India-US News and Discussion

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 26 May 2010 05:59

abhishek_sharma wrote:When Passengers Spit, Bus Drivers Take Months Off

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/nyregion/25spit.html

We should use this article when Americans judge our manners and civility.

Most likely it is a scam by bus drivers to get paid leave. I just heard of something similar from someone returning from Spain.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 26 May 2010 06:02

Payouts for those atomic firms would be capped at $110 million under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill.

Very bad idea. The US is now scrambling to undo the $75 million liability limit it had for offshore drilling. The oil spill by British Petroleum is causing billions in damages.

I'd support a inflation-pro-rated cap per person affected.

Manu · Post by **Manu** » 26 May 2010 06:16

Incidentally, look at the way supposedly "impartial" BBC is covering what is the *worst ecological disaster in US History*. If this were not BP, and it were (God Forbid) Reliance or some such...can you imagine the fangs?

To Iceland, they said "send us cash, not ash". Lost their sense of humor now, I suppose.

This is supposedly a non-official "Funny" Tweet (not from BP itself): http://twitter.com/bpglobalpr

I just don't see the humor, leaves me cold, in fact.

Objectivity, my Musharraf.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 26 May 2010 06:51

Philip wrote: The outsourcing of Afghanistan to Pak is the secret understanding between the US and Pak,with an acquiescient MMS being fobbed off with dinner and a few pleasantries.The next conflict on the agenda is Iran,where the US is under intense pressure from Israel to either neuter Iran or watch the Israeli's do it themselves.The US's spat with the current Israeli dispensation has ensured a veritable frothing cauldron of a witches brew.A huge US armada is being assembled in the Gulf which is sitting upon a tinederbox.If HIlary Clinton takes over security issues as well/from being Sec. of State,the setting would be perfect for a mediaeval "crusade" against the "Saracens" once more.

Philip-ji,

The issue is what are India's preferences?

Does India want to take over Afghanistan rehabilitation program on its shoulders? The first step in that direction is to accept US predominance in this region and to do US's bidding, even if temporarily. Does India have the necessary national will to take up this task? Many Indians think it is US's problem so India has nothing to do with this problem, even though they understand that what happens in Afghanistan has long-term (even civilizational) implications on India.

On the other hand TSP is willing to do US's laundry work in return for some financial, military and strategic bakshis.

My guestimate is that rehabilitation of Afghanistan would result in the following costs to India over a 10 year period.

~$50-$100B (including military mobilization)
~5000 - 10000 lives

The benefits would be
- Speeding up of TSP fragmentation
- Securing J&K/POK for good
- Securing the western borders of Indic civilization

I strongly believe that any permanent solution to TSP problem would include a nuclear-exchange (however small it may be). Even a tactical nuke on a defense formation would result in the above mentioned human and economic costs.

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 26 May 2010 18:46

India to question Headley by early June

Indian investigators are set to interrogate Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Coleman Headley, accused of involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, in the first week of next month.

A seven-member “team lead by NIA (National Investigation Agency) is going to question Headley in June”, home secretary G.K. Pillai told Mint. The Indian side had sought time between 1 and 15 June to question the suspect and the US authorities and Headley’s lawyer agreed to this, he said.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 May 2010 19:13

the BP disaster is slowly being ack'ed as the biggest ecological disaster in US history . but the kid gloves with which the media and GOTUS is treating it is amazing, if this were a russian or indian co trade sanctions, freezing of foreign accounts, violent media campaigns and all that would be upon us.

underwater camera footage more and thicker oil is now gushing out.....the effect of this will be felt for many generations...

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 27 May 2010 03:36

A-Gupta and others a google book

Between the Lines:South Asians and Post Coloniality

A bit dated 1996 but very relevant.

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 27 May 2010 06:36

A_Gupta wrote:
Payouts for those atomic firms would be capped at $110 million under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill.
Very bad idea. The US is now scrambling to undo the $75 million liability limit it had for offshore drilling. The oil spill by British Petroleum is causing billions in damages.

I'd support a inflation-pro-rated cap per person affected.

