India-US relations: News and Discussions III

[chetak]

The deals were not competing because the amrekis would never sell the brown skins something as lethal as the 400. The helos were a kick in their teeth and and the warships are also something off limits to the US.

A bitter sweet moment for the US because they need us strong but also subservient to their needs, which we ain't.

maybe they underestimated Modi and his khaki shorts onlee.

you are right chetak. before the s-400 we asked for and didn't get the response we wanted on BMD solutions. you'd remember the hoop-la over the patriot and variants. but what we wanted was top drawer and didnt get it.

karan ji,

we were never really going to get any of it because of the unacceptable end user stuff that the amrekis would have tied us down with and our own proven fears of sanctions and we would certainly have got, at best, the toothless "export" version, if at all.

It's what the amrekis want in return that should be really worrying us.
They have been pressurizing us for the longest time to deploy in afghanistan. Before that were very hopeful of us "helping" them out in iraq. Luckily better sense prevailed in the GOI.

Putin also wants things from India but this will be a far easier ask from what the amrekis are demanding. Russia will never ask for Indian boots on ground for any of their wars.

Our $US360 odd billions in reserve is also gumming up the arms market and skewing prices against us.

[NRao]

It was more for their benefit than ours just like they are/were pushing for the local manufacture of F15/16.

When Rafale was chosen NRao ji was crying oceans of tears, saying "...Rafale will be too outdated by 2036, no need to manufacture this soon to be obsolete platform, just lease a few till 2036 and then move to more advanced one..."

Now he is happy that super advanced F-16 is coming which will be most advanced jet in 2036, and no need to be worried about manufacturing such an advanced fighter which will be much ahead of Rafale in even in 2036, no talks of lets just LEASE A FEW F-16s TILL 2036...

I mean lemoa was being marketed with "...look dtti, you brown people getting engine tech and are hestitating in signing small lemoa?"

This is the 2nd time you mention this.

Nope. F-16 by itself - I am not happy , especially since the IAF prefers the Rafale, then the Grip. But, all of them are still 4th gen, which - as I said then too - IMVVVHO, will be invalid techs in about 2030ish. That still stands. (BTW, I have always maintained no F-35 for India. Just as a reminder.)

What I ALSO said then (in other posts) was that more than planes India can do with other techs: PROJECT MANAGEMENT, supply chain, manufacturing techs, engine, radar, etc. THIS is what the F-16 now brings - along with whatever tech India asked for for the engine (I do not know what it is). The F-16 - per se - is just a filler. Added info seems to be something called "export" and of course jobs. As great as Grip is and the love the IAF seems to have for it, it can never compete in these other areas that the F-16 brings to the table. Not even close. (And I am not guessing. The F-35 supply chain techs are out-of-this-world and still evolving.)

So, while you look at a very narrow picture, mine is much broader.

Seriously, I have not followed it at all, what has Rafale brought in terms of tech transfers of any sort?

Just as soon as lemoa is signed the news is leaked out the US has introduced a new condition "buy 100 of our phat panting teens.... which can't take off from leh
Or
forget about dtti engine shingen"

WRT the "engine": India asked for uprating the F-414-INS6 (the engine India selected for the LCA MKII) (point being it is not any F-414). It was an Indian ask to route the effort through DTTI. First the SD declined the co-dev (NOT the co-prod). Then the DoD (NOT SD) reversed and allowed the transfer of tech via co-dev, but (I think it was) the SD that imposed the condition of the F-teens (it was not F-16 alone - that is a BR imagination). (I have been making this arg for a very long time: the "US" is not a monolithic entity and so we can never expect consistent behavior all the time. And, India can and should take advantage of this.)

So, in short, for the AMCA engine the uprated F-414 INS6 is still on the table, irrespective of what India does or does not do with the F-teens. The diff: IF India opts to produce the F-teens in India under MII, then the F-414 INS6 upration (just coined that word, sorry) becomes a co-dev + tech transfer + co-prod, else the engine effort is a simpler co-dev + co-prod.

