Love Ya, Dubya

Re: 287/288

If left is joining hands with Jamaat, FV ji is now joining hands with Shiv Sena to take on America. Next pals-Narendra Modi/Sajjan Kumar. Politics makes strange bedfellows

Regards

The Americans have misjudged the international reaction to Camp X Ray.

Guantanmo is an anomaly anyway and although they had previously negotiated a lease in perpetuity with some past creepy Cuban generalissimo they should give the parcel of land back to the Cubans. It`s a farce. ``Camp X-Ray``! even the name is puerile.

I am also extremely sceptical about the stories I`ve heard some prisoners tell about their innocent reasons for being in Afghanistan or the border region of Pakistan. NOBODY would have been there at that time unless they were hell bent on assisting one lot of jihadists or another in some manner. I regard the lot of them as hostile, hostile to my way of life and hostile to my country.

However the Americans have made it seem like they will do as they wish with them, human rights or no human rights, and that they couldn`t care less what any other country (even their allies) might think about it. This just looks arrogant and bullying. They are a big enough nation to have given the detainees some sort of trial, then, as far as I am concerned they could have locked the guilty up for next hundred years and good riddance.

Jaundiced vision of secularists

KPS Gill

The Indian politician, it appears, is entirely uneducable, incapable of learning from history. Today, virtually all the parties in India are divided into two broad camps - the `communal` and the `secular`. The former category, including virtually all minority community political parties - such as the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Jamaat-e-Ulema-e-Hind, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the Akali Dal, and the constituent groups within the `Sangh Parivar` - are explicitly communal in their orientation, seeking a crystallisation of their own identity through a polarisation against others.




But the `secular` parties are, in fact, anything but that; they practice an insidious and opportunistic `reverse communalism` that has historically done incalculable harm to the nation, and continues to undermine India`s progress, security and stability.



An interesting manifestation was the anti-Bush demonstrations orchestrated during the American President`s brief visit. The most vociferous protests among the `secular` parties came from the Left formations, particularly the CPI(M) - a coalition partner in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh`s Government. They have, of course, the right to protest and to project their perspectives - though the incontinence of language and the crudity of attacks launched by some very senior leaders is poor testimony to their cause and their conviction.



What is significant, however, is that, despite the extraordinary `cooperation` of the media - specially the proliferating television news channels, who held tiny crowds of a few dozen, and occasionally of a couple of hundred in very tight frames, helping substitute an artificial frenzy for numbers - it was clear that the `secular` protestors had rather poor support.



Failing to mobilise adequate support from their own ideological fraternity, the CPI-M had no compunctions in falling back on the stratagem of a `multi-party` demonstration that relied overwhelmingly on the capacities for communal mobilisation of the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind, and it was only through the efforts of the latter that the substantial gathering at the Ramlila grounds at Delhi could be cobbled together.



A look at the various photographs and video images in the media demonstrates that the crowd at the Ramlila grounds was overwhelmingly Muslim - with hardly a peppering of `secular` protestors. Much of the ire of the communally mobilised protestors was directed against the `Danish cartoons` and other issues somewhat distanced from the context of President Bush`s visit to India.



Critically, however, when `secular` parties hitch their wagon to communal mass mobilisation on emotive sectarian issues and an `Islamic` anti-Bush platform, they participate in a dangerous and subversive trend, contributing directly to the greater radicalisation of sections of the Muslim community, and enlarging the centrality, within the national political space, of communal formations such as the Jamiat. This is not the first time that the Communists have made an ideologically irreconcilable compromise with communal forces, as their (and the Congress`s) extended partnership with the IUML in Kerala demonstrates.



The conduct of the top leadership of the ruling Congress in the run-up to State Assembly election in Assam is another case in point, and will have disastrous consequences for the security and stability, not only of this State, but also for the wider Northeast, where illegal Bangaldeshi migrants are continuously expanding their presence.



The pronouncements on bringing amendments to the Foreigners` Act to `protect` the Muslims - including the very large number of illegal aliens in the State who have acquired voting rights and are courted by the Congress as a vote-bank - fall into the same category of misconceived communal manipulation with disastrous long-term consequences. Once again, the Congress is being misled by immediate electoral calculations to act directly against the national interest.



