Bharat Rakshak

World order in Hindu cosmology was governed by immutable cycles of an almost inconceivably vast scale — millions of years long. Kingdoms would fall, and the universe would be destroyed, but it would be re-created, and new kingdoms would rise again. The true nature of human experience was known only to those who endured and transcended these temporal upheavals.
The Hindu classic the Bhagavad Gita framed these spirited tests in terms of the relationship between morality and power. Arjuna, “overwhelmed by sorrow” on the eve of battle at the horrors he is about to unleash, wonders what can justify the terrible consequences of war. This is the wrong question, Krishna rejoins. Because life is eternal and cyclical and the essence of the universe is indestructible. Redemption will come through the fulfillment of a preassigned duty, paired with a recognition that its outward manifestations are illusory because “the impermanent has no reality; reality lies in the eternal.” Arjuna, a warrior, has been presented with a war he did not seek. He should accept the circumstances with equanimity and fulfill his role with honor, and must strive to kill and prevail and “should not grieve.”
While Lord Krishna’s appeal to duty prevails and Arjuna professes himself freed from doubt, the cataclysms of the war — described in detail in the rest of the epic — add resonance to his earlier qualms. This central work of Hindu thought embodied both an exhortation to war and the importance not so much of avoiding but of transcending it. Morality was not rejected, but in any given situation the immediate considerations were dominant, while eternity provided a curative perspective. What some readers lauded as a call to fearlessness in battle, Gandhi would praise as his “spiritual dictionary.”
Against the background of the eternal verities of a religion preaching the elusiveness of any single earthly endeavor, the temporal ruler was in fact afforded a wide berth for practical necessities. The pioneering exemplar of this school was the 4th century BC minister Kautilya, credited with engineering the rise of India’s Maurya Dynasty, which expelled Alexander the Great’s successors from northern India and unified the subcontinent for the first time under a single rule.

The Arthashastra sets out, with dispassionate clarity, a vision of how to establish and guard a state while neutralizing, subverting, and (when opportune conditions have been established) conquering its neighbors. The Arthashastra encompasses a world of practical statecraft, not philosophical disputation. For Kautilya, power was the dominant reality. It was multidimensional, and its factors were interdependent. All elements in a given situation were relevant, calculable, and amenable to manipulation toward a leader’s strategic aims. Geography, finance, military strength, diplomacy, espionage, law, agriculture, cultural traditions, morale and popular opinion, rumors and legends, and men’s vices and weaknesses needed to be shaped as a unit by a wise king to strengthen and expand his realm — much as a modern orchestra conductor shapes the instruments in his charge into a coherent tune. It was a combination of Machiavelli and Clausewitz.

Roperia wrote:A baki diplomat's conversation was intercepted (by NSA?), where he mentioned that a prominent former SD official was passing on American secrets to them.

This led to several months long FBI investigation eventually leading to raids at RR's home where FBI agents found classified information.

Eavesdropping on Pakistani Official Led to Inquiry of Former U.S. Diplomat | NYT

Recollections of a Communicator:Robin Raphel played patron's role during Pakistan's proxy war against India
aninews.in | Nov 21st 2014 6:27 PM

New Delhi, Nov.21 (ANI) Twenty years ago this month, I spent a fortnight in the United States as a delegate to the United Nations trying to convince as many diplomats and media persons as possible that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was near normal, and the state would participate in the national and assembly elections.

As Principal Information Officer of the Government of India, and later as advisor to the state government, I had to counter the propaganda which was part of the psychological warfare waged by Pakistan in support of its efforts to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir. The proxy war had erupted in October 1988 with bomb blasts in various parts of Srinagar.

[..]
While the militants received training and arms support from Pakistan, the Western media were egged on to carry a campaign against India for alleged violation of human rights.

A major campaign was sparked off by the western media accusing the security forces of committing mass rape in Kunan Poshpora in March 1991.

A unit of the security forces had conducted search operations in Konan Poshpora on February 23/24, and the next day, the Army unit obtained a clearance certificate and conducted a free medical aid camp in the presence of a representative of the local administration.

Over two weeks later, accusations were made against the army unit of having committed mass rape and the story was broken by the foreign media.

The Army Headquarters asked for a report from the 15 Infantry Division which was based in Srinagar and was responsible for the security operations along the Line of Control and within the state. It denied the allegation and furnished details of the operation.

When the western media continued with the propaganda, the Army Headquarters requested the Press Council of India to investigate the facts. A team including noted journalist B. G. Verghese and Vikram Rao went to the state and gave a report which absolved the Army unit of the accusations.

In my interaction with the foreign correspondents, I became aware that the diplomatic support and patronage was provided by Robin Raphel, then posted in the American Embassy in New Delhi

[..]

In my interactions with the Western Correspondents I became aware that Robin Raphel, then an official in the American Embassy, was actively engaged in persuading them to report 'Human Rights violations' in the State.

It also transpired that she was sympathetic to the Pakistan Taliban in its efforts to take over Afghanistan.

[..]

However, Pakistan has been continuing its efforts to keep the Kashmir issue alive in the international arena. Pakistan had engaged Cassidy and Associates , of which Robin Raphel was a part after her retirement from the US Foreign Service in 2005 , to do lobbying at a cost of 700,000 US dollars a year , plus expenses.