That is IF India opts for the F-414 INS6 - remember that the LCA-MKII seems to be in a limbo, so we (in open source at least) have no idea what will come out of that.




I have said this about 5-6 years ago (IIRC). LCA (LCA and now LCA-MKI) is a tech demo - reached its EOL. Make whatever numbers needed to keep line humming and knowledge base in-house sharp. Move to AMCA ASAP and produce a naval version + a single engine version too. IMHO, imports are needed to fill holes, not as platforms that will support future techs that India needs.

??????

[NRao]

not to start a flame war, but the military is fed up with amreki hardware because of the sanctions that can hit you with the silliest of reasons. amrekis are unpredictable and hence dangerous for us.

Thanks.

I had asked the question what does the Indian services think of LEMOA, etc and no one answered. Am I to understand that the services are opposed to them?

On the flip side Modi has dropped the zero sum game. His goal is to get as much funds as he can as long as they are fair. So, US, Russia, China, Timbuktu ........... really does not matter. Sure, if the armed forces feel the pressure, then by all means find alternatives.

[Prem]

[Suraj]

Mod Note

For the overzealous post reporters complaining about moderators telling you to stop getting into US politics:
* no, you will not be gently advised in private . Privately arguing further will earn a warning or ban.
* there will be no selective moderation of so called 'crude and vulgar language' - you brought the unwanted debate this far, so you get to live with the poor depiction of your chosen candidate.
* all post reports complaining about anything to do with posts about US elections will be closed without action. The political arguments continued despite multiple moderation cautions, and therefore no further consideration is due.

Post reports about this post or replies to it, will be deleted.

[UlanBatori]

Hmm!! Creeping in here with all the confidence of a Baloch planting an IED-Mubarak on a ChinPak pipeline...
But strangely, no less a Certified Jingo Channel than SwarajyaMag has come out with this statement of how the Yoo Ess Elecshun is relevant to desh. Read at ur peril..
Jihad Meets The Crusades: This Is The New Global Nexus, And US Is Inseparable From It

[panduranghari]

--

[NRao]

Crazy. But it is out there.

India Plans For Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier with US Help

[NRao]

Clinton or Trump, Tough Task Ahead for Next US President in Boosting Ties With India

A senior White House official described the India-US relationship this week as one of “friends with benefits” – definitely not treaty allies but more like partners in a joint pursuit of happiness.

The term used by Peter Lavoy, the top official on South Asia in the White House, was half in jest but it describes the situation perfectly. India has always insisted on autonomy in decision-making and even in tough times, maintained a fine balance by tilting a little this way or that. It’s another matter that those signals were missed or misread by the recipients.

“The era of alliances? We are not in that era. Why have that shackle? The ‘friends with benefits’ model is probably satisfactory,” Lavoy said. “I don’t think anyone in the US government or in the Indian government feels a compulsion to form a treaty alliance.” He then pointed to the fact that the US has declared India “a major defence partner” and made significant policy changes to flesh out the concept.

The benefits were close to that of a treaty partner.

Lavoy was speaking at an event to mark the release of a new report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) titled ‘US-India Security Cooperation: Progress and Promise for the Next Administration’. As a keynote speaker, he was there to list the outgoing Obama administration’s achievements on the India front.

The report came just as the leaders of India, China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa were preparing to get together in Goa for a BRICS summit against what can best be described as a confused, contentious and somewhat confrontational setting. Old friendships are on test, new relationships uncertain and we have a multipolar world in spades. The hustle for influence and alignment is unseemly.

India is in a tough spot – the Russian fabric has frayed, the American is still being spun and not quite ready to wear. Some say the interim has left India a bit underdressed for the ball. But the big question in the end: would the new outfit be smart enough to work for all or most occasions?

The CSIS report is an honest take on the persistent difficulties when two fiercely democratic systems try to make things work with asymmetrical abilities and widely different expectations.

Lavoy, as the White House’s chief strategist on South Asia, highlighted the defence relationship as one that had “matured more quickly in the last eight years” and in an unprecedented fashion. With no other country has the US contemplated cooperation on development of an aircraft carrier, he stressed.

