From: Hector Poppen hecgar@rediffmail.com
Subject: BOUQUETS & BRICK BATS
To: kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in, rajkadyan@yahoo.com
Date: Monday, 18 May, 2009, 7:36 PM
Dear General Raj Kadyan & Brig Kmaboj,
There seems to be a lot of bouquets and brickbats thrown at both of you mainly from Army Officers. I have hardly seen an Air Force or Naval Officer giving his view. While everyone is free to give his opinion, it would have been nice to keep the background on which the IESM office bearers took the political decision, before making derogatory remarks.
I have learnt in the Staff Colege that a "bad?!!" decision taken on time is more important than a "right?!" decision taken after much deliberation and consideration of all relevant aspects. As service officers we know that decisions in battle have to be taken by the commander on the spot and not after consulting the 'whole world". Hence your decisions right or wrong were taken at a time when it was required. So what if it was not the "right" decsion??. Right or wrong is only relevant to the situation. What would all these officers have said if BJP had come to power? The mettle of a good officer is that, he considers the suggestions of his subordinates but finally he takes the decision. So the core group took the decision. You don't have to be apologetic about it.
We have only lost a battle. The long war is still to be won. So let's regroup, replan, redeploy and execute fresh battle plans.
Good luck & God bless.
Cdr Hector Poppen (Retd)
Dubai, UAE
