Pres. Obama's visit.

Rudradev · Post by **Rudradev** » 09 Nov 2010 05:05

So the great success stories of Obama's visit are

1) Lifting of restrictions on Indian entities. Hmm. So we're to be thankful that sanctions, unjustly imposed, are now being removed. And we're to treat their removal as a favour... a "plus"... a sign of a "burgeoning strategic partnership."

Perhaps we should keep this in perspective by remembering that, after the '98 tests, the US was more concerned than any other P-5 nation about punishing us and sanctioning/blacklisting Indian entities... by a long shot. The Russians didn't sanction us. The French didn't sanction us. The UK-poodle didn't sanction us either. Even the Chinese didn't sanction us! It was the Americans who decided we needed to be taught a lesson by blacklisting our industrial and research facilities.

Today the US wants to sell big-ticket items to those facilities, and others like them, that India now has the hard cash to pay for. The US needs hard cash to bolster its flagging economy.

So they're "giving us back" something they had no right to take away from us in the first place, and acting like their largesse represents a huge gain in the relationship for India.

It's like me borrowing a book from you, never returning it, and many years later gift-wrapping it and giving it to you as a birthday present! And then, expecting you to be grateful!

Hack-thoo (into their outstretched hand.)

2) "Support" for entry into international organizations like the NSG, Wassenaar and whatever the hell else. Oh goody. You mean the very same organizations which were designed *specifically* to keep India out of the nuclear club and formalize the writ of the P-5 in dividing the world into "legitimate" nuclear haves and have-nots? Initiated largely by the United States, almost exactly coincident with India's peaceful nuclear explosion of 1974?

Again, the only reason they want us in these clubs now is to be able to sell us reactors and fissile materials for hard cash. Let's remember, again, that we have the nuclear industry to market reactors and fissile materials to, BECAUSE their attempts at making our nuclear industry a pariah failed. Likewise, the reason we have hard cash to pay for reactors and fissile materials is BECAUSE their attempts to cripple our economic growth with sanctions failed.

Hack-thoo (into their outstretched hand, again.)

3) "Support" for our entry into the permanent-members club of the UN Security Council. I will not hold my breath waiting for even this hollow honour to materialize.

Meanwhile, what a circus. Having promised the Pakis $2.5 Billion in India-specific military aid not even a week ago, Obama maintains his Pakistan-apologism to the bitter end of his visit... a sure sign, if any, how tightly the ISI vice has gripped his cojones. He begs and begs like a Mushy or Qureishi for Indian investment, Indian big-ticket purchases, anything at all from India to revitalize the American job market... just months after signing a bill clearly targeting the Indian outsourcing industry.

This level of shamelessness he must have learned during his student days from his beloved Pakistani roommate.

And Robert Gibbs! This swine was the originator, IIRC, of the utterly racist "Hillary Clinton D-Punjab" comment. He is now the Press Secretary of the Obama White House.

His arrogant contempt for India, our rule of law, and our institutions was made quite apparent even while he was a guest in our country.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20 ... ss-dispute

But during President Obama's trip to India, Gibbs assumed the role of press advocate and threatened to pull Obama out of bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh because three U.S. reporters were blocked from covering the meeting.
...
The Washington Post's Scott Wilson—who was on White House pool duty Monday and filed the report for the White House press corps—wrote that "Gibbs announced loudly and persistently on steps of Hyderabad House that he would pull" President Obama out of the meeting "unless 'the White House 8,' as we've come to be known, were all allowed in."

As the discussion continued, Gibbs grew more animated.

"At one point, Gibbs literally had his foot lodged in the closing front door, asking if the Indian security officials pushing hard to shut it were going to break his foot," Wilson continued. "More angry words ensued, and after Gibbs convinced them, through high volume and repetition, that he was serious" about pulling Obama, the press secretary had the security retinue's full attention.

What if they HAD broken the racist douchebag's foot? It might have given him pause to think (as the Obama administration evidently does) that they can get away with literally anything in India, peddling us sugar-coated cr@p and asking for our hard-earned money in custom, while arming our existential enemies against us.

I wonder if we would have seen broken-foot Gibbs hobbling in to the MMS meeting and dragging out Obama, with his arms still outstretched, still begging for MMS' backing on the MMRCA deal.