Lawmakers admit $10 billion oil liability cap may not be enough to cover spills
By Jared Allen - 05/06/10 05:52 PM ET

Key lawmakers on Thursday acknowledged that their proposal to increase to $10 billion the liability cap on companies responsible for offshore spills may not go far enough to ensure that BP bears the full cost of economic damages.  

Calling a $10 billion liability cap "much more appropriate" than the current $75 million ceiling, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday left open the possibility that BP's liability could exceed that, even with a new liability cap in place, if the results of the spill that began on April 20 are viewed as multiple incidents.  

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2 ... be-too-low

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 27 May 2010 06:44

ramana wrote:A-Gupta and others a google book

Between the Lines:South Asians and Post Coloniality

A bit dated 1996 but very relevant.

Noted, thanks!

paramu · Post by **paramu** » 27 May 2010 06:48

I would say there should be no cap. They are responsible for actual damage as they are responsible for the actual profit. If they need, they can take insurance protection for these kinds of damages from their governments (in this case government backed AIG).

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 27 May 2010 06:49

Neshant wrote: Lawmakers admit $10 billion oil liability cap may not be enough to cover spills

The Amerikhans have hidden tricks up their sleeve.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/ ... 13-billion

A clause buried deep in the U.S. Clean Water Act may expose BP and others to civil fines that aren't limited to any finite cap -- unlike a $75 million limit on compensation for economic damages. The Act allows the government to seek civil penalties in court for every drop of oil that spills into U.S. navigable waters, including the area of BP's leaking well.

As a result, the U.S. government could seek to fine BP or others up to $4,300 for every barrel leaked into the U.S. Gulf, according to legal experts and official documents.

$4300 per barrel * 20,000 barrels/day * 30 days = one substantial budget deficit reducing number

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 27 May 2010 20:31

US to strengthen strategic ties with India.

"I think the strategic dialogue speaks for itself," State Department spokesman P. J. Crowley told. "We have very strong cultural ties to India, so we look forward to the strategic dialogue," he said referring to the June 3-4 inaugural India-US strategic dialogue led by Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"It's something that the Secretary and the President (Barack Obama) felt important to elevate the level of our coordination and cooperation," he said. "So we look forward to the dialogue. "India is a great and emerging global power. Our range of interests are significant in terms of the environment, in terms of regional security, in terms of counterterrorism, economic issues," he said.

"I think our relations with India have never been stronger. We are talking about the relations between the largest and oldest democracies in the world. We have a great deal in common and we look forward to the meetings next week," Crowley added. Asked about a report that Pakistan has asked for US help in bridging the trust deficit with India, the US official said trust deficit was essentially a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, but US will continue to encourage both of its "friends" to enhance their dialogue and cooperation. "Well, the trust deficit, as it's been called, between India and Pakistan is most significantly a bilateral issue between Pakistan and India," he said.

The US, Crowley said, had "encouraged both Pakistan and India to enhance its dialogue in a cooperation" as it was "friends with both countries" and has "strong and strengthening relationships" with both. "We are gratified that both countries seem to be moving in a direction that - to see that dialogue become deeper. So we will continue to encourage both countries to pursue the commitments that both have made and pledged publicly."

Asked what role the US had played in India banning over 100 terrorist organizations and Pakistan arresting an army major in connection with the failed Times Square bombing, Crowley said: "First of all, these were steps taken by India and Pakistan." Security and counterterrorism were an ingredient of its dialogue in the US relationship with both countries, Crowley said describing it as "a shared challenge that the United States, India, Pakistan, other countries have. "It's a global challenge. So we welcome the efforts of these countries to try to reduce the threat not only within the region, but more broadly."

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 28 May 2010 01:18

Counterterror Adviser Defends Jihad as 'Legitimate Tenet of Islam'

The president's top counterterrorism adviser on Wednesday called jihad a "legitimate tenet of Islam," arguing that the term "jihadists" should not be used to describe America's enemies.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 28 May 2010 01:26

^

During a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, John Brennan described violent extremists as victims of "political, economic and social forces," {So how do you explain US invasion of Iraaaq and Afghanistan?} but said that those plotting attacks on the United States should not be described in "religious terms."

