India-US Relations : News and Discussion

krisna · Post by **krisna** » 22 Nov 2014 03:43

Modi has stumped his bitterest critics. He has fingered them royally.

without ever making life tough for them like congis do in a negative way. IOW he has rendered them toothless from time to time. more and more Indians are mocking at them making them more irrelevant with passage of time.

He won his PMship thru hard work and dedication to his nation.
Next he went on a foreign tours to capture the goodwill during the "honeymoon" period. Most of them successful. he also laid his contours for the foreign policy for years to come(hope so)
Now he has invited POTUS to India for republic day function which is a contiuation of the above.

My hunch is first year or 2 he will be dividing his time in foreign lands to give shape to his policies to help India economically and staretgically also. Remainder 2-3 years of his term he will utilise them to make sure his plans succeed to a major extent for re election and progress of India. During this time his ministers will go on foreign tours to keep the pace and interest.
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whatever Ombaba is for the remainder of his term. Getting a POTUS to India is a big thing for an average Indian used to look at america for everything- NaMo has already met Ombaba recently. In a shortwhile meeting again on reciprocal basis is stupendous to say the least. This is form a man despised world over esp USA. If non NaMo had done this- it was so so. but coming from NaMo with his unfortunate and baseless allegation it is a huge huge PLUS for both NaMo and India.

Ombaba may not do much to impress NaMo, but NaMo would want stuff for Indian benefit.

This time uncle may have met its match in NaMo.

--------------------------
Devayani case should not be spoken at all times for each and every thing related to Indo- us relations. The effects would be felt in apropriate time. NaMo would make sure it happens ( my firm belief onlee)

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 22 Nov 2014 03:47

Karan M wrote:
Cosmo_R wrote:^^^ This is not the time to be inviting Putin to R-Day. If we want everyone from the US, EU, Japan and Oz mad at us, he's the go to guy.
Or we can tell the world we are an independent nation and don't do suck up. We just want to be fraands with everyone, facebook style.

In the past 8 years, being everyones dogsbody didn't really endear us to anyone. Playing by their rules and being the good guy wont do much. The PRC doesn't care a darn about what others think.

The problem with this is that is remarkably like the 'Strategic Defiance' of Mirza Aslam Beg or Oppositional defiant disorder.

All in all, not caring what friendly states think is like negotiating with a gun to one's own head.

The secret is the economy. The US built up China and PRC played long and now can flex muscle. Poking the US, Germany, Japan, and the EU won't help our economy.

When we get bigger and have $3Tn in reserves accumulated through trade surpluses, then we can keep the index finger oiled and ready.

Obama's presence will light the way for strong US support for India to be on the expanded UNSC and while many here don't consider that very important, the GoI does---Kashmir.

That's a lot more than Putin brings us. Maybe 2016.

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 22 Nov 2014 03:49

@ krisna^^ +1

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 22 Nov 2014 03:51

While everyone has to do their part to save the planet from CO2, read this:
http://www.juancole.com/2014/11/dioxide ... phere.html
take a look at this, and keep your eye on India.

Also read this.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/1 ... agreement/

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 22 Nov 2014 04:08

Cosmo saar, I think you are worrying too much about how the rest of the world can somehow manage India when they haven't been able to rein in even lameduck Govts beyond a point.

Please take a step back and think of it this way. What was the point of the reflexive comparison to Pakistan?

So an India standing up for its interests & seeking an independent policy by inviting Putin, leader of a nation with whom we share a deep strategic partnership, from whom we source the bulk of our military equipment, a country which still has huge energy and mineral supplies, has international heft & deep contacts ww, makes India Pakistan?

Are you going to call the US names because they invited Gen Raheel Sharif, Musharraf etc and put out a dog and pony show for him?

So these are the actions of a "friendly nation"?
http://www.cgdev.org/page/aid-pakistan-numbers

Or are they the actions of an independent nation which does what it wants without caring a farthing for Indias strategic calculus?
So why exactly does it matter if India too behaves the same way?

Even that aside, your comparison is flawed because if there is one nation which has cocked a snook at the west and made mucho dinero out of them its Pakistan. Check the numbers above.

Has the Pakistanis SD as you refer to hurt them, or made them get more US aid? Of course, they pay a limited price in drone strikes, perception etc. They couldnt care less.

We need to be forthright and stop being poodles. You are saying not caring what friendly states think - err, when did these states become friendly? They are states with their own national interests and have been very condescending to India in the not so recent past.

They only respect strength.

