Category — USA

George Bush’s ’secret’ letter to the US congress, published by the Washington Post, exposes the inconsistencies in the assurances that Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, gave to the Indian parliament while saving his government. No more “Singh is King” then?!

Following foiling of a possible terrorist strike in UK, the US embassy in NewDelhi issued an advisory.

The Embassy has learned that foreign terrorists, possibly including members of Al-Qaida, allegedly intend to carry out a series of bombing attacks in or around New Delhi and Mumbai (Bombay) in the days leading up to India’s Independence Day on August 15, 2006 (i.e., a possible time frame of 11 - 16 August). Likely targets include major airports, key central Indian government offices, and major gathering places such as hotels and markets.

[Emphasis original. Source: OSAC]

It’s essentially an advisory for the US nationals (tourists, etc.) in India. But it’s effectively an indication that the US intelligence services have some information about possible strikes. Whether these likely attacks materialize or not is besides the point. Indian authorities should at least acknowledge this and try liaising with American intelligence authorities.

However, Indian authorities seem to be sure that the US fears are baseless and that the warning itself is “innocuous”

The government on Friday described as “very innocuous” the US Embassy advisory on possible Al-Qaeda attacks in the national capital and Mumbai but refrained from commenting on the presence of foreign terrorists in the country.

[Source: Rediff.com]

I fail to understand what is innocuous about the warning. The advisory is very clear on the possible timeframe of the attacks, the possible places of attack and even possibly the perpetrators. It’s quite clear and upfront. Now it is upto the Indian authorities to link up with the Americans and extract the details. But what do we have here? Indians want the intelligence to be delivered to their doorstep!!

Duggal repeatedly ducked questions whether there was any presence of al Qaeda in the country. “I have only seen the advisory and there is no intelligence input shared with us.

“It is normal for them to issue advisories for their mission staff to maintain a low profile. This is strictly their internal matter. I have no comments whatsoever,” he said.

[Emphasis mine]

What the hell?!! … how are possible terrorist strikes in New Delhi and Mumbai, an American internal matter?!! I fail to understand this completely!

On the other hand, it’s a classical Indian response. Go into denial to start with and then if incidents happen, then bemoan the lack of intelligence or better still, blame it all on Gujarat!

And all this is hours after the capture of two LeT terrorists (including a Pakistan national) at New Delhi station with five detonators!!

“Personally I hate Modi and his politics, but… “

Does that sound familiar?! … Well, of course it does!! That’s the refrain almost everyone has been singing ever since the US government, in a fit of self-righteous grandstanding, decided to refuse a diplomatic visa for Narendra Modi and while at it, also cancelled the visa he was already holding.

Everyone knows that a country has every right to decide who should be allowed in and who should be barred from entering it. I have no issues with the fact that the US chose to deny Modi a visa. And I believe no one in India does too! But the justification that the US has been offering for its act is ridiculous and deserves all the derision being heaped on it!

The Government of India, the Indian media and the public in general have shown how hollow the US claims are. Article after article has been appearing in the media raking up instances after instances in which the US has acted in a diametrically opposite manner in similar circumstances.

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Now that the US (through the newly appointed Condoleeza Rice) is making pre-invasion noises about Iran’s nuclear program, India should sit up and protest!!

I know it is too much to expect from a soft-state. India had tactfully endorsed (through its ‘middle-path’ approach) the US action in Iraq. There were of course token protests from the usual suspects and the internet savvy youth considered Bush to be the worst person since Hitler. But on the whole, India could not go against an action which sought to replace a dictatorship by a democracy.

But now… things are completely different! Iran is a democracy. But that is merely a moral justification for a case against an invasion against Iran. India’s resistance of any action against Iran should not stem for morality but from its self-interests!!

The recently announced oil pipeline from Iran to India is going to go a long way in satisfying India’s growing thirst for energy. The importance of this pipeline can be gauged from the fact that India has agreed without the usual posturings to let the pipeline run through Pakistan. As Swaminathan Aiyar observes in his weekly column in Times of India, “Putting energy security before conventional security, India suddenly views Pakistan as a potential partner, not just a foe“. He also talks about upping the ante and proposing a grand pipeline from Iran to China, passing through Pakistan and India. This will not only be in the Chinese interests, but also hugely benefit the Indians who can charge the Chinese a great deal in transit fees. These transit fees can pay the charges that India will need to fork out to Pakistan as transit fees and still earn India a tidy profit.

But there is more to a possible pipeline to China than just profit. With China in the picture, the US will have to think twice before initiating an adventure in Iran. This will be just the thing that India needs for India cannot afford to miss out on the Iranian oil given its continuously rising oil needs. If the US does indeed do an Iraq in Iran, the oil pipeline to India will be seriously jeopardized… at least in the short to medium term. Swaminathan Aiyar’s notes this point quite astutely…

The USA is desperately trying to isolate Iran and undermine its economy. The last thing the USA wants is a great and glorious partnership between Iran, Pakistan, India and China.

The USA is not in a position to force China or India to desist from a pipeline.

Thus in a single stroke, India can achieve,
1. Partial fulfilment of its oil needs at an economical price,
2. Reasonable amount of peace in the sub-continent,
3. Some useful foreign exchange,
4. Continued position on the moral high ground as far as its opposition to the US threat to Iran’s sovereignty.

Who says it’s not all about oil?!

Two dumb Radio Jockeys (RJs) from the US have apparently stirred the hornet’s nest by abusing an Indian call centre employee live, on air.

The live call, made during the Philadelphia-based morning show of RJs Star and Bucwild, ended with one of the RJ’s repeatedly calling the female call centre employee a ‘bitch’ and a ‘rat eater’ and threatening to choke her.

Star, whose real name is Troi Torain, initiated the call under the pretext of inquiring into an order he had placed for a product known as ‘Quick Beads’, hair beads marketed primarily to girls outside the black community (Star and Bucwild are black). Midway through the call, Star became aggressive with the call centre representative, Steena.

My first reaction was of indignation at the lowlife RJs who made those sexist and racist remarks. Even making an allowance for the abundance of stupidity in most of the Radio Jockeys on the numerous FM channels everywhere, I think this episode was appalling!

In fact, I believe there are already petitions calling for the resignation of the concerned RJs. But I believe that mere resignation is not enough. They should be prosecuted for racist utterances on air.

Check out this blog entry for resources on this story.