorism. She condemned the despicable act of violence designed to provoke fear and division. She expressed her belief that it was more important than ever that America stood with India, deepened their partnership and reiterated their commitment to the shared struggle against terrorism. Clinton is aware of the way the Indian people have suffered from acts of terrorism before and the way they have responded with courage and resilience.
Just recently one of the spokesman of White House reiterated America's commitment towards the bilateral relationship and stressed that America will stand "shoulder to shoulder" with India in combating terrorism. The US has already offered every possible assistance to India in the wake of Wednesday's terror attacks.
American President Obama himself expressed his strong with to have true global and strategic ties with India. In fact he pledged to build a "true global, strategic partnership" with India. He also emphasized upon advancing bilateral economic ties and making progress on nuclear security efforts. Ever since Obama has come to power he has remained focused on strengthening the relationship between India and the US. He has been trying to build new platforms for collaboration with our country. Americans do realize India's role as an important actor on the international stage. That's a good sign for India.



India needs sincere leaders
Terror again wreaked bloodbath in the financial capital of India. Serial bomb blasts on Tuesday rocked Mumbai. Indian government is unable to check the audacity of the terrorists. The government finds itself helpless regarding tackling the terrorism. Investigative agencies are still groping in the dark for any headway into the terror trail even few hours after terror hit Mumbai. The unabated bomb blasts in the financial capital of the country has established the city as a soft target for terror groups. What happened to the mighty claims of the Union Home Minister of putting in place a foolproof security apparatus after terror descended on Mumbai through the sea on 26/11?
This particular terror attack has shaken the conscience of Mumbai as well as the nation. The failure of the government has shattered the morale of the countrymen. The Central government has failed to display even the minimum pro-activeness in fighting terrorism. The government has been shying away from taking necessary action to curb terrorism and many a times it appears that it is contented by merely making hollow statements. The political parties are just busy compromising with the internal security of the country for political gains.
Even as the investigating agencies and cops are making back-breaking efforts to piece together the triple blasts in Mumbai, killing 18 and injuring more than 100, the political melodrama of passing buck has kicked off, which is no less than rubbing salts on the wounds of people. Our politicians stoop for personal aggrandizement when there is a need of sensitive hands to wipe the teary faces.
Some Congress leaders have gone to the extent of maligning the image of RSS and cooking up the menace of Hindu terror. This is just an attempt to woo Muslims. The Congress seems to be of firm opinion that Muslim vote bank could be boosted only by making rhetorics on Hindu terror. Thus Congress has parted with moral values and principles for the sake of consolidating its vote bank. They are trying this new stunt of linking terror activities with Hindu outfits.
It is clear the India is in need of leaders who are sincere and honest and not the types who keep passing bucks when an extremely serious incident like bomb-blast occurs.

Dinesh Kamath says a journalist is more superior than custom officer

The first photograph is that of Dinesh Kamath when he was a custom officer. The photograph below it is of Dinesh Kamath as a journalist.

Before I became a journalist I was a custom officer. I was working for Indian Customs. There are people who consider custom officers as kind of policemen. I agree that they are a kind of policemen but they are privileged policemen. They don't have to deal with things like murders, suicides, assaults, petty thefts etc. the way Khaki-clad policemen do. A custom officer is like a peacock. He is clad in white uniform and he just has to deal with smuggling of contraband goods like jewelleries, electronic goods, sandalwoods and other precious items. Another duty of custom officer is to collect the Revenue. Now you must have come to know why I call Custom Officer a privileged policeman. So I enjoyed the privilege of working as a custom officer once upon a time. Today I'm playing the role of a journalist, and to be frank, I enjoy being a journalist more than a custom officer. I believe that a journalist is more superior than a custom officer. A custom officer does not enjoy the kind of fame a journalist enjoys. A journalist can become a celebrity, the privilege which custom officer can never enjoy. After I had finished my college many people were telling me to become a custom officer like my father. But my personal wish was to become a journalist. I found the career of a journalist more attractive than that of a custom officer. Since I've played the roles of both custom officer and Journalist I can tell you with guarantee that life of a journalist is more enjoyable than life of a custom officer. Since I've played both the roles I know best. Bye!