He repeated the administration argument that the enemy is not "terrorism," because terrorism is a "tactic," and not terror, because terror is a "state of mind" {So is USA fighting a Global War on Terror or Global War on Terrorism } -- though Brennan's title, deputy national security adviser for counterterrorism and homeland security, includes the word "terrorism" in it. But then Brennan said that the word "jihad" should not be applied either.

"Nor do we describe our enemy as 'jihadists' or 'Islamists' because jihad is a holy struggle {Does this mean they cannot shout jeeehard when they phire AK47 into the air }, a legitimate tenet of Islam, meaning to purify oneself or one's community, and there is nothing holy or legitimate or Islamic about murdering innocent men, women and children," Brennan said.

Carl_T · Post by **Carl_T** » 28 May 2010 01:35

^ This makes sense actually, he's right, terrorism is only the method, the ideology that drives it is the issue. I wouldn't write off this attempt as delusional, Brennan has spent his whole career focusing on the middle east, they all know what the problem is, they are just trying to do chankian things with it.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 28 May 2010 01:42

Carl-T garu,

There are two issues that I can see.

1. If the true issue is with Ideology, then it will have larger implications on Islam as a religion too, which is a no-go area in most of policy discussions.

2. If Brennen is, in his chanikyan way, trying to appease the silent majority then he is pushing them further right into the spectrum. Think like this. As BJP moves to center, it will push INC further into Left and Left so left that they breed A. Suzanne Roy type intellectuals.

my humble thoughts!

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 28 May 2010 01:44

He is denying the fundoos of their religious bearings. He wants to call them miscreants just like Mushy used to call them. However it begs the question what makes these miscreants rage?
A Chinese proverb says about nomenclature "Calling things by their right name is begining of wisdom"

Obfuscation means the maya/unwisdom is still there!

Carl_T · Post by **Carl_T** » 28 May 2010 02:03

RamaY wrote:Carl-T garu,

There are two issues that I can see.

1. If the true issue is with Ideology, then it will have larger implications on Islam as a religion too, which is a no-go area in most of policy discussions.

2. If Brennen is, in his chanikyan way, trying to appease the silent majority then he is pushing them further right into the spectrum. Think like this. As BJP moves to center, it will push INC further into Left and Left so left that they breed A. Suzanne Roy type intellectuals.

I have issues with the broad term "Islamist", briefly: Some Islamists are global groups motivated purely by religion, such as AQ, Taliban etc, other Islamist groups are composed of Muslims but basically fighting a local ethnic struggle and have local interests like say the PULO or East Turkestan. I see this as an attempt to break the global links between the groups into a collection of local struggles. Thinking of the struggles as a "global jihad" is exactly what the "global jihad" groups want to do and build material and ideological links between them.

IMO what this inevitably means is that some Islamist groups are going to be "good" guys and others are going to be the bad guys. I don't know which groups the US is actually going to think about good terrorists and bad terrorists but I think that is what will happen. I think it is also a pertinent strategy for India to follow - build good relations with some Islamists and oppose others, and keep the global jihad local. (Eg oppose Hamas but not Hezbollah)

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 28 May 2010 02:04

RamaY wrote:^

During a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, John Brennan described violent extremists as victims of "political, economic and social forces," {So how do you explain US invasion of Iraaaq and Afghanistan?} but said that those plotting attacks on the United States should not be described in "religious terms."

...................................

"Nor do we describe our enemy as 'jihadists' or 'Islamists' because jihad is a holy struggle {Does this mean they cannot shout jeeehard when they phire AK47 into the air }, a legitimate tenet of Islam, meaning to purify oneself or one's community, and there is nothing holy or legitimate or Islamic about murdering innocent men, women and children," Brennan said.

OK.

Everything is mithya. Agreed.

