India-US relations: News and Discussions III

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 03 Dec 2016 20:20

ramana wrote:I think Mattis appointment has to do with TSP. As CENTCOM he would have direct dealings with them. Let's see. Also Nagrota attack shows TSP chain of command is breaking down.

How is the chain of command breaking down?

And even if it did, we should ask our own guys some tough questions. Such attacks are too common place and simply unacceptable. Not being able to prevent such attacks undercuts ModiJi's policy. Its incredible how a bunch of pigLeTs reached so deep inside a heavily guarded base. Anther thing is that in India it is impossible to ask such questions, but was there any insider collusion? Patankot, Uri, Gurdaspur, Pampore, Nagorata, the list goes on. It seems to me that TSP has a reliable network inside India, or else these attacks wouldn't be so commonplace.

Guddu · Post by **Guddu** » 03 Dec 2016 21:19

Having attended a few DT election rally's and also followed him very closely, DT is not going to become pak pasand. DT speaks about overcoming divisiveness etc, but he has not thrown any bones to his muslim populace so far, infact his surrogates have talked about building a muslim registry after the election. DT is welcoming blacks, hispanics, democrats, snowflakes and the buttercups to join him, but not explicitly welcoming muslims, the one group that he railed against during the election.
Furthermore shooklaw's site talks about the impending passage of the India-US defense partnership law under Obama. Re:Iran I think its mostly election bluster, he will not act unless Iran does something to poke a finger in the american eye. DT is mercurial in changing positions, but he has some core ideas, one of them related to radical islam. My best guess is that Pak will be forced to go after the haqqani network, JeM, LeT etc, if they do, Pak lives, if not, the screws will tighten. Bajwa teh COAS may not be a bad thing for India (considering the options).

darshan · Post by **darshan** » 03 Dec 2016 21:44

Even if DT administration ends up marginalizing islam within US territory while keeping different PoV on islam internationally, it is not a bad thing. There is significant population within US that believes in this BS of muslims being oppressed, islam being peaceful religion, placating muslims is the way to go, people shying away from mentioning 9/11 and islam together etc. If DT manages to change thought process of many on this, then it is certainly not a bad thing. Last thing one wants to see is this placating muslim population virus to go mainstream in many western countries.

Rudradev · Post by **Rudradev** » 03 Dec 2016 21:58

Lilo wrote:
U.S. House to hold hearing on Indian curbs on Christian NGO
VARGHESE K. GEORGE

The United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee will next week hold a hearing on restrictions imposed by the Narendra Modi government on American charity Compassion International (CI)
...

Ed Royce, Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking a review of the curbs.
The partial relaxation in October has not satisfied the administration and members of Congress. The State Department said then that it would continue to push for a “more welcoming environment for NGOs.” Mr. Royce, who is considered a strong supporter of India in Congress, and several other members, support the Christian charity that raises its funds mostly through small monthly donations. CI supports local NGOs that work among children in several countries.

U.S. always raises it
The issue continuously comes up in Indian interactions with the U.S interlocutors, according to sources familiar with the situation. The hearing titled ‘American Compassion in India: Government Obstacles’ on December 6 will have Stephen Oakley, General Counsel, Compassion International, John Sifton, Asia Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch, and Irfan Nooruddin, Professor of Indian Politics, Georgetown University, as witnesses.

<snip>
That too the uber "secular" democrats led by obama are at the vangaurd of the global christendom's "compassion" towards the heathen turd world.

Let the desi's in massa blindly voting democrat without putting a premium on their vote - supposedly out of fear for the durability of the "secular" veneer maintained by democrats in massaland & supposedly under perpetual threat from "unsecular" social conservatism of republicans take note.

Do you recognize the almost TOTAL cognitive dissonance between what is actually in the article and your observations below?

What is the article about?
A hearing by US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee (NOT the Obama Administration), pressuring India to give access to the Christian fundamentalist NGO CI.

Who dominates and has dominated the US House of Representatives since 2010?
Republicans.

Who is the Prime Mover behind this Hearing, AND other attempts to hound the Modi govt over the CI issue (has written a letter, etc?)
Ed Royce, of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

What party does Ed Royce belong to?
Republican.

So who is currently in the "vanguard" of global christendom's "compassion" towards the heathen third world?

And what relevance does Desi tendency to vote for democrats have to the Republican-led, Christian Fundamentalist, atrocity-literature driven campaign of political blackmail that the article reports?

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 03 Dec 2016 22:04

THE LAST DIPLOMAT

Just before 8 on the morning of Oct. 21, 2014, Robin Raphel climbed into her Ford Focus, put her purple briefcase on the passenger’s seat and began the 20-minute drive from her house in Washington to her office at the State Department.

It was a routine Tuesday. The main event on her schedule was a staff meeting.

Raphel swiped her badge at the revolving security door and headed to her office where she placed her briefcase on the floor and sat down to check her email. Later, as she joined her colleagues in a conference room to discuss office schedules, her mobile phone, which she had left at her desk, began to ring. It was Slomin’s Home Security.

When she didn’t pick up, the operator called her daughter Alexandra, who raced to the house to check the doors and windows. When Raphel returned to her desk, the phone rang again. It was Alexandra, in a panic.

Burglars hadn’t set off the alarm. It was the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Raphel grabbed her purse and ran out. She left behind her purple briefcase—one she had bought at the Kohsar Market in Islamabad—with a bag of carrots and a Rubbermaid container full of celery sticks inside.

As she pulled up to her yellow-brick house, Raphel saw agents going in and out the front door, walking across the oriental rugs she had trundled back from tours in South Asia. They boxed up her two computers, Alexandra’s iPad and everything else electronic. In the basement, they opened the drawers of a mahogany file cabinet she had picked up during a posting in London. They pulled out a stack of files.

The agents, without saying a word, carried the boxes out to a white van.

Raphel, unsure of what was happening, paced in circles on her front porch.

Two FBI agents approached her, their faces stony. “Do you know any foreigners?” they asked.

Raphel’s jaw dropped. She had served as a diplomat in six capitals on four continents. She had been an ambassador, and the State Department’s assistant secretary for South Asian affairs. Knowing foreigners had been her job.

