India-US Strategic News and Discussion

[Raja Ram]

ramana,

Ramu Damadoran? Remember him. He used to also read the English news in DD Chennai before he moved to Delhi. Was in the IFS.

On the interview:
Ronen Sen did play a long and varied innings in the MEA and was regarded as one of the brightest officers that we had. His stint in the US was at a time when he had to go through some very interesting situations. He did carry out his task well overall.

It is of course by now clear that he was one of those who got carried away by his desire for outcome on the nuclear deal at that time - to a point he was part of those who had the trust of MMS to get it through. Thankfully the system reacted and there were quite a few who did not allow enthusiasm to get the deal scupper us totally.

In the MEA, there were some balancing acts later and Jai Shankar, our then High Commisioner was brought in to get the technical aspects the due diplomatic attention.

You are right, there is a sense of salesmanship by Sen in this interview.

Overall, the visit is nearing and there has to be a few more lemons to sell in Delhi I suppose. One thing is certain. The euphoria of Obama if he had come in the first year of office would have made lemon selling a bit easier. Now, this visit will be more of trying to prove his intent rather than basking as a remarkable leader of the US who will lead US and India to greater heights of friendship and cooperation. Parkalaam! as Kamraj would have said

[Sumeet]

http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/134207/fac ... visit.html

CRS,

Fareed Zakaria says his Indian buddies who criticize US on its pak policy are not able to come up with alternative plan/policy that US can follow. He would love to hear that from an Indian. May be you can connect with him.

On a side note that former deputy NSA Leena talks well.

[joshvajohn]

India should also try to bargain higher ends of fighter Jets during Obama Visit. India needs to open ways to engage in transfer of high technologies for both benefits. US gets money and India get high tech defense systems. Why not get a few F 35? This can be alongsie with our 5th Gen project with RUssians. We are not going to use these against US or any other countries but for defence only against terror attacks from Pakistan and also encroachment of China into India.

Ajai Shukla: Buy a fighter for war, not air shows
http://sify.com/finance/ajai-shukla-buy ... bfgad.html

Get a big pie out of India's defence market: Rep Sen to Obama
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/get-a ... ma/705967/

[Lalmohan]

why do we have to buy fighter jets from the US? MoD will be spending $112Bn over the coming decade right? There is enough for everyone... what else of unkil's maal do we need/want?

[Raja Ram]

On the UNSC permanent seat. It is just a silly carrot. India should not accept any diluted version that may be offered. Period. For the UN to stay relevant, it has to have India as a permanent member with all the rights and responsobilities that go with it. If they do not have India, it is the UN's loss and not India's.

That seat will come to India. It will be offered. We need not ask anyone's support or agree to any diluted version of it. The powers that be know this and there will be many who will try to sell a diluted version of it. One hopes that the GOI does not accept a devalued postion in an increasingly irrelevant organization.

[Philip]

Look,India should stand on its won strength and not lust after a UNSC seat as if it were a ticket to the "Pearly Gates"! If we ars strong enough and independent enough,nations will respect su and WANT India to have a permanent UNSC seat.But if we are stooges of the US,they will lump us along with Pak,and US satellite states.

INstead of us buying US arms,we should demand a cessation of US arms to Pak! Why the F**k should we beggar ourselves along with pak making the US rich and ourselves miserably poor? If we have to buy arms to counter US arns to pak,then we should buy non-US arms from the best systems available,Europe,non-US western nations like Canada,Russia,Israel,Brazil ,S.Africa and the SoKos.

Those who are advocating buying US arms despite US chicanery in stripping them of key components are exposing their status as Quislings,who when the "party" with the Mess-iah is over will meet their inevitable and just rewards!

[RajeshA]

X-Posted it from Should India leave UN, if we don't get a veto seat in UN Thread

Ronen Sen could just as well be batting for USA interests, by formulating the argument about permanent UNSC seat in terms of India's H&D, so that when Obama comes calling, he is not poked too much with this question, or the US-India relations don't take a dive because Obama says "No".

UNSC permanent seat with veto gives its holder enormous latitude, because every little country in the world goes running to one of the P-5 for cover and patronage. Or otherwise a veto-threat is withdrawn after concessions from other UN activists like USA, etc. Every day, we are not a part of the P5, we miss on the leverage we could be having.

