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The Slow Crawl to Kilinochchi
Sunday, 14 December 2008 - 5:46 AM SL Time
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On Sunday December 7, the security forces were within `kissing distance` of the outer defence lines of Kilinochchi, announced the defence spokesman. On Monday, December 8, it became `Troops in Kilinochchi are targeting the town and they are in the vicinity of the town.` However, by December 9 it seems the security forces` strategic focus had shifted from Kilinochchi to Mullaitivu according to the defence ministry. This contradicts what the army commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said in his Sunday Observer interview on the same day he said, `after capturing Kilinochchi the security forces will definitely capture Mullaitivu.`
In military parlance, this kind of shift in 24 hours takes place only in tactical rather than strategic focus. Somebody is not getting the terminology right, or the army is facing major problems in turning the `kiss` into reality in Kilinochchi. Its two-pronged offensive on Kilinochchi by Task Force -I from the west and by 57 Division from the southwest was reported facing very heavy LTTE resistance. Could this have compelled them a change in the security forces` strategy? The defence spokesman had acknowledged this at least on the Task Force-I front. In the Muhamalai sector also there appears to be no substantial progress in spite of 53 Division`s claims of having captured 800 m long and 8 km wide line of defences there. All these bits put together would indicate stalling of the offensive.
A second possibility is that 59 Division was making better progress having captured Alampil on December 8. With Task Force-III, making good progress on the A34 Mankulam-Mullaitivu road branching off eastwards from A9 road 59 Division`s offensive to Mullaitivu would be benefited. Therefore, a tactical shift of immediate focus from Kilinochchi to Mullaitivu is understandable.
But such a shift in axis would still be a tactical shift. Ultimately, the security forces have to either capture Kilinochchi or force the LTTE to vacate it after they pay a heavy price. Then only the A9 Kandy-Jaffna road can be opened to restore some form of normal life for most of the population of the Northern Province. Regaining the A9 road from LTTE control by evicting them from Kilinochchi Elephant Pass would always remain the strategic objective of the entire operation.
But these are all military semantics in the absence of independent sources to verify operational information, semantics of both the defence spokesman and the LTTE become important they indicate the issues hidden behind the words.
After the capture of Pooneryn on November 15, crossing Akkarayankulam bund on October 31, and capture of Mankulam on November 17, it is a month. Evidently since then, the momentum of advance has been stalled due to adverse weather on a few days, and stiff LTTE resistance that had been progressively increasing. This would contradict repeated Sri Lankan assertion that the LTTE was on the run. If this is not so, what is holding up the troops?
Loss of momentum in an offensive means more time for the opponent to recoup, rest, repair and re-adjust defences, reinforce positions, launch counter offensives and inflict more casualties. The cost of war in terms of men, material and money goes up as the clock ticks in days and the days become months. The more it is prolonged the better it is for the forces on the defence.
Fortunately, the army commander has cleverly put himself in an advantageous position with multiple options of axes to pick and choose. He also has adequate troops for achieving the strategic objective. Even granting the monsoon rains that affected both sides comes in fits and starts, the progress is becoming slow and taking too long. This raises a few operational questions:
n Why is the offensive to Kilinochchi ending up as a slow crawl?
n Has the LTTE built up its strength beyond the ken of four divisions?
n Is the army commander facing a major operational dilemma or a political rider interfering with his operations for reasons not known to the public?
In this context, Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka`s comments on India`s role in Sri Lanka in an interview to the Sunday Observer is interesting for more reasons, than his derogatory description of Nedumaran and Vaiko,(Tamil Nadu politicians who head the pro-LTTE political lobby in Tamil Nadu) as jokers who receive money from the LTTE. Regarding the operations, he sounded quite confident of capturing both Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. He was not unduly worried about the slow progress or any casualties. There was apparently no operational stress. Does it mean operations are going on smoothly at an accepted pace? In the absence of access to information, our questions still linger, unanswered.
(Col. R. Hariharan, a retired Military Intelligence specialist on South Asia, served as the head of intelligence of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka 1987-90.)
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YamunaI
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 14 Dec 2008 02:37:04 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Time and again the public is informed by various spokespersons that the troops are virtually at Prabakarans bunker.No less a person than the Prime Minister of the country stated at political rallies during the Provincial Council elections in September that Killinochi could fall even before the election day.There was propaganda to the effect that the troops could even see the buildings in Killinochi- this was in September.Now we told that we are within 'Kissing distance'. The public is waiting for the kiss of death of the Ltte and the Govt propaganda in the state media claims to have captured various villages and virtually annihilated the tigers.The gullible voters have been given various deadlines the most recent being December.When the Govt media publishes the number of casualties that the Ltte has suffered,the number of villages captured,the number of boats/bunkers destroyed on a daily basis one wonders whether we are fighting the 5000 odd LTTE or whether our troops have invaded India. |
alwaysalion
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14 Dec 2008 02:40:59 GMT Report for Abuse
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(Col. R. Hariharan, a retired Military Intelligence specialist on South Asia, served as the head of intelligence of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka 1987-90.)
