Tired asked: "How does one defang the Maobaadi? What are the possible action-plans or strategies?" Defanging does NOT mean going for ONLY gun-against-gun solutions. As Alexander the Great has shown, when it comes to winning battles in inhospitable terrains and against brutal enemies, brainpower (re: what is to be done and what is not to be done) counts much more than mere sword-wielding antics. I'll leave it to the King and his advisors to devise ways to get Nepal OUT of the Maoist mess, since they have PUBLICLY taken this responsibility upon themselves. They apper to have realized that military solution is not enough; and like the rest of ther world, I am hoping (with increasing impatience) that the King has some sort of a trump card. Optimistimally, maybe only a scheming and devious Panchayati mind such as that of Tulsi Giri can understand the scheming and the devious mind of Maoists Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Babu Ram Bhattarai. Pessimistically though, the deeper the present Council of Ministers gets into the business of 'good governance' and other unsustainably populist programs, the further it will neglect the most important task at hand: Dealing with the Maoists. **** 2. What will be difference to me, a citizen, between the current regime and the Maobaadi regime if they were to win? The New Review of Books recently carried an article that said that in North Korea, people fight with one another to bribe to go and work in Siberian Labour Camps, which are some of the most inhumane places in the world. The reasoning those lucky enough to be chosen to work in Siberia use is that at least being in Siberia is better than being in North Korea. I'd say that being with the Maoists is like being trapped in North Korea. oohi ashu