“Of course,” she responded, “Tons…Hundreds.”

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 03 Dec 2016 22:09

Rudradev is wide awake. Unlike some.

http://www.attn.com/stories/13241/comed ... m-registry

A Muslim comedian named Mohammed "Mo" Amer sat next to Eric Trump by chance on a recent flight to Scotland and got quite a telling response about what a Trump presidency will mean for Muslims in the United States.

....
"Ah come on man," Eric reportedly said to him, according to Amer's interview with BuzzFeed News published on Friday, when asked about the Muslim registry. "You can’t believe everything you read. Do you really think we’re gonna do that?”

The Arab-American standup told BuzzFeed News that Eric "basically acknowledged the fact that his father played this thing like a mad genius and that’s how he got elected, and he admitted it.”

-----
About who called whom (Taiwan - Trump)
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a ... 2003660473

Trump reportedly agreed to the call, which was arranged by Taiwan-friendly members of his campaign staff after his aides briefed him on issues regarding Taiwan and the situation in the Taiwan Strait, sources said.

-----
Offer to mediate India-Pakistan over Kashmir (prior to Nov

.
Will Trump back down, like Obama did?

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-new ... Bt7DJ.html

Asked if he would like to play a role, Trump said, “If it was necessary I would do that. If we could get India and Pakistan getting along, I would be honoured to do that. That would be a tremendous achievement... I think if they wanted me to, I would love to be the mediator or arbitrator.”

India opposes third-party mediation on Kashmir -- the main issue of contention between the two countries -- and was worried when President Barack Obama suggested in 2008 that the US “should probably try to facilitate a better understanding between Pakistan and India and try to resolve the Kashmir crisis”. That was the last time he spoke about a role for the US.

JwalaMukhi · Post by **JwalaMukhi** » 03 Dec 2016 22:16

darshan wrote:Even if DT administration ends up marginalizing islam within US territory while keeping different PoV on islam internationally, it is not a bad thing. There is significant population within US that believes in this BS of muslims being oppressed, islam being peaceful religion, placating muslims is the way to go, people shying away from mentioning 9/11 and islam together etc. If DT manages to change thought process of many on this, then it is certainly not a bad thing. Last thing one wants to see is this placating muslim population virus to go mainstream in many western countries.

It is little more nuanced. There is significant population within US that pretends to believe in muslims being oppressed. It is the modus operandi of the Alt-left/SJW groups. In general the Left, definitely believes in such pretense and actively promotes such portrayal. The left and right within US is extremely aware of the dangers posed by the Ummah. The way to deal with that is quite different by the Left and by the Right. The Left co-opts some of these muslims and patronizes them. As long as they are within the line parroting the partyline set to the correct sound-bites they are promoted and used to the full. It is a game both of them (muslims and left) willingly indulge. One of the main reason Left was marginalized in the recent elections, is the Left failed to call out the islamic terrorism, even when it marginally affects US. The threat from Ummah is minimal to US, even then the bigotry of Left in failing to call out islamic terror, has had its repercurssions. The left's stand in US is exposed and not too different from pseudo-seculars in Indian context, while such stand will not hurt US much, it is fatal in India.

The right is little more crass but quite straight forward about expressing their fear of the Ummah, and want to deal with them in usual cowboy fashion.

On the whole, both left and right, believe that Ummah is to be loathed and managed within US, but Ummah needs to be fully supported and celebrated elsewhere. The Ummah is most useful tool and its utility is exploited to cause trouble across the world by both Left and Right.

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 03 Dec 2016 22:24

^
Not so sure about that. Mr. Buffett is on record predicting a N-attack on the USA, and the fighting is coming ever closer to the mainland. Although Europe is liable to get hit first...

Lilo · Post by **Lilo** » 03 Dec 2016 22:29

Rudradev wrote:
Lilo wrote:
<snip>
That too the uber "secular" democrats led by obama are at the vangaurd of the global christendom's "compassion" towards the heathen turd world.

Let the desi's in massa blindly voting democrat without putting a premium on their vote - supposedly out of fear for the durability of the "secular" veneer maintained by democrats in massaland & supposedly under perpetual threat from "unsecular" social conservatism of republicans take note.
Do you recognize the almost TOTAL cognitive dissonance between what is actually in the article and your observations below?

What is the article about?
A hearing by US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee (NOT the Obama Administration), pressuring India to give access to the Christian fundamentalist NGO CI.

Who dominates and has dominated the US House of Representatives since 2010?
Republicans.

Who is the Prime Mover behind this Hearing, AND other attempts to hound the Modi govt over the CI issue (has written a letter, etc?)
Ed Royce, of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

What party does Ed Royce belong to?
Republican.

So who is currently in the "vanguard" of global christendom's "compassion" towards the heathen third world?

And what relevance does Desi tendency to vote for democrats have to the Republican-led, Christian Fundamentalist, atrocity-literature driven campaign of political blackmail that the article reports?

^
RD ji
although iam a sleepy guy

, let me quote the relevant portions from the quoted news article (some snipped & some not high lighted in your above post).

Issue that upset Obama regime
The Congressional hearing will bring into sharp focus an issue that has upset the Obama administration and several members of the Congress. Ed Royce, Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking a review of the curbs.
The partial relaxation in October has not satisfied the administration and members of Congress. The State Department said then that it would continue to push for a “more welcoming environment for NGOs.” Mr. Royce, who is considered a strong supporter of India in Congress, and several other members, support the Christian charity that raises its funds mostly through small monthly donations. CI supports local NGOs that work among children in several countries.

U.S.(i will safely assume its the obama administration which is being referred to here) always raises it
The issue continuously comes up in Indian interactions with the U.S interlocutors, according to sources familiar with the situation.

And a previous post of mine detailing in this same thread on the same issue two months back.The total support given to evangelicals by democrats led by obama admin is undeniable .

Lilo wrote:
No ‘compassion’ for NGO in India leaves Kerry worried
SUHASINI HAIDAR VIJAITA SINGH

MHA says it will relook at FCRA ban case on Compassion International

Raising the pressure on the government on the issue of NGOs, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry voiced concerns over the treatment of American NGO Compassion International at the strategic and commercial dialogue held here this week, Indian and American officials present at the meeting confirmed to The Hindu.

