India-US Strategic News and Discussion

Roperia · Post by **Roperia** » 06 May 2012 10:15

Teesta treaty high on agenda as Clinton arrives in Kolkata today

This is a welcome news but also highlights that there is no leadership at the center. The union leaders are sitting in Delhi for the sake of sitting. This should have been done by consultations among the affected state and center, and not a foreign country's secretary.

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 06 May 2012 15:22

Roperia wrote:Teesta treaty high on agenda as Clinton arrives in Kolkata today

This is a welcome news but also highlights that there is no leadership at the center. The union leaders are sitting in Delhi for the sake of sitting. This should have been done by consultations among the affected state and center, and not a foreign country's secretary.

Americans interfering on this - sounds novel.

Yogi_G · Post by **Yogi_G** » 06 May 2012 19:52

BD-India unity is of high imp to Khan. Only recently a major arms shipment scandal emanated which had distinct ISI footprints. The BD govt was clearly on India's side that time. Khan needs to keep ISI isolated within TSP.

abhischekcc · Post by **abhischekcc** » 06 May 2012 23:11

Uncle does not want BD to fall to China.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 06 May 2012 23:13

It's in our interest to keep the current BD govt in power whether by hook or by crook. We can use it to help resolve the NE issues and stabilise the NE.

With Myanmar we should do is to remove the SIGINT station at coco islands that was destroyed in the tsunami. In a future conflict, A&N command will probably over run the island as A&N naval assets would be subject to possible SF strike.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 May 2012 23:32

Myanmar is steadily drifting out of chinese orbit towards the west and by implication good for India. US seems interested in making sure myanmar and BD do not open a new chinese breakout front in the south. carrots will be thrown liberally I am sure.

they seem to have managed to put a lid on the kra canal proposal also, using the pro-west thai govt:
In 2005 an internal report prepared for U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was leaked to The Washington Times, spelling out China's strategy of underwriting construction of the canal across the Kra Isthmus complete with Chinese port facilities and refineries, as part of its "string of pearls" strategy of forward bases and energy security.[5] The Chinese plan called for construction over ten years employing roughly 30,000 workers and costing between 20 and 25 billion American dollars

Lilo · Post by **Lilo** » 07 May 2012 00:11

Singha wrote:Myanmar is steadily drifting out of chinese orbit towards the west and by implication good for India....

abhischekcc wrote:Uncle does not want BD to fall to China.

We donot want BD to fall to Unkil either.

US military base in Bangladesh?

..............Earlier, the US Ambassador, Mr Dan W Mozana, had also denied that any such a proposal had been made to Bangladesh. Still doubts are being raised nearer home. It needs to be recalled that US in the past had proposed the setting up of a military base in Bangladesh, and every time the proposal was made, it had faced domestic resistance in the country. Before Bangladesh attained Independence in 1971, the US, in 1969, first proposed to help the freedom fighters, and in return demanded that they hand over the St Martin Island in the Bay of Bengal to them for opening a base. The freedom movement declined the proposal. In the post-Independence period, the US made a similar request in 1974, but Mujibur Rahman, the then leader of Bangladesh, declined it again. During military ruler HM Ershad’s regime in 1984, the US expressed its interest in obtaining landing facilities for the Seventh Fleet aircraft. However, it could not progress much as the Chittagong port was found unfit for berthing large warships.

In 1998, the US proposed that Bangladesh sign the Status of the Force Agreement (SOFA), but the people of Bangladesh expressed their reservations. Under SOFA, the US troops would have enjoyed unhindered access to Bangladesh in times of emergency without having to comply with even visa and passport formalities. Equipment and supply would have been allowed to be brought in without being subject to customs formalities. But this was not received well in Bangladesh and was seen as a sovereignty issue. Although the US clarified that SOFA was not conceived as a military pact that would facilitate establishment of a US military base in Bangladesh, the people were not convinced.

Bangladesh’s strategic location makes the US to turn to this country, often. It is located between China and India, the two emerging powers and also has access to the sea (This is what was alluded by Hillary yesterday when she spoke about BD's strategic location . She wants BD to be a rentier state ala Pakis for the next 50 years , and unkil wants BD to playwith and playoff both India and China against each other). ............
A US military base would have helped not only increase the American footprint in South Asia, but it would have also helped to watch China and India closely. Again, as the US plans to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan, Bangladesh could have been an ideal location to place a portion of them in the region, other than Pakistan with whom its relations are becoming increasingly strained.