The grapes are not sour, but neither should we go begging for them.

We should demand a veto-carrying permanent seat or leave UN if the others don't give it, and that too right away!

[CRamS]

http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/134207/fac ... visit.html

CRS,

Fareed Zakaria says his Indian buddies who criticize US on its pak policy are not able to come up with alternative plan/policy that US can follow. He would love to hear that from an Indian. May be you can connect with him.

On a side note that former deputy NSA Leena talks well.

Thanks for posting this video. I liked most of what Fareed bhai had to say. But to answer his question, its simple, and LeenaJi was hinting at that: Make US aid and its relationship with TSP contingent upon cracking down on all kinds of terror including LET, and certify that there is no moral equalivalence between India's role in Afgansthan, whose goals are the same as the stated goals of USA, and TSP's which is using Taliunnies to fight India.

But I watched with amusement that pervert Cohen doing equal equal with TSP at every question. He clearly has his eye on has TSP-funded bank account and so he was careful not to offend them, and pleased them with his equal equal. His statement about asking Indian officials (Pilliai?) to shut up was downright offensive. And his absolving of TSP on Mumbai makes him an India-specific terrorist sympathizer.

[SwamyG]

Lets cut through the chase. There is nothing called "globalization" per se. Its about Americanization. And so long as the rest of the world, especially, Chinese, other East Asians, and increasingly Indians etc were consuming coke, eating pizza, listening to Madonna, Americans loved it because they were making money. But when the rest of the world started showing hints of making their own pizza and their own coke which competed with American versions, then of course, all notions of globalization go out of the window. And it assumes a tea party Nazisque narrative when US companies started to realize that instead of selling US made coke & pizza, its way cheaper to make Indians and Chinese make US coke and pizza locally. This naturally means that the joe-six pack in US has to work that bit harder to get his 3-car garage home, six pack, football, and weekend female company. Easier way out, or so he thinks, is to join the tea party and blame somebody else or Obama’s closet Muslim faith.

You point out a key but obvious point in the current days. Before the advent of "Americanization" it was Westernization (a.k.a Anglicization or "Europeanisation"). Americanization is a specialized form of Westernization.
Bulk of the tea partiers are deluded, and many of them are hypocrites; sensible folks are a minority in that movement. The Kochs fund these parties & Faux Newz fans the hatred and fear. Be it Dumbs or Rethugs, the Americanization of the World will continue and stop only when the whole world has been conquered or the American Empire collapses. Americanization needs mindless consumers, brainwashed citizens not much from what the autocratic Chinese despots seek.

[joshvajohn]

Japanese have successfully distinguished technology and culture. They give and borrow all sorts of updated technology from US and from the West but then do not mix it up with culture. Indian have to pick this up India can take all sorts of technologies from any part of the world but not necessarily the culture that comes with them. India cannot be India if she looses her culture and values.

Some folks in this list do not want India to become powerful by getting technology and powerful fighters. Possibly they must be envy at India becoming very powerful in the South Asia Region with the technology obtained from US. Buying superior power from US does not mean that we become a regional agent for them. But the implicit interest to stop transfer such things is also an agenda for Pakistan and China and some work hard here to achieve these things here.


Obama may push India's case for membership of elite N-clubs - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... z148a9IGwR

Obama's visit to accord India its global positioning
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/109 ... a-its.html

[ramana]

SwamyG, Dont rule out the Tea party. They have energised the Repubs and hopefully will capture it evntually. They are after the Country club Repubs who are rich Democrats. Theie message delivery may be uncouth, but its very authentic and goes back to America's founding rhetoric.

[SwamyG]

Ramana garu:
Where am I ruling out the Tea Party? It is really Kaliyugam.....and one can see it in the American politics.

The Tea Party funded and aided by the corporations and Faux News is a joke. In a country there will always be disenchanted folks. Tea Party attracts the fringe elements, as I said the sane elements are far fewer. One can always find parallels in seemingly unrelated subjects. Yes, America's founding had disenchanted folks, and so does the Tea Partiers. The comparison will not move far ahead.