Mr. Kerry’s request is the highest level at which the NGO issue has ever been taken up bilaterally, though the government’s action against Christian and climate change NGOs has been a thorn in India-U.S. relations for over six years. Officials say they may reconsider their action after the request.

According to very senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ms. Swaraj told Mr. Kerry at the meeting: “India expects all NGOs operating here to adhere to our rules and regulations.”

However, the government also directed the MHA to look at the case again.

Kerry raised NGO issue with Sushma

According to the officials, Mr. Kerry spoke to Ms. Swaraj directly, asking that India reconsider its move to put Compassion International on its ‘prior permission’ list on March 28, cancelling its ability to transfer funds directly to NGOs in the country.

Asked whether Compassion International could now be removed from the ‘prior permission’ list, a senior North Block official told The Hindu: “We have received the request. We may consider it.”

Mr. Kerry’s request was unusual not just because it was taken up at the highest level, but because he singled out the Colorado-based Christian advocacy group for consideration, out of several U.S. NGOs currently under extra scrutiny by the MHA’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) division. The other NGOs are Mercy Corps, the National Endowment for Democracy and George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.

Compassion International had been under scrutiny for transferring funds to a Chennai-based NGO and other non-FCRA- registered NGOs, including one allegedly involved in religious conversions, an MHA official told The Hindu. “We put them on the watch list after monitoring them for many months.”

According to the data with the MHA, Compassion International was the top foreign donor during 2012-13 when it donated Rs. 183.83 crore to NGOs in India, and had been transferring approximately Rs. 150 crores every year since then until it was put on the ‘prior permission’ list.
Sikularism as practiced by "liberal" Democrats of Massa.
Atleast with Republicans these things will be overt and in your face - hence a Hindu response can be mobilized.
I must say the Indian origin Hindu americans who sanctimoniously support Hillary may as well have empty sockets for their eyes .

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7220&p=2041384&hili ... n#p2041384

Now in my previous post i have only given my 2 naya paisa that desi's in US should keep more premium on their vote and not pledge it by default to the democrats - based on the secular veneer they maintain on their politics in massa - as above behaviour by obama administration in force feeding the heathens in turd world the christendom's "compassion" makes it amply clear they are as sikular as they come.For which you responded with reproach in your post.

I will say the obvious explicitly.I didnt miss the role of the Republican senator who is head of the committee but isnt it common knowledge that republicans are "supposed" to be backing the evangelicals?

Hence the edifying fact(edifying not for seasoned folks like you or others here -but the dabblers & lurkers who skim this thread to get their info on US ) is that the democrats are equally (& if not more going by actions of the Obama admin) are behind the evangelical agenda - while maintaining a dangerously sleep inducing veneer of "secularism" on their behavior domestically.

Finally iam quite fastidious in actually reading on the content of these news articles i post and i assure you its not some "cognitive dissonance" as you have diagnosed.

JwalaMukhi · Post by **JwalaMukhi** » 03 Dec 2016 22:31

As far as Desis in US are concerned, some of them get into the game of clubbing with the minorities bandwagon, and walk into the solidarity trap laid by the SJW/Alt-Left type. Hence, overwhelmed with the sound-bites dished out by Left, most fall hook,line and sinker and start identifying with Left. It is fig leaf, because alternate is made not even attractive to be associated with, although reality may be different.

Truly Desis are minor player in influence inside US, because they are. But they are very useful and exploited to have mega influence in India, indirectly. The likes of Barkha(supporting Ummah), and other naxal peddlers etc., are cultivated carefully by the Left (actively supported by Desis in US) to cause havoc in India.

panduranghari · Post by **panduranghari** » 03 Dec 2016 22:38

Lilo wrote:Now i have only given my 2 naya paisa that desi's in US should keep more premium on their vote and not by pledge it by default to the democrats - based on the secular veneer they maintain on their politics in massa - as above behaviour by obama administration in force feeding the heathens in turd world the christendom's "compassion" makes it amply clear

Exactly saar. Republicans at least this time around were lesser of the two evils.

JwalaMukhi · Post by **JwalaMukhi** » 03 Dec 2016 22:39

Lilo wrote: I will say the obvious explicitly.I didnt miss the role of the Republican senator who is head of the committee but isnt it common knowledge that republicans are "supposed" to be backing the evangelicals?

Hence the edifying fact(edifying not for seasoned folks like you or others here -but the dabblers & lurkers who skim this thread to get their info on US ) is that the democrats are equally (& if not more going by actions of the Obama admin) are behind the evangelical agenda - while maintaining a dangerously sleep inducing veneer of "secularism" on their behavior domestically.

Truly not great choices for Desis in US.
Succintly put.
Supporting Left = unconditionally empowering Jihadis+ unconditionally empowering evanjihadis.
Supporting Right = conditionally empowering jihadis + unconditionally empowering evanjihadis.
On the whole Right is slightly better.

JwalaMukhi · Post by **JwalaMukhi** » 03 Dec 2016 22:51

vera_k wrote:^
Not so sure about that. Mr. Buffett is on record predicting a N-attack on the USA, and the fighting is coming ever closer to the mainland. Although Europe is liable to get hit first...

That is an hypothetical black swan event, which the meat and potatoes are not going to be basing their preference. The average joe/jane is going to lean right or left depending how Ummah is depicted concerning within US.
Left actively pursues the policy of such a black-swan event if it were to happen let it happen elsewhere. Left spends energy in actively diverting the eventuality of black swan elsewhere.

The Right actively pursues the policy of minimizing that black swan event by actively discouraging Ummah support services inside US. Right uses not a fine scalpel, but a broad and crude surgery by carpet bombing across the board, which means there will be collateral. Remember Japanese internment. So no molly-colldling and pandering to muslim sensitivities inside US.

Rishi Verma · Post by **Rishi Verma** » 03 Dec 2016 23:02

Guddu wrote:Having attended a few DT election rally's and also followed him very closely, DT is not going to become pak pasand. DT speaks about overcoming divisiveness etc, but he has not thrown any bones to his muslim populace so far, infact his surrogates have talked about building a muslim registry after the election. DT is welcoming blacks, hispanics, democrats, snowflakes and the buttercups to join

SirJi, being anti-pak doesn't automatically mean anti-muslim although pakis play that card.