In Uttar Pradesh, we see a deafening silence among the `secular parties` on the issue of the `reward` of Rs 51 crore announced by a Minister for anyone who `brings him the head` of the Danish cartoonists who had dared to caricature the Prophet. Interestingly, while `secular` parties invent convoluted justifications for the failure to implement the country`s law for this act of incitement to crime, and while some of the Minister`s coreligionists flock to congratulate him for his `courageous` defence of Islam, the Organisation of Islamic Countries has seen fit to condemn all such `fatwas` and announcements calling for the death of the Danish cartoonists as `un-Islamic.



The fact is, all major `secular` parties in India have had the consolidation of the `Muslim vote-bank` as one of the crucial elements of their political and electoral agenda, and they have tended to believe that supporting the extremist - rather than the moderate - Muslim stance is more productive in delivering the `Muslim vote`. The `Hindu vote` is believed to be split across the various national and regional formations along caste, language and parochial lines, as well as between the `secular` and `communal` camps. It has, consequently, been accepted - outside the Sangh Parivar - that communal mass mobilisation of Hindus is either not possible, given the fragmented nature of the community, or that it is, in some sense, not politically desirable.



Despite overwhelming evidence that the Muslims are also an enormously diversified community across regions and classes in India, the same considerations have not guided perspectives on the country`s principal minority. Interestingly, communal Hindu formations are also increasingly vulnerable to this intellectual blindness - witness, for instance, Mr LK Advani`s and, more recently, Mr Jaswant Singh`s pronouncements on Mohammad Ali Jinnah.



This blindness has afflicted Indian politics for decades, and the affliction has extended to some of the nation`s greatest leaders. Gandhi, the Mahatma on so much else, was utterly wrong in his orientation to the Muslims and this was abundantly clear even in his first major and disastrous intervention in the country`s politics, the Khilafat Movement.



The then famous Ali Brothers, who are now entirely forgotten by all but a few historians specialising in the period, with whom Gandhi formed a partnership of dishonour to lead the Movement, openly stated that a Muslim thief was better than Gandhi, simply because he was Muslim; Gandhi swallowed the insult in silence. When there were rumours that the Afghans could invade India, one of the brothers, Mohammad Ali, declared: ``If the Afghans invaded India to wage holy war, the Indian Mohammadans are not only bound to join them but also to fight the Hindus if they refuse to cooperate with them.`` Gandhi had no comment on this. Worse, Gandhi, the apostle of ahimsa, repeatedly justified Muslim violence.



In the wake of the collapse of the Khilafat movement, the Moplah Rebellion broke out in Kerala, with Muslim mobs inflicting untold savagery and rapine on Hindus. Gandhi first denied these atrocities and later, confronted with incontrovertible evidence, described the Moplahs as ``god fearing`` people and declared that they ``are fighting for what they consider as religion, and in a manner they consider as religious``.



It is these double standards that created India`s eventual partition. Regrettably, they survived that catastrophe, and continue to dominate India`s `secular` polity even today. There is, in fact, a comprehensive failure among the Indian political classes - across ideological and partisan boundaries - to understand the minority psyche.



The backwardness and abysmal poverty of the Muslim community in India even 58 years after Independence is a symbol both of the decline of its own leadership, and of the bankruptcy of the exploitative vote-bank politics of secular formations. You cannot fill people`s stomachs with religion and silence their real needs - health, education, productive capacities and skills - with dogma. This, tragically, remains the unqualified agenda and objective of India`s political leadership.



But the tokenism of `representation` in the Army and Government services and the continuous manipulation of communal sentiments will go no way in correcting these distortions. The solution lies in non-discriminatory efforts for the development of all the poor in India, and that includes the country`s minorities.

Two reports:

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

‘India will be America’s vassal state’

Mumbai: If the Shiv Sena is to be believed, the US may use the latest nuclear deal to turn India into a vassal state. Drawing a parallel between India and Iraq, the party mouthpiece Saamna in a strongly worded editorial on Friday said the way in which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh genuflected before US President George W Bush, “India, it is clear, will be soon be reduced to a vassal state of America’’.

The stance is significant because the Sena, whose chief Bal Thackeray is the editor of the daily, has rarely been known for advocating anti-American views.

Criticising Singh for welcoming Bush in New Delhi on Wednesday, the daily accused the PM of having mortgaged India’s freedom and self-respect to Washington. Interestingly, while the Sena has fired a salvo against the US, BJP leader L K Advani met President Bush in New Delhi on Thursday. The BJP is the Sena’s oldest poll ally in Maharashtra.

