Y I Patel wrote:I suspect that G’s goal in becoming Ambassador to India was to affect a political makeover from being a huge China supporter. That is something he shares with a large chunk of American establishment.
Of course local politics is impacting international relations. On G's goal it may be that they are looking at a political makeover from being a China supporter to India supporter, but why? and why now?
My line of thought is contrarian. And several threads are intertwined. Politics, Economics, Strategic alliances and Tactical cooperation.
1. They do not want a small but powerful base shifting to Republicans. Trump started the shift, and in several local areas it is accelerating. Hence the political makeover.
2.
Leverage on India. What are the soft and hard options to gain leverage? In any business negotiations, what are your leverage? Similarly, in any geo-political discussions, what are your leverages*?
*What are the soft and hard leverages? How will you affect an outcome that puts you in better negotiating position. Hence the constant drumbeat about "Democracy in danger", "minorities need a voice", "no room for dissent" etc.
2a. The soft leverages are listed above. That include taking all paths to push India into a corner. Show India more of a 3rd world basket case country which needs help, particularly monetary help (and intertwining US NGO army will provide the help at 90% cut and extending the leverage of the establishment locally within US and into India).**
2b. A great hard leverage will be to actually affect political outcomes. Remember the visits by Hillary Clinton and Victoria Nuland. To W.Bengal. TN. Gujarat. Support for Pappu and his PappuGanda (Propaganda).
2c. A spectacular hard leverage will be the ability to actually create and exploit fissures. The question we should ask ourselves is this: Is Pax Americana a zero sum game? Or can it become Pax Indo-Americana?
3. Economic/Business leverage. This is very simple. If Amazons, Teslas, Microsofts, GEs, Boeings etc can sell goods and services to Indians in India without having to make a local effort (zero cost, max profit), then they will strive to do so. What is the leverage that China has on Tesla which India does not have?
4. Strategic alliances. US is slowly coming to the realization that it cannot have a lone ranger "my way or highway" strategy. It needs strategic alliances for the next 30-40 years. But how will you bag an elephant like India on to your corner? Hence the hits on GHGs (methane from cows included)/environment/pollution (see Niki Haley's comments), Gas to europeon gas bags etc.
5. Tactical alliances. What happens if some indonesian renegades with help from cambodia and myanmar rebels supported by Cheen land up in western australia? Not feasible? Remember Maldives? How can Diego Garcia be protected?
*Several of Indian immigrants are first generation techies and not used to the sales bargaining tactics. Few have reached to CEO levels, but we are underrepresented in sales. And that is where the negotiation tactics and strategy are honed. Thankfully, GOI has a master salesperson at helm with a superlative team. Even a billionaire ex-president vouched for him and his team.
** At one point, I was associated with a NGO funded by Ford Foundation. And yes, if you hear the term "5* NGO", moi have coined it. I have seen how 5* NGOs work.
Disha unfortunately this exchange with Amber is becoming blue on blue at a personal level. As another resident of LA famously said, can’t we just get along?
YIP, I need help. I really need help on the following:
1. Raise voice and concern about thousands of Indians stuck in the "waiting for green card" loop. Every time any US politician stands up for illegal immigrant from south, they also need to acknowledge the legal and contributing to US economy positively immigrants and their plight and strive to do something about it. Solutions abound. To start with US politicians need to start talking about it. And for that the Desi base in US needs to show some spine.
1a. It is a mere artifact that the visa appointment times are so long. It might be fine with some, but it is not fine since a very large group is impacted. This has created lot of angst between Indians and Americans.
2. Raise voice and concern about immature hits both locally and internationally. For example, the SB403 caste bill in CA. What does it do? Why no panel of intellectual Indians in high offices came out against that bill? Why no CEO is talking about it? What about the immature hit jobs from NYTimes, WaPo, WSJ?
3. Last thing desis in US must become is a votebank. There are several tactical and strategic areas where a win-win-win outcome actually works (unlike zero sum outcome, my win must be at your loss).
4. Acknowledge that E. G from LA is a Pappu. GOI will definitely entertain him. Too bad that Appu Ghar in Delhi does not exist. GoI could have given him a tour of Appu Ghar. Like it did to Australian Foreign Minister (higher in rank than US Ambassador) post '98.