Hack-thoo!

ShauryaT · Post by **ShauryaT** » 09 Nov 2010 05:26

I have been a bitter critic of MMS, his governement, its policies and directions and of the INC in many aspects including the nuclear deal.

But, on this one issue, which is largely symbolic, I will congratulate MMS to move the US to publicly commit support for a permanent UNSC seat for India in an enlarged and reformed UN. Who knows, when will it happen or what will be its shape but those issues are for the future. For today, MMS should be congratulated on the issue.

putnanja · Post by **putnanja** » 09 Nov 2010 05:43

WELCOME TO THE CLUB, BUT PAY ENTRY FEE, INDIA - Wrapped in praise, Myanmar punch

..
...
Having waited for the thunder to subside on his smartly open-ended nod to India’s P-5 ambitions — “In the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member” — Obama immediately turned to remind his gleeful hosts there will be a price to pay.

“Now let me suggest,” he said to an audience already quite lured to Obama’s easy hypnotism of words, “that with increased power comes increased responsibility. The United Nations exists to fulfil its founding ideals of preserving peace and security and advancing human rights.” Bluntly put: The permanent seat is some way off, meantime start proving to us you fit the bill.

Before anyone had had a chance to divine what he was leading up to, he had clipped on the caveats — the nuclear brinkmanship of Iran and the suffocation of democracy in Myanmar.

On both counts, Obama appeared to suggest, India had been remiss.

...
..
“When peaceful democratic movements are suppressed — as in Burma —then the democracies of the world cannot remain silent. For it is unacceptable to gun down peaceful protesters and incarcerate political prisoners decade after decade. It is the responsibility of the international community — especially leaders like the United States and India — to condemn it.

“If I can be frank, in international fora, India has often avoided these issues.”

To many, the US President’s exhort on supporting democracy — probably made with an eye on his domestic constituency that has vocal views on Myanmar — rang a bit hollow.

Successive American governments having underwritten dictatorships across the world in the name of US national interest: a slew of Latin American states, Saudi Arabia and sundry repressive princedoms in West Asia, and nearer home, military regimes in Pakistan and, of course, the Hamid Karzai regime in Afghanistan which is widely alleged to have “stolen” the recent election.

...
...

Ambar · Post by **Ambar** » 09 Nov 2010 05:49

Apart from all that has been discussed here already, is 10 billion $ worth of "i'll be a goody" deals to US less than expected? There were plenty of rumors earlier this year that Obama will leave India with atleast 25 billion $ worth of orders, so this must be a disappointment for the yanks.

As for the MMRCA , the suspense continues..

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 09 Nov 2010 06:06

Gibbs threatens to pull Obama from India talks after press dispute
http://www.wesh.com/r-video/25671745/detail.html
Raw Video: Gibbs Nearly Pulls Obama From Meeting

Dipanker · Post by **Dipanker** » 09 Nov 2010 06:32

Security Council Won't Make Room For India Yet

While President Obama endorsed the idea of India taking a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, that doesn't mean it's likely to happen anytime soon.
.
.
.
"It will make good headlines — it will make us seem like India's best friends. But the administration can assure Islamabad no movement will occur," say Weiss, referring to India's arch-rival Pakistan.

Sounds like a win-win for Obama.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 09 Nov 2010 06:53

putnanja wrote:Gibbs threatens to pull Obama from India talks after press dispute

...
But during President Obama's trip to India, Gibbs assumed the role of press advocate and threatened to pull Obama out of bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh because three U.S. reporters were blocked from covering the meeting.
...
The Washington Post's Scott Wilson—who was on White House pool duty Monday and filed the report for the White House press corps—wrote that "Gibbs announced loudly and persistently on steps of Hyderabad House that he would pull" President Obama out of the meeting "unless 'the White House 8,' as we've come to be known, were all allowed in."

As the discussion continued, Gibbs grew more animated.

"At one point, Gibbs literally had his foot lodged in the closing front door, asking if the Indian security officials pushing hard to shut it were going to break his foot," Wilson continued. "More angry words ensued, and after Gibbs convinced them, through high volume and repetition, that he was serious" about pulling Obama, the press secretary had the security retinue's full attention.

...