Till yesterday, Chinese were the "yellow weak Chinamen". Now they are to be respected etc since their strength is obvious and the condescension has given way to fear.

Till yesterday, India was being ignored. Now Modi is being feted. What changed? Or is it they realize he is a strong leader and not a lameduck poodle?

Our advantage is China is throwing its weight around. If we play our cards well, we can be the folks to benefit.

Hence, not necessary that we have to be obsequious.

Similarly, if a forthright Modi meets Putin & does not kowtow to western or eastern Interests but only keeps Indian interests paramount, builds Indian national strength then he will elicit more respect than some gungadin PM thinking some states are to be assuaged - the kind of person our ex PM MMS was.

If a strong competent Indian admin makes Indian economy more vibrant by easing local rules and clearing up red tape, then investments will come in. Sucking up to the west, whilst things remain haywire wont do much. OTOH, there is ample evidence to suggest that if we get our local stuff fixed, then things will improve and investment will come in when there is money to be (mutually) made.

Also, the time has long gone past where the US or any other nation can do much to India in Kashmir or anywhere else. A strong central Govt can do a lot. The periphery is to be brought in line next. That is what Amit Shah is doing.

The Robin Raphaels and Clintonistas couldn't do diddly squat against the average Indian jawan then. They can't do anything now.

Next, the UNSC. Nobody is ever going to give that to us if we act nicey nice. Period. We are too independent in terms of actions and they know it.

As we rise in power, they will perforce try to get us within the tent to p!ss out as versus being outside, p!ssing in.

Its a matter of time. Most of our issues are self created, and they can be resolved within as well.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 22 Nov 2014 04:12

BTW, the entire point of Modis ww tours, the first visit to Japan, his Euro leader meetings, his visit to Aus is reinforcing the message that there is more to the world than just the US. His rockstar appearance in Madison was ditto - I am here, and I dont give a fig how you think I should be treated, this is what I can do & deserve.

Its the complete opposite of your "be quiet, lest others get offended" business.

I submit to you, that Modi will get along well with Putin. Both know exactly what they want, for their respective nations & keep their countries interests paramount.

The invitation to Ombaba is ditto. Its exactly on the lines of how the PRC made villagers line up with placards and balloons to make visiting western CEOs feel happy. That personal connect drove business. Even as China remained under ostensible western mil sanctions and bought tons of Russian gear.

Pakistan (since you brought it up) put on a show for specific US mil folks and reaped the benefits even as their ISI goons attacked US troops in Afghanistan.

So, really striking personal rapports with ALL leaders is only going to help India.

Not by being a nice little obedient person who only stands in the western camp

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 22 Nov 2014 04:28

^^^ CO2/NASA.. what is not making sense to me is plants are green (deciduous ones) and plays little role in the consumption of C02.. the summer months are still lot more red than winter months where plants normally shed off leaves... let us take the 4 season climate zone or amriikhan land for analyzing this.

also notice, himalayas does divert many of the CO2 little differently thus playing a big role.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 22 Nov 2014 06:15

Joy!! The Intrepid Preet Bharara to the Rescue!

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 22 Nov 2014 06:25

And is this

or what? POTUS Obama to be visiting with Furriner Criminals.

Hope NaMo is also inviting Comrade Putin to sit up there, and BareChest Abbott ul Kangaroostani for the R-Day Parade Buffoon Float. Nawaz Sharif could be given the shovel and bucket to follow the elephants and horses.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 22 Nov 2014 07:21

How the wheel has turned.Many years ago it was a starry eyed "Snake-oil Singh" visiting the White House as Dubya's guest where he gushed "India loves you" to his bewildered host! Behaving as if he was a White House butler,Snake-oil bowed,genuflected and virtually prostrated India in obeisance to Uncle Sam. That was at a time when the US actually needed India as much as we did.It was open doors for the US robber barons who had access to all corners of the Lutyens establishment.Dubya was a strong US pres. and later on,Snake-oil became a lame duck PM par excellence,whose overseas jaunts accompanied by a cacophony of silence were hardly noticed.