Dinesh Kamath talks about his role as journalist

Today I'm playing the role of an Acting Editor. I've not yet become Editor officially. I'll consider myself as Editor only when I'm officially made an Editor. Till then I don't consider myself as an Editor. But I do consider myself as an Acting Editor because I have been literally playing the role of an Acting Editor since a long, long time.

After I had finished my college, my ambition was to become a columnist and cartoonist. Today I feel pleased to say that I'm both successful columnist and successful cartoonist. So my dream is fulfilled. When I achieved success as columnist and cartoonist, my critics were saying that I was columnist and cartoonist at local level only. But these critics had to shut their traps when I put many of my cartoons and columns on my Blog and many people, not only from New Bombay (Navi Mumbai) but also all over the world, went through my blog and appreciated them in a big way. Blog has made me an International Journalist. For your information, I'm also in the Googles in a big way. I thank those people who are in charge of Blog and Googles for giving me the support I badly needed. Today, I feel tremendously satisfied as far as my career of a journalist is concerned.

I should have become a prominent journalist at the age of twenty-one. But I was not given the break I needed when I was in my twenties. I got that big break at the age of forty five. Since then I never looked back and went on to make up for the time I lost. Today, as a journalist, I've contributed more than almost all the other journalists who, I'm sure, must have not contributed as much as I did during their entire career. I feel triumphant today! Bye!

From Dinesh Kamath's stock of photographs

Acting Editor of Newsband Dinesh Kamath is to the left while DTP Operator of Newsband Ajimon is to the right. These are two men who kept the newspaper Newsband going for last more than four years. While Dinesh Kamath tackled the news aspect, Ajimon took care of the technical aspect. Sub-editor of Newsband Prakash Koshy clicked the photograph. Venue is the office of newspaper Newsband at Vashi, New Bombay (Navi Mumbai).

Dinesh Kamath's cartoon on 'Puno and Fena' created directly on computer

Dinesh Kamath's cartoon on 'Puno and Fena' created directly on computer

Dinesh Kamath's cartoon on 'Puno and Fena' created directly on computer

Dinesh Kamath's cartoon on 'Puno and Fena' created directly on computer

Dinesh Kamath's editorial tha was published in Newsband

Sport is the most difficult business to run
Cricket is staring at a possible standoff between the BCCI, ICC and the UPA government over tax issues likely to gather steam in the weeks ahead. Sharad Pawar, who once headed both the ICC and BCCI, had agreed to a condition before the World Cup whereby BCCI agreed to pay any tax the government levied on the ICC for staging the competition. Pawar, a key member of the Union cabinet, may have overestimated his ability to seek a tax waiver from the government if the issue turned problematic. However, under the ambit of the new sports policy legislation being pushed through by the sports ministry, such a tax exemption appears unlikely and the BCCI might soon be faced with a Rs 100 crore-plus tax burden, one that the board will desperately seek to avoid.
While confronting Pawar for agreeing to such a clause in the first place, the BCCI and ICC are seeking refuge in the tested IOC policy demanding 'no state intervention in the functioning of an autonomous sports body'. Under its guise any form of government intervention can be deemed unacceptable, allowing the BCCI to stave off further attempts by the sports ministry to bring its functioning under the tax ambit.
Interestingly, all of these cases stem from the inability to deal with the ill effects of excessive commercialisation. None of the problems cited above will ever affect a sport or a mega event that continues to be unattractive to the market. While monetisation is central to the success of modern sport and large sporting spectacles, the need to strike a balance between the requirements of the market and that of 'pure sport' is at the root of good governance.
Unless the interests of the ordinary sports fan - currently the most neglected constituency across all commercially successful sport and mega events - is made a priority, problems such as the ones mentioned will only escalate. Extraordinary sporting performances too, it can be conjectured, will fail to stop such escalation for otherwise the Commonwealth Games 2010 would have been remembered for the 101 medals India won and not for all the corruption and malpractice surrounding the event. Not without reason is it being said in management circles that 'sport' as 'business' is the most difficult of all businesses to run.