Gibbs' intervention worked: The Indian officials eventually allowed the full American press delegation into the event, along with a larger group of Indian reporters.
...

Sometimes pictures are worth many words: Conclusion - Gibbs is an asshole.

niran · Post by **niran** » 09 Nov 2010 06:54

Rudradev wrote: It's like me borrowing a book from you, never returning it, and many years later gift-wrapping it and giving it to you as a birthday present! And then, expecting you to be grateful!

Hack-thoo (into their outstretched hand.)

Saar, it is called duniyadari, say, during your wedding there is a beggar amidst your high-so guest, he is hungry, he smells food so he came in, what happens next? he will be pushed out with appropriate expletives and threats and advice to never do such a thing in future, maybe roughed up a bit if people are over
zealous, time passed, that same beggar is now rich while your power and riches are somewhat dodgy, you now arrange a marriage for your younger uns , there will be an invitation to the once beggar most probably you yourself will be the one personally inviting him coz that is profitable for H&D for bizness, that has happened now. Bharat is biiiiiiiig boy, time to spit out the coolie mentality and act like a Biiiiig boy.

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 09 Nov 2010 06:59

Rudradev wrote:And Robert Gibbs! This swine was the originator, IIRC, of the utterly racist "Hillary Clinton D-Punjab" comment. He is now the Press Secretary of the Obama White House.

His arrogant contempt for India, our rule of law, and our institutions was made quite apparent even while he was a guest in our country.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20 ... ss-dispute

But during President Obama's trip to India, Gibbs assumed the role of press advocate and threatened to pull Obama out of bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh because three U.S. reporters were blocked from covering the meeting.
...
The Washington Post's Scott Wilson—who was on White House pool duty Monday and filed the report for the White House press corps—wrote that "Gibbs announced loudly and persistently on steps of Hyderabad House that he would pull" President Obama out of the meeting "unless 'the White House 8,' as we've come to be known, were all allowed in."

As the discussion continued, Gibbs grew more animated.

"At one point, Gibbs literally had his foot lodged in the closing front door, asking if the Indian security officials pushing hard to shut it were going to break his foot," Wilson continued. "More angry words ensued, and after Gibbs convinced them, through high volume and repetition, that he was serious" about pulling Obama, the press secretary had the security retinue's full attention.
What if they HAD broken the racist douchebag's foot? It might have given him pause to think (as the Obama administration evidently does) that they can get away with literally anything in India, peddling us sugar-coated cr@p and asking for our hard-earned money in custom, while arming our existential enemies against us.

I wonder if we would have seen broken-foot Gibbs hobbling in to the MMS meeting and dragging out Obama, with his arms still outstretched, still begging for MMS' backing on the MMRCA deal.

Hack-thoo!

And RudraJi, have you seen this swine tuck his tail and submit meekly to Fox news Nazis who pile on him day in and day out. Would he dare try such a stunt against his people?

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 09 Nov 2010 07:09

Everything that Obama wanted Vs India wanted are not at all in line and hence the story of permanent seat was brought up. You jusy say that India deserves it but at the bottom of the heart it is well known that nothing will happen anyway. Both the sides did not budge but are happy. The tour of India is over and nothing has materialized. The most useless POTUS trip to India of recent times. It Telugu we say it thussssss and bhusssssss.

shyam · Post by **shyam** » 09 Nov 2010 07:36

putnanja wrote:Gibbs threatens to pull Obama from India talks after press dispute

Is he the telepromptor for Obama?

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 09 Nov 2010 07:54

RDji

As usual great summary. The interesting/sad point is that none of Indian leaders comment in those lines.

Pulikeshi · Post by **Pulikeshi** » 09 Nov 2010 07:58

As always two paisas on the UNSC seat:

1. First ask and see what room will be made.
2. You may get what you want 'ala Woody Allen's saying - "Eighty percent of success is showing up..."
3. If you don't get what you want, then no one can say you did not ask or try, then other means are open and fair.

So, while the UNSC seat is worthless, it is important to ask, that is the first step.
Also, now a precedence has been set, every time there is talks, guess whats on the topic
Every kid knows to use this technique to get other things they want...