The Bangladesh-US relationship itself had a shaky beginning, with the US supporting Pakistan initially during the ‘Bangladesh’s Liberation War’ of 1971. But now, the relationship has come a long way and the two countries share a friendly relations. Now, the US is one of the major trading partners of Bangladesh. The US is the largest export destination for Bangladesh products, with trade heavily tilted towards Bangladesh. Also, the US is a major development partner of Bangladesh. The US assistance to Bangladesh supports health, education and economic development programmes. Besides, defence cooperation between the two countries is very close. Since the Seventies, officers of the Bangladesh Army are receiving training from the US through International Military Education Training Programme. The two countries are regularly taking part in joint military exercises

paramu · Post by **paramu** » 07 May 2012 03:41

Myanmar is steadily drifting out of chinese orbit towards the west and by implication good for India....

This implication cannot be seen as good for India since India is soverign. Unless you see India as a US client state
then your post may be right

Roperia · Post by **Roperia** » 07 May 2012 10:50

Absolutely brilliant conversation. Must watch! Lot of pertinent issues regarding Indo-US ties were raised and Secretary Clinton was very forthright.

Three cheers for the intellectual audience of Kolkata.

Video Hillary Clinton in conversation with Kolkata

You can read the highlights of the session here - Hillary Clinton on FDI, Mamata, Hafiz Saeed and outsourcing, if you don't want to or can't watch the video.

gunjur · Post by **gunjur** » 07 May 2012 11:56

Record number of Indian-Americans in race for US Congress

A record number of Indian Americans - at least 12 - are in the fray for the November 2012 polls vying for a place in the House of Representative

majority of the Indian-American candidates are running for the Congress on a Democratic Party ticket. Indian-Americans have been traditional supporters of the Democratic party, an indication of which comes from a recent survey according to which as many as 85 per cent of the Indian Americans favour re-election of President Barack Obama.

Among the Indian-American candidates seeking election for the US House of Representatives on a Democratic Party ticket are Upendra Chivukula from New Jersey, Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois, K P George from Texas, Ami Bera from California, Manan Trivedi from Pennsylvania, Syed Taj from Michigan and Vipin Verma from Florida. Darshan Rauniyar from Washington, though from Nepal, is considered Indian-American by many. Hansen Clarke and Tulsi Gabbard are also from the Democratic Party. Young and dynamic Ranjit "Ricky" Gill from California and Ron Bhalla from Tenesse are the two Indian-American candidates in the fray from the Republican Party.

abhischekcc · Post by **abhischekcc** » 07 May 2012 13:05

Drug laden Myanmar has opened up just in time as US forces withdraw/retreat from drug laden Afghanistan.

US, like the British empire before it, always needs to have a drug producing region in its influence.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 07 May 2012 16:40

Not really true - see HITRON. It's too expensive to control the drug problem.

Lilo · Post by **Lilo** » 07 May 2012 16:55

Roperia wrote:Absolutely brilliant conversation. Must watch! Lot of pertinent issues regarding Indo-US ties were raised and Secretary Clinton was very forthright.

Three cheers for the intellectual audience of Kolkata.

IMHO only last two questions were worthwhile - the ones asked by the schoolkids ,beginning in the final quarter of the video - for which Hillary sold the case against Iran to India all the while contradicting her earlier stated position of "deciding based on facts" rather than neocon ideology .
With burkha massaging her ego at every turn Hillary had it quite easy.

Dipanker · Post by **Dipanker** » 07 May 2012 18:22

Is US exerting pressure on Center by showing interest in Mamta? Weakness of UPA II is so easily exploitable, it's not even funny!

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 07 May 2012 22:15

Why do you think Mamata was on Time most influential list?

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 07 May 2012 22:40

They have found that Indians have a weakness for flattery.
This was discovered by the British and they used it to the early leaders of congress before ind.