The Defence Technology and Trade Initiative is progressing well, defence trade has gone from zero to $15 billion in ten years, the rate of approval for licenses is 99%, Malabar exercises have expanded to include Japan as a regular partner, the maritime security dialogue is a success, Westinghouse is in the process of finalising a contract to build nuclear reactors and the trilateral dialogue on Afghanistan has resumed.

Lavoy began and ended his speech by quoting Jawaharlal Nehru – an interesting choice in these times – and said India mattered and could not be ignored. It has taken time but India has come to “count” in world affairs. The fine sentiment, the good words are welcome but the truth is the Obama people are home happy – they got what they “really” wanted, which is India’s signature on the climate change agreement.

India, meanwhile, hasn’t got what it wanted – entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) or armed drones. Lavoy did say “all efforts” are being made to make the NSG happen before the end of the year.

So what should be the priorities of the next administration vis-à-vis India? The CSIS report offers six “must-do” tasks: the new president should meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the first 100 days to stress the importance of the relationship; get India to sign the remaining foundational agreements; establish a quadrilateral dialogue with the US, India, Japan and Australia (earlier known as the concert of democracies); enhance India’s naval capabilities in the Indian Ocean; encourage India to raise FDI in the defence sector to 100%; and expand technology cooperation under the Homeland Security Dialogue.

But there will be hurdles along the way. The “greatest challenge” will be New Delhi’s continued wariness with US support to Pakistan and American concerns about India’s close relationship with Russia, the report says.

But in a twist of fate, Pakistan and Russia are getting closer, presenting new challenges to both India and the US. Russia’s main motivation is to poke America in the eye by embracing its non-NATO ally Pakistan while Pakistan is thrilled to embrace Russia and drive a wedge between old friends.

The report’s writers speculate that with the US planning to reduce its presence in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s importance will also reduce, increasing the possibility that Washington “will cut ties over an incident of state-sponsored terrorism.” But in the meantime, “ongoing US-Pakistan military cooperation creates a brake on India-US cooperation and trust development”.

“The best case scenario for regional peace lies in the potential for an agreement between India and China to cooperate in working for peace in Afghanistan should the United States withdraw,” the report says. But that scenario would require the impossible to happen – China going against the wishes of its all-weather friend Pakistan.

In fact, the opposite may be happening – a China-Russia-Pakistan axis in Asia which poses new challenges to both the US and India. It requires serious attention by Washington but there is no discussion on the implications of the three coming together. Each one is seen as a separate silo.

Taking the metaphor of friends with benefits further, it might be time for the US to think more radically about India as a friend with real benefits. The report cites India’s “sustained interest” in buying US unmanned aircraft such as the Predator. Even though India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), apparently it is not enough because the US “holds a highly restrictive view of its own responsibilities under the MTCR” and result is denial of this technology even to countries within the MTCR.

The US has sold the Predator only to a handful of treaty allies who are engaged in “ongoing operations with the United States,” the report says. This does raise questions about Lavoy’s thesis that the era of treaty alliances is over. India as a friend with benefits is not about to get the Predator anytime soon. The US Congress too always uses India’s unwillingness to participate in American-led military operations as a litmus test of sorts. This is a potential problem in relations down the line.

In terms of increasing FDI in the defence sector, the report talks about Indian government’s concerns about becoming captive to US defence companies who could pull the plug should relations sour for any reason. The Americans also want assurances that the weapons built by US firms in India would be used “in ways consistent with US strategic goals.” One such goal is to ensure “a stable security situation in South Asia.”

Does that mean India must guarantee it will not use those weapons against Pakistan? The report does not clarify but it gives an insight into American thinking on the subject.

The report also cites ongoing problems in the areas of counterterrorism and cyber security cooperation where trust is low. Although signed in 2010 and re-emphasised in 2015, the bilateral counterterrorism initiative has suffered mainly because the shadow of Pakistan falls darkly – Americans are reluctant to act against terrorist groups that mainly attack India, something that doesn’t raise Indian confidence levels.