Brad Goodman · Post by **Brad Goodman** » 28 May 2010 05:01

New national security doctrine from Ombaba

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Obama-rids-terror-lexicon-of-Islamic-radicalism/articleshow/5982965.cms

In a section on building relationship with other 21st century "influencers", the NSS says India's "responsible advancement" serves as a positive example for developing nations, and provides an opportunity for increased economic, scientific, environmental, and security partnership.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 982965.cms

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 28 May 2010 05:57

Obama administration's National Security Strategy

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2010/05/142312.htm

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 28 May 2010 06:32

A_Gupta wrote:Blast from the past
The New York Times, June 20, 1930
DECLARES OPINION HERE TENDS TO FAVOR INDIA
Wireless to THE NEW YORK TIMES
London, June 19. - An English audience was told today that anti-British and pro-Indian feeling was far more prevalent in the United States today than pro-British opinion in connection with the present upheaval in India. The speaker was Professor L.F. Rushbrook Williams, who recently returned from a semi-official mission to the United States during which he attempted to spread the British viewpoint on India's troubles.

A friend, N.K., told me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._F._Rushbrook_Williams

This very chap wrote a book "The East Pakistan Tragedy" from the West Pakistan point-of-view.

Here's a review of that book:
http://www.statelesspeopleinbangladesh. ... eviews.php

The East Pakistan Tragedy (Professor L. Rushbrook Williams)
Author’s Bio:
Few writers are more qualified to discuss the complex situation that ripped Pakistan apart than L Rushbrook Williams. He was a professor of modern Indian history at Allahabad University. He distinguished himself as a journalist as well as an historian and a diplomat, and was the Asian specialist on the editorial board of the Times of London.

Review:
The book opens with a survey of East Pakistan’s long history of economic exploitation and political subservience before Pakistan came in to being; it goes on to explain how the relations with the West Wing and the Central Government developed in the previous two decades. It also traced President Yahya Khan’s determined efforts to hand the power over to democratic institutions; the progress made, and the difficulties encountered; and it describes in detail the tragic intransigence of the Awami League and the anarchy and suffering which resulted there from.

This is a wonderful find. See how this influential guy this is from 1930 - 1970. See his career according to Wiki:

Rushbrook Wiliams was a Fellow of All Souls' College, Oxford. He built up a school of Mughal studies at the University of Allahabad, where he was professor of Modern Indian History. He was Eastern Services Director of the B.B.C., and also worked on the editorial staff of The Times (London). He acted as a government advisor on Middle East and Asian affairs, and contributed to publications like the Royal Central Asian Society Journal and the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Explains why it is that attitudes towards India (or anything else) take a long, long time to change.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 28 May 2010 09:12

Rushbrook-William was an older generation colonialist, with a great affinity for the concept of the martial races, and a spirited advocate of a separate Islamic state of Pakistan. If you read his works, much of it is written in praise of the warrior peoples( reputed) including even among Hindus. There's barely any acknowledgement of the intellectual traditions of India, in science and philosophy, or the economic stature of ancient, or pre-colonial India. That is given a bypass by both Rushbrook-William and by another colonialist, pro-Pakistan/pro-martial races writer, Ian Stephens. A grand uncle of mine rather boldly and compellingly remarked that the likes of Rushbrook-William display strong homo-erotic attraction to the so called martial peoples of India-the Pathans, Punjabis, Rajputs, Gurkhas etc.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 28 May 2010 09:15

like that Inspector Merrick guy in Raj Quartet.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 28 May 2010 12:04

http://www.energyboom.com/policy/watch- ... l-stop-oil

WATCH THE LIVE OIL SPILL WEBCAM

http://globalwarming.house.gov/spillcam

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 30 May 2010 06:52

Obama to attend Krishna reception to make a point

Dispensing with the previous rite of very senior Indian cabinet ministers getting a Presidential drop-in during White House meetings or a walk-through the Oval office for brief chats with the President, Obama, in a rare gesture, will drive down to State Department in Foggy Bottom on Thursday to attend a reception Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be hosting for External Affairs Minister S M Krishna. He will also speak on the occasion.