America's founding involved taxes - taxes without representations. People were peeved, naturally. The current "beef" is manufactured by vested powers and groups. They appear to be sheep herded by Faux Newz and others. Jon Stewart's rally brought in more people than Beck's circus. The sheep are just being taken to the slaughter house. The poorer Americans get while enriching the Corporations and the Super-duper rich, the more disenchantment among the mass. The American system has a few internal flaws and naturally people are angry, but the media and the system are pointing fingers conveniently at the flaws that don't matter much. And the sheep is happy to graze the few blades of hay thrown by the fear-mongers.

Republicans were thrown a life line by the fringe elements; and the Republican Party has caught onto the life line like a desperate drowning man. The only thing authentic about all this is that it portrays the fears and desires of people that have been utilized by few.

[ramana]

Again you are entitiled to your opinion.

from what I see, there is anger at the lack of good governance.

One can add fuel only if there is a fire.

If Tea Party candidates win, there will be catfight inside the Repubs first to sort out the conservatives.

[SwamyG]

Ramana garu. I am shocked at your words

What fire? There is fire all the time in any country. In fact there is fire in every household. The exceptions are few; countries will always have citizen grievances. How the grievances are channeled is important. Who is adding the fuel and why are the key questions that need to be asked but are not asked because of biases.

"Anger at lack of good governance"? Seriously, where was this anger when Bushie took the country to a war that destabilized the middle east and sank America further into debt? That war is cited by American's as an important act that shoved more limelight and power to Iran. The only counter force to Iran, now in ME, is Israel ( another pet dog of America). Where was the anger when the Internet bubble burst? Where was the anger when the Economic bubble burst? Yes, there was some anger but those anger came from the independents and democratic households, who were fed up with Bush. This time the anger is from the Republican side. That is all - a partisan anger.

There is no anger at the establishment. Have you ever seen anyone talk about personal savings and control of personal spending? Nope. You will only hear about Government Spending. They seek accountability in the government, but when will they seek accountability from themselves?

It is just a big circus orchestrated and commanded by one party or the other. Why did the Tea Party not stand by itself and become a third party instead of folding into the Republican?

The present politics is just an example of human exploitation - be it Pakistan, China, India or USA. Gullible and innocents are exploited by politicians & corporations.

If the Tea Party candidates win:
1) If Sarah Palin still has not committed a major blunder, she would try to influence them to maintain a strong hold and defy the Republicans who are in the system.
2) The Tea Party candidates, will have "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" moments. Some would join the established, and some could rebel. This will be dictated by their next electoral chances.
3) Or completely fold into the establishment.

A lot depends on what their "operators" decide.

[Gus]

Ramana,

Tea Party is a front for Republican interests. It may have started out genuine. Right now, it is well and truly hijacked.

There is no 'going back to the founding fathers principles' thing here with party candidates saying "THAT's in the first amendment" to separation of Church and State.

[Nandu]

Meanwhile, the latest attack on the next governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, is that she once wore a bindi!

http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/09/17/the- ... indi-pics/

[SwamyG]

Meanwhile, the latest attack on the next governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, is that she once wore a bindi!

http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/09/17/the- ... indi-pics/

From the above, the comment is hilarious and insightful

Thank you for the explanation of the bindi. That explains it all.
Nikki Haley has let all of her wisdom escape by not wearing hers all the time.

Rest of the comments are hilarious and sad.

[ramana]

X-post...
Time for reset of Indo-US ties

Truly belongs here

Hindu Op-Ed

Time for reset of Indi-US ties
M.K. Bhadra Kumar

Barack Obama's visit has triggered an extraordinarily creative period in the Indian strategic thinking. How do we bring all these strands of new thinking together?

Whichever way one looks at it, there is going to be an indeterminate fatefulness when United States President Barack Obama arrives in India. Not that Mr. Obama is god or that he is an elderly bearded man wrapped in a swirling cloak with the “finger of the paternal right hand” — as in the fourth section of the Michelangelo fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Nor is India Adam waiting to receive the spark of life.