The US refused to extradite David Headley, one of the main plotters of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The report says that the US needs to “gain greater clarity on its motivations for counterterrorism cooperation with India”. Does it want to make India safer or is cooperation a means to further cement the relationship and decrease Indian mistrust?

The cyber security dialogue similarly has faced problems since it started in 2001 between both governments and their private sectors. It was dealt “a severe blow” when India arrested three Indian participants on charges that they had been recruited by US intelligence.

The dialogue resumed after a while and the two sides began meeting regularly. In June this year, the two governments finalised a framework for cyberspace cooperation, including a commitment to the multi-stakeholder model of internet governance.

A lot is on the India-US plate and it would help if the next administration can hit the ground running with key officials taking over quickly and efficiently. Many clones of current Defence Secretary Ashton Carter will be needed to push the files and move the behemoth that is the American government and provide benefits to friends.

[ramana]

He was friend of Tim Hoytt.


Am sure is aware of BRF.

[ramana]

Always wondered during the IUCNA deal brouhaha here that some supporters were not all milk and honey.

[Mort Walker]

The US has sold the Predator only to a handful of treaty allies who are engaged in “ongoing operations with the United States,” the report says. This does raise questions about Lavoy’s thesis that the era of treaty alliances is over. India as a friend with benefits is not about to get the Predator anytime soon. The US Congress too always uses India’s unwillingness to participate in American-led military operations as a litmus test of sorts. This is a potential problem in relations down the line.

Has there been any movement in congress or the Obama administration on the sale of Guardian-Predator to India?

[SSridhar]

U.S. NGO remains on watch: Officials - Suhasini Haidar, The Hindu

The Centre on Tuesday reiterated there was no move to remove American donor Compassion International from the prior permission list. The Hindu has learnt that Compassion International was allowed to disburse funds to 10 Indian NGOs on September 15, a fortnight after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry raised the issue with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The order to put Compassion under the watch list dates back to March 28. {It would be a sshame if GoI allowed the exemption to a well-known pro-evangelical Christian organization under pressure from the US. Such pressures are expected from the US once the the relationship warms up, but GoI must be deft enough to deflect them}

“From March-September, till Mr. Kerry took up the issue of Compassion International with the Indian government, no funds were allowed to be disbursed from its account to Indian NGOs,” said a source.

The Colorado-based group was put under the watch-list after security agencies gave an adverse input that it funded Indian NGOs involved in religious conversions. The Hindu has the names of the 10 NGOs.

The Hindu reported on Monday that Compassion International was granted permission to disburse donations to ten Indian NGOs soon after Mr. Kerry brought up his concerns over the treatment of the American donor with Ms. Swaraj during his India visit in September.

Kerry’s intervention

Asked why Mr. Kerry took up the issue of action against Compassion International when it was part of a legal procedure in India, U.S. Ambassador to India Richard Verma told The Hindu that a lot of NGOs which have done a lot of good work in India have “run into challenges with the government” and “it is part of our responsibility to work through those challenges.”

Elaborating further, Mr. Verma said, “Civil society in both our countries have played a huge role. Our governments would not function as well without civil society in education, nutrition, healthcare, climate change. We fully expect NGOs to be legally compliant on all bases, that’s non-negotiable. At the same time, we think a lot of NGOs have done a lot of good work in India and to the extent that they run into challenges with the government, I think, it is part of our responsibility to work through those challenges. We would do that for an American company or citizen, and also for NGOs and will continue to do it. I will say we have had a lot of good dialogue with the government that have been productive and we hope to have more in the future.”

When asked whether the U.S government was arm-twisting India on the issue, Mr Verma said, “The great thing about being partners is that we come to the table on issues that are difficult. In the last two years, we have been able to solve so many important issues for both our people and we will keep doing that.”

[Cosmo_R]

The US has sold the Predator only to a handful of treaty allies who are engaged in “ongoing operations with the United States,” the report says. This does raise questions about Lavoy’s thesis that the era of treaty alliances is over. India as a friend with benefits is not about to get the Predator anytime soon. The US Congress too always uses India’s unwillingness to participate in American-led military operations as a litmus test of sorts. This is a potential problem in relations down the line.

