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coordinated and focused effort. Nothing will fall through the cracks any more.’ The PM saw the expressions on the faces of the others and added, ‘Look, I don't want anyone to worry; the NIC will not infringe on the scope or resources of any state or agency except to prevent duplication and wastage of efforts.’
    ‘Okay! Who do you have in mind to take charge of the NIC?’ the Home Minister queried. One could see the politicking starting in his mind almost immediately. ‘I think the best person would be….’ No one would know who he was going to suggest because the PM did not allow him to complete the sentence.
    ‘I was thinking of bringing in G.K. Rao and appointing him as the National Intelligence Advisor.’
    Every single person in that room knew about Rao. After all, the man was a legend in intelligence circles. He was also known to be totally above politics of any kind.
    ‘Well…’ the Home Minister said reluctantly, almost grudgingly. ‘Rao would be quite… umm… ideal for the job… undoubtedly.’
    ‘True. He also gets along well with Narayan, the National Security Advisor.’
    The instant nods of approval across the room confirmed that the PM had chosen wisely.
    ‘Good! That's settled then. We shall invite Rao to come on board as the NIA effective immediately,’ the PM said firmly. ‘I am going to tell him to first give all of us a presentation on the prevalent global situation.’
    ‘We are going to be taught international relations and geopolitics now?’ the Home Minister murmured. There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
    ‘No harm in that… is there?’ the PM asked, conveniently ignoring the sarcasm.
    On that note, the meeting broke up.
    STRIDING OUT OF THE MEETING, THE PM HEADED STRAIGHT for his office. He was reaching for the phone even before he sat down. ‘Dhawan,’ he said into the phone when his Principal Secretary answered. ‘I want you to get hold of Colonel Anbu for me.’
    Precisely seven minutes later, the PM's phone rang and Anbu's courteous voice greeted him at the other end.
    ‘Good afternoon, Colonel,’ the PM responded warmly. ‘How are we doing today?’ He seemed genuinely glad to be talking to him. It was no secret that after the successful retaliatory strike carried out by Force 22 inside Pakistan in the wake of the Delhi bomb blasts of October 2005, the PM had taken an inordinate liking for the perpetually cool, no-nonsense Colonel and respected his judgment.
    ‘Very well, thank you, sir.’
    ‘Excellent!’ The PM got straight to the point. ‘Have you been through the White Paper that was circulated by the RAW chief last month?’
    ‘Yes sir, I have.’
    ‘And? What do you think of it?’
    ‘I think there is substantial merit in what has been pointed out,’ Anbu replied. ‘Despite everything that has been done over the past few years, our intelligence services are still very badly fragmented and disorganized. Too much intelligence is just slipping through the cracks.’ As usual Anbu's tone was soft, but totally confident. ‘That is why we have been let down at crucial junctures so often.’
    ‘I agree with you,’ the PM said. ‘That's why I have decided to go ahead and order the National Intelligence Command to be set up.’
    ‘That's an excellent decision, sir,’ Anbu exclaimed. ‘But you're going to have a hard time selling it to the states.’
    ‘As usual you get straight to the point.’ The PM laughed. ‘No, you can bet the states are not going to like it.’ He paused introspectively. ‘But I don't think we have too many options available… not if we want our intelligence up to speed and able to deal with the huge threats to national security that are emerging daily… especially of the terrorist kind.’
    ‘Very true sir, otherwise the day is not too far when India will suffer a 9/11 of her own.’
    ‘Precisely! That is why I have decided to go ahead with the NIC and I am bringing in G.K. Rao as the National Intelligence Advisor to