Vikram.G · Post by **Vikram.G** » 07 May 2012 22:56

Jayalalitha - check
Mamata - check
Who's next? Nitish?

Lilo · Post by **Lilo** » 07 May 2012 23:30

Vikram.G wrote:Jayalalitha - check
Mamata - check
Who's next? Nitish?

Welcome,
below is a replug of a recent video on the troubles in US-India relations and on "how to move them forward" ....

Diane Farrell of U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) - takes a view that US has to deal with individual states within India for opening up the next set of "business opportunites".
Hillary is doing just that.

For some reason US foreign policymakers are nolonger necessiated to keep the dealings in a single window.
Maybe the new found networking capabilities of West through the social media revolution as demonstrated in Arab "Spring" and trial runned in Indian context in last year's Anna campaign - is the reason for this change.

Hillary even hints at this in the first question from audience in the burkha video, when she talks about america "reaching out" to Indian youth in the grassroots through social media - she even solicits other innovative ways to do so !!

In context a quote from R.N.Kao memorial lecture by Naresh Chandra

.....A revolution in communication and the tremendous expansion of the internet has created a new situation. The utility of monitoring telephonic conversation or intercepting messages on wireless is hardly sufficient any more. Besides the print media and TV, the social media has now a reach which runs into millions with extremely fast communication capable of creating a surge of public opinion and movement faster than any government agency can monitor, let alone control. We have seen highly centralized governments taken by surprise on movements springing on to the streets in unexpectedly large numbers united with a common intent. This is a new destabilizing phenomenon, but the impact of such events is fortunately less in democracies where the media is free and open. (this last line is probably in deference to media personalities present there .. BUT we all know the actual situation)

Altair · Post by **Altair** » 07 May 2012 23:31

If Congress does not make numbers for forming UPA3 then Mamata and Jaya might lend support for NDA. Does US want them to support NDA at center OR they want euro trash at center?

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 07 May 2012 23:32

They want easy access to all of India and Indian people market with all the sanctions against India and contraints on India.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 07 May 2012 23:35

Altair wrote:If Congress does not make numbers for forming UPA3 then Mamata and Jaya might lend support for NDA. Does US want them to support NDA at center OR they want euro trash at center?

They dont care as long as their interest is served.

By denying visa to one group they are actually playing inside the Indian politics.
By showing favors to one state and ignoring other states they want to change the dynamics.

Roperia · Post by **Roperia** » 07 May 2012 23:54

While Hilary flatters Indians, Washinton Post warns India of sanctions in no uncertain terms.

Damn they have toned down this article, it was much more strong before.

Added later, here is the original article that appeared before

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7

Here is the toned down article

Clinton arrives in India, urges cooperation on Iran

ShyamSP · Post by **ShyamSP** » 08 May 2012 00:11

Acharya wrote:
Altair wrote:If Congress does not make numbers for forming UPA3 then Mamata and Jaya might lend support for NDA. Does US want them to support NDA at center OR they want euro trash at center?
They dont care as long as their interest is served.

By denying visa to one group they are actually playing inside the Indian politics.
By showing favors to one state and ignoring other states they want to change the dynamics.

UPA is sold out so US may want to continue with UPA and deal with NDA as it has some uncontrollable elements that can throw surprises. They may accommodate Mamata into UPA with some new terms or larger role. Congress losing seats to 130-150 while its allies gaining so UPA slice stays close to same is what they may want instead of NDA in 2014.

paramu · Post by **paramu** » 08 May 2012 01:27

Without the image enhancer

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 08 May 2012 01:53

Roperia wrote:While Hilary flatters Indians, Washinton Post warns India of sanctions in no uncertain terms.

Damn they have toned down this article, it was much more strong before.

Added later, here is the original article that appeared before

Page 1

Clinton arrives in India, urges cooperation on Iran

One is the global audience and readers.

The other one is for the internet audience and Indian readers.

The global audience have to get the image that US policy has no objections by nations considered friendly to US

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 08 May 2012 02:27

^^^ Closest to being called American Evita.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 08 May 2012 04:29

A 2006 Google book link

US- India Strategic Cooperation into the 21 century

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 08 May 2012 06:32

Hillary, Mamata discussed FDI in retail, says US

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 08 May 2012 06:50

Anyone have any opinion on Nye Jr's book "The future of power"? Am considering buying via flipkart. TIA for any useful comments.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 08 May 2012 07:37

Hillary:
"She came,she saw,she concurred"....with Mamta!