Has there been any movement in congress or the Obama administration on the sale of Guardian-Predator to India?

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/3fK68Q ... India.html

[Mort Walker]

^^^Ash Carter and Obama may be for it, but as the weeks and few months roll on the HRC administration may ask Obama team to kick the decision down the road to January. AKAIK, there has been no notification sent to congress by the administration. It needs at least 30 days prior notification before military-to-military sales.

[brar_w]

^^^Ash Carter and Obama may be for it, but as the weeks and few months roll on the HRC administration may ask Obama team to kick the decision down the road to January. AKAIK, there has been no notification sent to congress by the administration. It needs at least 30 days prior notification before military-to-military sales.

There is a broader policy consideration when it comes to armed drone export. On top of that add the fact that there has only been media reporting on this and there is really no true way to gauge what the level of maturity is when it comes to this potential sale.

Regarding speculation of what HRC will ask or what her administration will do..Its just that. I'd wager that given the consensus within the Congress of actually improving NatSec and trade ties with India, this will be a low-hanging fruit and ripe for bi-partisan cooperation in order to advance the relationship to beyond where Obama and Carter have taken it (with bi-partisan support). There is a strong chance that many on Carter's team including Frank Kendall will stay over if HRC is elected.

[NRao]

^^^Ash Carter and Obama may be for it, but as the weeks and few months roll on the HRC administration may ask Obama team to kick the decision down the road to January. AKAIK, there has been no notification sent to congress by the administration. It needs at least 30 days prior notification before military-to-military sales.

There is a broader policy consideration when it comes to armed drones. On top of that add the fact that there has only been media reporting on this and there is really no true way to gauge what the level of maturity is when it comes to this potential sale.

Regarding speculation of what HRC will ask or what her administration will do..Its just that. I'd wager that given the consensus within the Congress of actually improving NatSec and trade ties with India, this will be a low-hanging fruit and ripe for bi-partisan cooperation in order to advance the relationship to beyond where Obama and Carter have taken it (with bi-partisan support). There is a strong chance that many on Carter's team including Frank Kendall will stay over if HRC is elected.

And, if I may add, ALL this within the US framework of "stability in South Asia" - before anyone runs around and gets ideas of "Ally" (which the two are *not*), etc. My read is Indo-Pacific and China border. I very much doubt they would be used (extensively?) on the Indo-Pakistan border. I fully expect them to come with hooks.

For Pakistan India will need (and probably have already roped in) Israel.

[Mort Walker]

I seriously doubt the HRC administration will advocate FMS notification to congress of armed drones to India. They will try to achieve their "low hanging fruit" goals by other means. Especially if one party has near majority in congress and executive branches.

This will be the HRC administration's first test.

[brar_w]

I don't think this is as simple as rolling out an FMS notification. This is partly about first having a broad political consensus within the Pentagon, Congress and SD when it comes to the policy on armed drone export. There is one that they have just crafted but I don't think there isnt bi-partisan support yet for it (I think it may not even be public yet). Its just not about exporting it to India but a lot many other nations that would want to buy armed drones..

[Mort Walker]

^^^They've done it for other items like the P-8i with missiles, C-17 and C-130. Why not the Guardian-Predator? If they want the relationship to move forward from a strategic POV it would only make sense.

[brar_w]

Why not the Guardian-Predator?

Its fir the armed versions of these aircraft. The issue was with export of armed drones and not manned aircraft. Even Obama took a long time to finally roll out a policy (last year) that will dictate sales for these systems beyond the status-quo that has seen just one nation (soon followed by Italy) receiving armed systems up till now. Not sure how open the new policy is since the exact text is probably still classified but keep in mind that the talk of actually having armed drones being part of the India solicitation only began after Obama rolled out the new policy.

http://dronecenter.bard.edu/drone_exports/

The narrative that Obama would have simply opened up the export of armed drones and the deal would have gone forward had he stayed a while longer, and that HRC will do the exact opposite is really not based on hard facts. Like any new policy, successful implementation requires broad support from all the stakeholders and that includes the OSD, and the Congress where any new policy must wait for the consensus and support to emerge. Not sure how far they have come with the policy rolled out last year, but as the article mentions, this s just not about exporting armed drones to India but to a host of other nations (some with as strong or even stronger security partnerships) that would want them or want to upgrade unarmed drones they already have so that they could carry weapons. Even if the new policy is well liked by the Congress it will still probably require a case by case process of approving export.