Robin Raphel became an advisor with the U.S. State Department in 2009 when Richard Holbrooke took over as President Obama's Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP).

According to recent reports Robin Raphel is now under a counter intelligence investigation. One hopes the truth will come out. Wait and watch.

Meanwhile, elections will be held for the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been taking keen interest in providing relief to the State in the aftermath of massive floods, is expected address meetings.

Mr. I. Ramamohan Rao is a former Principal Information Officer of the Government of India. He can be reached on his e-mail [email protected]. (ANI)

@NSCPress @NSCPress · 10m 10 minutes ago
@ invite of @narendramodi President Obama will travel to #India in Jan 2015 to participate in Indian Republic Day celebration as Chief Guest

habal wrote:he is a fitting cheap guest for the Republic day. Modi it seems has forgotten a certain Khobragade.

maybe we can decorate the walls behind his seat with photos from Syria, Libya, Iraq etc and his fav bunch of freedom fighters the ISIS.

So India is basically the only place - outside of American sphere of influence, huge, and yet not antagonistic. Always good for photo ops.

The Chief Guest of the Republic Day is more than a State Dinner equivalent.

habal wrote:he is a fitting cheap guest for the Republic day. Modi it seems has forgotten a certain Khobragade.

maybe we can decorate the walls behind his seat with photos from Syria, Libya, Iraq etc and his fav bunch of freedom fighters the ISIS.

Roperia wrote:A baki diplomat's conversation was intercepted (by NSA?), where he mentioned that a prominent former SD official was passing on American secrets to them.

This led to several months long FBI investigation eventually leading to raids at RR's home where FBI agents found classified information.

Eavesdropping on Pakistani Official Led to Inquiry of Former U.S. Diplomat | NYT

SajeevJino wrote:

habal wrote:he is a fitting cheap guest for the Republic day. Modi it seems has forgotten a certain Khobragade.

maybe we can decorate the walls behind his seat with photos from Syria, Libya, Iraq etc and his fav bunch of freedom fighters the ISIS.

we don't want too care about those Sh!t Nation ..the Background walls painted with U 2 Dragon lady in Arunachal and INS Jalashwa near Bay of Bengal

rsingh wrote:

habal wrote:he is a fitting cheap guest for the Republic day. Modi it seems has forgotten a certain Khobragade.

maybe we can decorate the walls behind his seat with photos from Syria, Libya, Iraq etc and his fav bunch of freedom fighters the ISIS.

Country comes first........rest is indifferent. PM is doing what is best for India.

RajeshA wrote:What Modi has got is a media coup for India in the West! Western media has a habit of ignoring India!

Bigger profile in West, is simply good for business!

May be India can convince USA of not trying to keep us down using Pakistan, even as we become more of an independent pole! Just, may be! But let's not lose sleep over that! Otherwise I don't really see, USA making any U-turns in their orientation!

Any real partnership can come about only if USA decides to finish off the cancerous sore that is Pakistan and to denuke it!

RajeshA wrote:What Modi has got is a media coup for India in the West! Western media has a habit of ignoring India!

Bigger profile in West, is simply good for business!

Shalav wrote:The Chief Guest of the Republic Day is more than a State Dinner equivalent.

It signals India's long term political and foreign policy framework. Wonder what the BJP and NaMo see as significant? It's probably not BO, just signalling a tilt towards the US perhaps?FSU HoG's have been invited, but not Russian HoG's!“@narendramodi President Obama will travel to #India in Jan 2015 to participate in Indian Republic Day celebration as Chief Guest”

Nawaz, Obama and = = type heartburn stuff

ISLAMABAD: President of United Sates, Barak Obama on Friday night discussed bilateral relations and evolving situation in the region with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over telephone...

...Prime Minister Sharif recalled his warm and friendly meeting with the president in Washington last year and their subsequent interaction at the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague i...

The prime minister expressed satisfaction at the direction of Pakistan-US bilateral ties, ...

Obama informed the prime minister of his forthcoming visit to India.

Recalling his invitation extended in Washington, Sharif conveyed the expectation of the people of Pakistan to welcome President Obama to Pakistan sometime in the future. T...
Obama: "..as soon as the situation normalises in the #$!@ .country.

Discussing the regional situation, the prime minister referred to the improvement of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations,

Prime Minister Sharif referred to his visit to India earlier this year, which was aimed at taking Pakistan-India relations forward.

...

“President Obama expressed his understanding for our position,” it added.

And of course..

The prime minister also urged President Obama to take up the cause of Kashmir with the Indian leadership, as its early resolution would bring enduring peace, stability and economic cooperation to the region.

and the routine answer ..

The two leaders agreed to stay engaged to further strengthen Pakistan-US relations in their common desire to promote peace and prosperity

Cosmo_R wrote:^^^ This is not the time to be inviting Putin to R-Day. If we want everyone from the US, EU, Japan and Oz mad at us, he's the go to guy.

Cosmo_R wrote:^^^ This is not the time to be inviting Putin to R-Day. If we want everyone from the US, EU, Japan and Oz mad at us, he's the go to guy.