India-US Strategic News and Discussion

saip · Post by **saip** » 05 Nov 2010 04:49

Prem wrote:That Lady Congresswoman Bauchman recommended Video Conferencing between 2 heads of state instead of visit.

She also said we should ask the world leaders come here and meet as if all the world leaders are at beck and call of the USA!

saip · Post by **saip** » 05 Nov 2010 04:52

I also read that in Mumbai authorities are chopping coconut trees

It is stupid if they are actually cutting down the trees instead of just removing the cocunuts. In Hawaii coconut trees line some of the roads, but every two weeks they trim the trees of all the flowers and the seeds.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 05 Nov 2010 06:25

They made a measure to make sure that no foriegn things can be legalized inside Oklahoma

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&c ... jM&topic=h

Muslim Sues Oklahoma Over Anti-Shariah Ballot Measure
Fox News - ‎2 hours ago‎
Just two days after Oklahoma voters approved a ballot measure banning state courts from considering Islamic or international law when ruling on cases, a local Muslim has filed a federal lawsuit saying the measure is unconstitutional.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 05 Nov 2010 06:37

factcheck.org:

Q: Is President Obama’s trip to India going to cost $200 million per day?

A: This highly doubtful claim originated with one Indian news agency quoting an anonymous source in Mumbai. The White House says it is “wildly exaggerated,” and there’s no evidence to support such a huge figure.

The hard-to-swallow claim originated with a Nov. 2 Press Trust of India article quoting an unnamed “top official” in the government of Maharashtra (one of India’s states). The source was quoted as saying that Obama’s upcoming trip to Mumbai will cost $200 million per day for security and living arrangements, among other things. The story claimed that the president would be accompanied by about 3,000 people, including Secret Service agents, government officials and journalists, and will stay at the Taj Mahal Hotel — the scene of a 2008 terrorist attack.

We find stories based on anonymous sources always deserve special caution, especially when they come from only one news organization. In this case, the anonymous official is not even in the U.S. government, and any information about costs would necessarily have come second-hand at best, an added reason for caution.

Nevertheless, the story was widely repeated without any additional reporting. Soon after the article was released, The Drudge Report — a news aggregation website — linked to the Press Trust of India article, with the headline “REPORT: US to spend $200 million per day on Obama’s Mumbai visit…” Later that day, Rush Limbaugh claimed on his radio show that “Five hundred seven rooms at the Taj Mahal, 40 airplanes, $200 million a day this nation will spend on Obama’s trip to India.” He repeats the “$200 million a day” claim several times throughout the show without specifying its source.

http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=7610

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 05 Nov 2010 07:26

Whispers Behind the Welcome
Indians are looking forward to Obama's arrival, but worry that he won't live up to Bush's legacy of substantive engagement.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2 ... he_welcome

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 05 Nov 2010 07:34

Obama to Visit India, and Both Sides Hope to Expand Ties

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/busin ... iabiz.html

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 05 Nov 2010 07:36

Obama message in India: Jobs, jobs, jobs

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44713.html

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 05 Nov 2010 08:25

India visit: Defining moments for US Prez

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.co ... or-us-prez

On the Kashmir issue the hints dropped by the United States' administration could at best be described cavalier. The Prez must know the day US gives up Texas, Kashmir is on a platter for Pakistan. Period.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 05 Nov 2010 08:49

abhishek_sharma wrote:India visit: Defining moments for US Prez

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.co ... or-us-prez

On the Kashmir issue the hints dropped by the United States' administration could at best be described cavalier. The Prez must know the day US gives up Texas, Kashmir is on a platter for Pakistan. Period.

Kashmir will not be on the platter even on such a day.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 05 Nov 2010 08:57

India's Strategic Future
Why India needs to move from "strategic autonomy" to strategic cooperation with the United States.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2 ... gic_future

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 05 Nov 2010 09:05

Well, its interesting that Rush & Glen Beck have picked up on the Drudge Report links to Indian media about Obama's expenditure for his trip to India. Lots of good stuff to feed the nuts and conspiracy theorists. Puts heat on Obama. The below is very condescending by Gibbs, and reflects this administration's thinking about India:

Gibbs then added, after joking with CBS News reporter Mark Knoller about Obama’s mention of Slurpees in his press conference on Wednesday: “You know what? Knoller called ahead; he’s going to be making coconut Slurpees!”

http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm ... 88f10.html

Nandu · Post by **Nandu** » 05 Nov 2010 09:15

http://simransingh1111.wordpress.com/20 ... ily-story/

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 05 Nov 2010 09:24

abhishek_sharma wrote:India's Strategic Future
Why India needs to move from "strategic autonomy" to strategic cooperation with the United States.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2 ... gic_future

Long time ago I called CRM as maximum accomodationist! He hasn't failed that description. There is a Hollywood song called "Hitch your wagon to a rising star!" Looks like he wants to hitch India's wagon to waning star!