The point is, in comparison with the U.S. Presidents New Delhi has welcomed in a generation or two, Mr. Obama is truly a brilliant intellectual with a view of the world imbued with the struggle of the mankind for survival, dignity and development. Fareed Zakaria tactfully described him as “a kind of practical idealist” who admired George Bush Sr.'s approach to ending the Cold War in an apparently cooperative way, with an emphasis on productive, constructive relations with the world powers. Mr. Obama is also someone instinctively wary of ideology and shrewd enough to balance the impulse of principle and the realities of politics — a master of the rhetoric of common ground.

The Indian strategic community did not seem to have got him right when it anticipated him as a crusader of “Asian democracy” — a code word for “containment” of China. Do not look beyond the joint statement issued after the third session of the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue that concluded in Washington recently. It speaks of a “strategic, comprehensive and long-term partnership” between the two countries based on “shared values, mutual respect, and mutual interests.” We may expect similar rhetoric on India, too.

Passionate moralism has never been a trait of Mr. Obama's political personality and the Indian establishment has done well to leave the rhetoric of his visit almost entirely to the able hands of American officials and instead concentrate on the hardball — “real politics,” as a top Indian policymaker candidly put it. Having said that, Mr. Obama is also a man of infinite charm with a rare capacity for cheerful impersonal friendliness who, with his gargantuan self-confidence bordering almost on hauteur, can very gracefully stoop to conquer to ease jealousies or form alliances.

One thing is absolutely certain. As the dusk gently descends on Delhi in the balmy autumn evening of November 8, Mr. Obama is destined to deliver a great speech in the hallowed Central Hall of Parliament.

{So they have an advance copy or its contours.}

Indeed, Mr. Obama's visit is going to be a fateful happening in the region's tangled history and politics. So much has changed since a U.S. President last visited India in 2005. The geopolitics of the region has changed and alongside, inevitably, the U.S.-Pakistan pivotal cooperation in the Afghan endgame has crystallised, the world has changed, India has changed, and indeed the trajectory of the U.S. and India's expectations and aspirations has hugely transformed. Situating the U.S.-India relationship against this complex backdrop truly demands a “reset.” Except in a dogmatic way, it is not possible to see the future of the relationship as turning, and turning in a widening gyre of alliance equation. Perhaps, there never was such an equation. There is indeed a disconnect between our pundits and policymakers here. The Indian leadership seems willing to apply new thinking. Will our pundits be capable of appreciating that the U.S. has specific regional and global interests and its partnership can be selective?

First and foremost, India's regional environment. National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon's keynote address — in the August presence of Rashtrapathiji — at the 75th jubilee of the National Defence College underscored that a lot of creative thinking is going on to structure a forward-looking strategic vision that can help India navigate the highly volatile regional and international situation. The global vision based on the “balance of power,” which our pundits merrily espoused for a decade, has been exposed as naivety. India does not foresee the prospect of the major powers using force in their dealings with each other. This, in turn, makes the emergence of a direct conflict betwixt them or involving any of them with India highly improbable, no matter the existing discords, disputes or differences. Again, a nuclear war or confrontation between nuclear powers is not as likely, as threats which are derivatives of nuclear deterrence such as terrorism strain the very fabric of a country like India, which is secular, plural, and democratic.


{Above is the Indian world view after the 2008 financial collapse and the subsequent reset underway. It means expect more terrorism which is enabled under the nuke umbrella. So new instruments of deterrence are needed. Asymmetric but needed.}


In sum, Mr. Obama's visit has triggered an extraordinarily creative period in the Indian strategic thinking. How do we bring all these strands of new thinking together? Evidently, as Mr. Menon brilliantly summed up: “The challenges of a globalised world cannot be handled by twentieth century military alliances or containment strategies.”

Hasn't something fundamentally changed in the world order since the international financial crisis erupted? The emerging powers have shown unexpected resilience to pull through the crisis while the industrial world continues to languish. China and India in particular are cruising forward at great speed and are becoming evermore innovative. A transfer of wealth of historic proportions may be under way. As Paul Krguman wrote recently, this has engendered claims that the payback time is approaching for the emerging powers to transfer some of their new wealth to the ailing U.S. economy. China already figures in the U.S. cross hairs and India needs to carefully figure out when its turn might come. There is a lot of churning going on at the moment, as the meeting of the G-20 Finance Ministers in the South Korean city of Gyeongju underscored. The U.S. displayed its determination to push for “fair” exchange rate rules and for setting numerical targets for trade balance, while India and China promptly rebuffed the move. The paradox is that whereas the G-20 has emerged as the most important forum for global economic policymaking since the financial crisis, it is increasingly finding it difficult to agree on anything but the broadest brushstrokes.