“We seem to have slipped back into the slavery era. Our freedom is showcased ceremoniously only twice a year—on the Republic Day and Independence Day,’’ said the Marathi morninger, adding, “India won its freedom from the British. However, we are now ready to pawn it to the US which too needed the nuclear deal.’’

“The US ambassador in India is believed to have chided the West Bengal chief minister recently after the Left parties took a firm stand on the Iran issue. It is both sad and unfortunate that the Centre didn’t think it necessary to lodge a simple protest (with Washington)’’. The newspaper also came down heavily on the US for its “Janus-faced’’ policy on terrorism. “The US attacked Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11 in the name of fighting terrorism. However, the Bush administration isn’t willing to uphold and honour India’s right to fight the ISI-sponsored terrorism,’’ said Saamna.

Advising the UPA government to keep the US at arm’s length, the Sena mouthpiece said, “Neither is America’s dosti good for us nor her dushmani.’’

- - -
OLD FORT, NEW ORDER
IND-US CIVILISATION
Bush Turns On Qila Charm, Says He Comes As A Friend

New Delhi: US President George Bush on Friday, the last day of what has been a very successful visit to India, laid out his vision of a new world order in which the US partners a resurgent India to strike an alliance against terrorism and promote democracy and free trade in the world—words that had the unique effect of simultaneously gratifying and discomfiting the audience.

His official engagements over, Bush sought to reach out to the people from the stunning ambience of the 16th century Purana Qila. He had received much cheer during his visit, but had also been greeted with many hostile protests. Bush disregarded the latter to have his say—and without mincing words.

Top government leaders were missing from the audience, although the babalog brigade led by Rahul Gandhi was present. In fact, the venue wasn’t packed, with the main audience being television viewers. But Bush’s clear message was directed more at the audience in drawing rooms.

After his handsome praise for the Indian democracy, its pluralistic society and economic progress and after pointing out the civilisational commonalities between the two democracies, Bush zeroed in on the goal of defeating terrorism by promoting democracy and economic prosperity.

He said, “The terrorists are followers of a violent ideology that calls for the murder of Christians and Hindus and Sikhs and Jews, and vast numbers of Muslims who do not share their radical views.’’ With this, he made it quite clear that in his worldview there was only one kind of terrorist—the Islamic terrorist. If there was any ambiguity, it was dispelled with his next line: “When terrorists murder innocent office workers in New York or kill shoppers at a market in Delhi or blow up commuters in London, they hope these horrors will break our will.’’ A clear reference to the Al Qaida and its affiliates.

Linking democracy and counter-terrorism, he said, “From East to West, we’ve seen that only one force is powerful enough to replace hatred with hope, and that is the force of human freedom.’’

However, his exhortation that India “has a historic duty to support democracy around the world’’ may have left many squirming because the Indian view of democracy and freedom often doesn’t square up with the US view. For instance, Bush himself doesn’t seem to be troubled by the continued refusal of his ally, Pakistan, to restore democracy.

Conversely, the prospect of aggressive peddling of democracy in some other parts of the world—such as Cuba, Syria, Zimbabwe and Myanmar—also makes India uncomfortable. Still, Bush said “India’s leadership is needed in a world that is hungry for freedom’’ and suggested that Delhi had a “historic duty’’ to intervene on the side of “freedom and democracy’’.

Bush didn’t hesitate to list India’s other “responsibilities’’ either—such as lifting the cap on foreign investments, making its rules and regulations more transparent and opening its markets to American agricultural products, industrial goods and services.

Although of a piece with his attack on the protectionists back home campaigning against outsourcing, his wish list is unlikely to be appreciated at a time when at each round of the WTO talks, the US’ refusal to bring down trade and tariff barriers on agriculture is cited as an impediment to free trade.

Re: # 273

No Mohar, he is truly very astute, very intelligent barrister from some Inn in England. You do not detect Marxism in his discussions. The friend who introduced me to him, was my classmate at Harvard Business School and a director of Gujrat Ambuja Cement, the purest of the pure capitalist. They know what China has done and is doing quite well, and the U.S. technology and access to the U.S. market did for China. Communists` biggest problem is that they let West Bengal and Kerala slip behind in the economic progress, that it is hard for them to catch up.

Anil

parthaab,

When you see so many people questioning your ``brave`` and ``idealistic`` stand, you must at least have the satisfaction of knowing that IN REALITY, you DO have good things like logic, rationality and compassion on your side, unlike those stupid people who are against your viewpoint.