Despite being KSgaru's favorite disciple he hasn't learned to put India's interests first.

Raja Bose · Post by **Raja Bose** » 05 Nov 2010 09:36

Nandu wrote:http://simransingh1111.wordpress.com/20 ... ily-story/

OK...a question here. How come the parents of any of the Indian-American politicans all came with $5-$10 in their pockets while coming to study in massa?

Did they already know that in the future their offspring would become politicians and would need a good rags-to-riches story to feed the audience?

Nandu · Post by **Nandu** » 05 Nov 2010 09:40

RB, I remember that we had very tight controls on how much money could be taken out as dollars from India. I think when I first came, it was only $50.

arjunm · Post by **arjunm** » 05 Nov 2010 09:41

Nikki Haley in an exclusive Interview with Times Now said "she is extremely proud to be an Indian"

http://www.timesnow.tv/WORLD/Proud-to-b ... 357590.cms

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 05 Nov 2010 09:42

No in late 1970s that was the max that was allowed to be taken in cash.

I truley arrived with $6 in cash and promptly paid $5 for haircut before an interview. And rest is history!

If you went to UK it was 2pounds. And in Heathrow you had to shell down 1 pound to go to bathroom. The guy at the counter wouldn't give you change!

Pulikeshi · Post by **Pulikeshi** » 05 Nov 2010 09:52

abhishek_sharma wrote:India's Strategic Future
Why India needs to move from "strategic autonomy" to strategic cooperation with the United States.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2 ... gic_future

All of India's great empire-states throughout the last 2,500 years, from the Mauryans to the British Raj, have had trouble controlling these turbulent lands across the Indus River that frame the subcontinent's western frontier.

CRM needs to explain that one! What is really going on is the Indus dying out and
therefore the bums feeling it is cost effective to attack the Ganga plains...
The shyte has been going on for 2-3K years and that say how well the Indian civilization
has understood and responded to these forces! Seems no light bulbs have gone off even now

Indeed, ever since Alexander the Great and his army first arrived on the banks of the Indus, most foreign forces and alien ideologies have come to what is now India through the northwestern route.

The Persian (Achaemenid) were duking it out in that region before the Greeks.
Also, most Europeans came by sea not by the North-West route.
The Indus-Ganga equation is more important than invasions which are a symptom.
CRM seriously needs more imagination if he wants to claim to be an Indian strategist.

There is a serious lack of understanding of the challenges that will emerge in the future
in Brihat-Asia. Disappointing analysis that sounds like a regurgitation of an academic paper.
Needs more imagination and long staring at a non-mercator map!

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 05 Nov 2010 10:07

Why don't you write a proper rebuttal and will ensure his gurus if not he will get to read it.

saip · Post by **saip** » 05 Nov 2010 10:08

Anyone watching CNN? Anderson 360 is on. It is all about $200 mil a day Obama's trip and 34 ships!

Arjun · Post by **Arjun** » 05 Nov 2010 10:12

I am glad the Indian media went overboard in its usual style and will thoroughly discredit itself internationally with its $200 Mil per day, 34 warships crap re Obama's visit !!! The next time the pseduo-secular rants and claims of wombs being ripped out in riot X, Y, Z etc come out, it would be that much easier to debunk....this will be remembered for a long time.

The view gaining ground is that India has everything going for it including the most dynamic entrepreneual class globally, but the two areas holding the country back, where India is at rock-bottom is (1) the quality of government and (2) the media.

Pulikeshi · Post by **Pulikeshi** » 05 Nov 2010 10:16

Ramana: Sure will give it a shot!

Arjun: Mumbai is more worried about sale losses and coconuts due to the visit during Deepavali.