DT will only be "tough" with muslims as far as visas are concerned.

But he may spell out the roadmap to de-nuke both Iran and the dastardly pakis.

arun · Post by **arun** » 03 Dec 2016 23:25

NRao wrote:
Gen. James Mattis could serve as a voice of reason in the next administration.

That will remain to be seen if he is going to be the voice of reason from an Indian perspective going by the below article on Gen. James Mattis which suggests that he would more likely appease the Mohammadden Terrorist Fomenting Islamic Republic of Pakistan especially the Uniformed Jihadi’s of the Punjabi dominated Military rather than be tough:

Trump’s New Defence Secretary Was Obama’s Go-To Man to Keep Pakistani Generals Happy : In the aftermath of the Raymond Davis and bin Laden affairs, General James Mattis was key in maintaining ties with top Pakistani military leadership.

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 03 Dec 2016 23:59

Guddu wrote: DT is mercurial in changing positions, but he has some core ideas, one of them related to radical islam.

Broadly speaking, DT has no ideas except how to conduct reality TV shows, grope "p!ssues" which he himself graphically portrays in his own words, and playing to the white nationalist gallery in the extreme. At best he will be a moron like Reagan dancing in tune with the US deep state, and at worst who knows.

My best guess is that Pak will be forced to go after the haqqani network, JeM, LeT etc, if they do, Pak lives, if not, the screws will tighten. Bajwa teh COAS may not be a bad thing for India (considering the options).

If indeed DT forces TSP to do this, I will sell you the Brooklyn bridge, and thats a promise.

But I'll be happy if Trump just continues the equal equal status quo and doesn't tilt in favor of TSP that will embolden it to double and triple its pigLeT attacks against India and scream nuke flash-point, and DT suggests mediation. Barring the lapses like Nagrota (which must be plugged, and I am sure Indian army will), I think India can manage the equal equal without too much damage. As I point out in another post, something cataclysmic will have to happen for the geo-political landscape to change that will force the US deep state and its lackeys, and China to forgo off TSP and treat it as the terrorist abomination that it is, and let India out of the "South Asia" box.

Guddu · Post by **Guddu** » 04 Dec 2016 01:21

A lot of people underestimated DT (I expected a DT win, FWIW on BRF). DT is a reality TV star, he is however also a long time new yorker and a billionaire. IMHO, anyone who is a new yorker and a billionaire is no fool, though he does use his TV skills to the full extent. DT has acknowledged he does not know much geo politics, and that he will study, which is a good thing. He has also said he will hire people who are the best...his current cabinet picks are excellent from the republican pov.
Re:Mattis, yes he may have supported paki generals in the past, but every general carries out the policies of the president. Mattis will change, per DT views.

Viv S · Post by **Viv S** » 04 Dec 2016 02:31

US Congress to enshrine US-India defence ties in US law

Congress to clear bill next week, Obama will sign into law thereafter

By Ajai Shukla
Business Standard, 3rd Dec 16

With President Barack Obama and the India-friendly Defence Secretary Ashton Carter about to demit office, their unswervingly pro-India defence policy is about to be enshrined into US legislation.

This week, top US lawmakers from both houses of Congress --- the Senate and the House of Republicans --- jointly agreed to an amendment in a major budget bill that will formalize and consolidate India’s status as a major US partner.

The amendment is entitled “Enhancing Defense and Security Cooperation with India” (hereafter “India amendment”). It is a part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017 (NDAA), which allocates funding each year to the US military. Like several small, but important, US bills, the India amendment is piggybacking on the NDAA (which must be passed by Congress) to avoid the fate of numerous small bills that are lost forever in Washington’s legislative hubbub.

The classic example of this piggybacking technique was the passage of the innocuously titled “Naval Vessel Transfer Act” in 2008, which has legislatively committed the US to ensuring Israel enjoys a “qualitative military edge” over every potential adversary.

Now, in similar fashion, the US Congress is binding future American presidents, whatever their alliances or foreign policies, to nurturing US-India defence ties.

The India amendment directs the US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) and Department of State to sustain and prioritize defense cooperation with India through a specified series of policies and actions.

These include: recognizing India’s status as “a major defense partner of the United States”, designating an official to ensure the success of the “Framework for the United States-India Defense Relationship”, to “approve and facilitate the transfer of advanced technology”, and the “strengthen the effectiveness of the US-India Defense Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) and the durability of the [Pentagon’s] “India Rapid Reaction Cell”.

All these mechanisms were instituted by the Obama administration to galvanize US-India defence relations, but there was no guarantee that subsequent US governments would follow them. The passage of the India amendment makes it obligatory for all US administrations to do so.

According to officials closely involved with negotiating the India amendment, the NDAA is likely to pass the House of Representatives and the Senate next week and be signed into law by President Obama soon thereafter.

The passage of this amendment, which had been cleared by the House of Representatives in May, but scuttled --- only temporarily, it now emerges --- by the Senate in June, underlines the bipartisan Congressional consensus that the US-India relationship is, in the words of their president, “the defining partnership of the 21st century”.

"For the last decade, a consensus has been growing among America’s soldiers, spies, and diplomats that a stronger and more capable Indian military is in America’s national security interest. This legislation demonstrates that this realization has spread to America’s elected representatives as well,” said Ben Schwartz, the US-India Business Council’s defense and aerospace head, who was formerly India head in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

There has been criticism that the India amendment makes no changes to the US Arms Export Control Act, which places India in the category of countries to which arms sales require a 30-day notification to the US Congress; rather than the more favoured countries that require only a 15 day notification.

In fact, that would be a problem only for countries that have such a high volume of arms purchases from the US that they cannot wait an extra 15 days. India, in contrast, as seen in all recent purchases of US weaponry, actually takes several years to conclude a contract after the “congressional notification”.

US officials also point out that this distinction has absolutely no affect on the level of technology transfer.

The passage of the India amendment has been bumpy, because of infighting over unconnected issues within the bitterly divided US Congress. US legislative procedure required both houses to pass similar versions of the India amendment, after which a joint conference reconciles the wording before it is voted on.