So let me ask you a question:


Let`s say an Islamic terrorist was apprehended AFTER he has shot to death about a hundred little schoolchildren. And the police find out that he has links to a gang who is threatening a nuclear strike on a city, potentially wiping out millions of people.

At this point, would you say it would be okay to use torture to extract the information about the whereabouts of the terrorists?

Just a simple YES or NO would do.


Thank you.

parthaab #248

`` What has the Saudi kings visit got to do with Bushs barbarism and the reasons why almost half the world hates him?

Do you know of any leader from recent memnory as hated as Bush? MS? Sonia? Musharrrraff? Blair? I wonder... ``

Saudi Arabia has a controversial record.

1. autocratic monarchy
2. no freedom of religion for non-Muslims
3. custodians of Mecca/Medina
4. employment to 1.5 million Indians - some of which are mistreated
5. record of funding Muslim madrasas in Pakistan and Afghanistan

Why would not Indian Muslims care about the above ?

Versey : ``Now that we are more or less done with the subject, I will comment on a point some people have brought up, and because yesterday in Mumbai`s Azad Maidan there was an anti-Bush Muslim rally.

Thats the key word - anti-Bush Muslim rally.

Actually these anti-Bush rallies have only made Bush more popular as far as the majority of Indians are concerned. Anybody who gets hated so much by ugly bearded skull cap wearing kafeer hating India hating fellow citizens of ours , will naturally get our support.

As it happened in Lucknow yesterday . Muslims declare bandh against Bush visit. Hindus say we have nothing against Bush , so refuse to participate in the Bandh. Muslims get furious at the impunity of the lowly kafeers , go on a hindu bashing spree , burning hindu shops , stoning hindu houses and what not. Hindus retaliate and strike back , killing half a dozen warriors of allah.

As I said , all the anti-Bush rallies carried out by muslims have only made Bush more popular in India. Earlier very few actually heard of Bush. Today Bush is a hindu icon.

Hahahaha....

Ref Netizen #263

[parthaab:

what about the other religions. or to you only the muslims matter as the only other religion in india (apart from the hindus).]

For our pseudo-secularists, Islam is the only religion that matters in India. So, you can drop that ``apart from Hindus`` part. Hindus aren`t worth a pot of warm spittle in their estimation.

That is why it was all right to barbecue Hindu men, women and children in Godhra.

Ref parthaab #261

[The Justice UC Banerjee committee has ruled that the fire in S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express in Godhra was accidental.]

Yup. And he says there was never a crowd in Godhra station despite what contemporaneous reports said.

Oh, the carriage was not locked from the outside, according to him. So it is because of their sheer stupidity that the Hindu pilgrims could not escape from the burning train.

You know, I would actually buy the statement that the carriage was not locked from the outside if the passengers were Bengalis; they would be too stupid to try to escape. But they happened to be Gujaratis so I find it difficult to accept.

But you should have no problem with this fairy tale.

Everybody knows. Only mussalmans have protested against Bush in India . Hahaha...which is understandable given that Bush and his Amrika are the greatest enemies of their quam.

Real Indians have nothing against Bush. We consider Bush to be a friend of India.

The Man Who Knows What Really Counts!

(George W. Bush statements excerpted from an interview held with Mr. Aziz Haniffa, India Abroad, on the eve of the Republican National Convention in New York, held August 29 - September 2, 2004)

``I am absolutely committed to building an enhanced, comprehensive relationship with the Government of India. The United States and India have common interests and we need to pursue a healthy, long-term, mutually beneficial relationship. I believe there is broad agreement with that point of view in India and the United States.

India has been an outstanding partner in the global war on terror, and we expect that will continue. I believe there`s a general consensus in India about the need to continue reforming the economy. This will benefit both our countries in the longer term. We will also continue to work hard together on moving forward the new initiative, the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership, to enhance our civil nuclear, space, and high technology cooperation as India`s export control and nonproliferation regimes are strengthened. I also believe that India, as the world`s most populous democracy, should have an important role in consolidating democracy and peace in South Asia and the rest of the world.

Yes. India is a good example to other developing countries that democracy can withstand and defeat terrorism, assassinations, wars, and poverty.``

Press Conference of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Bush
March 2, 2006
New Delhi

PM: May I ask Sheila Bhatt?