Today we have a magnificent ,confident PM Modi, striding across the world stage as once Panditji and Indira did, Rajiv and ABV too to an extent-they had less time at the top, announcing to all concerned that the world's largest democracy and civilization spanning millennia was no longer in purdah but ready to take its rightful seat at the high table of the comity of top drawer nations as an equal, not as a footman. Our respected guest however is at the fag end of his career,with the lowest ever ratings for a US president,the lame duck of lame ducks,upon whom lady luck has withheld her bounteous favours. A desperate man whose presidential decree allowing in millions of illegals mainly Hispanics ,legitimacy and the right to stay,has enraged the opposition who have called him behaving like an emperor and are vowing to defeat his designs.O'Bomber has seen the sad retreat of the US from the world's most fierce hotspots,which it created in the first place. Its legacy in the Middle East and Islamic world has been one of destruction and death...in the millions. On a BBC world affairs programme recently, the senior journos assembled were unable to come up with the name of even one nation where US led western military intervention had been a success, except for ......Tunisia!

B.Hussein O'Bomber must've leapt out of his seat at the invitation from the Indian PM.In the recent US elections, Democratic candidates made it clear that they did not want him anywhere there constituencies so as to harm their chances .Even staying away,the democrats suffered huge defeats and the Republicans now control both the House and Senate,which will roast the "lame duck" alive! In honest truth,O'Bomber's presidency is,fini,finito,finished. Frankly,Mr.Modi should've waited and invited O'Bomber's successor instead,that "leader of the free world" basking in the glory of victory and whose presidential career would be on the upswing,instead of watching the sad spectacle of a US president in terminal decline heading for the black hole of the dustbin of history.

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 22 Nov 2014 07:22

BTW..(xpost)
WASHINGTON: Hours after the White House publicly confirmed that President Obama will be the chief guest at India's Republic Day, the US president phoned Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to tell him that Washington values its ties with Islamabad.

Read about it..http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 237122.cms

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 22 Nov 2014 07:25

O'Bomber's Freudian slip.The US and Pak are joined not at the hip but at the genitals. They love doing their dirty business together and the Yanquis need a willing rent boy to afterwards wipe their ass!

member_28803 · Post by **member_28803** » 22 Nov 2014 10:15

Did anyone notice the wording of Modiji's message, "....we hope to have a friend over...."

UK, France, etc, are considered allies but India, under Modiji, seems to be saying we can be friends where our interests converge, but we won't blindly peddle your agenda...

Am I reading too much into one tweet?

Cain Marko · Post by **Cain Marko** » 22 Nov 2014 10:21

Tremendous maturity and statesmanship by Modi, the ball is squarely in US court now. Modi and India are willing to let bygones be; what is the US capable of,? now is the time for Obama to truly make his mark and for the US to develop the partnership for their future in this century.

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 22 Nov 2014 18:31

@Karan_M ^^^ You have more bandwidth than I do. Instead of getting into the interminable point by point stuff, let me have Ajit Doval convey what I tried to earlier:

"India has to be prepared for a two-front war and build deterrence that ensures conflict is not an option for its adversaries, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval said at the Hindustan Times Leadership summit on Saturday."

“Economic development is the best way to ensure security and 9% growth will make us totally secure,” Doval said. “A strong economy is the surest means of protecting the country and creates vested interests which will ensure India’s protection.”

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-new ... 88902.aspx

If we have to be prepared for a two front war, how many more fronts do we want to open up? Modi is going bring us into a closer relationship with the US/Japan/OZ—countries we need on our side.

Putin will be eating popcorn in the event of an India-PRC/Pak donnybrook.

You cannot achieve these obvious goals by pi$$ing into the tent on the assertion that being a good boy never got us anywhere in the past.

On related note, Putin was the RDday chief guest in 2007.

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 22 Nov 2014 19:25

SSJi, here are the views of this Klugelman dude after visiting India. Maybe its a tube light moment, I don't know, but he does get a ear full from Indians that so long as TSP is US's munna despite its use of terror as an instrument of state policy, India US relations will be stuck where they have been for 65+ years

http://southasia.foreignpolicy.com/post ... fghanistan

The upshot here is that there are limits to the U.S.-India relationship post-2014. This is a partnership that can potentially make major progress in the coming months -- mainly because the end of the U.S. combat role in Afghanistan will create more opportunities and strategic space for Washington to engage New Delhi. And yet the takeaway from my trip was sobering: So long as the United States continues to court Pakistan, a truly strategic partnership with India (and the deep levels of trust inherent in such a partnership) may simply not be possible.

Ultimately, Indians appear more united in their unhappiness about America's relationship with Pakistan than they do about its military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Guys, too often I see this catch phrase "India is upset with US's relationship with TSP" or something to that effect. India's and TSP's relationships with US are framed as two jilted women with seething rivalry vying for the same handsome rich maacho man. And Indians by and large contribute to this narrative.

