Comments on: Turnaround at the IAF

By: RC

RC — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 20:57:27 +0000

As an ex-IAF family person (no longer family has any active IAF member now, but had in past), I am happy to read that IAF has improved its safety record. Growing up we looked up to those who went to the IAF and became fighter pilot. One such boy from our school who went to be an IAF pilot came to the school to give a lecture and school honored him.

By: louiecypher

louiecypher — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 04:11:58 +0000

A society is successful when its women can wear whatever they wish to wear without being blamed for all the ills in that society. When they don't have to be all bundled up in scorching heat but can wear shorts and a halter top and not be accused of being the cause of their own rape. A society wherein women can go to the beach in bikinis rather than the much less functional attire of rolled up trousers and long sleeved shirts.

What point are you trying to make, that flying metal phalluses set back women's rights ? I completely agree that in a well functioning society protects the liberty of its women, but what does that have to do with this post ?

Back to the topic, as an Indian I'm happy to see some progress in this area of defense. However the military procurement process is still shockingly corrupt...I don't see any sign of change even after Tehelka-gate, Bofors etc.

By: Terrible

Terrible — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 01:27:31 +0000

Are you sure intellectualphobicgeek isn’t a more appropriate handle for you?

By: anangbhai

anangbhai — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 01:24:48 +0000

That thing is a flying coffin. I have heard a personal account from a Mig-21 pilot who lost his canopy in mid-flight. They're supposed to be replaced in 2010 by the LCA.

Also, we've jinxed the whole thing by mentioning it...

By: technophobicgeek

technophobicgeek — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 01:16:56 +0000

A society is successful when its women can wear whatever they wish to wear without being blamed for all the ills in that society. When they don't have to be all bundled up in scorching heat but can wear shorts and a halter top and not be accused of being the cause of their own rape. A society wherein women can go to the beach in bikinis rather than the much less functional attire of rolled up trousers and long sleeved shirts.

Huh, where did THAT come from? Troll alert, SM Intern?

By: Naiverealist

Naiverealist — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 00:21:56 +0000

When it comes to the complex relationship between a military and the underlying society & culture that support it, IÂ’m a classicist Â— I donÂ’t necessarily believe the trite aphorism that Might makes Right. And I certainly donÂ’t agree with the reverse, victim-glorifying post-modern formulation - Might makes Wrong. But I do contend that the Right can build physical Might.

No sir, not at all. Israel is a glaring example. See whose land it was, till the British inked the Balfour Declaration. Let me offer the opposite hypothesis: Physical might builds right.

You havent defined 'right'. 'Might' - we all can see. But we do not know what is right. By right do you mean 'free market'?

In other words, the processes and culture necessary to support a strong, effective modern military are many of the same attributes which drive economic and social successÂ…. do folks know how to work together?

Intriguing question. My hypothesis is communities that know how to organize will reap benefits. The organization has to get legitimacy. The best way to do that is to cover your core emotions with a cloak of dehumanized bureaucracy. Never do this in public.

[ Granted, there are more Jewish Nobel Laureates than any other community has ever produced. That then begs the question: is knowledge that powerful?]

By: Terrible

Terrible — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 23:53:02 +0000

A society is successful when its women can wear whatever they wish to wear without being blamed for all the ills in that society. When they don’t have to be all bundled up in scorching heat but can wear shorts and a halter top and not be accused of being the cause of their own rape. A society wherein women can go to the beach in bikinis rather than the much less functional attire of rolled up trousers and long sleeved shirts.

By: Metric System

Metric System — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 23:41:12 +0000

The Mig21 is a piece of a junk. Good to see, however, that its problems have been fixed and its even better to see the IAF is transitioning from the Russian/Chinese style of just ramming large numbers of planes/troops/tanks down your throats to a Western style of tech-based, logistics-based combat. Getting those couple AWACs, for example, is much beter for the armed forces than an entire squadron of su-30s

By: Mr Kobayashi

Mr Kobayashi — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 23:38:05 +0000

what makes a society socially successful

A clarification. I don't mean "how does a society achieve social success" but rather "what are the features we would observe in a society that would make us call it socially successful."

thankin' yew...

By: Mr Kobayashi

Mr Kobayashi — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 23:29:27 +0000

But I do contend that the Right can build physical Might. In other words, the processes and culture necessary to support a strong, effective modern military are many of the same attributes which drive economic and social success

I could conceivably agree with all that, except for "in other words." I see no connection between the first statement and the second one. Unless you're equating "right" with "economic and social success." Then we'd have to unpack the second phrase--what is "social" success?

I catch a whiff of circular reasoning here: economic success is social success, and that's what's right, but economic success tends to come through might, which can be built by being right, which comes about from economic success, etc

I guess my question is philosophical: what's your idea of a good society, Vinod? Especially the question of what makes a society socially successful. My curiousity on this point is genuine.