Q: Thank you Mr. Prime Minister. Thank You Mr. President. Sir, since you have said that the Indo-US Nuclear Cooperation Agreement is on, we would like to know from you that how are you going to ensure India’s concerns and Indian scientific community’s concerns regarding non-stop supply of fuel and also protecting India’s three phase nuclear research programme?

Mr. President, I have a question for you too Sir. Everybody is saying that India and the US are natural allies. You have also said many times that our strategic partnership is based on common, shared values. Then why the oldest democracy is reluctant to allow the largest democracy for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. This is an issue that India would like to hear from you more Sir.

PM: You have asked me about the nuclear agreement. As I mentioned, we have reached a mutually satisfactory understanding with regard to carrying forward the process that was outlined in July 18 statement which I and President Bush signed. An important step forward is the preparation of a separation plan, which separates the civilian nuclear programme from the military programme. That phase has been successfully completed. Now it is for the US to go to the Congress for necessary amendments in US laws, also the US will approach the Members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and thereafter we will also have to go to the IAEA for India’s specific safeguards. So we have made very satisfactory progress and I thank the President for his initiative. But for his leadership, this day would have probably not come so soon.

President Bush: Thank you for your question on UN Security Council. I am not surprised that you’ve asked it. I gave an interview to a representative from the Indian media in Washington D.C. prior to my trip and that was one of the questions I was asked. My answer hasn’t changed, by the way - which is this. When we support UNSC reform and we are interested in different ways to reform the United Nations Security Council, my concern on law, however, is that if we only stick to the UNSC reform, we miss the opportunity to reform the United Nations overall. So our position is to make sure that reform overall looks forward. As we think of the best way to reform the Security Council, United Nations is a very important international body and it’s one that does however require better accountability, and accountability on how we spend money, accountability on getting results. You know one such area as an example is the Human Rights Commission. Human Rights Commission needs to be reformed in a way that actually is able to achieve significant results on behalf of the world. So we are open minded and we are listening, but what we don’t want to do is to have a Security Council reform measure that causes the other reforms not to go forward.

Q: There are reports of multiple bombings in Karachi, Pakistan outside the US Consulate, as well as the Marriott Hotel. What can you tell us about this, its impact, your trip, your visit to that country and how does this speak of Pakistan’s or even Musharraf’s ability to contain terrorism?

President Bush: First of all, I have been briefed on the bombings. We have lost atleast one US citizen in the bombing - a Foreign Service officer and I send our country’s deepest condolences to that person’s loved ones and the family. We also send the condolences to the people of Pakistan who lost their lives. Terrorists and killers are not going to prevent me from going to Pakistan. My trip to Pakistan is an important trip. It’s important to talk with President Musharraf about continuing our fight against terrorists. After all, he has a direct stake in this fight. Four times the terrorists have tried to kill him. Prime Minister and I talked about the need to continue working together to fight the scourge of terrorism. People - terrorists killing innocent lives just like that. They have no conscience, we cannot negotiate with them, we cannot reason with them. They must be brought to justice. The bombing that took place prior to my trip is an indication that the war on terror goes on. And that free nations must come together to fight terrorism. The way to defeat terrorism in the short run, is to share intelligence and to take action. The way to defeat terrorism in the long run, is to defeat their ideology of hate with an ideology of hope and that’s democracy. The great thing about being here in India is a perfect opportunity to remind the world that it is possible for people of different religions to live peacefully together. This is precisely what this grand democracy has shown the world and my resolve has never been stronger about protecting our people by working with other nations. To answer the call of history, and the call of history is now to stand strong in the face of these terrorist attacks and we will.

Q: Indrani Bagchi. – President Bush two questions for you. First on the nuclear deal. How do you plan to sell the agreement to a very powerful non-proliferation lobby? Second on the issue of terrorism in the context of today’s bomb blasts in Karachi. How do you propose to work with India on terrorism considering India considers that the epicentre of terrorism is in Pakistan?

President Bush: Well, one way we will work together on terrorism is to share intelligence services, share information, the way to defeat terrorists in the short term is to anticipate and react to their motives and their actions, to get intelligence. We are involved in a different kind of war. It’s a war where people hide, plot and plan and all of a sudden emerge and kill and so it requires a different response. A part of the response is to commit our intelligence services to sharing information. We spent some time talking about that issue today. As well, I bring the same message to President Musharraf that we would continue to work with the President, sharing information to bring terrorists to justice. Terrorism is not prevalent only in this part of the world, it is prevalent in the Middle East as well. In the long run, terrorism will be defeated by giving people hope and opportunity and purge the systems of the Government which breed resentment and as a result of that resentment provide opportunity for these killers to retreat.