Instead the correct and truthful narrative is: India & US relations must be anchored upon a common principle at stake. And that is, use of terror as an instrument of state policy must be eschewed, and those that use it must be treated as a pariah state. Thus, India would have not problem with US's "relationship" with TSP, but that relationship must not strengthen TSP's terror and nuke blackmail leverage that TSP has over India. Furthermore, US's relationship with TSP bereft of taking into account TSP's terror machine is tantamount to India having a military relationship with Iran or Al Queda or ISIS and then using the same diplomatic mumbo jumbo that US uses to justify its relationship with TSP so long as it persists in its use of terror and nuke blackmail against India.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 22 Nov 2014 19:35

US and India should cooperate on building rockets and landing modules, so as to land 100s of Islamists on various comets flying-by at a time! Also before shipping them off to the comets, the No. 3s should be given a vaginoplasty! So some technology exchange in the field of medicine can also take place.

... a truly transformational strategic partnership is in the offing!

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 22 Nov 2014 21:43

Maybe Obama is visiting Dilli to explore if he should take over INC from Rahul baba! He would be perfect match for INC.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 22 Nov 2014 23:31

Better than the republicans who act as krazywal

member_22733 · Post by **member_22733** » 23 Nov 2014 00:24

There have been huge protests in Ferguson against the cops so their best friends the KKK decided to "counter protest". Anonymous hacked KKK twitter page and now they are threatening to expose the names and phone numbers of the people involved. Popcorn time. Oh and BTW sorry for the OT.

https://twitter.com/KuKluxKlanUSA/statu ... 7679362048

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 23 Nov 2014 02:54

Cosmo_R wrote:@Karan_M ^^^ You have more bandwidth than I do. Instead of getting into the interminable point by point stuff, let me have Ajit Doval convey what I tried to earlier:

"India has to be prepared for a two-front war and build deterrence that ensures conflict is not an option for its adversaries, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval said at the Hindustan Times Leadership summit on Saturday."

“Economic development is the best way to ensure security and 9% growth will make us totally secure,” Doval said. “A strong economy is the surest means of protecting the country and creates vested interests which will ensure India’s protection.”

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-new ... 88902.aspx

If we have to be prepared for a two front war, how many more fronts do we want to open up? Modi is going bring us into a closer relationship with the US/Japan/OZ—countries we need on our side.

Putin will be eating popcorn in the event of an India-PRC/Pak donnybrook.

You cannot achieve these obvious goals by pi$$ing into the tent on the assertion that being a good boy never got us anywhere in the past.

On related note, Putin was the RDday chief guest in 2007.

I am still baffled by your belief that India acting independently and merely inviting Putin = "pi$$ing in the tent".

A strong economy, India's that is, will come if Indians pull their socks up. Not because Ombaba or some sugar uncle gives us freebies.

I think your claims are seriously a reflection of the "lets not offend anybody, we are weak onlee" sort of messaging that has been common to far too many Indian outreach efforts in the past.

Our being independent & strong about our national interests does not mean "other fronts are being opened".

This is the same sort of talk that was going on when India chose a French aircraft for its MMRCA. The usual folks from various think tanks were stating all sorts of apocalyptic talk about mean India and how things would no longer be the same.

What happened? Nothing.

Whether we invite Putin or anyone is our business. A few tongues will wander. It will all settle down for the next order of C-17s etc.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 23 Nov 2014 04:03

From the other side of the water,a western commentator said that having visited China,O'Bomber needed to visit India. Implying that it was just another state visit,In truth nothing monumental like Nixon's visit to China or détente with the Soviets! I fail to understand why a visit by US pres. is given so much extra importance by us.We seem to descend at regular intervals into our colonial mindset and behave like the white man's butler.Jingoistic glee at O'Bomber's visit solely to score a point and enhance bragging rights with Pak is a huge mistake.