"On Thursday, the President will attend and deliver remarks at the Secretary of State's reception in honour of the Indian delegation to the United States-India Strategic Dialogue, which will meet at the state department earlier that day," the White House said in its scheduling note for the media next week. "The President's strong support of the Strategic Dialogue and of this inaugural meeting reflects his commitment to furthering a strategic partnership with India as we seek to address global challenges," it added in an unusual addendum.

Obama also telephoned Singh on Friday to discuss the upcoming dialogue, the White House said separately. "The two leaders agreed that the Dialogue is an important milestone in the development of the US-India strategic partnership and looked forward to its results. President Obama and Prime Minister Singh also expressed their hope that the Dialogue will initiate a regular exchange of ideas and discussion between their governments and both pledged their support toward that end," a White House readout on the call said.

US officials are almost peeved at the nagging doubts many commentators seem to harbor about Obama's India outreach, and appalled that they don't recognize the importance he gives to New Delhi, including by way of hosting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the first state guest of his term in the White House.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 30 May 2010 07:11

U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue to cover entire gamut of ties

http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/30/stories ... 541000.htm

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 30 May 2010 07:33

abhishek_sharma wrote:U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue to cover entire gamut of ties

are they planning an attack on Iran that they are suddenly talking ties... or is this just routine?

Carl_T · Post by **Carl_T** » 30 May 2010 07:42

I think this has something to do with the national security strategy released recently, it talks about upgrading ties with India. Or it could just be smoke and mirrors, I don't know.

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 30 May 2010 08:05

x-posting here:

This video allegedly shows the true nature of Radical Islamist who are Conducting Acts or Terrorism in America from local mosques and supported by those Mosques. These very same Mosques and Imam's are also being supported by LOCAL POLITICIANS and these Radical Muslims are conducting SENSITIVITY TRAINING to local law enforcement.

Just as CAIR a Muslim Brotherhood Entity and the Propaganda Arm of Hamas in America once did in Jacksonville, Florida with local law enforcement and FBI until their involvement in the largest Terroism Financing Case in US history resulted in 108 Guilty Verdicts.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 30 May 2010 16:33

India and U.S. seek to bridge prickly gaps in ties

Washington, in turn, will look for assurances that India is on track to open its vast market in power plants to U.S. firms, narrowing differences over trade and climate change, as well as getting New Delhi's cooperation to sanction Iran over its nuclear program.

As we can see from the conspiracy of Obama & Bill Clinton offering an administration position to Joe Sestak, provided he would not oppose Arlen Specter, that there is a lot of back channel pressure on "friends" of this administration. In all likelihood there is all sorts of pressure on India to sign up to CTBT, NPT, climate change limits, trade and support of administration policies. The GoI should realize that there is a good chance the Obama administration will be gone come Jan. 2013, so there should be no concession to them, otherwise it will look weak to the next administration and create more headaches.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 30 May 2010 23:49

HE HAS TO MEET WITH JEWS TO SHOW HE DOESN'T HATE ISRAEL...:
Obama to attend Krishna reception to make a point (Chidanand Rajghatta, May 30, 2010, Times of India)
This week, in background conversations and on-record briefings on the eve of the first so-called "Strategic Dialogue" between the two sides from June 1-4, officials, particularly Americans, made strenuous efforts to counter the perception of the slideback, and set the stage for an autumn visit to India by President Obama that is all but penciled into the diplomatic calendar."The Obama administration attaches great importance to our relations with India, and as president Obama himself has said, this will be one of our signature partnerships in the 21st century," the US pointman for region Robert Blake said on Friday.
Not convinced? Well, in that case, Obama himself will make the point again.Dispensing with the previous rite of very senior Indian cabinet ministers getting a Presidential drop-in during White House meetings or a walk-through the Oval office for brief chats with the President, Obama, in a rare gesture, will drive down to State Department in Foggy Bottom on Thursday to attend a reception Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be hosting for External Affairs Minister S M Krishna. He will also speak on the occasion.
....with Indians to prove he doesn't hate India... How about not screwing up relationships with our allies in the first place?