Sour grapes!Having failed it&s war tactics with LTTE and now in a
coma. |
alwaysalion
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14 Dec 2008 02:46:40 GMT Report for Abuse
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Slow crawl? Who? Velu?
The mole must be bdigging even deeper! |
magha
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 14 Dec 2008 03:02:37 GMT Report for Abuse
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In a war nothing is straight forward. There is no reason not to believe that LTTE would put every effort to slow down the SLDF advancing towards Killinochchi, because if Killinochchi falls the crumbling of LTTE defense is inevitable.
What the author failed to show was, that the fall of the rest of the LTTE controlled areas to SLDF , indicates that LTTE is on the run. LTTE was on the run since the time SLDF launched the offense to liberate the East. LTTE tried to mask it by saying it was a Tactical withdrawal. IT appears that LTTE is on the strategy of tactical withdrawal for too long now, exhibiting the weakness of military strength of LTTE not military genius of Prabhakaran.
If leaving the East was a tactical withdrawal of Prabhakaran to strengthen LTTE defense with regrouping and restrengthening their military capabilities with hard wear, then one does not need to be a military intelligence specialist to see that LTTE badly failed in that aspect.
Prabhakaran's strategy is right , he is withdrawing every LTTE carder in order to concentrate them in the small area he is restricted to ,for his own defense and survival now , to live another day but not to win an Eelam.
The question is not about the slow down of the momentum of SLDF advancing to wards Killinochchi, how long could LTTE hang on to killinochchi when SLDF starts to move towards West from the East after capturing Mulathiv.
The success of SLDF in defeating LTTE in all fronts do not just lie on numerical superiority of the SLDF but of the combined efforts of all forces and specially strategies like the Navy sinking LTTE floating armories thousands of miles away off the shores of the country in International waters which had become more effective than the mendacious propaganda the Tamil Diaspora carried out in support of LTTE Terrorism thousands of miles away from Sri Lanka.
Edited By - magha - 14 Dec 2008 03:04:47 GMT |
magha
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14 Dec 2008 03:20:17 GMT Report for Abuse
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Army 59 division closing in on LTTE main military bastion - Mullaittivu
Army 59 Division soldiers after successfully clearing away LTTE hold in the Naganchola forest reserve are now entering into the Mullaittivu suburbs, reveal the defence sources.
Daylong offensives were carried out yesterday (Dec 12) by the 3 Brigades of the Division closing in on the LTTE's main military bastion in Mullaittivu, taking three different approaches .
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aruma
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 14 Dec 2008 20:40:51 GMT Report for Abuse
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After kissing..... its crawling !
Thats how things are happening !!
It is quite normal & nobody should make a fuss of it...
Many things can happen after crawling.
Edited By - aruma - 14 Dec 2008 20:41:58 GMT |
Erandaka
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 15 Dec 2008 04:17:40 GMT Report for Abuse
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The Kilinochchi town itself is spanned over 7 kms over the A9 route. It is not a small town. Entering to the town and kissing distance to the Kilinochchi town boudary are two different things. By this time SLA has entered (already kissed) to the Killi town boundary. That means they have entered to that 7 km circle. Now they are already within the 7 km city boundary and marching towards the heart of the city.
Please undestand the difference between the kissing distance and crawling to Killi.
Edited By - Erandaka - 15 Dec 2008 04:19:59 GMT |
Ruhunu
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15 Dec 2008 19:54:32 GMT Report for Abuse
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I would like to see a lot of confusing news put out by the SLDF, and then attack whereever it can kill the maximum while keeping our own casualities to a minimum.
Why should we give out our time table to the Enemy ? isn't it unwise and even criminal ????
Only a moron can claim that we have to be straight-talking about our next move ! |
Damed
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 15 Dec 2008 22:40:50 GMT Report for Abuse
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Killi will fall in time.
Do SLDF has to give a Time Frame or their Advance plans to worriers...?
Military strategies has paid off beyond expected...opening several fronts..useing small groups have exposed LTTE to the maximum.
Seems IC HR groups now turning tables on them.
As General SF said long before..never allow them to sleep.
Edited By - Damed - 15 Dec 2008 22:45:20 GMT |
vimukthi
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15 Dec 2008 23:22:07 GMT Report for Abuse
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| I beleive this is 'Take Killinochi: Act 3' isn't it? |
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