The Indian strategic analysts who visualise an alliance of Asian democracies or conjecture a U.S.-India axis patrolling the “global commons” are not seeing the writing on the wall — that the number one priority for a highly focussed leader like Mr. Obama is going to be global issues such as trade balance and exchange rates, and climate change, which are of immense concern to his agenda of regenerating the ailing American economy. Mr. Obama would like to know how India sees its interests and explore if tangible benefits can be derived to generate new jobs in America. He can anticipate that the Seoul heads of government meeting in November may turn out to be a damage limitation exercise rather than a leap forward toward a monumental agreement on rebalancing the global economy. In short, trust an extraordinary cerebral mind like Mr. Obama's to be able to comprehend the meaning of India's rise. That he empathises with India is not in doubt, but these are hard times.

The lobby of American arms manufacturers played up China's growing diplomatic and military clout and the angst of our pundits poured out on newspaper columns. But let us hear first how the U.S. proposes to deal with China's rise. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last week: “The relationship between China and the U.S. is complex and of enormous consequence, and we are committed to getting it right … In the 21st century, it is not in anyone's interest for the U.S. and China to see each other as adversaries. So, we are working together to chart a positive, cooperative, and comprehensive relationship for this new century … And we do look forward to closely working with China, both bilaterally and through key institutions as it takes on a greater role and, at the same time, takes on more responsibility in global and international affairs.”

She highlighted, “We will welcome President Hu Jintao to Washington in early 2011 ... The United States is committed to making this visit a historic success.” Our pundits should do some honest introspection. Surely, there's some political symbolism in that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh scheduled four meetings with the Chinese leadership in the weeks straddling Mr. Obama's visit — “stop in India” during his “major trip to Asia,” as Ms Clinton quaintly put it.

Similarly, it has been crystal clear that the U.S. is involved in a clausewitzean war in Afghanistan. The David Headley saga is a stunning reminder that realpolitik can trump soap operas of the “concert of democracies.” Alas, our discourses are again missing the plot to imagine that our discord with Washington is merely a question concerning the Taliban or the Haqqani network. It's much more profound and it is long-term. Pakistan will be a pivotal relationship for the U.S. in the “new great game” once Gwadar shapes up as the port head of the Silk Road (protected by NATO), unlocking the multitrillion dollar mineral wealth of Central Asia and Afghanistan. A reset of India-U.S. ties has become necessary for deepening the partnership despite such glaring differences.

(The writer is a former diplomat.)

However he presents no insights on how such a reset is constructed!

[putnanja]

NSA downplays Headley tiff; unprecedented progress in US ties

No 'big bang' outcome from Obama's visit: Nirupama Rao

[ramana]

Real Clear Politics article

Why Center Left Parties are collapsing?

[putnanja]

Mr President, private means 70 - K.P. NAYAR

...
When preparations began for their journey to India, the American President and First Lady Michelle Obama expressed interest in spending their first evening in New Delhi — prior to the start of formal engagements next Monday — at a very “private” dinner with their friends, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur.

The Indian side readily agreed. But as preparations proceeded, Obama was told by his aides that in India the word “private” does not really mean what it is supposed to: a very private meal between the two leaders and their spouses.
...
...
Obviously, in the Indian protocol lexicon, the two words, “small and private”, mean the same and will pose no problem of contradiction.
...
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An official in the Prime Minister’s Office told The Telegraph today that the small list of invitees for the Sunday night meal had expanded to more than 70 and is still growing.
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Behind the scenes, the Americans have been trying to smoothen the rough edges in preparations for the presidential visit -- especially strategic and security matters -- through Bengal governor M.K. Narayanan.

...
It is an open secret that the mercurial Emanuel had a very special relationship with Narayanan when the governor was national security adviser and made it a point to spend an evening with him even when he was on a private visit to New Delhi and refused to have any official engagement.