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 29, 2010 4:09 PM

http://brothersjuddblog.com/archives/20 ... to_sh.html

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 31 May 2010 02:55

I think there is a difference between not-negative (as in does not hate India) and a positive (love India). And ............... of course actionS behind the words.

Suppiah · Post by **Suppiah** » 31 May 2010 04:27

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... atsNewsTop

Notice the picture of workers who are used for clean-up...

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 31 May 2010 07:21

Economic Decline of US becoming so obvious.
Senator wants disclosure on outsourced calls

Sun May 30, 1:17 pm ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) – In a bid to reduce outsourcing of U.S. jobs, a Democratic senator said on Sunday he will push legislation to make companies inform customers when their calls were being transferred outside the United States and charge companies for those transferred calls."This bill will not only serve to maintain call center jobs currently in the United States, but also provide a reason for companies that have already outsourced jobs to bring them back," Senator Charles Schumer said in statement.Customers calling 800 numbers are often transferred overseas, and in such cases the bill would mandate that callers be told where their calls were rerouted.Companies would also be required to certify to the Federal Trade Commission annually that they were complying with the requirement, and face penalties if they did not certify.Schumer's bill would also impose a $0.25 excise tax on any customer service call placed inside the United States which is transferred to an agent in a foreign location. The fee would be assessed on the company that transferred the call.Customer service call centers have become increasingly popular with businesses in recent years to deal with questions ranging from billing to technical support.But the practice brings frequent complaints from customers who say their issues are not resolved or that representatives are merely providing scripted responses.Schumer said the most popular countries for outsourcing of U.S. call centers included India, Indonesia, Ireland, the Philippines and South Africa, places where workers generally receive lower wages and work longer hours than their U.S. counterparts.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100530/pl_ ... utsourcing

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 31 May 2010 07:24

US-India strategic dialogue to prepare ground for Obama visit
( So is MMS's affection for Paki Paapis)

http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/a ... 50124.aspx

The inaugural US-India strategic dialogue in Washington next week would prepare the ground for President Barack Obama's visit to India in autumn, say officials. "Let me just say that there has not been any change," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake told reporters on Friday asserting "the Obama administration attaches great importance to our relations with India."
"As President Obama himself has said, this will be one of our signature partnerships in the 21st century," he said pointing to the fact that Obama had invited Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the first state visit of his administration last November "to reaffirm the importance that we attach to our relations with India.""One of the purposes of the strategic dialogue is to think through what are the big, new opportunities and where are the big areas of cooperation," Blake said suggesting sceptics perceptions would be best addressed "just by delivering results and by showing, in a concrete way, all of the various things that we're doing." External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will lead a team of ministers and officials at the June 2-3 dialogue covering a wide range of areas, including high technology trade, science & technology, civil nuclear cooperation, agriculture, human resource development, security and other strategic issues.After the dialogue "there will be deliverables" Blake said. But "the purpose of this dialogue is really to think strategically and, again, to get the key people who work on these issues together to think ahead to the President's visit and to think strategically about what we can do." Among the global and regional issues the situation in Afghanistan Pakistan region would be the key focus area. The two sides will also talk about Iran as "the United States and India both share a concern about Iran's nuclear ambitions, and both of us are opposed to any kind of nuclear arms for Iran."

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 31 May 2010 08:05

http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/pr ... /May/5.asp

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh discusses wide range of issues with US President Barack Obama

New Delhi
May 28, 2010
(Press Information Bureau)

The Prime Minister spoke this evening with United States President Barack Obama. The two leaders discussed the forthcoming Strategic Dialogue between the two countries scheduled next week in Washington. Both sides attach great priority to the dialogue as a means to strengthen bilateral engagement on a wide range of issues including high technology trade, science & technology, civil nuclear cooperation, agriculture, human resource development, security and other strategic issues. The two leaders took the opportunity to discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest. President Obama conveyed condolences on the loss of lives resulting from the air crash in Mangalore last week. The Prime Minister said that a warm welcome awaited the President and his family when they visit India.