What was that Tony's startagem: Create something from nothing (無中生有／无中生有, Wú zhōng shēng yǒu)

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 09 Nov 2010 08:05

After settling accounts, India gets ~10B of ITES exports to USA's ~$10B exports. In next 20 years, USA expects ~$0.6T-$1T ($30-$50B annual imports from US) purchases from India in return for more or less same value of Indian exports.

What strategic value does this so called 'trade' brings to India?

Black mail during Op-Parakram, post-1998 sanctions, TSP-terrorism, dhimmified youth and so on...

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 09 Nov 2010 08:16

Pak omission query answered

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Pak-omiss ... 23699.aspx

ShyamSP · Post by **ShyamSP** » 09 Nov 2010 08:23

Saamrat came, Samantha Raju said Jai Ho Saamrat.

Saamrat's Queen danced with Adivasis in suits.

Saamrat has Khajana problems, Samanth Raju gave help.

Saamrat promised seat in the round table of Saamrats.

Saamrat asked Samantha Raju do Jai ho on issues * relevant
to Saamrat.

Saamrat puts hands on neighbor Samantha Raju shoulders but this time
he put hands on our Samantha Raju shoulders knowing that earlier Saamrat
castrated another Samatha Raju 6 decades ago and that legacy is continuing.

Jaya ho Maharaj. Jaya ho Saamrat.

* http://www.dailypioneer.com/295256/Nuan ... C-bid.html

csharma · Post by **csharma** » 09 Nov 2010 08:29

The main thing is what is the American position if India faces a two front military pressure from China and Pakistan. As Brajesh Mishra said that is what will determine whether the visit was a success or not. Surely in terms of creating a pro US atmosphere, the visit has been a success and Obama has been able to shrug off the earlier impressions about him being anti India.

But the crux of what was discussed and what was concerning India's top strategists will remain unknown to us for some time.

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 09 Nov 2010 09:01

Raja Ram wrote:Appropos Obama's reference to India's silence on Burma and the need for India to step up to its responsibilities as a champion for democracy - Sure we should. Only let us not restrict ourselves to Burma.

The Indian PM should in his next trip to USA, speak at a similiar forum and call for America to join India and lend a voice to the oppressed peoples of Tibet, Xinjiang, Baluchistan, Baltistan and others.

After all we are two leading democracies in the world!

+1

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 09 Nov 2010 09:02

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2010 ... arliament/

negi · Post by **negi** » 09 Nov 2010 09:29

Obama is either a well read guy or has an able assistant who writes his speech and that is why he knows how to strike a chord with Indian public by making senti speeches , liberally quoting Swamy Vivekananda or even MKG et al is fine and dandy but he was badly exposed every time when someone confronted him with a pointed question on either 'Jihad' or even terrorism emanating from Pakistan he spoke as if he had a big chip on his shoulder, he had to literally use fillers for first couple of minutes to buy time to fabricate an answer , sasura even our lalloo would have done better in Amrika .

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 09 Nov 2010 10:11

negi wrote:Obama is either a well read guy or has an able assistant who writes his speech and that is why he knows how to strike a chord with Indian public by making senti speeches , liberally quoting Swamy Vivekananda or even MKG et al is fine and dandy but he was badly exposed every time when someone confronted him with a pointed question on either 'Jihad' or even terrorism emanating from Pakistan he spoke as if he had a big chip on his shoulder, he had to literally use fillers for first couple of minutes to buy time to fabricate an answer , sasura even our lalloo would have done better in Amrika .

Definitely it is true.

In that aspect, i see, Hillary Clinton doing much better than OB. Dont know why OB is called great Orator.For, on the spot reply, dashing reply with punch line it has to be Hillary Clinton than OB. From our side i see i can count Nehru, IG, ABV, NR(?) on that.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 09 Nov 2010 10:18

They have all kinds of assistants who can write this kind of stuff.

naren · Post by **naren** » 09 Nov 2010 10:20

RamaY wrote:After settling accounts, India gets ~10B of ITES exports to USA's ~$10B exports. In next 20 years, USA expects ~$0.6T-$1T ($30-$50B annual imports from US) purchases from India in return for more or less same value of Indian exports.

What strategic value does this so called 'trade' brings to India?

We get solid products for our dollars. Better than holding crappy T-bills like China does.