In fact the control of the Congress and who emerges with influence once the dust settles could actually impact this to a much higher degree. Within the policy circles, this is a matter that has not been settled yet.

[NRao]

^^^They've done it for other items like the P-8i with missiles, C-17 and C-130. Why not the Guardian-Predator? If they want the relationship to move forward from a strategic POV it would only make sense.

I assume you mean localized "strategic POV". A lot of the hardware, if not all, provided by the US, is China centric.

Having said that China, on Indian soil, declared a policy that seems to have just widened the geographic area. Which just may force India to enlarge her area of what "localized" means. But that the US (along with Russia so far) has maintained storied silence of sorts, will be forced to address what "strategic" means. How far West is Act East. Modi has clearly upped the ante and IMHO he is starting to make the case that India is about Act, direction does not really matter. After all, why should West be any different than East?

[arun]

X Posted from the “Indian Single Engined Multi Role Fighter with Transfer of Manufacturing Technology” thread.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 945552.cms

Seems like speculative journalism....

May be we don't need to fret about another line, going by past track record it will take 4-5 years for process to be completed any ways

Extracts from the above article by Manu Pubby:

The letter says that the requirement is for a `minimum fourth generation single engine aircraft’ to be indigenously manufactured under the Make in India initiative.

While the letter may not be the final word on India’s new planned fighter line, it brings down a selection to only two contenders with what is already being described as a `match fixing’ condition of a single engine fighter. The only operational fighters that practically meet this condition for an Indian contest are the Saab Gripen and the Lockheed Martin F 16.

I am not even sure if there are two contenders, to me it sounds more like one contender, the F16. The Single Engined choices listed by MTOW in metric tonnes available today on the market are:

KAI/LM FA-50 (MTOW 12.3)
HAL LCA (MTOW 13.5)
JAS 39 C/D (MTOW 14.0)
F16 Block 50/52 (MTOW 19.2)
F35A (MTOW 31.80)

Using the LCA as the benchmark to define “Light”, the F35A comes in as “Heavy” while the JAS 39 C/D and FA-50 comes in as “Light” leaving the F16 C the only aircraft in the “Medium” category.

If the contents of the IAF letter sent out are true, seems the fix to buy American is well and truly in.

[SSridhar]

U.S. hails easing of curbs on NGO - The Hindu

The U.S. has welcomed the partial relaxation of restrictions imposed by the Indian government on Compassion International (CI), a Christian charity based in Colorado, but added that it will continue to push for “a more welcoming environment for NGOs”. {This is the most blatant support for an evangelicaal Christian organization by a secular US Government and they preach secularism to India}

The Hindu reported earlier this week that the Home Ministry has allowed CI to disburse funds to 10 NGOs in India.

A CI spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on the fresh development. Earlier, she had told The Hindu that the organisation was working with the Indian government to resolve the issue.

“We would certainly welcome and do welcome any actions by the government that support and strengthen civil society. I’d refer you to the Government of India with respect to any specific actions that have been taken regarding the NGOs in India. But as we — as you know, we want to see a strong, healthy, civil society throughout the world, and that certainly extends to India, which is a strong democracy. We believe that a strong and vibrant civil society only strengthens that democracy,” said State Department spokesperson Mark Toner.

Asked whether the organisation was bound by Indian tax laws and other regulations, Mr. Toner said: “… we support the work, the very good work of many of these NGOs.. It’s a matter for the Government of India to work with these NGOs with regard to taxes and other regulations that they need to comply with on the ground.”

[Neshant]

Sounds like a brain washing and spying agency.