We have to keep this visit in perspective. I agree with a previous post about us being too Pak blinkered.Indo-US relations need to get out of the Paki fixation (US sponsorship of Paki terror notwithstanding),we give too much oxygen to the Pakis.One TV channel was gleefully haranguing the Paki talking heads about O'Bomber's "snub" of Pak. India should not go overboard with this visit.The way Clinton was treated,like a white demi-god was disgusting.He was the man who winked at China's nuclear proliferation to Pak.India should also be exceptionally wary of being sucked into the US anti-Chinese military alliance.It will drop the ball when it suits itself and its selfish interests.What we have to show China is that we are militarily strong enough to give it a far bloodier nose than what the Vietnamese delivered,on our own,and if need be can lend a hand to the anti-China coalition if it goes too far.At all costs we must preserve our strategic independence. US policies in Europe where it has started Cold War2 with Russia,is driving the Russians and Chinese closer together.A report just read said that Russia and China have vowed to conduct joint naval exercises in the Pacific theatre to counter the US's aggression. Our relationship with Russia,time-tested for decades cannot be weakened by any new-found bonhomie with America. If one just lists out the key military programmes that Russia is assisting us with,providing tech that the US will never give us (like that of N-subs upon which our entire second strike strategic capability is based upon),it should temper the desire to go overboard with the Yanquis.

The GOI should concentrate upon economic matters as a priority and also make further cooperation with the US dependent upon its engagement with Pak,nourishing its terror networks,which relishes its support anwith India.d emboldens it to wage war against India,this time in a JV with China.US support for Pak actually helps China wage its proxy war with India.The mandarins in Beijing must be laughing all the way into the IOR!

GopiD · Post by **GopiD** » 23 Nov 2014 04:52

OUR LADY TALIBAN - by Vikram Sood

http://soodvikram.blogspot.com.au/2014/ ... liban.html

A former Counsellor in the Embassy in New Delhi, Assistant Secretary Raphel went around New Delhi clumsily and arrogantly pushing her line. She encouraged the formation of the Hurriyet in India, increased their profile, doubted the J&K Instrument of Accession, offered US mediation and pressured India on human rights violations in J&K even as we battled the most vicious terror attacks by Pakistan-aided, financed and equipped terrorists. By 1991 one heard cocky Pakistani diplomats saying that by the following year Kashmir would be “resolved”. The unsuccessful Pakistani campaign to have the UN Human Rights Commission declare India as a violator of human rights in Kashmir in 1994 had been encouraged by Robin Raphel.
But Raphel was not a loose cannon. She was abrasively pushing a certain policy line from Washington DC at that time. It was not enough to pressure India on human rights violations in J&K, but the situation in Punjab was also used for adverse comment. President Clinton in a letter to Gary Condit, Democratic Representative from California, expressed his resolve to work “for a peaceful solution that protects Sikh rights.” There were other pressures too.

Hope our friends who push US line in every possible thread read what our Ex-R&AW chief has to say about the great friend and well wisher of India.

I don't know about Russia but surely US doesn't seem to be a friend.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 23 Nov 2014 05:17

The above post by Gopi underscores the duplicitous nature of the US establishment.Let us remember throughout the visit of O'Bomber,that he is the lame duck of lame ducks,a president in terminal decline,going out with a whimper,a fast fading star heading for the black hole of history.The US establishment,riddled with pro-Paki viruses will remain intact.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » 23 Nov 2014 08:11

Notwithstanding Obama's visit to India, the global consensus on preserving Pakistan as a legitimate nation state has received a shot in the arm with the Russian opening to Pakistan.

A sobering lesson for India!

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 23 Nov 2014 08:17

PaulJi, if that opening is indeed genuine, how do you think TSP pulled that off? Or what were Russia's compulsions?

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 23 Nov 2014 08:30

Why the Rise of India Is a Problem for the US

Tuvaluan · Post by **Tuvaluan** » 23 Nov 2014 08:33

There is a deep undercurrent of hatred for India and its "intellectual property theft" among other things in the USA -- from the same US citizens who see nothing wrong with China blatantly ripping off US companies and products and committing IP theft on a much larger scale. I am generally talking about the business types who pay attention a little more than the average guy, which is not saying much...but hey, just another data point FWIW.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 23 Nov 2014 08:34

Obama loses his shine in Asia as Xi and Putin steal the limelight

overdrive
Obama loses his shine in Asia as Xi and Putin steal the limelight
Thanong Khanthong
[email protected] November 14, 2014 1:00 am
US President Barack Obama has lost impetus in his "pivot to Asia" policy. At home, his approval rating has fallen to a horrendous 40 per cent. The midterm elections saw his Democratic Party routed by the Republicans, who have taken control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Republicans have pledged legislation to undo all Obama's key legacies, most notably Obamacare. With two years left of his presidency, Obama looks like a sitting duck. His weakened stance in American politics has led to an awkward presence at summits in the Far East. At the same time, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has emerged in Forbes' ranking as the most powerful person in the world for the second year in a row, eclipsing Obama in almost all aspects of global leadership.

