Meltdown

The transition from ceasefire to a sustainable exit plan in the Gulf region requires a phased approach that addresses war related strategic blockades, immediate humanitarian needs, restoring economic and security frameworks, and fosters inclusive diplomacy. This roadmap outlines key steps to move beyond conflict toward initialising stalled maritime traffic, building frameworks for negotiation, diplomacy and trust, utilisation of available resources, reconstruction of capacity and peace. Ceasefires are fragile and delicate, they always are. To support and sustain this ceasefire -- violations must be minimised.  The primary responsibility for minimizing ceasefire violations lies with those who have agreed to the ceasefire. This conflict has breached the distinction between the direct and indirect parties, therefore, it is of paramount importance that other stakeholders are included, not excluded. The spillover of this conflict is global, not regional so hopefully more parties join th...

During this week the dynamics of Iran conflict as an operation not WAR unfolded. Military strategy, economic resources, regional/global implications, social and cultural dynamics, historical context, human and environmental costs, public opinion are factors while analysing war. Assuming capabilities remain unchanged during wars is not advisable, it is a variable as war unfolds, re-calibration is critical. Keep in mind, there is no end game, except shaking up the existing order from its foundations, as a most likely outcome. As this war despite its ramifications is an attempt to push an existing conflict( happened last year) to a systemic shake up. It is a big factor. Big factor two : The shelf life of postures and deterrence available to regional powers has eroded and escalation by great power is the name of the game. The 'super' powers have the strategic wherewithal to breach the threshold of deterrence of lesser powers and have shown increasing inclination to do so. Location...

Last post brought the google indexed pages from 40 + to single digit and then to zero. A break/glitch in Google search index was also reported during this duration.   Some supporters/readers were keen that other avenues and platforms is explored or pursued, the link toward that direction is pasted below:   abhibhayakti.substack.com/p/the-illusion-of-digital-inclusion     Migration post from the migrant?  Click, read, share, whatever!

Case : Whether Google holds a monopoly in the search(2020) and advertising markets( 2023)? Amit Mehta, Judge, Ruling : Google is a monopoly in the search antitrust case,  September 2023. Two years ago. The ruling  ordered remedies not a split. Remedies are behavioural and specific, not STRUCTURAL. Amit Mehta recommended other remedies, they are :  Google is largely banned from entering into exclusive default search engine agreements with browser developers like Apple and Mozilla. Order imposed restrictions on monopolistic consolidation. It must make it easier for users to switch their default search engine. It must provide more transparency and access to its ad tech tools for rivals . In the separate adtech Anti-trust case the trial began on September 9, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, with Judge Leonie Brinkema presiding. On April 17, 2025, Judge Brinkema ruled that Google is liable for  "willfully acquiring and maintaining...

Alasdair MacIntyre engaged with Marxism, Liberalism and Christianity. He has written books on these subjects. As a learner and thinker he was open towards available forms of thought and has an unique capability to influence modern ideas and thought. What a philosopher rejects, abandons or eschews should be read and discussed with what they profess and propound? Students, learners and followers were struck by his diagnosis of modernity, and his presentation of predicaments that spawned the emergence and expansion of modernity. The individual and individuality is central to the modern project. The modern relies and rests on individuals who have social roots. The ‘eking and carving’ out of an individual through volition, self-determination and agency severs and loosens the social roots and ties of modern individuals. There is no getting around or away from these modern predicaments. The deficiencies of individual rationality and prevalence of in-commensurable theories a failure of the e...

Once a war begins and hostilities and the hard military options pan out, the other avenues of pursuing interests, ensuring stability while maintaining an order based on principles remains active. Wars, at least immediately, do not bring peace. Once war ensues, a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities is the best bet and the immediate goal. Conflict and war in middle-east Iran-Israel do not share a border but their broader and immediate Geo-strategic interests and positions cast them as arch enemies and they had exchanged fire twice last year. It has been brewing for years, but the events of Friday the thirteenth were shocking and caught most by surprise, except of course Israel. A fragile and temporary ceasefire has somehow taken hold. The 1967 Arab-Israeli war lasted for 6 days and 1973 for 19 days, this round of conflict between Israel and Iran for 12 days. Emboldened by the success Israel has with Hezbollah and ongoing Gaza blockade,(tacit acceptance by world) Israel initiated a pl...

Proposition 1 : For short distances fire empty shells at them. Propellant without explosives is the key. Why. Drones may have explosives and you do not want explosions near what you need to protect. Empty shells may deflect or destroy their explosives at distances that are safe. You also do not want bigger explosions so empty shells are fine. Second, they will be cost effective. Easily deployable and available. They are usually used on ceremonial occasions and can be deployed tactically. Some adjustments with the range and you have some defence against them. A range of 1 to 15 km with Mortars, Howitzers, Field guns, Armoured vehicles( tanks), or Naval and anti-aircrafts guns is possible. ChatGPT lists propellant, design of the shell and environment as factors. The weight, shape and momentum of the projectile is the key. Proposition 2 : At very close distance use the rubber and pellet guns. They are also available and with modifications can certainly deflect their trajectory and balance...

Irrespective of where one is located, the bubble of normalcy does not last hours. We had a difficult weekend with war clouds looming over south Asia. Belying predictions, forecasts and expectations wars has reared their head in many parts of the globe, not only in South Asia. Sleep, calm and normalcy has been severely affected and many have been forced to look up in at the sky. 'Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you' and wonder and ponder about what lies ahead? I have been waking up early in the morning for a month or so to see Venus, Mercury and Mars. They are visible with the naked, unaided eye for a month and more in this part of the world. Hazy sky, no stars, Venus visible     Skies over large cities in north India are hazy and thick with pollutants and on clear nights one can see only a handful of stars. Human Light objects which dot the cities  lead to a scattering effect hindering human vision towards the sky. Venu...

San tzu's Art of war is old and ancient and the book informs and structures conversation about war and strategy right upto the contemporary moment. Strategic thought and thinking in India as well is ancient. Historical period and authorship issues beset Arthashastra, Mandala theory though shines forth. The circles that surround Vijigeshu works as a bedrock for most of the conventional modern International relations theory. Modern Indian strategic thought, doctrines and capabilities are modeled on western statecraft. IF, there is any distinctive aspect it lies in how strategic priorities are factored. Among experts and professionals military first, political second and economic a distant third encapsulates Indian strategic thought. In reality the political goals are prioritized over the military. War as a theater was inaugurated in the early 1990' in the unipolar world led by USA. The disintegration of the USSR and the collapse of the Berlin wall precipitated and opened a space ...