[Manish_Sharma]

Those well-wisher posters of Bharat were saying "...well see even anti-Bharat and pro-paki john kerry has mellowed down and isn't doing much against Bharat when made foreign minister..."

Bharat is paying with its blood and marrow to keep bakaasur john kerry happy.

I shiver to know what that %$&%^& hillry would have in store.

[panduranghari]

not to start a flame war, but the military is fed up with amreki hardware because of the sanctions that can hit you with the silliest of reasons. amrekis are unpredictable and hence dangerous for us.

their big ticket items will always come with stiff conditions and stringent end user compliance requirements.

--
In a way it is providential for us that Modi came along at the right time.

Only 2 countries have the werewithal to pay and use effectively the technology for sale Americans offered. While China steals and duplicates, India is now too big to be affected by sancation regime. While Indians love America in general, the deep state is guarded about America. Americans are themselves responsible for this. A general observation is America likes a G1 world, but accomodated China to have G2 world. They cannot accept any more poles. Ramana saar observed elsewhere- America loves to pit one against another. We ain't taking the bait. Modi ji fortunately gave Putin the attention he deserves.

Morpheus to Neo - "Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony."

[Kashi]

While Indians love America in general....

You sure about that? I would say that's a pretty sweeping statement to make..

[panduranghari]

Its a general statement. And its true and you know it.

[Kashi]

Its a general statement. And its true and you know it.

Like I said, it's a pretty sweeping statement to make..

[NRao]

[Viv S]

[Mort Walker]

Viv S,

Your last post has no relevance in this dhaaga please remove it. TIA.

[Viv S]

Not really related to the election, just thought it was an Obama video that would amuse BRFites.

In any event, the 'Delete' function seems to be missing. Might have something to do with the certificate errors I'm getting from Google. One of mods could do it when they come around.

[UlanBatori]

Not really related to the election, just thought it was an Obama video that would amuse BRFites.

In any event, the 'Delete' function seems to be missing. Might have something to do with the certificate errors I'm getting from Google. One of mods could do it when they come around.

How did they do that? BO actually participated? Looks exactly like him...

[Viv S]

How did they do that? BO actually participated? Looks exactly like him...

It is him. That's why its funny. Particularly the ending. He's got a good sense of humour.

Case in point (I don't know how people kept a straight face through the slow jam) -

[UlanBatori]

Awesome! Can't picture Shrillary doing that. Maybe an act of Queen Victoria.

[KLNMurthy]

Hmm!! Creeping in here with all the confidence of a Baloch planting an IED-Mubarak on a ChinPak pipeline...
But strangely, no less a Certified Jingo Channel than SwarajyaMag has come out with this statement of how the Yoo Ess Elecshun is relevant to desh. Read at ur peril..
Jihad Meets The Crusades: This Is The New Global Nexus, And US Is Inseparable From It

I read the article and find myself disheartened by its frothy insubstantial quality showing more interest in self-indulgent and futile bitterness than in crafting a strategy for India to survive and ultimately, prevail in a world full of major challenges.

There is nothing wrong with offering a speculative geopolitical analysis projectiion, but it carries (as demonstrated by this article) a risk of making the author look like a paranoid rage boy. It poisons even any legitimate ideas touched on in the article, in this case regarding concerns about US strategic intentions for the world and their impact on India. Anyone touching on these ideas, even in a productive and constructive way, now has a heightened risk of being seen as somewhat of a crazy person , thanks to articles like this one.

"KrOdhaat bhavati sammOh:, sammOhaat smRti-vibhrama:
smRti bhraMSaat buddhi naaSau, buddhi naaSaat praNaASyasi."

[UlanBatori]

Thank goodness we have someone well-informed and thoughtful like you on BRF to counter the other comments at that site!!
Here's a balanced analysis Really intellectual. Totally factual too.

[Hitesh]

Thank goodness we have someone well-informed and thoughtful like you on BRF to counter the other comments at that site!!
Here's a balanced analysis Really intellectual. Totally factual too.

and I assume that you have anointed yourself as the person to bring a balanced analysis?