In his Far East trip to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in China, the East Asian Summit in Myanmar and the G-20 Summit in Australia, Obama has been left with just two cards to play - the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal (TPP) and the South China Sea arrangement. Both issues are designed to counter China's influence in Asia. At the Apec meeting, he sought to push the TPP free-trade agreement, which excludes China, but to no avail. The strategy behind the deal is to maintain the status quo of the dollar regime.

President Xi Jinping of China dominated the Apec meeting with a proposal for a two-year study on a free-trade deal in Asia-Pacific, ahead of its deployment by 2025. China is thus playing its own game by moving forward in consolidating its financial muscle and economic clout via bilateral yuan swap agreements and other regional deals. China's single-minded aim now is to push for its yuan to become the world's international reserve currency, at the expense of the dollar.

China recently launched the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank, with 21 countries in Asia agreeing to join. The bank's aim is to finance infrastructure projects within Asia, where demand for funds is likely to hit $10 trillion over the next 10 years. India alone will require $5 trillion in fresh financing to fulfil its needs for infrastructure projects to cope with its rapid economic development. Eventually, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will provide loans in yuan as part of broader efforts to dethrone the dollar as the world's reserve currency.

The US succeeded in persuading South Korea, Indonesia and Australia not to take part in this development bank, which it views as a rival to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. But China's growing clout and deep pockets are hard to resist. Many Asian countries are now more reluctant to follow the US in confronting China. Even Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan has found it necessary to take a more conciliatory approach towards China. Still, his meeting with Xi could not bridge the wide gap of differences between the two North Asian giants.

Any US hopes of using the South China Sea territory dispute to contain Beijing are likely to remain unfulfilled as the balance of world power tips quickly towards the Russia-China axis and the G-7 scramble to put their financial houses in order.

At this weekend's G-20 Summit in Australia, Obama will again be playing along with a broad agenda to stabilise global economic and financial conditions and to find a way to boost growth. Yet most of the developed economies are still facing a debt overhang from the 2008 financial crisis, which hasn't gone away.

A proposal to tackle the "too-big-to-fail" banks will be one focus of the G-20's attention as they grapple with the prospect of a fresh global banking crisis. Under the proposal, the banks will no longer be bailed out with taxpayers' money from their governments. Instead, they will be required to raise huge capital as a cushion against bank runs or potential loan losses in the future. The bail-in measure is defensive in view of the deteriorating global conditions, amid which the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) will now chart their own affairs instead of waiting for instructions from the US as they did in the past.

Against this backdrop, Obama is losing his shine on the international stage, while Putin and Xi are making a greater impact in global affairs.

Hitesh · Post by **Hitesh** » 23 Nov 2014 08:35

^^A hit job by a 50 cent poster on behalf of China in attempts to sow discord between US and India to avoid being flanked.

Tuvaluan · Post by **Tuvaluan** » 23 Nov 2014 09:08

hitesh:"A hit job by a 50 cent poster on behalf of China in attempts to sow discord between US and India to avoid being flanked."

AFAICT, US is doing a fine job of sowing discord with India on its own -- no external entities required. US will continue to arm and fund Paki terrorist Army to India's detriment...and that can be considered to be sowing discord between US and India, one would think.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 23 Nov 2014 09:51

Philip wrote:The above post by Gopi underscores the duplicitous nature of the US establishment.Let us remember throughout the visit of O'Bomber,that he is the lame duck of lame ducks,a president in terminal decline,going out with a whimper,a fast fading star heading for the black hole of history.The US establishment,riddled with pro-Paki viruses will remain intact.

In spite of all your pro-Soviet (er pro-Russia) and anti-USA rants (posts), the truth of the matter is USA is one of the leading powers in this multi-polar World. In spite of USA's duplicity and what not, USA still influences most of the world, including Russia and China. India was forced to pick the loser in the last cold-war. In the next cold-war, India IS GOING to be PART OF it, and cannot ignore USA in the known future.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 23 Nov 2014 09:58

http://blogs.berkeley.edu/2014/11/21/ad ... se-treaty/
Advocating a U.S.-India Mutual Defense Treaty