In terms of convincing the Congress, first thing I would say to our Congress is that our relationship is changing to the better. Sometimes, the desire to get rid of history. Short term history shows that US and India were divided. We didn’t have much of a relationship and as a result there are laws on the books that reflect that. Now our relationship is changing dramatically. People in United States have got to understand that trade with India is in our interests, that diplomatic relations with India are in our interests, that cultural exchanges with India are in our interest. One another thing is that it helps make their case of course is that there are a lot of Indian Americans making important contributions to our country. And we welcome those contributions. I think there need to be more student exchanges between our countries. I think we are expanding HB1 visas for Indian scientists, engineers, physicists and people in our country. What I am trying to explain to you is that it is a changing relationship and part of that change is going to be how to deal with the nuclear issue. Proliferation is certainly a concern and a part of our discussions. We have got a good faith gesture from the Indian Government that I would be able to take to the Congress. But the other thing that our Congress has got to understand that it is in our economic interests that India have civilian nuclear power industry to help take the pressure off the global demand for energy. Obviously, nuclear power is a renewable source of energy and the less demand there is for non-renewable source of energy like fossil fuels, the better off it is for the American people. Increasing demand for oil from America, from India and China, related to a supply that is not keeping up with the demand causes our fuel prices to go up and so to the extent that we can reduce demand for fossil fuels, it will help the American consumer. So there are several ways for me to make the case which I can’t be lining up for you now, but this is what I’ll be telling our Congress.

Q: Following up on this just a touch. What kind of message Sir, does it send to the world that India which has been testing as late as 1998 nuclear testing and has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty? Is this the reward for bad behaviour? Some critics suggest that what kind of message does it send to other countries that are in the process of developing nuclear technology? Why should they sign the NPT, if India is getting a deal without doing so Sir?

President Bush: What this agreement says is things change, times change, that leadership can make a difference and I was telling the world, sending the world a different message from that what used to exist in people’s minds. I have always said that this is going to be a difficult deal for the Prime Minister to sell to his Parliament but he has shown great courage and leadership and difficult for the American President to sell it to our Congress. Because some people just do not want to change with the times, I understand that. But this agreement is in our interests. And therefore, Gentlemen, I am confident that we can sell this to our Congress in the interest of the United States. At the same time, make it clear that there is a way forward for other nations to participate in civilian nuclear power in such a way as to address non-proliferation concerns. India has chartered the way forward. You heard the Prime Minister talking about going to the IAEA. So that group exists to help safeguard the world from proliferation. Because listen….. I proposed the processing agreements. That stands in stark contrast to the current nuclear theology that we shouldn’t reprocess for proliferation concerns. I don’t see how you can’t advocate nuclear power in order to take the pressure off our own economy, for example, without advocating technological development reprocessing because reprocessing will help the environmental concerns with nuclear power. There will be less material to dispose. So I am trying to think differently. Not to stay stuck in the past and recognize that by thinking differently together on nuclear power we are going to achieve some important objectives. One of which is less reliance on fossil fuels. Second is to work with our partners to help both our economies grow. And thirdly is to be strong on dealing with non-proliferation issues.
Thank you Mr. Prime Minister, it’s been a joy.

PM:Thank you very much Mr. President, we have made history today.

Umm..some pakis were saying something about sycophancy...

VIEW: Bush in Pakistan — Shaukat Qadir

Then there is the loss of 18 lives in an American attack in Damadola, which the Musharraf government has sought to partially justify by claiming that five of the victims were militants, though not the original target. The claim can neither be proved nor disproved independently and is taken with a pinch of salt. Also, even if the government’s claim is indeed correct, 13 of the victims were innocent men, women, and children for whose death no apology has been rendered.

I wish to conclude with something I should have said weeks ago when I first wrote about the Damadola incident. One of the basic rules of leadership taught in the army is that the leader must be present at the most threatened location under his command. While nobody expects Musharraf, or even the local corps commander, to be present when militants are attacked, I find it amazing that none of the army top brass or civilian leaders visited Damadola in the wake of the American attack.

