Bush Visit To India
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2060272,00.html
The Times, London, UK
February 27, 2006
Bush strides out to change the world with his new best friend
By Gerard Baker, US Editor
PRESIDENT BUSH arrives in Delhi for his first state visit this week,
hoping to cement an increasingly close relationship between the United
States and India that has the potential to alter the strategic balance
in the world for the rest of the century.
During the Cold War India was the only major democracy in the world
that did not side with America in the struggle against communism. But
in the past decade, driven by India's rapid economic growth, a shift
in American priorities in Asia and, latterly, the demands of the war on
terrorism, the interests of the two countries have converged sharply.
With US global hegemony increasingly challenged by the rise of China,
India - with a population of more than a billion - is seen by many
in Washington as a natural and vital strategic ally. Mr Bush arrives in
India on Wednesday and will spend three days there before visiting
Pakistan, also for the first time, where he will hold equally critical
discussions with General Pervez Musharraf, the President.
American expectations are high for both legs of this trip, but
especially for Mr Bush's meetings with Manmohan Singh, the Indian
Prime Minister.
"The President's visit, at least to some extent, marks the
transition from a 40-or-so-year painful bilateral history to the
transformed relationship the two countries have today," Robert
Blackwill, a former US Ambassador to India, said last week.
The change in the relationship is reflected in that India is, according
to recent surveys, the one place where the popularity of the US, if not
its President, has risen in the past four years.
American officials cite many areas of common interest. As Mr Bush
presses a pro-democracy agenda for the world, India is the world's
largest free nation. Economic growth in the sub-continent has been
rapid, bringing trade and investment opportunities for both
countries' companies.
The two countries have shared interests in energy security and, of
course, in confronting Islamist extremism. And, in the US at least,
some long-term strategic thinkers see India - democratic, capitalist
and, in large part, English-speaking - as a powerful ally and
makeweight to China's growing hegemony in Asia, although Indian
officials, eager to stay on good terms with their large neighbour to
the north, are keen to play down that aspect of the relationship.
Mr Bush and Mr Singh will discuss those issues, and India's relations
with Pakistan, where a fledgling peace process is under way over the
disputed territory of Kashmir.
But the most important item on the agenda may also be the most
contentious. In 1998 Delhi became a member of the nuclear weapons club,
in defiance of the global non-proliferation treaty. For Washington, in
its increasingly urgent efforts to halt the spread of nuclear weapons,
this continues to represent a serious challenge.
But last July, when Mr Singh visited Washington, the Administration
agreed to assist India with its civil nuclear energy programme, despite
opposition in the US Congress. Before the deal could be finalised,
however, India had to agree to demonstrate clear separation between its
civil and military nuclear facilities.
This has proved difficult, and so far the proposal has satisfied
nobody. The Opposition in India sees it as an attempt by Washington to
impose limits on India's nuclear weapons capabilities. US critics say
that it does not go far enough to limit India's military nuclear
programme. Officials on both sides were still working on the details at
the weekend - hopeful that the final agreement would be ready for Mr
Bush to sign this week.
US relations with Pakistan, where Mr Bush will spend next weekend, have
also been transformed in the past few years, though in this case by the
pressing issue of terrorism.
General Musharraf's Government has been persuaded to drop its
long-standing support for Islamists in Afghanistan, including its old
allies the Taleban, and join the US in fighting al-Qaeda and its
associates.
With growing evidence that the war against Islamists in Afghanistan is
faltering, not least because former Taleban and al-Qaeda members are
working unmolested in Pakistan, Mr Bush will seek a renewed Pakistani
effort against Islamic militancy - a tricky proposition for General
Musharraf, whose support for the US is deeply unpopular.
Mr Bush will be on his best diplomatic behaviour, emphasising the
emollient new tone of his second term. The US team has even arranged
for him to spend some time on a subject of vital significance to both
Indians and Pakistanis, though incomprehensible to Americans. He told
Indian journalists in Washington last week: "As I understand it, I
may have a little chance to learn something about cricket. It's a
great pastime. "
Mirza Ghalib
with a bouquet of flowers at the airport. But guess who presented it.
It was Ajit Kumar Panja, a minister in the Vajpai government.
It was so inapproprite that one of my friends joked that
it looked as if these two adults were lovers.
Let Manmohan not do the same mistake. Find a young girl,
(a pre-teenager will look best) and let her do this honor.
Likewise, when Carter visited India in the late seventies,
he was the chief guest at a sarkari banquet. And here
comes a waiter ..pat.. pat...with a fly swatter. The picture
appearing in all newspapers in the world was that of a somewhat
bewildered Carter looking on while tha swatter
did its job.
Yes, we have flies all over India, but sure can deny them
admission to at least where a distinguished guest is
being entertained. All it takes is a few rules of basic
sanitation.
Seeker
"Mirza Ghalib" <mgha...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1141081901.1...@t39g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
South Indian
Seeker wrote:
> Why are Indians so ashamed of their culture?
Why are Paki jamadars are so proud of arab paedophile?
koolf...@gmail.com
Seeker wrote:
> Why are Indians so ashamed of their culture?
why are halfhindu pakis aaulads worshiping the religion of their
mothers rapist.its deplorable.
Seeker
news:1141106771.8...@p10g2000cwp.googlegroups.com...
>
> Seeker wrote:
>> Why are Indians so ashamed of their culture?
>
> Why are Paki jamadars are so proud of arab paedophile?
Because the "arab paedophile" impregnated your matha and pitha at the same
time. Hehehehehe