Amid the falling out between Pakistan and the United States and China’s rise, there is no better time for the two powerful democracies to develop a strong alliance.India’s recently elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi just enjoyed a very successful visit to the United States. Modi, who is the head of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is a very different kind of leader than those of the ousted Congress Party. He appears to be substantially pro-foreign investment and in favor of market-based reforms to improve his nation’s welfare.But for Modi to jumpstart India’s economy, a new balance of power must emerge in Asia. As the world’s most powerful democracies, India and the United States should consider developing an alliance. A mutual defense treaty could maintain regional peace and security, counter threats to the liberal economic order, and promote the regional status quo, which would in turn underwrite India’s rejuvenation.With the end of the Cold War, the falling out between Pakistan and the United States, and China’s rise, now is the right time for a United States-India accord. Defense cooperation between the two nations remains strong. In 2005, the United States and India agreed to nuclear cooperation. Last year, India imported approximately $2 billion of military equipment from the United States, a significant increase from $237 million in 2009. Today, the United States is the Indian Army’s most frequent partner for military exercises. A mutual defense treaty will solidify this vital collaboration.
Americans are benefitting enormously from their relationship with India. Indians have emigrated to the U.S. in large numbers, they and their children have enriched American universities, and their entrepreneurship and technical skills have produced thousands of jobs and companies. Indian-Americans have become political leaders (including two governors), university professors, and the CEOs of household-name companies like PepsiCo and Microsoft. Bilateral trade has increased five-fold since 2001 to nearly $100 billion; President Obama and Prime Minister Modi recently pledged to raise it another five-fold. New Delhi’s economic reforms have reinforced its valuable role in regional stability at a time when disorder seems to plague the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Most importantly, India and the United States share an immediate interest: containing China. China’s political and military rise as the world’s largest economy may be inevitable. However, it is unknown whether China’s rise will spell the end of the western economic and political order. At the beginning of the Cold War, many observers worried that the Soviet Union and the communist bloc would attain global dominance. But the United States and its allies successfully pursued a steady, half-century containment strategy, rebuilding the West, fostering Asian and Latin American growth, and waiting until the Soviet Empire collapsed under its own weight.Faced with an authoritarian, expansionist China and a revanchist Russia, it is in both American and Indian interests to strike an alliance. Russia’s Ukrainian incursion and China’s aggressive moves along the India-China border and in the South China Sea should encourage cooperation between the U.S. and India. Indeed, American and Indian interests coincide far more than those of the United States and China. The United States and India both aim to maintain democracy worldwide, preserve a stable international order, peacefully resolve militaristic and trade issues attending the South China Sea, and promote economic growth through free markets. Meanwhile, China defends authoritarianism, seeks to maintain the role of state-owned enterprises, and may be destabilizing Asia in its quest to reassert its claims against its neighbors.Drawing 2.3 million active frontline personnel and a $126 billion defense budget, China seems intent on using its military to expand its political influence. But the nation can be fickle in its allegiances. In fact, its only constant commitment is to pragmatism. Beijing famously broke with Moscow in 1961, invaded Vietnam in 1979, and has gone from skepticism to endearment to engaged rivalry with the United States. In 1971, Beijing even consulted Washington about its uncertain strategy during the Indo-Pakistan War over the sovereignty of Bangladesh, then East Pakistan. Despite having a troubled relationship with India since the Sino-Indian War of 1962, China knows that having Most Favored Nation status with the U.S. (rechristened as Permanent Normal Trade Relations) is much too important to jeopardize.India’s best interest will lead her to build a coalition with the United States, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia. India’s role in this balance of power would be crucial. In fact, India has an opportunity to survey as a counterweight to China, just when the U.S. needs to reconsider its relationship with Pakistan. Once Washington’s staunchest ally in the region, Islamabad—whose relationship with India is fraught with fears over their shared border—has become an obstacle to ridding Afghanistan of the Taliban and destroying al-Qaeda. Without the United States, however, Pakistan would lose its primary military and financial advisor and aid source.
India cares about collaborating with the United States and with other nations. A military equipment deal, a goodwill package like the Marshall Plan, or legislation raising India’s H1B visa quota, particularly for science and IT professionals—something that American firms have been clamoring for, anyway—would go a long way. The two nations would also benefit from mutual cooperation to apprehend terrorist networks that have bedeviled both the United States and India. All of this would help India stabilize South Asia.The deal makes sense on both defense and economic fronts. President Obama and future commanders in chief can present such bipartisan foreign policy to a newly composed Senate for treaty ratification. The United States will benefit from a strong ally to stabilize a disruptive region of the world, while India can gain the confidence of having the support of the world’s most powerful democracy. There is no better time than today for such a partnership. Both nations should consider seizing it—after all, fortune favors the bold.