This process encountered a hiccup in summer. After the House of Representatives passed the India amendment in May, entitled “US India Defense Technology and Partnership Act”, the Senate failed to pass the companion bill, entitled “Advancing U.S.-India Defense Cooperation Act”. Now, however, a joint House-Senate “conference”, convened to hammer out the final form of the NDAA, mutually agreed to include the India amendment, which forms Section 1292 of the NDAA.

The US Congress will now be closely monitoring the relationship. The India amendment mandates: “Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act (the NDAA), and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State shall jointly submit to [Congress] a report on how the United States is supporting its defence relations with India in relations to the actions described…”
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Enhancing US-India defence: Features of India amendment

# India recognized as “major defence partner of the United States”

# Designated US defence official to ensure success of US-India Framework Agreement on Defence.

# Support combined US-India military planning for non-combat missions

# Promote US-India weapons interoperability

# Enhance cooperation with India “to advance United States interests in the South Asia and greater Indo-Asia-Pacific regions”

# Strengthen “Defence Trade and Technology Initiative” (DTTI)

# Develop “mutually agreeable mechanisms” to verify security of US-supplied defence equipment and technology

# Annual report to Congress on how the US government is supporting defence ties

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 04 Dec 2016 02:46

Viv, I am not an expert on this, and don't mean to trivialize this agreement. Maybe there is substance in it. But let me ask how useful are all these toys when US in the same breath gifts Fsolas and such to TSP?

IMO US India relations will know no bounds if US can make TSP bend on terror. US has the wherewithal to make TSP behave. Just threaten sanctions. Just threaten putting TSP on the list of terror sponsoring nations. Just Just threaten that US will make TSP nuke nude like Iran. Just place pigLeTs like LeT and Jaish on par with Al Queda, Hamas, ISIS and make them as targets in the global war on terror. If I were to dream further, US can remote can control a few drones from Langley, VA to strike Murdike in TSP Punjab and take out Hafeez pig while he is giving Allah sermons and exhorting his pigLeT slaves to go on suicide missions into India. All of these will mean much more to India than military toys that US sells to both India and TSP.

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 04 Dec 2016 03:56

JwalaMukhi wrote:Left actively pursues the policy of such a black-swan event if it were to happen let it happen elsewhere. Left spends energy in actively diverting the eventuality of black swan elsewhere.

More like the left will let the black-swan happen, then spend energy in minimizing the consequences later on. The right will attempt to prevent the black-swan event.

Viv S · Post by **Viv S** » 04 Dec 2016 04:04

CRamS wrote:Viv, I am not an expert on this, and don't mean to trivialize this agreement. Maybe there is substance in it. But let me ask how useful are all these toys when US in the same breath gifts Fsolas and such to TSP?

I can't claim to be an expert on the matter. I'll just put my own views, so TIFWIW.

To start with, most critical Indian opinions of the US-Pak relationship are based on a superpower-client view of the relationship. That is a flawed basis of analysis that ends up mixing up outcomes with intent. Fact is, the US is a superpower in decline. It could dictate terms to the world back in the 90s i.e the hyper-power days. For better or worse, it can't today.

The Iraq campaign struck a huge blow against US credibility when it comes to hard power and that effect has only been exacerbated by the quagmire in Afghanistan and the chaos in the Middle East. Its 'allies' in the Middle East know it, India, Russia & China know it and yes.. Pakistan knows it just as well.

After 15 years of blood & treasure spent; 2,400 dead, 20,000 wounded & $1.6 trillion (2001-2015) spent, the best possible outcome the US can look forward to in Afghanistan is an perpetually unstable semi-religious state propped by foreign aid (monetary & military).

Since 2008, the US military has sustained more casualties in Afghanistan than Indian military has in J&K. They went into Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11 and ended up finding OBL in a Pakistani cantonment. M. Omar passed away in a Karachi hospital. His successor M. Mansour was killed in a drone strike near the Iran border. His successor, in turn, is a preacher from Quetta where both the Taliban & Haqqani networks were openly operating out of.

So the idea that the US can solve India's terror problems is clearly a dead end. Forget J&K, if they can stop the ANA from haemorrhaging men, it'll be a job well done.

As regards the aid to Pakistan; it was a big fat zero between 1989, when the Soviet withdrawal concluded (and the Pakistanis became useless) and 2001 when the US campaign began (and the Pakistanis became useful, or rather, we're perceived as 'useful'). As evidence of its perfidy emerged, and NATO troops withdrew, aid to Pakistan has been rapidly rolled back.

The FMF funding for the F-16s was rejected and security funding has been scaled back to $500 mil/yr (with the SecDef refusing to sanction the remainder) down from ~$3bn in 2010. That might be enough to pay the PA/PAF's counter-insurgency costs, or not. Ideally, we in India would prefer it there be no aid at all, but as long as ISAF supply lines run via Karachi and they carry out the odd cross-border op/drone strike, that's not feasible.

Bottom-line, as far as Pakistan is concerned, we're on our own. The US isn't going help us, but also isn't going to hinder us. We do have a convergence of interests on China however and that factor will continue to drive bilateral relations.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 04 Dec 2016 06:28

CRS,

If the US could do all that India, at the very least, would be in the NSG. Today even New Zealand is opposed to India in there. And, of all even Singapore is making noises against India.

But, I have hope in Mattis. Of course, he is not the US.

India, IMHO, is doing well. Within. And that should translate abroad in a few years.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 04 Dec 2016 07:11

Not US related. But, I guess Iran wanted to beat Trump to the headlines.

Iran offers to 'mediate' between India and Pakistan

This world is going to be fun to watch.

Analysts should either quit or take leave of absence.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 04 Dec 2016 07:52

NRao wrote:Not US related. But, I guess Iran wanted to beat Trump to the headlines.

Iran offers to 'mediate' between India and Pakistan

This world is going to be fun to watch.

Analysts should either quit or take leave of absence.

Iran should mediate between Pak and US. There is lot of trouble since the Afghan wars of the 80s

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 04 Dec 2016 08:26

Penn State students solve global crisis at Army War College simulation

A global crisis broke out at the Penn State School of International Affairs (SIA) over the weekend, and SIA students were the only ones who could solve it.