Even after an operation by our own troops, I think, at least a senior military officer should have immediately appeared on the scene to regret ‘collateral damage’. Does no one understand that even if you are punishing the guilty, the innocent sufferers are our own people? Ultimately, unless you win their hearts and minds, the trouble that appears small today, will grow.

(....And here is the current one, from March 2, 2006.)

In contrast with what was predicted in this article, the following is what ACTUALLY came out of President Bush`s visit.

India-US Joint Statement


March 2, 2006
New Delhi


President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed satisfaction with the great progress the United States and India have made in advancing our strategic partnership to meet the global challenges of the 21st century. Both our countries are linked by a deep commitment to freedom and democracy; a celebration of national diversity, human creativity and innovation; a quest to expand prosperity and economic opportunity worldwide; and a desire to increase mutual security against the common threats posed by intolerance, terrorism, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. The successful transformation of the U.S.-India relationship will have a decisive and positive influence on the future international system as it evolves in this new century.


Reviewing the progress made in deepening the global partnership between the United States and India since their Joint Statement of July 18, 2005, the President and the Prime Minister reaffirm their commitment to expand even further the growing ties between their two countries. Consistent with this objective, the two leaders wish to highlight efforts the United States and India are making together in the following areas, where they have:

FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND TRADE


(1) Agreed to intensify efforts to develop a bilateral business climate supportive of trade and investment by:


1. Welcoming the report of the U.S.-India CEO Forum, agreeing to consider its recommendations aimed at substantially broadening our bilateral economic relations, and directing the Chairs of the Indo-U.S. Economic Dialogue to follow up expeditiously with the CEO Forum;

2. Endorsing the efforts of the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum to reduce barriers to trade and investment with the goal of doubling bilateral trade in three years;

3. Agreeing to advance mutually beneficial bilateral trade and investment flows by holding a high-level public-private investment summit in 2006, continuing efforts to facilitate and promote foreign direct investment and eliminate impediments to it, and enhancing bilateral consultations on various issues including tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in goods and services, and preventing the illicit use of the financial system.

(2) Sought to expand cooperation in agriculture by:


1. Launching the Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture with a three-year financial commitment to link our universities, technical institutions, and businesses to support agriculture education, joint research, and capacity building projects including in the area of biotechnology.

2. Endorsing an agreed workplan to promote bilateral trade in agriculture through agreements that: lay out a path to open the U.S. market to Indian mangoes, recognize India as having the authority to certify that shipments of Indian products to the United States meet USDA organic standards, and provide for discussions on current regulations affecting trade in fresh fruits and vegetables, poultry and dairy, and almonds.


(3) Reaffirmed their shared commitment to completing the WTO Doha Development Agenda (DDA) before the end of 2006, and agreed to work together to help achieve this outcome.

FOR ENERGY SECURITY AND A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT


(1) Welcomed the successful completion of discussions on India’s separation plan and looked forward to the full implementation of the commitments in the July 18, 2005 Joint Statement on nuclear cooperation. This historic accomplishment will permit our countries to move forward towards our common objective of full civil nuclear energy cooperation between India and the United States and between India and the international community as a whole.


(2) Welcomed the participation of India in the ITER initiative on fusion energy as an important further step towards the common goal of full nuclear energy cooperation.


(3) Agreed on India`s participation in FutureGen, an international public-private partnership to develop new, commercially viable technology for a clean coal near-zero emission power project. India will contribute funding to the project and participate in the Government Steering Committee of this initiative.


(4) Welcomed the creation of the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, which will enable India and the U.S. to work together with other countries in the region to pursue sustainable development and meet increased energy needs while addressing concerns of energy security and climate change. The Partnership will collaborate to promote the development, diffusion, deployment and transfer of cleaner, cost-effective and more efficient technologies and practices.


(5) Welcomed India`s interest in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, an international marine research endeavor that will contribute to long-term energy solutions such as gas hydrates.

(6) Noting the positive cooperation under the Indo-U.S. Energy Dialogue, highlighted plans to hold joint conferences on topics such as energy efficiency and natural gas, to conduct study missions on renewable energy, to establish a clearing house in India for coal-bed methane/coal-mine methane, and to exchange energy market information.


FOR INNOVATION AND THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY


(1) Emphasizing the importance of knowledge partnerships, announced the establishment of a Bi-National Science and Technology Commission which the U.S. and India will co-fund. It will generate collaborative partnerships in science and technology and promote industrial research and development.