Tuvaluan · Post by **Tuvaluan** » 23 Nov 2014 10:05

The left wing numbnuts in Berkeley are hardly a voice of reason in anything -- ignoring the tools is usually the wisest choice, unless it is in matters of science and tech. India is not going to join into a defense treaty that will basically mean fighting china until the last Indian. This is the same hallowed institution that supported the likes of CIIS and anjana chaterjee and the Paki ISI minions in the KAC, and more recently the haas insitute and its group populated by the likes of Harsh Mander and Teest Setalvad among others.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » 23 Nov 2014 10:13

CRamS wrote:PaulJi, if that opening is indeed genuine, how do you think TSP pulled that off? Or what were Russia's compulsions?

We will know next month? More than TSP I think it is Putin who gave this break to Pakistan.

BTW...Russians have been talking about this for years, right from the time they were ejected from the MRCA race.

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 23 Nov 2014 10:15

SwamyGJi, I agree with you, and I have myself said so. But I am not sure, India has to bend over backwards. There must be some quid pro quo from US. And TSP is a good place to start.

Vayutuvan · Post by **Vayutuvan** » 23 Nov 2014 11:40

ramana wrote:Maybe Obama is visiting Dilli to explore if he should take over INC from Rahul baba! He would be perfect match for INC.

in telugu there is a proverb "jOgi jOgi raskunTE bUDida rAlutundaTa" if two ascetics rub their hands together (as in join hands and working as a team) all that comes out is a handful of ash - worthless fluff. That is exactly what happened when president Obama and Cong MMS cooperated. Another thing is that let us remember that president Obama's middle initial is H. Side he us concerned about how Muslims are going to fare in PM Modi's I dia, te will see it first hand on January 26 that there are several in the upper reaches if government and military who are Muslims. They are equal citizens in India unlike in the US.

Sagar G · Post by **Sagar G** » 23 Nov 2014 11:45

SwamyG wrote:In spite of all your pro-Soviet (er pro-Russia) and anti-USA rants (posts), the truth of the matter is USA is one of the leading powers in this multi-polar World. In spite of USA's duplicity and what not, USA still influences most of the world, including Russia and China. India was forced to pick the loser in the last cold-war. In the next cold-war, India IS GOING to be PART OF it, and cannot ignore USA in the known future.

It's the other way around, US after failing to make a lackey out of India is trying feverishly to get into the good books of India and even failing in doing that. US influence over the world has weaned a lot and their own commentators realise the same and have written whining about the same but still if you want to live in your dreams then no one can help you. Like the recent WTO deal where your supelpowel US ate the humble pie and gave into our demand. This is just the beginning in the coming years with the government in power US will have to keep bending over backwards and give into our demands because US needs us more than we do. Americans will have a hard time eating the crow but funtimes for Indians like moi

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 23 Nov 2014 18:30

GopiD wrote:OUR LADY TALIBAN - by Vikram Sood

http://soodvikram.blogspot.com.au/2014/ ... liban.html

<SNIP==>

<==SNIP>

Hope our friends who push US line in every possible thread read what our Ex-R&AW chief has to say about the great friend and well wisher of India.

I don't know about Russia but surely US doesn't seem to be a friend.

The behavior of USA diplomats, pushing paki stand right from within India as official US diplomat, puts a question mark about stand of USA on being watchdog on terrorism, or even human rights by ignoring very questionable record of Taliban - and at the same time pressuring Indians to sign international treaties!! All this while ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits was going on in Kashmir.

She encouraged the formation of the Hurriyet in India, increased their profile, doubted the J&K Instrument of Accession, offered US mediation and pressured India on human rights violations in J&K even as we battled the most vicious terror attacks by Pakistan-aided, financed and equipped terrorists. By 1991 one heard cocky Pakistani diplomats saying that by the following year Kashmir would be “resolved”. The unsuccessful Pakistani campaign to have the UN Human Rights Commission declare India as a violator of human rights in Kashmir in 1994 had been encouraged by Robin Raphel.

We have been and are better not relying at all on western agencies. Pushing for UNOCAL is another indication of pushing American interests in the region.

habal · Post by **habal** » 23 Nov 2014 18:51

SwamyG wrote:In spite of all your pro-Soviet (er pro-Russia) and anti-USA rants (posts), the truth of the matter is USA is one of the leading powers in this multi-polar World. In spite of USA's duplicity and what not, USA still influences most of the world, including Russia and China. India was forced to pick the loser in the last cold-war. In the next cold-war, India IS GOING to be PART OF it, and cannot ignore USA in the known future.

so you want India to repeat mistake twice ?