Media and Govt can say whatever they want as long as the Baniya gets them to stay out of the way!

saip · Post by **saip** » 05 Nov 2010 10:24

In 1980 it was $8 and I spent $3 on beer on board Panam.

darshan · Post by **darshan** » 05 Nov 2010 10:27

This $200 mil thing does present a good question. Who pays for what during this visit whether it is $200 Mil or $200? IMO, it is GoI as I highly doubt US Embassy reimbursing any receipts.

ShivaS · Post by **ShivaS** » 05 Nov 2010 10:30

ramana ji>. DO you remember around the world in 8 dollars rajkapoor movie

I arrived in the Land of Honey and Milk with USD $150.00 One (smart) wife (

) One two and half years old son one daughter 11 months old and a Homeopathy kit... I was then truly Dr. Rao till we got health care thru University employment as RA. The Eastern AIrlines (now defunct) charged me excess baggage of $75 in NYC for domestic connection and right away I fell below poverty line...

All this self imposed just to raise the level of incompetency while parents , friends, sundries called me nut case.
SHQ was equally adventurous having got admission in Max Planck Institute in W Germany then and host of other top rated universities like Stanford etc..

My mother in law, a widow was very concerned that I am up to some nefarious ideas…but was kind enough to give green signal if that’s what I wanted..

Worked my way to support family doing lawn mowing, repairing small aplliances in Sears Saturdays and Sundays in addition to RA....

Adarsh is my Adarsh, I am honestly corrupt!

Wish I joined IN after getting selected via 33 SSB Bhopal Chest Number 22! 1977 (Not chest size )

Got Coloba will talk ..

saip · Post by **saip** » 05 Nov 2010 10:35

Arjun:

WHy blame only the Indian media? Look guys like Rush Limbaugh quoted it as if it were the gospel and that was pikced up by that dumb congress woman who should have known better.

saip · Post by **saip** » 05 Nov 2010 10:38

I dont think GOI will foot the bill for US secret service guys and the members of the President's entourage (spl?). GOI/Maharashtra will sure pick up the bill for its security.

Arjun · Post by **Arjun** » 05 Nov 2010 10:47

saip wrote:Arjun:

WHy blame only the Indian media? Look guys like Rush Limbaugh quoted it as if it were the gospel and that was pikced up by that dumb congress woman who should have known better.

Politicians will always pick on reports that allow them to go after their opponents, so I wouldn't blame them...but something like $200 Mil a day is so easily disproven it is stupid of Indian media to even put it out there without some basic crosschecks.

ShivaS · Post by **ShivaS** » 05 Nov 2010 11:03

I think 200 Million Rs per day would be correc t figure which works out roughly USD 4.5 million per day,

The media forgot INR and US media dumb they are when it comes to India, added it as USD.

http://factcheck.org/2010/11/ask-factch ... to-mumbai/

When Clinton visited China to conduct talks with the president of China, he brought along about 500 individuals. The trip lasted nine days, which works out to a little less than $2.1 million per day.
The total cost including Secret Service protection would of course be somewhat higher, but even doubling or tripling those figures and adding in an adjustment for inflation would not produce anything close to the figure given by the Indian news article for Obama’s trip.

Raja Bose · Post by **Raja Bose** » 05 Nov 2010 11:05

Guess I started off a good-ol-days-when-we-came-with-$8-in-pocket-onlee reminiscing amongst B-R grandpas

Arjun · Post by **Arjun** » 05 Nov 2010 11:21

ShivaS wrote:I think 200 Million Rs per day would be correc t figure which works out roughly USD 4.5 million per day,

The media forgot INR and US media dumb they are when it comes to India, added it as USD.

200 M USD figure came from India (PTI article)....http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 862467.cms

Malayappan · Post by **Malayappan** » 05 Nov 2010 12:11

Cant see this posted here...
A Tattered Special Relationship

Unlike the other V, when Tunku says 'we' he means US!

In conclusion he says -

In all this, Indian-Americans serve as a bridge for the relationship that needs to be built between India and the U.S. However, they are not enough. Other Americans—non-Indian-Americans—need to be part of the link, visiting and working in India, and getting into the embrace of the relationship. The alliance cannot be confected by ethnic ties: It has to be broader to be truly durable. The model is not that of American Jews and Israel. It is the U.K. and America—where the ties are not based anymore on common ethnicity or religion, but on common ideals.

Read it all!