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 31 May 2010 10:10

India to take up curbs on nuke entities with US

The forthcoming India-US Strategic Dialogue slated for June 1-4 is expected to hit the right notes though both sides are expected to touch on irritants bedevilling their relationship. India, on its part, plans to take up the sticky issue of certain institutions that remain in the US "entity list".

Though no immediate response from the US side is expected, the Indian delegation is likely to point out that the export administration regulations on entities which can be linked to nuclear weapons programmes needs to be looked at. The regulations restrict cooperation with institutions with regard to "dual use" technologies that have military applications. The Indian institutions that remain on the entity list include Bharat Dynamics Limited (1 entity), DRDO (4 entities), DAE (3 entities and all nuclear reactor activity related entities, including power plants) and ISRO (8 entities).

The entity list is an old bugbear and in some ways represents the problems that India has had with the US since the Cold War era. The bans on Indian institutions were clamped after the 1998 Pokhran-II tests but central to the disagreement has been India's nuclear programme. There was considerable progress on the entity list during the Bush administration with the Nuclear Suppliers Group exemption and the India-US nuclear deal ironing out the heart of the dispute over India's de facto nuclear weapons status.

Bush's 2001 proclamation lifting sanctions on India led to an amendment of the export administration regulations. The move saw restoration of the use of licence exceptions for sensitive items for entities not on the list. Licence review policy for items classified as 'EAR 99' - those subject to the regulations but not listed on the commerce control list - was also revised.

arun · Post by **arun** » 31 May 2010 13:28

pgbhat wrote:THE HEADLEY INTERROGATION CHARADE ---- B Raman.
4. The immediate follow-up which they insisted upon from Pakistan to protect American lives, they did not concede to India to protect Indian lives. Headley was arrested by them in the beginning of October, 2009. It has taken them eight months to grant access to the Indian investigators. Even the access which they have now agreed to give after a delay of eight months is a limited one. During this delay of eight months, the LET would have been able to cover up its trail in India, withdraw from India those of its cadres whose identities were known to Headley and reorganize and relocate its sleeper cells.

5. The Indian investigators, it has been reported, will be allowed to question Headley in the presence of his lawyer and an official of the FBI. Do you call this interrogation? What is interrogation? It is not just questioning a person and typing out his replies. It is much more than that. It is a psychological process by which you make the suspect contradict himself by confronting him with evidence which you have been able to collect independently. Ultimately, he realizes the game is up and comes out with the truth.

6.With Headley’s lawyer and the FBI officer sitting there all the time, will the Indian investigators be able to do it? No. Headley will just give proforma replies to the Indian questions and these replies would have been rehearsed with his lawyer and got approved by him. Of what use, his proforma replies? Will we be able to prosecute him in India? If we decide to do so, will the US extradite him to India?

7.The departure of the Indian team to the US just before the Strategic Dialogue and the appearance of Mr.Obama at the State Department to talk to the Indian delegation is meant to prevent this issue from casting a shadow on the dialogue.

X Posted. B. Raman rightly terms the access granted to Pakistani origin terrorist of US nationality, Daood Gilani aka David Coleman Headley, as a charade.

I am not very sanguine that there is not going to be more US foot dragging that is inimical to India’s interest such as limiting time and/or limiting the areas of interrogation.

Meanwhile I do hope that our foreign policy establishment resists the snake oil salesman line the US will try and peddle during our shortly forthcommig strategic dialogue of the immensity of the favour the have done for India and proof of love for India they have demonstrated by permitting access to Daood Gilani.

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 31 May 2010 16:17

U.S. seeks to balance India's Afghanistan stake

"Increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan is likely to exacerbate regional tensions and encourage Pakistani countermeasures in Afghanistan or India," wrote U.S. General Stanley McChrystal, who is in charge of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, in a leaked assessment of the war last September.

The implication of McChrystal's view, said expert Lisa Curtis, was that India's approach was not viewed as helpful and Pakistan's strategic interests were more in play.

If his views are a true reflection of the policy that the American's are going to employ in Afghanistan then it infuriating... This is no balancing act, this is a clear preference to the paki's.. I hope our babus stop turning a nelsons eye to these reports..