Tensions were rising dramatically between India and Pakistan due to nuclear weapons both countries had placed near the border, fueling unrest and terrorism in the Indian region of Jammu and Kashmir and reigniting the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party’s call for independence and autonomy. Soon, the international community was pulled into the fray as countries across the world sought to deescalate and bring stability to the volatile situation—but, as was soon discovered, not everyone gets what they want in global diplomacy.

This scenario formed the basis of the U.S. Army War College International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise held at the School of International Affairs on Nov. 11 and 12, which was hosted and led by former U.S. Ambassador and Assistant Secretary of State Robin Raphel.

“These kinds of exercises are very useful, as they force the students to take on the persona of another culture and government when approaching these complex issues,” Raphel said. “There was a lot of material to absorb, but the students did a wonderful job.”

About 50 SIA students participated, representing parties including India, Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, and the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP), each with their own goals to accomplish and deal breakers they would refuse to accept.

Negotiations started amicably, with each country announcing their willingness to negotiate and their hope for a peaceful resolution, but the hard realities of diplomacy soon set in. Who would distribute aid to the people of Jammu and Kashmir? How could the international community ensure an unbiased investigation into reports of human rights violations in the region without impinging on Indian sovereignty? And how could the PDP hope to attain independence from India with so little diplomatic influence?

“You are not going to be able to solve Jammu and Kashmir, but you will begin to understand the scope and complexity of these problems,” said Col. William Jones, of the U.S. Army War College, as the exercise got underway. “If you get through a few baby steps over the next 36 hours, you will be happy with your results.”

Shawn McFarland, who helped represent the PDP, advocated for distribution of aid by the U.N., an independent human rights investigation also conducted by the U.N., and Jammu and Kashmir independence, but found that very few in the international community were willing to consider their proposals.

“It’s been very difficult for us to negotiate with no leverage as a nonstate actor,” McFarland said. “Our negotiations with India and Pakistan have mostly been them telling us how it is, with no reason to listen to us.”

Although the teams representing India and Pakistan, with influence from the other nations participating, did ultimately agree to move their nuclear weapons away from the border and work to reduce terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, their other agreements left some in the international community disappointed. They declined to allow the U.N. to distribute humanitarian aid or to conduct a human rights investigation, instead opting to undertake both themselves, and refused to consider expanding the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir.

“There’s certainly a lot of tension, but the Indian government sticks to the fact they can’t be their own government; Jammu and Kashmir are part of the nation of India,” said Indian representative Aaron Humiston. “These negotiations have given me a better understanding of this issue, the positions of the nations involved, and the challenges of diplomacy. After all, this is a territorial dispute, but the only issues we’ve been able to resolve are nonterritorial.”

By the final meeting of the nations at the end of the exercise, despite all the progress that had been made, these unresolved issues continued to be a source of subtle (and, at times, not-so-subtle) tension and conflict.

The PDP angrily quoted a Kashmiri protest artist and expressed disappointment in their perceived marginalization by the international community. The United Kingdom took the unexpected position of supporting full independence for the PDP and denounced some in the international community, especially the United States, for refusing to support democracy and self-governance. India accused the United Kingdom of attempting to blatantly influence Indian affairs and violate their sovereignty, going so far as to even resentfully hint at India’s long period of British rule.

But when all was said and done, the students walked away with a valuable experience and new insight into the inner workings of international negotiations.

“Issues like these are difficult. It’s all about making steps in the right direction,” said Andrew Rechenberg, who played an outspoken representative for the U.K. “I learned a lot about negotiation from this exercise, and how you can use consistent strategy and assertiveness in these kinds of situations.”

In another article Robin Raphel is blamed for encouraging terrorists attack on India by pak terrorists. What a contrast
http://us.blastingnews.com/opinion/2016 ... 02543.html

Will Trump be another Robin Raphel?
Trump’s unthoughtful remarks can easily take the situation back to what it was during the early 1990s. It was seen how the then assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, Robin Raphel, had helped widen the gap between India and the US, and encouraged elements from across the border to carry out terrorist activities in Kashmir. Today, if Trump makes enough careless and casual remarks about Pakistan, Kashmir, or India, he would be disturbing a sensitive situation already prevailing in the state, it could be a disaster for the entire South Asian region.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 04 Dec 2016 08:48

I am amused by the fact that the PENN State University's Negotiation Exercise that was "hosted and led by former U.S. Ambassador and Assistant Secretary of State Robin Raphel". If there was one person who should not have done that, it was she.

In 1995, Raphel, then Asst. Secretary of state for South Asia made controversial comments on referendum that were objected to by India. Even when she served briefly (1991-1993) at the U.S. Embassy in Delhi, she made frequent visits to Srinagar and aired strong views on Kashmir at diplomatic events that were disliked by GoI. She questioned the accession of J&K to India by Maharajah Hari Singh and even doubted the Instrument of Accession. Later, she supported the Taliban take over of Afghanistan, was controversially associated with Unocal’s efforts to lay an oil pipeline from Central Asia through Afghanistan to a Pakistani port. She also suggested dilution of Pressler Amendment. She also dismissed the Shimla Agreement as outdated and ineffective. She formed the Hurriyat in Islamabad in c. 1993 and then the United Jihadi Council. That is, she setup the classic terrorist organization and its political mouthpiece as well. She thus completely validated the Pakistani positions. She protected Pakistan from being declared as a Terrorism-sponsoring state.

The former Indian Foreign Secretary K.Srinivasan has stated that her phone call was intercepted by RAW where she was heard lamenting that the US decided not to vote for a Pakistani-sponsored UN Resolution against Indian atrocities in Kashmir in spite of her solid advice to the State Department to vote against India. How the Clinton-administration was checkmated on that Resolution by India is another story.

Gen. Musharraf awarded a 1.2 Million USD contract to refurbish “Pakistan’s Image” to the controversial Robin Raphel’s Cassidy & Associates Consultancy firm.

