It can hardly be disputed that our armed forces have done a sterling job in overcoming the scourge of LTTE terrorism. By a display of competence tempered with compassion, courage and perseverance, excellent co-ordination and other ingredients for success, a foe that was almost universally pronounced to be invincible has been comprehensively trounced. Despite the incontrovertible evidence, clearly to be seen from battlefront releases,  incredulity and a subtle hostility is patent in the reaction of the so-called International Community. This is astonishing and deserves to be reflected upon.

The overwhelmingly popular notions are that this is born of envy, Western European imperialism, the machinations of the hidden hand of the CIA, evangelical zeal, bribery of UN officials or Western Ambassadors by the LTTE, deference of European politicians to the electoral strength of the Tamil Diaspora and so on.

It would be far more useful and productive to look inwards to seek reasons for our failure to earn well merited accolades for a near unique triumph. Let us face the cold and greatly unpalatable truth that the LTTE seems to enjoy incredible support and sympathy. How could this be so?

In understanding the Western psyche, two considerations are central. First, their inherent ethic favours the perceived underdog. Further, they are generally intolerant of falsehood. For instance, the fall from favour of powerful figures like Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, George Bush, John Profumo and others was not due solely to their indiscretions or incompetence but for the unpardonable mistake of lying to their legislatures.

We have seriously lost our credibility. Once lost, it is nearly impossible to regain. To illustrate the point in relation to recent events, I mention just two examples. There was considerable (and needless) debate on numbers of trapped civilians in the War Zone. Strong official issue was taken about estimates by responsible sources such as the UN, Human Rights groups and diplomatic missions.They claimed figures as high as  200,000, Official protestations were that this was a gross exaggeration and that in reality they were much less, only 50 to 60,000. Then suddenly it is claimed that 160,000 or more have come across to the safe zones, leaving about 50,000 still trapped!  Likewise, disclosure of casualties among our forces has been routinely avoided (reasons suggested for this are not impressive) until suddenly a figure of 24,000 is quoted (The Island , 3 May) to visiting inquisitors! Even the most flexible arithmetic would be hard put to cope with such inconsistencies.  In such circumstances, confidence in us must be sorely shaken.

 In contrast, it will be recalled that during World War II, Churchill is said to have ordered that the British public deserved to be kept honestly informed about progress - however disturbing and unpalatable the truth. This included not only candid admissions of Allied casualties, but even disclosure that intensive bombing of industrial and urban centres in Germany caused an estimated 30,000, mainly women and children to perish nightly! No attempt to conceal the painful truth. The irony is that now, descendants of the same people display tender concern for the "trapped civilians". Lost credibility deters us from reminding them of such duplicity!.

When honest and plausible facts are not available, it is "open season" for fabrications and crafty spin. International news media accessing  official sources for defence reports will soon abandon them as unreliable. In contrast, numerous LTTE sponsored sites, by craftily worded releases, supported by (perhaps faked) "evidence" stand out as more plausible and newsworthy - and that is what publicity is about!

Predictably, in a conflict both sides exaggerate, select news and lie. The LTTE has done all this far more extensively, consistently and effectively. Speedy communications, digital competence and professional approach have all helped.

Much evidence points to heavy rewarding of writers sympathetic to the terror cause and blame is directed in particular to our Embassies. Recent revelations of the doings of British MPs shows that not all rogues are brown-skinned! Much blame is reserved for our Embassies for not being proactive in countering the LTTE propaganda. The truth is that Ambassadors required to submit restaurant receipts and guest lists to obtain reimbursement of entertainment expenses - are hardly likely to have access to funds to oil palms if deemed useful! Our late Minister Mr Kadirgamar demonstrated eloquently what effective and courteous diplomacy was about. But a group unable to decide where to erect his statue with proper honour to a national hero, is unlikely to have imbibed much about his methods and style!

Courtesy and reasoned argument are the stuff of diplomacy. Instead, in a curious reversal of the Pavlovian reflex, some of our political leaders when given a microphone, start to bark! Favourable images are not created that way.

So, while argument rages about causes and cures of and for Sri Lanka's predicament, I am content to feel that in many ways, we are largely  the architects of our own failure. It seems that officialdom has read Dale Carnegie's book from cover to cover - but back to front!