Similarly, the Prime Minister asked Narayanan to speak to Gen. Jones unofficially to sort out some difficult issues with the White House even after he shifted to the Raj Bhavan in Calcutta.
...
...

[SaiK]

http://news.yahoo.com/page/2010electionsdashboard
GoP in congress as majority should be favorable for India.

[Rangudu]

A GOP majority will also eliminate the far-left pressure on Obama to cut and run from Afghanistan. If anything, we can expect a Republican led Congress to tacitly back Petraeus and Gates against a hasty withdrawal in mid-2011.

[SaiK]

before the withdrawal, we should have a bigger base either farkhor or perhaps seek some bagram space as well.

btw, this is very interesting and scary debt clock for the khans-
http://oddhammer.com/tutorials/debt_clock/

[Nandu]

Nikki Haley has been elected governor of South Carolina. Even though opinion polls had showed her with a 10% margin, the actual voting was closer, with a final margin near 5%.

[SaiK]

something nice is happening in US is the young guns taking over old hats. nice show [hope India learns]

[ramana]

CNN had some left handed compliments for Nikki Haley.

BTW, Tea Party got ~2 senate seats and ~10 Congress seats. Enough to remake DC.

Its the Baji Rao strategy if any one cares from Bay Area.

[Juggi G]

Nikki Haley / Nimrata Randhawa, Republican Tea Partier has been elected the Governor of South Carolina

What a coincidence
Jindal & Nikki, Two Indian (Punjabis to boot),
Republican Governors of Two Southern American States all at the same time

[Mort Walker]

US congressional elections are unimportant to us india relations.

[ramana]

Not so fast. The change in House means the pressure to cut and run is reduced and also focus will be on domestic spending. Means less money for the baksheesh guys.

JuggiG, She is first female governor of S Carolina a stronghold of Baptists! That is an even greater achievement.

[SaiK]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_election_ ... -container
It is very entertaining to read the yahoo comments.

[Mort Walker]

Ramana,

US aid to TSP will remain intact and has support from both parties. If anything, stupid anti-business measures targetting Indian cos. in various bills may not see the light of day.

[Rangudu]

One key victim of the landslide is Democratic Senator Russ Feingold. This guy was an uber-liberal in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and one of the big voices for Afghan withdrawal. It's guys like these being replaced by right wing Republicans which is likely to swamp the political underpinnings behind Obama's cut and run policies.

If there is a clear sense that the armed services are not with him, Congress can thwart Obama from forcing a precipitous withdrawal. They control the spending, they can add embarassing conditions to budget bills or bring in testimony from recently retired Generals etc.

[SaiK]

so much for banning the don't ask don't tell eh~ look who is folding up the tongue now on this matter. India start lobbying the GoP while entertaining Obama with MMS in Delhi. Lets get a commitment on breaking up pakistan.

[Mort Walker]

Congress does control the purse strings, but more than likely the Republicans will adopt a "oppose anything" Obama proposes in domestic and international affairs. It will be a time of endless subpoenas and hearings with the house attempting to give credence to impeachment issues. Obama can veto anything the house comes up with and or kill it in the senate. If Obama pushes the business agenda, only then will the Republicans go along with him.

Expect negative publicity about Obama's India trip at the end of this week.

[shukla]

New Delhi weighing all pros and cons before finalising defence deals with USA

[putnanja]

MoD, Navy and Air chiefs object to US defence pact

...
The Defence Ministry, too, is said to have shared its concerns at the highest levels that signing these agreements will send a “negative” signal to other important defence partners, particularly Russia.


...
In fact, none of the defence deals with the US that have been in the works will be announced during the visit. However, Obama will be given assurances in “private conversations” that deals like the C-17 aircraft are in the works and would be concluded soon. Government sources said the US had to make certain revisions in the letter of the agreement for the C-17 aircraft and, hence, the process got delayed.

...
...
The Defence Ministry is learnt to have raised the point that the US is likely to use Indian bases much more than Indian ships or aircraft utilizing American bases. The frequent movement of US ships and aircraft, according to the Defence Ministry, could convey a different political impression to India’s other strategic partners and may not serve the “national interest” depending on the context. The argument is that India should not bind itself by these agreements.