Pulikeshi · Post by **Pulikeshi** » 09 Nov 2010 10:21

^ Perhaps they 'outsourced' it to a dude or dudette from evil Bangalore

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 09 Nov 2010 10:25

Barack Obama's oratory is better than Hillary's. (This does not include extempore question answering. He needs to prepare his speeches.)

However, Hillary is better for India than Obama or her husband.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 09 Nov 2010 11:06

If he lends his voice to someone's prepared material, he should not better be called as best *reader* instead of orator? ?!

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 09 Nov 2010 11:14

I am not a fan of Obama but he also writes his own speeches. For example, his speech in 2004 was written by him. These days, his assistants write for him. He makes some corrections/adjustments.

These guys (Obama, Bill Clinton) are very intelligent but not completely honest in what they say/do. For example, consider Obama's rhetoric on outsourcing. Bill Clinton also had these problems.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 09 Nov 2010 11:21

naren wrote:
RamaY wrote:After settling accounts, India gets ~10B of ITES exports to USA's ~$10B exports. In next 20 years, USA expects ~$0.6T-$1T ($30-$50B annual imports from US) purchases from India in return for more or less same value of Indian exports.

What strategic value does this so called 'trade' brings to India?
We get solid products for our dollars. Better than holding crappy T-bills like China does.

Wow!! Perceptive, after all despite all the self flagellation, we dont do so bad after all.

ShauryaT wrote:I have been a bitter critic of MMS, his governement, its policies and directions and of the INC in many aspects including the nuclear deal.

But, on this one issue, which is largely symbolic, I will congratulate MMS to move the US to publicly commit support for a permanent UNSC seat for India in an enlarged and reformed UN. Who knows, when will it happen or what will be its shape but those issues are for the future. For today, MMS should be congratulated on the issue.

+1 With ShauryaT --> India, including MMS and co. seem to have spoken pretty plainly to the Messiah. Starting from the girl from Mumbai (may she live long and prosper) to Arnab (who got Obama's campgain manager and told him that Obama was talking rot, should have seen the Gora's face

) to Smt Swaraj to Rudy to GoI and heads (should have seen Obama's face just before the joint press conference)

India did well, and as the helm thanks to MMS for not letting us down this one time.

Congratulations everyone for this round.

------------

Even G Parthasarthi (on TV with Arnab) looked just a little less cynical for once and muttered, "this is fine".

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 09 Nov 2010 11:28

After all the business deals Obama signed in favor of US, it was not only distasteful, but sad watching the Fox News Nazis play that dance Obama did with those SDRE kids over & over again, and kept mocking Obama for supposedly wasting time in India. When one token democart on Fox suggested that this trip was about helping US economy, and national security, the mockery from the Nazis has to be seen to feel the anger.

Neela · Post by **Neela** » 09 Nov 2010 11:35

Prem wrote:Regarding UNSC seat , has the case of Japan and Germany now weaken with the financial crisis?
2 Seats for Asia ( India and China) 2 for Europe ( already held) 2 for America ( US and Brazil) and One for Russia and Africa make pretty fair council.

For Germany, I would say that the case has rather never been stronger . Let's face it....Germany is the biggest contributor in terms of funds to the EU. The economy is bigger than UK and France. Has played an active role in peace keeping in Africa and Afghanistan. It is literally the powerhouse of Europe. There has been some diplomatic give and take between India and Germany in the last year or so keeping the UNSC in mind.
It is important that the both these countries stress on the changed realities since WWII ...they must keep harping on this.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 09 Nov 2010 11:49

Gibbs' boorish behaviour underlines the actual reality of the majority view of India in Washington.They think that India is "their" vassal state for the taking.Obama's body language,see how he patronisingly puts his hand on MMS' back,as if MMS was "his man",making the pic look as if MMS was the visitor not Obama!