HC's visits to the subcontinent have been in recent times been mischievous.The last time round she saw the queen of TN and lo and behold,the ruling entity started off on an anti-SL campaign clamouring about human rights influencing the Geneva vote.Now that the Commies have been ousted form their bastion of Bengal,HC and the US are trying to seize the opportunity by cosying up with UPA coalition partner Mamta, promising investment for a nod for the controversial retail FDI.

More insidious however is the issue of relations with Pak,which the US and its puppet PM,Dr.Singh are preparing the way for an alleged sell-out of the nation on Siachen.According to the latest IT cover report ,the "prize" for MMS if he achieves this (to benefit Pak) will get a (ig)nobel prize for "peace"! The groundwork is being laid and just as many on BR have suspected quite some time ago,it is the US which from the infamous S-Al-S summit and the entry of Baluchistan onto the table,the plot has been thickening for another list of would-be traitors to sell out the nation,this time to our mortal enemy Pak,which has done b*gger all about stopping anti-Indian terrorism ,or brought to justice the perpetrators of 26/11.Sadly,none of our politicos have told HC to her face what a stinking hypocrite she is.The quisling virus is contagious within the Indian parliament.

Lilo · Post by **Lilo** » 08 May 2012 10:27

x-post
A full blast of Psyops by Bloomberg on "India's" Drug resistant bacteria.

Drug-Defying Germs From India Speed Post-Antibiotic Era

The article was quickly pushed up to the most read on the site.
It's a long seven page article and yet didn't contain a single quote from any eminent Indian practitioner of medicine on the veracity of these claims that india is the "source" for these "mysterious" germs (eek!).

Any gyaan from hakims in the know on how these campaigns are affecting the medical tourism industry ??

shyam · Post by **shyam** » 08 May 2012 10:31

Bloomberg is in a top gear campaign

Kashmir Is Killing India’s Military and Democracy

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 08 May 2012 10:47

shyam wrote:Bloomberg is in a top gear campaign
Kashmir Is Killing India’s Military and Democracy

The author is Pankaj Mishra, so no need to read the whole article and waste time .

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 08 May 2012 11:10

http://www.federalobserver.com/2010/02/ ... residency/

Washington, DC – Congress announced today (President’s Day), that the Office of the Presidency of the United States of America will be outsourced to India, as of March 1, 2011.

The move is being made, in order to save the President’s $500,000 yearly salary, and also a record $750 billion in defecit expenditures, and related overhead, that his office has incurred over the past months.

Roperia · Post by **Roperia** » 08 May 2012 12:19

Highlights: SM Krishna-Hillary Clinton address joint press press conference

Keywords: Trade, Investments, Civil nuclear deal, Pak, Iran, Afghanistan, Strategic dialogue in June etc.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 08 May 2012 12:23

Hafiz Saeed bounty proves our solidarity with India

SoS Hillary has said this but was denied by SD last week or so.
What is this?

nvishal · Post by **nvishal** » 08 May 2012 12:36

It these reports are true then we might be seeing a policy shift in the way the US talks diplomacy to india.

Hilary clinton visiting india to offer threats is no different than american leaders visiting pakistan and threatening them.

The bottom line is that india is not a US ally.

1) India doesn't have an obligation to isolate iran(123 agreement is not important)
2) India doesn't have an obligation to give US an economic opportunity(FDI) in india. It must not let itself become another manufacturing destination like china is to the US.

abhischekcc · Post by **abhischekcc** » 08 May 2012 13:23

Nope, India is fast becoming a manufacturing hub for Japan

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 08 May 2012 14:40

and south korea

nvishal · Post by **nvishal** » 08 May 2012 14:51

^both those states are US allies and will walk as per the masters tune.

The policy is supposed to keep the indian economy domestic and pure domestic. If we enter into economic arrangements with other states{a X buys and Y sells setup} then we will essentially be outsourcing a part of our foreign policy. It has to be avoided.