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 05 Nov 2010 12:12

Raja Bose wrote:Guess I started off a good-ol-days-when-we-came-with-$8-in-pocket-onlee reminiscing amongst B-R grandpas

Newbees like me were lucky enough to have 20 dollah in 1987.

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 05 Nov 2010 12:27

saip wrote:Anyone watching CNN? Anderson 360 is on. It is all about $200 mil a day Obama's trip and 34 ships!

Ditto tea party uber Nazi Beckie boy on Faux nooge

Malayappan · Post by **Malayappan** » 05 Nov 2010 12:27

Cant find this one too already posted - check this out - Bob Blackwill on Obama's visit -
Robert Blackwill on Obama's Trip to India

Some excerpts -

I'd like to divide my comments into three different baskets regarding the visit. The first are public events and their impact on the Indian people; second, transactional initiatives and agreements between the two sides; and then the third, strategic understandings, which would be private largely, and further tangible strategic collaboration.

first, public events and their impact: I don't have any doubt that the president is going to wow the Indian masses

on those transactional issues, I expect it to be a pretty good set of agreements by the time they're finished. I guess the question is, are they really good, or the sorts of agreements that always come out of or usually come out of summits of this kind? And we'll see.

But the third part, which are these issues I enumerated, we'll have to see where they come out. And I suppose you could say those are the most long-lasting, enduring issues of the U.S.-India strategic relationship.

One comment in the context of Pakistan -

on issues of Pakistan -- and here again, I'm speaking very -- I'm on the record, but I always speak very bluntly. Indians often confine their views of Pakistan and how to shape Pakistan's behavior to only criticizing American policy. And I think a very good question for my friends in the Indian strategic community is, what is India's strategy for seeking to shape Pakistan's behavior in a positive way?

And as you look at the Indian punditry on this question, it's mostly devoted to what's wrong with American policy. And as I said earlier, I think there are some things wrong with American policy, but surely it would be in India's interest to debate what's the best long-term strategy for India in trying to shape Pakistan's external behavior....

The problem is that the same degree of candor and incisiveness does not happen very often below them in the rest of their two governments. And so maybe the Indians -- the Americans too, but maybe the Indians could take more initiative to try and make that happen, because on China and on Afghanistan and on Iran and then on -- most of all, for India, on Pakistan, India's going to be enormously affected by American policies in this regard, in all four of those. And so obviously, it's in India's great interest to have as much intimacy as possible as the American decision-making locomotive chugs on forward

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 05 Nov 2010 12:51

Some relevant tweets re the Amperial visit...
http://twitter.com/#!/bhogleharsha

is there anyone else out there who thinks we have crossed the line separating hospitality and servility with obama?

fishermen not allowed to work for three days.in a civilised society they should be compensated.seems despotic otherwise.

today's newspaper says obama's security wanted to take over the mumbai air traffic control.do they need reminding we're a sovereign country?

people living in colaba can't burst crackers [obama visit restrictions].not a fan of crackers but they should have the independence to take their own decision

in his own city the chief minister has to show his passport or proof of identity while an overseas visitor can walk around?

Bravo. My respect for sri bhogle just went up a few notches only. Bon mot.

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 05 Nov 2010 13:34

U.S. Defense Companies Eye $30 billion Worth Indian Defense Deals in Coming Years

arun · Post by **arun** » 05 Nov 2010 14:18

Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Chhagan Bhujbal‘s fitting retort on the US demand for personal details such as passport and PAN numbers of those invited to meet the US President during his visit to Mumbai:

"The host is asking for details from a guest he is inviting. If he doesn't know who this guest is, then why is he inviting the person?"

Obama visit: Ministers object to revealing personal details

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 05 Nov 2010 17:00

It is indeed nauseating to see India handle the Obama visit with a degree of servility. I remember when some Amirkhan plane would violate Indian airspace - I think these incidents have happened in Bombay and Madras more than once. India would deal with them with as much silence as possible. We need some political party in India to be a watchdog. INC and BJP, these days, appear to be two sides of a coin as well.

I hang my head in shame. India Reins In Coconuts, Monkeys Before Obama Visit.

Pulikeshi · Post by **Pulikeshi** » 05 Nov 2010 18:27

^ SwamyG - Chillax: Says more about NPR than it does about India...

Slow news day I suppose after the democratic demise. India is 'Bush' country and fair game!
What fun the French made of the Americans (Ben Franklin) and where are they now?