So let's examine dispassionately what great achievements came out of the meeting between the Mess-iah and MMSingh.What can be summarised is that for the first time,"the US was more in need of India than India in need of the US".Obama came here wanting large lucrative contracts -which he got in large measure,but what did India get in return?A belated acknowledgment finally that Paki terror has to be stopped-but no word of what punishment will be meeted out if Pak maintains its terror against India.No mention of curbs on arms supplies to Pak whatsoever.So this is still an issue that has yet to be resolved.The grossly unfair restrictions against Indian entities have been removed.Big deal,as we have been able to source our requirements elesewhere and develop many of them ourselves.As for "support" for a UNSC seat,it is still going to be decades before anything concrete happens from the fillibustering of the P-5.I've always maintained that "the UN needs India far more than India needs the UN" .Just imagine a revamped UNSC without the world's largest democracy,second largest population,nuclear power,NOT being given a UNSC seat.

However,Dr.Singh did make amends to some extent saying that "we were not stealing US jobs".His statement on ending Paki terror for progress on peace and "K" was very welcome too.He made up for his fumbling at S-al-S.It appears that the Congress Party,with a weather eye on its fading popularity,knows that there is a red line/Lakshman rekha that cannot be crossed in our apeasement of Pak.It appears to be correctly sensing the mood of the nation that "enough is enough".This reaffirming of India's core interests perhaps has been the best outcome of the visit.In Dr.Singh and the Congress have realised the inability of the US to make Pak behave and that we must do the "job" ourselves,then it is a positive development.

In the final analysis, it is the fact that the US needed us more than we did the US is what matters most.We must capitalise upon it and leverage even more out of the US.The forthcoming visits of sarko and Medvedev can be beautifully orchestratated to show the US that we have equally important "old" friends who are less bothered about attached strings in defence and nuclear plant deals and who are more forthcoming in condemning Paki terror must finally also pay tribute to the British PM,David Cameron who openly condemned Pak on Indian soil.It set a precedent for the Obama visit.Obama would've appeared a wimp in comparison had he said little about Paki terror. He had no alternative but to toe the terror line,otherwise he would've exposed his hypocrisy to the entire world. I would give the visit a 5/10,maybe a 6/10 at the most. It could've been better,but thankfully not worse!

PS:Big Q.How long will this US "fling" with India last? The machinations in Paki military HQ will have already started,how to wound the US in Af-Pak and make it seem even more fundamental to US interests that they have to depend upon Pak in their sub-continental interests.The Paki military will now try to stir up trouble in Kashmir even more so,so that a flashpoint is reached between both nations,allowing them to reassign troops to the LOC/border with India leaving US? NATO troops exposed to Taliban attack.Hillary Clinton must be getting angry calls from her bum-chums in Pak!

Neela · Post by **Neela** » 09 Nov 2010 11:51

Sanku wrote: Congratulations everyone for this round.

Even G Parthasarthi (on TV with Arnab) looked just a little less cynical for once and muttered, "this is fine".

Funny this. While we seem to be "satisfied", the feeling elsewhere is different. Was watching Channel 4 new on UK TV. Obama is in India. Cameron is in China. One the panelists said that both the US and UK need India and China more than they need them. When the feeling outside the diplomatic circle is like that, you can imagine who gets a upper hand inside the meetings. And the Krishnan Gurumurthy, the Channel4 host and the panelists agreed on this "Right now, this very moment, the shift in power is happening!"

All that is fine. yes, some success. But let us not raise our hopes high. No one will be welcoming India in the UNSC. We need to play a far more active role in world politics. Our presence must be heard and felt. And unless Germany, India, Japan and Brazil take this to the next level soon and fast, expect it take another decade. The window of opportunity during the financial crisis was one where we could have taken our pound of flesh and it could have happened earlier. That was missed.

amit · Post by **amit** » 09 Nov 2010 11:52

One interesting data point that seems to have fallen under the radar here is India's endorsement of the recent Fed move which has got China hopping mad.

According to this New York Times report MMS gave a "forceful" endorsement of the $600 billion plan.

“A strong, robust, fast-growing United States is in the interests of the world,” said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. “And therefore, anything that would stimulate the underlying growth and policies of entrepreneurship in the United States would help the cause of global prosperity.”

Mr. Singh, an economist by training, made his comments during a joint news conference here with President Barack Obama. The prime minister’s support could help the United States deflect criticism of Washington’s economic policies at the upcoming Group of 20 meeting in Seoul later this week, which both Mr. Obama and Mr. Singh will attend.

I think this is pretty significant. It can't be a coincidence that MMS said this at the joint press conference. More so as some of the that money could creep into India, something that's not really welcome.