(2) Agreed that the United States and India would work together to promote innovation, creativity and technological advancement by providing a vibrant intellectual property rights regime, and to cooperate in the field of intellectual property rights to include capacity building activities, human resource development and public awareness programs.


(3) Agreed to continue exploring further cooperation in civil space, including areas such as space exploration, satellite navigation, and earth science. The United States and India committed to move forward with agreements that will permit the launch of U.S. satellites and satellites containing U.S. components by Indian space launch vehicles, opening up new opportunities for commercial space cooperation between the two countries.

(4) Welcomed the inclusion of two U.S. instruments in the Indian lunar mission Chandrayaan-1. They noted that memoranda of understanding to be signed by ISRO and NASA would be significant steps forward in this area.


(5) Welcomed the U.S. Department of Commerce`s plan to create a license exception for items that would otherwise require an export license to end-users in India engaged solely in civilian activities.


FOR GLOBAL SAFETY AND SECURITY


(1) Noted the enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries and stressed that terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought and rooted out in every part of the world.


(2) Welcomed the increased cooperation between the United States and India in the defense area, since the New Framework for the U.S.-India Defence Relationship was signed on June 28, 2005, as evidenced by successful joint exercises, expanded defence cooperation and information sharing, and greater opportunities to jointly develop technologies and address security and humanitarian issues.


(3) Reaffirmed their commitment to the protection of the free flow of commerce and to the safety of navigation, and agreed to the conclusion of a Maritime Cooperation Framework to enhance security in the maritime domain, to prevent piracy and other transnational crimes at sea, carry out search and rescue operations, combat marine pollution, respond to natural disasters, address emergent threats and enhance cooperative capabilities, including through logistics support. Both sides are working to finalize a Logistics Support Agreement at the earliest.

(4) Welcomed India`s intention to join the Container Security Initiative aimed at making global maritime trade and infrastructure more secure and reducing the risk of shipping containers being used to conceal weapons of mass destruction.


(5) Reiterated their commitment to international efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.


(6) Building on the July 2005 Disaster Relief Initiative, noted the important disaster management cooperation and their improved capabilities to respond to disaster situations.


(7) Recognized the importance of capacity building in cyber security and greater cooperation to secure their growing electronic interdependencies, including to protect electronic transactions and critical infrastructure from cybercrime, terrorism and other malicious threats.


DEEPENING DEMOCRACY AND MEETING INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGES


(1) Recalled their joint launch of the UN Democracy Fund in September 2005 and offered the experience and expertise of both Governments for capacity building, training and exchanges to third countries that request such assistance to strengthen democratic institutions.

(2) Welcomed the decision of India and the United States to designate a representative to the Government Advisory Board of the International Centre for Democratic Transition (ICDT) located in Budapest to facilitate cooperative activities with ICDT.


(3) Agreed that the Virtual Coordination and Information Centres set up in September 2005 should be further strengthened and a bilateral meeting aimed at developing a practical programme for utilization of its services be held soon.


(4) Expressed satisfaction at the expedited USFDA drug approval processes that strengthen the combat against HIV/AIDS at the global level and encourage greater corporate participation to meet this challenge, including the establishment of the Indo-U.S. Corporate Fund for HIV/AIDS.


(5) Agreed to expand bilateral efforts and continue cooperation in the area of medical research and strengthen technical capacity in food and drug regulation in India as well as address the concern on avian influenza, including agreement to reach out to the private sector, develop regional communications strategies, and plan an in-region containment and response exercise. The President welcomed India`s offer to host the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza meeting in 2007.


(6) Welcomed India`s membership in the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking, a partnership through which we will collaborate in the fight against illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife parts; we also welcome the opportunity to strengthen longstanding work together on the conservation of wildlife through cooperation on park management and ecotourism.

President Bush thanked Prime Minister Singh and the people of India for the warmth of their reception and the generosity of their hospitality.

Anil
[.....I felt proud, when I saw the picture of Azad Maidan rally, in the Daily Times, a Pakistani paper, which also carried picture of burning cars and damage from suicide bombing in Karachi...]

That`s one way of looking at it. The other view is - why are indian muslims are so worked up in the first place? I mean - what wrong did Bush did to them?.... we understand why commies have a bug up their a$$es, but there is no reason for indian muslims to protest... it was a display of utter stupidity....

Also - Did you see pictures of bunch of indian muslims holding banners that they are ready to be suicide bombers?....