She was also a progenitor of the Taliban and its fiercest supporter in the UN. No wonder, Musharraf gave her that contract because their association goes back to the Taliban days when Musharraf was the DGMO and Ms. Raphel was Assistant Secretary of State putting up the Taliban along with Pinky. Ms. Raphel, defending the Taliban, said“The Taliban control more than two-thirds of the country, they are Afghan, they are indigenous, they have demonstrated staying power. The real source of their success has been the willingness of many Afghans, particularly Pashtuns, to tacitly trade unending fighting and chaos for a measure of peace and security, even with severe social restrictions. It is not in the interests of Afghanistan or any of us here that the Taliban be isolated.”

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 04 Dec 2016 11:49

Be glad Trump has not reached out to her, yet, for the SOS position.

Rishi Verma · Post by **Rishi Verma** » 04 Dec 2016 12:24

If an American executive quietly praises a worker in simple words "good job buddy" it's more honest than If he/she over-does it and says "you and your entire tribe are fantastic people, two kudos to you, extra feathers in your cap". It usually means "you getting pink-slip next"

When will emotional jingoes stop having first-order thoughts?

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 04 Dec 2016 12:55

NRao wrote:Be glad Trump has not reached out to her, yet, for the SOS position.

It seems Trumpanzee has a hard on for generals. Petraeus may be his man for SoS.

Rudradev · Post by **Rudradev** » 04 Dec 2016 12:56

NRao wrote:Be glad Trump has not reached out to her, yet, for the SOS position.

Oh, it's coming.

Has everyone seen the story The Last Diplomat in WSJ (a Republican mouthpiece if there ever was one?)

It's a complete, out and out, whitewash-and-lionize hagiography where Robin Raphel is not only loudly exonerated of the FBI investigation against her, but elevated to the status of a heroic Lawrence Of Pakistan. She is portrayed a dedicated American patriot who won the hearts and minds of the Pakistanis, only to be martyred by the hamfistedness of the Obama administration, with its paranoid NSA and evil CIA who took a hard line on Pakistan after Raymond Davis and Abbotabad. These mean anti-Pakistan agencies unjustly victimized poor Robin Raphel etc. etc.

All accompanied by slick, high resolution portraits of Robin Raphel looking very heroic on her Georgetown porch wearing Shalwar Kameez.

Read it and puke. And recognize what it means, at this time... a really high profile, well-funded campaign to reinstate Robin Raphel as THE Last Diplomat who can salvage America's all-important relationship with Pakistan. It's a lobbying masterpiece.

Raphel (and her Paki backers) are angling HARD to have her become the Donald Trump administration's Richard Holbrooke
.. if not its John Kerry. I am willing to bet Trump will take one look at this article, glance at the herrowic pictures, and take her up on it. Especially when he also hears about her expert oversight of the Penn State student association mock-UN exercise on Cashmere (which he really, really would like to solve).

Most ironic of all are the TrumpIdiot comments in response to the article, badmouthing Obama's FBI and NSA for launching such an unjust witch hunt against this true American patriot Robin Raphel. Little do these morons realize that the man they are denouncing for this supposed "witch hunt", the man responsible for (rightly) investigating Raphel, is none other than James Comey. The very same FBI director who also investigated crooked Hillary Clinton, and in so doing, helped their Moron-In-Chief ascend to the White House.

This is going to end up even worse than Secretary-of-State Abedin would have been.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 04 Dec 2016 13:08

^^^It's highly unlikely.

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 04 Dec 2016 19:18

Guys, on Trump's call to world leaders, here is the NYT's take

Mr. Trump accepts an invitation to
visit Pakistan, “a terrific country.”

Why it matters

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif invited Mr. Trump to visit, according to a Pakistani government readout of their call. Should Mr. Trump follow through, he risks alienating India, which sees Pakistan as a major antagonist, and appearing to reward Pakistan’s behavior; should he renege, he risks upsetting Pakistani leaders who are sensitive about perceived American intransigence. Either way, the call could upset the delicate balance of India-Pakistan ties, which the U.S. has struggled to manage amid a history of wars and recent skirmishes.

Other the condescending tone, "manage India & TSP", and other than saying "appearing to reward TSP's behavior", no mention of TSP role in the deaths of 100s of solders in Afghanistan. I wonder if NYT chutiyas who take their cues from deep state on foreign policy are so blind folded when it comes to TSP that they overlook the deaths to their own soldiers caused by TSP.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 04 Dec 2016 19:41

CRS, that's why I said every American President would be a nightmare to India one way or another, even when they enhance closer cooperation. The 'closer cooperation' is to ensnare India in their geopolitical & geostrategic scheme of things. In fact, that's how a country should behave because it maximizes benefits for itself at minimal risk (India cannot do much harm to US interests). Some of the closer cooperation is normal 'catching up' for decades of 'lost opportunity' (with a country of our size and capacity) when we were at the bottom of the pile as far as US was concerned, and some of it is driven by exigent circumstances. The de-hyphenation that Pres. Bush promoted was only selective to make us believe that it was all encompassing. It was not and it will not be. IMO, a true measure of the change in policy is when newspapers see it, feel it and it shows in their natural writing.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 04 Dec 2016 19:49

U.S. to hold hearing on India’s curbs on NGO - Varghese K George, The Hindu

The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee will next week hold a hearing on restrictions imposed by the Indian government on American charity Compassion International (CI).

India had in March 2016 stopped the flow of funds from CI to around 250 organisations it wanted to support in the country. The government partially lifted the restrictions in October, allowing 10 organisations to receive funds, after Secretary of State John Kerry took up the matter with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Indian security agencies say the funds were being used for religious conversions. The hearing will bring into sharp focus an issue that has upset the Obama administration and several members of Congress.

Ed Royce, Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking a review of the curbs.

The partial relaxation has not satisfied the administration and members of Congress. The State Department then said it would continue to push for a “more welcoming environment for NGOs”.

Mr. Royce, who is considered a strong supporter of India in Congress, and several other members support the Christian charity that raises funds mostly through small monthly donations. The CI supports local NGOs that work among children in several countries.

The issue continuously comes up in Indian interactions with U.S. interlocutors, according to sources familiar with the situation. The hearing, titled ‘American Compassion in India: Government Obstacles’, will take place on December 6.