Washington is said to have provided a revised text making a distinction between using these facilities in combat and non-combat situations. This too has not found favour with the Defence Ministry, which is of the view that it would be very difficult to make such distinctions if live action is in another theatre but Indian facilities are being used. The point being made is that such agreements would limit India’s political options in tricky situations.

On CISMOA, too, the key issue for the Defence Ministry and the Armed Forces is interoperability. The question being asked is whether interoperability with NATO forces is desirable. While Russia has not directly taken up the issue with India, it keeps making the point at various levels that Russia does not sell military hardware to Pakistan.

...
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On being repeatedly told that not signing these agreements would adversely affect military purchases as the US would not be able to provide hi-tech ancillary equipment, the Defence Ministry asked the the two forces currently affected by this —the Navy and the Air Force. The view from them is that much of this equipment can be obtained from elsewhere and some others are needed.


The third agreement, the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for Geo-Spatial Navigation, is still under consideration as it was brought up much later. India, it may be noted, has already finalised an end-user monitoring agreement.

...

[putnanja]

Facing political rout today, Obama will put economics on India table

...
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Rather than quibble with the political rhetoric against outsourcing in the United States, Delhi must try and calm nerves in the White House. Firm signals from India on facilitating the sale of US nuclear reactors to India by resolving the residual issues on nuclear liability could go a long way in deepening the commercial confidence between the two countries. Removing the hurdles to more intensive defence cooperation with will also help underline India’s interests in a long-term security partnership with the United States.

...
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In the run-up to Obama’s visit, the White House advance teams have also made no secret of the President’s extreme sensitivity to the politics of outsourcing at home. They have gone to extraordinary lengths to avoid giving Obama’s opponents on the left and right any future opportunity to attack the President for loss of jobs to India. The White House has also tried to load the visit with demands for selling, shall we say, chicken and pork.


The White House itself has sought to sell the positive story of Indo-US economic engagement. In a recent briefing on Obama’s visit to India, the President’s deputy national economic adviser, Mike Froman underlined the importance of India as an important destination for American exports and as a source of foreign investment.

...
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[putnanja]

US professor sent back from Delhi airport

A prominent US academic was sent back to America from Delhi airport on Monday, allegedly because his partner is associated with a human rights group in the Kashmir Valley.



According to the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition for Civil Society (JKCCS), immigration officials at the airport initially put an entry stamp on the passport of Prof Richard Shapiro, but cancelled it after they examined the passport of his partner, Angana Chatterji.



Chatterji is co-convener of the International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice, a voluntary organisation investigating alleged human rights abuses in Kashmir. She is professor of social and cultural anthropology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), where Shapiro is Chair and associate professor of the Department of Social and Cultural Anthopology.

...
...
According to Imroz, Shapiro, a US citizen, has accompanied Chatterji, an Indian citizen and a permanent resident of the US, to India about 30 times since 1997. He does not work on Kashmir, but he has, since 2006, interacted with human rights activists in the Valley. He wrote two analytical pieces in local dailies in 2009 and September 2010, the JKCCS said.

...

Some positive news at last. If only Angana had US citizenship, she too would have been kicked out.

[Sumeet]

I was thinking this time we will be mature and show some self respect while welcoming Obama but ... who comes up with such ideas.

Sholay's 'Yeh dosti...' to be sung for Obamas

New Delhi: US President Barack Obama and wife Michelle might just be tapping their feet to "Yeh dosti hum nahin todenge" when the Shillong Chamber Choir belts out Bollywood's evergreen ode to friendship to celebrate India-US ties at the presidential banquet here Nov 8.

The 16-member troupe, along with their conductor Neil Nongkynrih, promise to enthrall with English and Hindi numbers at the banquet for the Obamas to be hosted at Rashtrapati Bhavan by President Pratibha Patil.

"We have shortlisted a few songs for the programme. These include the American song 'Deep river', 'To god be the glory' and 'Ye dosti hum nahin todenge...'," Damon Lyndem, bass singer of the choir, told IANS over the phone from Shillong.

"The Hindi song signifies friendship and the purpose of our performance is to show the friendly ties between India and the US."