While everyone was waiting for the K word or news about the Pigs, it could be that the Dragon figured prominently in talks behind closed doors?

amit · Post by **amit** » 09 Nov 2010 11:59

Philip wrote:Gibbs' boorish behaviour underlines the actual reality of the majority view of India in Washington.They think that India is "their" vassal state for the taking.Obama's body language,see how he patronisingly puts his hand on MMS' back,as if MMS was "his man",making the pic look as if MMS was the visitor not Obama!

Philip, even by your lofty standards you out do yourself with this one!

I suppose looking at this random picture, we can say Obama is looking on at MMS "reverentially"?

Or maybe you may choose to say "critically" at how his "man performs"?

More show than substance in the analysis?

amit · Post by **amit** » 09 Nov 2010 12:08

Neela wrote:All that is fine. yes, some success. But let us not raise our hopes high. No one will be welcoming India in the UNSC. We need to play a far more active role in world politics. Our presence must be heard and felt. And unless Germany, India, Japan and Brazil take this to the next level soon and fast, expect it take another decade. The window of opportunity during the financial crisis was one where we could have taken our pound of flesh and it could have happened earlier. That was missed.

I'm not too sure why there's such a hullabaloo about permanent membership of the UNSC. And I'm not talking about only in BRF but in the general chatterati. If we can get another decade or so of uninterrupted 10 per cent (or near that) growth and can keep an independent India-first foreign policy, the UNSC members (sans China) will need us more than we would need them.

Wait patiently and grow the economy and these buggers will come on their own with the keys to the UNSC club.

Obama's endorsement was good and all that but no need to start jumping through hoops in joy.

JMT

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 09 Nov 2010 12:13

amit wrote:
According to this New York Times report MMS gave a "forceful" endorsement of the $600 billion plan.

“A strong, robust, fast-growing United States is in the interests of the world,” said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. “And therefore, anything that would stimulate the underlying growth and policies of entrepreneurship in the United States would help the cause of global prosperity.”

Mr. Singh, an economist by training, made his comments during a joint news conference here with President Barack Obama. The prime minister’s support could help the United States deflect criticism of Washington’s economic policies at the upcoming Group of 20 meeting in Seoul later this week, which both Mr. Obama and Mr. Singh will attend.

Poll Results
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politic ... ays_t.html
Thank you for voting.
What do you think about Obama's trip to India?
I'm glad he's building relations with the world's biggest democracy. The claims about the trip's cost are ridiculous. 73%

He should not be leaving the country at such a precarious time. $200 million or not, the trip is costing taxpayers too much money. 26%

I'm not sure. 2%

Mauli · Post by **Mauli** » 09 Nov 2010 12:18

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 09 Nov 2010 12:31

Amit,I was watching the live telecast,where the Mess-iah patronisingly put his hand on his disciple's back.His look is that of a "master" looking on approvingly of his disciple! However, I do give credit to Dr.Singh for finally coming out stating India's core position on key issues.His words that "India does not steal US jobs" ,I think came from the heart as he is obsessed with economic ties and was hurt with the "Buffalo-B'Lore" canards.

What we must now keenly look for are the continuing nuances of the US-Pak relationship,which has a daily "beancount".The most critical to India would be contnued US arms supplies to Pak,that will be used against India.If these continue,then there will be no alternative to India NOT buying US weaponry as it would be asinine to wound ourselves in a bad bargain,buying US weapons in billions,for the same to be given to Pak,enabling the enemy to also wound us! There are limitations to what the US can do with Pak and thus we must resolve pak's perfidy ourselves and steel ourselves for any military actions that might be neccessary in the future.The elephant,sorry....dragon in the room that none spoke of during the visit was China.That when combined with perfidious Pak,is India's mortal enemy.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 09 Nov 2010 12:43

Watch Mushy commenting on Obama visit
He looks beaten up

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697//vp ... 7#40034197

abhischekcc · Post by **abhischekcc** » 09 Nov 2010 12:48

SwamyG wrote:
Muppalla wrote:Both Obamba and India's INC are lameduck regimes.
I can understand people's opinion on Obama's tenure, but why do you say INC regime is lameduck?

True! EVMs are still being used.