Arjun · Post by **Arjun** » 04 Dec 2016 20:18

WTF?? If the charity is involved in conversions then the Indian public definitely does not want it to be given any kind of permission. It should be simple enough for India to convey that point.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 04 Dec 2016 22:41

SSridhar wrote:CRS, that's why I said every American President would be a nightmare to India one way or another, even when they enhance closer cooperation. The 'closer cooperation' is to ensnare India in their geopolitical & geostrategic scheme of things. In fact, that's how a country should behave because it maximizes benefits for itself at minimal risk (India cannot do much harm to US interests). Some of the closer cooperation is normal 'catching up' for decades of 'lost opportunity' (with a country of our size and capacity) when we were at the bottom of the pile as far as US was concerned, and some of it is driven by exigent circumstances. The de-hyphenation that Pres. Bush promoted was only selective to make us believe that it was all encompassing. It was not and it will not be. IMO, a true measure of the change in policy is when newspapers see it, feel it and it shows in their natural writing.

If one believes that India is teh India of old, then all this is true.

However, with passage of GST, the US stands to benefit teh most (of foreign countries), Act East policies, current demonetization as a huge benfit for Indian econmics, the projected economis place (3rd in the world by 2030ish), a right leaning PM, etc, etc, etc .................. IMHO breaks the old mold. As I have said often in the recent past, much of Indian relations depend on Indians. India is and will be in demand and especially an India that is clean - the cleaner the better, other nations will have no chance to send NGOs, etc. Do the right things and India should be OK.

Granted it will take time.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 05 Dec 2016 03:32

https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press- ... ork-india/

Washington, D.C. – Today, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) announced the Committee will convene a hearing on Tuesday, December 6 to discuss Compassion International’s work in India. The hearing, entitled “American Compassion in India: Government Obstacles,” will begin at 10 a.m.

Chairman Royce on the hearing: “In three weeks, Compassion International – which provides critical tutoring, nutrition and medical services to children in India – could be shut down because of Indian government regulators. It is my hope that by bringing attention to this issue, 145,000 children will not be tragically denied services they desperately need. And then, relations between the two countries will be even stronger.”

What:
Hearing: American Compassion in India: Government Obstacles

When:
Tuesday, December 6 at 10 a.m. ET

Where:
2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Witnesses:
Mr. Stephen Oakley
General Counsel and Vice President of the General Counsel Office
Compassion International

Mr. John Sifton
Acting Deputy Washington Director
Asia Advocacy Director
Human Rights Watch

Irfan Nooruddin, Ph.D.
Hamad bin Khalifa Professor of Indian Politics
Walsh School of Foreign Service
Georgetown University

***See www.foreignaffairs.house.gov for updates.

***Coverage note: All Foreign Affairs Committee proceedings are webcast live at www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/live-video-feed.

Lilo · Post by **Lilo** » 05 Dec 2016 04:09

^

Irfan Nooruddin, Ph.D.
Hamad bin Khalifa Professor of Indian Politics
Walsh School of Foreign Service
Georgetown University

As #India decides whether to allow a murderous fascist to be its next PM, support those who oppose such men: http://t.co/a0i5s3e4ZE #NoModi

— Irfan Nooruddin (@irfan23) April 8, 2014

Tweet from a now deleted twitter a/c of this "Professor".

Guddu · Post by **Guddu** » 05 Dec 2016 05:05

Jon Huntsman is a possibility for SOS per HT
President-elect Donald Trump has expanded his search for secretary of state, and it now includes Jon Huntsman, a former governor who shares a good equation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is a strong supporter of ties with India.

The India link is personal. His youngest daughter, Asha, is from Gujarat. He adopted her when he was governor of Utah and Modi was chief minister of the state. Modi’s first question to Huntsman was about Asha when they met in 2015.

A late entrant to the race, Huntsman is up against frontrunners Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee for president, Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor, senator Bob Corker and former CIA director Davis Petraeus.

Trump’s search for secretary of state, the nation’s top diplomat, has become embroiled in a bitter feud between his senior advisers over Romney, who has met the president-elect twice and was reported to be his favourite.

But the Trump campaign said on Sunday the list was being expanded beyond the four, and, according to reports, Huntsman, who ran for president in 2012 and had called for Trump to drop out of race earlier this year, was among the fresh entrants.

Huntsman has more foreign policy experience than some of the frontrunners, having served as US ambassador first to Singapore and then China and as the US Trade Representative, who keeps an eye on America’s trade interests around the world.

Currently head of Atlantic Council, an influential Washington DC think-tank focussed on international affairs, he has travelled widely meeting and engaged with world leaders, with India and West Asia heading his list of destinations.

Huntsman has been extremely keen on India, and has argued for stronger ties between India and the US to balance the rise of China, and not solely through defence cooperation but realising the full potential of ties, most importantly economic.

“To fulfill the potential in the US-India relationship, the alliance must cultivate roots in both high and low politics,” Huntsman wrote in a piece co-authored with Bharath Gopalaswamy, South Asia head at Atlantic Council, in June, on the eve of Modi’s visit.

“‘High politics’ largely pertains to issues of national security, while “low politics” focuses on economic issues, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural ties. Thus far, both US and Indian policy elites have segmented this relationship, prioritizing India’s value as a defense partner over its economic and trading potential. But if their shared security perception erodes, the US-India partnership is unlikely to endure without other connections.”

Huntsman also launched the US-India Trade Initiative at the think tank to “to create a platform for engagement, to build consensus, and to advocate increasing US-India trade to $500 billion by addressing the most crucial areas of the US-India trade relationship”.

Due to his interest in India, there was talk at one stage, and one he did nothing to stop, that he was trying for ambassadorship to India. That didn’t happen, but according to those who know him, his interest in India continues.

“He will be good for India no matter what position he gets in the cabinet,” said Gopalaswamy, the Indian-origin co-author of Huntsman’s article on India.

Huntsman also shares a special relationship with foreign secretary S Jaishankar, harking back to their days as ambassadors to China for their respective countries. They met when Jaishankar was in the US recently.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 05 Dec 2016 05:07

NRao wrote: . . .the cleaner the better, other nations will have no chance to send NGOs, etc. Do the right things and India should be OK.

Wow. Thanks for small mercies.